Entries Tagged 'Coming of Age' ↓
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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June 9th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Coming of Age, Friends, Romance, S-T, School Situations, Social Issues, YA Genre
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Unwritten Rule
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 210
Grade Reading Level: 9th Grade +
Summary: All girls grow up knowing the unwritten rule. That you don’t date your friend’s exes is pretty much a given… but what about wanting to be with the guy while your friend is still dating him?
Why I started this book:
Saw some hype of it in the YA blogosphere a few months or so ago, sadly I can’t remember which blog anymore as I got the book from the library only very recently.
Likes:
- The protagonist’s parents had evidence of a real life. The mother was involved in cooking and culinary contests. The father was a professor. They also were good parents and were still together and happy to be that way.
- Ryan had wanted to break off his relationship to the friend from practically the beginning. In fact he was unwittingly roped into the relationship and was too shy and good mannered to break it off.
- Sarah’s voice was sweet and heartbreaking as she worried about her friendship, her parents, and her friend’s boyfriend.
Dislikes:
- Brianna hates her mom but is exactly like her mom. She belittles Sarah under the guise of kindness. She cheats on Ryan and yet insists she loves him and wants to stay with him.
- The fact that Brianna cheated does in no way excuse or really justify Sarah’s and Ryan’s behavior. Cheating is never the answer. However while I don’t condone such behavior in real life I was very much rooting for the two.
Final Thoughts: Greg and Brianna deserve each other and Elizabeth Scott does a great job exploring one of life’s social dating rules.
Buy: The Unwritten Rule
Rating: 3 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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