February 26, 2016

Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2) by Laini Taylor 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! I just finished the sequel to Daughter of Smoke & Bone. (Link to that review) I was expecting to be disappointed and I was pleasantly surprised.  Days of Blood & Starlight was much better than the first book in the series.  That being said, I struggled to rate this book.  The first half of the book was of the same caliber as book one (3 stars), but the second half was worthy of five stars.  I settled on the average, but keep in mind that this book definitely gets better as it goes on.

The Cover:
The Cover:
It is trying to be a more dramatic version of the first book's cover.  I don't like it.  It doesn't match the tone of the game and doesn't symbolize anything in the book.  C- cover

Official Description:
Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.
This is not that world.
Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—andwhat she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.
In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.
While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.
But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

My Review:
As I wrote earlier, I didn't really enjoy the first half of this book.  The story was very slow paced and excessively angst-filled.  This series really relies on the interactions between the characters, and they all remained separate until about half-way through the book, which made it hard to get through. However, once the story finished the purely set-up section of the book, it was actually quite fast-paced and fun to read.  Once it got interesting, it didn't stop, and I powered through the last 50% in one sitting.  
The characters in this series are very well-though out.  They are complex and unique.  I love the interactions between them, too.  That being said, I think the main character, Karou, is too much of a "follower" for me.  She is super non confrontational.  Her only strong/brave moves are done in self defense.  She is a difficult character to rally behind, but the other characters, Akiva and Zuzana especially, are fun and the soul of the book.
If you managed to make it through Daughter of Smoke & Bone, I would definitely recommend that you read Days of Blood & Starlight.  It finally makes use of the intricate world building of the first book.

Phrase:
Bestiality

Happy Reading!


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February 19, 2016

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor 3.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I just finished listening to the audiobook version (sorry for character name misspellings) of Daughter of Smoke & Bone.  I'd heard so many great things about this series, and, while I enjoyed certain parts, I thought it overly long and a bit slow.  I didn't think it was worth the hype, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

The Cover:
The Cover:
It's a bit overly intense.  The cover shows Madrigal wearing her bird mask at a significant festival in the book.  I think it's also supposed to be symbolic for Karou hiding behind various facades.  I like that the cover actually ties into the story, but it is not a cover that I would automatically pick up.  B cover.

Official Description:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?


My Review:
I feel like the official description is terribly misleading.  The "truth"? It's only discovered about 20 pages before the end of this 418 page novel.  About 90% of this book was purely setup/ world building.  Personally, there is only so much world building I can take, and Daughter of Smoke & Bone used up about a month's worth.  It was hard to get through.  I'd heard so many great things about this book, and I just felt a little disappointed.  The only part that I loved was the lengthy flashback right at the end of this book.  I felt like most of this book was unnecessary.  Why not just start with the story instead of 300 pages of Karou living her everday (if not entirely ordinary) life.  
I didn't like the main character, Karou, either.  She was strong, true, but she was also whiny and really just a follower.  She never questioned what was going on and made huge assumptions over the course of the book.  She was honestly a liability.  I can see why others would like her.  "Hey, a complex female character! Sign me up." But I found her irritating to be completely honest.  
The other characters were all unique, though, which I enjoyed.
It wasn't all bad.  The ideas behind the story were interesting and original (hence the pages and pages of world building).  The writing style and tone were really casual and easy to read.  At times, I thought it got a little too preachy.  The author was trying too hard to connect the dynamics between angels and chimera to the racial/social issues of today.  
Even with all the small things that I didn't like about Daughter of Smoke & Bone, it was still an alright book.  The relationships between characters felt real, the plot was creative, and it was easy to read.  However, I think that it would've been better for everyone had it been a hundred or so pages shorter.  
I wouldn't go so far as to not recommend this book.  I wouldn't suggest it, but if you don't mind a lot of world building, go for it.  The book itself is good, and I think that the sequels will be better.

Audiobook Review:
I listened to the version read bKhristine Hvam.  It was fine but definitely not memorable one way or the other.  However, I grew irritated that ever time she mentioned Karou (frequently since she was the protagonist) the narrator would use a tone of voice that sounded like she was kidding.  It really wasn't a big deal, but it got on my nerves.

Phrase:
Teeth

Happy Reading!

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February 14, 2016

The Tournament at Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice:The Early Years #1) by John Flanagan 5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  The Ranger's Apprentice series is one of my favorite series of all time.  (If you haven't read it, you should.  It has some of the best characters I've ever read.)  At this point in my life, I will admit that I've probably aged out, but even being much older than the intended audience, I loved it.  I can't deny that I love a good jousting/kidnapping/attempt to overthrow the king/sword fight.  You really can't go wrong.
While connected to the characters of the earlier series, The Tournament of Gorlan is completely a standalone.
This book, I was a little skeptical about reading.  John Flanagan has not stopped writing books in this universe! He wrote the original Ranger's Apprentice books, the Brotherband Chronicles, as well as this new offshoot.  I decided to pick it up, and I'm glad I did.

The Cover:
The Cover:
It shows a central jousting tournament that occurs at the climax of the book (and at the Tournament of Gorlan).  I like the colors of the cover, and it grabs your attention.  Grade A cover.

Official Description:
When Halt and Crowley discover that the ambitious Morgarath has been infiltrating the Rangers in order to corrupt the Corps, the young Rangers travel north to find Prince Duncan, seeking a royal warrant to stop Morgarath before it is too late. By weakening the Rangers, the most powerful force in support of the King, Morgarath plans to steal the throne. 
Yet when Halt and Crowley arrive in Gorlan, they discover just how close Morgarath’s scheme is to success. Morgarath has a plan to discredit the Prince and alienate him from his father. At the same time, the Baron of Gorlan has been conspiring to win the trust and admiration of the Council of Barons to further his plan. If the young Rangers are to prevent the coup from succeeding, they will have to tread a dangerous path, which leads them to a thrilling climax at the annual tournament at Gorlan, where a series of bitter duels must be fought and won.
This origin story brings readers to a time before Will was an apprentice, and lays the groundwork for the epic battles that will culminate with The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge—Books 1 and 2 of the Ranger’s Apprentice series.


My Review:
I enjoyed this book.  It was full of medieval warfare and drama.  One of the best things about these series is the characters.  They are all so complex, unique, and just generally quirky.  By the end of the book, you are sure to love at least one of them.  
The plot was exciting.  Trickery and alliances were abound.  The plot was fast-paced, and I read it super quickly.  
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone's who's read any of the other books by John Flanagan.  If you haven't yet, give his books a try.  They're all really good, and I often find myself referencing them in my everyday life.  Give them a shot.

Phrase:
A surprise dip in the river.

Happy Reading!

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February 5, 2016

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! Everyone recommended this book to me for probably three years, but I kept procrastinating reading it because it sounded depressing.  It wasn't really though.  Sure, the topic was said but the plot and tone were witty and dramatic.  Don't let that turn you off.

The Cover:
The Cover:
It shows Hannah on a swing.  There's no context to this picture, the publisher probably just thought she looked depressed and decided to put this picture in.  I do like the 13 written in the title, though.  B- cover.

Official Description:
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

My Description:
Two quotes from this book just sums up the whole thing:
"I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life.  More specifically, why my life ended.  And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why."
"The rules are pretty simple.  They're only two.  Rule number one: You listen.  Number two: You pass it on."

My Review:
This book was amazing.  I engaged with it more than any book I've read since The Martian and Challenger Deep (3 months ago).  It was a short book, but almost every sentence was just perfectly intertwined with the rest.  I can honestly tell you I had no complaints.  Not even a small pet peeve.  
The narration is split between Clay's first-person thoughts and actions as he listens to Hannah's tapes and Hannah's tapes.  The tapes are in italics while Clay's thoughts are typed normally.  This allows Clay to comment on Hannah's thoughts in a sort of one-sided conversation.  It causes a neat effect and causes the book to move quickly.  It is also written in a very casual, conversational way, which allows for easy reading.
The characters were beautifully thought out.  Clay and Hannah were complex and interesting.  Their relationships with the people around them, as well as their reactions to various situations felt realistic. The characters felt like real people, which was nice.
The plot was also very fast-moving.  This was due to the narration as well as the premise.  Hannah needs to go through thirteen people on her tapes and they're only allotted one side of a tape.  There is no space for lingering. 
This book was just phenomenal.  I know I'm late to this party, but if you, like me, have not already read this book, do yourself a favor and pick it up.  It is actually fantastic.

Audiobook Review (narrated by Joel Johnstone and Debra Wiseman) :
I read Thirteen Reasons Why as an audiobook and think that that is honestly the way to go!  Even if you've already read it, consider rereading on an audiobook version.  Lots of libraries have copies.  This is, without a doubt, the best made audiobook I've ever listened to.  Hannah's parts were read by Debra Wiseman and Clay's by Joel Johnstone.  Both were wonderful at giving the words life.  The sound stayed at the same level the entire time (didn't go from soft to loud back to soft).Also, this book just works auditorily. Half of the book is on tapes to begin with.

Phrase:
I pressed play.

If You Liked This Book You May Also Like:
Challenger Deep
The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley

Happy Reading!