Review : I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Title : I Am Number Four Author : Pittacus Lore Reading Dates : 10 Jul - 14 Jul 2011
The Lorien Legacies
Books in the series so far: I Am Number Four The Power of Six
From goodreads :
In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now. The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next. I Am Number Four is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth. I AM NUMBER FOUR. I AM NEXT.

Book Review of I Am Number Four.
I Am Number Four doesn’t fall into my personal list of great reads but it does fall into the list of series I’d love to read.

Number Four or John Smith doesn’t strike me as particularly interesting. He may be a likable kid who’s had a difficult life, but I can’t really sympathize with his desire to stop running. John’s feelings for his new girlfriend and best friend just doesn’t seem all that important. To me, it seems more as if he’s going through the motions with Sarah Hart and Sam Goode. The only times when John’s feelings seems real, is when he’s dealing with his Cepan, Henri, or his newly acquired pet, Bernie Kosar.

Aside from that little bump, the story itself had plenty of elements to keep me curious. How could the Lorien’s planet and people have been destroyed so easily ? It there were no warnings, why was an escape route readily available for the nine Garde kids and their Cepan ? What did Henri mean when he told John that their choice of destination this time was no coincidence ? And these are but a small sample of the tantalizing questions that went though my mind as I read the story.

What I really enjoyed about the story though was Bernie Kosar. It wasn’t hard to figure out early on that Bernie Kosar was no ordinary dog and part of the fun was in guessing what John’s new pet would be capable of. It help also that Bernie Kosar is adorable.

Another big draw for me was the title of the next book, The Power of Six. I love reading about themes of family, friendship and unity. So, the idea that maybe the scattered Loriens have decided that the time to start fighting back together is now is one I’m really eager to read about.

As I said, it is the possibilities in the story that has me hooked on this series right now.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Definitely. It's on my wish list.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? I'm reserving judgement until the next book.
• Who would I recommend this too? If you like action or adventure stories with elements of fantasy, then check this out.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it and see. It's worth at least one read.

Read another review on the book by :

• Good Books & Good Wine
• Paperback Dolls
• Writing From the Tub

Books alluded to :

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge

On My Wishlist : Dark-Hunter series

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted at Book Chick City.


Do you have any books that you desperately want but haven't bought yet? The books can be old, new or forthcoming.

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Harm no human…

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief—Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meeting the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster…

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

From Amazon :

Dream-Hunter Lydia has been charged with the most sacred and dangerous of missions: To descend into the Nether Realm and find the missing god of dreams before he betrays the secrets that could kill her and her kind. What she never expects is to be taken prisoner by the Realm’s most vicious guardian…

Seth’s time is running out. If he can’t hand over the entrance to Olympus, his own life and those of his people will be forfeit. No matter the torture, Seth hasn’t been able to break the god in his custody. Then there’s the beautiful Dream-Hunter Lydia: She isn’t just guarding the gates of Olympus—she’s holding back one of the world’s darkest powers. If she fails, an ancient curse will haunt the earth once more and no one will be safe. But evil is always seductive...

Review : The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Title : The Red Queen Author : Author Reading Dates : 7 Jul - 15 Jul 2011
The Cousins' War
Books in the series so far: The White Queen The Red Queen
From goodreads :
The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty.

Book Review of The Red Queen.
The Red Queen offers a different perspective of The Cousins’ War, one seen from the The White Queen’s enemy’s side. Normally, that would put me in the corner of the The Red Queen. Instead, I find that seeing things from Margaret Beaufort’s side, makes me root for the Rivers and the Yorkists more.

Margaret is pitiful. I can’t sympathize with or like her, but I do pity her greatly. The Margaret Beaufort in The Red Queen, no matter how many years pass, strikes me as nothing more than a pitiful child. One who hits out due to envy and spite because she is never given the attention and love she wants. And the root of her piety is simply her wish to believe herself special. And that is why I find that she is someone to be pitied rather than admired or feared.

That is also one of the reasons why I find myself sympathizing more with the Yorkist cause in this book. Another reason are the opinions voiced by Margaret’s second husband. Margaret’s and Sir Henry’s opposing thoughts on who they should support and why are interesting. If Sir Henry truly thought as he did in this book, than I would think that is something unique to the times because his reasons for supporting the king he chooses are not based on self-interest or lineage.

The Red Queen also gave me a thirst to know more about the Princess Elizabeth. Her few appearances certainly shows a young woman of courage, intelligence and charm. And I can’t help but wonder if she is truly as fearless as she appears and how she will deal with the aftermath of the York’s loss.

The Red Queen has me hankering for the next book in the series now. I can’t wait to read The White Princess’ story.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Maybe, I'm reserving judgement until I finish the series.
• Who would I recommend this too? Historical fiction fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? I'm reserving judgement until I finish the series.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuesday : Darke by Angie Sage

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.


Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers.

Only a hundred yards or so in front of them, the wall of Darke Fog rolled slowly toward them. At the base of the Fog a line of Things stretched out, shifting and blending in with the Darke, loping slowly forward, pulling the Darke Domaine with them.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading ?

It's Monday What Are You Reading ? is hosted at Book Journey.



Where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.

What I Read:

• No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

What I Reviewed:

• Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
• Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
• The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

What I’m Reading:

• Darke by Angie Sage

What I Plan to Read next:

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Review : The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Title : The White Queen Author : Author Reading Dates : 2 Jul - 7 Jul 2011
The Cousins' War
Books in the series so far: The White Queen The Red Queen
From Amazon :
THE COUSINS' WAR Book One Philippa Gregory, "the queen of royal fiction,"* presents the first of a new series set amid the deadly feuds of England known as the Wars of the Roses. Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.

Book Review of The White Queen.
The White Queen was a good read. And since The Queen’s Fool, I’ve thought that I wanted to read more works by Philippa Gregory, even if the endings do leave me feeling a bit depressed at times.

There are a few reasons why I enjoy The White Queen. The primary one being how real the characters in it are. They come alive and history becomes something interesting rather than just mere facts and figures. In reading Elizabeth Woodwille’s story, once again I realize that these historical figures which achieved such great heights were also mere humans as well, fallible and deserving pity as well. Just the facts and figures never really explains the whys and wherefores of a thing; and sometimes it becomes easier to simplify a thing to mere greed and ambition when there could be more.

And that also brings me to the second reason why I enjoyed this. I liked how the author wove the tale of the water goddess Melusina into it. Whether real or not, it certainly had me wondering why the Rivers family really had such a belief with them and whether their futures would be a reflection of Melusina’s tale. If the Woodwille women really could do the things they did, what a weapon of war they’d make ? Of course the tragedy is that they can’t exactly control who suffers from their gifts.

My only quibble with The White Queen was that the story ended before I was ready to let go. Luckily, I have the next book, The Red Queen with me.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Maybe, I'm reserving judgement until I finish the series.
• Who would I recommend this too? Historical fiction fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? I'm reserving judgement until I finish the series.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, The Read-a-Myth Challenge

Review : Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts

Title : Blue Smoke Author : Nora Roberts Reading Dates : 29 Jun - 2 Jul 2011
From goodreads :
The blaze that night at her family's pizzeria changed young Reena Hale's life. Neighbors and relatives would help the Hales rebuild. The Baltimore authorities would arrest the arsonist responsible. But as Reena beheld the fire's brutal beauty and destructive power, her destiny began to take shape. She would understand and master its terrible force-and one day become an investigator herself. But she is not the only one fascinated by the flames. Someone else sees their power-and is obsessed not with conquering the fire but with controlling it, owning it, using it to exact vicious revenge . . . When Reena finally joins the arson unit, her strength and wits are constantly tested-although sometimes the job seems like a snap compared to her love life. But she can't always blame the men-after all, a soot-caked woman barking orders and smelling of smoke isn't the biggest turn-on in the world. Then she meets Bo Goodnight, who seems different. He's been trying to find Reena for years, and now that she is close enough to touch, he has no intention of letting go. Nor does the man who has begun to haunt Reena's life-with taunting phone calls and a string of horrifying crimes. And as Reena tries desperately to trace the origins-of the calls, the fires, the hatred aimed in her direction-she will step into the worst inferno she has ever faced. From the incomparable Nora Roberts, Blue Smoke is a tale of gut-level fear, human triumph, and the bonds that carry us through our darkest times.

Book Review of Blue Smoke.
It’s been some time since I read a Nora Roberts book, so I thought I’d re-read one of my favourites by the author, which just happened to be Blue Smoke this time.

There are a few reasons I like Blue Smoke. The same reasons which applies to all the Nora Roberts romances that I like. Her main characters almost always clicks. Its a rare thing for me to find her couples not absolutely perfect for each other. And more than half the enjoyment in reading her books comes from watching the hero and heroine figure that out. No matter how many times I re-read them, it’s always a treat.

The other reason is the recurring emphasis on family. In this case, that would be Reena’s big, loud and protective ones. I love how they’re always there for each other. Yet, like any real family, they have their ups and downs too.

The only negative here is the case that Reena is working on. I must admit that apart from the first time that I read this one, I’ve mostly skimmed those parts in all subsequent re-reads. The arson investigation simply isn’t as interesting once you know the story.

Still, Blue Smoke is one of my comfort reads. One of those books that I might pick up when I’m feeling blue and looking for something to cheer me up.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes. I've done so a few times.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one? Probably.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? Romance fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

Books alluded to :

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuedays : No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.

Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers

***

"You bring war to my family and I will eat both of your hearts ... without sauce."

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren.

Anyone can participate. IMM is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

***

Won from BookGalaxo.com:

• The Hollywood Book of Breakups by James Robert Parish

Borrowed:

• Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
• Darke by Angie Sage
• The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
• The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
• The Magician by Michael Scott
• The Sorceress by Michael Scott

Bought:

• No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

[ What I spent on the books : RM 32.30 ]

Review : Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Title : Oliver Twist Author : Charles Dickens Reading Dates : 28 Jun - 29 Jun 2011
From Amazon :
The story of the orphan Oliver, who runs away from the workhouse only to be taken in by a den of thieves, shocked readers when it was first published. Dickens' tale of childhood innocence beset by evil depicts the dark criminal underworld of a London peopled by vivid and memorable characters - the arch-villain Fagin, the artful Dodger, the menacing Bill Sikes and the prostitute Nancy. Combining elements of Gothic Romance, the Newgate Novel and popular melodrama, in "Oliver Twist" Dickens created an entirely new kind of fiction, scathing in its indictment of a cruel society, and pervaded by an unforgettable sense of threat and mystery.

Book Review of Oliver Twist.

It’s sad when a childhood favourite doesn’t live up to my expectations and that’s what happened with Oliver Twist. It isn’t that I’ve grown to hate the story or anything, but there simply wasn’t enough of a story to go on. Like Oliver, I kept wanting more and was denied *Wink, Wink*

First off, the characters felt rather one dimensional to me when people aren’t like that. With the exception of Nancy, most of the characters in the story clearly fell into either the angelic or demonic category. Next, while I’m sure there are good samaritans everywhere, Oliver’s luck when it comes to his benefactors was simply unbelievable. And finally, there’s the rather neat ending with all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed.

It’s just too disappointing for words. What happened to the story that I loved and re-read so frequently as a child ?

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? I'm not sure.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one? No, not really.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? That depends. I think I'd want one if there was a child in the family.
• Who would I recommend this too? Young readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it.

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, The Classics 2011 Reading Challenge