Month: September 2016

The Trials of Apollo – Book 1: The Hidden Oracle – By Rick Riordan

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Hey Jared,

Since I’m waiting for The Hammer of Thor to come out in mere days, I figured I could finally get around to reading the first book in this new series. I was honestly a little hesitant because it broke with convention and had a non-demigod as the main character. Could the perspective of a divine being be both relatable and compelling? Yes. Yes, it can.

thehiddenoracleTitle: The Hidden Oracle
Series: The Trials of Apollo; Book 1
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic, Mythology/Supernatural
Synopsis: Apollo messed up…..big time. As punishment, he was stripped from his all his goddy powers. What’s more, nefarious forces are at work. Can he survive his acne or will a monster put him out of his misery.
Recommendation: Another great addition to the Riordan multiverse. I would suggest reading Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus first as this series directly builds off them.

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The Trials of Apollo – Book 1: The Hidden Oracle – By Rick Riordan

Five Kingdoms Series – Book 4: Death Weavers – By Brandon Mull

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Jared,

This review has been pushed back so many times. There’s just so much that takes priority. Plus, this has been out for months already and the next one isn’t expected until the Fall of 2017. Regardless, I wanted to get it written while it was still fresh in my mind. Sadly I’m still having trouble writing this. How much do I reveal? What is or isn’t considered a spoiler when the first book being reviewed is the 4th in the series? The moral dilemma only a book lover can experience.

death-weavers.jpgTitle: Death Weavers
Series: Five Kingdoms; Book 4
Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Cole is still on the run. His search for Destiny, Mira’s sister, has taken him and his friends to Necronum, one of the five kingdoms in The Outskirts. But Necronum is home to the Weavers, they interact with the dead. Will he survive or will his journey take him to the afterlife?
Recommendation: Go read the other 3 first. They are an easy read, perfect for an intermediate reader/pre-teen/early teen.

– – Mild Spoilers – –

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Five Kingdoms Series – Book 4: Death Weavers – By Brandon Mull

Zeroes Series – Book 1: Zeroes – By Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

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Hey Jared,

Yes, that is three authors. It makes the title of this review really long but I didn’t want to diminish their work by leaving any off or just doing their last names. And yes, this is another book about kids with superhuman abilities or powers. I’m starting to get a little tired of the genre and almost didn’t finish this one.

zeroesTitle: Zeroes
Series: Zeroes Series; Book 1
Author(s): Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Teen/YA
ROTS Setting: AU, Superpowers
Synopsis: Six Californian teens have superpowers and for a time they were friends. But when personalities collide they went their separate ways until the actions of one threatens to reveal them and their powers to the world. Can they unite in time to keep their secrets hidden while avoiding police and drug lords alike?
Recommendation: Not a terribly original take on superpowered teens, but it was still worth reading.

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Zeroes Series – Book 1: Zeroes – By Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Book 3: The Knights of Crystallia – By Brandon Sanderson

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Jared,

With book 5, The Dark Talent, coming out this past week I’ve been trying to get through the previous books I hadn’t read yet. That would be this one, The Knights of Crystallia, and The Shattered Lens. I made sure to get on the hold list for book 5, and should get one of the first few copies but I don’t know how long it will take to get them into circulation. My last experience was about 3 weeks but this is the new system that is much larger and hopefully more efficient.

knightsofcrystallia.jpgTitle: The Knights of Crystallia
Series: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians; Book 3
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, No Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Alcatraz as survived the fabled Library of Alexandria, and successfully rescued his father. Now he’s finally arriving in Nalhalla, one of the Free Kingdoms and home of his birth. But the Evil Librarians are already there poised to seize one of the other kingdoms in the name of peace. Can Alcatraz unravel the plot in time? Will his own ego prevent him from entering the building? Or will Bastille have to save them all?…..Again.
Recommendation: Early teens or moderately skilled readers.

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Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Book 3: The Knights of Crystallia – By Brandon Sanderson

Pottermore Presents – By J.K. Rowling

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Hogwarts Heroes.jpgI’m a little disappointed in these Pottermore Presents books. They say they’re “short stories” and I don’t feel that they are. Are Wikipedia articles short stories? No. No they aren’t. I wasn’t looking for some grand literary master piece, I was looking for short stories, a bed time story, facts with personality, something more than a text book.

I had been planning on reviewing each of the books over the next few days. Upon reading them there isn’t much to review. They aren’t stories so there is no storyline, characters, or writing style/techniques to comment on. So you get one for all three and I’ll do a real review with an actual story for Friday.

The books mostly rehash information you can find on Pottermore, but there are supposedly a couple of extra bits that are brand new.

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Pottermore Presents – By J.K. Rowling