Monday, April 28, 2014

Deadlocked 6 A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 6
Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #6; Series #2)
Genre: Horror
Length: 238 pages
Published: 2012
Publisher: A.R. Wise
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The High Rollers are falling apart. Billy is leading them into war against the wishes of Laura, who is intent on living in peace. Unbeknownst to them, one among them holds the cure that could save all mankind, and there are two powerful enemies that want it. Everything has been leading up to this, and the members of this fragile family are going to have to go through hell if they're going to survive.

No one is safe as the end draws near.

My Review:
I give this book a 4 out of 5.

So this one is only get four stars from me. Mostly it's because it took awhile to really get into the book. There was action, intrigue, character development galore...but I think I was just thrown off by the addition of several characters and totally new information that was given to us. Otherwise it was an exciting book. It ended with a bang, and I am naturally excited to read part 7. 

You can purchase Deadlocked 6 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 6? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan

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Title: Winter's Heart
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #9)
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Length: 668 pages
Published: 2000
Publisher: Tor Books
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Rand is on the run with Min, and in Cairhein, Cadsuane is trying to figure out where he is headed. Rand's destination is, in fact, one she has never considered.

Mazrim Taim, leader of the Black Tower, is revealed to be a liar. But what is he up to?

Faile, with the Aiel Maidens, Bain and Chiad, and her companions, Queen Alliandre and Morgase, is prisoner of Savanna's sept.

Perrin is desperately searching for Faile. With Elyas Machera, Berelain, the Prophet and a very mixed "army" of disparate forces, he is moving through country rife with bandits and roving Seanchan. The Forsaken are ever more present, and united, and the man called Slayer stalks Tel'aran'rhiod and the wolfdream.

In Ebou Dar, the Seanchan princess known as Daughter of the Nine Moons arrives - and Mat, who had been recuperating in the Tarasin Palace, is introduced to her. Will the marriage that has been foretold come about?

There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it is a beginning...

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This one is a bit slow to start. At first we follow Perrin for a bit, as he learns that Faile has been captured. We also follow Elayne as she struggles to make Andor hers and take the throne that is hers by birthright. We also get to see (finally!) what has happened with Mat and how he manages to escape the Seanchan and Ebou Dar. We get to learn a little bit more about the Sea Folk, and we get to watch as Elayne and Aviendha finally adopt each other as first-sisters. 

Interspersed are a few chapters with Rand and Min, telling us just what they have been up to. It all comes together at the end, though, as the action suddenly picks up in an exciting battle against the Forsaken while both Rand and Nynaeve are incapacitated. Definitely an exciting addition to the series - especially considering what Rand manages to do by the end of the final chapter. I won't give that away - you'll have to read for yourself!

Next up: Crossroads of Twilight.

You can purchase Winter's Heart through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Winter's HeartIf so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Final Descent by Rick Yancey

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Title: The Final Descent
Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The Monstrumologist (Book #4)
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Length: 310 pages
Published: 2013 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Will Henry and Dr. Warthrop have encountered many horrors together—but can Will endure a monstrumological terror without his mentor?

Will Henry has been through more that seems possible for a boy of fourteen. He’s been on the brink of death on more than one occasion, he has gazed into hell—and hell has stared back at him, and known his face. But through it all, Dr. Warthrop has been at his side.

When Dr. Warthrop fears that Will’s loyalties may be shifting, he turns on Will with a fury, determined to reclaim his young apprentice’s devotion. And so Will must face one of the most horrific creatures of his monstrumology career—and he must face it alone.

Over the course of one day, Will’s life—and Pellinor Warthrop’s destiny—will lie in balance. In the terrifying depths of the Monstrumarium, they will face a monster more terrible than any they could have imagined—and their fates will be decided.

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Intense. This was perhaps the most intense of all four books in this series. Throughout the series, we have witnessed Will Henry's change from the boy who used to get sick during dissections to the haunted young man who barely blinks an eye at killing someone. 

The narrative jumps back and forth between New York City and forty years after that at Warthrop's home. Bit by bit the story is told, layering out the details in a way that one does not even begin to suspect the ending. This was probably the best of all four of the Monstrumologist books. 

You can purchase The Final Descent through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Final Descent? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey

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Title: The Isle of Blood
Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The Monstrumologist (Book #3)
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Length: 538 pages
Published: 2011 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) When Dr. Warthrop goes hunting the "Holy Grail of Monstrumology" with his eager new assistant, Arkwright, he leaves Will Henry in New York. Finally, Will can enjoy something that always seemed out of reach: a normal life with a real family. But part of Will can't let go of Dr. Warthrop, and when Arkwright returns claiming that the doctor is dead, Will is devastated--and not convinced.

Determined to discover the truth, Will travels to London, knowing that if he succeeds, he will be plunging into depths of horror worse than anything he has experienced so far. His journey will take him to Socotra, the Isle of Blood, where human beings are used to make nests and blood rains from the sky--and will put Will Henry's loyalty to the ultimate test.

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This was the longest book in the series. There is, naturally, a lot of danger. We see many characters from the first two books in here as well: John Kearns, Abraham Von Helrung, and Lilly Bates, just to name a few. It all starts with a mysterious Englishman showing up on Dr. Warthrop's doorstep with a package from John Kearns for him. That package causes Will Henry and Dr. Warthrop to end up traversing the world in search of the Holy Grail of monstrumology: the magnificum

Once again, the reader is taken on a journey which poses some pretty deep questions of morality and ethics. Who would you choose: the lady or the tiger? That is the decision Will Henry must make many times throughout the story. Definitely worth the read. I'm excited to read the final volume in this series!

You can purchase The Isle of Blood through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Isle of Blood? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Deadlocked 5 by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 5
Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #5; Series #2)
Genre: Horror
Length: 196 pages
Published: 2012
Publisher: A.R. Wise
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Twenty years have passed since the zombie apocalypse devastated the world. A single man is on a quest of revenge in search of the people responsible for the outbreak of the zombie virus. His quest leads him to a discovery in the western United States that will irrevocably change his goal.

Meanwhile, a new world is revealed that is under the strict control of the same people that were responsible for the plague. Two innocent prisoners of this regime must escape and learn the truth about the world they never knew existed.

Deadlocked 5 is the start of a new, epic series that will change everything you thought you new about the zombie apocalypse. The apocalypse was just the beginning!

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5.

So this is the first book in the second Deadlocked series, and it takes place twenty years after the zombie apocalypse began. Each chapter is told in first person by a different character. The character name is given at the beginning so that you know who you are following. The main characters that we follow are Ben Watanabe, and Cobra Dawn. 

We learn early on that Ben is the same Ben that was being experimented on along with Annie. The last we saw him, he was a thirteen year old kid that just murdered four men and was watching Reagan, Laura, and Annie fly off. Now, he's twenty years older and on a hunt to find and assassinate the twelve men who were responsible for the zombie apocalypse - a mission, we learn, that his father set him on. 

Cobra Dawn is an entirely different creature. Born and raised for her entire eighteen years in an underground facility, she escapes with a fellow Dawn named Hailey to the surface. There the two girls meet Hero. Yes, the same Hero from Deadlocked 3 and Deadlocked 4. 

A few new characters are introduced, including the High Rollers - a group that's been trying to find and destroy the government facilities, like the one Cobra was raised in. A couple more familiar characters show up. As usual, A.R. Wise uses a lot of foreshadowing. Nothing he includes is trivial. Be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions in Deadlocked 5

You can purchase Deadlocked 5 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 5? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Deadlocked 4 by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 4
Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #4; Series #1)
Genre: Horror
Length: 150 pages
Published: 2012
Publisher: A.R. Wise
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) It all ends here. The characters of the Deadlocked series have been through nearly unbearable challenges, but they're about to face the hardest yet. Kim has been taken by the cruelest, most vile person in the series, and it's up to Billy and Levon to save her. All the while, Laura fights for her life in the grip of the military as they perform tests on her daughter, Annie, that are risking the little girl's life.

The conspiracy behind the rise of the zombie plague will be revealed as Reagan uncovers the horrible secret that led to the murder of six and a half billion people. The world hangs in the balance as one family fights to survive.

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5.

I am blowing through this series. Once I start one of the books in it, I can't seem to stop. It helps that they're nice and short, of course, so I can read them in a couple hours. The later books, from what I've seen, are supposed to be much longer - closer to full length novels, so I'm sure it'll take me more than a couple hours to read those. 

This is the final book in the first Deadlocked series. Deadlocked 5 will jump ahead twenty years. This is also the first time the author really shows the story from multiple viewpoints. Book One was following David, Book Two followed Laura, and Book Three followed Billy. Book Four shows us what has happened to Kim, what's going on with Hero, Mark, Billy, and Laura. And we also get a ton of insight into Reagan's character, as well as a lot of very valuable information, including the how, who, and why the zombie apocalypse was set into action. We also glimpse another character, which according to the author will show up in the second Deadlocked series. 

You can purchase Deadlocked 4 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 4? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Deadlocked 3 by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 3
Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #3; Series #1)
Genre: Horror
Length: 138 pages
Published: 2012
Publisher: A.R. Wise
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The Deadlocked series continues as Billy heads into the city in search of his mother. During his quest, he will meet a strident military figure that will alter his journey and two brothers that will become his closest allies. However, his trip will endanger the family he has only just met, and he might not be able to save them.

Billy's journey into the city will reveal many of the secrets of this penultimate novella. No characters are safe from the terror that has engulfed the city, and as the motives of those in charge begin to be revealed, the fate of all mankind will be in question.

My Review:
I give this book a 4 out of 5.

I'm giving this one less stars than the first two in the series, only because I felt that it wasn't as thrilling as the first two. Don't get me wrong, it was still excellently written. It just lacked the gut-wrenching horror that we saw through Laura's eyes and the way David was slow to understand what was happening and how he survived, just barely, to try to save his family.  

You can purchase Deadlocked 3 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 3? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan

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Title: The Path of Daggers
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #8)
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Length: 604 pages
Published: 1998
Publisher: Tor Books
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The phenomenal tale that is mesmerizing a generation of readers now continues.

The Seanchan invasion force is in possession of Ebou Dar. Nynaeve, Elayne, and Aviendha head for Caemlyn and Elayne's rightful throne, but on the way they discover an enemy much worse than the Seanchan.

In Illian, Rand vows to throw the Seanchan back as he did once before. But signs of madness are appearing among the Asha'man.

In Ghealdan, Perrin faces the intrigues of Whitecloaks, Seanchan invaders, the scattered Shaido Aiel, and the Prophet himself. Perrin's beloved wife, Faile, may pay with her life, and Perrin himself may have to destroy his soul to save her.

Meanwhile the rebel Aes Sedai under their young Amyrlin, Egwene al'Vere, face an army that intends to keep them away from the White Tower. But Egwene is determined to unseat the usurper Elaida and reunite the Aes Sedai. She does not yet understand the price that others - and she herself - will pay.

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Mat is the character that's most absent throughout this book. He's mentioned a few times, but the reader is still left with the question of whether he survived having a building fall on top of him. Hopefully the next book will show us what has happened to Mat in Ebou Dar.

Most of the other main characters show up in this book. The absence of Mat just brings his plight that much more to the forefront, making the reader worry about his well being. (Or at least that's how I felt throughout the book!)

Rand takes his battle to the Seanchan. But while the Seanchan damane are late to join in the battle, the Asha'man have also had serious problems working saidin this close to Ebou Dar and where the Bowl of the Winds was used. 

The ending leaves Perrin's wife, Faile, in a dangerous situation - captive to the Shaido Aiel. 

Next up: Winter's Heart.

You can purchase The Path of Daggers through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Path of DaggersIf so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Deadlocked 2 by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 2
Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #2; Series #1)
Genre: Horror
Length: 77 pages
Published: 2011
Publisher: A.R. Wise
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Part two of this series picks up immediately after the end of the first. David's wife, Laura, is forced to take over the protection of their family as the boat travels out into Hailey Bay, away from the zombies. However, the boat's pilot plans to dock back in the overrun city to rescue his own family, which will put Laura's in jeopardy.

Laura is forced to overcome unimaginable horrors as the zombie apocalypse explodes around her, but it is the evil intent of the humans around her that present her greatest challenge. The reader is taken far beyond the edge of their seat as Laura pushes forward to the inevitable end. No one is safe in a world where the dead hunt the living.

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I thought the first book in this series was intense. This blew it out of the water. This time the book is in Laura's voice as she struggles to protect her family. Remember the cops in the pontoon boat that allowed David to be hauled along behind them in the first one? They show up again. And Laura comes across some friends of theirs as well. 

The ending is left wide open, as Laura prepares to kill a fellow human in order to protect her family. I'm anxious to get on to Deadlocked 3, which follows Billy as he heads into the city to find his mother. 

You can purchase Deadlocked 2 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 2? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Deadlocked by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked
Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #1; Series #1)
Genre: Horror
Length: 61 pages
Published: 2011
Publisher: A.R. Wise
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) David was caught in the middle of the city when the zombie outbreak started. His wife and daughters were at home, stranded on the roof as zombies waited below. He would have to fight through hordes of undead, merciless other survivors, and a series of death defying stunts to get home. However, even if he makes it there, how can he be sure they're safe?

Deadlocked puts you into David's head as he struggles to get home. Then a final confrontation occurs that will guarantee his family's survival, but at what cost?

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Wow. Right from the start I was caught. I was trapped reading this novella and watching as David spends his time trying to flee the zombies (which he doesn't even realize are zombies until someone points it out to him later on) and return to his family. The author did a good job conveying the horror without being overly graphic. The ending is a shocker. The author did something that most authors steer away from. And I approve, wholeheartedly with his decision. I've got the second book in this series lined up ready to go and I can't wait. Lovers of all things zombie will love Deadlocked

You can purchase Deadlocked through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

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Title: The Curse of the Wendigo
Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The Monstrumologist (Book #2)
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Length: 424 pages
Published: 2011 (originally published in 2010)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) While Dr. Warthrop is attempting to disprove that Homo vampiris, the vampire, could exist, his former fiancée asks him to rescue her husband, who has been captured by a Wendigo—a creature that starves even as it gorges itself on human flesh. Although Dr. Warthrop considers the Wendigo to be fictitious, he relents and performs the rescue—and then sees the man transform into a Wendigo. Can the doctor and Will Henry hunt down the ultimate predator, who, like the legendary vampire, is neither living nor dead, and whose hunger for human flesh is never satisfied? This second book in The Monstrumologist series explores the line between myth and reality, love and hate, genius and madness.

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I loved this sequel. The first book in this series was excellent, but this one might actually have been better. Dr. Warthrop is convinced that his best friend is not a monster but is delusional. Others, including his former mentor, are convinced that he is becoming a Wendigo. The book takes us to the wilds of Canada and then to the slums of New York City. Will Henry learns a lot about his master and even about himself. 

The author has done a fabulous job with this series, and I'm anxious to read book three: The Isle of Blood.

You can purchase The Curse of the Wendigo through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Curse of the Wendigo? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Burn by Julianna Baggott

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Title: Burn
Author: Julianna Baggott
Series: Pure Trilogy (Book #3)
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Length: 418 pages
Published: 2014
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Inside the Dome, Patridge has taken his father's place as leader of the Pures. His struggle has led him here, intent upon bringing down the Dome from the inside, with the help of a secret resistance force. But things are not as simple from his new position of power and he finds himself tempted by his father's words: perhaps if the world is to survive it needs the Dome - and Partridge - to rule it...

As Partridge's resolve weakens, Pressia and Bradwell continue piecing together the clues left to them from the time before the Detonations. It is their hope that they will be able to heal the Wretches, and free them from their monstrous fusings and the Dome's oppression once and for all. But everything depends, too, on Partridge. Separated by distance and history, can they still trust their friend and ally? Or is the world doomed to an eternity of war and hardship?

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Nothing is as it seems as Partridge takes over the Dome. He's supposed to be in charge but he quickly learns he has no control over anything. Only his guard, Beckley, might help him. 

Pressia wakes up inside the dome in Ireland and eventually is allowed to return home with Bradwell, El Capitan, and Helmud with the vial and the formula, as long as they take the means to destroy the Dome once and for all along with them.

As I was reading this book I couldn't comprehend how everything could come to a close - much less any kind of happy ending. I don't expect a full on happy ending where everyone in the world is suddenly best friends forever and there are rainbows and puppies everywhere. Just an ending where someone at least manages to be happy. Something where the bad guys don't completely win. But who are the bad guys in this trilogy? That's a question the author really did a good job of leaving the reader with. Is it really the people in the Dome? Is it the wretches? Is it Partridge's father? The author did an amazing job showing that nobody is wholly good and nobody is wholly evil. Reality is never cut and dried. It's never simple. 

This entire trilogy was excellent and I did get the mostly happy ending that I was hoping for. Definitely worth the read!

You can purchase Burn through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Burn? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Friday, April 11, 2014

A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

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Title: A Crown of Swords
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #7)
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Length: 684 pages
Published: 1996
Publisher: Tor Books
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) In this volume, Elayne, Aviendha, and Mat come ever closer to the bowl ter'angreal that may reverse the world's endless heat wave and restore natural weather. Egwene begins to gather all manner of women who can channel - Sea Folk, Windfinders, Wise Ones, and some surprising others. And above all, Rand faces the dread Forsaken Sammael, in the shadows of Shadar Logoth, where the blood-hungry mist, Mashadar, waits for prey.

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Picking up in the aftermath of Dumai's Wells, this volume adds in some new characters that can only be considered important to the story through the remainder of the series. While Rand deals with the aftermath of the events in Cairhien, Elayne and Nynaeve spend their days in frustration, searching for the Bowl of the Winds. Egwene has some struggles and some victories in her quest to get the Aes Sedai to treat her as more than a child. Perrin is sent away from Rand and Cairhien along with the Two Rivers men, the Mayeners, Aiel Wise Ones, Aes Sedai, and a pair of Asha'man. Supposedly, he is sent away in disgrace after a very public fight with Rand. 

Rand leaves the Bargain with the Sea Folk in Merana's hands, and nearly gets himself killed in the process when he visits the camp of some of his sworn enemies. 

This volume moved pretty quick. There was a lot of action and enough plots to follow and keep track of that events were not confusing, as some epic fantasy series can be. 

Next up: The Path of Daggers.

You can purchase A Crown of Swords through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read A Crown of SwordsIf so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

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Title: The Monstrumologist
Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The Monstrumologist (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Length: 434 pages
Published: 2010 (originally published in 2009)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets. The one who saved me . . . and the one who cursed me. 

So starts the diary of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthorpe, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a gruesome find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.

A gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does man become the very thing he hunts?

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

For a book that I found randomly at the library while picking up a different book, this was incredible! From the moment I read the blurb on the book jacket, I was excited, intrigued, and fascinated. I'm excited to continue on with the series (there are four books in total), because it was that fascinating. 

Will Henry is an orphan - his parents died in a horrible fire. His father's employer takes him in and he begins his training as a monstrumologist. He's seen some terrifying things. But nothing more terrifying than the Anthropophagi. How did the Anthropophagi come to America? Who brought them there? Why? This is the quest for those answers, as well as the quest to bring down the pod that exist in their quiet town of New Jerusalem. A must read for any fantasy lover, especially those that don't mind the simplicity of a Young Adult novel. I'm anxiously waiting to read the next book in the series!

You can purchase The Monstrumologist through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Monstrumologist? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

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Title: The Swiss Family Robinson
Author: Johann David Wyss
Genre: Classic Literature
Length: 336 pages
Published: 1812 (original) 1999 (version I read)
Publisher: Yearling
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) “For many days we had been tempest-tossed…the raging storm increased in fury until on the seventh day all hope was lost.” 

From these dire opening lines, a timeless story of adventure begins. One family will emerge alive from this terrible storm: the Robinsons—a Swiss pastor, his wife, and four sons, plus two dogs and a shipload of livestock. Inspired by Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, this heartwarming tale portrays a family’s struggle to create a new life on a strange and fantastic tropical island. There each boy must learn to utilize his own unique nature as their adventures lead to difficult challenges and amazing discoveries, including a puzzling message tied to an albatross’s leg. But it is in the ingenuity and authenticity of the family itself, and the natural wonders of this exotic land that have made The Swiss Family Robinson, first published at the beginning of the nineteenth century, one of the most enduring and imitated stories of shipwreck and survival.

My Review:
I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

Similar to Robinson Crusoe, this nineteenth century novel tells the story of a family who is shipwrecked and their adventures. Now I'll be upfront and state that I HATE Robinson Crusoe, so I am really glad to report that while this book does have a few boring parts (which is why this is getting only four stars), it's nowhere near the level of Robinson Crusoe

The Robinson family has a huge amount of luck, as they are not only intelligent and hardy, but they are also able to procure most of the stuff aboard the ship, which is conveniently lodged on some rocks. Danger hits them throughout, but they are able to make a home for themselves. Ten years pass and they find another shipwreck survivor on a neighboring island. Eventually they are found by an actual ship and they are faced with a decision of returning back to Europe or staying on their private island alone. I definitely recommend picking this up and taking some time to read and enjoy it. 

You can purchase The Swiss Family Robinson through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Swiss Family Robinson? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

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Title: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
Author: Howard Pyle
Genre: Classic Literature
Length: 344 pages
Published: 1883 (original) 2004 (version I read)
Publisher: Sterling
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) He stole from the rich and gave to the poor, and in so doing became an undying symbol of virtue. But most important, Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men offer young readers more than enough adventure and thrills to keep them turning the pages. Who could resist the arrows flying, danger lurking, and medieval intrigue?

My Review:
I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

The reason this gets a four and not a five is that I found my attention wandering through some parts of the book. I really did enjoy these tales of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, but some of the dialogue (though accurate for the time depicted) was hard to get through and some of the quarterstaff fight scenes bored me. It's definitely worth a read, though, and I recommend it for anyone that has ever had any interest in Robin Hood.

You can purchase The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

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Title: Lord of Chaos
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #6)
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Length: 720 pages
Published: 1994
Publisher: Tor Books
Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) In this sequel to the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Fires of Heaven, we plunge again into Robert Jordan's extraordinarily rich, totally unforgettable world: 

On the slopes of Shayol Ghul, the Myrddraal swords are forged, and the sky is not the sky of this world;

In Salidar the White Tower in exile prepares an embassy to Caemlyn, where Rand Al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, holds the throne - and where an unexpected visitor may change the world....

In Emond's Field, Perrin Goldeneyes, Lord of the Two Rivers, feels the pull of ta'veren to ta'veren and prepares to march....

Morgase of Caemlyn finds a most unexpected, and quite unwelcome, ally....And south lies Illian, where Sammael holds sway...

My Review:
I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

In this installment, the reader finds themselves all over the world, following several different characters. Finally, more is heard of from Perrin, whose voice was silent in The Fires of Heaven. There is a lot of heavy foreshadowing involved as Rand meets with the two different Aes Sedai emissaries; Elayne and Nynaeve seek the Bowl of the Winds, a ter'angreal that might be able to fix the weather; and Perrin feels Rand tugging at him and makes the decision to go to him. 

We also get to meet up with Min again, as she arrives in Caemlyn with the Salidar Aes Sedai. And we finally meet Mazrim Taim, the False Dragon who managed to escape and decided to come to Caemlyn for Rand's amnesty. There are also several chapters in Egwene's point of view, as she struggles to learn dreamwalking while being banned from the Dream by the Wise Ones (following the attack from Lanfear). Everything comes to a head in the final chapters at Dumai's Wells. 

There were definitely parts in this book that felt like nothing was going to happen. But there was nothing that was included that should have been left out. The action really picks up towards the end, leaving one breathless. 

Will Elayne and Nynaeve be successful in fixing the weather? Will Rand send Min away after the events of Dumai's Wells? Hopefully we'll get the answers in the next bookA Crown of Swords.

You can purchase Lord of Chaos through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Lord of ChaosIf so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.