The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Ok, I have to admit I was skeptical about this book just because everyone raved about the Twilight Series. Now while I enjoyed the the twilight series I personally feel that it didn't live up to the hype (especially the movies). But surprisingly this book kept me interested from the first to last word. This is a young adult novel but I have to say because of the type of violence in the books I would say that the later teens would probably understand the nature of the book without being freaked out.
The book is set in the future, and is based on the idea of a major calamity happened and the United States as we know it changes and we're under a communist ruling nation. The Hunger Games are created to remind the residents that the government has absolute power. While I'm sure everyone knows the base of the book, I'll still give a quick overview. The starts where each 12 districts give two tributes one boy and one girl to participate in the hunger games, which is a battle royal to the death. The only one person will win the games. The main female character Katniss Everdeen volunteer's as tribute when her 12 year-old sister is selected. Also with her is Peeta Mellark, during their whole time they are thrown together as a "romantic" couple. During the whole novel Katniss is struggling with her feelings for Peeta and her determination to survive for her family's sake.
This book is the first in a series of three, and the ending is definitely open for another book. Because of the nature of Suzanne Collins writing in the books, I see this series as one where you can just pick up a random book with out reading the other ones in concession without being lost. I think that these book appeal for young adult and also adult. Collins didn't dummy down anything nor did she simplify any of the situations to entice a younger crowd.
I really liked this book and I can't wait to read the sequels but I will hold off because I have a massive book sale coming up, plus Christmas. Collins got to the human side of the the characters but also tapped into the fact that when we're pushed into a situation like the hunger games our animistic and survival side kicks in.
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
On Deck:
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Book Review: Infinity
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
This story is a young adult novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon. This is an off shoot of her Dark-Hunter series. In the Dark-Hunter series, Nick Gautier is an adult and a squire for the Dark-Hunter Kyrian. As Kenyon's Dark-Hunter Series developed and becomes more and more, Nick's life takes a serious turn and twist.
The Chronicles of Nick series is starts off with Nick as a 14-year-old high school freshman and becomes a squire for Kyrian after Kyrian saves him from being killed. This is where Nick gets pulled into the Dark-Hunter world and craziness ensues. This series is a little different from the Dark-Hunter series because everything is brought up right away with everything within the dark-hunter world, plus Kenyon added in some zombies (it is set in 'Nawlin's so you have to have some zombies). She also added in some regular characters from her adult novels but added in some eccentric new characters that help developed the story and plot.
If you're a fan of her adult novels, the transition to a young adult novel was seamless. She still writes in her same style that fans of Kenyon are used to but writes it so that it is appropriate for young teenagers. She didn't dummy down her writing in anyway, which I felt was good.
If you've never read a Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter novel before this is a good one to pick up. There is no romance or sex in the book (which is good since it's geared towards the younger market) so it's purely on the development of Nick's character and life. If you have read one of Kenyon's adult Hunter series, you are not going to be spoiled for this series at all.
In the end, Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon was an amazing book. I loved reading every word from beginning to end and can't wait to pick up the second book in the series. It's action packed and I love that Kenyon is writing a story about a character that many of her readers fell in love with. Because of Nick's age in the series I feel it is appropriate to make it a young adult novel. It'll be interesting to see where she takes the series and if she'll make an adult novel for the character Nick Gautier.
Rating:
5 out of 5
On Deck:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
This story is a young adult novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon. This is an off shoot of her Dark-Hunter series. In the Dark-Hunter series, Nick Gautier is an adult and a squire for the Dark-Hunter Kyrian. As Kenyon's Dark-Hunter Series developed and becomes more and more, Nick's life takes a serious turn and twist.
The Chronicles of Nick series is starts off with Nick as a 14-year-old high school freshman and becomes a squire for Kyrian after Kyrian saves him from being killed. This is where Nick gets pulled into the Dark-Hunter world and craziness ensues. This series is a little different from the Dark-Hunter series because everything is brought up right away with everything within the dark-hunter world, plus Kenyon added in some zombies (it is set in 'Nawlin's so you have to have some zombies). She also added in some regular characters from her adult novels but added in some eccentric new characters that help developed the story and plot.
If you're a fan of her adult novels, the transition to a young adult novel was seamless. She still writes in her same style that fans of Kenyon are used to but writes it so that it is appropriate for young teenagers. She didn't dummy down her writing in anyway, which I felt was good.
If you've never read a Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter novel before this is a good one to pick up. There is no romance or sex in the book (which is good since it's geared towards the younger market) so it's purely on the development of Nick's character and life. If you have read one of Kenyon's adult Hunter series, you are not going to be spoiled for this series at all.
In the end, Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon was an amazing book. I loved reading every word from beginning to end and can't wait to pick up the second book in the series. It's action packed and I love that Kenyon is writing a story about a character that many of her readers fell in love with. Because of Nick's age in the series I feel it is appropriate to make it a young adult novel. It'll be interesting to see where she takes the series and if she'll make an adult novel for the character Nick Gautier.
Rating:
5 out of 5
On Deck:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Book Review: Slow Burn
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood is a mystery/suspense/romance novel. It is in theory a stand alone novel but also part of a series (if that makes sense). In a majority of Garwood's contemporary novels are based around the Buchanan family which is a large family where a majority of the boys are in law enforcement.
This book starts off with Kate MacKenna almost getting blown up but is saved by going behind a line of trees to remove her uncomfortable wonder-bra. After that event takes place Kate's life goes into a whirlwind where everything that can go wrong in her life goes wrong. Her life is in complete chaos and add in Dylan Buchanan, who is the brother to her best friend Jordan. He's on leave from the police department after being injured in the line of duty he gets pulled into Kate's drama.
This book is a quick read but isn't boring by any means. Each page has action and issues but aren't overloaded with drama. The plot is very realistic and the author wrote the chaos in such away that it seemed control, it wasn't too much going on at once. It was also nice to read a romance novel where the male and female characters had known each other for sometime so the romantic connection seems plausible. Both of them get under each other's skin but have also had feelings for the other for sometime before the romance forms.
My over all feeling about the story is that it was good and interesting. So many romance novels seem to be 1 dimensional but this one had several things going on that made this book more than just a romance novel. If you're not a huge romance lover but like a little this would be the book for you. It has just enough but the story is more centered around Kate MacKenna's life and her issues happening with in the book.
order from amazon
order from barnes and noble
Raiting:
4 out of 5
On Deck:
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
p.s. I know that the only people that read this blog is family and friends on facebook but if any of you have any comments, questions or critiques please don't be afraid to comment on the blog.
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood is a mystery/suspense/romance novel. It is in theory a stand alone novel but also part of a series (if that makes sense). In a majority of Garwood's contemporary novels are based around the Buchanan family which is a large family where a majority of the boys are in law enforcement.
This book starts off with Kate MacKenna almost getting blown up but is saved by going behind a line of trees to remove her uncomfortable wonder-bra. After that event takes place Kate's life goes into a whirlwind where everything that can go wrong in her life goes wrong. Her life is in complete chaos and add in Dylan Buchanan, who is the brother to her best friend Jordan. He's on leave from the police department after being injured in the line of duty he gets pulled into Kate's drama.
This book is a quick read but isn't boring by any means. Each page has action and issues but aren't overloaded with drama. The plot is very realistic and the author wrote the chaos in such away that it seemed control, it wasn't too much going on at once. It was also nice to read a romance novel where the male and female characters had known each other for sometime so the romantic connection seems plausible. Both of them get under each other's skin but have also had feelings for the other for sometime before the romance forms.
My over all feeling about the story is that it was good and interesting. So many romance novels seem to be 1 dimensional but this one had several things going on that made this book more than just a romance novel. If you're not a huge romance lover but like a little this would be the book for you. It has just enough but the story is more centered around Kate MacKenna's life and her issues happening with in the book.
order from amazon
order from barnes and noble
Raiting:
4 out of 5
On Deck:
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
p.s. I know that the only people that read this blog is family and friends on facebook but if any of you have any comments, questions or critiques please don't be afraid to comment on the blog.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Book Review: Knight of Darkness
Knight of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor
Well I finished another story, and I have to say, this was a very exciting book. And I'm more than likely being bias because I adore anything that this author writes. Kinley MacGregor is a pseudonym for Sherrilyn Kenyon. MacGregor's books are historical. The bulk of her books are centered in Great Britain.
Knight of Darkness is part of the Lords of Avalon series, which is MacGregor's take on Arthurian legends. The story takes place several centuries after the final battle that King Arthur had with his nephew Mordred. The novel follows Varian duFey who is the son of an evil demon and Sir Lancelot. Throughout the story he is in constant battle between good and evil within himself but also outside powers as well. He rescues a young maiden Merewyn who was his mother's servant/prisoner. The tale follows them through their quest to get away from Varian's mother and Morgen le Fey. During the journey, Merewyn finds herself falling for the man Varian is but he refuses to allow himself to have any feelings for her.
This story is a beautiful blend of romance, historical ideas, fantasy, and action. This is I believe the second book in the Lords of Avalon series, but there is no need to read them in order. There's enough back history to follow along with the story but basically it is centered around the characters Merewyn and Varian and their conflicts.
In all of Kenyon/MacGregor's book there is a theme of a rough childhood, which Varian had. You feel his pain and sorrow, but she has such a way of writing that it doesn't linger with you after you've finished a book. It's enough to make you feel the emotion while you're reading but it doesn't weigh you down. Plus she always finds away for her main characters to have a resolution even if the main issue that she's telling during the series isn't resolved.
In the end I loved this book. But then anything that Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor writes I suck it up like my favorite dessert. Her Lords of Avalon series is different than what I have read before by any other author. She made me become enthralled in the story/plot/and characters with her writing style.
order from amazon
order from barnes and noble
Rating:
5 out of 5
On Deck:
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Well I finished another story, and I have to say, this was a very exciting book. And I'm more than likely being bias because I adore anything that this author writes. Kinley MacGregor is a pseudonym for Sherrilyn Kenyon. MacGregor's books are historical. The bulk of her books are centered in Great Britain.
Knight of Darkness is part of the Lords of Avalon series, which is MacGregor's take on Arthurian legends. The story takes place several centuries after the final battle that King Arthur had with his nephew Mordred. The novel follows Varian duFey who is the son of an evil demon and Sir Lancelot. Throughout the story he is in constant battle between good and evil within himself but also outside powers as well. He rescues a young maiden Merewyn who was his mother's servant/prisoner. The tale follows them through their quest to get away from Varian's mother and Morgen le Fey. During the journey, Merewyn finds herself falling for the man Varian is but he refuses to allow himself to have any feelings for her.
This story is a beautiful blend of romance, historical ideas, fantasy, and action. This is I believe the second book in the Lords of Avalon series, but there is no need to read them in order. There's enough back history to follow along with the story but basically it is centered around the characters Merewyn and Varian and their conflicts.
In all of Kenyon/MacGregor's book there is a theme of a rough childhood, which Varian had. You feel his pain and sorrow, but she has such a way of writing that it doesn't linger with you after you've finished a book. It's enough to make you feel the emotion while you're reading but it doesn't weigh you down. Plus she always finds away for her main characters to have a resolution even if the main issue that she's telling during the series isn't resolved.
In the end I loved this book. But then anything that Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor writes I suck it up like my favorite dessert. Her Lords of Avalon series is different than what I have read before by any other author. She made me become enthralled in the story/plot/and characters with her writing style.
order from amazon
order from barnes and noble
Rating:
5 out of 5
On Deck:
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
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