Maid-Sama Part 1

Maid-Sama was a series of books I really enjoyed. However, I was upset to realize that my local library only had the first 12 volumes when there are actually 18 in print. I'm missing the last fourth of the story!! I would try and finish reading the series online, but my brain starts freaking out when I try to read online for too long. Paper is better than screens in my opinion, and it always will be.

Anyway, Maid-Sama is about Misaki Ayuzawa, the first female Student Body President of Seika High. The high school used to be an all boy's school, but has since changed to a co-ed campus. But with the populous still being 80% male, the girls are way outnumbered. Misaki has completely changed the campus with her "demonic personality" --so the boys think, though she does yell a lot-- and has straightened out the school to more of a conventional standard.

However, the demon president (not really a demon) of Seika high has a secret. Misaki works at a maid cafe to help her family out. She does not want anyone at the school to figure out that she works there. Her reputation would be ruined. But of course, Takumi Usui, an annoying  boy that won't go away during class hours, sees her taking out the trash and now won't leave her alone at work either. Constantly following her around to work, student council meetings, and around campus, Usui won't leave her alone and is constantly teasing her. But he has kept her secret that she has told no one.

This is a fantastic comedy with that ever present "I like you, but I can't bring myself to say it so I'm going to punch you instead" kind of feel. It's hysterical.

Oh, the drama of high school. I'm so glad I'm out of it, but it's fun to read about. Right? Don't tell me I'm the only one who feels this way! So  long as it's not my footsteps echoing down the halls, it's all fun and games.

I have really enjoyed the writing and artistic style portrayed here throughout the story. The teasing and competitive nature of the characters is funny and can bring a good laugh. There are a bunch of times when I laughed out loud and had my hubby look at me and asked me to explain. But there are so many moments that tie into one another that you would just have to read it, or watch the anime, to understand.

Such a good, lighthearted read that if you are down would be good to read.

The second half of the series can be seen here.

In Real Life

After reading the massive book The Way of Kings, I needed a lighter book and boy was this a great one.

In Real Life is a graphic novel about a teenage girl, Anda, who gets invited into a new online computer game where you can actually have a female avatar--it was published in 2014 and I wasn't into MMORPG's back then so I don't know if that was accurate or not. But she meets a friend in this female only club on this online game. This girl, Lucy/Sarge, has been around and they start going on missions where they kill cheaters, outside computer programs or humans who go around playing this game to collect coins so then companies can sell the online gold for real money (for people who don't want to have to spend hours and hours collecting monies the way you're supposed to). Anda and Lucy get paid real money for doing this. But then Anda meets one of these gold farmers, who in real life is a 16 year old kid in China just trying to make ends meet. They get talking and Anda tries to help him out, in game and in real life. But both cases greatly back fire and characters die.

It's a great story about how people online are people in real life too. They have their stories. They have their fits of rage. They have their sicknesses and flaws just like you do.

Anda's parents are great in here too. Anda's mom sets up parameters about the gaming and ends up taking away her internet access because of mistakes she makes online. (Such a good mom.) Online dangers and predators are discussed briefly on here as they are a real scary thing that can happen when you play games online.

The book was realistic, from how Anda appears compared to her avatar to predator danger to realizing that life isn't as simple as brief internet searches lead us to believe.

White Sand

Edit:

Reading White Sand a second time with the next Volume of the series in my hand, I enjoyed this book so much more. The flow and development of everything was so much better.

In a world of only dark or only light, the Sand Masters have control of the sand. To them, manipulating it is their way of life. To Kenton, it is a way to prove to his father that he isn't screw-up. After completing a very difficult task and at the advancement ceremony, the Sand Masters are attacked and most of them are betrayed and slaughtered. Kenton is the only one, as far as he's aware, that makes it out alive. Enter, Duchess Khrissalla who finds him and travels with him to the city where he can call on the city counsel for aide. But Khriss had secrets of her own as well as her own agendas. 

This second reading, and having read a lot more comics and graphic novels recently, put me in the frame of mind for a novel of this sort. This story is different from Brandon's other work because of the genre it is based in, so take that as you will. Some, like in my first read, may not appreciate it for what it is though it is well done. 

The world is actually very well developed and the cultural misunderstandings that might bog down a regular novel are easily bypassed through the simplicity of the genre it is displayed in. 

The character development, especially with the 2nd Volume in hand, flows much more easily than I originally have it credit for and they really are just well done. I love Khriss, she is fantastic. If you are going to read it,  which I suggest you do, have at least the second volume ready to read after. They work well and need to be read together. 

Way of Kings

Brandon Sanderson is probably my favorite author.  There are very few authors that I tell my friends and patrons, at the library I work at, that they need read. While fantasy isn't everyone's cup of tea, which I understand, Sanderson takes a lot of elements from other genres and makes masterpieces. The Way of Kings is probably the best example of this.

If you're not up to reading a thick book, I'd suggest finding another one of Sanderson's books to read. The Way of Kings is a little over 1200 pages long, with its sequel being even longer. You will get captivated and mesmerized by the world and characters Sanderson has created here.

The story revolves around four or five main characters, depending on how you want to define "main." Kalladin, a former soldier turned slave has found himself in the useful death row; he's a bridgeman for Lord Sadaes on the Shattered Plains. No one lasts long as bridgeman, but somehow he does. This windspren won't leave him alone; is he going crazy? Maybe. But everyone around him is dying, just like they have before, and he's the only one that stays alive.

Brightlord Dalinar, who in his younger years was a warlord and combined the surrounding Principalities into a great nation with his brother--who was assassinated six years previously, has suddenly become a philosopher of the older ways. Before warfare and soldiering wasn't the highest Calling you could have, the philosophies he's listening to speak of peace and unity. But this is not the way of his people; his fellow Brightlords and his sons watch him lose his mind especially now that he is having visions of the past? Of the Future? What are they? Can he still save his family, his name while still pursuing these strange ideals?

Shallan, a naive, little red head comes to the big city looking to be a ward to the heretic Jasnah--sister to the new king and niece to Dalinar. But becoming a ward is not the only thing she is searching for. She's found herself in the position of amatuer thief that Jasnah has in order to save her family from ruin.

All of these characters, plus a few that world jump from other of Sanderson's stories (Hoid being one of the favorites), mingle, fight, banter, and survive through strange means that are beautifully woven and deeply understood as the story progresses. The reader crosses the world, slipping from character to character in interludes and main plot lines, and discovers interesting cultures that are so very different from each other. The cultures make you want to learn more, even by themselves.

The Stormlight Archive, with the first book being the Way of Kings, is a masterpiece. The reader can tell that Sanderson has spent years thinking, rethinking, writing, and rewriting these books and their connection to the Cosmere (Warbreaker, Emperor's Soul and Elantris, Mistborn, Well of Ascension, and Hero of Ages and the sequel series Alloy of Law, Shadow of Self, and Bands of Mourning, White Sand, and a bunch of short stories that you can find at the Coppermind Wiki for all of Brandon Sanderson's stuff). There is so much going on in these books that you have to go back and reread them again--this is my second time through Way of Kings and I caught things I definitely didn't the first time around.

I think my favorite part of Sanderson's writing is the detail he takes to help the reader understand the magics, cultures, and characters that he has created. There isn't so much detail that you get  bogged down too much (this book is 1200 pages so there is a lot of detail there), but there is enough for us to understand what is going on.

My only sad comment is that you have to make sure you have the time to sit down and read it. My first time through Way of Kings took me a week of nonstop reading and probably neglecting  my family. This time it was three weeks of fairly consistent reading. But I know that if you read slowly, you will have to dedicate a lot of time and effort into reading and finishing the novel. You may have to give it a few tries, but keep your bookmark in it. Come back to it. Don't give up entirely because it is a fantastic book.

The setting is amazing. The characters are wonderful. The writing is excellent. If you want to be consumed into a novel, read Way of Kings.

Eliza: The Life of Eliza R. Snow

I'm normally not one for biography or non-fiction in general because often times they come across as dry, stuffy, and full of simply lists and dates and are presented one right after another in paragraph after paragraph. But this biography of Eliza R. Snow was well done.

Eliza was born in 1804 in Massachusetts and became a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was a force to be reckoned with. Later known as "Zion's Poetess" because of her amazing ability to use words. Her poetry is beautiful. I try, but I have the hardest time with any type of meter. So I commend her wholeheartedly for her ability.

It is a small book and I know there are a few major points in her life, that were horrendous that the authors didn't include. I'm assuming because Eliza didn't write about it herself, as I'm sure it was hard to relive through words.

But there was a lot of things about her that I didn't know. I hadn't done much research on her previously and this was my first step into understanding the woman who became that 2nd General Relief Society President. She wrote thousands of poems on the circumstances and people around her. They were amazing too. She was also someone who wouldn't step down from what she believed. Being a plural wife to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young after Joseph died. She was an advocate for women's rights and plural marriage as God directed it.

The most well known poem that she wrote "O My Father," which is given and is in the LDS hymnal. But they also give the circumstances behind why she wrote it. (You should check it out.)

While I learned a lot about her and I'd love to talk to her, the most inspiring part to me was her dedication to the church and her writing. She promised God that if she could have the truth confirmed to her she would use her writing to further God's work. She got that confirmation and changed from using pen names for the work she got published to using her own name. She used her talents to further do what she could for her God. And that is what we should all be doing. And we did it so well, so very well!

I would definitely suggest reading this book. I want to get her whole collection of poems and written works. The bits of her poetry that were in this book were beautiful and I would love to read more.

Crooked Kingdom

Crooked Kingdom is the continuation of the Six of Crows series. And boy is it good. There are so many things going for this series. The twists and turns as well as the characters are my favorite.

Kaz, after being swindled by Jan Van Eck in the last book, comes up with a plethora of new schemes to get the money they were owed. Finding ways to get The Wraith back as well as kidnapping a few people along the way is just the beginning. There are many plots and ploys that go awry and a brilliant overarching job that gets it done.  Some of these tricks and jobs, as well as the little details that set the whole thing right, might be seen as magician tricks that Leigh Bardugo slipped in because she needed a way to make things work; I disagree. Leigh Bardugo gives us enough of the amazing Kaz to make the "long game" believable. He kind of has a Sherlock Holmes kind of feel to him in that his mind races and thinks of so many things. He knows the people he's conning, inside and out.

Not only is Kaz amazing, but I also love Inej, Jesper, and Nina. All of these characters in this book are given time for their backstory to develop and us to truly love them. So much so that when the tears start rolling, it becomes a waterfall. I really enjoyed the progression each character had; they all had their own character arches that gave the readers a reason to love them.

I also enjoyed the world that Leigh Bardugo created. I'm really excited to read some of the other books that take place in this work.

But can I just say how amazing the artwork is! Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom have the most amazing cover art and map art that I've seen. Really, it's beautiful.

I honestly don't have much to say bad about it. For some people, they may be a little set off by the, slightly, unexpected homosexual couple in the book. (I didn't see it in the first one. *shrugs*) But all the romance, for whomever it was for, was tactfully done. In some ways beautifully done. I really love the relationship between Kaz and Inej. They have an odd relationship and is fun to explore. Kaz can be so hard headed and cold shouldered but he has a soft spot for Inej that makes him seem really sweet. When Kaz's gloves are off and he tries to face his demons.... Very different and very interesting relation to explore. And it was explored well.

Leigh Bardugo, in her acknowledgments, gives a resource to help stop human trafficking (something that is dealt with in the book). If we want more information to help stop this awful thing from occuring, check out GAATW.org .

Along for the Ride

Sarah Dessen does it again! All of the books that I've read written by here should all be in literature and writing classes. This one is no different.

Unlike many of the young adult books out there who don't touch on relationships other than within themselves and with a boyfriend or girlfriend, Sarah Dessen explores--in this book especially--troubles with parents. I've noticed that Sarah Dessen talks about and explores divorce between parents, which is so very prevalent in our world today, a lot more than what is common among young adult novels. Let alone the aftermath of divorce.

Auden just graduated from high school looking at practically nothing but her studies. Her mom and dad divorced a few years back. While her dad remarried and is now having another baby with his new wife, her mother is married to her work as a college professor and her little parties she throws with some of her grad students. Everything is about studying and getting into the best college at Auden's home with her mother. But on the spir of the moment decision she takes a summer trip down to live with her dad and new wife, Heidi, and their newborn, Thisbe (what a name right?). Both Auden's mom and dad are rather manipulative, it seems they are consciously unaware of it. Getting Auden to do exactly what they want and making her thing that it is her idea or always getting the last word in.

Auden arrives finding that Heidi, who is normally so happy-go-lucky is completely worn out with her new baby who is constantly screaming, wailing, and not sleeping. Her dad has been no help with the newborn at all, constantly writing and needing his "nine hours of sleep" otherwise he doesn't function (and somehow he had two other kids--Auden and her brother). He's neglecting his wife and child and doesn't realize it.

Auden starts helping out, not only studying all the time for her college classes. She gets a job at Heidi's shop on the beach to get away from the screaming newborn. Here she is surrounded by squealing, giggling girls that are also preparing for college/life after high school. She also meets a boy riding on a bike in the middle of the night, a night she was helping quiet the baby down by taking her on a stroller ride by the beach. Of course, more relations bloom and they do so realistically.

That is something that I've truly loved about her books. The relations are all realistic. The problems are realistic. And the characters deal with their problems in ways that would actually work in this situation.

If I can be a writer like Sarah Dessen... They are magnificent books.

Her use of time, where there is a scene and where there is a summary, is masterful. There is one part where you know some hanky panky is going on, but she doesn't hang out there. Enough detail is given that you know what happened, but nothing is truly described (like some of the other YA/Adult books).

My only other warning is some of the foul language they use. It is sparse, but it is there. But that is really my only complaint. I love the way Sarah Dessen writes.

Fallen Kingdoms

Fallen Kingdoms let me down. I had been waiting eagerly to read this book for months now and by the time I got half way done with it, I was dreading reading it. And what is really sad is that this isn't just a debut novel. Morgan Rhodes is a pen name for Michelle Rowen and she has lots of different books (paranormal romance stuff that I'm not touching). I was extremely disappointed.

The idea behind it was a good one, but it was executed extremely poorly in my opinion. The cover art is pretty and is what has drawn me into these books. But who is this guy in the white cloak? There is no reference or anything about him.

The characters I believe were developed poorly. Many of them died throughout the course of the book and I didn't care. The major love interest in the book was weak (which is sad from the paranormal romance novelist). It happened so quickly and, as I said, weakly. There was no twitterpated feeling in my chest for the characters. I didn't care for the guy at all, he was actually kind of annoying. It feels like there was no reason why they were in love to begin with except for the guy to kill him and maybe feel bad about it later (which I don't actually think he does.) Then there is the whole brother loves sister (who isn't really his sister) thing which I was done with when I read City of Bones. The idea that I love her but can't have her but love her.... Ugh... I even was able to call who the next love interests will be (taking a sneak peak at the coming books on their blurbs on the back of the books).

The dialogue between characters was childish. They may be sixteen to eighteen years old, but they are royalty where they are taught, supposedly, how how to act nobly, it is not shown here. Not in the least bit. I think their bantering is supposed to be witty and... something, but it's just not. It's juvenile, even for YA. There is no change of voice between characters. It's all the same, flat, monotone "witty" bantering from one character to the next. And what's worse is that everyone of the characters has the same dry wit. It got boring really fast, but just kept going.

There was also a lot of bedroom talk. Not steamy stuff, but "come into my bedroom," or "his lover," "her lover," "let me give you more experience." Again, childish dialogue.

The setting was faulty and was lacking.

The book was very predictable and not in a good foreshadow kind of way. We knew what was going to happen long before any of the characters did. It took adults forever to realize they were being had and were about to be betrayed. Like knife had already cut into his throat before he realized.

And don't get me started on the throats/necks that were cut. If Rhodes described anyone getting killed it was always gorey, in-your-face---er---neck. Knives, daggers, and swords constantly in their neck with blood spraying on your face or the characters decapitating the enemies. There are other ways to kill people you know, even if they have armor on. I think this could be a close rivalry between J.R.R.Martins books for who's going to die next--except I've heard that his you can't predict nearly so often.

I don't think I'm going to read any more. If I do, it will be a long time from now when I have nothing better to read. (I have lots of better stuff to read.)

Heist Society

The Heist Society by Ally Carter is a suspenseful YA novel thievery, art, history, and awesome characters. I greatly enjoyed this book is all of it's awesome-ness.

I began to read this book a few years ago, but the audio CD I was listening to it on was skipping and I had to return it to my library (Support your local library! Free books, I mean, come on. Best thing ever.). And all of the copies they had were out. So I had to wait and I was finally able to get back to it. I'm so glad I did.

Heist Society is about Kat, on the fence of whether she should remain a thief like she's been since she was three or go to high school and find a very different life that could lead to more places. But when she is abruptly expelled from the Ivy League school and told her father is in trouble, she has to get back in the game.

I really enjoyed the characters, all of them. They were all different and made for a great team. I can't wait to see how they develop in the next few books.

Ally Carter made good suspense throughout the story. Stopping at just the right moment for us to say "OH NO, what is going to happen next." She gave us just enough information to have our suspicions but there were surprises that I didn't see.

I also really enjoyed the cliffhanger at the end when this mystery man, the true man (or women, we don't really know) behind these crimes, leaves his calling card. It leaves it open for a great series that I am very interested in continuing.

Persepolis

Persepolis is a biography in epic graphic novel form. Persepolis is about a girl, our author Marjane Satrapi, and her early years living as a girl in Iran in the 1980's and '90s. She was around before it was mandatory for women to wear the now stereotypical "Islamic garb" like the head scarves and covering every part of their body but their faces.

Marjane shows us the fears that she had as empires fell, Iraqis invade Iran, and war tromped through her peaceful life. She was part of this time in history that I knew nothing about and tore down a lot of the stereotypes that have resided in my mind because I didn't know better. Everyone sees these women covered from head to toe and we instantly "know" who they are, but we don't. Marjame makes it very clear that many people (men and women) rebel against what their government has forced upon them. She mentions Nazi's and control, and I found a lot of similarities between her descriptions of the Iran government in the '80s and '90s and what I know of Nazism.

In her story, Marjane, due to her boisterous and "I'm going to tell you how I feel weather you like it or not" kind of attitude, is sadly told to move to Austria for a time so then her words/attitude won't get her killed. We see her loving and very political family. We see how sad it is for them to let their daughter flee to another country. In here we get her experiences, love, drugs, friends/lack thereof, as she grows from being a 14 (?) year old to 18 when she decides to come back home to her family whom she misses dearly. She would rather be annoyed by the demands of her government than be completely alone in a country that doesn't care for her.

I found it eye opening (I thought I was open minded, but gladly things have really opened my mind more than I thought I needed to--which is probably the case for most people), just how rebellious so many of these women are. I, unknowingly, thought they stayed in their scarves and full length clothes all the time, in or outside, but every time Marjane stepped into the privacy of her home/not in public they were wearing tube tops/mini skirts or regular/"western" clothes. They threw parties and dumped their alcohol down the toilet when the cops showed up. She smoked. All things "normal" people do, because they are normal people.

This book greatly tumbles down the stereotypes that haunt that area and somewhat-forced culture. There are many things that are beautiful that come out of such a war torn country, this book and Marjane's family as a few.

I greatly recommend this book to everyone over the age of 15. There are a few swear words and suggestive scenes that may, hopefully, go over the heads of younger kids. But this is a story that needs to be seen, not just read. I thank Marjane Satrapi so much for creating us a beautiful piece of art and being willing to share her story. She does a beautiful job breaking down barriers and stereotypes and enlightening me to an era that doesn't get talked about in schools here in the U.S. (Check out my other blog on what I think about our education system.).

I really liked this book. There are so many things in it that people should have questions about. They should search and find the answers that this book brings up. This story has so much that it explains meaningful and helpful for those who may not understand much, which in most cases is all of us.

Please, read, understand, and enjoy. (Also comment please. I would love to hear your thoughts. :D )

Lock and Mori

Lock and Mori is a modern-day retelling of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyal. However there are many twists, the biggest one being that it is told first person through the eyes of James Moriarty. Oh, and James Moriarty is a girl. WHAT!? Yeah, weird right.

In modern London, Mori runs into Sherlock Holmes in all his analogical personality. Mori, much like Prof Moriarty in the original stories is a mastermind as well. She has all of her assignments done months in advance and corrects her teachers. She runs into Sherlock (Lock as a nickname later) and finds him very much annoying. After she goes home and stops her abusive father from hitting her brothers again, she runs out to the park to get some air. Here she meets Lock and their game begins. A murder has happened and they can easily see how the police are messing it up. The game is afoot.

But soon this murder, and others they find are connected,  hit to close to home. Mori must figure it out.

Then, as any good young adult novel would, love is in the air. This was really odd for me. Moriarty and Holmes kissing and whatnot? WHAT?! yeah, weird right? But the way Heather W. Petty has created the characters works well and is believable enough for a YA book.

I spotted whodunnit fairly straight off, but it's not so much finding out whodunnit but how she deals with it. The bigger mystery for me was her mother. There were so many illusions to who she was but not enough to have a conviction. That is what kept me reading for the last half of this small, 200 page book. The surprise was an interesting one. There are also a few ways that you can take some of the happenings in the story, how a certain piece of evidence presents itself in the story for example, in which Mori asks herself--therefore us, the reader--questions that she doesn't give us clear answers too. So we, as good readers, can make our own conclusions.

There were a few things I need to warn younger readers/parents of young readers. There is a scene with F bombs dropped and other scenes (not graphic in the least bit) where it is implied they slept together, more than just falling asleep which happens too.

The only other complaints I have are the lack of Watson (though he makes a few brief appearances) and Sherlock only appears to be in there to kiss and be annoying. There is also an Alice that comes into the picture, but she doesn't stay long. There is build up for her, but I feel the climax for this character was lacking.

Oh, I also don't really care for the front cover. Not to be rude to the guy who is supposed to be Sherlock, but he doesn't look like a young Sherlock too me. Too much Benedict Cumberbatch, I guess. :D

But there is another book out called Mind Games, and I am interested in reading it to find out what happens next. Don't read the back/jacket cover of Mind Games before you read Lock and Mori, because it has spoilers for this book.

Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant / The Kings Shilling

Delilah Dirk is one of the funnest graphic novels I've read in a long time. Full of action, awesome characters, and beautiful illustrations, Delilah Dirk is a brilliant adventure. 

I love Delilah. She is a witty thief/adventurer who can do amazing feats and always gets out of trouble. On a chance encounter in a Turkish prison, Mr. Selim finds out her backstory and tells the Sultan he works for. But the Sultan comes to think that they are in on her theft together and orders him executed. After escaping from her cell, she finds Mr. Selim and rescues him in her flying ship. Thus their adventures start. There is much more to this story that is fantastic and must be seen.

The second book, starts out with Mr. Selim and Delilah in Portugal where they find one Major Merrick. He sets Delilah up as a spy for the French, who are at war with the English at this time, and sullies Miss Dirk's good name. She can't have this and is forced to follow the Major back to England. Mr. Selim is all too happy to see England which he has only heard the best of. But he is poorly disappointed when England isn't all it was brought up to be.

I had to read more. These were fantastic books and Delilah reminded me of a character one of my friends created. So it hit home.

Anyone who loves Indiana Jones or swashbuckling Jane Austen will love these books. They are good for all ages, boys or girls.

Check out Tony Cliff's website because there are short stories and little featurettes for Delilah that are just as amazing.

Under A Painted Sky

Under A Painted Sky is a nominee for the Beehive Award and for a reason. It is about a Chinese girl, Samantha, in Missouri in 1849. Tragedy strikes and she quickly finds herself an outlaw and on the run with a runaway slave, Annamae (*cough cough* close to Anime much? Anyway... ).They head west to California under the disguise of boys off to the Gold Fields. One night two they find themselves in the much needed company (for survival as criminals and in the wild west) of three cowboys.

This is a YA book, so, of course, the law of attraction takes a big role in this story. Girls like boys though trying their best to act like boys, boys are confused.

It's language was beautiful. The dialogue was "ingenious." There were a lot of characters that came from different places and had many different accents. Mrs. Lee tried her best to imitate the accents with how she wrote it, which I haven't seen very often, though I've tried to replicate. The metaphors and similes were masterfully done and well thought out. If I was trying to teach a Creative Writing class about good metaphors, I would suggest this book. For plot and setting, however, I would not. This is an extremely character driven book where the need and development of the characters took precedence in the author's mind. I think the story was set up well in the development of the characters, use getting to know them and their backgrounds. This is super important and, as I said, was well done.

There is also a lot of witty bantering back and forth between the characters that made me laugh. I enjoyed that immensely.

It had great little morals to the story throughout the book. Little perks of ancient Chinese/Biblical wisdom. My favorite one was, "Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you." (I think she took this sentence to heart though when she resented setting and plot.) And the overlaying idea that race shouldn't stop love. Asian, hispanic, black, white, it doesn't matter. I like that.

There is some cursing scattered throughout the book, but I was surprised that they said "Dang" more often than not. One of the cowboys tended to get around with the ladies, though he gets pummeled for it. There isn't anything graphic in the book even though there end up being a handful of dead guys scattered like the curse words.

I did have a huge question: if she is Chinese from a Chinese father and mother, why is her name Samantha Young? Young I could see. But Samantha? For such an English name for a Chinese girl? There was no reason given as to why she wasn't given a Chinese name. Her father didn't hate China and taught her a lot about China and the culture. So why Samantha? o.O?

I also felt like the plot was lacking. The story is based greatly on the love connections between the characters. But the slowly progress towards California takes a massive back seat where it is almost forgotten. Something as important as the "quest" of a story shouldn't be as much of a shadow as it was.

But the biggest downside to me was the setting. It was minimal. I will give the author a little bit of sway what with them walking through prairie lands with grass and rocks being the only landscape around them. However, there are many poets and songs written about the prairie and surrounding lands. The rock formations that are out there are magnificent. Also, while the characters are in town we get no description of the town or the rooms that they are in.

At the beginning, Samantha is in a hotel room (I think) where the only description we really get is a bathtub and a bed. Not the colors of the sheets or type of tub, not the color of the wall paper or any other furniture in the room. I know of some readers who skim through setting descriptions (You know who you are. *wink wink*). That is okay. There can be sometimes when you can get bogged down with description, but there was such a lack of it that I felt left out.

We should be good readers and be able to fill in the blanks as needed, but this seemed almost like a lack of research. These names that Mrs. Lee gives as landmarks, aside from Independance Rock and the Forts they pass, I had a hard time finding online. How made up are they? If she is going to make up cities/landmarks, which she has every right too mind you, couldn't she give us images of what it looked like. Make us see more than the tree she is sitting under. More than just a river that had fish in it.

It's ironic that the title is Under A Painted Sky when the beauty of the landscape around is left out of the book for the most part.

Over all, I would recommend this to particular people, but not to everyone.

Rebel of the Sands

Rebel of the Sands is  one that I would recommend and is part of the Rebel of the Sands Series. It is one that got me out of a funk of not wanting
to read. It was a book I finished in four days, which can be quite a feat some weeks.

I ended up describing this book to my husband as a mixture between the Wild West and Aladdin. It takes place in a fantasy world that is supposed to resemble Saudi Arabia or an equivalent (which was nice considering most of fantasy novels take place in northern Europe/Britain). But it's not only a time of scimitars and horses, though there are a few of them, there are also guns and magical beings.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about Rebel of the Sands was the religions and mythology in the story. It plays a vital role in the story as the plot moves forward and I think Alwyn Hamilton does a good job in presenting it to the reader. I also think she's gutzy because I've read a bunch of books who keep away from religion because they think it would be a turnoff for many readers. But Alwyn Hamilton didn't and made it vital the story. I thank her for it.

I also enjoyed the mythical creatures that come to life out of the sands. There are moments when Amani, the main character, recalls moments in the past to better understand these creatures that attack in the night. It gives us Amani's background, her spunky personality, and the world in which we are being brought to. There were many different types of creatures that roam the dark here. From Nightmares that kill you in your sleep, to Demdji--half human half Djinni--who are often killed for being an abomination, to the majestic Buraqi--immortal horses--that are faster than anything but a train. The world building was very well done in this book.

Amani and Jin were interesting characters. They were well developed. They ended up fighting, of course, and their fight and make up was believable.

The only thing I that I didn't really care for was the predictability. It is a YA book, and they have their own kind of predictability. But there were some things I didn't see coming. It is presented well, so if you were to pay close attention you probably could get it. Still I found it very enjoyable.

The next book is Traitor to the Throne. 

Les Miserables (Manga)

 Les Miserables but for now I recommend this wonderful Manga. The pictures inside are marvelous!
I am working my way up to the true

This book is based off the original, unabridged novel by Victor Hugo (not the musical), but because it is a single manga and not fifty or so it did have to get edited down.

I was happily surprised by the additions that weren't in the musical (the only other way I've seen this story presented) though I feel like some of the artistry in the people and scenes was influenced by the movie with Hugh Jackman from 2012. Like how Eponine and Marius meet and her family's little influences (though end up being big) progress the story.

Again the artist's work here was amazing and breathtaking. For those who need a quick read of this for school *wink wink* or those who are intimidated by the approximate 1100 page unabridged book, this is a good one to start out with.

I thoroughly enjoyed this manga.

The Emperor's Soul

The Emperor's Soul is a novella written by Brandon Sanderson and is one of my favorite books that he's written.

This book is so very different and so very new that the first time I read it, I couldn't put it down even while I was at work. (Thankfully I worked in the evening when the library was slow and no one came into the children's area which I was supposed to be supervising. :D )

The story takes place in 101 days of Shai being imprisoned for trying to steal The Moon Scepter with her own Forgery. But when she is caught, she is persuaded (ordered more like it) to assist the Empire by Forging their Emperor's soul--just a few days previous to her attempted thievery he was almost assassinated, they were able to heal his body but his mind was gone. Shai is put to the task of refilling his mind with her Forgery and to have this copy of their Emperor be perfect enough to fool everyone. But, of course, she has to also find a way to escape and get her own Essence Marks back from  her captors before they kill her, faking that they would let her go once her task was done.

This is a short book, only 167 pages, but it is enveloping and fast pace. Yet, amazingly, it gives enough background and character development for all the characters named that we care for them and are super sad when it's over. I think the characters are the reason I wanted to reread the book again. Yes, the story and the way of this world, the Soul Stamps, are amazing and and keep the story rolling, but this is very much a character driven novel that I have fallen in love with.

Then as a bonus, my favorite underlying message that everyone (especially now) needs to realize, is that there are so many things that go into a person. There are emotions on top of emotions, logics and counter one another while enhance others. People are all so complicated and it is only through careful examination, time, and the love that comes from being with them that we can even look through the window into who they really are.

ALSO, I love the cover art. It is beautiful!

Anya's Ghost

Anya's Ghost is a graphic novel with beautiful illustrations. It dives into the peculiarities of being a teeanger in high school. We have crushes. We have body issues. We have problems with friends. We have weird things that we've had to overcome in order to be "normal." Anya, however, has found another thing that has made her peculiar: a ghost.

After missing the bus, she decides to walk home through the park that is thick with woods. Anya accidentally falls into an old, uncovered well. After lighting one of her cigarette matches, she finds a skeleton and the 90 year old ghost of the girl that's attached to it. Anya gets out after staying in the well for a day with the help of a passing stranger. While picking up her things she accidently picks up one of Emily's pinky fingers and the ghost follows Anya home.

Emily follows her to school and experiences what modern day high school is like. Boys. Gym. Politics of girls. Friends. Family. Tests. There are many things that Emily ends up helping Anya out with. Or is she really helping? Something is strange with Emily. Wanting Enya to go out with a boy who is obviously bad news? What is this about new outfits? And how is Emily suddenly changing?

I liked this book because it was a light read. I was in need of a break and this was a good one for that. It was quick and had beautiful illustrations.

If you are in search of a good, clean, and quick book to you through a few a rough patch in books (or a book that you'd like your teen to read) this is a good choice.

Phantom of the Opera

I've been in a classic kick recently and picked up Phantom of the Opera. There were two reasons why specifically picked up this classic, one of my friends was consumed by the "phantom" character a few years back, and I love the musical that has been on Broadway and on the silver screen. I think the music they put to the story is majestic and the psychology  behind the mesmerizing and control that happens in the story.

For those who don't know the synopsis of the story, there is a ghost in the Paris Opera in the late 1800's. It does strange things and all the ballerinas, dancers, and singers believe that any shoe lace that breaks or pitcher that falls over is because of the Opera Ghost.

Unlike the play, there is a death in the Opera in the very first chapter. Joseph Buquet is found dead in the cellars of the Opera, supposedly hug, but with no rope. Inside the Opera, accusations of the Opera Ghost circulate, but nothing can be done. He is a Ghost after all.

Then, on the night of the gala when managerial positions are transferred to new owners, Christine Daae faints after her first and astounding performance and is rushed to her rooms. Having come to consciousness, she faces her old friend from the sea, Raoul, who has fallen desperately in love with her because her singing touched the hearts of angels. She orders everyone out and Raoul, listening at the door, hears her talking to a strange voice.

A few days later, after another performance, she is abducted and everyone is frantic about where she's gone. But after two weeks she comes back but refuses to sing as she had before. She sends a note to Raoul to meet her at the sea side village where they spent many years together. One night while there, after an argument between them, Raoul follows Christine in the middle of the night to a cemetery. She doesn't realize he is only a few steps behind her and watching because she is in rapture and completely lost to her own thoughts. Once at her father's grave, in the cemetery, the sound of her father's violin floats down from heaven. Raoul can hear it too. Christine leaves and he sees death leaving the cemetery also. Dun-dun-duuuun.

The story jumps back and forth between characters and time that it kind of game me a head ache. We jump between the new managers and their anger at being told they need to pay 20,000 francs or accidents will happen. They also remove Madame Giry from her position, watching over the Opera Ghost's Box #5. After the first month of not receiving a payment a terrible accident does happen. Carlotta, the main singer at the Opera house croaks. She fumbles with her voice badly and sounds like a frog. People in the audience don't know what to do because she is such a beloved singer. Her last time of trying before running off the stage, the chandelier drops from the ceiling of the Opera house, killing one (Madame Giry's replacement) and injures many, many more.

After that night, there is more jumping around of characters. A half-hearted wedding proposal, secrets are revealed about the Opera Ghost (one that I didn't know before was that the Ghost's name is actually Erik), and an a plot to run away. Of course the plot is found out by the Phantom, and Christine becomes abducted again by her "poor Erik."

Then it takes forever to for Raoul and this mysterious Persian, who knows almost everything about the Opera--from the lake underneath it to the rafters, to find a way into the "house by the lake" where the Erik is holding Christine. They find themselves in a torture chamber (not your regular rack and red-hot pokers mind you) and start going insane. They get a little of Christine's help, but she is tied up for most of it, and find barrels and barrels of gun powder. She has a choice it seems, to marry Erik, who looks seriously like death with red embers for eyes and the boniest fingers and frame, or everyone in the Opera about the house by the lake as well as those on the lake are going to be blown up.

She makes her choice, which I will leave you to read to find out.

Over all, I will say koodos to those who complied this story into the play/movie. I've, sadly, only been able to watch the movie (though, not so sadly, Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson did a fantastic job in their roles).   They were able to add so many little parts of the book, though in the wrong order, into the movie. Most adaptions of books aren't at all like the book, but I was pleasantly surprised about how many little things that made mention to the larger scenes and characters that wouldn't make it in.

My favorite little moment between the two would probably be the Persian that is practically left out of the movie. He may not have a character stand in, but the monkey on the music box in Persian robes is supposed to represent him. Like I said, cute little things that represent bigger moments.

However, the biggest part of the book that I didn't like was the way it was presented. It is and older book, written in 1909-1910, and so the writing style is different (not that that is bad). It's the fact that it is so jumpy. It is written, third person and our narrator is...isn't given a name....? but is trying to find out the story behind the disasters that happen. It is second or third hand accounts of what happened that jump back and forth and back and to another place entirely. We are placed in the story, then backgrounds and flashbacks and narrator interruptions happen. It was somewhat disjointed and I found it rather obnoxious.

 The reader doesn't get solid, non-interrupted story until almost the end of the book when the Persian brings us up to speed on Erik's background and what happens with himself and Raoul. Even then there may be one or two parts where he jumps around too.

I think my favorite part all together was the description of the Phantom. Erik is nothing like Gerard Butler or any other renditions I've seen of the Opera Ghost. They don't give the book description justice.

In the end, I'm glad I've read it. I'm glad Christine fought a lot more in the book than she did in the movie, that made me happy, And now I'm more concerned for my friend who found liked the Phantom so much. Still it was a good read and I hope you like it too.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs isn't what I expected. I skimmed through the book with all it's creepy photos and thought it wasn't necessarily the kind of book I'd be interested it. But when I saw the trailer, which is actually not really anything like the book though it still looks pretty cool, it caught my interest.

I liked it though it look a while to get going.

The story starts out with Jacob getting stories from his grandfather, stories that Abe says are true but there is no way that that could possibly happen. Floating girls, invisible boys, a boy with bees living inside him. He also spoke about monsters that roamed about. Jacob's father said that these were metaphorical stories of what happened during WWII against the Nazi's. But when Jacob finds his grandfather attacked and told a puzzle that will hold answers to Abe's "insanity."

The trail ends up leading to child's home that Abe went to when after he fled Poland. With the okay of his psychiatrist (he saw Abe die and some kind of creature there that no one else saw), he went to England with his father and actually found the house. But no one has lived there since the 1940's when a bomb went off and blew out the whole inside. But wait, there is something weird there. Was that a girl? But she looked like that girl from one of Grandpa Abe's photo album. Exactly like her. How is that possible?

A time loop. After nearly sinking in the bog he finds his way to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. He finds all of the children his grandpa told him about. But while the children are there, so are the terrible monsters.

Really I thought it was a fresh and rather ingenious. And it was nice that because they were kids they hadn't fully figured out how to use their powers. I mean, it not every twelve year old with abnormal powers would know how to use all of their powers. I do wish that they could have gone more into some of the other characters and their backgrounds. We didn't get too much on any other characters but Jacob and that Emma had a crush. It is the first in a trilogy so hopefully the next bunch of books will have more of the character development that I love in my books.

Fruits Basket

This time I reread a series that is near and dear to my heart. I LOVE Fruits Basket. I read this series a few years ago when it was in high school and is perfect for teens. (Though I will warn you there is a tad bit of swearing, though it drop a lot as the story goes on--Kyo isn't so mouthy.)

Fruits Basket is a manga (a Japanese graphic novel) written by Natsuki Takaya. These graphic novels are written "backwards" for us English readers where you read it from the top right to bottom left. It can be difficult to read when you first start out, but by the end of the first book you'd get it. Going back to any other graphic novel is the hard part for me.;)

The premise of the story is that Tohru Honda, a kind and very selfless girl, just lost her mom in a horrible accident and when she can't stay with her grandpa (her dad has passed away as well) she decides to live on her own and finds a piece of land and sets up a tent. On her way to school after a little bit of time living in her tent, she finds a house that she didn't know was there (or that she was living on their land without their permission). She comes home to her tent one evening and Yuki Sohma (the "Prince" of her high school) and his cousin Shigure find her and invite her into their home. There ends up being a landslide where her tent was so she is invited to stay longer in their home until something else can be figured out.

She ends up finding out the Sohma family secret, that certain members of the Sohma family are possessed by the Spirits of the Zodiac where if they are too stressed or sick or if they get hugged/bumped into by members of the opposite sex they turn into the animal that they are possessed by. (Another warning, when they change back into their human form, they don't have clothes on. There isn't anything shown and it is done artistically, so I still think it's okay for teens to read it.)

Tohru is told that she can stay so long as she keeps their secret. As time passes, she meets all the members of the Zodiac and tries to find a way to break the curse.

But the reason I love these books is for the characters. It is a very character driven story. There are a lot of characters that we get introduced to (most of which are on the front cover of the 23 novels) and they are all very full characters. Thought out and have their own stories that we get to know them all. The characters develop in the way they are drawn and throughout their own real character progression.

The second thing I love so much are the themes that run through the book. Kindness is the best policy. Loyal friends are better than fearful allies. To just be yourself. (Amongst many others.)

These books have become my go to for a chick flick book. There are cute romances throughout the books. Hatsuharu and Rin are my favorite couple followed close by Torhu and her beau (which I won't give away). When I was in high school and reading it along with my best girl friends we split up who got which boy and I happily called dibs on Haru because of the way he treated Rin as well as his personality. (Not to mention, if he was a real person, he'd be smoking hot. ;) ) I was just super sad when the anime only got half way through the storyline and missed out on a lot of Haru's development.

Speaking of the anime, you should check it out. There are lots of sights you can find both the anime and manga (if your local library doesn't have it). You just need to search it out. And when you do, you won't be disappointed. This series was named the number one manga in the USA for a reason.

ENJOY!!!!

Update: There is also a sequel series called "Fruits Basket Another." Enjoy that one too.

These Shallow Graves

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly wasn't what I expected, though at the same time I found it very predictable. The cover made me think it would be a horror or thriller, but it was a simple mystery about his her father's death.

Set in the pre-turn of the century New York City, Josephine, Jo, is from a very wealthy family where nothing but puppies and flowers and getting married is talked about when women are in the room. So Jo is hopelessly naive so much so that it gets really annoying. If I was going to describe Jo naive would be the first thing, then curious and determined. But it felt like she was those things so then we could move the plot forward. Jo wasn't really good at anything that we actually get to see. Supposedly she is a good writer and dreams of being a reporter who "tells other's stories," but we never get anything of her writing. Other than that, she isn't good at anything else. No hobbies besides her writing, that we don't see, no little quirks like flicking her hair or clicking her nails... She seemed flat. Jo was really annoying, though Eddie and Oscar were more interesting, though I wished from more of them.  Most of the characters lacked character. Eddie, Oscar, and Grandmama seemed to have the most character to them. They seemed the most real, which is really sad when the main character doesn't seem real.

There is a tiny love triangle, though it doesn't run or ruin the story. Most of it is choosing between her family and the world she knew and grew up in, Bram is "good" someone who can bring her stability. Eddie, on the other hand, is a reporter who will do anything to get a story. He represents all that she wants and dreams about. He is the wildside of everything she didn't know. This triangle is more of the worlds she tries to decide between. Thankfully, it doesn't run the whole show (love triangles are really overdone).

The plot itself was predictable. I called the bad guy fairly early out, and (which is really weird) I was right. There were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming that were nice, but if a really good reader was reading this, they would have gotten it. The story was very plot driven getting from one piece of evidence and witnesses, and like I said the plotline was predictable.

It also was really slow at the beginning and middle part of the book. I was about ready to put it down and read something else, but I persisted. I ended up finishing the last 2/3 of the book in two days because I wanted it done. So it could be a quick read and one with an interesting motive to murder, but I felt like Jo needed everything explained to her which meant that the reader had everything explained. Nothing was left up to the reader to figure out, though like I said, I figured whodunit fairly early off.

The one thing that I did like was the setting. The world and history was well thought out and she paid particular attention to the poorer sides of NYC: 1890's and what it would have been like. I have read some reviews that it was overboard, but I thought it was okay. I enjoyed another look at NYC and a part of history that I knew very little about.

A question I would have, though, would be: would Jo have been that naive because of her surroundings and family? I mean she reads the newspapers of awful things, but she doesn't know what a "disorderly house" or prostitute is? What?

Overall, I was very sad. Jennifer Donnelly's other book Revolution was excellent and this one seemed to fall flat on its face. I honestly hope there isn't a sequel.

Hero of Ages

I have found that I'm very unsettled by the last book in the Mistborn series. I am a big fan of Brandon Sanderson, but.... I don't know.

Now that they found the Well of Ascension and released something called Ruin, ashe has come more hazardly down from the ashmounts and the world is really dying. How are Vin, Elend, and the rest of Kelsier's remaining crew supposed to handle the end of the world?

Vin, Elend, and Ham are down south helping gather villagers into the capital city where they are sure crops can grow. Then they head to the final cache location that the Lord Ruler had set up to supply his people. Though they are having a hard time with an obilgator playing king as though nothing bad were happening.

TenSoon went back to his people to pay for the betrayals he committed in telling Vin kandra secrets.

Spook is up north playing a spy where the fourth cache is hidden  under city with a king who is killing most everyone who was nobility. But what is this? Is he starting to see Kelsier? Also, how did he suddenly become so strong? He is no longer someone who is just ignored or a common scout. He tries to be so much like Kelsier, the leader the powerful one, the Survivor... And they end up giving him a name: the Survivor of the Flames, which is cool.

And Sazed is having a crisis of faith. Now that the love of his life is dead, he doesn't know where she has gone. So he searches all of the religions he's collected to find the answers. This is a very interesting plot line to me. His search for truth and trying to find faith. Breeze tells him he wouldn't be a good atheist and it is very true for Sazed. I'm sure many people found this annoying if they weren't religious at all, but the way Sanderson explores the process of finding faith, and that it isn't normally some grand thing that everyone sees, but often times something small that no one else really notices, was interesting to read about. (PS Breeze is with Sazed and they venture up to meet with Spook.)

I do like the explanations of what is going on in this world, though. The chapter headings were super helpful in world building that just couldn't happen through the normal story. The world building, well...the world in general, is engenious. Ruin and Preservation and their battle with balance and the people of the world have to endure it, or at least try too.

Through some thought, I think this is my third favorite of the Mistborn series. Third because it is the last in the trilogy (though don't get me wrong it was a good book). I think it was because more of it focused on everyone else but Vin more a large portion of the time. She got her moments of awesomeness, but they weren't nearly as many as in previous books. I love Vin. She is my favorite! I wanted more of her or Elend. Sazed is cool, but I wanted more of them.

Also, the ending had me in tears, which is okay. I can take some well earned crying. But there were too many people killed in this final battle to make me happy. The way they beat Ruin was awesome, and the mythology behind it was extremely well thought out, but SO MUCH DEATH!!!!

Lack of Vin and in my opinion unneeded deaths. I mean, I'm sure they are all happy in the afterlife, which is illuded too, but they could have been happy now that they have (SPOILER!) grass and flowers again. Instead now they have to have someone else run the kingdoms and govern everything now that most everyone is dead. Ugh, I think there was too much death for me. While it wasn't a pretty sight to begin with and it ended up very much better at the end.... *shakes head* Also, there wasn't nearly as much witty bantering as there were in the other two books. It seemed for more depressing, which I get fits the mood of the end of the world but still.

Good book and it finished out the series so then I can be mostly content. Not completely, but well enough. I'm super glad that there are three more books in this world that I can hopefully be more satisfied.

Calamity

Calamity by Brandon Sanderson is the third and final book in "The Reckoners Series" and it was a good ending.

The story start out after David, Megan, and the rest of their crew leave what used to be known as New York. Prof has gone crazy and they are trying to decide if they can save him or not. They make their way to what was once Atlanta though the city has changed dramatically. Do to the Epics that reside there, Ildithia moves, but not like you think. The city is made of salt and as one end the the town disintegrates the other rebuilds itself.

Prof has come to Ildithia and has quickly become the High Epic that everyone fears. But David and the Reckoners believe they can save Prof like they were able to save Megan in New York. But not only are they facing Prof and his abilities, but also Calamity, the bright star in the sky that appeared when people started gaining powers. Calamity is an Epic. They know Prof's mission in Ildithia is to somehow take down Calamity, but how are they going to take down the Epic of Epics?

I loved this series since the first one came out. The ideas of Super Heroes being the bad guys was interesting and fresh. Who would have thought to have a city move across country by moving salt?

The characters have always been fantastic, both the bad guys and the good. The world has changed so much from our world to theirs and he takes so many things into account that I hadn't until it was mentioned. But I like most of all the themes throughout all of the stories and weaves quietly in the background: "humans are inherently good." There are some bad eggs out there, but we are more good than we are bad. This was uplifting. There is also the more abrupt theme being that we can all face our fears and we can grow from them. Once we face our fears we can conquer whatever darkness that lies in our hearts or souls.

Again, I really love this series. It is clean; there is little gore; there is great fantasy; there are fantastic characters. And it is a marvelous read.

Firefight

Firefight  is the second of Brandon Sanderson's "Reckoners" series.

After defeating Steelheart in Newcago, they travel to Babilar (once New York City) where another Epic is terrorizing people. Obliteration is an epic who, after bathing in the sun for a while and gaining as much radiation as he needs, can obliterate the entire city. Then he'll teleport over to the next largest city he wants to visit where he'll do the same thing.

Not only is Obliteration there, but Regalia, an Epic who can control water currents, is stationed out there. She has raised the water levels of the Hudson up to the third or fourth floors of the high rises. Needless to say, New York City doesn't look like the Big Apple anymore. The city has plants growing all over it for the people to eat, because of some little-known Epic also in the city. People live on the upper floors of the high rises with rope bridges connecting each building. The spray paint that lines all the walls of the city glows in the dark and illuminates the night, much like the neon had done before Calamity found his place in the sky.

But not only are these powerful Epic in Babliar, but Megan is here. After disappearing after Steelheart was killed, she fled and David is seeking her out--though isn't telling anyone around him (though they already know it). He hopes he can save her, but does she want to be saved?

The characters--old and new to this series, bad and good guys--I think are what make this book. We find we want to know more about Obliteration and his odd biblical style speaking and quoting. Megan, whom we thought we knew, is almost a complete mystery. David is his usual odd, charming self. And now there are new things about Prof that we didn't know before.

I love these character based stories and the new scenery that is completely odd and different and wonderful makes it that much better. It is a great follow up to Steelheart and Brandon pushes the characters in fantastic ways that makes us question humanity and ourselves.

Steelheart

Steelheart is the first book in Brandon Sanderson's "Reckoners" series.

The basic concept is that Super Heroes are all bad. After the sudden appearance of Calamity, a bright star orbiting earth, people suddenly starting having superpowers. The people first thought these Epics would save them from their problems with other countries, but were soon proved wrong as the Epics were far worse than any war that the world had ever had.

In Newcago (what once was Chicago), David, after losing his father because of Steelheart, vows to make Steelheart pay. David knows Steelheart, the High Epic who runs Newcago, has a weakness. He saw the Epic bleed. There is a way to destroy all of these Epics. After years of memorizing different Epics and their powers, David finds the Reckoners, a group rebels whose purpose is to take down Epics. They hesitantly allow him into their ranks where he puts his expertise on Steelheart, their current target, to use.

There are many cool things about this book. Many turns that I didn't see that had me enable to stop turning pages. It was constantly engaging and in very few parts where I would actually want to put the book down. The premous where Superheroes are the bad guys is ingenious, where the whole city of Chicago has been completely turned into steel and it is constantly night. Working as regular people or working to take down the "God" who looms over the city can cause come difficulties that are fun to work with and around.

The characters here are individuals. Each one, though there are a few, are easy to tell apart. David, our main character, is funny. His metaphors and similes make no sense and are odd, but he's endearing.  I think the guys in the book are more full and complete as characters than the girls are. Cody has more life than Megan or Tia does. Which is kind of sad, but it is something that I'm willing to look over.

This book is a good one to start new Brandon Sanderson readers on or newbies to Science Fiction/Fantasy books in general. It is a quick read because you get sucked into this world. I'd recommend it to  most anyone. I got my 13 year old nephew to read it when he doesn't like to read anything. It has enough guns, suspense, thrills, and adventure to get almost any young boy into reading. It's a good series for anyone.

Lies of Locke Lamora

The Lies of Locke Lamora seemed like an intriguing book with an interesting premise when I first picked it up. It was a recommendation from Goodreads, but it wasn't to my liking.

I didn't finish this book and, sadly, didn't get too far into it either. It had too much swearing and vulgarity for my taste. I gave it about 30 pages, but then had to put it down. I don't need any more swearing in my head. It's hard enough to get out when people around me are saying it.

So it is a DNF for me.

Setting the stage for the story is one thing, but too much is too much. Setting can be developed in different ways that are more tasteful in my opinion.

Sadly, I was interested in where it was going. :(

Serafina and the Black Cloak

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty is a junior fiction book that was very well written. It is about a young girl who is never seen by anyone. She is a "creature of the night" and hunts rats in Baltmore Mansion in Virginia in the late 1800's. Serafina is a smart girl and has really never been seen in by the household staff or the Mr. and Miss. who own the manor.

It isn't until one night after her father--the houses machinist--goes to sleep behind the boiler down in the basement (no one knows he lives down there after his duties are done), she sees a mysterious cloaked figure chasing down one of the children of a visitor of the manor. The child becomes enveloped by this cloaked man and disappears. She later finds out that more children have gone missing without a trace. Serafina has to help find them even though no one believes her beside her one new friend and his trusted dog. 

Overall, it is a fair book, written well, with believable characters. There are some instances of cheesy-ness, but I think that may have to do with its originally intended audience (approximately ten year olds). Things get wrapped up neatly and everything is made out fine. Even when her cover is blown and the adults of the house find out she has been living in the house for her whole life, the don't seem to mind... That is a bit bothersome. 

I will say though that unlike many of the other junior fiction I've read, this has a lot more adult conversation and presence than most. Though many of the adults are faceless and they are clumped up together, there is a lot more dialog from them that Serafina overhears. 

Like most younger fiction, the few people she does tell about this black cloaked man don't believe her or don't believe her suspicions about the person she believes he is. She is all on her own to save the day. I, personally, don't really care too much for this. She does get a help from an unexpected source, the the reasoning behind this source was more fantastic (full of fantasy elements) than was hinted at. I think there needed to be a little more foreshadowing on the "creature of the night" that she is instead of the quick wrap up that left me hanging more than I wanted to. We believe these characters talk afterward and more of an explanation is given, but we, the reader, don't get that. Foreshadowing or flashes to another POV or some type of mythology about these "creatures of the night" would have been more helpful and more believable to me. 

Serafina as a character I thought was intriguing, though some of the other characters seemed faceless to me (as well as a lack of description in the setting).  There was a lot of third person narrative from her viewpoint and her thought process which was done well and accurately. 

I probably won't pick it up to read it again. I may recommend it to younger kids, but not very many adults even though it has an interesting concept. 

Red Queen

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is a quick read. It is a Young Adult book that follows the love-triangle/maybe-a-third-person-likes-her-in-a-romantic-way kind of book. Though I felt kind of cheated. Mare is supposed to be torn between two worlds: the Reds (people who don't have super powers and have red blood) and the Silvers (people who do have super powers and, you guessed it, bleed silver), torn between the life she knew of poverty and practically slavery, and finding out that not all Silvers are bad people. She is told that anyone, especially in this political agenda filled noble class, could betray her, but she doesn't get the hint. Mare falls, literally, into a bad situation and in order for the nobility to cover their own skims, make her a princess so they can watch her and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. Little do they know, she has already joined the rebels, the Scarlet Guard, and now she's forcefully and accidentally walked into the middle of the political games.

While it was an interesting concept, I felt kind of jipped (though it is a debut novel, so I'll give it some slack). Most of the time there is a running theme in a novel, a small one but something that will want to make the reader better. Something like "trust" or even the cliche "love wins out" or something. The only theme I was able to catch was "watch your back because betrayal is everywhere" which is more than a little disappointing.

The other big problem I have with this is why do they actually like her? Because she's a curiosity? Because she's pretty? Because she's witty? I didn't get the feeling from any of the guys--except maybe Kilorn who was a childhood friend and knew her forever--actually had fallen madly in love with her. They have their "oh, cute" scene, but they never actually even complimented her or bantered back and forth or anything. It was a "love at first sight" that I'm not buying. One of the boys is supposed to love her so much that he'd choose her over his father and country, but I saw no reason why he would actually do that. The progression of any love between them was not developed well.

Although I wouldn't call her a damsel in distress because she can be a sneaky thief and can get away from guards and, once she's trained a little, is able to handle lightening pretty well, she still seems like everyone needs to save her. She even comments on it herself in the later end of the book when she does something really stupid thinking it will help and it doesn't--ends up getting someone(s) killed. All she does to help her people, help her friends, only ends up getting people hurt. Again, she comments on this. It could just be that she is in a bad situation and she is really over her head, but still. A girl can get a few things right, whereas Mare seems to get most things wrong. Mare's big emotion motivator seems to be anger. She's angry at everything almost all the time, which is kind of a turn off for me. Anger and "Must. Help. Everyone!" (which she fails at often enough).

The book was also fairly predictable in my opinion. Though I should have gotten the major plot point and twist, but didn't, many of the other little things that happen, I saw coming. (Again, debut novel, I get it.)

And lastly I felt like things went too quickly. We get one lesson of Protocol, one lesson with Julian, one Training session, on dance lesson, brief moments at balls when things go wrong, and quick fight scenes (the final battle at the end was well done though--except I predicted what was going to happen). I feel like Aveyard could have elongated it a little bit to give us more of this world and the people more than just the love interests. I would have loved to get to know the King more. I guess the biggest thing to help this book out would have been to not stick  solely in Mare's mind but venture out to other characters. While we get a good idea about what is going on in their heads because Mar is perceptive, I feel more could have been added that would have helped character development and world/society building that this was lacking.

Over all, I'll probably read the next few that are supposed to come out, this is the first of four, because I am interested in this world and I know there can be a lot of progress in her writing style. I do also like the characters and want to get to know them more. The more you write, the more you learn, the better you become. I will give her other ones a shot.