REVIEW: Wild Magic - Tamora Pierce

Wild Magic - Tamora Pierce

Pages: 384

Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal horsemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. Soon it becomes clear that Daine's talent, as much as she struggles to hide it, is downright magical. Horses and other animals not only obey, but listen to her words. Daine, though, will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself. -goodreads.com

I've always been a pretty big fan of Mrs. Pierce. She has a lot of elements I've always liked, such as the whole medevil theme and fantasy elements. Female heroines are a plus. ;D

Daine is an outcast. Her family killed by bandits, she wanders the streets in search of work, with her family horse, Cloud.

When she stumbles upon a job involving ponies, she accepts and treks across the land into Tortall. While on the journey, her talents are displayed in the open. Possessing a gift with animals, they do anything and whatever she says, and protect her when she's in danger.

Daine meets good friends along the way and when push comes to shove, she is downright fierce. When everyone she knows is on the line, will she come through and save them all?

I really liked this book because it has a lot of elements I like, as explained. Tamora Pierce is a master story weaver and is very detailed. I always love the feeling of being right inside the book! Everything is vivid, and I swear I changed tempeture with the climate. ^^;;

Daine is going across the land with the new ponies, and they come across a bunch of hiccups on the way. Daine encounters Harpy-like monsters, as well as human-taratula demons. And they also meet up with her future teacher, Numair, who sounds smokin', by the way. :P

After that conundrum, my favorite part is when they arrive in the royal city. Everyone is pretty backwards in Tortall, lords and ladies are usually among their people, leading an honest life along the commoners.

There is a series before this, the Song of the Lioness Quartet, which involves the King's Champion, Alanna. I recommend that series as well, its just as good, if not better.

There are strong animal personalities as well. A nice addition to the book, which I really like.

It's third person and focuses the whole story on Daine.

I love Numair and Cloud. They are probs my fave characters.

Sorry for the shortish review! I'm pressed for time! D:

RATING: 9 of 10

until next time,

Addy

Review: The Lost Throne - Chris Kuzneski

The Lost Throne - Chris Kuzneski

pages: 495

Carved into the towering cliffs of central Greece, the Metéora
monasteries are all but inaccessible. Holy Trinity is the most isolated, its sacred brotherhood the guardians of a secret that has been protected for centuries. In the dead of night, the holy retreat is attacked by an elite group of warriors carrying ancient weapons. One by one, they hurl the silent monks from the cliff-top to the rocks below ― the holy men taking their secret to their graves…. Halfway across Europe, Richard Byrd fears for his life. He has uncovered the location of a magnificent treasure. But there are those who are dedicated to protecting it, and they will stop at nothing to prevent its discovery. Hoping to save himself, Byrd contacts two colleagues, Jonathon Payne and David Jones, and begs for their help. The duo rushes to his aid and quickly find themselves caught in an adventure that will change their lives forever. -chriskuzneski.com

I found this book at the library. Now I know that the library is like bookworm heaven, and I love going there as much as the next lovable nerd, but sometimes I find it a bit hard to find good books among the thousands of books and manuscripts and biographies and great works of literature and so on. However, The Lost Throne kind of jumped out at me. The cover art was great, which helps make a book noticeable, and it sounded interesting, so there it was. Now that I've finished literally critiquing the book, on to the real review...

The Lost Throne had me engrossed in the first few pages. To start off, someone in the early 20th century, whom we don't know until we are reminded of halfway through the book, dies. Simple as that. He sounds like a big deal, but we have no clue who he is. Now fast forward to approximately modern day. We have a bloody murder scene in a monastery in Greece. While Nick Dial, head of the Interpol police, heads the investigation, we are transported to Florida where we meet Jonathon Payne and DJ Jones. They're ex-military dogs now pretty much bumming around and doing some basic military work. Suddenly, Payne gets a call. Or more like seventeen calls. Now only a person in serious trouble would do that, right?

Now, being thrown halfway around the world again, we meet Allison Taylor and Richard Byrd. Allison is on her way to meet Richard, and just as she sees him, things fall apart. So she winds up alone in Russia, terrified and helpless. What does she do? She calls a random number that Richard gave her. And who picks up? Why Jon Payne.

As you can see, having between two and three different plots throughout the book makes things confusing, but it all ties together nicely...eventually. That was one of my biggest problems, that things seemed a bit too complex and would up not making sense at times. Also, the teaser in the book makes the monks sound like the main storyline, but one soon realizes that they are important, but not the main focus. Other than that, great book.

The characters are very varied, but some of them seem to follow a similar pattern. Nick, Payne, and DJ are all the same type of seen-it-before, laid back type. Characters like Allison and Jarkko are more fun. Allison is a California girl, but she's far from the stereotype. She was working with Richard as a colleague, not some ditsy blond who can't take care of herself. Jarkko, oh what is there to say about Jarkko...he's a character, that's for sure, pun intended. He's fun, odd, and a bit cliché, but he's a very interesting side character.

Once one boils down the plot and does some digging, The Lost Throne somehow twists into the previously mentioned treasure hunt. I'm not sure how it happened, but somewhere along the line, it did. However, I'm okay with treasure hunting books, so there you have it. I'll definitely have to do some looking into Chris Kuzneski's other bestsellers, but because of the plot complexity, I'll say it wasn't my favorite book. It was good, but not really a quick read. Overall though, seeing as I haven't read a book that I didn't mostly like (no I have not read Twilight and I refuse to for that reason) I would still recommend The Lost Throne. It's a good adventure/mystery/archaeology book, and I did enjoy it.



Rating: 7.5/10



Catch you soon,

Harry

REVIEW: Good Enough - Paula Yoo

Good Enough - Paula Yoo
Pages: 336

How to make your Korean parents happy:

1. Get a perfect score on the SATs

2. Get into HarvardYalePrinceton.

3. Don't talk to boys.*

Patti's parents expect nothing less than the best from their Korean-American daughter. Everything she does affects her chances of getting into an Ivy League school. So winning assistant concertmaster in her All-State violin competition and earning less than 2300 on her SATs is simply not good enough.
But Patti's discovering that there's more to life than the Ivy League. To start with, there's Cute Trumpet Guy. He's funny, he's talented, and he looks exactly like the lead singer of Patti's favorite band. Then, of course, there's her love of the violin. Not to mention cool rock concerts. And anyway, what if Patti doesn't want to go to HarvardYalePrinceton after all?
Paula Yoo scores big in her hilarious debut novel about an overachiever who longs to fit in and strives to stand out. The pressure is on!
*Boys will distract you from your studies.

- goodreads.com

I picked this book up because Patti's life had a lot of the same pressure mine does. I'm always feeling the need to be perfect and not screw up. Granted, Patti has no social life, and I do, but I digress. :P

Patti is Korean American. Her parents are both immigrants from South Korea and are practically geniuses. On top of that, Patti's mother is beautiful, something of which she can never be.

In order not to disgrace her parents and live up to expectations, Patti spends every minute after school studying. Except, when she plays the violin.

For Patti's parents, the violin is her "hook," or what gets her in HarvardYalePrinceton. But Patti truly loves playing, and she finds herself falling for a boy in her class. Knowing that she will give up the violin eventually, and that boys are STRICTLY off-limits, Patti does a little discovering and finds out what is truly important to her.

This book is a good read for anyone who has ever felt the need to live up to expectations, and brutal ones at that. Patti's parents think the Ivy League is everything for their only child. As much as Patti wants to go, she also wants to be true to herself, even though she tries to deny it.

When she meets Ben, or "Cute Trumpet Guy," and gets to know him, he persuades her to do what she really wants.

I've always been this way. I hate disappointing people, even if its the best I could have done. Trust me, I have recently cried over grades I have received because I was afraid of the reaction of my parents. I hate that, and you always feel powerless, and in my case, pride would get in the way.

Patti is an awesome character. She is a bit "flat," i would say, but she does have her own change to go through. Ben is the catalyst for her. The violin is what she loves, but she thinks a music career is way too risky.

Ben is my favorite character. He's Patti's love interest, and he speaks his mind to her. He's the one who convinces Patti to reach for what she wants.

Even though he's a bit of a lost cause, and that really sucked, I was genuinely disappointed for Patti.

I recommend this for people who feel as if they've always been under pressure and are stressed. I think this is a way of saying, "it could be worse, so do something about it."

RATING: 8 of 10

Until Next time,

Addy

Review: Storm Front - Jim Butcher

Storm Front - Jim Butcher

pages: 322

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever. There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get interesting. -goodreads.com

Oh gosh...where to start. The Harry Dresden files are some of my favorite books. The way my sister described them was Harry Potter for grownups. In these books, your wizard is more likely to go for a drink than take a ride on a broomstick. Storm Front is only the first of many books in the series.

The basic plot of Storm Front is that Harry has a friend in the Chicago P.D. who asks him to investigate a murder, he goes in, assuming it can't be that bad, can it? Yes. It can be. Two people had their hearts explode out of their chests. One of them was a bodyguard to the biggest mobster in Chicago, John Marcone, and the other was a call girl working for a well-known vampire in the area, Bianca. Before too long everything gets tied up and interwoven and Harry finds himself caught in the middle of a great adventure involving not only the characters above, but a smart-witted talking skull, a sneaky interviewer for a paranormal magazine, and a police officer who doesn't know what quite to make of things. Oh, and those last two are both women.

Storm Front has a little of everything. It has fantasy, I mean the guy's a wizard, it has romance, but not too heavily, it has action, it has mystery, and it even has humor. Only a good author could make you crack up not too many pages after describing a brutal murder.

The characters in The Dresden Files are fun and very varied. Some of the ones who seem like minor characters in the first book, like Susan and Bianca, actually become major characters later on in the series. Also not mentioned was the Knight of the holy Cross, Michael. Michael is one of my favorite characters, even though he isn't introduced in Storm Front I'm pretty sure. Bob the skull is hysterical, but at the same time, somehow helpful to Harry.

Overall I really enjoyed Storm Front because it got me going into a really good series. Kudos to my sister for introducing it to me. As mentioned earlier, Harry Dresden is like Harry Potter...just for grownups.

Rating: 9/10

Until next time,

Harry

AN AWARD?!

Hey guys! It's the first time that PBOF has won an award and I'm so excited!


This award was present to us by TWO bloggers!


Thanks to Supernatural Bookworm and MisAdventures of a Teenage Bookworm! You guys are the best!



Here are the rules of the trade:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

7 Things about Addy:

1. Soccer = My life. Don't diss it or my skill. It will be a problem and you will regret it.

2. Purple is the best color in the world.

3. I have a dog named Dakota

4. I watch Yugioh The Abridged Series, and used to watch the real Yugioh and Pokemon and all that jazz.

5. I LOVE ANIMALS AND ASIA.

6. I may want to be a vet. Or a language major. Not sure yet.

7. I like Anime.

7 Things About Harry

1. I'm the youngest of 4

2. I have a HUMONGOUS family

3. I have white hair

4. The computer is waaay too big a part of my life

5. I am a neat freak.

6. I correct people on the difference between your and you're

7. I enjoy soccer (even though I can't play it to save my life)

So now here's the 15 peeps we're passing this onto!

1. Fantasy4Eva

2. Today's Adventure

3. The Compulsive Reader

4. Cleverly Inked

5. Book Bloggers

6. Leilani Loves Books

7. fangswandsandfairydust.com

8. The Book Muncher

9. Teens Read and Write

10. Crazy-For-Books

11. Darlyn & Books

12. Missy Reads & Reviews

13. Jessica's Vision

14. Alisha's World

15. Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Check out the above blogs and have a good day!

I'll put up my review tomorrow. Just for all of you. 8D

Until Next time,

Addy

REVIEW: For Keeps - Natasha Friend

For Keeps - Natasha Friend

Pages: 267

For sixteen years, Josie Gardner and her mom, Kate, have been a team. It’s been the Gardner Girls against the world, and that’s how Josie likes it. Until one day, in the pet food aisle of Shop-Co, they run into the parents of Paul Tucci, Kate’s high school boyfriend—the father Josie has never met. If Mr. and Mrs. Tucci are back in town, it’s only a matter of time until Paul shows up. Suddenly Josie’s mature, capable mother regresses to the heartbroken teenager she was when Paul moved away. Meanwhile, Josie’s on the verge of having her first real boyfriend, while her free-loving best friend, Liv, begins yet another no-strings-attached fling. When Josie learns some surprising truths about Paul Tucci, she finds herself questioning what she’s always believed about her parents—and about herself. In FOR KEEPS, Natasha Friend tells a fresh, funny, smart story about what happens when a girl gets the guy she always wanted and the dad she never knew she needed. - goodreads.com


For Keeps is what I would call a stereotypical book at first glace. Girl with no dad, finds dad, finds meaningful boy, has fight with mom, blah blah blah, everyone makes up the end.
Honestly, I was expecting a lot of that. I got a pretty big jolt when I really started reading it.

Josie is 16. She is her mom's only child and her dad is MIA. Her best friend is quirky and has 2 dads for parents. He employer is a clean freak, and he's always changing her hours. Add that to soccer practice and sexy Matt Rigsby, and you got a pretty average day.
When Josie's grandparents show up, it is undeniable that her father is lurking in wait. When her mother starts to date and leaves Josie more on her own, she gets more and more distanced from her mother.
Don't forget all the pressure and maybe even the scary thought of teen pregnancy and that about sums it up.

Sounds interesting, right?

The best part of this book is the unpredictability. When Josie first mentioned Liv's parents as Pops and Dodd, I didn't think much of it. Turns out they're both Liv's dads! I was floored and astonished. WHOA. WHAT A TWIST!
Josie is also completely afraid of any commitment to a boy. She wants to get to know Rigsby, but she always holds herself back. She doesn't want to get hurt, or worse yet, pregnant.

Her mother is Josie's best friend. They've gone through ups and downs and are always there for the other. When they say her grandparents in a store, Josie comforts her mom through the breakdown. But when her mother starts dating again, Josie gets possessive and almost furious to a point of silence.

Add in the impending doom of meeting her father, because it seems bound to happen, and I think I'm about ready to get off this emotional roller coaster. Honestly, its so down to earth and believable, that I could imagine myself doing these things on a daily basic.

It is written from first person point, narrated by Josie, and thus you get the feeling just as she gets it: Shocked, Angered, Confused.

My fave character is Liv. She's so quirky and fun. I wish I could be like her. (:

I loved this book. It's a great read for those of us with struggles and insanely twisty (yeah, take it as you will). I recommend it to you all out there!

RATING: 9 of 10

until next time,
Addy

Kiss and Tell (3)

This Is a new meme being featured Over at Fatasy4eva, where the whole idea is to gush about our latest books and discuss them.

Yay for K&T NUMBA THREE.
Look. That even rhymed.

-Ahem-

I'd like to welcome everybody to the blog, especially new followers! Hope I get to talk to you all soon! (:


It's been a while since I've done this meme(cuz I'm a slacker ;;) and I will begin this again, more dedicatedly!
This week I'm going to give you one book I'm really looking forward to reading! (:



Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr
Pages: 328

Rating: 8 Kiss and Tells

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries. Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty-especially if they learn of her Sight-and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries. Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention. But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. His is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost-regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; everything. Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale. -goodreads.com



Well, I seem to be on a very faerie kick lately, what with Wings and all.

What I think:
I'm really hoping this book will be good. Like, amazingly, awesome good. I've heard a bunch of good things about it, from bloggers to my lit class.
I've heard much praise for Melissa Marr as well. From what I can tell from this synopsis, this sounds like a very spine-tingling, fast paced, interesting book.
I love faeries, as well as magic and fantasy, as is apparent by most of what I read.

I really have high hopes for this book. Indeedy.


Random Thought:
I used to have a friend named Aislinn, although her name was spelled Aslynn.
But I wonder if she sees faeries too...



Until next time,
Addy

Review: And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie

And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie
Pages: 173

Considered the best mystery novel ever written by many readers, And Then There Were None is the story of 10 strangers, each lured to Indian Island by a mysterious host. Once his guests have arrived, the host accuses each person of murder. Unable to leave the island, the guests begin to share their darkest secrets--until they begin to die. - goodreads.com

And Then There Were None was the first Agatha Christie book I read. This is the book that got me hooked on her mysteries, and the review above does it some justice. I read the book in less than a day, so it's a quick read, but that's mainly because it's absolutely gripping. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down.

The book starts off a bit slowly, with character introduction for each of the ten main characters. Each one is very unique, from a suspicious judge to a nervous secretary. Keeping track of all ten of them is a bit difficult, but it gets much easier as one by one, they are all killed off.

The main question in the book is who is the murderer? The characters are on a secluded island, with no contact with the outside world. They know that it's one of them, but they don't know which one. As the bodies pile up, the only ones above suspicion are in fact, the dead. The thrilling part is really when the book gets down to the last three or four people, because each one of them is absolutely terrified of the others, and paranoid as well.

The end of the book was really unique to me, because it didn't have a big miracle solution. In fact, it was a bit creepy once you realized who the killer was. As I said before, it's a short read, my copy being only 173 pages, but it is a very good book.


Rating: 8/10


Until next time,

Harry

REVIEW: Artichoke's Heart - Suzanne Supplee

Artichoke's Heart - Suzanne Supplee
Pages: 244

Blubber meets Steel Magnolias in this funny and honest story about body image and family.
Rosemary Goode is smart and funny and loyal and the best eyebrow waxer in Spring Hill, Tennessee. But only one thing seems to matter to anyone, including Rosemary: her weight. And when your mom runs the most successful (and gossipy) beauty shop in town, it can be hard to keep a low profile. Rosemary resolves to lose the weight, but her journey turns out to be about everything but the scale. Her life-changing, waist-shrinking year is captured with brutal honesty and humor, topped with an extralarge helping of Southern charm. A truly uncommon novel about an increasingly common problem. -Goodreads.com

Well, before I begin, I picked this book up because I think it pertains to so many of us in the world. Not that we are indeed fat, but that if we are the slightest bit out of the norm, people discriminate against you and relentlessly badger your self-esteem into the dumps. I have problems with my own self-image, and this book was really enlightening to me. I loved it, even though some of it was cheesy, it was still a great read for me. (:

Rosemary Goode is everything her mother, Rose Warren, isn't. She is overweight, shy, and a push over. Rose Warren is thin, confident and successful. Rosemary has never like her Aunt Mary and mother for pushing her to lose weight. She just wishes that she could be accepted for who she is. Only her Grandma understands her and wants her to be happy. But when Rosemary experiances her first high school crush and a new high on the scale, she is determined to shed pounds. Going through endless dollars on a weight loss shake, and almost completely swearing off all food of substance. She begins to see improvements, and she drops almost 50 pounds in the end. Along the way, she makes friends with an outcast popular girl, who becomes her workout buddy, and stands up to her tormenters. And when Rosemary's mother encounters her own struggles, they both truly open up to each other.

This book was so sweet. (: I loved almost every minute of it.
This book is written in first person, told from Rosemary's POV, and in a sort of stream of consciousness style. At one point, I was utterly fed up with the constant mindless blabbering, but when you're insecure, that's kind of how we think. Towards the middle of the book, I stopped noticing it as much, because Rosie was losing weight and it seemed like a bunch of her mindless chatter ceased. I'll almost say I kind of missed it. haha (:

The relationships in this book really pleased me. The mother-daughter relationship going on with Rose and Rosie is so frusterating! It's almost like the roles are reversed; Rose never wants to tell Rosie anything, so instead, Rosie bottles up her own emotions and thoughts as well. As the novel wears on, they come to terms with both of their needs, even though Rosie was originally mad at her mother for scheduling her to a "therapist" and buying her a treadmill.
Rosie and Aunt Mary are two explosive personalities that clash often. Just think of two male deer going at it with their antlers all the time and you have these two.
Rosie and Kay-Kay. Oh, they're just the cliche sort of friends. Outcast friends former popular superstar. But I really enjoy Kay-Kay and I love her bubbliness, so I can overlook the cliche and be happy. (:
And then there's Kyle and Rosie. Rosie has had a crush on Kyle since she saw him in the school paper. She never thinks there's any chance she will ever land a spot in his life unless she loses weight. When Kyle finally does make his move, its Rosie's dream. He reveals to her, at the end of the book, when and why he started to love her, and, cheesy as it was, I wish my boyfriend(if I had one!) would say it to me. (:

My favorite character has got to be Kay-Kay or Mrs. Bertha. They're positive and enlightening and all around great.

A good book, maybe depressing at the beginning, but it really does improve! I loved it even more because of how much it rings true in society. I think it's a worthwhile read. Everyone should read some sort of book like this, as it really is a dose of reality in your fiction.

Rating: 8.5 of 10

Until next time,
Addy

REVIEW: Wings - Aprilynne Pike

Wings - Aprilynne Pike

Pages: 294

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever. - goodreads.com

Dear Readers of this blog,

I am apologizing for my complete lack of updates and disappearance. I've started working this summer and I always feel like I have no time. This is not an excuse. But I will update on time from now on. I swear.

Whew. That's outta the way.

This book is featured over at Book Bloggers, run by Ace and Eliza, and this was their book of the month in May. (:

So Wings by Aprilynne Pike is a twist on faeries. Instead of pixies and the sprite-like creatures we're used to, faeries are portrayed as plants! If it's not obvious by the above description, Laurel grows a bud on her back and subsequently finds out her true identity. She battles against insecurities, love of two boys, trolls, and even herself.

I found this book to be pretty passable. I wasn't very pleased with the first 75 pages or so. I felt like the real point was being dragged out until it felt like a good page number to reveal anything good. When something finally did happen though, it was quite exciting. It was putting a spin on reality and magic.

I like the way Laurel's real life was balanced with her faerie life. She has all sorts of weird quirks, including her appetite. The girl barely ever eats! I'm not sure that sets the right example here. :P

Anyways, I LOVE both of the boys in this book. David is the boy Laurel makes fast friends with at school, and he's shy and awkward, but he is so so so sweet. And then there's Tamani. He's somewhat of a long lost friend to Laurel. She doesn't know him too well, but she feels like she does. Tamani is super protective of her and he would sacrifice anything for her well being.

I loved the whole romance part of this book because it was actually rather believable. I mean, how do you choose between an awesome school friend who is sweet and caring and a boy you've known forever and would do anything for you?

I personally rooted for David. :P

This book was good. I really did enjoy it. It started off slow, which irked me, but when action did happen, I gladly forgot about the beginning. I'm working on getting my hands on the next one, Spells.

RATING: 7.5 of 10

until next time(on time!),

Addy