Wings

Author: Aprilynne Pike
Pages: 294
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: May 1st 2009
Age Group: Young Adult  (12-18)
Awards:

RT Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Paranormal/Fantasy Novel (2009)

Books Source:
Challenge(s): To Be Read Challenge (2012)

     Laurel Sewell is off to Big Bad high school for the first time. All her life she has been a strange girl. Beautiful, mesmerizing even. She hasn't been through the abnormalities of puberty- such as zits and normal teenage stuff. She doesn't even remember the last time she went to a real doctor.
     Soon she meets David at her new school.  They are fast to become friends and bond almost instantly.
One morning Laurel wakes up to find a bump on her back. The first "normal" sign of puberty she has ever had.
      But days after it grows abnormally large and out sprouts abnormal feather like wings. Before Laurel knows it she is catapulted into a faerie world she unknowingly knew of all her life. She must discover her own strange secrets before they control her life.


     I picked up this novel thinking it would be your normal faerie/seelie-court/junk that I expect from all of the newer "Faerie" tales. I jumped into this book and found the beginning rather boring and dreary. It was a sorta- insta-lovey theme thing.

     I loved the uniqueness this book offered throughout- the writing truly intrigued me. Although the plot was contradictory and rather odd I just devoured the writing. It was definitely different. I can't even pin-point what kept me reading. The "Plant" thing was great. I would never have thought about that sort of thing. I don't quite understand how that made them magical faeries but still- it was a cool idea.

     I wish this author could have had JUST Faeries. But no- they have to bring it to that whole new level of complexity with trolls and crap. That was rather annoying... a ton of things was left unexplained and easily confusable. I mean why can faeries just be enough?! You don't have to include EVERY MYTHICAL/FANTASTICAL creature for people to enjoy your book. Sometimes just randomly throwing all those creatures in with your plot actually takes away from the plot. Then it just gets ridiculous.

     This book had such an abrupt ending too!! It was short and of course there is a sequel (Spells), And of  COURSE I have to read it. All these freaking cliffhangers are giving me heart attacks. Standalone novels- c'mon people; seriously. Aside from all the bad stuff- I loved the writing. If you are to read this; read it for the writing, not the content/concept.

Son of Neptune

The Son of Neptune

Author: Rick Riordan
Pages: 513
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication: October 4th 2011
Book Source: Anqi Yu @ KajaInk
Age Group: More Middle Grade (12-14)


      Percy Jackson is back and ready to roll. Or he would be. If he remember anything. It is quite a hinderance- only knowing one thing; his name. And the fact that monsters are attacking him- somehow he has major monster fighting skills. But the monsters aren't dying; at least not for long. They keep coming back- faster and faster each time. 
      Percy had been found by Lupa- a roman wolf god. He trained with Lupa's wolves for months and taught Percy about who he is- or should be. He is a demi-god. A Half Blood. He is a Son of Neptune- he the roman god of the sea.  
     Soon he will be on a journey with two new friends- Frank and Hazel.  But not long after meeting these young half bloods at Camp Jupiter... he realizes that they are hiding secrets- secrets about life... and death. Secrets greater than Percy could ever imagine. Without any of his memories and friends... Can Percy Jackson survive this new, foreign adventure- Roman Style? 


First things first- This book is infuriating. And I absolutely love it. With Percy missing his memory- while reading you just want to punch things... and throw things... lots of things... Also tear your hair out... lots of it. After reading the first chapter I was hooked- I loved the new adventure. It is definitely great to have Percy back.


 This is the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series. I read the first book- without having the main character(s) as Percy- I was... per-say unsure of this new series. But I have fallen back in love with all of the characters- even the new ones. Frank- big, clumsy, ox-y Frank.  I admire his imperfectness and self consciousness. He was so real!


Rick Riordan beyond exceeded my expectations. Again. Sure- If you loved his first series with Percy Jackson you have a guarantee to love this book. There were times in this book I just laughed my butt off! Those of you who have read this- do you remember "I will trample you to death, silly Chinese Canadian baby man" MAN! You have got to love Arion- the horse with the mouth of a Sailor!


If you have held of reading this new (brilliant!) series in fear that it will ruin your Percy Jackson experience... ALAS! Wait no more! No need to wait like a coward. This  book will enhance your Percy party experience and leave you begging on your knees for more! And for those of you who have not read any Rick Riordan books... I pity you. Because you, my friend(s), are missing out on some majorly good mojo. 


If you need to begin your Percy Party Pack Experience- begin your journey with this brilliant beginning: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan.

Need I say more?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Author: Laini Taylor 

Pages: 418

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Release: September 27th 2011

Age Group: Young Adult (12-18)

Book Source: Insider @ Library

        In a  Karou's world where winged creatures roam the sky and a chimaera named Brimstone collects all sorts of teeth for his mysterious necklaces. And his teeth are soon to run out.

      Karou is the 'errand' runner for Brimstone; she does anything he needs. Why? Because he is a monster that is all she has known for family since a young age. He is her family.

       Who is she? She doesn't know. Her hair grows blue- naturally from the roots.She speaks many languages- languages of humans, and monsters alike. She fills sketchbooks with dramatic drawings of monsters that are real- but a secret for her to keep. She is a mystery- to herself and everyone else. But that is the question she keeps getting asked. Who is she?  What is she?

      But when black fiery hand prints are appearing on doors all over the world- on portals catastrophe is soon to strike. And Karou doesn't know what it is and how to stop it. When a wonderful stranger Akiva finds Karou- she haunts him. Her face- a face of beauty. Together they find hidden secrets, dangerous love and most of all- they discover who she is. Whether Karou likes who she is or not; together Akiva and herself are going to find out.

First of all- I would like to thank my schools wonderful librarian- Mrs. Johnson. She let me borrow the schools copy of this book before it was processed- because she knew how much I wanted to read it. Also because it takes forever to process. So I appreciate her kindness and hope she will do the same in the future!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone has been on my to-read list for quite some time. I had hoped it would fulfill my great expectations of this new series. And indeed it did! And more! This new fantastical world of mythological creatures twisted my mind and gave me joy. This book was beyond wonderful.

I loved the voice that Laini Taylor incorporated into this book. Her writing was great- her style told the story and just sucked me in and I could not put it down. This mystery is one of the best books I have read ever. I cannot wait for the sequel!

Karou is definitely going on my list of book character that I would want for a a best friend- right next to Katniss from The Hunger Games and Mara Dyer from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Karou was unlike any character I have ever 'met'. Her stubbornness and capability was so endearing and awesome to watch  unravel throughout the book. Karou definitely grew as a character throughout the book and made her even more enticing at the end.

The thing I enjoyed the very most was the unpredictability of this entire story.  Just as soon as you started thinking you knew what came next- Laini Taylor just flipped you around and you landed on your head. Sometimes unpredictability in a book can be annoying and just irritate me but this did the opposite- it encouraged me to continue reading.

Laini Taylor did a fantastic job of snagging the read right away and left you wanting more at the end of the book. Definitely a book you NEED to read! I can't wait for the sequel. Some writers just cannot write fast enough!