Prisoner of the Iron Tower

I decided not to give another summary for this book, because I already put one for the first book. So this novel continues the story of Gavril. The plot starts to thicken. Political intrigue develops. The nature of the Drakhaoul starts to reveal itself. And an interesting twist develops.

I liked this book a little better than the first one, I think. Some of the characters got more developed in this book than in the last. But some didn't change at all, which isn't necessarily bad. I would recommend this book to be read only if you liked the first one though. Many subplots develop, and unless you like the story enough to follow it, it'll get a little confusing. Sarah Ash continues to write well, and I liked the many POV's which helped me to understand characters motivations better. 4 stars. Great story!

Lord of Snow and Shadows(The Tears of Artamon Series)-Sarah Ash

"In this excellent start to a new fantasy series from British author Ash (Moths to a Flame), Gavril Andar, an idealistic young artist, falls for the nobly born Astasia Orlova, whose portrait he's been hired to paint. Luckily, he's attractive enough for Astasia to return the favor. He doesn't know he's also Gavril Nagarian, son of the recently assassinated ruler of the wintry kingdom of Azhkendir, and that fate is about to deal him a dreadful blow. Like his father before him, Gavril becomes soul-bound to the Drakhaoul, a creature that grants awesome power at a terrible price. Kidnapped, Gavril finds himself trapped in Kastel Drakhaon, reluctant to draw on his new magical abilities, as their use only makes him more beast-like and less human. But with Prince Eugene of Tielin threatening to reconquer all of the Rossiyan Empire, he may have no choice. Fascinating and unpredictable, Gavril's tale gains richness from the grand scope of Ash's narrative, with its echoes of Russian history under the czars."

Originally, I was going to do a review for the entire series. Then I realized that the books had way too much material for me to talk about them all in a single post. So I'm starting with the first one.
I found this book on the website What Should I Read Next?. I'm very interested in books set in Russia or the North, so I decided to give it a try. What I came across was a well-written and intriguing story, set in a country resembling Russia. What starts off as a simple plotline very quickly gains new twists that take over the story. Things seem to go from bad to worse for Gavril, but he overcomes his challenges in surprising ways. The struggle of his character is a main part of the story. Where other people would be happy to use the power he has gained, Gavril, clearly a more noble sort of man, turns from it. The first book ends with a second book anticipated. (Good thing there is one!) One of my favourite characters in this series was Kiukirilya (what a mouthful of a name!), who has a pure and brave heart, although she can be a little empty-headed. 4 stars for this one.

And for tomorrow(or in a few days) Prisoner of the Iron Tower, book two in the series.

Gone-Michael Grant

"In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else..."

This was quite an adventure of a novel. Things quickly go from normal to weird, and from weird to supernatural. It reminded me a lot of Lord of the Flies, but with its own twist. There are some slightly disturbing parts in this story, so reader beware. But other than that, this was a superb story that kept me wanting to read more. And at around 600 pages, it's quite a long story. But Michael Grant keeps it from ever getting stale or boring with all the new twists the story takes. And there are many. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat. I'm really excited for the next book, Hunger, which is already out. 4 stars.

Inkdeath

"Ever since the extraordinary events of Inkspell, when the enchanted book Inkheart drew Meggie and her father, Mo, into its chapters, life in the Inkworld has been more tragic than magical. Dustfinger is dead, having sacrificed his life for his apprentice’s, and now, under the rule of the evil Adderhead, the fairy-tale land is in bloody chaos, its characters far beyond the control of Fenoglio, their author. Facing the threat of eternal winter, Mo inks a dangerous deal with Death itself. There yet remains a faint hope of changing the cursed story–if only he can fill its pages fast enough."

Wow. Inkdeath was really something. The Inkworld is so rich in description and characters. Funke's writing is wonderful in this story. It has everything a good book needs: wonderful description, intriguing plot, strong characters, and a beautiful lyrical style of words. I thought that the characters were excellently fleshed out; everyone from Mo to the Adderhead were vivid, and seemed like real people. This was an amazing story, was well written, and highly entertaining. 5 stars, hands down.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

"In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?"

This is not a book for those who like happy stories. Mary's story is filled with light and dark, happiness and despair. This book is very somber, but it was a good story. It's another book set in the future, but is nothing like The Hunger Games. The story is very dark, but in all the darkness there is a sliver of hope, and that is what moves the main character. While at times she appears selfish, her trait of holding on to the little hope she has is commendable. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a very interesting book, and one that, although it did make me cry, I enjoyed.

On a sidenote: I've decided to start some sort of rating system for the books. I'm not going to be creative, so I guess I'll just use the 5-star system. So, I give The Forest of Hands and Teeth 3.5 stars.

New Review-The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is an amazing book that came out a few months ago. Here's the description from Amazon.ca: "In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor tohis or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love."

I loved this book. For some reason these types of books appeal to me. It made me think of 1984 in some parts, maybe because of the surveilance during the games. This book catches you in its grip and doesn't let go until the final page. I loved the development of Katniss's character, and the moral dilemmas she faces. Katniss's strength was admiring to read about as the book went on. I didn't really like the whole Roman names in the Capitol though; that felt a little bit contrived. In some parts I felt that the writing style was a little less impressive than it should have been, but feel free to disagree with me on that. But for me the only bad point was that it felt like the author was directing the story to a younger audience, making the writing seem more colloquial. But other than that, I felt that the story was incrediably riveting and moving. I highly recommend this book to others.

First post in a year...

So I've decided to start up this blog again. I figure, why not? It'll be good experience reviewing books. I have a lot of books I've read lately, so be ready for a torrent of reviews.

And now, on another topic: I saw the newest Harry Potter movie last night. And I loved it. I thought it was very entertaining, and had the right mix of seriousness and comedy. I think it developed the story well, because up until the previous movie, I guess the evilness of some of the characters wasn't really felt. In this movie it really hits you that Voldemort isn't just some bully, he really is evil. Did anyone else feel the same way about it? And what did you think?