And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None is one of the most well known books to date. It is probably Agatha Christie's crowning jewel of her career and for very good reason.

For those who didn't have to read it in your eighth grade class, it is about ten people who get coerced onto an island. They believe it is for a simple party for the weekend, a little vacation. But then they hear a strange voice condemning them all for murders they've committed in the past. At first they are all astounded, flabbergasted, and shocked, but that is just the beginning. People start dying. At the beginning, a simple poisoning, but as the night closes and a new day begins, it becomes more and more gruesome. Who is killing them? Someone else on this small, remote island? One of the guests? They all begin killed off. Paranoia sets in. Everyone is on edge. Who is the murderer?!

I read this in eighth grade in my English class. I was engulfed in the novel so much that when I saw the computer game in the store (with the novel attached) I bought it up so fast. The game and the book have different murderers, but the story is remarkably the same. They have made many movies and mini series about this books and I can't wait to see more than just the 1945 version.

Even if you don't care for mysteries, much like myself, you'll enjoy this one. It isn't the "Detective Novel" that consists of a fair amount (if not most) of the mystery novels out there. It is different and a good intro to Christie and mysteries in general. Everyone should read this book.

Alice in the Country of Hearts

Alice in the Country of Hearts was just something that I picked up at my local library. There are often a lot of little treasures hidden there that you'll actually very much love.

This particular  manga was alright in my book. Partially because I was set for a two volume series that ended up being a lot longer. Not only does Alice visit the Country of Hearts, but further on in the story she goes to the Country of Clovers and Diamond. My library didn't have those soooo this is part one of my Alice report to you all. I will have to wait to get the rest of the series at my library before I can tell you more.

This, of course, is a retelling of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. As in that book, there are many strange things that happen; this being a manga means that even more odd things happen. Here, Alice follows the White Rabbit, Peter White, down the rabbit hole and turns human with bunny ears. He kisses her, making her drink some kind of "medicine" (no tag that says "Drink Me" on it though) that magically forces her to stay in the Country of Hearts. He wants her to desperately fall in love with her and of course it backfires on him and she hates him passionately.

She finds that the land has four boundaries: the Palace (where Peter White and the Queen of Hearts lives), The Amusement Park (where the Cheshire Cat and his boss lives), The Mafia mansion (the mafia run by the Mad Hatter and March Hare, and guarded by Tweedle-Dee/Dum), then in the center of it all is the clock tower where the Clockmaker lives and repairs clocks.

Not everything is as nice as the Lewis Carroll novel. Life is not considered precious. The residents of the land magically turn pretty much anything into guns and constantly try to kill each other. When people die, their body dissolves and all that is left are clocks. The Clockmaker repairs them and they get formed into humans again. There is also a segregation between "those with duties" and those who don't. Those who do have duties have differential faces while those who don't, don't have a face at all. Which can make taking life that much easier. Another problem Alice discovers is that everyone, who has a duty, is falling in love with her. Not romantically all the time, but they love her like a curse or something because she is an "outsider." And slowly she is forgetting that she wants to go home. The end of this particular set of books ends with her playing a game and probably heading to the Land of Clover (as the next set of books is titled).

Overall, it was alright. The adaptations for the novel is intriguing and the characters are different enough to be mostly new while still sticking to the names and likes of the original characters they were based on. I was hoping for a contained novel, which wasn't what this was. If I'd known there was more when I first started it and wasn't left hanging like I am, I would have enjoyed it more. I will ask my library to get the next volumes and I'll finish the series, because there is hope for it. But right now I'm put off. :/

I really like Cheshire, though. He is genuinely caring and kind to her. The Clockmaker has his cuteness. The other characters have their own personalities which you will have to discover for yourself, but I really like the Cheshire Cat. I mean, he has a piercing in his tail of a dead fish. Sounds slightly gross, but it's quirky and give him a fun personality.

Realms of the Gods

This one, even though this is the end of the series where the large climax and final judgements are made, is my least favorite of The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce. The mood of the novel changes so dramatically, so very quickly. It is the darkest of the books and it starts out dark from the first pages and it ends dark again.

In the story, Ozorne got away and has amassed a giant army with the help of the Goddess of Chaos (whom probably should have been introduced previously, but wasn't) and has been causing a lot of havoc in Tortall. When Numair and Daine go out of the fort they were defending, they find that the Skinners are too much for either of them to handle and are only saved by Daine's mother and father and taken to the Realm of the Gods. Finally reunited with her mom and finally really meeting her dad, she still finds it weird and feels she doesn't know this woman who is now the Green Lady. Also, knowing that her friends are still in trouble back home, Daine wants to get back home to help. So her dad gives her a map of the Realm and sends her on a journey to the dragons, because they can't send her back themselves.

In my opinion, this journey seems a little unneeded. We do get introduced to Gold Fleck and the other darklings, Numair and Daine finally tell their feelings (which I will get to in a moment), and they meet up with Stormwings from previous books. However, the whole Hero's Journey that happens I think should have been done differently. The glimpse that we got of the realm was small and all they did was travel through it. Nothing they did their enhanced or hindered the people in the other realm, except for when they sent other Lesser Gods away to help out. Daine and Numair didn't do much. I feel like they should have been able to do something besides let things get steamy. In this Realm we got to know the Dream God who let them know what was going on in the human realm. this seemed like a cop-out to me. "Here have information, but not enough that I have to get too into it." :/ Come on. Make your book a little thicker and give us the actual fear that people were feeling. If you're going to have it be dark, give us chances for happiness too. In the other books there was humor and laughing even at just small parts. Give us the people we spent time with and got to know... In the end, I thought it was boring. Unneeded or needing to be advanced.

For the relationship between Daine and Numair, it was the only thing that grew on their journey. There were small things that Pierce did to say, Numair kind of likes her. But this was the first book that actually had him show any affection and after these small moments, he's kissing her face off and things start getting steamy. Pierce should have done a few more tell tell signs of it in book three, more than just telling the crown prince off. I think it would have been more believable.

Pierce got much better at setting than when she first started, I'll give her that. But it took me longer to finish this one than the others. It finished off the series and wrapped everything up, even with the God and their own battles, but I'm dissatisfied with it.

Emperor Mage

Emperor Mage has always been my favorite of the series and I think I discovered what I love most about it.

After finding evidence that Emperor Ozorne is the perpetrator behind the happenings in the north, in books 2, he pack peddles and tries to offer piece so then he won't have the whole of the civilized world at his throat. Alanna, Gary, Sir Gareth, Numair, and Daine and their friends join them in meeting with the Emperor. While they are there, they find that not all is happy. The God's are angry with the Emperor and have been throwing bad omens at him that he isn't listening too. Famine, more wars, and rats (to name a few) are being ignored. But now that his beloved birds are sick he calls for Daine's aid. She is able to heal them and sees that he cares for them. How can someone so kind to animals be such a horrible person?

But not only is she troubled about the Emperor but now she is visited by the God of Carthak, the Old Hag, and she won't let up. Suddenly dinosaurs are coming to life and she kills herself while doing it...

I enjoy this books so much for two very important reasons: the Emperor is a complex person who is indeed horrible, but also is very charismatic and compassionate, if you are the right person. He sees himself as doing the right thing, as all bad guys should--bad bad guys don't have conviction in what they are doing to destroy the world and those tank the novel. At some points you do question if he is the bad guy or simply "misunderstood." And two: Numair and Daine's development. Throughout the last three books, it's been very subtle. She has been very young and him about... 15?? years older than him. Any romantic relation between them would have been perverted. She was 13 in the first book and that would have been too much of an age gap. But as she's getting older, the gap seems to lessen. They go from very much teacher-student exploring wild magic to very much caring about one another. They aren't fully there yet, but toward the end when Daine believes the Emperor has captured Numair, she very much freaks out and causes a lot of destruction all because she "loses her temper." It was magnificent. That might be a third reason I like the book. The chapter called "Daine Loses her Temper." The climax of the book was fantastic too.

There were some problems though was how jumpy it was. In the middle of the book it jumped a lot and I felt like the descriptions of events lacked so then they were kind of confusing. I also felt, while her temper was building and she was able to see what was going on while she was otherwise occupied was a cop-out and unneeded. It was as if Pierce needed a way to have her know things, when there would have been easier ways to find it out. Pierce could have given us full scenes and actually shown us, the reader, the reason why Daine lost her temper. Make us feel for the characters more. Help us to shed a tear. I think that part could have been better handled.

Even with this fault, I can look it over and enjoy this book. I don't know if other's enjoy it as much as I do, but it is still probably my favorite in this series.

Wolf Speaker

Book number two of the "Immortals" by Tamora Pierce was always a quick read for me.

Daine returns to her wolf pack that helped her when she was younger, but now they need her help to stop the humans who are ruining the water, woods, and scaring off the game. With Numair at her side they confront the Lord and Lady of Dunlath but find there is more going on with them and their guests, whom Numair has a history with, than they origionally thought. When Numair and Daine get separated by a magical barrier, Daine is on her own with her animal friends to figure out how to stop these traitors to the crown. Not only does she get help from her Pack and the other animals that reside in the woods, but from Immortals and humans alike. Basilisks, Coldfangs, Horraks, Ogers, and Stormwings make their appearances though not all are Daine's friends.

As I said, it always seemed to go quickly--maybe through simplicity or the fact that I got engrossed into it or a combination of the two. This is for a younger YA audience who is stepping into fantasy, as I was when I first read it. It explains very thoroughly how her magic is used and applied and how Daine grows and experiments with her powers that she discovers.

It is a very simple and straightforward novel that is very plot driven. Daine is really the only one who develops throughout the novel because we don't necessarily see any of the other human characters and their actions. Numair throws lightning at the barricade and they come up with plans, but that is about it. It is very centered on Daine and her relations with the animals around her. All of the animals are very willing to help her out without any saying they won't, even if it was against their nature or something. They all were curious which simplified things too much for me. No need to persuade or beg or say "okay, I'll try somewhere else." It was all too easy for me.

I'd reread this if I was going through the series again or if I was looking for something that was very plot or quest based, but I don't know if I'd read it again simply to read it.

Wild Magic

Another revisit to an old friend. Wild Magic is the first book in Tamora Pierce's second Tortallian Series "The Immortals." Daine is probably my favorite lead character in the Tortallian Universe with Numair being a close tie with George for the lovely side kick. I love the chemistry that evolves with them as they grow as characters and as people.

It starts out with Daine (though it always comes out Diane in my head) meeting up with Onua, a horse-mistress for the Queen's Riders, and becomes her assistant. They are traveling south to the capital, Corus, when they come upon the steel-winged, harpy-looking-things they name Stormwings, that are attacking a very large hawk. They distract the Stormwings, killing some and making vengeful enemies of others, letting the hawk get away. Daine finds the hawk through mysterious ways, she tries to heal the hawk through traditional means, but nothing seems to work. Alanna, the Lioness, shows up to help and the hawk turns into a man who had shapeshifted to flee traitors he was spying on. Alanna and her company leave and let Numair (the man/hawk), Daine, and Onua make their way, more slowly, to the capital again. They become closer friends on their travels, but Daine has things in her past that are haunting her. She also finds, through Numair's help that she has a strange type of magic that makes her "knack with animals" more than just a knack. With suddenly fantastic--heavy on the fantasy part of the word--creatures suddenly appearing and attacking, Daine has to learn to use her Wild Magic to help save her new friends and find a home among them.

It's a very simple book. One that has a taste of the beginning Alanna: The First Adventure books where it starts explaining the mundane works of life, but Pierce incorporates the plot into it. There isn't an entire chapter of "this is what they did in everyday life because I guess I should explain that." Instead there is plot woven through it as well as the excitement you expect from a fantasy novel. Pierce definitely progressed in her store writing abilities with this one.

Setting was much better in this book than in previous books and it flowed better.It didn't bog us down, but gave us an idea of what this somewhat cliched fantasy world was actually like.

Of course there was the reappearance of George, Jon, Alanna, Thayet, Buri, and a few others, which is awesome. And it incorporated them into the story, not just letting them hover in the background like they do in "The Protector of the Small" series that I didn't really care for, but will be reading again anyway. They brought their wit and charm and experience into the story which filled it. I think Daine and Numair do a great job in the later books in the series of standing on their own two feet to make the story, but this one made it more relatable and lovable to the first series. It expanded the circle that is the Tortallian Universe and incorporated the pieces we were already given.

I love Daine and Numair. They are amazing and I love them as they grow and... spoilers. Won't say it. They are amazing. I very much enjoy these books.

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass  is a book I've heard nothing but praises for and, after having read it, I completely agree.

The best assassin was previously captured and put into a mining camp to pretty much die. But because she had the will to stay alive, she is invited to the palace of the man who imprisoned her in the first place. Live in a palace and find a way to escape while going through a competition against other villainous peoples to be the "King's Champion" (AKA personal assassin) with a chance of freedom or die in the mines... the decision was easy. In becoming the Crowned Prince's champion in this competition, Celaena is watched over by not only the Crowned Prince (who is a handsome, charming, reputation-holding man who doesn't like the King/his father), but also the Captain of the Guard (a shy, glaring, but kind guy) is keeping an eye on her so then she won't assassinate anyone while she is residing in the palace.

While she is the best assassin in the land, she is also an 18 year old girl. She still acts like an 18 year old girl. There is a slight love triangle that happens, but it's not super heavy so I overlooked it. (Except at the cute parts anyway.) There were a few Cinderella moments (which the author makes reference too in the commentary at the end) where she goes to a masquerade ball where she gets to dance with the prince. But she's also an assassin and doesn't take crap from anyone.

At the same time of the competition to be the King's Champion, there are ghosts and murders among the competitors. Not only are they getting kicked out of the competition but they are also getting murdered and eaten by something that is haunting the palace. There is magic, fairies (referenced, but not so much in the book), assassins, fighting, love, deep backstories, etc. Setting was well thought out and beautiful, different. Characters were entertaining, with witty bantering and simple conversation. There was one part where a Princess of a conquered land makes an appearance and she has a conversation with Celaena in another language while most everyone else didn't know what was being said. Being completely honest about situations and people, while those people around around, and they can't understand you... It was must funny.

My only problem with it would probably be that it was a bit predictable. I could tell who the bad guy was going to be from about the middle on, but I still very much enjoyed it. How things happened were surprises to me. It's an action book, not really a murder mystery. But I am eagerly awaiting the next book that I'm in queue for at my local library.

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