Legacies

Summary: Spirit White’s life is not exactly where she wants it to be, to say the least .Her parents named her an awful hippie name and then unexpected her parents and her little sister die in a car crash, in which Spirit miraculously survives. Then, of course, after that her entire house burns down in a freak accident. So no family, no house, no home, as far as Spirit is concerned she has nothing left to live for. Until she finds out that she is to be taken to Oakhurst Academy. A high-end prep school that is to take custody of Spirit until she is twenty one years old. The thing is, though, that this is no ordinary school. All the students are magicians. On top of that students have been disappearing and Spirit and her friends decide to make it their responsibility to figure out what exactly is going on at Oakhurst.

Review:

This book was very slow. I actually ended up reading two books in between this one (books I had previously read). It was a lot like Once A Witch. Poor Spirit was the only one without her power and there was some greater evil that they all had to fight against. Unlike, Tasmin, though Spirit remains “powerless” throughout the entire book, which is refreshing. I actually really did like the slight romance between Burke and Spirit and I think the concept of the powers developing more as they grow is very interesting.

The concept is interesting; a super-secret school that houses witches and wizards whose parents all mysteriously die. It isn’t executed very well though. I never really felt the danger of being “tithed” and never truly believed all the pressure and competitiveness Spirit frequently said the school placed upon them.

It wasn’t all that engaging. It was fun, but I never really got into it. A.K.A. it wasn’t bad, but not anything life changing. I will probably pick up the second just because I want to know what Spirit’s mage gift will be.

Rating: 3/5

Reviews from the pros:

“An enchanting mixture of mystery, romance, magic, and murder.” –Delia Sherman, author of Changeling.

“Legacies has enough action for reluctant readers, and enough character development for teens to see themselves in this group of friends. The book's fans are sure to eagerly await Spirit's discovery of her mage gift and further confrontations with the forces of evil.”-School Library Journal

“Immediately pulling the reader into Spirit's mourning psyche as well as the fast-paced action of the mystery, mixing marvelous elements of fairy tales and mythology into both the plot and references in the students' Magical History class. There's also a touch of gentle romance, and readers who appreciate everything from X-Men to Harry Potter will be begging for the sequel, signaled by the abrupt ending.”-Booklist

Happy Reading everyone!

-She who Reads A Lot

Thankful for Thanksgiving

Hello Everyone,
I haven’t posted anything that wasn’t a book review in a while, but seeing as today is Thanksgiving I figured it was a special exception. I am currently annoyed with my college because they have yet to post my schedule and honestly I need some cheering up. It helps a lot to count my blessings when I am annoyed over little things so here we go. What I am thankful for this Thanksgiving:
For my wonderful parents
For my mom who supports me every step of the way
For my little sister who makes me laugh
Even for my little brother who matures a little bit more everyday
For my best friend who has always been there for me no matter what
For my friends who allow me to be myself at all times, even if that person is annoying or boring.
For a house to live in
For the town I was born and raised in
For every teacher I have ever had that has taught me more than just a subject in school
For every person in my life who has taught me right from wrong and how to be a good person
For the food that is always on the table
For the patience of teachers (in all aspects of life) as I stumble and make mistakes
For the children I work with who touch my life in ways they do not understand
For my grandma
For my family; all the aunts, uncles, second cousins, third cousins, and more
For my country which allows me every opportunity I can make for myself and allows me my freedom and liberty.
For the little moments of laughter that touch my life everyday
For a loving and supportive family
And lastly, for God who has blessed my life with all these wonderful things.

That does make me feel better :). Happy Thanksgiving everyone! What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

-She Who Reads A Lot

The Hourglass Door

Summary: Abby’s senior year is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriends, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He’s mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she’s ever met before. Abby can’t deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

Review: So, The Hourglass Door is a lot like Twilight, only infinitely better. Abby is a bit like Bella. She drove me crazy for the first half of the book. She flirted with Dante, while she had a boyfriend, without feeling guilty at all for the fact that she was essentially cheating on her boyfriend and lifelong best friend. However, when her boyfriend finally dumps her, and Dante flirts with her after she begins to think “What audacity! I just broke up with my boyfriend!” Like it was okay when you had a boyfriend, but now that you don’t it is bad? So, Abby drove me crazy. She was indecisive, whiny, stupid and ridiculously over-described things. She is very much attracted to water metaphors and storms. They appear continually throughout the book. Towards the end of the book she finally grows a backbone, though still doesn’t do much.

Dante is so much better than Edward, as far as a love interest is concerned. He is Italian, memorizes poetry, is sincere, mysterious, and just overall the most attractive book character I have ever read about (and that is saying something). Dante is also from 15th century Italy so he is a lot older than Edward. (I will not divulge the secret to his age)So, that bit is a lot like Twilight and the romance is as well. Painstakingly ordinary girl falling for a supernatural hottie who thinks she hung the stars? Sound familiar to anyone?

That being said about the main characters; the plot is much better than Twilight. Mainly in the fact that there is a plot and it’s not predictable. For the longest time I was trying to figure out what Dante and his group of peers (I wouldn’t call them friends) were and why on earth they could do the things they did. Also, why he would disappear? I couldn’t figure it out and when it was finally revealed I was very pleased to see the originality of it. For that alone The Hourglass Door trumps the entire Twilight series. It also didn’t have a happy ending, not a complete happy ending anyways. It was the hope of a happy ending without actually wrapping up the ending. That is probably why there is a sequel, which I am pretty excited to read, actually.

Rating: 3.5/5 The main character drove me nuts, but the plot was original, the romance was great, and there was a hot Italian guy in it. It was very good brain candy, but besides that nothing special.

Reviews from the Pros:

“The perfect romance!”-Ally Condle, author of Being Sixteen

“What’s not to love? A mysterious, gorgeous, Italian who recites poetry? I’m so there.”-Becca Wilhite, author of My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions

Once a Witch

Summary: Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and on the day she was born, her grandmother proclaimed she would be the most Talented among them. But Tamsin’s magic never showed up. Now, seventeen years later, she spends most of her time at boarding school in Manhattan, where she can at least pretend to be normal. But during the summers, she’s forced to return home and work at her family’s bookstore/magic shop.

One night a handsome young professor from New York University arrives in the shop and mistakes Tamsin for her extremely Talented older sister. For once, it’s Tamsin who’s being looked at with awe and admiration, and before she can stop herself, she agrees to find a family heirloom for him that was lost more than a century ago. But the search—and the stranger—prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the past sins of her family, and unleash a power so strong and so vengeful it could destroy them all.

Review: All righty so the idea of these witches is that each one has a Talent (which is a power, like Tamsin has an Aunt that can “freeze” people, as in stop them from moving). When the child turns eight their power comes to them and then two years later, after they have learned to master their powers they are initiated with the family. Tamsin’s eighth birthday comes and goes with no Talent and she ends up being the only Talentless one in her family. Who wants to guess how long that lasts? Just about halfway through the book. Obviously, I knew she would not remain talentless her entire life (though it would have been a cool plot twist to have an ORDINARY girl save the day huh?).

Aside from some predictability in the plot, I really enjoyed this book. It moved quickly and every time I set out to only read a chapter it would be like five chapters later that I actually put the book down. The characters were fun and Gabriel was attractive and alluring. It wasn’t anything terribly special, but it was a fun quick read and I was very absorbed in it. My life was not changed by it, but I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading the sequel.

Rating: 4/5

Reviews from the pros:

“A fantastic urban fantasy with an enchanting romance at its heard.”-Cassandra Clare

“An absorbing and elegant urban fantasy”—publisher’s weekly

“Quick and suspenseful, with a climax that is camera-ready, this will appeal to readers who enjoy family drama and teen romance salted with magical action adventure”—the Bulletin

“Carolyn MacCullough casts a mesmerizing spell with Once a Witch. Family secrets and sibling rivalry, time-travel and magical ‘Talents’ all brew together to create a superlative—and supernatural—coming-of-the-age story. Add an epic battle of good versus evil and an enchanting first kiss, and this bewitching novel commands a sequel.”—Megan McCafferty

Clockwork Angel

Summary: When sixteen-year old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep the order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa’s power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm’s length…everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realized that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world…and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Review: Let me just note that that summary is way too long. Anyways, onto the book! So…I seriously love Cassandra Clare’s world. The Shadowhunters and the downworlders and all that happens in it, is truly fascinating. As you all know, I loved Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series…and I think I actually am enjoying the Infernal Devices more. She has grown as a writer. I mentioned that the Mortal Instruments series was borderline really good fanfiction. This has no fanfiction tone to it at all, she has emerged as one of the strongest voice in the Young Adult world.

Will is like Jace(His descendant, by the way), but more imperfect. Will is sarcastic and witty like Jace, but with Jace I never believed his anger. I never really felt anything but love towards Jace. Will is more volatile and his mood swings seem more real to me. I still loved him, but there were times I could see what the characters in the books said about him. Jem was possibly the sweetest characters in the book, he certainly has me on his side!

As for the plot it moves quickly and the five-hundred-something page book seems like only one-hundred. You, in short, will not be disappointed in this book! As usual, Clare has left us with a cliffhanger ending and all of us hanging at the edge of our seats waiting eagerly for the next segment.

Rating: 5/5 Duh!

Reviews from the pros:

A century before the events of Clare’s Mortal Instruments trilogy . . . this crowdpleaser’s tension-filled conclusion ratchets toward a new set of mysteries." - Kirkus Reviews

"Mysteries, misdirection, and riddles abound. . . . Fans of the Mortal Instruments series and newcomers alike won't be disappointed." - Publishers Weekly

"Compulsively readable . . . Packed with battles, romantic entanglements, and tantalizing foreshadowing, this will have readers clamoring for the next installment." - Booklist

"Top Pick! Readers will be thrilled and amazed with this prequel to The Mortal Instruments, tearing their way through a beautifully constructed story of action, magic, mayhem, and romance. Fans and newcomers alike will be enchanted by Clare's fantastical world and left begging for more!" - Romantic Times Book Reviews
Truly happy reading everyone!
-She Who Reads A Lot

Hunger

Summary: Food ran out weeks ago and starvation is imminent. Meanwhile, the normal teens have grown resentful of the kids with powers. And when an unthinkable tragedy occurs, chaos descends upon the town. There is no longer right and wrong. Each kid is out for himself and even the good ones turn murderous. But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, beings calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them. The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

Review: Just as good as its predecessor. It keeps you at the end of your seat the entire time and there were definitely moments when I gasped out loud, unable to believe what just happened. Grant does a suburb job of weaving you into his world and making you connect with his characters. It’s fascinating, quite frankly. It shows how kids act and it also shows a darker side of childhood even when broaching the subjects of their past lives before the FAYZ.

It is full with raw emotions. You will not be able to put it down, can’t wait to get the third book!

P.S. Sorry for the short review, I am exhausted! College is exhausting!

Rating: 5/5

Reviews from the Pros:

“Readers looking for intense, nearly nonstop action and emotional drama will find lots to enjoy.”-Publishers Weekly

“Like Gone this novel is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.”-School Library Journal

“Readers will be unable to avoid involuntarily gasping, shuddering, or flinching while reading this suspense-filled story. Some of the questions from Gone are answered, but they leave new questions in their wake. The story is progressing with smart plot twists, both in actions and in emotions.”-VOYA (starred review)

Gone

Summary: Gone. Everyone except for the young. Teens. Middle Schoolers. Toddlers. But not a single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Gone, too, are the phones, internet, and television. There is no way to get help.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It’s a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen and war is imminent.

Review: I couldn’t put it down. Gone was creepy, scary, and filled to the brim with raw emotions. Grant sugarcoats nothing. He puts these children in this situation and has them respond accordingly, there is no delusions of everyone coming together and living happily ever after. In fact, most kids don’t even want to come together. All they want are their parents. It is like a modern day Lord of the Flies with some sci-fi thrown in just for kicks.

Sam is an easily relatable character. He becomes the leader and hero of the people, even though he wants nothing more than to just disappear. You will be rooting for him the entire way. And what would the story be without the charismatic villain and his sicko sidekick to hate? Drake Merwin is truly disturbing, but Caine (Ironically Caine and Abel huh? You will have to read the book to get why this is so true for Caine) is charismatic and believable, you know there is something just wrong with him, but can’t quite put your finger on it.

To put it simply: Gone is amazing. You will be flipping pages as quickly as you can to see what happens to all the characters you have become so attached to. You’ll desperately try to figure out how they will survive.
Just go read it. It is not only a great piece of fiction, but also a moving tale on human, and kid, nature.

Rating: 5/5

Reviews from the Pros:

“Intense, marvelously plotted. A tour de force.”-ALA Booklist (starred review)

“If Stephen King had written Lord of the Flies, it might have been a little like this.”-VOYA (starred review)