Review - I Am Number Four (The Lorien Legacies, Book 1) by Pittacus Lore (2/5 stars)

Reading level: Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction
Size: 480 pages
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Release Date: January 4, 2011

ISBN-13:  978-0062026248
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in Lorien Legacies series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 2/5 stars

I was eager to read this book before going to see the movie, I still haven't seen the movie and probably won't now.  I wasn't a big fan of the book.  I didn't think it was very creative, the characters were very 2D, the plot predictable and the writing juvenile.   I pretty much didn't like this book after the first fifty pages, but decided to stick it out to the end and was sorry that I did.

John is one of the last ten Lorien children who fled the evil Mogadorians after the Mogadorians destroyed his home planet.  The ten last children of Lorien have a protection set on them; as long as they never meet in person they will be protected until the child before them is killed.  John is number four and number three has just died, so that means that the Mogadorians are hunting for him next.  John is sick of fleeing from place to place and, as his Legacy powers start to show up, has decided that he (and his guardian Henri) should stick it out where they are currently living...the small town of Paradise.  Things get complicated when John falls in love with a human girl and John has to choose whether to stay or flee; to survive or love.

Now I understand this is a book intended for a YA audience but that doesn't mean the writing needs to be juvenile.  Right from the beginning of the book the writing style rubbed me the wrong way.  The sentences are short, the words used fairly simple...I felt like it was a more dumbed down that it should have been.  Then there is the overused plot...peaceful aliens seek Earth as a refuge only to be hunted down on Earth by the very evil aliens they were fleeing...yawn...  How many times have we seen/read/heard plots like this?  This is definitely not the most creative story out there.  Then there was the whole you have to kill the children in order spell-thingy...which is creative but strange.  Why would the Loriens do that sort of spell?  Why not just set a protection spell?  It was never well explained and never really made sense.

Then there are the characters.  I can see why this book was easy to make into a movie; that is because it is written like a corny action movie.  You can really picture characters flying through the air and zooming around.  What you never get a really good picture of are the characters themselves; they are like cardboard cut-outs that are moved through first a boring high school drama and then a corny action filled plot.  You never get to know the characters or really engage with them.  The book starts out just plan old boring; lots of high school drama, no aliens, no anything.  The last fourth of the book really picks up the pace and from there on out it is a string of continuous action scenes.

I know I am complaining a lot here but I really didn't enjoy any aspect of this book.  The final thing (aside from the characters, plot, and writing style) that totally bugged me were the inconsistencies.  At one point John finds out he is fire proof on the outside; the authors make a big deal of explaining how he is not fire proof on the inside and cannot open his mouth to speak or breath while he is consumed by fire.  Then towards the end of the book he is engulfed in flame, running around like a fireball, and yelling at the enemies (obviously with his mouth open).  I am sitting there thinking, uh okay, how is he not burning up on the inside?  When did his power drastically change so now he is fire proof everywhere?  Why did they make such a big deal about him not being fire proof on the inside if they were going to ignore their own rules later?

The book ends okay, it is very very predictable.  I could have outlined this whole story for you after reading the first chapter; no surprises here...no twists or turns.

Overall this book was not my cup of tea.  I disliked the writing style for its simplicity, disliked the characters for their shallowness, disliked the plot for is predictability, and was driven crazy by the inconsistencies in John's powers.  Everything about this book screamed "Please make me into a corny action movie!"  Needless to say I won't be reading any more books in this series; nor will I be going to watch the movie.  I would suggest that YA/Middle Grade readers who like action books with a male lead should check out Percy and the Olympians, the Hunger Games, the Artemis Fowl series or anything other than this book.  There weren't any brazen technical errors, misspellings, or typos so that's why it gets two stars instead of one.  I am so, so glad that I got this from the library.

This goes towards the following reading challenges:

- 100+ Reading Challenge

Blog Tour - A Tale of Two Goblins

Hi welcome to the A Tale of Two Goblins blog tour!  Please see below for an introduction from the author.  Then continue reading below for an excerpt from this fun new book by HP Mallory.  If you are curious about what I thought of the book (it was a lot of fun) you can read my full review here!

Make sure to stop by Baffled Books tomorrow to see more about this fantastic book!

Author Introduction:

 Hi, I'm HP Mallory and I've written two series, the first about a fairy in law enforcement (To Kill A Warlock and A Tale of Two Goblins) and the second about a witch who can bring back the dead (Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble and Toil and Trouble).

I'm a mongo fan of anything that goes bump in the night and Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! (Quick tangent--the best costume I've ever worn was last year when I went as the Headless Horseman and my baby was my Jack-O-Lantern head!) I've always loved the Twilight Zone Marathons and if I ever saw a ghost, I think I'd wet myself.

I grew up in California although I've lived abroad in the UK (England and Scotland--woo hoo, gotta love those kilts!)

I'd categorize my writing as a blend of suspense, humor, light horror, and romance with a sprinkle of fantasy to tie everything together! If you are all about fairies and witches and vampires (oh my!), you love a good alpha warlock and you like men who get a little hairy during a full moon, I got the goods.

Now for the Excerpt!

To Purchase from Amazon: A Tale of Two Goblins 
To Purchase from Barnes and Noble: A Tale of Two Goblins 
To Purchase from Smashwords: A Tale of Two Goblins




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I opened my eyes and lifted my head off the desk. I’d fallen asleep—who knew for how long. I was suddenly frightened and angry with myself. I’d been incredibly lucky that the Dreamstalker hadn’t realized I was immobilized by sleep and his for the taking. Stupid, I’d been so stupid. I stood up, angst pounding through me and walked my cold cup of coffee to the sink, promptly pouring myself another. I threw my head back and emptied the lukewarm liquid into my mouth, squelching the urge to gag. I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.

The sudden compulsion to go check on Sam almost blindsided me and before I could even register what I was doing, I had my keys in my hand and I was headed down to the Wrangler which was parked just outside. I glanced up at the dark night sky and even though the thought crossed my mind that visitor’s hours were well over, my feet didn’t slow down.

Before I knew it, I’d unlocked the door and was seated behind the wheel, my hand already turning the keys in the ignition. I put the car into drive and started down the street. The streetlights reflected through my windows and I shielded my eyes against the glare. The momentary thought that I hadn’t buckled up crossed my mind but I couldn’t focus on it. I arrived at the stop sign at the end of the street and had no memory of getting there. All I knew was that the hospital was to the right but for some reason, I turned to the left.

I couldn’t even really grasp the fact that before setting foot into the car, I’d planned to visit Sam at the hospital yet now I was headed for the highway leading out of Splendor and into the BFE district of Charity which was home to a herd of cows and endless miles of lush farmland.

I attempted to turn the Wrangler around, even issued the command to my arms, but the wheel appeared to be stuck or maybe somewhere in my subconscious I really wanted to visit Charity because my body seemed to be in complete opposition to my mind. I continued along Highway Five toward mile after mile of white fences and rolling hills, farther and farther from the hospital.

The radio suddenly flickered on and my heartbeat increased tenfold as I wondered how in the hell that was even possible. There was static for a moment and I watched the screen as it rolled through FM station after FM station. Finally it settled on something that sounded like fifties music. I wanted to turn the sound down but my hands were plastered to the steering wheel so the music continued to pour out of the speakers. I could practically see Patsy Cline in her poodle skirt and saddle shoes as she wailed into the microphone, “I Go Out Walking After Midnight.”

My brain began to protest the fact that my body had a mind of its own and was now holding me hostage. I glanced out at the night sky, realizing it was getting darker, the street lights no longer lighting my way as I entered the border of Charity. Sure enough, dark outlines of cows on the hillsides pointed to the fact that I’d just arrived in no man’s land.

Lights from behind me suddenly filled the Wrangler and I depressed the accelerator, hoping the person would pass me. I didn’t even have the chance to marvel at the fact that my body had carried out my mind’s wishes because it was suddenly apparent that the person behind me wasn’t going to pass. Instead, the car pulled up right behind me, close—as in bumpers kissing close. The headlights of the car illuminated the inside of the Wrangler and made it exceedingly difficult to see the road before me. I yanked the wheel to the right, pulling over to the side of the road and hoped the person would get the clue that I didn’t appreciate being tailed.

The car veered to the left of the Wrangler and just when I thought it was going to pass, it pulled alongside me until we were neck and neck. I couldn’t help the feeling of panic wending its way up my throat until I felt like I was going to throw up again. I glanced over and could see nothing but darkness emanating from within the car. It was so dark, I couldn’t even tell if there was a person in it. I shook my head at the absurdity of that thought—of course there was someone in it—it couldn’t just drive itself.

The fifties music continued to pour out of my speakers and the melody acted like a fire burning away at my sanity. The car beside me suddenly lunged to a stop and pulled up behind me again, flooding my car with its headlights. I wanted nothing more than to stop but my body seemed to have taken on a mind of its own again and I’d pulled back into the street and pressed the accelerator down until I was going ten miles over the speed limit. The car behind me revved its engine and kept pace.

I watched as my foot pressed the accelerator harder and the speedometer began to climb from forty five to fifty five to sixty five. I passed a white sign proclaiming the speed limit to be thirty five and somewhere deep inside me concern blossomed—this was a country road, windy and dangerous for extreme speeds. I glanced back at the speed gauge and watched in horror as it hit seventy five.

The car behind me pulled alongside me again and then suddenly sped up, passing me instantly. It veered into the lane ahead of me and before I could respond, the red of its brake lights suddenly interrupted my vision. The sound of the Wrangler crashing into the car shattered my thoughts, the melody of the fifties music still in the background. I suddenly felt myself flying forward and the explosion of glass was thick in my ears as I felt my chest smash into the steering wheel. Then before I could even gasp, the Wrangler was airborne.

I glanced down at my clenched palm and realized I’d shaken a mound of fairy dust somewhere along the way. I tossed it in the air, imagining a thick, insulating bubble surrounding me. The feel of rubber was thick against my cheek as I crashed through the passenger window and felt myself smash against the pavement.
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Make sure to check out HP Mallory's other books!  They are all lots of fun to read :-)

Dulcie O'Neil Series

Jolie Wilkins Series:

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below too!

Make sure to stop by the next Blog Tour stop at Baffled Books tomorrow to see more about this fantastic book!

Review - WWW: Wonder (WWW Trilogy, Book 3) by Robert J. Sawyer (4/5 stars)

Reading level: Adult (appropriate for Young Adult)

Genre: Science Fiction
Size: 352 pages
Publisher:  Ace Hardcover
Release Date: April 5, 2011

ISBN-13: 978-0441019762
Stand Alone or Series: Final book in the WWW Trilogy
Source: Bought from Audible.com
Rating: 4/5 stars

This was the third and final book in the WWW trilogy by Robert Sawyer.  It was a fitting end to the series, but not as good as the previous two books.  Some of the characters act very against their character and some things are put in the book just to make a statement on something (without adding to the story much).  I listened to this on audio book and I highly recommend it.  This is one of those series that is so well done on audio book that I think it is vastly better than reading the book on paper.  You definitely need to read the previous two book to understand what happens in this book.

The virtual entity Webmind has been discovered by the US government and they have tried, and failed, to shut Webmind down.  With Webmind's existence out in the open the big question is, what next?  Caitlin and her family are naturally drawn into the media frenzy surrounding Webmind.  The real question facing humanity is basically this: Is Webmind really benevolent or should measures be taken to shut it down while humanity still can?  Humanity has some big decisions to make.  Will Webmind survive or become just a blip in humanity's history?

There are a lot of good things about this book.  Many of the seemingly random things that happen in the previous books all come together and, as a reader, we can see that this book was meticulously planned out.  So kudos to Sawyer for thinking things out so well.  As with previous books there are a lot of political and social issues discussed.  Most of them focus on the questions of a spontaneous entity like Webmind and what his presence means for humanity.  Of course other issues weave through this main issue: there is discussion on Atheism, Communism, etc.

Sawyer himself does an intro talking about how long it took him to finish this series (6 years) and how much technology had changed in that time.  It is like he went out of his way to make sure this final book incorporated every little thing he could think of to make it as modern as possible.  To that extent there is a lot of Twittering, Face-booking, as well as discussion about modern politics and references to companies like Google.  There is even a Big Bang Theory quote in there from that popular sit-com (which I am a huge fan of).  My only problem with this is that all these inclusions seem a bit contrived and forced at times.

My other complaint are some of the things the characters themselves do that are way out of character.  The one that really floored me was when Caitlin decides to take a cell pic of her naked chest and sexts it to Matt.  It has me laughing my butt off with the ridiculousness of it all.  I mean really a girl as smart as her, who is inexperienced sexually just wouldn't do something like that.  She especially wouldn't do it when she is incredibly aware of how easy that data is to access and how insecure it is.  And she wouldn't forget to delete it off of her phone; enabling her mom to find it later.  I know Sawyer makes a comment about Webmind making her phone secure, but come on...any idiot knows that kind of thing is stupid to do from a secure data and privacy point of view.  Now you ask why was this included in the story?  Like many of the weird random things included in this book it was so Sawyer could make a point about the end of Victorianism in an Internet based society.   Sawyer takes a number of instances to lecture at his readers; sometimes it is interesting...sometimes it is just awkward.

The above being said, I really enjoyed some of the things Webmind does in this book.  Some of them are really well thought out and almost make you wish you could live in that era and witness that kind of progress for humanity.  Webmind's ultimate act of benevolence for humankind was intriguing, although I am not sure how realistic it really was.  The story is wrapped up in a touchy, feely happy way that is as sweet as any happily ever after you have ever read.  Sawyer includes an interesting epilogue that I am uncertain how I feel about.  Some aspects of the epilogue are interesting, but I kind of feel like the book would have been better without it...that way the readers would have just been left to Wonder.

Overall this was an excellent conclusion to the series.  The plot moves at a quick pace and many interesting issues are discussed.  I was a little irked by the fact that the characters act out of character at times and there are numerous times where Sawyer takes opportunities to awkwardly lecture at his readers. These aspects made this my least favorite book of the three.  Despite this, it was still an excellent read.  I definitely recommend reading this series for anyone who has interest in artificial intelligence or emergent consciousness.  This is a series that broaches these deep topics but makes them easy to relate to for a large demographic of readers.  Having Caitlin as the main character really makes this book accessible to a young adult crowd as well and I think young adult and older would really enjoy it.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- 100+ Reading Challenge
- Audio Book Challenge List

 

Waiting on Wednesday - 4/27

Okay "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

This week my Waiting on Wednesday book is Goliath (Leviathan, Book 3) by Scott Westerfeld.  This is the final book in Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy and I can't wait to see how things wrap up.  This has been a fantastic series.  Couldn't find a synopsis, but the cover and release info are below.

Goliath (Leviathan, Book 3) by Scott Westerfeld

Length: 432 pages

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: September 20, 2011

ISBN: 978-1416971771

Early Review - Wolfsbane (The Witches War, Book 2) by Andrea Cremer (4.5/5 stars)

Reading level: Young Adult

Genre: Paranormal
Size: 400 pages
Publisher:  Philomel
Release Date: July 26, 2011

ISBN-13: 978-0399254833
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Witches War series
Source: ARC through Book It Forward ARC Tours
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This is the second book in The Witches War series by Cremer.  I received an ARC of this book through Book It Forward ARC tours.  The third book Bloodrose is planned for a summer 2012 release.  This book was an excellent addition to the series.  The reader learns a ton more about Calla's world in this book and it was a pleasure to read.

Calla has fled her pack and wakes up in a facility full of Searchers; her sworn enemy.  They want her to join them and possibly aid them in obtaining an alliance with the Guardians against the Keepers.  Shay is there with her and, as the Scion, is very important to the Searchers.  Calla must decide who to trust.  Can she believe the Searchers and the history they tell her?  Will Shay stand firm at her side throughout the fight?  What will become of Calla's Guardian pack and the people who helped her escape?  Many secrets are revealed and Calla is forced to decide if she will aid her sworn enemy.

This book was even faster paced than the first book  There are a lot of action scenes and we get to meet some great new characters.  The reader is introduced to the world of the Searchers and it is a complex world.  There are four new schools of magic in the Searchers facility, along with a whole bunch of history, and lots of new characters with interesting issues.

Cremer does an excellent job creating this world and populating it with engaging characters that have a lot of depth to them.  When I started the book it took me a second to get the factions sorted in my mind (Keepers, Guardians, Searchers) but Cremer does a good job of backfilling and aids the reader in remembering what happened in the previous book.  Then the reader has a lot of new terminology thrown at them that relates to the Searchers magic and schools.  This was the only part of the book that was a bit annoying; it was hard to keep everything straight early on.

Calla and Shay have great chemistry together and this book features them; Ren enters the picture now and then to shake things up...but this book is definitely focused on Calla and Shay.  There is a new character, a Searcher, who enters the story and is very intriguing.  Cremer does an excellent job with dialogue; lots of the dialogue between characters is very witty and adds humor to the story.  Cremer's writing style is in general very readable and fast-paced.  I tore through this book very quickly and had trouble putting it down.

The story ended well and wrapped the main storyline up nicely while setting things up for the next book.  This book was just the beginning of the Witches War and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Overall an excellent continuation of this series.  Cremer has created a wonderfully complex world, a heart-pounding fast-paced plot, and characters that are fun to read about and very engaging.  A must read for fans of Nightshade, also a great read for fans of paranormal YA.  This is one of those paranormal YA series that really stands out in an over-crowded genre.  I absolutely cannot wait to read Bloodrose.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:

- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 100+ Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuesday - 4/26

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week my teaser comes from I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.
Here it is: "I light a match and drop it, and the pile ignites.  Another one of my lives, gone." Pg. 15

500+ Follower Giveaway Winner

The winner of the $15 Amazon Gift Card celebrating 500+ followers on my blog was:

Erinberry

Thanks to everyone who entered!  And most of all thanks for following.

Winners were chosen using Random.org.  There were 120 entries to the contest.  The winner has been e-mailed.

Early Review - Luminous by Dawn Metcalf (4/5 stars)

Reading level: Young Adult

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy
Size: 304 pages
Publisher:  Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: June 30, 2011

ISBN-13:  978-0525422471
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: ARC through Librarything's Early Reviewer Program
Rating: 4/5 stars

I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover and then read the synopsis and found it intriguing.  I actually received an Advanced Reading Copy of it through Librarything's Early Reviewer Program.  It was a very creative book and has some intriguing ideas in it; although at points the writing is a bit hard to follow.

Consuela finds a lump at the back of her neck and is worried about it.  Her mother agrees that Consuela will go to the doctor if it is worse in the morning.  Then Consuela finds that she can put her fingers into the lump and actually remove all of her skin; leaving her a glowing Skeleton.  She finds she can makes new skins out of things like water and air.  While experimenting she ends up meeting other teenagers with strange powers and finds herself part of the Flow.  A serial killer is loose in the Flow and Consuela must figure out how to stop the killer, otherwise she may never have the chance to return home.

This was an odd book.  It is very creative and has some really neat ideas in it.  At times it is beautifully written and has some excellent imagery.  At times though there were also things that didn't make sense.  Why only teenagers in the Flow?  Why was she able to talk to her mother when she got home in the beginning but not later?

The idea of the Flow is interesting, but I have to say it is a bit difficult for the reader to figure out what is going on at the beginning of the book.  The reader needs to suspend disbelief and kind of just..well..go with the flow of the story.  As the book went on I understood better the kind of "other place" the author was trying to create, but it did take some piecing together to get to that point.

The characters are intriguing.  All of them have different powers and complex backgrounds.  While I did find them interesting, they never really came alive for me.  The book seemed more focused on what they could do in the Flow than on who they were and what they thought.  This was complicated by the fact that there wasn't supposed to be much emotion in the Flow itself.

The story gets a bit creepy at points.  The whole concept of Consuela peeling off her own skin weirded me out a bit, as did the fact she traipsed around as a skeleton.  There were portions involving the serial killer that were also a bit unsettling; although they never got too scary for me.

The story ends well and in such a way that there could be more adventures involving Consuela, although I haven't heard anything about that.  As for the author's writing style, I am a bit on the fence about it.  Metcalf's writing has moments of beauty, but it also had times where things were kind of vague.  It wasn't the easiest writing to read and you had to read it very slowly and carefully to make sure you understood what was happening.

Overall a very intriguing read.  If you are interested in reading something unlike anything you've read before definitely pick this story up.  The concepts of the Flow and how Consuela can makes skins out of organic matter are interesting.  The story does get a bit creepy, but should be appropriate for young adult and older.  The writing style wasn't my favorite and the characters weren't as engaging as I would have liked.  Still this book was very original and interesting, so I would recommend it for people who want something a bit different.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- 100+ Reading Challenge
- The Debut Author Challenge

 

Hellsing, Vol 10 by Kohta Hirano (5/5 stars)

Reading level: Adult

Genre: Manga
Size: 192 pages
Publisher:  Dark Horse Books/Digital Manga Publishing
Release Date: June 1, 2010

ISBN-13:  978-1595824981
Stand Alone or Series: 10th (and last) book in Hellsing series
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5 stars

This is the tenth and final book in the Hellsign manga.  This was a wonderful and fitting conclusion to this series.  A must read if you love this series.

So at this point we have vampires, werewolves, Catholics, Nanzis, ghouls, Australian Mercs and (of course) the Hellsing family fighting in the streets of London.  The streets are very literally awash with blood and now it is time for the final faceoff.

The spectacular artwork is in keeping with previous books.  I hadn't read the other books for quite a while, so I was a bit confused when everything started up...but I quickly regained my footing and remembered who most of the players are.  This gets a little bit muddled at points, but that chaos is part of the charm of this series.

There are some fun twists and turns, a lot of killing, and a lot of violence.  Our characters face off in final battles.  Integra Hellsing really features in this installment and kicks some major butt.  Alucard is also present here in all his glory.

Overall an absolutely stunning and wonderful conclusion to this manga series.  A must read if you love this series.  The only bad part is that it's all over now.  Hopefully we will see more from Hirano in the future!  The good part is there are still the Hellsing Ultimates (movies) that are slowly being released in the USA.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:

- Graphic Novels Challenge List

- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 100+ Reading Challenge

In My Mailbox and Mailbox Monday - 4/25

IMM is a meme started at The Story Siren with some inspiration from Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library.

Mailbox Monday can be found at: The Printed Page

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I got three books this week.

Bought:

 

Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassins, Book 4) by Jennifer Estep

Rise of the Fallen (The Last Apprentice, Book 8) by Joseph Delaney

ARC Tour:

Wolfsbane (Nightshade, Book 2) by Andrea Cremer