Most of these quick reviews were written two years ago and never got published. Instead of posting them individually I’ve combined them and then added my thoughts about what I can remember about the last book. This doesn’t mean I’m back, just doing some house cleaning.
Continue reading “Magisterium – Books 2-5 – By Holly Black & Cassandra Clare”Youth
Pit Dragon Chronicles – Book 1: Dragon’s Blood – By Jane Yolen
Hey Jared,
I read an abridged/short story version of this in school and had no clue there was a (slightly) bigger version out there for the longest time. Finding it has been nearly impossible but I figured it out eventually.
Title: Dragon’s Blood
Series: Pit Dragon Chronicles; Book 1
Author: Jane Yolen
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, distant future, dragons, dragon fights
Synopsis: Dragons are trained to fight to the death, and two determined teens help free them in this spellbinding saga. Training a dragon to be a fighting champion is the only way to freedom for fifteen-year-old Jakkin.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for pre- and early teens.
Continue reading “Pit Dragon Chronicles – Book 1: Dragon’s Blood – By Jane Yolen”
The Copernicus Legacy – Book 2: The Serpent’s Curse – By Tony Abbott
Hey Jared,
I hate it when a series starts out strong and then nosedives the first chance it gets….meaning the second book.
Title: The Serpent’s Curse
Series: The Copernicus Legacy; Book 2
Author: Tony Abbott
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, present day, astronomy
Synopsis: Wade, Lily, Darrell, and Becca may have found the Copernicus Legacy’s first relic—a beautiful blue stone named after the constellation Vela—but they have lost much more than they have gained. Darrell’s mother, Sara, has been kidnapped by Galina Krause, the conniving leader of the Teutonic Order, who hopes that the renowned academic will lead her and her minions to the next relic.
Recommendation: Not recommended. It’s still a decent read, and good for younger readers, but it’s generic and the quality tanked.
Continue reading “The Copernicus Legacy – Book 2: The Serpent’s Curse – By Tony Abbott”
Animorphs – Book 12: The Reaction – By K. A. Applegate
Hi Jared,
This was really entertaining and surprisingly deep.
Title: The Reaction
Series: Animorphs; Book 12
Author: K. A. Applegate
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Aliens
Synopsis: Rachel’s got some pretty strange stuff happening. She can’t control her morphing. One minute, she’s doing homework. The next, she’s morphing a full-grown crocodile, and — without returning to human form — she becomes an elephant. That’s when the floor gives way and Rachel finds herself looking up at what used to be the kitchen ceiling.
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series.
Continue reading “Animorphs – Book 12: The Reaction – By K. A. Applegate”
The Trials of Apollo – Book 3: The Burning Maze – By Rick Riordan
Hi Jared,
Ok, maybe it was me but I kept thinking this book was going to end the series….and it didn’t. So my feelings are a bit conflicted.
Title: The Burning Maze
Series: The Trials of Apollo; Book 3
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic, Mythology/Supernatural
Synopsis: The formerly glorious god Apollo, cast down to earth in punishment by Zeus, is now an awkward mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. In order to regain his place on Mount Olympus, Lester must restore five Oracles that have gone dark. But he has to achieve this impossible task without having any godly powers and while being duty-bound to a confounding young daughter of Demeter named Meg. Thanks a lot, Dad. With the help of some demigod friends, Lester managed to survive his first two trials, one at Camp Half-Blood, and one in Indianapolis, where Meg received the Dark Prophecy. The words she uttered while seated on the Throne of Memory revealed that an evil triumvirate of Roman emperors plans to attack Camp Jupiter. While Leo flies ahead on Festus to warn the Roman camp, Lester and Meg must go through the Labyrinth to find the third emperor—and an Oracle who speaks in word puzzles—somewhere in the American Southwest. There is one glimmer of hope in the gloom-filled prophecy: The cloven guide alone the way does know. They will have a satyr companion, and Meg knows just who to call upon. . . .
Recommendation: Still recommended, but only barely.
Continue reading “The Trials of Apollo – Book 3: The Burning Maze – By Rick Riordan”
The Keys to the Kingdom – Book 2: Grim Tuesday – By Garth Nix
Hi Jared,
I’ve been extremely inconsistent in my reading and reviewing of late and for that I can only apologize. There was a few hiccups with a book or two combined with a broken habit and I’ve been just trying to keep a book open.
Title: Grim Tuesday
Series: The Keys of the Kingdom; Book 2
Author: Garth Nix
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic (sorta)
Synopsis: Arthur doesn’t think he will ever have to return to the strange house that nearly killed him on Monday — the house that contains an entire world. But Tuesday brings new challenges — in the form of an enemy named Grim Tuesday, who threatens the well-being of both Arthur’s family and his world. Arthur must retrieve the Second Key from Grim Tuesday in order to save everything — an adventure that will include stealing a Sunship, surviving a very weird work camp, befriending a bearlike spirit, fighting the voidlike Nithlings, and traveling to the scary Far Reaches for the ultimate showdown.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for youth, 8-12yrs.
Continue reading “The Keys to the Kingdom – Book 2: Grim Tuesday – By Garth Nix”
Animorphs – Book 11: The Forgotten – By K. A. Applegate
Hello Jared,
I’ve always liked this book…. and I don’t really know why. It might be the cover, or that Jake is the POV, or jaguars, or just the way it’s written.
Title: The Forgotten
Series: Animorphs; Book 11
Author: K. A. Applegate
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Aliens
Synopsis: There’s been an accident. Someone crash-landed a Yeerk Bug fighter. And the Yeerks have been trying to cover it up – quickly. But not before Tobias spots it. So the Animorphs and Ax decide to steal the ship to show the world that Earth has been invaded.
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series.
Continue reading “Animorphs – Book 11: The Forgotten – By K. A. Applegate”
The Inheritance Cycle – Book 4: Inheritance – By Christopher Paolini
Hey Jared,
Even having endured three previous books, and basically zero expectations, I’m still surprisingly disappointed.
Title: Inheritance
Series: The Inheritance Cycle; Book 4
Author: Christopher Paolini
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval/Renaissance, Dragons, Magic, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Not so very long ago, Eragon — Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider — was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance. The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost
Recommendation: I recommend this series (not really) for pre- and early teens.
Continue reading “The Inheritance Cycle – Book 4: Inheritance – By Christopher Paolini”
The Inheritance Cycle – Book 3: Brisingr – By Christopher Paolini
Hey Jared,
I finished this book last week but never got around to writing it until last night. So it’s not a very good review but then again it’s not a very good book.
Title: Brisingr
Series: The Inheritance Cycle; Book 3
Author: Christopher Paolini
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval/Renaissance, Dragons, Magic, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Oaths sworn… loyalties tested… forces collide. It’s been only months since Eragon first uttered “brisingr”, an ancient language term for fire. Since then, he’s not only learned to create magic with words — he’s been challenged to his very core. Following the colossal battle against the Empires warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still, there is more adventure at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep. First is Eragon’s oath to his cousin, Roran: to help rescue Roran’s beloved from King Galbatorix’s clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength — as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices — choices that will take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice. Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king
Recommendation: I recommend this series for pre- and early teens.
Continue reading “The Inheritance Cycle – Book 3: Brisingr – By Christopher Paolini”
Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Book 5: The Last Olympian – By Rick Riordan
It’s not my favorite book in the series, I think there’s just a bit too much going on, but it was an amazing end to the series!
Title: The Last Olympian
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians; Book 5
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic, Mythology/Supernatural
Synopsis: All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
Recommendation: Highly recommended!
Continue reading “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Book 5: The Last Olympian – By Rick Riordan”
Reading Over The Shoulder 