Review : Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Title : Blood Red Road Author : Moira Young Reading Dates : 19 May - 27 May 2012 Total Pages : 417
Dustlands Blood Red Road Rebel Heart
From Amazon : The book that will “blow you away”** has a dazzling new look in paperback! Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when four cloaked horsemen capture Lugh, Saba's world is shattered, and she embarks on a quest to get him back. Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the outside world, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba’s unrelenting search for Lugh stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization. Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetic writing style, and an epic love story—making Moira Young is one of the most exciting new voices in teen fiction.

Book Review of Blood Red Road.

Blood Red Road took some getting used to since the story is written in the first person and the main protagonist, Saba is supposed to be illiterate.

At first, this fact didn’t quite add up for me. I mean there were all these grammatical mistakes and mispronunciations of the simplest words mixed in with some pretty bombastic words, not the standard vocabulary I’m expecting from an uneducated girl from nowhere. The incongruity simply made Saba fake instead of ignorant.

However, once Saba’s precious brother, Lugh is kidnapped and she sets out on her journey to rescue him, the story picks up. Saba’s description of the landscape she sees, where she discovers the dying remnants of what must once have been our present world, is interesting. The question of how things wind up the way they do and whether Saba’s future adventures are going to shed more light on it, certainly had me intrigued.

The other part which interested me is how Saba sees herself. On one hand she sees herself as the lesser twin, on the other she goes to extraordinary lengths to ensure her own survival. It is a contradictory mix which gives rise to unnecessary situations in her search for Lugh. It also doesn’t make Saba likable but it does make it easy to understand why she’d be attracted to a troublemaker. The only problem is why Jack would feel the same about her.

As for the story itself, the events and characters were largely predictable. The only ones who I’ve yet to figure out are Saba’s pet crow, Nero and the mysterious De Malo. Nero is not an ordinary crow and it is obvious De Malo will have a further role to play in Saba’s life.

Unfortunately, the only way I’m going to get answers to these questions is by reading the subsequent books and I can’t say that I have sufficient motivation to read on.

Blood Read Road was a hardly an inspiring or unforgettable read.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Not likely.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Only if I can't find something else I'd like to read.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? No.
• Who would I recommend this too? Maybe dystopian readers would enjoy this, but I wouldn't recommend it personally.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays : The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.



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

The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang

From Page 82

"If he only makes a mess of the paper, you may be sure I will punish him for it. But if, as I hope, he really can write, for he is the cleverest monkey I ever saw, I will adopt him as my son. The one I lost had not nearly so much sense!"

Review : Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Title : Never Let Me Go Author : Kazuo Ishiguro Reading Dates : 07 Apr - 18 May 2012 Total Pages : 282
From Amazon : From the Booker Prize-winning author of The Remains of the Day comes a devastating new novel of innocence, knowledge, and loss. As children Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were. Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special–and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together. Suspenseful, moving, beautifully atmospheric, Never Let Me Go is another classic by the author of The Remains of the Day.

Book Review of Never Let Me Go.

Never Let Me Go was a slow read for me. Not that the story was boring or badly written, just that the book was a bad fit for me.

The story was way too depressing. Right from the beginning, there was a sense of foreboding, a kind of hopelessness to the tale. And since I prefer to have a happy ever ending or at least one where you can imagine that possibility in the future, all the doom and gloom that comes with the tale just isn’t my cup of tea. This is a story that I plan never to re-read.

What gets me most about all the heartbreak and despair though is the protagonist’s knowledge near the end, of all their missed chances and lost time. And yet, I can’t say that it would have been better if they had figured out and acknowledged their feelings right from the very start. For their case, the adage better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all is not applicable. Indeed, the greatest tragedy of all was the false hope they were given.

So while I might have been compelled to finish this tale, it isn’t an experience I intend to repeat.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? No.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one? Definitely not.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? No.
• Who would I recommend this too? Only dystopian readers or those who don't mind sad endings.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Eclectic Reader Challenge 2012; 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays : A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix and Retribution 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.

A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix

From Page 230

"We are in a state of emergency, you know."
"Yeah, I did know, amazingly enough," I said.

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

From Page 306

Jess and Sasha climbed in, then moved to the compartment behind the seat. A pall hung over all of them as Choo Co La Tah adjusted the seat and the mirrors.
By all means, please take your time. Not like they were all about to die or anything ...

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:

• Lover Mine by J.R. Ward
• A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix
• Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

What I Reviewed:

• Cinder by Marissa Meyer
• The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

What I’m Reading:

• The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang

What I Plan to Read next:

• The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

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.

Borrowed:

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.

Review : The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title : The Guardian Author : Sherrilyn Kenyon Reading Dates : 06 Apr - 07 Apr 2012 Total Pages : 345
The Dream-Hunter series. The Dream Hunter Upon the Midnight Clear Dream Chaser Dream Warrior The Guardian Dark Bites
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...

Book Review of The Guardian.

The Guardian left me feeling as if the author had lost the direction of the story. I might be missing something here, but I just couldn’t determine how The Guardian fit in with the rest of the Dark-Hunter and Dream-Hunter series. With the previous books, I’ve always had the feeling that the story was building up to something, leading to further revelations regarding the Dark-Hunter universe. With The Guardian, this feeling was sadly lacking.

The story focused on Seth’s past while ignoring what was happening in the present. We might have learned what makes Seth tick and why he’s the way he is, but it doesn’t help much with building up his and Lydia’s relationship. As far as I could tell, Lydia mistakes pity for love and that is not what I’m looking for in reading romances.

Besides which, there are the little things that don’t make sense to me. I would have expected more drama at the return of what Lydia had lost for centuries. Instead it barely makes a dent in her psyche. Then, there’s Jaden’s behaviour which is the total opposite of how he usually is in the earlier books. Most irritating of all, I can’t help wondering how many all powerful beings there can be in 1 universe. At the rate things are going, I’m surprised they don’t stumble over one another every time they turn around..

Unless the story in the Dark-Hunter and Dream-Hunter world moves on soon, I’m afraid I’m going to lose interest. Worst still, is the loss of momentum from the earlier books. Nothing frustrates me more than having a favourite series fail to meet expectations. I’m still not giving up on the series yet though.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Probably, but only because it is a part of the series.
• 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 ? Yes, but only to complete my collection.
• Who would I recommend this too? Paranormal romance fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it only if you're a fan of the Dream-Hunter or Dark-Hunter series.

On My Wish List

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Eclectic Reader Challenge 2012

Teaser Tuesdays : House Rules by Jodi Picoult and Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.



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

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

From Page 95

"Teachers deserve respect," I explain.
"Why do they get it for free, when everyone else has to earn it?"

Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

From Page 264

"You matter. Not just to me, but to a lot of people. So you do what you have to and get your head right. But don't think I'm clueless about what you're planning for afterward. "

Review : Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title : Cinder Author : Marissa Meyer Reading Dates : 18 Mar - 30 Mar 2012 Total Pages : 387
The Lunar Chronicles Cinder
From Amazon : Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Book Review of Cinder.

I wanted to love Cinder but unfortunately I couldn’t. The storyline definitely had possibilities and the world Cinder’s story is set in was one I’d have liked to get to know better, but there just wasn’t any chemistry between the 2 main protagonists of the story.

Cinder’s premise offered much. Right from the get-go I was curious about the world Marissa Meyer had created, wondering how it all came to be that way. Trying to guess how the balance of power of this futuristic vision of our world could have changed and the forces that drove it. There were even hints of a darker theme, one involving cyborgs and slavery. But all of this came to nothing at the end of the story. Nothing was explored beyond the superficial.

The same went for Kai and Cinder’s story. I simply couldn’t imagine either Cinder or Kai willing to sacrifice themselves for each other because there was simply nothing to their relationship. The feelings which they spoke of or acted on seemed just mere words to me.

At the end of Cinder, I couldn’t help feeling let down. While I didn’t hate the story, I just couldn’t see why I’d read the next book in the series. Cinder, was unfortunately not the tale for me.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Maybe, but I can't seem to drag up any interest right now.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? No.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? No.
• Who would I recommend this too? Young adult readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Eclectic Reader Challenge 2012

Teaser Tuesday : The Famous Heroine / The Plumed Bonnet by Mary Balogh

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.



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

The Famous Heroine by Mary Balogh

From Page 163

Men think they have to spend their time about the important things in this world. They are quite misguided, of course. They look after only the mundane matters, like the making of money, while the women look after the really important things, like the well-being of people. But women have learned to pamper men and make them feel important even when they are not particularly so.

The Plumed Bonnet by Mary Balogh

From Page 457

He was surprised to find that he was feeling almost amused, almost lighthearted. Did she realize that she was turning the tables on him? That she was making him her slave? That she was punishing him most effectively? Should he tell her?

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:

• The Famous Heroine / The Plumed Bonnet by Mary Balogh

What I Reviewed:

• Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

What I’m Reading:

• House Rules by Jodi Picoult

What I Plan to Read next:

• Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

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.

Bought:

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

When she marries the Duke of Bedford, English Regent of France, Jacquetta is introduced to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when her husband dies. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.

The Woodvilles achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the threat from the people of England and the danger of royal rivals. Henry the king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret the queen turns to untrustworthy favorites for help; and Richard, Duke of York, threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty of the House of York. Jacquetta fights for them all, including her daughter Elizabeth Woodville, for whom Jacquetta senses an extraordinary and unexpected future: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York.

The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan

Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a “research experiment” at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set–has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe -- a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

The Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles #2) by Rick Riordan

EVER since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed on the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister, Sadie, have been in big trouble.As descendants of the magical House of Life, they command certain powers. But now a terrifying enemy - Apophis, the giant snake of chaos - is rising. If Carter and Sadie don't destroy him, the world will end in five days' time. And in order to battle the forces of chaos, they must revive the sun god Ra - a feat no magician has ever achieved. Because first they must search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells . . .Can the Kanes destroy Apophis before he swallows the sun and plunges the earth into darkness . . . forever?

A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix

A major standalone space opera, this is Garth Nix's first novel for older readers since the conclusion of the Old Kingdom trilogy...and it's worth the wait. A grand adventure that spans galaxies and lifetimes, A Confusion of Princes is also a page-turning action adventure. These are the three deaths of Prince Khemri. Told in his own words, we follow him as he trains to become a Prince of the Empire, an enhanced human being, equipped with biological and technological improvements that make him faster, stronger and smarter than any ordinary person. Not to mention the ultimate benefit: should he die, and be deemed worthy, he will be reborn...Which is just as well, because no sooner has Prince Khemri graduated to full Princehood than he learns the terrible truth behind the Empire: there are a million princes, and all of them want each other dead, because there can only be one Emperor...

[ What I spent on the books : RM 98.95 ]