Flight of Fantasy Update - Buy, Borrow, Bypass

It's been about a month and a half since I updated my progress on my Flights of Fantasy progress.  I read 7 books from the fantasy genre to add to my list - now making my count 30 out of my goal of 50.

Here they are.  First the BUY choices:

~Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee.  This is an endearing novel of second chances  with a healthy dose of the supernatural.  If you are an animal lover, this one is a must.  So touching!

~The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.  I was a little hestitant about this one at first.  I was worried it was going to get too caught up in the romance but it surprised me.  I LOVED this one and already have the sequel, The Glass Sword, on preorder.  I can't wait.

~Armada by Ernest Cline.  It's not Ready Player One, but then it's a different genre really.  If you are a lover of Star Wars, Star Trek, and all things 80's.... this one is for you.

~Daughter of Smoke and Bone - by Laini Taylor.  This one was so beautifully written, so detailed and descriptive.  I could see the places and people and I thought that plot had very unique aspects.  I will definitely be finishing this series.

BORROW

~The Girl in Between by Laekan Zea Kemp.   This book has the most amazing premise - it's about a girl with a sleeping disorder who isn't supposed to dream, but she does.  Her dreamscape is comprised mostly of memories until one day, a boy she doesn't not know washes up on the beach. I am looking forward to book 2.  I may even buy it.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson - Tiger Lily was always my favorite character in Peter Pan and I always felt she was the least developed.  This book made me see Tiger Lily and all my favorite characters in a new light.

BYPASS

~Sabriel by Garth Nix.  I have to say that for me, this one was a huge disappointment.  It just didn't engage me.  I thought that the characters were two dimensional and I didn't really feel a connection with any of them.  I will not be finishing this series.  I just didn't care enough to continue.

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

   At first I thought this book was a simple mix of The Hunger Games, Red Rising and the Selection.  It seemed like the obvious Cinderella story - boy and girl meet, boy and girl fall in love, underprivileged girl becomes Queen.  That's how I thought that the story was going to go.  Boy was I wrong!

Yes, this book is like a mesh of Huger Games, Red Rising and the Selection, but it is also much more than that.  I loved the creative twists that the author built in.  I won't reveal here - no spoilers.  I that the the author did a great job developing all the major characters and even fleshing out the secondary characters like Julian and Kilorn as well.  Sometimes I read a book and it is so unmemorable that I can't remember the names of the characters the day after I finish.  Not so in this case, definitely not so.

Mare really becomes a stronger character as the book goes on.  It was annoying, at first, how she seemed to be leaning on the male characters but press on, it does get better.I am really excited to read The Glass Shard, which will be coming up sometime very soon.

Sabriel by Garth Nix

    The book, Clariel, has been on my TBR list for a while.  This book is actually the first one in the Abhorsen series.  I came across this on Book Riot's list of books that remind us of Harry Potter.   I guess I should have known..... I rarely agree with Book Riot's lists and once you compare ANYTHING to Harry Potter, you are on dangerous ground.

Sabriel is the book about a young girl who, like her father is a necromancer.  However, unlike most necromancers they don't bring things back from the dead ( although they can),  instead, it is there job to bind the dead from rising.  Sabriel is at school, which teaches magic ( perhaps the only similarity with Harry Potter - well that and the great big villian)   when her father fails to appear for a promised visit.  Instead she receives an undead visitor who brings her the sword of her father and his bells.  The bells are used for various tasks associated with binding the dead.

Sabriel leaves school and heads off - alone - to the Old Kingdom - to find her father.  Sabriel is very brave, but often fool-hardy in her plans.   Like many teenagers, I guess.  Although the book is full of action, Sabriel is alone for the first third of the book.  Then, her main companion is Moggett, a free magical entity that has been entrapped by her father and forced into servitude.

The book came across as somewhat flat to me.  The action was happening but I didn't feel as if I was part of it.  Although I admired things about Sabriel - her courage, for one - I couldn't really relate to her and because of that, I didn't really feel invested in her story.  Bummed because I was really looking forward to this one but felt it was only eh.   Well written but lacking.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

I read this one for my flights of fantasy challenge.  I read the first in the series, Shadow and Bone, over a year ago and I finally got around to reading book 2.   This was a wonderful continuation of the story.

This story continues with Alina and Mal trying to hide and escape from the Darkling.  It's not easy for a sun summoner to hide among the average people and it isn't long before they are taken captive by a Privateer, Stormhond.   Alina is given the opportunity to obtain a second amplifier for her power, something that she believes has never been done before.  

I like this second book in the series because Alina is so much more than she appeared in the first book.  She is stronger, more self sufficient and she knows what she wants.  No one is quite sure what is best for her and for the country, Ravka, but Alina is fighting for her desires and to help the people she loves.

I also love the characters that were added in this book.  My favorite is Nikolai.   He always seems to see people for exactly who they are and that is a rare talent.  He also tends to bring out the best in others.  I think he, and the twins were a great addition to this book.  I'm looking forward to seeing how their characters develop.

I downloaded the third in the series last night and began reading it.  I am looking forward to seeing how the story ends.  I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars.

Anomaly by Tonya Kuper

  Danielle Paige, an author that I love and really respect, recommended this book, so I thought I would give it a try for the Flights of Fantasy reading challenge.  I thought that Tonya did an excellent job creating a strong female heroine and building a credible world where incredible things happen.    I loved that Josie is such a strong female character who readily embraces her inner geek.   I enjoyed the Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel universe references, though at times they seemed forced and stereo-typed.

I saw a movie a few years ago, called Push with Chris Evans, where there was a similar idea - people who could "push" reality with their minds.  I loved it that Ms. Kuper took it another step forward including in her book not just "pushers"  but also "retractors" and "anomalies".   The sides of good and evil  that she has drawn - the Resistance and the Consortium - seem very realistic.   You never really know who is truly on which side because after all, we are all a little bit good and a little bit evil.

The only issue I have with this story comes with the "reveal" at the end and the consequences of it.  I think if I found something like this out, my response would have been much different that Josie's.  Bu maybe that's just me.  Either way,  I enjoyed the book and will definitely read the others in the series to see what becomes of Josie and Reid.    4/5 stars.

Guardians Book One: The Girl

    I read this one for my Flights of Fancy reading challenge.  This is the story of Emerson, a teenage girl whose job it is to help a group of teenage angels find the key to saving the world.   Sounds trite, I know but the plot is actually quite good.

Now, here comes my problem with this book - the secondary characters are all extremely well developed and you feel for each one of them.  I loved the twins - especially Rio, but I also loved Reese and Jay.   There stories are rich and well fleshed out so that you can understand the motives.  The main three characters Emerson ( love this name for a girl)  Max ( really???? Max??) and Ameana are so shallow they are basically shadows of what these characters could have been.

Emerson is in love with Max, no one really knows why.  She sees him and LOVES him, Has to have him or she will just die..... but what does he do to warrant this affinity?   Absolutely nothing.  In fact, he is in a relationship with Ameana and repeatedly tells Emerson, I love you but will never be with you - LAME.  Ameana has no back story to speak of, nor does Max.  We really don't understand what motivates them other than perhaps dedication to their mission.  Worse yet, there are even conflicting descriptions of these characters - Ameana especially.  She is described as having blond hair - and it shines when she and Max are physical.  Then she is described later as being dark.  It's all very confusing.

I got this book as a Nook free Friday.  I'm glad I didn't buy it because although I loved the concept and the secondary characters, the three mains were so simply constructed that it was difficult to get past.  2/5 stars.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah Maas

   This book is the second in a series.  The first book is called Throne of Glass.  This is the story of Celaena Sardothien, assassin, who has become the King's Champion.   The problem is, the king is evil and Celaena knows it.  She has been ordered to murder a group of rebels that are plotting to overthrow him.  If she doesn't, the king will kill all the people that she loves, but, if she does, she will lose potential allies in the fight against his evil.

Through falling in love, facing terrible hardships and eventually tragedy, Celaena somehow manages to rise above it all. As good as the first book in the series is, this second one is even better.   There were many twists and turns to the plot - some extremely predictable, others - less so - but all of them enjoyable.   I can't wait to read the next one.  I gave this one 5 out of 5 stars.

Flights of Fantasy Update

  I added 5 more books to this challenge this month, bringing my total to 18 out of 50.   I know some people have a stricter definition of what constitutes a fantasy read, but for me,  I define it as any work of fiction that uses magic or supernatural phenomena as a primary plot element.  Whew, I've gotten that out of the way.

So let's get on with it.... I'll break this down into three sections.... pass it by,  borrow it, and READ IT NOW!  

Pass it by:
Grace of Day by S.L. Naeole.  This was the fourth book in a series.   The first two books: Saving Grace and Bird Song, were quite good and entertaining.   The third book, Black Halo started to drag and by the time we get to the fourth book, well, let's just say that I had little but contempt for 90%  of all the characters in the book.  In my earlier review on this blog, I left it as a book that shouldn't have been written.  So often, I think writers feel they need a series, when in truth, the  story would have been better served ending much earlier.  That is definitely the case here, in my opinion.

Cold Spell by Jackson Pierce... this book intrigued me because it is a retelling of the Snow Queen.  I love fairy tales.... always have and I imagine that I always will.   This book was just simplistic, in my opinion.   There were unexpected characters that didn't seem to really work, and plot elements that just seemed out of place - for example - how does the Snow Queen turn her protectors into wolves, like werewolves only they aren't werewolves?   Needless to say, this is not a story I would recommend to anyone.  What a disappointment.

Borrow it -
The Sin Eaters Daughter - this book has a very different mythology that is quite detailed.  The love triangle aspect of it is.... developing and the story is unique.  I found this book to be entertaining.  Again, the first in a series so I hope the author knows where she is going with it.  It's worth picking up from your library if you enjoy science fiction.

And now... the good stuff.  If you love fantasy the next two books are a must!

Dune by Frank Herbert.... most fantasy lovers may have already read this one.   I had seen the film some time ago but never read the book.  I LOVED it.  It is like Game of Thrones meets Star Wars.   Its well written and fast paced with so much intrigue.  If you haven't read this one yet, do it!

and of course.... The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige.  This was just amazing, especially for those of us who truly love the Ozian  mythology.   Amy Gum, the protagonist, is like a breath of fresh air.  She's strong, clever and independent but still working on figuring out just exactly who she is.   Aside from Amy,  Danielle Paige has built places into Oz that feel like they have always been there, and yet, I never knew existed.  Trust me, the Sea of Flowers and Rainbow Falls are not to be missed!
I need 31 more books for this challenge.  It will be interesting to see what the month of May brings to the table.  Happy Reading!

Grace of Day by S.L. Naeole

   I started reading this series at the beginning of the year, I really enjoyed the first two books.  The third book, not so much.  I hate when books start wrapping plot lines up into neat little bows that don't make any sense - Stacey becoming an Erlking, anyone?  So convenient for the main character, Grace, that her best friend, who is fighting Cancer, doesn't really die.   But, perhaps I'm being to harsh?  After all, it's not like I can suspend disbeleif and go with any of the plot anyhow.
I continued with the series because I have to read a series for my PopSugar challenge.  Since I have been unable to find anything that really appeals to me,  I continued on.  There are four books in the series - each one of them over a thousand pages.  The first two and even the third are quick reads but goodness help you on this fourth one,  it just drags and drags and drags so more.  By the end of the series, I actually disliked all the characters - Robert and his pompous, superior attitude, Grace with the whiny just barely one step above Bella Swan,  Stacey - completely unbelievable at the end ( and she had been one of my favorite characters),  Lark - mostly silent in this last book..... Plus, in the third book they kill off the villain, or at least who you think the villain is.  So, a la Twilight - how do we fix that problem?   We create new characters that weren't introduced in any of the previous books nd act as if this all makes sense.  No.  Sometimes a series just needs to stop for the sake of preserving what was an at least entertaining read.  This is the perfect example of a book that should never have been written.

Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce

This is a retelling of the Snow Queen fairy tale.  I read this one for my Flights of Fantasy reading challenge.  It hasn't been my favorite book this year, or even close, but I was in a bit of a reading rut, and I usually choose a fantasy novel to help me out of them.
Things I liked about this book: 1. it had some great messages mixed in about how all of us can choose who we are, how family is more than those people you happen to be born to, and about REAL love  conquering all.   That said,  I had to look for those things.  The plot was a bit scattered and the story line was a bit convoluted at times, introducing new characters and plots that seemed irrelevant.  An interesting book for the 11-14 age group who enjoy fairy tales and romance.  2 stars.

The Sin Eaters Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

   First of all,  look at that gorgeous cover.  Between the cover and the title, this book was so appealing to me that I just couldn't pass it up.  It had a very intriguing plot as well.  Twylla is 17 years old and though she was born into poverty, she now lives at the castle, the betrothed of the Crown Prince.   There is one small issue though, as the Goddess Embodied, she is also an Executioner.   Her touch is death making having friends virtually impossible.  Even the Crown Prince keeps his distance.

Then, one day, Twylla is given a new guard.  He is young and handsome with an easy smile.   They talk.  He teaches her to read and write.   Things begin to change for Twylla.  She learns the shocking truth of her existence.  In the end, this book is really about whether Twylla will choose happiness for herself or put the interests of others before her own?

I loved the Mythology that the book creates - it's such a rich story  where both cruelty and kindness coexist so capriciously.    I really enjoyed reading this one.  It was quick, easy and definitely entertaining.  4/ 5 stars.

Dune by Frank Herbert

  I read the story many years ago, and of course, watched the wonderful film version from the 80's.   This is one of the film adaptations which, for the most part, does a really wonderful job of preserving the original story. This is the story of Paul Arteides and his family.  Sent to the planet Arakkis from their home planet of Caladon, the Arteides family has been set up for a fall.   Will they find a way to survive - the planet, the political climate, their mortal enemies?  And what will become of the Fremen - the native peoples of Arakkis?

This is a political space odyssey.  So much fun.  There was so much I missed the first time I read it, really glad that I revisited it.  Seriously considering taking up the remainder of the series.   If you haven't read this one and enjoy a truly amazing science fiction novel - this one is brilliant.

The Goddess Test

I love Greek mythology - have always loved it.  Stories of gods and heroes were a vital part of what enhanced my love of reading as a child.  When I saw this interesting take on one of my favorite stories, Peresephone and Hades, I was very excited.   This book got off to a bit of a slow start.  Kate and her Mom are a team and it's always been just the two of them, but now, Kate's mom is dying.  She wants Kate to move  with her to where she grew up. Here Kate meets Henry, a strange boy who tells her that if she agrees to live on his estate with him from the autumn to spring equinox, then he can keep her mother alive until she is ready to say goodbye.
I don't want to say more and give the entire plot away.  The beginning third of the book is rather slow, but it does develop.  I especially enjoyed the tests that Kate needs to pass to prove her worth.  An interesting read for ages 11-16ish who enjoy Greek mythology.

Prophecy: The Dragon King Chronicles

1. 

I read this one for the Flights of Fantasy reading challenge.  This is the story of Kira, a young woman raised to be a warrior. Her sole role is to protect her cousin, Taejo, the future king and savior of prophecy.   At first, I viewed the character of Kira as largely two - dimensional and simple because she is presented that way.  But as the story goes on, more depth in her character is revealed.  In addition to being a female warrior, which in itself is unusual, she can also see demons.  It is this threat that she protects her cousin from and it is this ability which causes her to be largely shunned by the general populace.  Isn't it true that people always fear what they don't understand?

I thought that the Japanese and particularly the Korean influences in the story were unique.  While I enjoyed the story, I found much of the plot to be predictable and while entertaining, not completely engaging.  Not sure I will continue on with this series.  

Obsidian - Flights of Fantasy Challenge

This one really didn't fit into my Pop Sugar reading challenge.  I am also doing Flights of Fantasy - my goal is to read 50 Fantasy books this year.  Shouldn't be a problem for me since it is one of my favorite genres.  I have already read 10 out of 50, including this one ( Obsidian, Rise of the Dragons, Golden Son, Moth, Never Never, Falling from Grace, Speaker for the Dead, Bird Song, Black Halo, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend).

This one was your typical YA supernatural romance.  It had it's moments and the relationship building between the characters was quite good. The author does an especially good job developing the tension between Daemon and Katy and also the friendship between Katy and dee.    I found the story line to be original, which is always a plus.  I read this purely for the brain candy.  It was a quick and easy read that kept me entertained.  Mission acommplished.

I gave it 3/5 stars because I found Daemon at times to be overbearing and obnoxious.