The Crown of Embers

The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2)

by Rae Carson

2 stars

410 pages

Published September 18th 2012 by Greenwillow Books

The first half of the book was booooring. It took me forever to get through it. Slog, slog, slog.

Once I got through that though, it picked up. But then that part went way too fast. Why couldn't Carson skip the lame stuff and concentrate on pacing the good stuff? The final "battle" was like a page long, maybe two.

Don't know if I'm going to read the third in this series.

Valkyrie Rising

Valkyrie Rising (Valkyrie #1)

by Ingrid Paulson

4 stars

352 pages

Published Oct. 9, 2012 by HarperTeen

An interesting book about a subject not written about often. Especially in a YA genre.

I didn't know a lot about the Norse legends and myths and this was a good introduction. I'm familiar with Odin and Loki (from the movie Thor), but the Valkyries were mostly new.

I enjoyed the pacing and the writing. The main character was a bit too whiny for me at first, but she got better. Especially when she discovered her powers.

I'll probably read the next one in the series. There's enough room for a sequel, but it's not necessary. This is a standalone book.

Daddy-Long-Legs

Daddy-Long-Legs (Daddy-Long-Legs #1)

by Jean Webster  

5 stars

249 pages

Published 1912 by Hodder & Stoughton

 

It is rare that I give 5 stars, but this adorable book deserves it. I believe this is one of the sweetest books I've ever read. It's witty and cute, and although it's written back in the early 20th century, it still is pertinent to today. I loved it.

I recommend to everyone! It's a quick read and you'll be a better person for reading it.
How many books can you say that about?

Etiquette & Espionage

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School #1)

by Gail Carriger

3 stars

307 pages
Published Feb. 5, 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

 
After reading Gail Carriger's adult Parasol Protectorate books, I thought I'd give her YA ones a try. This one didn't disappoint, although there was a bit less adventure contained within its pages. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, characters, and the plot. Mostly the writing. Exquisite vocabulary usage.

Completely YA appropriate - no swearing, sex or other ickiness. I may be checking out the next in the series.

Don't Turn Around

Don't Turn Around (PERSEFoNE #1)

by Michelle Gagnon

4 stars

309 pages
 

Published Aug. 28, 2012 by HarperCollins (first published Jan. 1, 2012)

Non-stop action and suspense coupled with computers and hackers and conspiracies! What a combination! I am definitely going to be reading the next in the series to see where it goes. Great book.

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Dust Girl

Dust Girl (The American Fairy #1)

by Sarah Zettel

2 stars

 

304 pages

Published June 26, 2012 by Random House Books for Young Readers (first published Jan. 1, 2012)

 

Meh. Not a great book. I think its first mistake was pairing the Great Depression/Dust Bowl with Fairies. Not a good match. It's like that awful movie a while ago - "Cowboys and Aliens." No amount of Daniel Craig-ness could pull that one out of the gutter. 

This book wasn't quite that bad, but it was sure weird. Weird. Weird. Some things just shouldn't be paired.
Will not be reading anymore in the series.

The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney

The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney

by Suzanne Harper

3.5 stars

364 pages

Published July 1, 2007 by Harper Teen

 

This was a solid 3+ star book. I enjoyed it!

It's about a girl, who is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, who refuses to embrace her "destiny" as a medium who talks to dead people. But one ghost refuses to be denied.
I liked Sparrow. It's not often that a character is fully fleshed out in a teen fiction book. They are usually flat, flat, flat. Oh! I love Edward! or Oh! I'm so angst-y! or Oh! I have to fight to survive!

Sparrow actually had a range of emotions!

The Moon Riders

The Moon Riders (Moon Riders #1)

by Theresa Tomlinson

2 stars

381 pages
 

Published Oct. 31, 2006 by Harper Teen (first published Feb. 6, 2003)

I have given up on this book. It's just not my style and a bit boring and sloooow. The only reason I gave it two stars is that it's not a bad book, I just can't get into it. I gave it a good try though - made it halfway before going on to other books.

If you are into the Battle of Troy and the legend of the Amazons, then you should give this a go.

Heat Wave

Heat Wave (Nikki Heat #1)

by Richard Castle

4 stars

198 pages

Published Sept. 29, 2009 by Hyperion

I've been on this Castle kick for the past couple of weeks - kids have been sick, I've been sick; husband, too. So I checked out the first three seasons of the show from my local library to help me veg out.

Have I told you how much I love libraries? Oh, yes. It's a well-known fact that when buying a house (which we do a lot, since we're moving every three years), I migrate toward homes that are close to libraries. In fact, now that I think about it, every home I've lived in during my married life has been within walking distance of a library. All the better to feed my addiction.

Sorry, back to the subject.

So, I fell in love with the wit and repartee and - dare I say it? - immaturity encapsulated in the main character of Richard Castle, played by Nathan Fillion. He is endearing and rascally!

I watched all three seasons in like 3 weeks, and begged my friend to let me borrow her seasons 4 and 5, which she did, bless her heart. I watched those in like 2 weeks. My daughter started watching them, too! Although I had to pick and choose the ones that were more appropriate for her. The sexy ones I nixed. While watching, I made a mental note to look into the books that the fictional Richard Castle wrote - the Derrick Storm books and Nikki Heat books.

I started with this one. 

And I loved it just as much as I love the show! Because it reads exactly like a Castle episode. The writing is exactly the same as the show's writing. The characters are the same. 

I will be reading more of these books - since I am not done with my glut of Castle.

There is some swearing - no F-bomb. A mild sex scene on page 105.

Firstborn

Firstborn

by Brandon Sanderson
4 stars

47 pages

Published July 14, 2010 by Tor Books (first published Dec. 17, 2008)

Another Brandon Sanderson short story. This one is set in the far future in space - about a guy who is an absolute failure as a military tactician.

Fantastic moral at the end - with a bit of a Twilight Zone-ish twist. Loved it.