[Review] Shadow and Bone

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‘Shadow and Bone’
by Leigh Bardugo

The Grischa # 1...

Synopsis:
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart? (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I don’t know where I should start – I found the book absolutely beautiful and incredible and was completely surprised by this ingenious, wondrous world, which Bardugo has created here. It’s of full miracles, mythical beings and fantastic magic!

This is also reflecting in the manner of writing of the author, who uses a wonderful, gorgeous language, which at the same time isn’t too overload, but which feels like a light snowflake, and it’s like one of this writing styles which usually appears in fairy tales and which kidnaps the reader just in such a story.

I don’t want to tell much about the plot, because otherwise something in tension gets lost, but so much can be said: it happens a lot in it! In principle there is a constant ‘up-and down’, and there also happens things, which I couldn’t foresee by myself and hence, I’ve found very great!
For me Bardugo has created with this story something independent and completely new, which I would like to see as a movie with great pleasure and I’m already looking forward desperately to the other parts. (I just read a few days ago, that the movie rights are already sold – so we can be happy, there is going to be a movie!)

Also the characters could inspire me and I found Alina’s behavior, as well as her feelings on the relevant circumstances, authentically, understandable and I would have quite often reacted the same way or I would have had the wish as she – to belong to others. Who wouldn’t?
Moreover, it was interesting how Bardugo has created the figures Mal and the Darkling – really fantastic, inscrutable and suspenseful.

The end could satisfy me, after a small dropout and shock, and allowed me to finish the first book positively and also leaves me behind waiting tensely for the next part.

German Cover:
It’s really a felicitous cover, and as well as the story, with an own, unique charm. *splendid*

All in all:
I quickly got pulled into the story, into the characters, Grischas and the magic of this world and then I couldn’t free myself anymore from it. Great first part of a magnificent new series and I already wait anxious for the next book!
The 0.5-points deduction is there because I feel that, nevertheless, it’s still enough space upwards and because in the book were also short passages, which were a little bit long-winded.

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points – (soo awesome!)

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A huge Thanks for the reviewer’s copy to:

© Bittersweet  &

© Carlsen Verlag

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Quote:

Darkling: “How did you fare with the Queen?”
Alina: “I have no idea. Everything she said was perfectly nice, but the whole time she was looking at me as if I were something her dog spit up.”

Mal: “I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I’d catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I’d seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I’d realize that you weren’t there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I’ve risked my life for you. I’ve walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I’d do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don’t tell me why we don’t belong together.”

.Succession:

#0,5: Leigh Bardugo – The Witch of Duva (Short Story)
# 1:     Leigh Bardugo – Shadow and Bone »»
# 2:     Leigh Bardugo – Siege ans Storm
# 3:     Leigh Bardugo – Ruin and Rising
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(© goodreads)

About the author – Leigh Bardugo:
Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, raised in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she hides out in Hollywood and indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as makeup artist L.B. Benson.
Her debut novel, Shadow & Bone (Holt Children’s/Macmillan) is now a New York Times Best Seller. (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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© Indigo Fierce Fiction

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[Review] Bayou Moon

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‘Bayou Moon’ by Ilona Andrews

The Edge # 2
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Synopsis:
Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.
But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.
When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
Maybe some of you can remember how much I liked and how much enthusiastic I was about the first book of Andrews’ series ‘The Edge’ and therefore I hardly couldn’t wait to read the second part, particularly because I also was already a fan of William in the first book, and secondly because I read it together with a blogger-friend in a reading-circle, which meant more fun for me or both of us.
But here in spite of all that, this book has disappointed me a little, although it’s not recognizable at the first sight, because of the average rating.

All in all it’s also not bad, and also better than other books I’ve already read so far, but if I compare it to part one, here it lacked at some places.
First of all I’ve only got very haltingly in the story and it was at first also a little bit too long-breathed to me. The surrounding area was described too detailed, many new characters were introduced and to be honest, I’ve only waited for the time, when the two central characters William and Cerise meet each other. And when they finally did it, then I even haven’t really recognized it immediately, but I don’t want to say much about it, otherwise I would spoil a lot.

And although also here these two characters have fitted greatly together, I just couldn‘t feel with them, as I did with Declan and Rose in the first book. This is probably due to the fact, that both characters are very determined, stubborn and like to look out for others and rather do something to defeat the ‘bad guys’, instead of take care for their own feelings, or just identify them. Unfortunately, hence it’s also clear, that here aren’t many romantic scenes and even in the second book there is even less fun and humor in it, than in the predecessor. What I found both a great pity, particularly the abstinence of the big feelings and the pleasant prickle in the belly, when the characters fall in love with each other. Okay, yes, it was also quite nice every now and then, but the big feelings were missing.

The second point, which has led to less joy of reading, was that Andrews were very often changed between the narrative perspective, which wouldn’t have disturbed me so much, if it had been only between William and Cerise, but unfortunately many other characters also got a chance to speak. Here not only from the good figures, but also every now and then from the enemies of the story, which was for me extremely unnecessary, because these chapters revealed no important revelations, but only made the book thicker. Here it would have been better to shorten the book by some chapter and to write it exclusively from the point of the main characters – I really would have liked that more. Furthermore also the certain spark has been absent anyhow all the time and as already said, some pages in it were unnecessary and described too detailed.
Also the plot couldn’t grab me like in the first part and often the pages got filled with too many details. Added to that comes that also the description of this surrounding area in the middle of the marsh brought an unwell feeling to me and the portrayal and the world in the first part of the ‘Edge-series’ were for me much better and more pleasant.

And now we are already at the end, which has allowed me to finish this book happy and peacefully. If you haven’t read the book yet, then please stop reading now, because – SPOILER ALERT –

I namely found absolutely great, that at the end it has worked with these two, although they are both stubborn as hell, and hence it was also really sweet, as her father has helped them a little. Moreover it was very nice that I could read how the life goes on now for them in the Weird, now that they’ve settled down there. And it was even better to hear that they live close to Rose and Declan and that also the children Jack, George, Gaston and Lake spend time together. Everything sounds very peaceful and like a nice, lovely family-life with friends and exactly that, the figures have earned, after all the strains. Hence this end was perfect for me and I found it absolutely cute!

German Cover:
Also here the cover is again a feast for the eyes and I like the picture very much, although it has little relation to the plot.

All in all:
Unfortunately part two is a little weaker than the great first book, but I’m sure, that this series still has to offer a lot and that the next book will fulfill my full expectation again. Andrews simply knows how to write exciting, amorous books and therefore I remain loyal to her.

Rating:
3 of 5 points – (I liked it)

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A huge Thanks for the reviewer’s copy to:

Egmont Lyx

 

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Succession:
# 1: Ilona Andrews – On the Edge »»
# 2: Ilona Andrews – Bayou Moon »»
# 3: Ilona Andrews – Fate’s Edge
# 4: Ilona Andrews – Steel’s Edge

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(© goodreads)

About the author – Ilona Andrews:
Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade.  (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit the Website »».

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[Review] On the Edge

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‘One the Edge’
by Ilona Andrews

The Edge # 1
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Synopsis:
Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.
Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power)…
(Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
To be honest at the beginning I had a few problems with this book. Particularly the writing style was not mine and was for me a little bit too rough and intricate. In addition all the things, with the whole magic and the different worlds like the Edge or the Weird, were complicated explained at first and too much for me to comprehend all at once, so that I’ve already dreaded the worst. The fear, that the book wouldn’t be something for me, luckily changed fast and as soon as also William and Declan appeared in the story, there was no more hold for me and I just had to read on as quickly as possible, because I was so motivated!
I have read till late hours in the night and was finished with the book after 1 ½ days, because I couldn’t put it aside! *lol* And I think this fact already shows how much I’ve liked it later on and how moving and exciting it got throughout the course.

Beside the fascinating action I‘ve especially liked the matchless characters. Most of all Rose; independent and good-heart, she takes care self-sacrificing of her two younger brothers, who are rascally and ‘a sly old dog’. But Rose is also headstrong, can dish out, as well can take it and represents fiercely her opinion. To it fits perfectly the male character, called Declan, who drives her nuts over and over again and quarrels playfully with her. I’ve found them both together with each other delightful and they fit together magnificently, although they fight over and over again. Especially THIS was the right charm and has brought me often to smile.
Also the love scenes were great and suited the story and maybe I’m a little tainted, because I would have wished for more of it or for longer erotic scenes. But maybe in the next book!

Moreover the plot wasn’t foreseeable for me, like it is often for me with other books, and what has pleased me very much and has increased my reading pleasure. Also the whole points with the magic were clearly explained after the time, so that I could always follow and the plot curve grow on and on up to the end, up to the final highlight. I liked the book, the action and the characters. It was first-class and, hence it gets 4.5 points. The 0.5 point deductions are on account of the writing manner and because of the sometimes rough explanation, particularly at the beginning.

!! Little SPOILER!!

Relating to William, another important character in the story, I was glad like it has developed with him in the end. I liked it that I did not know exactly what he’ up to and on which side he stands and whether he plays on the good or the bad side. Very, very thrilling!
I found him really great and hence I’m already very glad that I know that the second part is about him and I hope that there he also gets his happy end.

Cover:
The English cover doesn’t appeal to me at all and I would also never have read it on account of that. While in comparison the German cover is really nice, but it rather looks like a YA book cover, which it’s definitely not!

All in all:
This is an exciting, magic story, which kidnapped me into a completely other world full of wonders and miracles, but also dangers. For fans of supernatural things, fantasy-lovers and for those, who appreciate a well built man’s body!

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points – (soo awesome)

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A huge Thanks for the reviewer’s copy to:

Egmont Lyx

.Quotes:

Rose: “Give me a few minutes.”
Declan: “You have time.” He sat in the grass.
“Are you just going to sit there and watch me?”
“Yes. Watching pretty peasant girls is what we poor little rich boys do best.”
“Peasant?”
He shrugged. “You started the name calling.”
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“She handed him a glass of water and two Aleve gelcaps. “They’re anti-inflammatories. They will dull the pain a little bit and keep down swelling and redness. Swallow the pills, don’t chew.”
“Well, I thought I’d stick them into my nose and impersonate a walrus, but if you insist, I’ll swallow them.”
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Declan: “You’re a prickly, stubborn, spirited woman.”
Rose: “Don’t forget crude, rude, and vulgar.”
“Only when it suits you. You’re sly when occasion calls for it, direct to the point of forgetting tact even exists, sarcastic, fierce, I did mention stubborn, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” she said dryly.
“You’re also smart, kind, gentle, beautiful, and always cling to your personal integrity, even when it’s in your best interests to abandon it.”

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Succession:

# 1: Ilona Andrews – On The Edge »»
# 2: Ilona Andrews – Bayou Moon »»
# 3: Ilona Andrews – Fate’s Edge
# 4: Ilona Andrews – Steel’s Edge

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(© goodreads)

About the author – Ilona Andrews:
Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade.  (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit the Website »».

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Review: A Clash of Kings

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German Cover 2.2

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‘A Clash of Kings‘
by George R. R. Martin

A Song of Ice and Fire # 2
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Synopsis:
A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who hold sway over an age of enforced peace are dead, victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel…and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.    (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
‚Epical‘– that’s probably the word, which describes best the entire book and the story behind it, with all his unbelievable facets and heroic characters.

It happened so much in this book, that I don’t know at all where I should start!
The best would be to begin with the writing style of Martin, which is, as well as in the other books, to be read well and fast. He doesn’t exaggerate it with his descriptions, although everything is decorated nicely and vividly and a movie is running off before the inner eye. Unfortunately he talks sometimes a little bit too much and too exactly about all the family-stories of the single clan and their origin and their background stories – though not so exaggerated as Tolkien with Frodo’s related ones -  however, it quite scratches on the border and this is partially also unnecessary in my eyes and too exactly for my taste.

Otherwise there isn’t much which I could criticize. It was a constant up-and down for the characters in the books and I couldn’t really decide from which character I wanted to read more. Everybody has suffered many strokes of fate and the main characters came in this book only from a misfortune to the next and most times I’ve often been worried with them and have hoped for them that they don’t die. Since the end from ‘Game of Thrones #1’ we know that Martin doesn’t hesitate for long to kill and let also main characters die. Which I think is very extreme, because one never knows whether it goes well or an important character dies again, though on the other side, at the same time there’s more tension and thrill, just because one doesn’t know whether a favorite character comes out again healthy from an emergency or not.

My favorites in the books are still Jon Snow – he is and remains my absolute hero in the story, even if he shows sometimes too much heroism and gets himself because of that in dangerous situations, only to prove that he is good guy, that he can be more than just a bastard. Sometimes it breaks my heart and sometimes I only want to shake him, so that he gets a clear head again and not risk his life.
And it’s also very alike with Arya to me. These two are and act very similar in my opinion, with their stubbornness, as well as their power of endurance and ability to go on and on, no matter how precarious or hopelessly it may seem. Moreover Arya is cheeky and has a loose tongue and such figures can always conquer my heart easily.
Though Sansa and Catelyn got better in these books, they still don’t belong to my favorite characters. Now it has developed to the fact that I tolerate them, because they also have experienced a lot of awful things, but I don’t really feel for them and therefore their chapters also weren’t my highlights.
In return the dwarf Tyrion could persuade me once again and I also like Shae and I‘m curious how it will develop with him or maybe together with her.
Unfortunately in this book wasn’t really of a lot of positive or very interesting things with Dany, who I’ve liked particularly at the beginning of the series very much. But here she loses somewhat of her sympathy and sometimes works also to dogged and recalcitrant, although she must be it, because now she’s a ruler of a Khal, but nevertheless, I preferred her before and I hope this change again in the next part.

!!! SPOILER Alert from here on!!!

And I must confess that I‘ve also lost a few tears at the end. Though I’ve been glad to read again a chapter of Bran and to find out that he and Rickon are fine and high-spirited, but it was also sad to read how it ended with Winterfell. Also for me Winterfell is, since I started to read this book series, a small place to retreat and has become the ultimate home of the main characters and it has hurt me, to see them leaving everything behind deadly and lost. Also I found it very sad that so many characters had to die again. Although I always expected it and was prepared, it was awful and really a bad surprise.

German Cover:
Unfortunately I don’t really like the covers in this series and for me they are also absolutely not the reason why I read the books. So I’m happy I’ve encountered them another way and not with a catchy cover.

All in all:
Another masterpiece of Martin which I recommend to everybody who loves to read books like ‚Lord of the rings‘, or likes high-fantasy or is a fan of stories of medieval times, knights or bloody fights and which are also heroic and with big feelings.

Rating:
4 of 5 points (Great, great, great)

Quotes:

“People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it’s served up.”

Jon: “There’s no shame in fear, my father told me, what matters is how we face it.”

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Succession:

# 1 : George R. R. Martin – A Game of Thrones »»
# 2 : George R. R. Martin – A Clash of Kings »»
# 3 : George R. R. Martin – A Storm of Swords
# 4 : George R. R. Martin – A Feast of Crows
# 5 : George R. R. Martin – A Dance with Dragons
# 6:  George R. R. Martin -  The Winds of Winter
# 7:  George R. R. Martin -  A Dream of Spring

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(© goodreads)

About the author – George R. R. Martin:

George R.R. Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin’s first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: “The Hero”.

In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979.

Martin’s present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers’ Guild of America, West.    (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit his Website »»

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Review: The Lost Prince

(© goodreads)

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‘The Lost Prince‘
by Julie Kagawa

The Call of the Forgotten # 1

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First Sentence:
“‘My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.”

Last Sentence:
“And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid.”.

Synopsis:
Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I was back again in the Nevernever and I have enjoyed my visit! Particularly, because it was already a certain time ago that I’ve read the ‘Iron Fey’ series and I’ve missed the world and some characters in it so much.

I’m aware that I’m prejudiced and that I can’t rate the books of Kagawa any more objectively because I am simply just so a big fan of her and her world full of fairies. Other readers might like this book not so much than I did, because I also see the weak spots in the story and within the characters, but nevertheless, I was totally enthused – I think it’s always like that when you’re in love, as well as I’m with her stories. And also her writing style is as usual always just indescribable magnificent, with wonderful and dreamlike descriptions of the scenery – picturesquely like a famous painting.

This book now is about the younger brother of Meghan, Ethan Chase, who isn’t so small at all and nice, like we have got to know him in the ‘Iron Fey’ series, but he has become stubborn, recalcitrant and tall– also built very well and attractively. (You only have to look at the incredible cover! ^^)

Ethan is able to see the fairies since he was born, but he dissimulate this secret because the fairy only gets him in trouble, in big trouble, what leads to the fact that Ethan is reserved and therefore also lives a more or less lonesome, dreary life. The only ones, who know about his ability, are Meghan – who left to life with the fairies – and his mother, who doesn’t speak of these things, because she fears them. So he is totally on his own. Hence it’s understandable that he is quite a sourpuss, at least at the beginning. Of course this changes after his acquaintance with Kenzie, where we are already by the female main character.

I have really liked both, Ethan and Kenzie, and I could get involved with them very well and fast. They were also a great couple and they showed a nice see-saw. And I also must confess that Ethan reminds me a little of Ash, with his often rotten mood and his constant humming. But in return Kenzie is completely different than Meghan! She is a disobedient, headstrong, cheeky and strong personality and has whined not once, although she also has to deal with some hard things. I also think now for me she is one of my newest favorite characters and I find them both great, really great and I’m already looking forward to read more about them in the next part. To be honest – I can’t wait and I’m dying here while waiting for the second book. :/

But unfortunately I couldn’t completely feel with in the same way like I did with the first series (with Meghan and Ash) what is probably due to the fact, that Ethan is telling the story from his POV and therefore it’s clear that there are mentioned less feelings and emotions, which rules in him (but otherwise it also would be a little unsexy ^^). Often I also felt that he brooded constantly and too often over the same problem, although it was already discussed and I fear that this will also go on in the next part.
But nevertheless I’m really looking forward to the second part, because I want to read more about them and I also want to know how it goes on with the other characters. Particularly with Keeiran and Annwyln.

However, I think it’s a little pity that though Ash, Meghan or Puck showed up, they only were present for a very short time and hadn’t an important role in it. For me that would be okay, if it was just Meghan and Ash, but that also Puck and Grimalkin were very absent, has surprised me. I’ve really hoped for Puck that he gets a nice part again and gets this time also his happy-end, but unfortunately no. And instead of Grimalkin,  these Razor got the steadier role beside the main characters and though it was also funny when he has chirped the first time ‘bad Kitty’, it become dull after the third time.

Also the plot wasn’t so very surprising  in the story, because I’ve foreseen parts of it, which were also confirmed later on, for example the thing with the queen or with Kenzie. There Kagawa has probably already pointed to it too early, as well as the thing with the mysterious ‘Forgotten’ was no surprise for me. But I think that I see that rather fast in such a way, because I’ve already read all the other books from her. For somebody who doesn’t know ‘The Iron Fey’ series, the book offers more new things and surprise. However then the joy of seeing all the other characters from the first series again, is missing, which I really liked . So everything has his own advantages.
But I think, one can also read this book without having read ‘The Iron Fey’ series before. Everything is explained and one can follow the story also without foreknowledge.

Cover:
This is an amazing cover which shows Ethan matchless at it. It’s really brilliant and there you only want to start reading the book immediately, right?

All in all:
Not as good as ‘The Iron Fey’ series, because in my opinion there were many similar things in it, but nevertheless still a highlight and Kagawa writes for me the best and most fantastic fairy stories.

Rating:
4 of 5 points – (Great, Great, Great) (

Quotes:

 Kenzie: “No need to be nasty,” she said, seeming unconcerned with my aggressiveness. “I’m not asking for a date, tough guy, just your name.”

Grimalkin: “Well, well,” answered a cool, amused voice from somewhere above us. “And here you are again. Ethan Chase, your family does have a knack for getting into trouble.”

Ethan: ‘The cat trotted briskly ahead, neither slowing down or glancing back to see if we were still there, and we had to scramble to keep up. I wondered if Meghan hat this same problem when she first came to the Nevernever.’

Puck to Ethan: “Sit down. Geez, kid, do I look like a nurse? Why are you always bleeding whenever I see you? You’re worse than ice-boy.”..

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A huge Thanks for the eBooks to:

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Succession:

# 1: Julie Kagawa - The Lost Prince »»
# 2: Julie Kagawa - The Traitor Son
# 3: Julie Kagawa – Untitled

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© goodreads.com

About the author – Julie Kagawa:
She was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel. (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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Review: Skin Hunger

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German Cover

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‘Skin Hunger’ by Kathleen Duey

A Resurrection of Magic #1
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Synopsis:
Sadima lives in a world where magic has been banned, leaving poor villagers prey to fakes and charlatans. A “magician” stole her family’s few valuables and left Sadima’s mother to die on the day Sadima was born. But vestiges of magic are hidden in old rhymes and hearth tales and in people like Sadima, who conceals her silent communication with animals for fear of rejection and ridicule. When rumors of her gift reach Somiss, a young nobleman obsessed with restoring magic, he sends Franklin, his lifelong servant, to find her. Sadima’s joy at sharing her secret becomes love for the man she shares it with. But Franklin’s irrevocable bond to the brilliant and dangerous Somiss traps her, too, and she faces a heartbreaking decision. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I must confess that I didn’t know that book before I’ve started to read it, and hence, I’ve simply let surprised me. And I didn’t get disappointed. Right at the beginning I’ve liked the writing style of Duey very much and I could get into it well and nicely. The book was written in the past. What was very great and has also confused me a little in the beginning was the fact that not all chapters were written in the same perspective, but they rotated.

Moreover, the time line wasn’t only simply linear like in any other book, but also the time switches. There is virtually a story which plays in the past and tells the background story and how it happened that it has come to the present-state. Okay, I’ve to confess this was a little bewildering at first, but it also has carried me away immediately and it was therefore so thrilling that I almost couldn’t put aside the book. These points were absolutely the biggest fascination of the book for me.

Beside these, also the central figure, called Samida, was a highlight of the book and she could win me for herself very fast, as well as after some time the character Haph, for whom I’ve felt endlessly sorry. Also I’ve liked Franklin at the beginning of the book very much because of his friendly kind and his natural, helpful being. Unfortunately he couldn’t really grow within the book or for me he has even changed at some points to the negative.

And unfortunately the same happened with the whole book. Not that the writing style have gotten worse or such a thing but the plot was from time to time too stretched in the length, although it didn’t happened a lot in those chapters. Occasionally I had the feeling, as if something will immediately happen, some kind of highlight or such a thing, but that never came.

The arc of suspense simply decreased again. In addition was that the characters have also slipped into some roles, in which I didn’t really want to see them. For example Franklin became rather weaker than stronger throughout the story, and in my opinion he hasn’t grown at all or has changed to the positive. It was rather in a way that he was completely guided only by Somiss, another central figure, and has operated for me too less independently, so that I wanted to shake him sometimes to wake him up. It was exactly what also Samida wanted to do with him or she also wanted to free herself from him, to put her own luck into focus again, but unfortunately, she didn’t made it.

Now I really hope that this relatively open end, with raised many questions, soon gets a better second book, in which will be also some answers and in which the characters can grow again. Because I think that this phase, in which they characters couldn’t be themselves and where their hands were virtually bound, will be important for the future, their maturation process and the general plot. Hence I’m curious how this series will go on and therefore I’m looking forward to also read the next books.

Cover:
I find the cover very suitably for this story, because it shows Samida well, but also doesn’t reveal too much from her. Moreover it suits to the magic atmosphere in the book and hence I think it’s really felicitous.

All in all:
It’s an interesting book which has brought me to ponder and has carried me away much particularly at the beginning. Unfortunately there have been some weaker phases in the meantime. Nevertheless a must read for fans of Magic and High fantasy or also for readers of for example Trudi Canavan.

Rating:
3 of 5 points – (I liked it)
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A huge THANKS for the reviewer’s copy to:

© Random House

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(© goodreads)

About the author – Kathleen Duey:
Kathleen Duey grew up in Colorado. She loved riding her horses, hiking, being in the mountains. Reading was always important to her. Writing became a fascination early in her life. In the fourth grade, Kathleen began writing stories and told everyone who would listen that she was going to be an author. Then she did nothing about it until she was 35 years old. In the last decade, Kathleen has learned about computers, the internet, research and writing. Writing is her passion and her dream-come-true. She is in love and feels lucky to have a such a wonderful and loving partner in her life.
(Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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Snapshot: The Fellowship of the Ring

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Snapshots are short- reviews of my already read books, which should give a litte insight of how I liked the books, if I think it’s worth reading and for which taste it would fit.

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‘The Fellowship of the Ring’
by J. R. R. Tolkien.

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(© goodreads)

I don’t know where I should start and it’s really hard for me to write an appropriate review. I love the films and I’ve seen them already countless times and so often that I’m already able to join in the dialogues. Hence, everybody can probably understand that the book hasn’t offered a lot of attraction or tension for me anymore and that it was a laborious reading. I have already bought the book years ago in English and since then I tried to read it twice and have broken off every time.
And also this time I have quarreled so much with myself, but everybody told to me and said that I just have to come to a certain point and then it’ll become better and more interesting. But unfortunately, this point has never really came for me, that I would say ‘wow, now I must read on because it’s so interesting’ but it was always a compulsion to finally finish this book, which I have already started at the end of December –> probably this says everything.

The writing manner of Tolkien was definitely not what I usually like. For me it was too overloaded, too poetically and everything was described too precisely. Particularly the beginning was a horror for me, when the whole family relationship by Frodo and Bilbo were explained. Does somebody like this our find this interesting?

I like it when something is happening, but here the real action has only begun after the first third of the book! Also everything wasn’t easy to understand and in my opinion at the beginning it was also difficult to come into the story, mostly because of the Old-English from Tolkien, which he has exaggerated too much and which I’ve not liked at all. Later when the story did go on, it become better, but the dialogues remained very ancient and conceited, so that I had to force myself to read on.

Nevertheless, now I can’t rate the book only negatively, because I love the main story and the characters in it so much …though, if I’m honest, mainly from the movies. But here I couldn’t really build up a good connection and it wasn’t a joyful reading. But as said, this is certainly because I already know the movies in and by heart. Hence, I would recommend this book for everybody who likes fantasy, but maybe for those who haven’t already seen the movies or not too often.

The plot and the action in the story gets better and more interesting after the point, where the hobbits leave the woods in which Tom Bombadil lives in. I know, some of you love Tom Bombadil but I thought he was only annoying with all his singing and prancing and therefore I’m glad he wasn’t also in the movie. Sorry- but that’s my opinion on that subject.
However, it become really exciting when they decide to destroy the ring, to bring him to Mordor and when they form the fellowship of the ring, to make their dangerous and almost impossible way there. My favorite characters are Sam (Sam is the real hero in my eyes!! Gandalf, Strider/ Aragon and of course Pippin *lol*)

I’m happy to be able to finish this book after nearly 3 months I certainly won’t read the other 2 books. There I‘m completely content with the movies.

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Quote:

Frodo: “I wish it need not have happened in my time.”
Gandalf: “So do I, and so do all who live to see such times.
But that is not for them to decide.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

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Succession:

# 1: J. R. R. Tolkien – The Fellowship of the Ring
# 2: J. R. R. Tolkien – The Two Towers
# 3: J. R. R. Tolkien – The Return of the King

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I read this book for the ‘Book2Movie – Challenge’ 2012 !

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Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

English Cover

German Cover

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‘Daughter of Smoke and Bone’
by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone # 1

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Synopsis:
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself? (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
Finally again a book that after my high expectations has fulfilled and even excelled them and all I can say is, that I love this book! After many positive reviews and because I found the cover pretty amazing, I was really looking forward to read this book and honestly, I feared that I’ll be disappointed like so often, when I’ve high expectations. But exactly the opposite has happened and now I can join the whole masses before me who loved it, because the book is really wonderful and the best discovery for a long time.

I don’t want to tell much about the plot and describe here everything because I would like to give every reader the chance to discover it for yourself, to solve the riddles and to see the miracles with your own eyes. I only want to say so much that it is about Angels, which aren’t shown as usual as bighearted and kind, but who can be also deadly and unmerciful.
In the book you find yourself in a world full of wishes, filled with me chimeras which couldn’t be more differently and the plot is scattered all around the world, now it’s Prague, then Marrakech or Paris. Everything is a big scene, full of tension and emotions in whose middle the central figure Karou stands; a 17-year-old student with bright blue hairs and many unbelievable secrets, and also riddles which she must work out by herself throughout the story, together with the reader.

The book is stuffed with original ideas, new notions and thus begins already with the first pages and starts with the unique names of the protagonists, like Karou, Twiga, Assil, Kishmish or Akiva. It is also a different atmosphere in this book, stamped by the scenery in Prague, as well as by the unique characters and their own world, like for example in the magic store of Brimstone.
Moreover, Laini Taylor has a wonderful writing style which underlines this fantastic story as well, and you also notice that Taylor has a lot of know-how and has well investigated. This book has brought an absolutely new and fresh wind into the fantasy genre, like a strong gust which carries the ‘boat of the imagination’ even further out in the never-ending ocean. *wonderful*

Furthermore what I’ve liked very much was that though it’s a YA book, that it also fits well for older readers and therefore it’s written more attractively to adults.

The only deficiency which I have to criticize is that at the beginning it was difficult to get into the story because of the writing style and therefore it was also a little slow going, but which changed soon. At the start was just a big question mark but which has changed after some pages.
And also the fact that though I liked Karou as a character and she was totally a great and very strong main figure, she sometimes appeared too great and too good – she was missing a little negative side and therefore she seemed too perfect.
Moreover in the later middle section was a little too much about the past and the whole Madrigal-story, which was described too precisely and it could have been shorter in my opinion.

But otherwise, I was inspired by this book all the time and I could empathize fantastically and felt with these wonderful characters throughout the plot and now I’m really looking forward to the second part in this incredible series, which hopefully will be released soon.

German Cover:
It’s breathtaking and the nicest cover which I have in my collection so far. Special is, that under the envelope is also a printed picture on the hardcover. *awesome*

All in all:
For me an obvious Must-Read! At which I have to say that it’s rather for fantasy fans. For Jodi Picoult-readers or for fans of non-fictional books, this book will be maybe too extraordinary.

Rating:
5 of 5 points

Quotes:

Karou: “It’s not like there’s a law against flying.”
Zuzana: “Yes there is. The law of gravity.”

Madrigal: “Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there’s no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.”

Akiva: “Your soul sings to mine. My soul is yours, and it always will be, in any world. No matter what happens. I need you to remember that I love you.”

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Succession:

# 1: Laini Taylor – Daughter of Smoke and Bone »
# 2: Laini Taylor – Days of Blood and Starlight
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(© goodreads)

About the author – Laini Taylor:

Hi there! I’m a writer of fantasy books for young people, but my books can be enjoyed by adults as well. My ‘Dreamdark’ books, Blackbringer (2007) and Silksinger (2009) are about faeries — not dainty little flowery things, but warrior-faeries who battle devils. My first young adult book, Lips Touch, is a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award! It’s creepy, sensual supernatural romance. . . about kissing. I am also an artist with a licensed gift product line called “Laini’s Ladies.”
(Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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