Frost Like Night

Frost Like Night is the third book in Sara Raasch's Snow Like Ashes series. 

"Angra is alive, his Decay is spreading--and no on is safe.

"Meira will do anything to save her world. With Angra trying to break through her mental defenses, she desperately needs to learn to control her own magic--so when the leader of a mysterious Order from Paisly offers to teach her, she jumps at the chance. But the true solution to stopping the Decay lies in a labyrinth deep beneath the Season Kingdoms. To defeat Angra, Meira will have to enter the labryinth, destroy the very magic she's learning to control--and make the biggest sacrifice of all.

"Mather will do anything to save his queen. He needs to rally the Children of the Thaw, find Meira--and finally tell her how he really feels. But with a plan of attack that leaves no kingdom unscathed and a major betrayal within the ranks, winning the war--and protecting Meira--slips farther and farther out of reach. 

"Ceridwen will do anything to save her people. Angra had her brother killed, stole her kingdom, and made her a prisoner. But when she's freed by an unexpected ally who reveals a shocking truth behind Summer's slave trade, Ceridwen must take action to save her true love and her kingdom, even if it costs her what little she has left. 

"As Angra unleashes the Decay on the world, Meira, Mather, and Ceridwen must bring the kingdoms of Primoria together or lose everything." 

General Thoughts and Plot: Wow that intro seemed really intense. It is the final book in the series and everything comes to a head. In true, "I'm the only one who can do it" fashion, Meira ends up needing to sacrifice herself in order to stop the magic. Not going to lie, I saw the ending a mile and a half away. It was very easy to see where it was going. However, how we got there was pretty neat. Final battle sequence of magically hypnotized armies, travel to find the last few lands we hadn't visited yet because reasons, and somehow saving the world while still looking gorgeous and unharmed. It was a little cheesy with a nice ribbon to tie it all up with, but I guess it gave us what we wanted. 

Theme: The caption above put it in context, a lot of this is about "I will sacrifice myself for the good of my people." Obviously not wanting to die or them to die, but battles must be fought and heroic days must be lead. Again, kind of cheesy, but that's what you get with "end of the world" motifs

Setting: As with before in the series, it's an interesting, if not childish, representations of the four Seasons and four other kingdoms that are easy to get confused.  The labyrinth is pretty cool though. 

Characters: It was cool to get a little more of Angra's backstory, his Angry story. There are so many of those little things where again it almost seems childish. Obviously he's the BBEG, but I like a BBEG who is able to get a little monologuing done so we know his reasonings. I don't think they worked well enough for me though, didn't quiet hit hat power punch that I was hoping for. I did very much enjoy Meira and a certain boy "got back together." Many of the other characters were good too, and I liked the development that supporting cast had, like Theron--though his ending seemed a little... wanting. 

Spice: 3/5 Spicy Chilis. It's been a minute since I've read it and nothing came to mind, so whatever happened wasn't too much that I was disturbed by it. However, other reviews mention things happening, but not explicitly described. So this is where I'm putting it. 

Writing Style: It was alright. Modern, young adult. Easy to read and listen to, but nothing extraordinary.

Overall: It was pretty good. A decent ending for the series. Not my favorite series, maybe top fifteen, but I also read it over a year ago and my feelings probably shifted as parts there weren't as memorable as they could have been. There weren't very many scenes that stuck with me like there were in the first one. There were moments that were good, sure, but I really had to think about this one to remember what was going on. 

Night Fliers

Night Fliers is another American Girl History Mystery, this time written by Elizabeth McDavid Jones. 

"When Pam's homing pigeons disappear while her father's away fighting in World War I, she uncovers evidence of an enemy spy."

General Thoughts: It was alright. Not a favorite thought, because  I didn't much care for the characters. 

Plot and Themes: The plot wasn't something that I got really excited about. Taking place in the 1910's and worrying about pigeon carriers... maybe it's because my brain was too modern while read this, but I didn't care. Possibly because it's "so old fashioned," maybe to modern old fashioned as opposed to the preferred "old old fashioned." It could also be that the "German spy" that everyone was so worried about wasn't as believable as it maybe should be. And the fact that they were stealing pigeons as the big mystery was kind of lame. I don't care about pigeons and don't recall there ever being a majorly important time in WWI where they saved the day, I could very well be wrong on that though.

Setting: I do remember bits of the setting, but nothing that really struck me as engaging or keeping me engrossed in the story. Which is rather disappointing. 

Characters: Pam and the other's, whom I honestly can't remember, weren't all that memorable. Some of what happened, sure, but not much. I didn't care about them. Pam also didn't grow in any big way I think. Maybe, don't judge a book by it's cover? Maybe that the bad guys can be closer to home instead of in a neighbors backyard? I don't know. I felt like she was stagnant.  

Spice: 0/5 Spicy Chilis. It is a children's book and she seemed more upset throughout the story more than anything. 10 year old's shouldn't have romances yet. 

Writing Style: I remember nothing particularly interesting in the writing style. I felt let down by much of this book in general. 

Overall: I didn't care for the characters, setting, or plot of this book. It was very much a let down especially after reading the other two books in the series previously. I would have liked a story where I cared about the things that were going on. Maybe about a girl who... was able to help out in the war effort in a way that I cared about. Pigeons don't seem that important and I'm sure there was something else that could have worked better. The fact that I didn't care about the characters, even if it was just Pam, is a big red flag in my opinion. If I don't care for the main character, I'm not going to like the book. In the end, I probably won't read it again for a very long time, but it's there as part of the collection. 

Hoofbeats of Danger

 

An American Girl History Mystery, Hoofbeats of Danger by Holly Hughes. 

"In 1860, eleven-year-old Annie asks Pony Express rider Billy Cody to help her find the person responsible for sabotaging her favorite pony Magpie."

General Thoughts: I really liked this book. It is easily one of my favorite History Mystery books.  

Plot: I liked how because Annie pays attention to the job she does and loves, she is able to figure out what is going on to save her families Waystop. And because she is a reliable and honest girl she gets the people around her to listen to her and save the day. I also really liked how they got Billy "Buffalo Bill" Cody to be present while he was a Pony Express Rider. 

Theme: It seemed the theme that I recall was to stand up for yourself even if you are a small girl vs a large angry man. She let her voice be heard and solved the mystery because of it. 

Setting: I really enjoy a good historical or fantasy setting. This story was more into the mystery side of things as opposed to the environment, but when you're surrounded by prairie grass, it's understandable that Holly Hughes didn't spend to much time on describing the barn, hills, or small house in the middle of no where. The setting that was given did it's job and wasn't jarring or cast me out of the story. 

Characters: I particularly liked Annie Dawson and Billy Cody. They were kind and made a good team, her the brains and him the brawn in order to save the day. He was portrayed here as a nice guy who was willing to help a girl out, which seems to be the case Annie (haha) Oakley. They were fun and memorable characters. 

Spice: 0/5 Spicy Chilis. It's a children's book. Why would you be looking for that here?

Writing Style: I recall it being fairly good. Nothing too spectacular for a modern child audience, but good enough that I enjoyed it as an adult realizing it's a children's book. 

Overall: Like many of the other books in this series, I'd read it again. If you're a horse lover, wanting to step into the Wild West, or just wanting a simple but good mystery, give it a try. 

The Smuggler's Treasure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Greek Gods

 The Greek Gods by Evslin, Evslin, and Hoopes. 

"The Greek gods had more powers than mortals could even imagine. They could change day to night, turn people into animals, and punish men with eternal torture. Their whims and desires changed the course of human destiny. No legends are more fabulous than those of the Greek gods. This classic collection tells their stories."

General Thoughts: I read this book in my 8th grade English class and after my son and I finished reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, I thought it would be a good idea to get the most widely believed versions of Greek Mythology. 

Plot: These are the stories of the major Greek Gods. Each three to five page chapter is the story of them muddling about with mortals. They are short, concise, and simple stories that showed the basic characteristics and actions of most of the Gods. Though it doesn't have all the stories, it has enough to walk though Rick Riordan's books without losing a shoe. 

Setting: There isn't much here in the way of setting. If there are descriptions they are short and don't give you much in the way of a feel for the "world" that the Greek Gods are in. It almost has the feel of a text book, kinda dry but give the information. 

Characters: Each of the character, God or mortal, are simple. They are portrayed as if it was a story being told around a campfire, not a masterly crafted literature piece with characters you'd want to read about over and over again because they were so enticing.

Spice: 1/5 Spicy Chilis. I could probably say 0 instead of one just for how dry it is, but the fact that offspring happen and you have the Goddess of Love there, I'll give it a 1. 

Writing Style: It feels like a text book. Something you'd want to reference if you were writing a paper, not necessarily the best piece of fiction. 

Overall: It was something to show to my son that not all the stories in Rick Riordan's books are "mythologically accurate" but that he does a pretty good job at staying true to the myths. It was okay, but probably not a book that he or I will be reading again for a long while.  

Sorcerer In The North

The firth book in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, Sorcerer In The North is a new story arch with Will as a new official Ranger. 

"Several years have passed since the apprentice and his master, Will and Halt, first met, and Will is finally a full-fledged Ranger with his own fief to look after. The fief seems sleepy?boring, even?until Lord Syron, master of a castle far in the north, is struck down by a mysterious illness. Joined by his friend Alyss, Will is suddenly thrown headfirst into an extraordinary adventure, investigating fears of sorcery and trying to determine who is loyal to Lord Syron. As Will battles growing hysteria, traitors, and most of all, time, Alyss is taken hostage, and Will is forced to make a desperate choice between his mission and his friend."

General Thoughts: It was a good story and fun to see will having to do things officially on his own without Halt's all knowing help. It is a slower paced book compared to some of the others, but I still enjoyed it. 

Plot: The plot, like many of the other Ranger's Apprentice books are simple: go figure out what is going on at this fort, but be secret, because that's what Ranger's do. It's kind of cool how he had to be in disguise and be secret. Of course by the end he gets found out and his comrade Alyss gets caught, but that is beside the point. Now things will amp up because he needs to save her too. It had a good cliffhanger that had my son and I wanting to go to the next book quickly. 

Setting: It is kinda weird how each of the countries just happen to be similar to European countries. Almost to the T. The Skandrians are similar to Scandinavians, the Scoti are the Scottish, the country they go to in the third book is totally France. It almost feels like cheating to take a caricature of each country and run with it. 

Characters: The people I remember best are Alyss and Will obviously and how they had to work together. I liked that Will got himself a dog -- a dog very much like my own in fact. I remember the BBEG was being charming in a "I rolled high on my charisma" kind of way and how he hated being around all of his subordinates that he chose as sell swords. A few were somewhat memorable, but not many. 

Spice: 1/5 Spici Chilis. There is some flirtation going on, but that is about it. They are too busy dealing with problems at hand to get too flirty, though flirting does happen. 

Writing Style: This I think is John Flanagan's biggest problem: he over explains. I can often over look it because I enjoy the characters and I get excited as Will goes adventuring, but sometimes it can feel longwinded. And it's been the same thing in all of his books so far. Even still, I enjoy them. 

Overall: I enjoyed this book. The second one is better with more goings on, but it was a good book. Not great maybe, but good. I think the characters are what really pulls it through. 

Ice Like Fire

 Ice Like Fire is the second book in the Snow Like Ashes series by Sara Raash. 

"It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

"Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

"Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

"As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world."

General Thoughts: It has been a little over a year since I read this and when I first realized that this was on the list, I had a hard time remembering what it was about. Upon further reflection, I did remember that it got rather political. Fights between Winter and Cordell, Meira and Theron, Mather getting himself in trouble. It was a good audiobook and an interesting story, but middle books can be hard to make exceptional, or so I've found. 

Plot: I will not end up doing this justice. I simply don't remember much beyond them going to different countries and trying to get people to believe that the BBEG is still around and pulling strings. I do remember some vice between Meira and Theron and that Mather acted like an idiot. I also remember Meira being pulled in many different directions and that her thought process was interesting and I liked how she figured out how to fix her problems. There were a bunch of "must find the thing" moments in each of the cities they visited and she was able to get help along the way. I do remember that the end was really good. With all the puzzle pieces back together and finding out that the BBEG had his fingers in many pies it made for a really good cliffhanger amongst all the blood. 

Setting: The Snow Like Ashes books have a very simple map though an interesting world that has developed from that map. Each country is so different that different cultures have to bloom from them. Summer was very interesting, though I didn't appreciate all of their social norms, though I hope there wouldn't be many who would. Although, the fact that Summer, Winter, Spring, and Autumn are always that season is kind of basic. It is nice that the other non-season countries are different, but it can be confusing especially when they aren't actually in those countries. 

Characters: I don't have anything bad to say about any of them as far as I can remember. There were some that were annoying or I was glad to see die, but as a character that's what they were supposed to do. Meira had many moments of growth and her fight to figure out what "Being Queen of Januari" meant and that fight continued on into the third book, so I believe. Mather goes about learning more about how not to be an idiot, which I'm grateful for. I was rooting for him to win out his love triangle. Theron has his moments, but he starts slipping into an antagonist roll, though not the main antagonist as the BBEG because he is constantly butting heads with Meira though he has sound ideas as well. 

Spice: 2/5 Spicy Chilis. I remember there being more than flirtations, I mean Meira and Theron are/were engaged to be married. I remember them kissing at least once in the first one, I think. As the book goes on, their love for one another dwindles considerably. Mather coming up into this love triangle again doesn't really happen because he's too far away, though he does love her and tries to save her toward the end. There isn't much of any opportunity to show it. 

Writing Style: It is a very modern, young adult book. Simple in writing. Simple metaphor and similes. Not very poetic or lyrical. Nothing particularly stands out compared to other young adult books. 

Overall: It was a decent book, definitely a middle of the series book where there are parts that are easily forgotten. The ending was pretty cool and had some unexpected parts. I probably wouldn't want to reread this one again on it's own. If I was wanting the series, then yes, but there weren't any  moments the I felt I needed to read again because it was just that good.