Equinox by Melissa Silvey 3/5 stars

Hey, guys! I just finished Equinox by Melissa Silvey, and I enjoyed it!

*Note: The author was kind enough to send me a copy of Equinox in exchange for an honest review.*

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows the moon during an equinox. It's simple but does relate to the book, which is nice. It is a bit lackluster though, not very eye-catching. A B- cover

Official Description:
After losing her grandmother Holly is left alone to face the most powerful and evil druidess in their line; her mother Rose. She must find a way to destroy her mother's powers and find another druidess to perform the ritual before the Equinox. Holly knows she can't do it alone. But can she trust the handsome stranger who was sent to find her for reasons he can't admit. Will it all work out, or will Holly's powers fade away as her mother's grow stronger?

My Review:
Equinox is a character driven story. The focus is on Holly and Rhys (the "handsome stranger") and the plotline about Holly's mother is more of a subplot. This results in a lot of character development, especially for Holly, and an in depth look into Holly and Rhys's relationship. It also causes a feeling of a lack of urgency involving the magical storyline. The characters would go shopping for elaborate clothes while they had an urgent deadline.

This would have been perfectly fine, but I had trouble completely supporting Holly and Rhys's relationship. While it was definitely cute and fluffy most of the time, I felt like Rhys might have been acting a little abusive at certain moments. Also, one of the main plot points is that Holly can continue to be a powerful druidess or she can date Rhys, who she's only known for a short time, yet she seems to choose the boy. I was a bit disappointed because of how strong Holly's character could have been. That being said, most of the relationship was sweet, but I had trouble getting incredibly into it.

I loved Melissa Silvey's theme of a rivalry/ conflict between druidesses and alchemists. It made each of the plot developments more intense and added another layer onto the storyline.

Fflur, Holly's great-grandmother, also had a rich backstory which added some context and content to the story. I loved to see her story and how it compared to Holly's.

However, I think that Equinox ended in a bit of a rush. It spent a lot of time on plot points which became irrelevant, but ended the great battle that it had been leading up to all book in a rush. It left me a bit dissatisfied.

Overall, I enjoyed Equinox, but it was not without its issues. None of the issues were very pressing, however, and it is easy to read and enjoy Equinox. 

Phrase:
Dragon pendant

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Hamlet by William Shakespeare 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! In my english class for the past week or so, we have been reading Hamlet. This will just be a very quick review, but I wanted to mention it to you all.

Official Description:

Hamlet is the story of the Prince of Denmark who learns of the death of his father at the hands of his uncle, Claudius. Claudius murders Hamlet's father, his own brother, to take the throne of Denmark and to marry Hamlet's widowed mother. Hamlet is sunk into a state of great despair as a result of discovering the murder of his father and the infidelity of his mother. Hamlet is torn between his great sadness and his desire for the revenge of his father's murder.

My Review:

I loved Hamlet. It was definitely very interesting. I think it is my favorite Shakespeare book to date. (If you've read Shakespeare in the past, Hamlet is more on the Macbeth side than the Twelfth Night side.)

Hamlet has a very compelling plot full of betrayal, love, and hate. It also includes most of the quotes that are iconically Shakespeare. (For example, "to be or not to be")

It is a bit ridiculous at moments and incredibly serious at others, but it was fun to read. Despite being a tragedy, its mood was not too heavy. In fact, it had a few of my new favorite insults/ comebacks in it, which is always enjoyable.

I'm not going to lie and say that it is easy to understand, but it is worthwhile if you want to give it a try! I would recommend that you read or at least watch a production of Hamlet.

Phrase:
"Oh! I am slain" - Hamlet

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
Twelfth Night

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

The Dark Talent (Alcatraz #5) by Brandon Sanderson 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! The last Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians book has finally come out. (If you haven't read the series, click here.) I read the previous four book in sixth grade. That was six years ago! On top of the insanely long wait time, the four book ended on a cliff hanger. I have been wondering about how this children's series would end for years and, in the meantime, built my expectations too high. The series is still wonderful, quirky, and fun, but it did not meet my unrealistically high expectations.

The Cover:

The Cover:
I hate the new covers. Sometime in the period between book four and book five, the series changed publishers. The new publishers decided to give them all new covers, all of which are like this one. It is just terribly designed. Half of the images in the cover do not even relate to this book, and it looks incredibly corny. I was trying to read it on a plane and kept it flat the entire time, as it embarrassed me. F cover

Official Description:

Alcatraz Smedry has successfully defeated the army of Evil Librarians and saved the kingdom of Mokia. Too bad he managed to break the Smedry Talents in the process. Even worse, his father is trying to enact a scheme that could ruin the world, and his friend, Bastille, is in a coma. To revive her, Alcatraz must infiltrate the Highbrary–known as The Library of Congress to Hushlanders–the seat of Evil Librarian power. Without his Talent to draw upon, can Alcatraz figure out a way to save Bastille and defeat the Evil Librarians once and for all?

My Review:

This latest Alcatraz book had everything that I've learned to love about this series. It's bizarre sense of humor and flawed/relatable characters. 

The plot was fast-paced and the book only 300 pages, so it is a quick read. As the characters plan their overthrown of the Library headquarters, the action gets more intense. One of the things about this series is that while the majority of the scenes are of the action and adventure variety, there is an element of silliness. The Dark Talent doesn't take itself seriously, which is what makes this series so enjoyable.

The characters remained great. One of my favorite characters wasn't really in this book (Spoiler: Bastille was in a coma for 95% of The Dark Talent), but the other characters were enjoyable. I always love Alcatraz's self-deprecating remarks throughout the story, and this book was no different.

My only problem with this series was the ending. Everything happened at once, and it felt incredibly rushed. Also, the conclusion to the continued cliff hanger (the altar of encyclopedias) was a bit disappointing. It is slightly redeemed by a fold-out note at the very end of the book, which I won't spoil, but that note is the true ending. 

The Dark Talent was a mixed bag. I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read it a few years ago, but it was still fun to read. The ending was a bit disappointing, but the note makes it much better. I'd recommend reading The Dark Talent if you enjoyed the other Alcatraz books, and I'd recommend the entire series if you have not.

Phrase:
An altar of encyclopedias

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
A World Without Heroes
Five Kingdoms series

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! This will be a pretty short review, but in my English class, we just finished Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. It was good and makes you think, but it was probably a hundred pages too long. The same point was repeated a few times too many, in my opinion, but it was still a great and notable book in American history.

The Cover(s):

The Cover(s):
There are many, many covers for Invisible Man (not to be confused with H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man). These are the two that I think are most prevalent. Neither is very interesting, but Invisible Man is not the type of book that fits a "busy" cover. A- cover

Official Description:
First published in 1952 and immediately hailed as a masterpiece, Invisible Man is one of those rare novels that have changed the shape of American literature. For not only does Ralph Ellison's nightmare journey across the racial divide tell unparalleled truths about the nature of bigotry and its effects on the minds of both victims and perpetrators, it gives us an entirely new model of what a novel can be.
As he journeys from the Deep South to the streets and basements of Harlem, from a horrifying "battle royal" where black men are reduced to fighting animals, to a Communist rally where they are elevated to the status of trophies, Ralph Ellison's nameless protagonist ushers readers into a parallel universe that throws our own into harsh and even hilarious relief. Suspenseful and sardonic, narrated in a voice that takes in the symphonic range of the American language, black and white, Invisible Man is one of the most audacious and dazzling novels of our century.

My Review:
Invisible Man was a very thought-provoking novel. It is about identity and racism and how the two relate. It offers a sense of the ideologies circling in the 1950s and even, in a lesser sense, today. Whether you are thinking of the '50s or 2016, Invisible Man will make you ponder the current situation regarding race, identity, and culture. In that regard, it is definitely worth reading.

However, while Invisible Man makes many good points, there are only a few core points. Ralph Ellison conveys his same point many times within three or four similar situations. While I appreciate the validity of his thoughts, it became repetitive after the second repetition. I feel as though a hundred pages could have been shaved off without any change in the story or its purpose. 

Then, there is the narrator. He is a very compelling character, but he does not have a name. This is very frustrating as you read the book. Even when the main character changes his name, his new name nor his old name are announced. I found this to be irritating as I read, but I am sure that the nameless narrator has significance. I know that my English class found multiple possible reasons, and I can respect its symbolism but would have preferred from him to have a name.

Invisible Man was pretty easy to read though. The material is heavy, but the language, while not modern, was similar enough to not create problems.

I would recommend Invisible Man if you want to read about race and theories on identity. An important note is that it is intended for mature audiences. (There is a mildly detailed scene describing incenst, among other things.) So, be cautious if you do not think you can handle that.

Phrase: Optic White

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! After reading, Cinder and Scarlet, I had to read the next book in the series. Cress was very similar to Scarlet. If you liked Scarlet, chances are that you'll like Cress, too, so this review will be fairly brief.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows Cress (AKA Rapunzel) with her long hair as she is trapped in her satellite. The cover fits this book, but I strongly dislike it. This is the kind of book that you hold flat while reading so no one sees the cover. C- cover.

Official Description:
Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and prevent her army from invading Earth.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's being forced to work for Queen Levana, and she's just received orders to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is splintered. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price than she'd ever expected. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai, especially the cyborg mechanic. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

My Review:
Cress picks up right where Scarlet leaves off. However, in this book, there is the added perspective of Cress. In the beginning, I hated this addition. It felt like there were too many characters that each required a unique point of view. However, as the book went on, I started to like her character. Overall, I still think that Marissa Meyer would have been better off sticking to one main character (Cinder), but it ends up working alright, anyway.

As far as characters go, the relationships between characters became much more complex. These relationships were by far the most compelling piece of Cress's story. Even the new relationships, such as Cress's interactions with Thorn, were interesting and fun to read.

The plot was fast-paced and definitely kept me interested. While predictable, it was light, fun, and full of action.

Overall, I would recommend reading Cress if you enjoyed Scarlet. They were very similar in most regards. Cress has a bit more action and some new characters, but it simply continues the story. Cress wasn't perfect. The idea of the story itself feels a little pushed, but it is still enjoyable and well-written.

Phrase:
On the earth dramas...

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Young Elites / The Rose Society
The Selection

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret