Literature Young Adult Fiction » Did Not Finish (DNF)

Review: Airel (The Airel Saga, Book 1) by Aaron Patterson

First Mate Keira — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:34:20 +0000

Reviewed by First Mate Keira

Title: Airel
Author: Aaron Patterson; Contributor Chris White
Format: Ebook
Page Count: 425 pages
Grade Reading Level: Grade 9+

Summary: Airel just wants to be normal but her ability to heal makes her as abnormal as one could get. The new boy at school, Michael, is as impossibly gorgeous as you can imagine and is very interested in her. Running parallel to the present is a story reaching out from the past about warriors and a Sword of Light and an epic struggle of good vs evil. Can she figure out what is going on before it’s too late?

Why I started this book:

I was contacted by the publicist and when I saw the cover I was very attracted to the book. It has a beautiful cover, well done and very pretty. The blurb sounded like a great start to a new series and so I said yes to reviewing it.

Why I Quit this book:

There was too much focus on the Arabia sections which happened in the past. They dragged, had too many characters, and pulled too much of the storytime away from the present day with Airel and Michael. In the end I couldn’t keep pushing through them. I hate skimming or skipping sections (it’s a sign the story doesn’t appeal to me) and when I started to do that I knew it was time to put the book down. If half of the back story was devoted to building Airel and Micheal's relationship it would be a much better book. That said there are a lot of positive reactions to this book, but it’s just not for me.

Buy: Airel

Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)

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Audio Review: The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 1) by Michael Scott

First Mate Keira — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:34:57 +0000

Reviewed by First Mate Keira

Title: The Alchemyst
Author: Michael Scott
Format: Audio Book
Narrator: Denis O'Hare
Listening Length: 10 hours and 5 minutes
Grade Reading Level: Ages 12-15

Summary: Sophia and Josh, fraternal twin siblings, get dragged into a world of alchemy and sorcery when it turns out Josh was working for Nicholas Flamel in the man's bookshop. There's an evil scheming bad guy, who answers to evil magical and power hungry species (read not-human) called Elders. When Dee (evil bad guy who is human) steals the Codex (book of super awesome alchemy) from Nick (who got rusty, even though he's suppose to be in charge of guarding the world against evil...) and kidnaps Nick's wife, Nick knows he must act quickly because if he doesn't, he and his wife will die.

Why I started this book:

This book was recommended by many in my 42 Books to Read if You Love Harry Potter post.

Why I quit this book:

I quit this book for multiple reasons. Chief among them was that I wasn’t drawn into Denis O’Hare’s reading. It was too dry for me and I quickly became bored with the story as a direct result.

Secondly, the kids were completely unexceptional all their lives with zero hints of magical what-what and bingo they have “special gold and silver auras” and Nicholas is finagling to get goddess Hecate to stimulate their magic into being? Um no. That does not work for me.

Also Josh says some dumb stuff which is plain annoying.

Lastly, I quit the book because I just wasn’t interested in the storyline like I thought I would be. I felt alienated by the multiple POV focus. I wasn’t drawn to a single character’s narration of events and that sunk the book in the end.

Rating: DNF

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DNF Review: The Agency 1: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

First Mate Keira — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 09:34:46 +0000

By First Mate Keira

Title: The Agency: A Spy in the House
Author: Y.S. Lee
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 352 pages
Grade Reading Level: Grade 7+

Summary: Mary Quinn was sentence to hang after being convicted as a pickpocket. Instead of dying by being hung by the neck until dead, the female warden escorts her to the infirmary and asks Mary if she wants to live… and get an education at an exclusive girl’s academy.

Why I started this book:

I picked this book up for a number of reasons. First, I was really attracted to the cover. It’s gorgeous and intriguing. Obviously a mystery, but wait undercover female spies too? I’m in! I had to give it a shot. I love books about Georgian-Edwardian period Britain and this Victorian set novel looked awesome.

Why I quit this book:

The main reason was because the story didn’t pick up fast enough for me. I thought we’d dive right in but first we learn that the heroine is basically going to be hung before getting plucked by the Agency to train and get an education.

From that beginning I thought then that it’d be sort of Harry Potter like and that we’d follow twelve year old Mary Quinn as she took classes on lock picking and eavesdropping. But then it skipped ahead to Mary at seventeen and only then just learning about he Agency.

The explanation about the Agency was long winded. I really began losing interest around here and I wasn’t sure what characters would be really important and I couldn’t really follow what was going on. Then we skip to an interview for Mary’s new cover job as a companion to some spoiled aristocrat daughter. The bratty girl just spoiled it for me and I gave up because by this point there were enough hints that the story wasn’t going to be comedic and instead be more melodramatic.

Buy: The Agency 1: A Spy in the House

Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)

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DNF: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

DNF Review: Ash by Malinda Lo

First Mate Keira — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:48:29 +0000

by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer

Title: Ash
Author: Malinda Lo
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 272 pages
Grade Reading level: 8^th Grade and up

Summary: Life for Ash is not very pleasant. First her mother dies, then her father remarries, then her father dies, and now her stepmother has forced her into servitude to pay off his debts. To escape her overwhelming misery Ash struggles to find ways through the Wood to find the fairy kingdom. The fairy kingdom is set up as sort of an afterlife for humans. Humans have been warned about fairies. They are malicious and forever enslaving the humans foolish enough to come to them. It is Sidhean who protects Ash and constantly returns her back to the real world in an effort to save her. Can she be saved and does she want to be?

Why I Started This Book:

I first heard about Ash on a fellow review site. A regular Cinderella story with a twist! The review made it sound fantastic; another Ella Enchanted or so I presumed. I was very excited to begin reading. Now though I would only recommend starting this novel if you are interested in finding and reading a GLBTQ fairy tale or like dark stories.

Why I Quit This Book:

Twofold. The first is that I was surprised about the same sex romance. I had no idea Ash would end up with a girl. The first half of the novel is entirely about Ash and her desire to enter the fairy world, find her mom (in the afterlife perhaps) and be with Sidhean who comes across like a prince among the fairies. I guess I just didn’t carefully read the back of the book or the review that grabbed my attention to read it in the first place. I’m not interested in lesbian romance. My preference is guy/girl and that is what I read exclusively.

The second reason I quit the book was because no matter how compelling the start of the novel and the world-building the writing was tedious, almost a chore. Not that the story is hard to read if you’re well above the reading level and the directed age group, but dreary. The novel is decidedly dark and focuses a lot on Ash’s grief over her parents, her detachment to life, and her oppressive enslavement within her stepmother’s home.

I kept reading to find out more about Sidhean but eventually I just had to put the book down and decide I wasn’t going to learn why he kept sending her back or what he planned for Ash’s future if she kept trying to be with him.

Buy: Ash (Hardcover)

Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)

Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.

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DNF: A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitecomb

DNF Review: Sixth Grade Sleepover by Eve Bunting

Second Mate Embry — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:25:52 +0000

by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer

Title: Sixth Grade Sleepover
Author: Eve Bunting
Format: Hardcover
# of pages 96
Grade Reading Level: Grade 4-6

Summary: A sixth grade book club is having a sleepover in the school cafeteria. Janey and Claudia are best friends, and though Janey is a great reader she is afraid of the dark. Claudia thinks that she can help her overcome her fear, but Janey refuses Claudia's help. Will Janey conquer her fear? Or will this sleepover end Claudia's and Janey's friendship forever?

Why I Started the Book:

A few days ago my mom stopped at the library, where she found this book in the young adult section and brought it back for me to try on for size. She thought I would enjoy it, but I didn't. The only thing I liked was the name of the book club though: Read A Book; Bring It To School. This makes them R.A.B.B.I.T.S.

Why I Quit this Book:

This book was so boring! I stopped at page 17. Why you ask? First, because it was too easy of a read for me. I like my reading to be more challenging. I feel the writing is closer to the 4th grade side than the 6th grade side. Just look at how few pages there are!

Second, not only was the book boring, but it was also depressing. Was being afraid of the dark was the best conflict Eve Bunting could come up with? Seriously?!? No wonder Janey is worried about coming across as a baby. I don't think I know anyone in sixth grade who could even possibly be afraid of the dark.

Book Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)

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DNF Review: Ready or Not by Meg Cabot

CaptainYarr — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:06:10 +0000

by Captain Lyaf Yarr

Title: Ready or Not
Author: Meg Cabot
Format: Audio Book
Narrator: Ariadne Meyers
# CDs + Minutes: 6 CDs (6 hours and 27 minutes)
Grade Reading Level: Ages 12 to 17

Summary: Samantha Madison is overwhelmed with problems. It's hard for her to juggle between her boyfriend who is also the president's son, her life drawing art classes, her job, and her sister who is also having boyfriend problems. Will she and her boyfriend break up? Will she have to quit art classes? Will she get fired? And what will happen between Lucy and Jack?

Why I Started the Book:

I started this book because, as I was reading the back and looking at the cover I noticed that it was a sequel of All American Girl. So, I decided to read it, but it wasn't as great as I thought it would be.

Why I Quit this book:

I didn't finish this book because, most of this book is about sex. I (being only 11) have no interest what so ever in this topic. Kissing is good, the rest is not. That made most of this book kinda awkward. Some of the ideas mentioned were just gross, and I did not want to hear about them.

As I mentioned in the All American Girl review, the words "I mean" are used a lot. For instance (and this particular example is not in the book): "I love my new shows, I mean, just because they're from Payless doesn't mean they aren't quality shoes. Know what I mean?" It was annoying and ridiculous. I understand it's a play on stereotypical teenage talk but it was too much.

I thought that as I listened to more of the book it would get better, but instead it got worse. Eventually I just had to stop.

Buy: Ready or Not: (Audio Book), Ready or Not (Paperback)

Book Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)

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DNF: A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitecomb

DNF: A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitecomb

First Mate Keira — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:50:49 +0000

by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer

Title: Certain Slant of Light
Author: Laura Whitecomb
Narrator: Lauren Molina
Format: Unabridged Compact Discs
# CDs + Minutes: 7 CDs (8 hours, 32 minutes)
Grade Reading Level: Ages 14+

Summary: This book is about a 130 year old female ghost, her romance and whirlwind six days of feeling alive again. (The six days is a guess based on disc one information.) It all starts when Helen feels the eyes of a young very plain 17 year old boy watching her in Mr. Brown’s English class. Turns out the boy is a ghost also, but possesses human form. Overcoming Helen’s incorporeal nature is the first step to retaining their love.

Why I Started This Book:

Found this in the library and the back said it was a paranormal romance with a girl ghost and a young boy. My thought process was basically, “Ghost! Romance! Sweet!”

Why I Quit This Book:

The book is entirely too creepy. I quit pretty early. I finished disc one and decided that was quite enough of that. The bodysnatching is too… too… eerie. A ghost can take possession of a body if the true occupant leaves it; sort of like present in body but not in mind. James, the boy, got his body when the original user (a drug addict) left it, presumably by coma. James spends his first months in his new body recovering from drug addiction.

It’s also quite disturbing how Helen reports the afterlife. She’s done something bad or why would she be in the dark in spine-chilling hair-raising agony of pure cold? She literally has to climb hand over fist out of her cold ‘grave’ and attach herself to a person or host like a second shadow. I don’t know why, but I was expecting Casper the Friendly Ghost fun. This was not and I was too freaked out to start the second CD.

Buy: A Certain Slant of Light (paperback)

Book Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)

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DNF: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

DNF: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

First Mate Keira — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:42:20 +0000

by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer

Title: The Amulet of Samarkand
Author: Jonathan Stroud
Reader: Simon Jones
Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
# CDs / Minutes:
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Audio: Download Clip (Right click, save as.)

Summary: A young boy is sold into magical apprenticeship and trained by an apathetic and fairly incapable magician named Arthur Underwood. Nathaniel grows up and grows into power he for which he is not quite ready. One day an altercation rises up between young Nathaniel and another magician, Simon Lovelace. When Underwood fails to protect his charge, Nathaniel swears to get revenge. He trains and trains and manages to summon a very old mid-level djinni (genie) called Bartimaeus to help him enact his revenge… but everything that can go wrong does and suddenly Nathaniel and Bartimaeus are on another adventure all together.

Why I Started this Book:

It sounded like Harry Potter but apprenticeship style instead of boarding school style. It also takes place in Victorian England, which sounded like a fascinating challenge.

Why I Quit this Book:

I can’t stand Nathaniel. Honestly his character is not unlike Draco Malfoy. He’s neither a good guy nor a bad guy, but a self serving little bugger. I didn’t like his treatment of magical beings and he whines a lot… and I mean a lot. I just couldn’t take it anymore and stopped listening to the book with 2 CDs left to go.

The magic is also the opposite of Harry Potter and very immersed in pentagrams and circles of power and summonings of demons with words of command. This didn’t thrill me and I began to like it less and less as it was revealed as a form of slavery.

In addition the set up of the novel is not unlike watching the beginning and the end of a story spliced together until they reach the middle. It's actually done by flip flopping between Nathaniel and Bartimaeus with some overlap. It's the overlap that really kills me. Minor in most cases, it's enough to annoy the tar out of me.

The only reason I kept on with the story as long as I did was because of the reader’s talent. Simon Jones is a pleasure to listen to and his Bartimaeus exceptional.

Buy: The Amulet of Samarkand (Audio), The Amulet of Samarkand (Paperback), Bartimaeus Trilogy Boxed Set

Rating: Did Not Finish (DNF)

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