Book Post September/October
Here we go with this book post.
September Reads
Bones of the Lost (Temperance Brennan 16) by Kathy Reichs
Mystery/Crime
Goodreads Link
#1 "New York Times "bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her sixteenth riveting novel featuring forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan, whose examination of a young girl killed in a hit and run in North Carolina triggers an investigation into international human trafficking.When Charlotte police discover the body of a teenage girl along a desolate stretch of two-lane highway, Temperance Brennan fears the worst. The girl's body shows signs of foul play. Inside her purse police find the ID card of a prominent local businessman, John-Henry Story, who died in a horrific flea market fire months earlier. Was the girl an illegal immigrant turning tricks? Was she murdered?
The medical examiner has also asked Tempe to examine a bundle of Peruvian dog mummies confiscated by U.S. Customs. A Desert Storm veteran named Dominick Rockett stands accused of smuggling the objects into the country. Could there be some connection between the trafficking of antiquitiesand the trafficking of humans?
As the case deepens, Tempe must also grapple with personal turmoil. Her daughter Katy, grieving the death of her boyfriend in Afghanistan, impulsively enlists in the Army. Meanwhile, Katy's father Pete is frustrated by Tempe's reluctance to finalize their divorce. As pressure mounts from all corners, Tempe soon finds herself at the center of a conspiracy that extends all the way from South America, to Afghanistan, and right to the center of Charlotte. "A genius at building suspense" ("Daily News," New York), Kathy Reichs is at her brilliant best in this thrilling novel
3 out of 5 stars
With the exception of the first chapter, I read most of the book in one day. For the most part and despite the technical terms in parts, this was a fairly easy and fast read. For me the middle part (the complete second part) dragged and I found it mostly uninteresting. However it did tie into the end and up until her chapter where she discovered it herself, I had no real idea how. In that I liked the book. It wasn't the most compelling story for me but it was well written and build-up. Despite this being the 16th Brennan book it is still easy to read as a standalone as I did. I was not confused about aspects of her life or interactions.
As for the characters, I had a hard time connecting with them. This entire book we spend in the head of Temperance Brennan. Her thoughts are overall easy to read but I just lacked a connection with her. I cared more for her cat than her. The detective Slidell has an interesting vocabulary that takes some getting used to. During the course of the book he grew on me, but you don't get to know him very well.
Overall I think it is an okay read. Enjoyable somewhat. It does not however appeal to me to read the rest of this series.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Fantasy
Goodreads Link
Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.
Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie-magical, comforting, wise beyond her years-promised to protect him, no matter what.
A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark(less)
4 out of 5 stars
What a lovely, but short read.
It is not the story so much that appeals to me in this book but the way it is told. Through the eyes of a seven year old that brings a different perspective to us, realizing how much simpler a child can look at things compared to us. That certainly appealed to me. Next to that it is they way Gaiman wrote this. His way of spinning this tale through memories and some of the to the point things that were described that made me think and feel how accurate that really is.
“I knew only that I was used to being me, and I liked my books and my grandparents and Lettie Hempstock, and that death would take all these things from me.”
The characters stood out on their own like our main character but most of all the Hempstocks. Those ladies brought something extra to this book. A little spunk. The main character, who was not named, was also one I could on parts connect with. His love for books and cats really stood out.
The reason I'm rating this 4 and not 5 stars is that the story itself is not really one that stands out.It isn't that memorable. Funny, considering the main character didn't remember it that well at the start of this book. Also a lot of things are still left unknown or unclear. A part of me likes that, but I also think that this is a reason why I don't connect enough with the story.
Regardless though, this book does convinces me to read more by Neil Gaiman.
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass 1) by Sarah J. Maas
Young Adult/Fantasy
Goodreads Link
In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.
Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament-fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?
3,5 out of 5 stars
When I first read the summary of the book, I didn't think this would be a book for me. You know; young assassin, competition, etc. More people began to read it though and send out heavy reccommondations. This is why I decided to read this book anyway.
I have to say that for the most part I was pleasantly surprised that most of my reservations about the book from the summary were taken away. Still unlike most I did not fall in love with this book or its characters.
The start of the book, introducing our three main characters, was strong and interesting. It was to the point and the introduction to the competetion was good.
The middle of the book however felt like it dragged. There were many scenes that were in the book purely for the romance that did not work for me. Other scenes showed Celaena researching in books. All the while there was a competetion going on. There were some action bits but for the most part the middle had too much rest scenes. I would have liked to have seen more of the competition, especially as we did get to see so much of the start of the competition. The balance was lost and because of that my interest wavered somewhat. The ending luckily brought this back. It also brought more suspense to the book.
A small personal preference that slightly bothered me was that some scenes where we switched to Chaol or Dorian, were rather short. It always makes me wonder how nessecary that paragraph really was and if it wouldn't be better to incorperate it into another scene.
Celaena is witty and headstrong. The words on the cover 'heart of ice' I could not quite rhyme with the character that was written in this book. She clearly cared about others and she could easily win them over with her charme. Clearly she has all the skills. I love though that at the start of the book her time in prison had weakened her and that she had rare moments where she wondered if she could win.
As for the two men, Chaol and Dorian. Honestly, I'm not quite sure where I stand with either character. Dorian is the most open and I suppose I like him somewhat. I would like to see more development in him though. Chaol on the other hand is more closed. I wish we could have learned more of him, though I suppose this will most likely happen in the other books.
Nehemia was a great side character.
Overal I enjoyed reading the book though. I hope to see more magic in the next few books and I am curious to see how this plot will be further developed.
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy 3) by Richelle Mead
Young Adult/Supernatural/Paranormal Romance
Goodreads Link
Is Rose's fate to kill the person she loves most? It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even "bigger" secret . . . .She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it's way more than a crush. Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever...
4 out of 5 stars
Compared to the first two books, this book is a lot darker. The plot has become a bit more dark and complex, biting into our feelings for the characters. It also moved away a bit from just action and delved more into the feelings of characters. The start was somewhat slow, but that in all worked well for the overal set up of the plot. It also starts showing peeks of life outside of the academy now that Lissa and Rose are preparing to graduate.
Rose will never become my favourite character. I think the first book ruined her for me. However in this book the set up of a more mature Rose continues. She develops. Things that people say to her, despite at first shoving them to the side, she does remember and does grab back to. She is listening more. There is also a clear seperation creeping up between Lissa and Rose that is interesting. Rose has always put so much on the line for Lissa. The ending with that is interesting. I wonder how Rose wil develop further now.
Dimitri was somewhat likeable in this book. He tried to be open to Rose´s theories and such. However I still don´t quite feel their romance.
Lissa was okay for the most part. I feel unsure about her in parts. I think this is because we see her through Rose´s eyes or when Rose is in her head. It can give a weird perspective on a character.
Christain certainly appealed to be more in the first halve of the book. His evolving friendship with Rose was nice.
I like Adrian as a character in parts but I can see why some people might not like him. Popping into people´s dreams like that, feels like he was forcing himself onto her. Those parts made me a bit itchy personally.
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy 4) by Richelle Mead
Young Adult/Supernatural/Paranormal Romance
Goodreads Link
The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them . . . including Dimitri. He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa--the one she has sworn to protect no matter what--and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?
2,5 out of 5 stars
The only reason that this book is being rated 2,5 stars is because of the last 150 pages.
Continuing on from the third book, this one was meant to make even more plays on your feelings. For me it did not deliver though. It was slow. The things that did happen in about the middle brought forth little excitement. Some scenes felt long winded.
As for what was actually happening in the book, I did not agree with the events with Rose and Dimitri. I had hoped it would not turn out this way, that maybe Rose would falter a few times when killing Dimitri, her intention and either kill him or realize she couldn't do that just yet. Instead we got a Strigoi Dimitri that locked her up and was trying to convince her to become strigoi. What? Yes, convince. From so many information we are continuously getting, the strigoi are violent. They wouldn't care about convincing someone. If they wanted that person they would just change them no matter what the relationship previously had been. I found strigoi Dimitri's arguments for keeping her weak and as a result Rose's discoveries did not make me feel much. She already knew those things. It almost felt as if we were meant to see this strigoi as a different kind of strigoi. Conveniently now strigoi can be a little different. As a result those scenes did very little for me. Then the ending that is giving Rose hope she can bring the real Dimitri back, doesn't work for me either. I know this is a book but things just don't work like that.
Seeing what happens with Lissa and the others from across the world, feels weird. At least those events were more exciting though. I have to say I like the mind battle (though unfortunately it is once again Rose saving Lissa). Unlike others, I get Christian. He's having to deal with so much shit already and then Lissa changes like that. He believes in what he stands for and he certainly can't read minds. She couldn't be honest with him. I feel he was justified in the break-up with the information he had. Now he just has to figure things out for himself, knowing the whole story.
One more little issue I have is: How much more powers are the spirit users going to have? It is becoming quite the list.
City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments 5) by Cassandra Clare
Young Adult/Fantasy/Supernatural
Goodreads Link
What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?
2,5 out of 5 stars
I find this a difficult book to review, because for the most part of the book I was neutral to it all. As mentioned in a previous review for this series, the couple Jace and Clary doesn't do much for me. I never was their biggest fan but at least at the end of the third book I could be sort of happy that they had ended up together. Now though, supernatural stuff is constantly thrown into their relationship to cause conflict in their relationship instead of actual relationship troubles others go through.
Also incest seems to be quite the theme in this series, hmm. The first three books sort of dealt with it because they thought Jace and Clary were siblings. In this book it is almost like an afterthought thrown in and that is not something you should do with a theme as heavy as that. Same goes for the sexual assault.
The only thing that really caused emotion for me was Alec and Magnus and their relationship. That ending though with them, grr. Alec deserved a good smack.
It was an okay read other than that. There were various story lines to follow and the story never really dragged. Sometimes it felt as if we followed too many lines and too many characters though and when we switched back to another character I sometimes had forgotten what they were doing again. It all came together in the end
October Reads
Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices 3) by Cassandra Clare
Young Adult/Fantasy
Goodreads Link
Tessa Gray should be happy-aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.
3 out of 5 stars
I wanted to love this, but in the end it did not give me as much excitement as the previous two installments.
For the most part there were very little surprises in this book. A lot of things were fore shadowed within the first two books and even a little in City of Lost Souls (the mortal instruments 5) if you read that before this one, for most of the events. I think the only thing that was a bit of a surprise (though looking back it should not have been) was the final use of the clockwork angel necklace worn by Tessa. I did like that.
Certain things just did not gel with me though. Gabriel, the event between Will and Tessa, but especially that eiplogue. There was a sense from the start of the book that everyone would have their happy ending with the partner of their choosing. For instance it was clear from the start of the book that Gabriel and Cecily would end up together. It was too obvious since the moment they laid eyes upon each other. At that moment I knew that almost everyone (with the exception of Magnus, Cyril and Bridgit of course) would find their happy ending through a partner.
Another thing that bothered me was the final battle. They went in with a small group from the institute to go and fight against these super powerful automatons. The danger was emphasised on yet there was only one casualty and one person seriously injured. The ending is just a bit too happy I suppose.
Other than that I felt it dragged a little in the middle and it took a long time to wrap everything up after the final battle.
Still overal, I feel that the Infernal Devices as a series is definately worth a read.
Fearie Tales: Stories of the Grimm and Gruesome. Edited by Stephen Jones. Illustrated by Alan Lee
Fantasy/Horror
Goodreads Link
Fearie Tales is an anthology of short stories written by various authors, mostly inspired by the Brother Grimm’s fairy tales.
3,5 out of 5 stars
I have to say that I do like the set-up of this book. The edited Brother Grimm fairy tales interspersed in this book set the dark tone. I do also like the addition of a bit of information on the authors after each short story. It is just nice to be able to read a bit on who these stories are coming from if you want to decide if you want to read more from them.
The illustrations by Alan Lee are amazing to look at and are certainly a great addition to many of the stories. They add to the dark and horror feel. There aren’t too many illustrations throughout the book. Honestly I think there aren’t enough.
My favorite short stories: Peckish, Look Inside, The Ash-Boy, The Artemis Line
It is difficult to rate an anthology. There will always be some stories that you will like and some stories that you will dislike. The rating was therefore mostly based on my overall feeling of this book. For me the stories itself were three stars overall but the drawings do add to the book so I upped it to 3,5.
Below this I have noted down some small thoughts on each story. They can be considered spoilers for some of these stories so don't read on if you don't want to be spoiled.
Find my Name by Rebecca Campbell
What I found interesting in this short story was the play on Rumplestiltskin. The overall story with the main character however did not completely pull me in. It was a good read but not one that I will remember in a few months.
Down to a Sunless Sea by Neil Gaiman
One of the short stories in this book, I found it a bit disappointing. I got the overall idea of the story but I got nothing very thrilling from it.
Open your Window, Golden Hair by Tanith Lee
As the title suggests, this story was inspired by Rapunzel. I really did think this was a great idea. However, for the most part the story felt long-winded and it took any feeling of suspense out of the story for me.
Crossing the Line by Garth Nix
This story started out with extremely long sentences in the first two pages. As in a good paragraph long. It made it very hard for me to get into the story as I had to reread these sentences a few times. It also was of a western setting which is not a setting that really appeals to me. The ending to the story though I found interesting and remarkable.
Peckish by Robert Shearman
Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, this story took a decisive creepier and darker turn than the original. It felt like this was something that could have happened though to those two. The story creeped me out, spoke to my imagination but also made me curious at every point as to which path it was going to take.
Look Inside by Michael Marshall Smith
What spoke to me the most in this story was the voice of the main character. It pulled me in and made me smile at moments. The idea of this story was also interesting and the somewhat open ending was creepy.
Fraulein Fearnot by Markus Heitz
There were parts that I did like about this story. One being that it took place in Germany and that I had a clearer idea of the surroundings. However I could not get into this story. As the original fairytale, The Story of the Youth who went forth to learn what Fear was, it was quite long. The main character did not speak to me. The main character didn’t feel like she could feel more than excitement, even after accidentally killing people. Even if she had that syndrome that did not make her feel fear, it felt weird that she would not at least feel guilt or sorrow. Still I found it interesting that this syndrome was mentioned at the end.
The Ash-Boy by Christopher Fowler
Inspired by Cinderella, this short story seems to start just as the fairy tale with only slight differences. However where Cinderella more of a happy ever after (with a grimm punishment), this ending turned quite gruesome. It is certainly that what made this story stand out to me. Especially the last paragraph.
The Changeling by Brian Lumley
This story had very little that appealed to me. I had no connection with the main character. Actually, I quite disliked the tone of the main character. As for the more fantasy aspect of the story, this also did not work for me.
The Silken Drum by Reggie Oliver
Interesting idea. I could see how it would end very quickly though and it took away the feeling of anxiousness within the story you are meant to feel with the main character.
By the Weeping Gate by Angela Slatter - DNF
Regrettably I have to say that for some reason I could not get into this at all and I did not finish it.
Anything to Me is Sweeter, Than to Cross Shock-Headed Peter by Brian Hodge
What is most gruesome about this story is that I can see some twisted individuals in our world actually do this to their own children. That is what makes this short story most chilling to me.
The Artemis Line by Peter Crowther
Probably the longest short story in this anthology. I had my doubts about this as I feared my attention would waver from it as it often does with these longer ones. It felt a little weird that it was divided into a prologue and a few chapters. In parts it worked, in other parts it didn’t. It took a bit for the story to get going and in parts it was a little confusing. However this story still stands out to me because of certain elements. The ideas about the faeries and their changelings, Carol, the scarecrows. It also ended with an open ending, making me curious for something to actually be continued in this world. I’d love to learn more about these scarecrows!
The Silken People by Joanne Harris
I was slightly curious about this because I just bought one of her books. It was almost like a very sweet story, with the exception of the ending. It had almost the feeling of the Grimm stories that sometimes could end horribly.
Come Unto Me by John Ajvide Lindqvist
The last story in this anthology read easily. Creepy in its own way. I honestly wanted to smack both Eric and Robert. Stupid guys.
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5) by Rick Riordan
Young Adult/Mythology
Goodreads Link
Climactic battles rage on New York streets in the final book of Rick Riordan's large-scale Olympian series. As Kronos' massive offensive moves towards its ultimate goal, Percy Jackson struggles to comprehend the full meaning of a long-awaited prophecy. A momentous fantasy cycle rumbles to its ominous conclusion.
4 out of 5 stars
This book was certainly a fitting end to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. There was the usual humor resonating from Percy without taking away the grave situation they were in. The characters all had their roles to play. I loved seeing Thalia and Nico again.
The things I love the most about this book though is some of the things that we discovered about Nico, Rachel, Luke. Everything fell into place, like a puzzle. I love when a series can really do that to you.
The battle wasn't just the last couple of chapters but for the majority of the book. I think that is great. And even before that there were hints at the war they had been fighting. That is important. A war shouldn't just be depicted as a few chapters. Wars last longer than that.
Love in the Time of Dragons (Light Dragons 1) by Katie MacAlister
Fantasy/Chick Lit
Goodreads link
Tully Sullivan just woke up in a strange place, surrounded by people she's never met. Which is quite bad enough. But then the strange people insist they are dragons. And, worse, that she is also a dragon, named Ysolde de Bouchier, one of the most notorious figures in dragon history. She doesn't buy it. She can't breath fire or shapeshift. She's not even bothered by gold. But they're adamant. And she's in trouble...Because these dragons also want to sentence her to death. If she's going to survive, Tully realises she is going to have to find a way to solve the crimes she's being accused of. Even though they happened in a past she has absolutely no memory of living.
3 out of 5 stars
This book was a quick, somewhat amusing read. However I cannot see myself reading more in this series. More than an amusing read it was not and I do have some issues with it.
The first few chapters I came close to putting it down. The start was not inviting and terribly confusing. I had read before that there is a series set before this one. However this is the first book of a new series and should be written as one. More background could have been added with a few sentences here or there. I found very little out about the world that they lived in. There are dragons. Apparently mages and demons too. Do humans know about them all? I got the feeling they did. I didn't get a clear image of their world. It got a little better near the end, luckily.
Then there was the romance. The mating of the dragons. The weird way sometimes sexual scenes were initiated. Especially that first one. I also had very little bond with the characters. They were amusing, but that was about it. They wanted to make some too special like Brom. As for the main character, well lets not get into that. She amused me as long as I didn't look too hard at her actions. By the end she was becoming somewhat annoying.
I do kind of like the idea of the dragons. And like I said was amused for the most part. Some scenes were genuinely funny and I could see play out in my head. Others were so ridiculous, intended to be funny. It was an okay read over all. But not a series I could get invested in. I would get annoyed if I read more. Partly because of the characters, partly because of those ridiculous over the top scenes. In general not my cup of tea, but I can see why it can be so for others.
The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave 1) by Rick Yancey
Young Adult/Sci-Fi/Dystopia
Goodreads Link
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.
Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother-or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
5 out of 5 stars
You know, I have always been one of those that dislikes reading first point of view changes between two characters, let alone mixing in third point of view. I still stand by my dislike for that. But for some reason in this book it worked. It worked because before there was too much changing between characters, we'd spend so long in Cassie's and later Ben's head. I knew their voices. I'd already gotten to know them. It didn't bother me which was a surprise to me. It was done well. Well thought out when to change point of view. The way the book is set-up with those gorgeous part dividers in between, helps.
For some the start felt slow but I liked it. Cassie grabbed me from the start. I'm glad we got to spend the first 100 pages or so in her head and found out most through her. I like her as a character and I like her sometimes sarcastic comments on things. She's not stupid but sometimes wishes she could follow her feelings instead. Her relationship with Evan is interesting to say the least. I kind of like him. It is a good thing we didn't spend so much time in his head though and that we got to know him more through Cassie.
I had a bit more trouble getting into Ben. He didn't stand out as much as Cassie. Once he got more in with his team, that picked up a bit.
A lot of the things what happened regarding the plot weren't huge surprises. I knew long before it was mentioned, that it was Ben or who Evan was. It didn't bother me though. I was invested in the characters, mainly Cassie.
I read it in one sitting. It grabbed me and did not let me go.
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Goodreads Challenge 2014 - 62/70
1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - 4 stars - 512 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei volume 1 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
2. In Extremis (Crime Scene Investigation 9) by Ken Goddard - 3 stars - 288 pages
3. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson 3) by Rick Riordan - 3 stars - 294 pages
4. Among the Nameless Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars 0,5) by Diana Peterfreund - 3 stars - 60 pages
5. Castle in the Air (Howl's Moving Castle 2) by Diana Wynne Jones - 4 stars - 383 pages
6. Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires 1) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 348 pages
7. The Demon King (Seven Realms 1) by Cinda Williams Chima - 5 stars (reread) - 506 pages
8. The Witch of Duva (The Grisha 0,5) by Leigh Bardugo - 4 stars - 43 pages
9. The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms 2) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 586 pages
10. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments 1) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars - 485 pages
11. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games 1) by Suzanne Collins - 2,5 stars - 454 pages
12. First Day of the Rest of your Lives (The Morganville Vampires 0,5) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 25 pages
13. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 453 pages
14. Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles 2) by Marissa Meyer - 3,5 stars - 454 pages
15. The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker - 3 stars - 644 pages
16. The Little Android (The Lunar Chronicles 0,6) by Marissa Meyer - 3 stars - 35 pages
17. Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin - 3,5 stars - 837 pages
18. Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy 1) by Richelle Mead - 3 stars - 352 pages
- Death and what comes next (Discworld 10,5) by Terry Pratchett - 3,5 stars - 5 pages
19. Dracula by Bram Stroker - 3 stars - 334 pages - E Book
20. Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini - 3 stars - 497 pages
- Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus Volume 2 by Clamp - 5 stars - manga
21. Divergent (Divergent 1) by Veronica Roth - 3 stars - 487 pages
22. Don’t Hex with Texas (Enchanted Inc. 4) by Shanna Swendson - 3 stars - 292 pages
23. The Iron King (Iron Fey 1) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 363 pages
- The First Kiss (Iron Fey 1,25) by Julie Kagawa - 2 stars - 8 pages
- Shutterbox volume 3 by Rikki Simmons - 2 stars - 192 pages
- Shutterbox volume 4 by Rikki Simmons - 3 stars - 176 pages
24. Cress (the Lunar Chronicles 3) by Marissa Meyer - 5 stars - 550 pages
25. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympans 4) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 350 pages
26. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars -
27. The Cordelia Collection (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Novelization 12) by Nancy E. Krulik - 2 stars - 176 pages
28. The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices 1) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 482 pages
- The Last Airbender: Prequel - Zuko’s story by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, Nina Matsumoto - 2 stars - 100 pages
29. So long and thanks for all the fish (Hitchhiker’s Guide 4) by Douglas Adams - 3 stars - 187 pages
30. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone 1) by Laini Taylor - 3 stars - 363 pages
- Air Gear Volume 7 by Oh!great - 3,5 stars - 198 pages
31. Frostbite (Vampire Academy 2) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 327 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 1 by Haijme Isayama - 3,5 stars - 208 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 2 by Haijme Isayama - 4 stars -
32. A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire 2) by George R.R. Martin - 3 stars - 1007 pages
33. Eon (Eona 1) by Alison Goodman -3,5 stars - 368 pages -
34. Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins - 3 stars- 472 pages
35. The Colour of Magic (Discworld 1) by Terry Pratchett - 3 stars - 286 pages
36. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments 4) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 435 pages
37. Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days 1) by Susan Ee - 4,5 stars - 271 pages
38. Clockwork Prince (the Infernal Devices 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 496 pages
39. Mostly Harmless (Hitchhiker’s Guide 5) by Douglas Addams - 3,5 stars - 230 pages
40. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - 3 stars - 119 pages
41. Insurgent (Divergent 2) by Veronica Roth - 2 stars - 525 pages
42. A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy 1) by Deborah Harkness - 2,5 stars - 651 pages
43. Mort (Discworld 4) by Terry Pratchett - 4 stars - 251 pages
44. The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel 1) by Michael Scott - 2,5 stars - 314 pages
45. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire 3) by George R.R. Martin - 4 stars - 1177 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei Volume 2 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
46. The Magician (The Secrets of the Immotal Nicholas Flamel 2) by Michael Scott - 2,5 stars - 398 pages
47. The Gray Wolf Throne (The Seven Realms 3) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 517 pages
48. The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds 1) by Alexandra Bracken - 4,5 stars - 488 pages
49. The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm - 3 stars - e book
50. The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey 2) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 359 pages
51. Bones of the Lost (Temperance Brennan 16) by Kathy Reichs - 3 stars - 462 pages
- Harry Potter: the Prequel (Harry Potter 0,5) by JK. Rowling - 4 stars - e book
52. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman - 4 stars - 248 pages
53. Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass 1) by Sarah J. Maas - 3,5 stars - 404 pages
54. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy 3) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 443 pages
55. Blood Promise (Vampire Academy 4) by Richelle Mead - 2,5 stars - 503 pages
56. City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments 5) by Cassandra Clare - 2,5 stars - 535 pages
57. Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 576 pages
58. Fearie Tales: Stories of the Grimm and Gruesome. Edited by Stephen Jones. Illustrated by Alan Lee - 3,5 stars - 411 pages
59. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 361 pages
60. Love in the Time of Dragons (The Light Dragons 1) by Katie MacAlister - 3 stars - 361 pages
61. The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave 1) by Rick Yancey - 5 stars - 457 pages -
62. The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson and the Olympians companion) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 161 pages
September Reads
Bones of the Lost (Temperance Brennan 16) by Kathy Reichs
Mystery/Crime
Goodreads Link
#1 "New York Times "bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her sixteenth riveting novel featuring forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan, whose examination of a young girl killed in a hit and run in North Carolina triggers an investigation into international human trafficking.When Charlotte police discover the body of a teenage girl along a desolate stretch of two-lane highway, Temperance Brennan fears the worst. The girl's body shows signs of foul play. Inside her purse police find the ID card of a prominent local businessman, John-Henry Story, who died in a horrific flea market fire months earlier. Was the girl an illegal immigrant turning tricks? Was she murdered?
The medical examiner has also asked Tempe to examine a bundle of Peruvian dog mummies confiscated by U.S. Customs. A Desert Storm veteran named Dominick Rockett stands accused of smuggling the objects into the country. Could there be some connection between the trafficking of antiquitiesand the trafficking of humans?
As the case deepens, Tempe must also grapple with personal turmoil. Her daughter Katy, grieving the death of her boyfriend in Afghanistan, impulsively enlists in the Army. Meanwhile, Katy's father Pete is frustrated by Tempe's reluctance to finalize their divorce. As pressure mounts from all corners, Tempe soon finds herself at the center of a conspiracy that extends all the way from South America, to Afghanistan, and right to the center of Charlotte. "A genius at building suspense" ("Daily News," New York), Kathy Reichs is at her brilliant best in this thrilling novel
3 out of 5 stars
With the exception of the first chapter, I read most of the book in one day. For the most part and despite the technical terms in parts, this was a fairly easy and fast read. For me the middle part (the complete second part) dragged and I found it mostly uninteresting. However it did tie into the end and up until her chapter where she discovered it herself, I had no real idea how. In that I liked the book. It wasn't the most compelling story for me but it was well written and build-up. Despite this being the 16th Brennan book it is still easy to read as a standalone as I did. I was not confused about aspects of her life or interactions.
As for the characters, I had a hard time connecting with them. This entire book we spend in the head of Temperance Brennan. Her thoughts are overall easy to read but I just lacked a connection with her. I cared more for her cat than her. The detective Slidell has an interesting vocabulary that takes some getting used to. During the course of the book he grew on me, but you don't get to know him very well.
Overall I think it is an okay read. Enjoyable somewhat. It does not however appeal to me to read the rest of this series.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Fantasy
Goodreads Link
Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.
Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie-magical, comforting, wise beyond her years-promised to protect him, no matter what.
A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark(less)
4 out of 5 stars
What a lovely, but short read.
It is not the story so much that appeals to me in this book but the way it is told. Through the eyes of a seven year old that brings a different perspective to us, realizing how much simpler a child can look at things compared to us. That certainly appealed to me. Next to that it is they way Gaiman wrote this. His way of spinning this tale through memories and some of the to the point things that were described that made me think and feel how accurate that really is.
“I knew only that I was used to being me, and I liked my books and my grandparents and Lettie Hempstock, and that death would take all these things from me.”
The characters stood out on their own like our main character but most of all the Hempstocks. Those ladies brought something extra to this book. A little spunk. The main character, who was not named, was also one I could on parts connect with. His love for books and cats really stood out.
The reason I'm rating this 4 and not 5 stars is that the story itself is not really one that stands out.It isn't that memorable. Funny, considering the main character didn't remember it that well at the start of this book. Also a lot of things are still left unknown or unclear. A part of me likes that, but I also think that this is a reason why I don't connect enough with the story.
Regardless though, this book does convinces me to read more by Neil Gaiman.
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass 1) by Sarah J. Maas
Young Adult/Fantasy
Goodreads Link
In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.
Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament-fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?
3,5 out of 5 stars
When I first read the summary of the book, I didn't think this would be a book for me. You know; young assassin, competition, etc. More people began to read it though and send out heavy reccommondations. This is why I decided to read this book anyway.
I have to say that for the most part I was pleasantly surprised that most of my reservations about the book from the summary were taken away. Still unlike most I did not fall in love with this book or its characters.
The start of the book, introducing our three main characters, was strong and interesting. It was to the point and the introduction to the competetion was good.
The middle of the book however felt like it dragged. There were many scenes that were in the book purely for the romance that did not work for me. Other scenes showed Celaena researching in books. All the while there was a competetion going on. There were some action bits but for the most part the middle had too much rest scenes. I would have liked to have seen more of the competition, especially as we did get to see so much of the start of the competition. The balance was lost and because of that my interest wavered somewhat. The ending luckily brought this back. It also brought more suspense to the book.
A small personal preference that slightly bothered me was that some scenes where we switched to Chaol or Dorian, were rather short. It always makes me wonder how nessecary that paragraph really was and if it wouldn't be better to incorperate it into another scene.
Celaena is witty and headstrong. The words on the cover 'heart of ice' I could not quite rhyme with the character that was written in this book. She clearly cared about others and she could easily win them over with her charme. Clearly she has all the skills. I love though that at the start of the book her time in prison had weakened her and that she had rare moments where she wondered if she could win.
As for the two men, Chaol and Dorian. Honestly, I'm not quite sure where I stand with either character. Dorian is the most open and I suppose I like him somewhat. I would like to see more development in him though. Chaol on the other hand is more closed. I wish we could have learned more of him, though I suppose this will most likely happen in the other books.
Nehemia was a great side character.
Overal I enjoyed reading the book though. I hope to see more magic in the next few books and I am curious to see how this plot will be further developed.
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy 3) by Richelle Mead
Young Adult/Supernatural/Paranormal Romance
Goodreads Link
Is Rose's fate to kill the person she loves most? It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even "bigger" secret . . . .She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it's way more than a crush. Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever...
4 out of 5 stars
Compared to the first two books, this book is a lot darker. The plot has become a bit more dark and complex, biting into our feelings for the characters. It also moved away a bit from just action and delved more into the feelings of characters. The start was somewhat slow, but that in all worked well for the overal set up of the plot. It also starts showing peeks of life outside of the academy now that Lissa and Rose are preparing to graduate.
Rose will never become my favourite character. I think the first book ruined her for me. However in this book the set up of a more mature Rose continues. She develops. Things that people say to her, despite at first shoving them to the side, she does remember and does grab back to. She is listening more. There is also a clear seperation creeping up between Lissa and Rose that is interesting. Rose has always put so much on the line for Lissa. The ending with that is interesting. I wonder how Rose wil develop further now.
Dimitri was somewhat likeable in this book. He tried to be open to Rose´s theories and such. However I still don´t quite feel their romance.
Lissa was okay for the most part. I feel unsure about her in parts. I think this is because we see her through Rose´s eyes or when Rose is in her head. It can give a weird perspective on a character.
Christain certainly appealed to be more in the first halve of the book. His evolving friendship with Rose was nice.
I like Adrian as a character in parts but I can see why some people might not like him. Popping into people´s dreams like that, feels like he was forcing himself onto her. Those parts made me a bit itchy personally.
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy 4) by Richelle Mead
Young Adult/Supernatural/Paranormal Romance
Goodreads Link
The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them . . . including Dimitri. He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa--the one she has sworn to protect no matter what--and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?
2,5 out of 5 stars
The only reason that this book is being rated 2,5 stars is because of the last 150 pages.
Continuing on from the third book, this one was meant to make even more plays on your feelings. For me it did not deliver though. It was slow. The things that did happen in about the middle brought forth little excitement. Some scenes felt long winded.
As for what was actually happening in the book, I did not agree with the events with Rose and Dimitri. I had hoped it would not turn out this way, that maybe Rose would falter a few times when killing Dimitri, her intention and either kill him or realize she couldn't do that just yet. Instead we got a Strigoi Dimitri that locked her up and was trying to convince her to become strigoi. What? Yes, convince. From so many information we are continuously getting, the strigoi are violent. They wouldn't care about convincing someone. If they wanted that person they would just change them no matter what the relationship previously had been. I found strigoi Dimitri's arguments for keeping her weak and as a result Rose's discoveries did not make me feel much. She already knew those things. It almost felt as if we were meant to see this strigoi as a different kind of strigoi. Conveniently now strigoi can be a little different. As a result those scenes did very little for me. Then the ending that is giving Rose hope she can bring the real Dimitri back, doesn't work for me either. I know this is a book but things just don't work like that.
Seeing what happens with Lissa and the others from across the world, feels weird. At least those events were more exciting though. I have to say I like the mind battle (though unfortunately it is once again Rose saving Lissa). Unlike others, I get Christian. He's having to deal with so much shit already and then Lissa changes like that. He believes in what he stands for and he certainly can't read minds. She couldn't be honest with him. I feel he was justified in the break-up with the information he had. Now he just has to figure things out for himself, knowing the whole story.
One more little issue I have is: How much more powers are the spirit users going to have? It is becoming quite the list.
City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments 5) by Cassandra Clare
Young Adult/Fantasy/Supernatural
Goodreads Link
What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?
2,5 out of 5 stars
I find this a difficult book to review, because for the most part of the book I was neutral to it all. As mentioned in a previous review for this series, the couple Jace and Clary doesn't do much for me. I never was their biggest fan but at least at the end of the third book I could be sort of happy that they had ended up together. Now though, supernatural stuff is constantly thrown into their relationship to cause conflict in their relationship instead of actual relationship troubles others go through.
Also incest seems to be quite the theme in this series, hmm. The first three books sort of dealt with it because they thought Jace and Clary were siblings. In this book it is almost like an afterthought thrown in and that is not something you should do with a theme as heavy as that. Same goes for the sexual assault.
The only thing that really caused emotion for me was Alec and Magnus and their relationship. That ending though with them, grr. Alec deserved a good smack.
It was an okay read other than that. There were various story lines to follow and the story never really dragged. Sometimes it felt as if we followed too many lines and too many characters though and when we switched back to another character I sometimes had forgotten what they were doing again. It all came together in the end
October Reads
Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices 3) by Cassandra Clare
Young Adult/Fantasy
Goodreads Link
Tessa Gray should be happy-aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.
3 out of 5 stars
I wanted to love this, but in the end it did not give me as much excitement as the previous two installments.
For the most part there were very little surprises in this book. A lot of things were fore shadowed within the first two books and even a little in City of Lost Souls (the mortal instruments 5) if you read that before this one, for most of the events. I think the only thing that was a bit of a surprise (though looking back it should not have been) was the final use of the clockwork angel necklace worn by Tessa. I did like that.
Certain things just did not gel with me though. Gabriel, the event between Will and Tessa, but especially that eiplogue. There was a sense from the start of the book that everyone would have their happy ending with the partner of their choosing. For instance it was clear from the start of the book that Gabriel and Cecily would end up together. It was too obvious since the moment they laid eyes upon each other. At that moment I knew that almost everyone (with the exception of Magnus, Cyril and Bridgit of course) would find their happy ending through a partner.
Another thing that bothered me was the final battle. They went in with a small group from the institute to go and fight against these super powerful automatons. The danger was emphasised on yet there was only one casualty and one person seriously injured. The ending is just a bit too happy I suppose.
Other than that I felt it dragged a little in the middle and it took a long time to wrap everything up after the final battle.
Still overal, I feel that the Infernal Devices as a series is definately worth a read.
Fearie Tales: Stories of the Grimm and Gruesome. Edited by Stephen Jones. Illustrated by Alan Lee
Fantasy/Horror
Goodreads Link
Fearie Tales is an anthology of short stories written by various authors, mostly inspired by the Brother Grimm’s fairy tales.
3,5 out of 5 stars
I have to say that I do like the set-up of this book. The edited Brother Grimm fairy tales interspersed in this book set the dark tone. I do also like the addition of a bit of information on the authors after each short story. It is just nice to be able to read a bit on who these stories are coming from if you want to decide if you want to read more from them.
The illustrations by Alan Lee are amazing to look at and are certainly a great addition to many of the stories. They add to the dark and horror feel. There aren’t too many illustrations throughout the book. Honestly I think there aren’t enough.
My favorite short stories: Peckish, Look Inside, The Ash-Boy, The Artemis Line
It is difficult to rate an anthology. There will always be some stories that you will like and some stories that you will dislike. The rating was therefore mostly based on my overall feeling of this book. For me the stories itself were three stars overall but the drawings do add to the book so I upped it to 3,5.
Below this I have noted down some small thoughts on each story. They can be considered spoilers for some of these stories so don't read on if you don't want to be spoiled.
Find my Name by Rebecca Campbell
What I found interesting in this short story was the play on Rumplestiltskin. The overall story with the main character however did not completely pull me in. It was a good read but not one that I will remember in a few months.
Down to a Sunless Sea by Neil Gaiman
One of the short stories in this book, I found it a bit disappointing. I got the overall idea of the story but I got nothing very thrilling from it.
Open your Window, Golden Hair by Tanith Lee
As the title suggests, this story was inspired by Rapunzel. I really did think this was a great idea. However, for the most part the story felt long-winded and it took any feeling of suspense out of the story for me.
Crossing the Line by Garth Nix
This story started out with extremely long sentences in the first two pages. As in a good paragraph long. It made it very hard for me to get into the story as I had to reread these sentences a few times. It also was of a western setting which is not a setting that really appeals to me. The ending to the story though I found interesting and remarkable.
Peckish by Robert Shearman
Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, this story took a decisive creepier and darker turn than the original. It felt like this was something that could have happened though to those two. The story creeped me out, spoke to my imagination but also made me curious at every point as to which path it was going to take.
Look Inside by Michael Marshall Smith
What spoke to me the most in this story was the voice of the main character. It pulled me in and made me smile at moments. The idea of this story was also interesting and the somewhat open ending was creepy.
Fraulein Fearnot by Markus Heitz
There were parts that I did like about this story. One being that it took place in Germany and that I had a clearer idea of the surroundings. However I could not get into this story. As the original fairytale, The Story of the Youth who went forth to learn what Fear was, it was quite long. The main character did not speak to me. The main character didn’t feel like she could feel more than excitement, even after accidentally killing people. Even if she had that syndrome that did not make her feel fear, it felt weird that she would not at least feel guilt or sorrow. Still I found it interesting that this syndrome was mentioned at the end.
The Ash-Boy by Christopher Fowler
Inspired by Cinderella, this short story seems to start just as the fairy tale with only slight differences. However where Cinderella more of a happy ever after (with a grimm punishment), this ending turned quite gruesome. It is certainly that what made this story stand out to me. Especially the last paragraph.
The Changeling by Brian Lumley
This story had very little that appealed to me. I had no connection with the main character. Actually, I quite disliked the tone of the main character. As for the more fantasy aspect of the story, this also did not work for me.
The Silken Drum by Reggie Oliver
Interesting idea. I could see how it would end very quickly though and it took away the feeling of anxiousness within the story you are meant to feel with the main character.
By the Weeping Gate by Angela Slatter - DNF
Regrettably I have to say that for some reason I could not get into this at all and I did not finish it.
Anything to Me is Sweeter, Than to Cross Shock-Headed Peter by Brian Hodge
What is most gruesome about this story is that I can see some twisted individuals in our world actually do this to their own children. That is what makes this short story most chilling to me.
The Artemis Line by Peter Crowther
Probably the longest short story in this anthology. I had my doubts about this as I feared my attention would waver from it as it often does with these longer ones. It felt a little weird that it was divided into a prologue and a few chapters. In parts it worked, in other parts it didn’t. It took a bit for the story to get going and in parts it was a little confusing. However this story still stands out to me because of certain elements. The ideas about the faeries and their changelings, Carol, the scarecrows. It also ended with an open ending, making me curious for something to actually be continued in this world. I’d love to learn more about these scarecrows!
The Silken People by Joanne Harris
I was slightly curious about this because I just bought one of her books. It was almost like a very sweet story, with the exception of the ending. It had almost the feeling of the Grimm stories that sometimes could end horribly.
Come Unto Me by John Ajvide Lindqvist
The last story in this anthology read easily. Creepy in its own way. I honestly wanted to smack both Eric and Robert. Stupid guys.
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5) by Rick Riordan
Young Adult/Mythology
Goodreads Link
Climactic battles rage on New York streets in the final book of Rick Riordan's large-scale Olympian series. As Kronos' massive offensive moves towards its ultimate goal, Percy Jackson struggles to comprehend the full meaning of a long-awaited prophecy. A momentous fantasy cycle rumbles to its ominous conclusion.
4 out of 5 stars
This book was certainly a fitting end to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. There was the usual humor resonating from Percy without taking away the grave situation they were in. The characters all had their roles to play. I loved seeing Thalia and Nico again.
The things I love the most about this book though is some of the things that we discovered about Nico, Rachel, Luke. Everything fell into place, like a puzzle. I love when a series can really do that to you.
The battle wasn't just the last couple of chapters but for the majority of the book. I think that is great. And even before that there were hints at the war they had been fighting. That is important. A war shouldn't just be depicted as a few chapters. Wars last longer than that.
Love in the Time of Dragons (Light Dragons 1) by Katie MacAlister
Fantasy/Chick Lit
Goodreads link
Tully Sullivan just woke up in a strange place, surrounded by people she's never met. Which is quite bad enough. But then the strange people insist they are dragons. And, worse, that she is also a dragon, named Ysolde de Bouchier, one of the most notorious figures in dragon history. She doesn't buy it. She can't breath fire or shapeshift. She's not even bothered by gold. But they're adamant. And she's in trouble...Because these dragons also want to sentence her to death. If she's going to survive, Tully realises she is going to have to find a way to solve the crimes she's being accused of. Even though they happened in a past she has absolutely no memory of living.
3 out of 5 stars
This book was a quick, somewhat amusing read. However I cannot see myself reading more in this series. More than an amusing read it was not and I do have some issues with it.
The first few chapters I came close to putting it down. The start was not inviting and terribly confusing. I had read before that there is a series set before this one. However this is the first book of a new series and should be written as one. More background could have been added with a few sentences here or there. I found very little out about the world that they lived in. There are dragons. Apparently mages and demons too. Do humans know about them all? I got the feeling they did. I didn't get a clear image of their world. It got a little better near the end, luckily.
Then there was the romance. The mating of the dragons. The weird way sometimes sexual scenes were initiated. Especially that first one. I also had very little bond with the characters. They were amusing, but that was about it. They wanted to make some too special like Brom. As for the main character, well lets not get into that. She amused me as long as I didn't look too hard at her actions. By the end she was becoming somewhat annoying.
I do kind of like the idea of the dragons. And like I said was amused for the most part. Some scenes were genuinely funny and I could see play out in my head. Others were so ridiculous, intended to be funny. It was an okay read over all. But not a series I could get invested in. I would get annoyed if I read more. Partly because of the characters, partly because of those ridiculous over the top scenes. In general not my cup of tea, but I can see why it can be so for others.
The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave 1) by Rick Yancey
Young Adult/Sci-Fi/Dystopia
Goodreads Link
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.
Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother-or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
5 out of 5 stars
You know, I have always been one of those that dislikes reading first point of view changes between two characters, let alone mixing in third point of view. I still stand by my dislike for that. But for some reason in this book it worked. It worked because before there was too much changing between characters, we'd spend so long in Cassie's and later Ben's head. I knew their voices. I'd already gotten to know them. It didn't bother me which was a surprise to me. It was done well. Well thought out when to change point of view. The way the book is set-up with those gorgeous part dividers in between, helps.
For some the start felt slow but I liked it. Cassie grabbed me from the start. I'm glad we got to spend the first 100 pages or so in her head and found out most through her. I like her as a character and I like her sometimes sarcastic comments on things. She's not stupid but sometimes wishes she could follow her feelings instead. Her relationship with Evan is interesting to say the least. I kind of like him. It is a good thing we didn't spend so much time in his head though and that we got to know him more through Cassie.
I had a bit more trouble getting into Ben. He didn't stand out as much as Cassie. Once he got more in with his team, that picked up a bit.
A lot of the things what happened regarding the plot weren't huge surprises. I knew long before it was mentioned, that it was Ben or who Evan was. It didn't bother me though. I was invested in the characters, mainly Cassie.
I read it in one sitting. It grabbed me and did not let me go.
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Goodreads Challenge 2014 - 62/70
1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - 4 stars - 512 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei volume 1 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
2. In Extremis (Crime Scene Investigation 9) by Ken Goddard - 3 stars - 288 pages
3. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson 3) by Rick Riordan - 3 stars - 294 pages
4. Among the Nameless Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars 0,5) by Diana Peterfreund - 3 stars - 60 pages
5. Castle in the Air (Howl's Moving Castle 2) by Diana Wynne Jones - 4 stars - 383 pages
6. Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires 1) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 348 pages
7. The Demon King (Seven Realms 1) by Cinda Williams Chima - 5 stars (reread) - 506 pages
8. The Witch of Duva (The Grisha 0,5) by Leigh Bardugo - 4 stars - 43 pages
9. The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms 2) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 586 pages
10. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments 1) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars - 485 pages
11. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games 1) by Suzanne Collins - 2,5 stars - 454 pages
12. First Day of the Rest of your Lives (The Morganville Vampires 0,5) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 25 pages
13. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 453 pages
14. Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles 2) by Marissa Meyer - 3,5 stars - 454 pages
15. The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker - 3 stars - 644 pages
16. The Little Android (The Lunar Chronicles 0,6) by Marissa Meyer - 3 stars - 35 pages
17. Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin - 3,5 stars - 837 pages
18. Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy 1) by Richelle Mead - 3 stars - 352 pages
- Death and what comes next (Discworld 10,5) by Terry Pratchett - 3,5 stars - 5 pages
19. Dracula by Bram Stroker - 3 stars - 334 pages - E Book
20. Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini - 3 stars - 497 pages
- Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus Volume 2 by Clamp - 5 stars - manga
21. Divergent (Divergent 1) by Veronica Roth - 3 stars - 487 pages
22. Don’t Hex with Texas (Enchanted Inc. 4) by Shanna Swendson - 3 stars - 292 pages
23. The Iron King (Iron Fey 1) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 363 pages
- The First Kiss (Iron Fey 1,25) by Julie Kagawa - 2 stars - 8 pages
- Shutterbox volume 3 by Rikki Simmons - 2 stars - 192 pages
- Shutterbox volume 4 by Rikki Simmons - 3 stars - 176 pages
24. Cress (the Lunar Chronicles 3) by Marissa Meyer - 5 stars - 550 pages
25. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympans 4) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 350 pages
26. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars -
27. The Cordelia Collection (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Novelization 12) by Nancy E. Krulik - 2 stars - 176 pages
28. The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices 1) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 482 pages
- The Last Airbender: Prequel - Zuko’s story by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, Nina Matsumoto - 2 stars - 100 pages
29. So long and thanks for all the fish (Hitchhiker’s Guide 4) by Douglas Adams - 3 stars - 187 pages
30. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone 1) by Laini Taylor - 3 stars - 363 pages
- Air Gear Volume 7 by Oh!great - 3,5 stars - 198 pages
31. Frostbite (Vampire Academy 2) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 327 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 1 by Haijme Isayama - 3,5 stars - 208 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 2 by Haijme Isayama - 4 stars -
32. A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire 2) by George R.R. Martin - 3 stars - 1007 pages
33. Eon (Eona 1) by Alison Goodman -3,5 stars - 368 pages -
34. Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins - 3 stars- 472 pages
35. The Colour of Magic (Discworld 1) by Terry Pratchett - 3 stars - 286 pages
36. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments 4) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 435 pages
37. Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days 1) by Susan Ee - 4,5 stars - 271 pages
38. Clockwork Prince (the Infernal Devices 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 496 pages
39. Mostly Harmless (Hitchhiker’s Guide 5) by Douglas Addams - 3,5 stars - 230 pages
40. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - 3 stars - 119 pages
41. Insurgent (Divergent 2) by Veronica Roth - 2 stars - 525 pages
42. A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy 1) by Deborah Harkness - 2,5 stars - 651 pages
43. Mort (Discworld 4) by Terry Pratchett - 4 stars - 251 pages
44. The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel 1) by Michael Scott - 2,5 stars - 314 pages
45. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire 3) by George R.R. Martin - 4 stars - 1177 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei Volume 2 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
46. The Magician (The Secrets of the Immotal Nicholas Flamel 2) by Michael Scott - 2,5 stars - 398 pages
47. The Gray Wolf Throne (The Seven Realms 3) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 517 pages
48. The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds 1) by Alexandra Bracken - 4,5 stars - 488 pages
49. The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm - 3 stars - e book
50. The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey 2) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 359 pages
51. Bones of the Lost (Temperance Brennan 16) by Kathy Reichs - 3 stars - 462 pages
- Harry Potter: the Prequel (Harry Potter 0,5) by JK. Rowling - 4 stars - e book
52. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman - 4 stars - 248 pages
53. Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass 1) by Sarah J. Maas - 3,5 stars - 404 pages
54. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy 3) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 443 pages
55. Blood Promise (Vampire Academy 4) by Richelle Mead - 2,5 stars - 503 pages
56. City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments 5) by Cassandra Clare - 2,5 stars - 535 pages
57. Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 576 pages
58. Fearie Tales: Stories of the Grimm and Gruesome. Edited by Stephen Jones. Illustrated by Alan Lee - 3,5 stars - 411 pages
59. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 361 pages
60. Love in the Time of Dragons (The Light Dragons 1) by Katie MacAlister - 3 stars - 361 pages
61. The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave 1) by Rick Yancey - 5 stars - 457 pages -
62. The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson and the Olympians companion) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 161 pages