All the Books.

"Though written more than 50 years ago, this story of one community's struggle to survive and thrive in the wake of nuclear war, is just as terrifying now as, I'm sure it was then. And though it was a frightening read, I was left wanting an emotional connection with the characters that just never quite happened."  3 Stars Pros:  Frank was ahead of his time when it came to knowledge of nuclear warfare and also about equality and inclusivity/He seemed moderately progressive which was a welcome change.  Cons:  There are definitely some points where it's not entirely politically correct but, this was also back in the 50s, so it's kind of to be expected/The characters were all pretty 2 dimensional and not that interesting, I would have liked to see a deeper dive of the characters and their relationships, now just how they react to the cataclysmic situation.  Full Review:  "They will stand far off, in fear of her torment and say, "Alas, Alas! You great cit...

"An interesting idea, of their being different "kinds" of Vampires and their Guardians that protect them instead of hunting them. Mead ran with a unique concept and for the most part, I felt like it worked. This was definitely a unique take on the Vampire genre, but it has promise." 3 Stars Pros:  Rose is funny at times; she has some good one liners/Christian has a darker past but a good heart, I'd be interested in learning more about him/Mead deals with the difficult concept of depression and self-harm in a careful and compassionate way.  Cons:  All the teenage lust and longing, unrequited love and random hook ups/Rose was a bit of a loose cannon and could be an unapologetic, manipulative, arrogant, hot-headed tease but then again, they're teenagers, so everything is melodramatic and world ending.  Full Review:  Rose is the stalwart and steadfast protective best friend of Lissa, the last remaining member of the Dragomir royal family, one of the ruling fami...

"Like Sweet Valley High only with Vampires. It was...a challenge." 2 Stars Pros:  Smith's mythos with Vervain being used against compulsion, she took some of the old "Dracula" mythos and turned it around, which I liked.  Cons:  All the teenage melodrama and angst/Elena is a spoiled little brat/Completely flat, two dimensional characters Full Review:  I've watched a good amount of the tv show that's based on this series and figured, I'd see if the show did the book justice. It was in fact, quite the other way around. The writers of the tv show took the characters and a small bit of the plot and turned it into something halfway decent to watch.  The book on the other hand, was the opposite.  Elena was a manipulative, whiney, melodramatic little witch. Bonnie, Meredith, Matt and the others were just her little minions. And the chemistry between her and Damon made absolutely no sense what so ever. I was honestly glad to be done with it. 

"High Fantasy with lots of interwoven threads of fate getting all knotted up together, as they do. Though Shannon's ambition is incredible and inspiring, in the end it all felt a bit off pace and quickly fell into "information overload."  Pros: High fantasy, true and brilliant world building. You have different kingdoms with their own customs and beliefs, Shannon has truly created something incredible. But this is both a Pro and a Con . Cons : Too many characters to remember/Too many countries/histories/legendary figures to keep track of.  Full Review:  It all starts when Tane breaks her seclusion, wishing to swim in the sea one more time before choosing day. In the morning she'll see if she's earned the revered title of Dragon Rider. But just tonight, she wants to swim and feel free. She's horrified when she runs into a man named Sulyard, who begs for her help.  She helps him asking a childhood friend Susa to take him away and she does, allowing Tane t...

"The ending felt rushed, and it all fell rather flat. It was a slightly disappointing conclusion to what had the potential to be a great trilogy."  3 Stars Pros:  The Prologue, nail bitingly open ended//Sam, though a bit bumbling at times, is a genuinely likable character/Again, Mogget.  Cons:   The Disreputable Dog and Moggets elusive, conversations about the spirits that existed before the Charter kept me guessing but at the same time, my patience was wearing thin/I feel like parts you'd want to see and experience, were told to us and not shown/The ending felt rushed.   Full Review:    With Lirael's new job as Abhorsen in Waiting, she and Sam set off to find his friend Nick and try to stop him from working with the necromancer, Hedge to dig up the hemispheres that house the divided spirit of an evil being that was around before the creation of the Charter. It's obvious that the Disreputable Dog and Mogget were around during that time as wel...

"With the Old Kingdom being rebuilt by King Touchstone and his wife, Sabriel, the Abhorsen, the attention now turns to the younger generation. This book follows Prince Sameth, son of Touchstone and Sabriel and Lirael, a Daughter of the Clayr and how their paths cross and everything that happens in between."  3 Stars Pros: Again, Mogget, he's just sarcasm incarnate and I love him/I feel like the big twist made sense but it was revealed in such an ordinary way but it flowed well.   Cons: This book was really dark at times, like, suicidal ideation, panic attacks, all sorts of depressing struggles. I guess I wasn't expecting it to be so heavy at times/Sameth and Lirael can be incredibly whiney but they're still young.    Full Review It's been about 19 years since the events of Sabriel.   Touchstone, who is now the King and Sabriel, who is the Abhorsen, have worked hard to rebuild what was left of the Old Kingdom. There are always struggles and demands but ...

 " A high fantasy coming of age story that follows Sabriel and her investigation into the whereabouts of her Father and why the dead are suddenly coming back to life." 4 Stars Pros:  Mogget is the best character, hands down. Some of the scenes with Kerrigor and the Dead were truly unsettling but gripping.  Cons:  I wanted to learn more about the Abhorsen and how one learned the art but perhaps Nix was vague for a reason/The Charter was a hard concept to grasp.  Full Review:  Sabriel is the only daughter of the Abhorsen, a necromancer who can walk freely between life and the river of death. It's the Abhorsen's job to send the dead and other free magic creatures back into proper death when they decide to escape into life. Sabriel doesn't know much about the art of necromancy, though she's the next in line. But she's spent most of her life at a school in Ancelstierre and only being visited by her father through magical sendings.  But when she suddenly rec...