All the Books.

  "Nadya has been raised her entire life to fight the Tranavian Blood Mages and finally bring an end to the war that has raged for centuries. She's gifted with the ability to speak to the pantheon of Kalayzian Gods and perform magic at their will. But life is never that simple and she's soon drawn into a dark and dangerous game of betrayal and bloodshed and it's all she can do to survive."  5 Stars Pros:  All of the characters, Nadya, Malachiasz and Serefin are actually likable, though their beliefs are all incredibly different/The bonus scenes at the very end of the book made the absolute chaos that was the ending, make a bit more sense.  Cons:  So many Gods to remember, it was a bit overwhelming/Though the ending was a bit contrived, it left it open for a sequel, which made sense/The whole, forbidden love thing is a little overdone but for the most part it worked.  Full Review:  Nadezhda Lapteva (Nadya) is an oRphan raised in a monastery high in the mountains of

"Kind of like "The Wizard of Oz" only set in an alternate reality version of feudal Japan where Demons and Gods exist. Yokai and Kami and Demons trapped in swords, Oh My. Also the love story between Yumeko and Tatsumi was very "innocent, naive girl meets gruff, emotionless warrior and love ensues. Pretty sigh worthy but not the worst book I've ever read. It was a pretty mindless read and that's about it."  2 Stars Pros:  The culture of the Samurai and other bits of Japanese knowledge were interesting/Okame was an amusing character.  Cons:  It was all a bit contrived and became repetitive at the end. Good, innocent girl who knows nothing of the world befriends a human boy whose been trained to be an emotionless weapon and they fall in love but destiny would have it that their love cannot be. Like I said, pretty contrived.  Full Review:  Yumeko is an orphan. She was left at the Silent Winds Temple with a note asking them to raise her. She's been shiel

"Bruce Lee was an incredible man but he was also only human. Through his many writings, his daughter, Shannon Lee, has managed to compile and gather together what her father was trying to realize every day of his life. He was a constant work in progress, as we all are, and Shannon Lee helps us realize that that is not a bad thing. Bruce, and his daughter, help us realize that all we must do in this life is "flow", "be free" and that, is where our true power lies." 4 Stars Pros:  Honest, genuine and powerful. Though Shannon Lee does not remember her Father well, she has worked hard and collaborated with many people to study his teachings and do as much as she can to incorporate them into her own life, as well as all those around her, who wish to learn/The idea of "flowing", being free, seems so simple at first but it will take time, effort and courage, but Lee makes you feel like you have the power within you to do whatever you want in your life. 

"A coming of age story that follows the path of one teenager who's close relationship with her Uncle leads to a burgeoning friendship with his "special friend" Toby, after her Uncle's death." 3 Stars Pros:  It was interesting to have the setting be in the mid-late 80s when the AIDS epidemic was ravaging the Country and people didn't know how to react.  Cons:  The relationship between June and Finn was a little odd at times/Greta was an obnoxious, self destructive beast through most of the book but aren't all teenagers?  Full Review:  Finn Elbus' dying wish is to paint a portrait of his two nieces, Greta, the talented, pretty, actress and June, the younger, insecure, awkward one. Finn is dying of AIDS, a sickness that the Country is currently attempting to wrap their heads around and most people think that it's being used as a weapon, that people are giving each other AIDS purposely and thus killing them. It shows how close minded people are a

"The overdone "someone from one side of life meets someone from the other side of life and teaches them that the world they so staunchly believe in is inherently flawed" story set in a post-apocalyptic (I'm guessing) world where there is the Republic and then the Colonies, with which the Republic is constantly at war. It had its moments but for the most part this was your stereotypical, teenage angst/falling in love cause they're teenagers story and left me wholly unimpressed." 2 Stars Pros:  Lu's good at hinting at the fact that there was some sort of catastrophe or cataclysm that led to the Country being split into the Republic and the Colonies (so topical it hurts.)  Cons:  Bad boy is actually good boy but in trouble with the law for trying to protect his family. Good girl is actually good girl but wants to be like bad girl and is fascinated by bad boy who is actually good boy. They fall for each other and make each other see the error of their ways c

"A dark but entertaining story of one girls (Alex) unusual gift allowing her the opportunity to attend Yale and keep the dangerous occult practices of the Secret Societies under wraps and the students protected. When a girl from town is murdered, Alex can't help but shake the feeling that it's all connected somehow and she works on piecing the puzzle together." 5 Stars Pros:  An interesting concept that the secret societies of Yale are actually practicing dark magic etc/Darlington is a great character and one that we don't get to know well enough, I'm hoping that will be remedied/Bardugos great at giving just enough information to hook you but withholding enough to keep you reading.  Cons:  The geography of campus, trying to keep all the buildings straight but for the most part it's not too important/The hard ass, tough as nails, cut em down before they can cut you personality of Stern gets a little old.  Full Review:  Galaxy (Alex) Stern has been able to

"If you haven't seen the movie, reading the book is basically just like watching the movie, only on paper and you can use your own imagination to fill in the characters. It gave more detailed backgrounds to beloved characters such as Inigo and Fezzik and though some parts were added and others removed, for the most part, it was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to watching the movie as a way to round the whole thing out." 3 Stars.  Pros:  It gives more background to the characters of Inigo/Fezzik/Some of the best lines from the movie are in the book since Goldman wrote the screenplay.   Cons:  Buttercup's Baby was an interesting "sequel" but how Goldman left it off was just...well...it's left to interpretation but at the same time, as a reader, you want to know what happens/Goldman's afterword was just the tired, angry rant of a spurned author and almost made me put the book down before getting to Buttercup's Baby.  Full Review:  If y

"A continuation of the events of Serpent & Dove , following our band of star crossed heroes in their desperate attempt to escape the various parties pursuing them and to stop Morgane from basically destroying the world. At times it fell into the "second novel" trap, where the personality traits of the characters became a bit cumbersome but for the most part, it was a good addition and I'm excited to see how the series ends." 4 Stars Pros:  It flows well from the first book/The various epiphanies that the characters had were slow in coming but made sense/Claud Deveraux is an interesting characters indeed/Beau is also a likable if flawed character and one that I think will get more time in the spotlight. Cons:  The various personality traits of the various characters can at times, be a trifle tiring/Lou's hotheadedness/Reid's stubbornness etc/I had to read what happened at the end twice to fully understand it, it was a little complex.  Full Review:  It

"A riveting, emotional, complex and complicated love story that also teaches the reader that not everything is black and white. There are gray areas and sometimes, those in between places are where we can find peace and understanding." 5 Stars Pros:  Lou is foulmouthed, opinionated and brash but likable. And Reid is honorable, complicated and torn by duty and love. It's a bit saccharine but I really enjoyed the love story. And all the other characters, even Beaureguard Lyon, all had their charms and quirks/An interesting take on witchcraft and the different "arts", magic of the land, blood magic etc. I'm looking forward to seeing how Mahurin expands upon it.  Cons:  Though it was a bit cliché, Reid first saying hurtful things to Lou when he finds out what she is, to him then going after her, it was melodramatic but still enjoyable.  Full Review:  Louise (Lou) is a thief. She's been on the run from "someone" for the last two years. She's bee

"The title gives the book away. Elizabeth Gilbert ate, prayed and loved while traveling through Italy, India and Indonesia. She gives detailed histories of each Country that she resides in and her exploits are both entertaining and educational. She learns a lot about herself and the reader too, learns to take a breath, be grateful for everything that they have and simply let it go and know that "God" is always there, loves unconditionally and will always be there, no matter what." 3 Stars Pros:  Gilbert herself is honest about all her strengths and all her weaknesses. She doesn't have much of a plan with this "travel around the world and write about it" idea but she makes it work. She's kind, compassionate and resourceful. She's flighty but somehow, things always seem to work out and her search for God, divinity and balance within herself is motivational and eye opening. The histories of the different Countries that she travels to are interesti

"In true Shusterman fashion, it's a book about death but more importantly, what comes after, or more precisely, what comes after for those who don't "get to where they're going." It was an interesting read but in the end it all felt a bit one dimensional." 2 Stars.  Pros:  The idea of Everlost, a world that exists between life and death, a kind of purgatory, is true Shusterman, just eerie enough to make your skin crawl but enticing enough to make you want to read more and find out what happens.  Cons:  The characters just didn't seem that fleshed out. They were all pretty one dimensional, though there were a few revelations at points that were surprising. It was just something about the narrative, geared more towards a younger audience that made this title fall a little flat.  Full Review:  Nick and Allie are involved in a fatal car accident but are knocked out of the tunnel and away from the light and find themselves in a world called Everlost. A ps

"A beginning with a catch good enough to keep the reader engaged, planting the seed of "I have to know what happens" but overall, the narrative was overly verbose, arrogant and the story itself was a disappointment." 2 Stars Pros:  It was an interesting look at friendship and how the environment in which we grow up can have a profound impact on our lives.  Cons:  The frenetic passion of Barry and his behavior overall was both confusing but also curious, so you wanted to find out what happened/All the characters are egotistical and basically pretty obnoxious.  Full Review:  Neil Countryman and John William Barry meet at a track meet in High School. John William beats Neil in the half mile and after a chance encounter the following weekend, a friendship is formed. The book follows the details of both of their lives and how vastly different they are. John William is passionate, paranoid, obsessed, takes unnecessary risks and is determined to be "free" of the

"A fun and truly unique idea of all of the "unwritten" works, books, art, music etc, that have yet to be or never was created, resting in an out of the way wing of a Library in Hell. The characters all had their charm and though the story was a bit convoluted at times, it was a pretty enjoyable and creative ride." 3 Stars Pros:  Definitely an interesting concept, all the unwritten books/art/creations of a mortal's life are organized within Hell's library, it was unique/Leto was a kind, relatable and likable character.  Cons:  In its uniqueness it was a concept that was almost too difficult to grasp/Claire's rigidity got old rather quickly/It would be interesting to learn more of Claire's life/Leto's life as mortals.  Full Review:  Claire Juniper Hadley was mortal, once. She is now sentenced to spend, however long it takes to repent for her sins, as the Librarian of Hell's Unwritten Wing. It's where all works of art, books. paintings, you

"The ultimate classic in Fantasy literature but it is not as thrilling or as adventurous as I was led to believe. It had its humor, it's dark parts, it's characters but in the end, it all boiled down to be rather drawn out and dull." 2 Stars Pros:  It did have its amusing parts with Merlyn/The ending was satisfying in a sad but somewhat hopeful sort of way Cons:  People are just cruel to one another/Arthur, though having good intentions, just went about it the wrong way and didn't take into account the wickedness of people.  Full Review:  Broken down into four Books , The Sword in the Stone, The Queen of Air and Darkness, The Ill-Favored Knight and The Candle in the Wind , The Once and Future King is the story of Arthur and his reign over England. He starts life as a young orphan, nicknamed Wart, whose parentage is unknown. He meets a Wizard in the woods who will become his tutor, Merlyn and teach him about life. When Uther Pendragon, the current, heirless King of

  "An intense, gut wrenching, emotional, honest and genuine ending to a truly amazing, thought provoking series." 4 Stars Pros:  The same cast of characters Connor/Risa/Lev/Cam/Grace/Sonia etc, so we don't have to keep too many new people in mind/All of the loose ends are tied together in a nice, tidy bow at the end.  Cons:  The ending was decidedly convenient for most involved but it wasn't surprising/I hope Shusterman leaves the series as is and doesn't add to it, it's great as is.  Full Review:  Again, it's nearly impossible to describe anything in this book without doing two things. 1. Giving something away and 2. Having it make any sense. If you haven't read the first three books in this series ( Unwind/Unwholly/Unsouled ) then I suggest you go back and read them and then come back to this review.  Undivided leaves us right where we left off at the end of Unsouled . There has been a discovery that could very well be the answer to ending unwinding

"A fast paced, exciting and informative addition to the series. We learn more of how Unwinding came to be, how it was warped and twisted into something for profit and a possible solution to bring down Unwinding and Proactive Citizenry." 5 STARS Pros:  Not too many new characters introduced into the mix so it's easy to keep track of everyone/Grace is a good addition to the crew/Sonia and her "secret reveal" at the end of the book is a great cliffhanger and a great place to start the new novel. It definitely leaves the reader wanting more. Cons:  It's not exactly a con but all the ways that the loose threads tied together so very neatly and conveniently at the end was pretty unrealistic/The love triangle between Risa/Connor and Cam is forced and contrite.  Full Review:  We're back again, following the journeys of Lev/Connor/Risa and Camus Comprix, the "composite human" made entirely of parts from Unwinds to see where they all end up. Lev and Conn

"The next installment in Shusterman's "Dystology" that continues to follow Connor, Risa and Lev in their fight for survival. A handful of new characters are also introduced to add intrigue, excitement, forgiveness, love etc to the mix. It delves deeper into the creation of the unwinding process and leaves the reader curious, intrigued and always wanting more." 5 Stars Pros:  Though there are new characters, there aren't so many that the old ones, Connor, Risa and Lev get lost in the shuffle/Lev's growth as a character is probably my favorite.  Cons:  There always has to be a manipulator, someone who's vying for power, it gets kind of old/Starkey and Miracolina's stories, though slightly different, felt similar to those of Connor/Lev etc, just with new names added.  Full Review:  SPOILER ALERT It's been a year since the events of Unwind  and Connor, Risa and Lev are still just trying to get by and survive another day. With the destruction of H

"A hard hitting, unflinching, dark, disturbing novel but one that is filled with hope, endurance, strength and the characters, as well as the story itself and its message, stays with you long after you read it, as it should."  5 Stars Pros:  This book is both horrifying yet immensely compelling and thought provoking all at once/ The subject of pro-life/pro-choice is so fraught with tension and it seems that people lean one way or the other but Shusterman is great at really making the reader see and consider all sides.    Cons:  Shusterman just loves those exclamation points/Not a book for people who are not willing to keep an open mind.  Full Review:  After the second Civil War, also known as The Heartland War, which was fought between Pro-Choice and Pro-Life, both sides come to an agreement and draft "The Bill of Life." It reads as follows.  "The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched, from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age

"Dickens epic tale of poverty and desperation on the streets in London and how one, lost little orphan, Oliver Twist, manages to maintain his noble and loving heart even when faced with true evil. Also, he actually does say, "Please sir, I'd like some more", just to clear that up." 3 Stars.  Pros:  The foggy, smoky, dirty, loud, violent crowd of the London Streets are easily seen through Dickens' words/The Artful Dodger's "Devil may care" attitude towards crime and life in general is amusing, for someone so young.  Cons:  Dickens is not an author you can read while laying down because you will fall asleep/His writing is not entirely engaging but he grabs you enough to make you curious as to what will happen to the characters/About halfway through the book there were a bit too many subplots and evil associates that I just wanted to know about Oliver and didn't care much about all the rest though by the end it all came together very convenien

"At times plagued with a repetitive, "Get captured, escape, flee" theme, Fitz eventually finds his footing and the story really takes off. All the loose ends are, for the most part, tied up and though it does not end on the most positive note, the ending is realistic and satisfying. It was an acceptable end to a great series." 4 Stars Pros:  Nighteyes and Fitz's bond is both humorous and heartwarming/Hobb sets a good pace and though the book is long, it's engaging and you find yourself wanting to finish a chapter and leave yourself off at a good starting point, it was a classic "good read."  Cons:  Fitz's constant repetition of "get caught/escape" got monotonous after awhile. The Skilling is very ethereal and Fitz's visions of Verity are just that, cerebral and rather hard to follow. It adds a depth to the book but at the same time, can leave the reader feeling a bit confused/as if they walked in on the middle of a conversation/Th

"A wholly unique novel that follows the desperate, confused and often absurd lives of a group of WWII bombardiers, who are just trying to get home but their leadership is making it basically impossible. It took awhile to hit its stride but once it did, it was enjoyable in all its insane strangeness."  3 Stars Pros:  Subtly amusing in its strange depiction of war and all the back and forth that happens between the many bodies of leadership. It's reminiscent of one giant game of "Telephone" and the message is so garbled by the end that you're not quite sure what the message was to begin with/The repetition, the constant, "I can't hear you, what did you say", "I just said that", "You just said that" was both amusing and infuriating. Cons:  It takes about 100 pages to hit its stride/The somewhat backwards storyline is hard to follow at first but once it clicks, it's moderately entertaining. There are far too many characters,

"A truly unique take on one man's struggle for survival through Slavery and his ability to tap into a "gift" that is triggered by memory, family and love. A beautifully written first novel by Coates and I hope that he'll write many, many more." 5 Stars Pros:  Coates words are sensory overload. You can see, smell, taste, touch, everything that happens. Though the book's ending is mixed, in a way, it's truly satisfying.  Cons:  Slavery in general is a horrible thing but through Hiram's eyes we see it in an all too personal way. This is not a con with the novel itself, it is a con with the mere idea that humans think that they can own other humans.  Full Review:  Hiram (Hi) is the son of his master (Walker) and his mother Rose. His mother was sold when he was nine and his father eventually brings him up to the house, to work as his other son, Maynard's, manservant. Hiram does as he is told, is quiet and obedient. But at the same time he knows he

"What at first starts out as amusing and interesting soon devolves into a tiresome, non-sensical description of Gulliver and his many adventures." 1 Star Pros: At first, Gulliver's adventures are fun and intriguing. But once we reach the Third Book it devolves into nonsensical linguistics etc.    Cons:  The third and fourth book (especially) are basically Gulliver always trying to get across how amazing England is and never quite succeeding in convincing his audience of his beliefs. The third and fourth books were painful to get through.  Full Review:  Gulliver, who is often commissioned as a surgeon aboard ships, has had his share of adventures. And he decides it prudent to share some of his more outlandish escapades with us, his captive audience. Broken down into four books that detail his travels to different parts of the world, we see Gulliver as he is taken captive by the Lilliputians (an entire race of people no taller than 4 centimeters), taken captive by the Brobd

Groundbreaking in its time and engaging at first, since you simply have to know who would do such an awful thing. But once the perpetrators were caught and brought to trial, reading the rest of the book was a chore." 2 Stars.  Pros:  Capote was good at drawing the suspense out at first, hooking the reader into needing to know who did the terrible crime.  Cons:  This book went on for about 100 pages too many/There were no redeeming or likable qualities at all about Dick/The murders just didn't seem to make any sense, hence the title In Cold Blood.  Full Review:  George H. Clutter and his family are a hard working bunch. He owns a farm and runs his business well and honestly. He has two grown daughters, one married and the other engaged, and another daughter in high school as well as a young son. His wife, Nancy, suffers from a nervous disorder, and has been to treatment for years upon years with no apparent remedy. They live their lives honestly. They are good, hard working, in

"The perfect sequel to Assassins Apprentice  that adds more and more tension, strife, intrigue and peril to a series that is already bursting with excitement. A great read. I can't wait to see what happens in the third book. " 5 Stars Pros:  All the same characters from the first novel and so many twists, turns and developments that I read the last 100 pages in one night because I just had to know what happened/Fitz' bond with Nighteyes is both amusing and heart warming/The ending was rough but in its dark way, perfect.  Cons:  The Fool is hard to follow, he definitely has his own agenda and sometimes his speaking in riddles gets tiresome. Full Review:  Starting off right from where Assassins Apprentice leaves off, Fitz returns to Buckkeep and to his duties. His lessons with Chade, his loyalty to King Shrewd and King in waiting Verity. His worry over the fate of Molly. Everything is full to bursting with tension and strife and the situation with the Red Ship Raiders,

"A simple, easy to read guide as to how to shift your mindset/confront difficult circumstances and improve your life overall." 3 Stars Pros:  The agreements all make sense and Ruiz's explanation of them is easy to understand.  Cons:  At times the book can become repetitive.  Full Review:  Ruiz raised in the wisdom of the Toletc people, believes that all humans are trapped in a dream of their own creation. All these dreams that we've created have mixed and meshed together to create the dream of the planet. And though it would be nice if it was a dream of heaven, it is not. It is a dream of Hell. He feels that everyone, everywhere, is living in Hell. And he has found a way to combat and change this dream.  Full of wisdom and practices of, what I would hope would be common knowledge for most people, Ruiz explains the "4 agreements" that make up his/his peoples way of thinking. They are ways of challenging our own thoughts and behaviors that have been ingrained

"An interesting look at the fields of Psychology/Psychiatry in the 1950s and the startling, ripple effect that the consequences to our actions can have in every aspect of our lives." 3 Stars Pros:  An interesting look at a time when Mental Health was not as prevalent a subject as it is today and it was still very much stigmatized/The generational differences between the fifties/sixties so and so forth.  Cons:  Frightening to think of how unregulated everything was back in the fifties/I wish the author would have gone into more detail as to what exactly it was that caused Casper Gedsic to decline so dramatically/Though Friedrich's reactions are understandable, he's kind of a controlling jerk as a Father.  Full Review:  In the 1950s, the field of Psychology was in its infancy. Most people who exhibited possible mental illnesses were quickly locked away into asylums and left to rot. William Friedrich is an untenured Psychology Professor at Yale who is trying to stumble u