Entries Tagged 'Action & Adventure' ↓
August 28th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Fantasy, Humorous
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl Book 7)
Author: Eoin Colfer
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 357
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: A criminal mastermind is plotting escape from the underwater fairy prison in Atlantis. Everything is in place and ready to go when a series of lucky incidences go his way. First that Mud Boy, Artemis Fowl, appears to be suffering from a guilty conscience triggering a fairy psychosis called the Atlantis Complex. The boy sends his bodyguard away, lures several high ranked members of LEPrecon out into the middle of nowhere, and provides the perfect distraction for the mastermind’s plans. Nothing can get in his way now… cue sinister laughing.
Why I started this book:
I picked up Atlantis Complex because I have read the previous six Artemis Fowl books. It wasn’t available in audio from the library yet or I would have selected that format.
Likes:
- Atlantis is a secondary city for the fairies. It’s not as big as Haven, but it’s just as important. I wish there had been more time spent in and around Atlantis instead of just focused on the prison and the mastermind’s escape route.
- The giant squid was pretty epic. I like how it was a thinking creature and used tools, primitive though they were. (“I’m a nut!”)
- The reprogrammed amorphobots. Foaly’s peaceful scientific advances intent on looking for life on Mars becoming nearly unbeatable weapons was pretty cool and clever.
Dislikes:
- Orion Fowl was a waste of space both inside Artemis’ head and also on page. I expected more than bad poetry frankly as Artemis’ arch enemy.
- Foaly was completely useless. He was good for the phone he carried, that’s it. The rest of the time he was patently unhelpful always saying the goo-bots he built weren’t programmed to do what they were doing. Of course they weren’t! That’s why everything was going to hell in a hand-basket.
- Artemis should have been fully healed from the Atlantis Complex before the end of the book. I don’t like that it’s been left open for a plot device in the next book.
Buy: The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, Book 7)
Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
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August 12th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Friends, M-O, Paranormal, Romance, School Situations
by First Mate Keira
Title: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy Series, Book 1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 332
Grade Reading Level: Grade 9+
Summary: After two years on the run, Rose Hathaway and Vasilisa (Lissa) Dragomir are captured by a group of Guardians and sent back to St. Vladimir’s Academy. Lissa is a Moroi, or a good vampire, and the last of her royal line, making her a princess. Rose is a mix of human and vampire, known as a dhampir. Dhampirs grow up to be Guardians, who are the protectors of Moroi. From the beginning dhampirs are taught “They come first” and that they need Moroi to reproduce. Best friends, Rose and Lissa share a bond, something that they learn more about back at school. There was a reason they left St. Vladimir’s in the first place… and now that they’re back again they have to navigate the social hierarchy, catch up on two years worth of classes, fall in love with two inappropriate boys, and solve the mystery that sent them fleeing in the first place.
Why I started this book:
I kept seeing the book series in stores, around the blogosphere, and in the library. It was recommended to me as a good series for Twilight fans. I finally picked it up when I heard it might be made into a movie sometime in the future.
Likes:
- The friendship between Lissa and Rose. They seem to really care for each other and want what’s best. They get into fights, they keep secrets from one another, but they’re very tight and supportive too. They don’t compete with each other.
- Mead captures the spirit of a teenage girl and infuses it into her heroine, Rose. She becomes a perfect pot of contradiction with heavy sarcasm, flirting, insecurity, and confidence.
- I like that the half-vampires and good vampires are alive and that the blood drinking is limited to Moroi and Strigoi (undead/bad vampires).
- Mead creates a solid story based on real folklore, like the Balklan myth of Dhampirs, and imagination. I really like the integration and world-building. It’s pretty complex.
Dislikes:
- The underage romance between Dimitri and Rose. She’s a year shy of being legally an adult and it might not make much of a difference to some people, but it rubs me the wrong way and sends a bad message.
- All the dead animals being planted on and in Lissa’s things by some weirdo. No wonder Lissa and Rose ran before – wouldn’t you to get away from this sort of creepy stalker displays? Yuck.
- Yet again, all the cool kids and everybody else seems to be drinking and/or smoking or have done it in the past. Doesn’t the word underage count for anything? Where are the teachers on all of this? Sheesh. There needs to be several room raids since lockers aren’t in use.
- There’s a lot of telling instead of showing in the novel, which can make it hard to read and occasionally a little lackluster, but the plotline and characters have me hooked.
Buy: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1)
Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
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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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August 4th, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Advance Reader Copy Review, Fantasy, J-L, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title:The Iron Daughter (Book 2 in Iron Fey Series)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Format: Kindle ebook
Page Count: 304 (Paperback)
Grade Reading Level: Grade 7+
Summary: Meghan Chase is prisoner in the Winter Court waiting for Queen Mab to request her presence. She’s having trouble accessing the glamour… in fact she can’t even make the air shimmer. It’s as if going to the Iron Court and coming into her powers never happened. She doesn’t know why this is happening and she doesn’t know where Ash has gone or why when he comes back he’s so cold and distant. When the Scepter of the Seasons is stolen and the Crown Prince is murdered Queen Mab imprisons Meghan in ice, refusing to listen to her story that the Iron Fey did it, and calls for war on the Summer Court. A new battle to save the Nevernever begins, but first Meghan’s got to free herself.
Why I started this book:
I love the first novel and short story of Iron Fey Series and requested the book from the publisher.
Likes:
- Grimalkin is still my favorite snarky cat. I love him to pieces.
- Iron Horse comes back and is developed past the steaming loudmouth from the first book and really becomes quite likable. It makes his fate very sad.
- Puck recovers and is back to his usual merrymaking and has a blast fighting against the Iron Fey. He declares himself to Meghan and they share some kisses.
- Ash is the damaged hero of my dreams. He’s constantly struggling with himself. He knows he should push Meghan away and does so but then he does what he feels and that’s pulling her closer.
- Virus is one fun power tripping bad gal. Too bad she can’t be swayed to the good side; she’d make an excellent lieutenant.
- The double crossing and back stabbing betrayal of certain members of the Winter Court. Hehe. Nobody saw that coming did they? Wink.
- Meghan’s accidental discovery of Iron glamour.
Toss-Up:
- Leanesidhe is a toss-up for me. I’m not for or against her at this point. She’s very interesting being the first fey to build a Court for herself outside of the Nevernever by using the In-Between. She’s helpful because it’s in her best interests, but if it’s not, watch out!
Dislikes:
- It seemed obvious to me why Ash was acting as he was to Meghan and considering he told her time and again he’d have to act a certain way in the Winter Court, so when she acts surprised and is hurt I just wanted to shake her. That girl thought up all sorts of wrong reasons why he’s cold and distant (mean) to her instead of just listening to him and going with what he said. He was very upfront and was trying to protect her from the shenanigans that would have happened had others known of his interest.
- The Puck/Meghan relationship isn’t fleshed out convincingly enough to make this a strong love triangle. The decision seems so clear and in the end Meghan really didn’t have a choice to make, she already knew what she was going to do.
Last Minute Thoughts: I’m ready for The Iron Queen. Are you?
Buy: The Iron Daughter (Paperback)
, The Iron Daughter (Kindle)
Rating: 5 Treasure Chests
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July 31st, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Advance Reader Copy Review, Coming of Age, Fantasy, J-L, Romance, School Situations
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Dream Maker in the Desert (Society Series, Book 1)
Author: Marie Krushing
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 527
Grade Reading Level: 7+ Grade
Summary: Emmet Watts was an outcast in school. Students labeled him a freak and as a result nobody was brave enough to be his friend. One night while taking out the garbage, Emmet is confronted by a creepy man and rescued from him by a team of others. In the world he’s whisked away to, Emmet learns one thing was true. He was a freak – a superhero with powers as yet undiscovered. He’s given a choice. He can return home, no questions asked or he can stay and discover who he was really meant to be. In the end there was only one choice Emmet could live with…
Why I started this book:
It was offered to LYAF as an ARC which we accepted.
Likes:
- This is a very boy friendly novel and book series with lots of action, fighting, sparring, and a general cool factor due to superhero powers. It’s even got elements that will make it girl friendly too.
- Chris is Emmet’s mentor and team captain within the Society and is a pretty awesome guy. He trains Emmet, defends him, sticks up for him, and talks sense into him whenever the occasion demands it. That makes him a very good friend. His superpower is night vision but that also makes darkness his greatest fear.
- The Kelly/Emmet relationship is cute and I definitely want to see it developed more.
- It was very cool to see what superheroes feared. I already mentioned Chris' fear, I won't mention the others. You will have to read and find out for yourself.
- Braeden is a well drawn bad guy. I liked very much how Krushing used his power to manipulate fears and dreams against him at the end. I wasn’t expecting it at all.
Dislikes:
- While wrapping up the first Society series novel in a very clean and tidy way, I have to wonder who will be running the Dark Ones next? I can think of two from those mentioned already in the series, but they were followers first, it might be hard to reconcile them as leaders in the next book.
- Kenny is the standard YA school bully. I feel he needs a little more to his character. He’s not really a threat and is drawn in a rather pathetic light as his arrogance and entitlement make him delusional. There’s no way right now he’d stand a chance against Emmet ever yet he keeps picking (verbal) fights. I want him to get superpowers. That would up the rivalry.
Last Minute Thoughts: The Society series is slated to be a trilogy. I’m interested in seeing what happens to our hero, Emmet Watts.
Buy: The Dream Maker in the Desert
Rating: 4 Treasure Chests
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