Entries Tagged 'D-F' ↓
August 6th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, D-F, Fantasy, Guest Review
by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer
Title: Igraine the Brave
Author: Cornelia Funke
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 212
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: As a daughter of two magicians, Igraine is expected to follow in their footsteps, casting spells and concocting potions, right? Actually, all she wants to be is a knight and have adventures. She gets her chance when Osmund the Greedy tries to take over the castle, and her parents are turned into pigs! Luckily her brother is making a potion to turn them back, but he needs one more ingredient. Will Igraine become a knight, save her parents, and beat Osmund? Or will Osmund the Greedy rule over the castle with an iron fist forever?
Why I Read This Book:
I read this book because I have enjoyed other books by Cornelia Funke and thought that I would try it. Also, that back blurb caught my attention in the library and sounded interesting.
Likes:
- I like the idea of a 12 year-old knight. She’s fighting for us pre-teens!
- I liked the magic used by Igraine’s brother and parents; it seemed unstoppable.
- So we know Igraine wants to be a knight, right? Well she would be a knight with one fear: Spiders. I thought it was hilarious that out of all the fears she could possibly have, her ONLY fear was spiders.
Dislikes:
- I found myself skimming this book to get it finished. It didn't really hold my interest and more than anything I just wanted to finish it. Some parts of the book I enjoyed, but I like to be totally captivated during the whole book, not just good parts here and there. I’d be all excited about something that happened and curious to read on, but then instead of finding more rising action it was more of a plateau and that got very dull very quickly. I think Cornelia Funke could have made this book a lot more intense by keeping the rising action strong.
Buy: Igraine The Brave
Rating: 2.5 Treasure chests!
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June 7th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Coming of Age, D-F, Paranormal, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, Book 4)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 384
Grade Reading Level: 9th Grade +
Summary: The Van Alen Legacy begins approximately a year after the events of Revelations. We find Schuyler and Oliver at a party in Paris where the European Conclave will attend. She’s there looking for sanctuary as she’s been unfairly accused as her grandfather’s murderer by the New York Conclave.
After the blowout between Mimi and Jack at the end of Revelations, Mimi has left New York to join Kingsley and his team of Venators. She’s done this for two reasons: first to force Jack into missing and wanting her; second to be of use and do something active because most of the New York Conclave’s most powerful members are gone forever… consumed. She and Kingsley are on the trail of Jordan, who is really Sophia the Watcher.
Bliss is fighting to remember who she is and is trapped inside her own body. It shocks and decimates her to realize she’s lost a year of her life to Lucifer. Some dad! When suspicions are aroused, he gives her back some control. Can she figure out how to keep him out or is she doomed to be his slave?
Why I started this book:
I started this book because I finished reading Revelations, the third book in the Blue Blood series, and The Van Alen Legacy was the next one published.
Likes:
- Charles Force actually doing something very archangel-like. Finally he’s got his head out of his butt and is taking charge, even if the Conclave doesn’t think so.
- Jack asking Schuyler to come with him back to New York. He puts himself out there even though he’s aware of her conflict with Oliver.
- Oliver getting Jack to go with Schuyler at the end of the novel. I like him for it.
- Kingsley and Mimi together. He’s good for her and hopefully with him in the picture Mimi will let Jack go.
Toss-Up:
- I still find Mimi a vacuous character, but Cruz is revealing hidden depths to her. I hope to like her completely in another few books. For being Jack’s twin, his bonded, she might understand him but she doesn’t get him. If she did, she’d realize her Venator plan is a crap plan for getting him back.
- Lucifer’s body snatching of Bliss. A great idea but very creepy to think about. I’m glad it got solved quickly.
Dislikes:
- Schuyler looking away from Jack’s true vampire/angel form. She should embrace him for his darkness and Destruction. I sincerely hope she gets another chance to prove herself.
Last Minute Thoughts: Cruz has stated this series will have ten books in total. I can't wait for the next one to come out. How about you?
Buy: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, Book 4)
Rating: 4 Treasure Chests
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June 5th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Audio Book Review, Coming of Age, D-F, Paranormal, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title: Revelations (Blue Bloods, Book 3)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Narrator: Christina Moore
Format: Audiobook
CD Count + Minutes: 5 CDs (6 Hours)
Grade Reading Level: 9th Grade +
Summary: Schuyler is now officially adopted by the Forces and living under the same roof as Jack and Mimi. Talk about awkward. Some believe that Schuyler’s half-blood blood isn’t Red Blood and Blue Blood but actually Silver Blood. They’ll find her essential though when a group of Silver Bloods attack an ancient place of power in Rio de Janeiro.
In hopes of getting rid of Schuyler permanently, Mimi is rushing Jack to the altar. She wants the bonding ceremony and she wants it now. Jack isn’t exactly holding her back, but he’s not a willing participant. He might have an unshakeable bond with Mimi, but their relationship for him is more like a duty, not a romance.
Bliss is no longer blacking out, but she’s starting to have gruesome visions. The one that scares her the most is of a man claiming to be her father. How can this be true? It doesn’t make sense.
The family behind the Silver Bloods is finally revealed to readers. The clues are finally all added up. Did you guess right?
Why I started this book:
I just finished reading Masquerade and Revelations is next in the Blue Blood series.
Likes:
- Schuyler moving into the Force family home. I'm not sure how it happened, because she was supposed to be emancipated by her grandmother's will, but I'm all up for getting her and Jack into close living quarters.
- There’s a funny reference to Harry Potter in this book when Schuyler ruminates that the 2nd guest bedroom was hardly the cupboard under the stairs.
- Publicly Jack keeps up the front that Schuyler means nothing to him, but privately it’s a whole other story. They begin to meet in clandestine locations to spend time together using Oliver as a cover.
- Kingsley is still around and bugging the heck out of Mimi with his very presence. Isn’t he a Silver Blood and a traitor?
Dislikes:
- The love triangle. Oliver is a good friend, but I’m not a big fan of friends to lovers romances. I get not wanting to hurt his feelings, but Schuyler needs to suck it up and put on her big girl panties. My hope for this series is for Jack and Schuyler together. It will only happen if Jack stands up to his sister and if Schuyler puts herself forward. (Crosses fingers.)
- Jordan is a real weird kid. I’m not sure how I feel about her as a character. She’s definitely creepy. I wonder what will happen to her now that she’s been kidnapped.
Buy: Revelations (Blue Bloods, Book 3)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
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June 3rd, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Audio Book Review, Coming of Age, D-F, Paranormal, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title: Masquerade (Blue Bloods, Book 2)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Narrator: Christina Moore
Format: Audiobook
CD Count + Minutes: 6 CDs (7 Hours)
Grade Reading Level: 9th Grade +
Summary: After her grandmother’s death, Schuyler heads to Italy in hopes of finding her grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen. Cordelia felt he would be able to shed light on the Silver Bloods and help Schuyler become a better vampire… something he doesn’t appear to be too keen to do. As a half-blood she could use all the help she can get, especially after her human and vampire blood start to fight for dominance.
Meanwhile, back in New York, Mimi is helping plan the traditional Four Hundred Ball where she and her brother Jack will be presented to all Blue Bloods with their official angel/vampire names. She’s also planning an exclusive after party for the teen vampires from the Duchesne school. She can’t wait to spill the beans about how she and Jack are destined to be together forever as a bonded pair.
Bliss keeps having blackouts and waking up in odd locations. Some of the time its like she’s trying to sleepwalk and kill herself – drowning in Central Park, flinging herself off of skyscrapers, it’s maddening. What’s going on and will it ever stop? How is this normal?
Why I started this book:
I just finished reading Blue Bloods and Masquerade is book two in the Blue Bloods series.
Likes:
- I liked the Masquerade ball and the mysterious gentleman with the black mask who kisses Schuyler. It’s a cute scene.
- Christina Moore continues to excel as a narrator. I would gladly listen to any fictional story that she read.
- Dylan comes back – he’s not been killed off by a Silver Blood.
- Kingsley the new Blue Blood at Duchesne isn’t what he appears to be – but is he friend or foe?
- Making Mimi Force sweat made me ridiculously happy. I knew she'd get off, she's clearly not the one harboring Silver Bloods, that'd be too easy.
Dislikes:
- The clear set up of Oliver as a second love interest.
- Chares Force is a big pain and doesn’t act very much like an archangel to me. Is he going to rise and be Michael or is he going to remain an ostrich with his head in the sand? This constant denial of Silver Blood return is old.
Buy: Masquerade (Blue Bloods, Book 2)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
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June 1st, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Audio Book Review, Book Review, Coming of Age, D-F, Paranormal, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title: Blue Bloods (Book 1)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Narrator: Christina Moore
Format: Audio book
CD Count + Minutes: 5 CDs (6 Hours)
Grade Reading Level: 9th Grade +
Summary: When Schuyler Van Alen turns fifteen her whole life changes and what she thought she knew is turned on its head. She discovers she’s a Blue Blood vampire, that her best friend is a conduit, a girl from the cool group reaches out to her, and Jack Force, the hunky all star of Duchesne, kisses her. But at the same time bad things are happening from a murder of a popular girl to a rash of attacks. Schuyler is determined to find out the truth even if it puts her in grave danger.
Why I started this book:
I picked up this audio book and the two sequels to Blue Bloods at the library for something to listen to while traveling back and forth to a major city not far from where I live.
Likes:
- Schuyler Van Alen makes a good protagonist. She’s a half-blood—part human and part vampire. A new soul. Her existence throws everything else off balance.
- Take Jack Force for instance: He’s bonded for years and over several lifetimes with another, who in this reincarnation is his sister. Now that Schuyler is around he’s helplessly drawn to her in a way he can’t describe.
- Their forbidden romance is a good draw. It’s an arc that will obviously develop over the next couple of books. Jack is the mysterious hot well-liked popular boy with a dark streak a mile wide and centuries old to Schuyler’s offbeat, gothic, hidden in the shadow’s type personality.
- Bliss is great. I like how she became friends with Schuyler, even though they aren’t from the same high school cliques.
- Narrator is fabulous with a wide array of voices, accents, and emotions to draw from. A great choice for this book series.
Toss-Up:
- As for vampires really being cast-out angels and once followers of Lucifer… I can take it or leave it. With this background knowledge it’s not too hard to guess who the ultimate bad guy will be and it’s not the Silver Bloods (corrupted vampires).
- Mimi Force as a character is very good for the story. She’s a typical mean girl with an inflated opinion of herself. She’s snobby and entitled with a pathological need to be number one. That said, I didn’t really like her or her POV sections.
- Speaking of POV changeups… At first, I wasn’t too keen on the head hopping between the three major female players (Schuyler, Mimi, Bliss) of the story; it took time to get used to the practice. By the end of the book I was indifferent to it.
Dislikes:
- The world building elements that predispose the Duchesne kids to drink like fish, smoke like chimneys, and generally act in ways that would be devastating for normal kids yet are left unpunished because there are no consequences for vampires that indulge excessively. I don’t think it sets a very good example, especially when nearly all the perpetrators are underage, technically speaking. It’s very off putting.
- The first half a dozen or so descriptions of consumption in the historical illumination sections.
- Jack and Mimi’s supposed relationship – icky and weird – even after the explanation.
Buy: Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods, Book 1)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
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