Graceling, Fire and Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Reading Dates : 31 Aug 2013 - 7 Sep 2013

Comparisons Between The Last Time I read the books and Now

Re-reading my own thoughts of Graceling and Fire the first time I read the books against my feelings this time when reading Kristin Cashore's 3 books, I can't help comparing my thoughts between then and now.

What Didn't Change

Of the 3 books, Graceling remains my favorite. The story was infinitely richer and more exciting as they fought a madman possessing a Grace which turned everyone, even their closest friends into enemies. There was visible growth in the characters as they learned to accept both their own weaknesses and those whom they loved.

Po too remains my favorite character. How could I not ? Warm, passionate and sympathetic, I can easily understand why he is the Lienid's most beloved Prince and believe that those who truly know him would  forgive him his secrets in time. Sapphire's willingness to do anything Po commands while being so contrary the rest of the time was one of the very few things I found funny in Bitterblue.

My favorite couple in all 3 books was still Po and Katsa. They make a great team. I loved that they were friends first before they fell in love and started wanting more. I loved that they brought out the best in each other, trusted and believed in each other once they decided to accept each other. Most of all, I loved that they weren't afraid of being diminished by the other's strengths.

What Changed

I had thought that I understood how insidious Leck's Grace could be in Fire and Graceling, but Bitterblue opens up far more tragic consequences then I could ever have imagined. In the face of such terrors, Bitterblue's feelings of uselessness and hopelessness is one I truly sympathize with. Really, even in the end, I couldn't help doubting that the wounds left by Leck could be healed.

Still I can't say that I loved Bitterblue. Right until the end, I felt that she was as much as fault as those who were conspiring against her. Her interest in solving the puzzles around her stems much more from her desire for adventures rather than a true concern for her subjects. If she'd taken more care in her pursuit of the truth, perhaps some of the tragedies that transpires later could have been avoided.

Bitterblue, Fire and Katsa

How did the heroines of the different books fare against each other ? Its hard to decide between Fire and Katsa. Right now, Katsa definitely wins over Fire and Bitterblue.

I confess that I can't quite forgive Bitterblue for making it sound as if Po and Katsa purposely made their relationship difficult. Bitterblue also gave off the impression her search for the truth arose out of boredom and curiosity than genuine concern.

As for Fire, she spent too much time worrying over becoming a monster, so much so that it got quite annoying. Did she have to take until nearly the end of the book to realize what all the people who love her had known all along ?

Katsa was the only one that I felt showed genuine growth throughout Graceling. She too started off believing herself to be a monster and letting herself be used as such. Once she decides to change though, she does so in spectacular fashion, despite her own insecurities. My only quibble with Katsa is that I think she protests too much on the topic of marriage. Must she make such a big deal of it ?

Sapphire, Gideon, Po, Briggan and Archer

Po wins this one no contest. He is simply my favorite character in all 3 of Kristin Cashore's books. Po's sheer joy in living and determination to keep that life, won me over early on in the story. What's truly admirable about Po though is not how he uses his Grace but how he can accept that not all he learns through his Grace defines the person whose secrets he is privy to.

Archer is another favorite character of mine, faults and all. Were it possible, I'd have wished that he and Fire end up together. More, that he had been given a chance to repent his ways. In a way, Archer reminds me of Po, albeit a less honorable and understanding one. Perhaps if he were a tad less possessive and careless, he and Fire would have had a better chance.

As for Briggan, while I liked him and his solidness and dependability, he was also overshadowed by all the other characters in the book.

Giddon makes himself infinitely unlikable in Graceling. So much so that I couldn't reconcile his character in Bitterblue to the one in Graceling. Of all the recurring characters in the 3 books, I though Giddon's showed the most discontinuity. Giddon in Bitterblue felt like a totally different person to the Giddon in Graceling. So, no matter how I tried, I couldn't help feeling that Bitterblue's Giddon was a fake and not someone to be trusted.

Sapphire too was an absolute disappointment measured against all of the main characters in the 3 books. There is simply no depth to him. For almost the entire book, I failed to grasp the motivations for any of his actions. Even when he's supposed to be badly hurt by some of Bitterblue's actions, I couldn't attribute any such feeling to him. The only truly genuine emotion that I sensed from Sapphire was his devotion to his Lienid Seventh Prince.

Would I Read the Books again ?

Definitely. Especially, Graceling. I couldn't get enough of Po and Katsa and would welcome another foray into their world. I'd love to find out what happens with their revolutions and their future explorations into the new world opening to them. Bitterblue also leaves me with a sense that there are so many untold stories, both happening in the gaps between Graceling, Fire and Bitterblue and in the aftermath of whats to come.

Review : The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Title : The Son of Neptune
Author : Rick Riordan
Reading Dates : 14 Nov - 15 Nov 2012
Total Pages : 511

From Amazon :

Percy is confused. When he awoke after his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. His brain-fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight. Somehow Percy managed to make it to the camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he had to continually kill monsters that, annoyingly, would not stay dead. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him.

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. When the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now, because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother claims he is descended from ancient heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn’t see it. He doesn’t even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery—although not good enough to help the Fifth Cohort win at war games. His big and bulky physique makes him feel like a clumsy ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely—enough, even, to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far north as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment in the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all of whom are destined to play a part in the most important quest of all: the Prophecy of Seven.

Heroes of Olympus

• The Lost Hero
• The Son of Neptune
• The Mark of Athena

Book Review of The Son of Neptune.

I loved parts of The Son of Neptune while finding other parts a bit boring. The parts I loved almost always involves Percy Jackson while the boring bits are the ones focused on the other 2 new demigods, Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang.

Percy shines as a character. I supposed in part this is because I already know him from the Percy Jackson series but mostly its the character himself. His reactions to what’s going on around him is funny. One of the things I like about Percy is that he’s never mean but he makes you see how ridiculous the behaviour and customs the other characters accepts are. And that he’s never afraid to make his feelings known, even to an all-powerful goddess. How he handles meeting Juno again at the end of The Son of Neptune is one of my favourite parts in the book.

On the other hand, Hazel and Frank are boring. Even by the end of The Son of Neptune, I couldn’t understand why these 2 particular demigods should be included in the team of 7 most powerful demigods. Hazel’s powers aren’t that powerful when I compare it against some of the other demigods. As for Frank, the emphasis here are the abilities he inherited from his Greek ancestor rather than his Roman parentage. This, I think is an extraordinary waste because the story has them fighting as individuals often rather than the team they’re supposed to be.

What I really loved about The Son of Neptune though, is the return of the humour and wit which had me falling for the Percy Jackson series. A few of their encounters had me laughing hysterically. Why shouldn’t a Greek goddess believe in Feng Shui or a gorgon offer free samples while attempting murder?

Oh, I wish I had The Mark of Athena now. I can’t wait to have Percy and Annabeth together again saving the world.

My verdict : I loved it.

If you're interested to buy the book the Amazon, you can find it HERE.

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Review : The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Title : The Lost Hero
Author : Rick Riordan
Reading Dates : 11 Nov - 14 Nov 2012
Total Pages : 551

From Amazon :

This is the number one, bestselling title in this new spin-off series from Percy Jackson creator, Rick Riordan.

Old enemies awaken as camp half-blood's new arrivals prepare for war. When Jason, Piper and Leo crash land at Camp Half-Blood, they have no idea what to expect. Apparently this is the only safe place for children of the Greek Gods - despite the monsters roaming the woods and demigods practising archery with flaming arrows and explosives. But rumours of a terrible curse - and a missing hero - are flying around camp. It seems Jason, Piper and Leo are the chosen ones to embark on a terrifying new quest, which they must complete by the winter solstice in just four days time. Can the trio succeed on this deadly mission - and what must they sacrifice in order to survive?

Heroes of Olympus

• The Lost Hero
• The Son of Neptune
• The Mark of Athena

Book Review of BookTitle.

I enjoyed The Lost Hero, not as much as I loved the Percy Jackson series, but good enough to have me continuing with the next book in the series immediately.

Jason Grace, The Lost Hero in question is in a different mould from Percy Jackson. More responsible and obedient to the orders and whims of the gods he serves. And while this doesn’t make him a wimp, it does make him less interesting as a character. Also, the way he handles his memory loss, taking everything in stride, doesn’t seem very plausible to me either. I wouldn’t think it unreasonable if he threw some temper tantrums at the cause of his problem.

The other 2 new demigods introduced here however make up for whatever complaints I had about Jason. Piper McLean and Leo Valdez both need time to grow into the responsibilities thrust onto them. And the quest they’re on, to find and free Hera certainly gives them plenty of chances. I really enjoyed how both of them grow into the potential hinted at the beginning of the quest and how by the end of their journey, accept their own strengths and weaknesses. The responsibilities they take on at the end is the best indication of this.

My favourite part in the story though is Leo’s first meeting with the mechanical dragon he names Festus. Leo’s reactions was totally unbelievable and incredibly sweet. Its no wonder that Fergus forgoes snacking on him.

Other than that, The Lost Hero is not as funny as the Percy Jackson books. I’d enjoyed how Rick Riordan mixed ancient myth with modern technology in the earlier books. Here, sadly the same flair is missing.

A good start, but what I really want now is to read about Percy Jackson again.

My verdict : I liked it.

If you're interested to buy the book the Amazon, you can find it HERE.

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Review : A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Title : A Game of Thrones Author : George R.R. Martin Reading Dates : 23 Oct - 3 Nov 2012 Total Pages : 835
A Song of Ice and Fire A Game of Thrones A Clash of Kings A Storm of Swords A Feast of Crows A Dance with Dragons
From Amazon : Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Book Review of A Game of Thrones.

I picked up Game of Thrones after I had caught bits and pieces of a few episodes of the series on television. It looked like it might be interesting and a part of me is glad I picked it up.The other part of me though is afraid that I’ll come to regret it later on.

The Game of Thrones is well written. The book isn’t fast paced but there is plenty of tension, intrigues and twists to keep me on tenterhooks. Boredom is the least of my worries. I can’t quite figure out what is going to happen next and why.

The characters are complex and varied too. The fact that I can keep track of who’s who is a credit to George R.R. Martin. There are characters I’d love to hate but can’t help but admire for their resourceful sneakiness. Then, there are some I love for their determination to always behave with honour but also recognize that those are the very reasons for their own downfall. And also a few that should have my sympathies but just leaves me annoyed and angry at their foolish naivete. Oh yes, I’m having a wonderful time getting closer to the Starks, the Lannisters and all their enemies and allies.

But here comes the kicker. The book and the story has me afraid, terribly afraid that the good guys (or at least the ones I consider to be the good guys), aren’t going to have a good end. How can they when even I agree with the Lannister thinking when it comes to gaining and keeping power? I don’t see how anyone can win the Game of Thrones without sacrificing at least a few of their scruples. And since I prefer happy endings, well …

So, right now, I’m in 2 minds. I want to know what happens next but I don’t want anything bad to happen to the characters I’m rooting for. In the end, I’m definitely going to pick up the books. But I’m just going to postpone it a while, get used to the fact that there is likely to be no happy ever afters here.

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 ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? I can't say yet. It would depend on how the rest of the books in the series go.

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Review : Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Title : Goliath Author : Scott Westerfeld Reading Dates : 22 Sep - 24 Sep 2012 Total Pages : 543
Leviathan Leviathan Behemoth Goliath
From Amazon : The riveting conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s New York Times bestselling trilogy that’s “sure to become a classic” (School Library Journal). Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies. The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: Secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is as it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.

Book Review of Goliath.

I’ll admit to being more than a bit disappointed with Goliath. Not that the story was bad, just that I didn’t feel that Alek and Deryn’s tale was over yet.

Goliath has all the elements that I should love but I just couldn’t love it. The world that Alek and Deryn inhabits is the same one I loved in Leviathan but the focus has shifted from the Darwinists to the Clankers. Still, no matter how powerful Nikolas Tesla’s inventions were, I’d have love to learn more about the developments in Darwinist technology.

The other part that had me disappointed was the ending to Alek and Deryn’s tale. I love that their relationship doesn’t change much even after Alek finds out about Deryn’s true identity, that they were already best friends before they realized they were in love. But it felt as there was so much more to their story at the end of Goliath. Goliath ends the Leviathan series but I felt as if it was only the beginning of Alek and Deryn’s adventures together as they both make life-altering decisions at the end. Ones which signify great changes in the futures they had envisioned for themselves. To have the story end there was simply frustrating.

At the end of the tale, I felt that I’d been left hanging. There were so many loose ends to which I still wanted answers to.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes, but only because it's part of a trilogy.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one ? Definitely. I don't feel as if the story's ended yet.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? Steampunk and fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

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Review : The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth

Title : The President's Vampire Author : Christopher Farnsworth Reading Dates : 14 Sep - 16 Sep 2012 Total Pages : 335
The President's Vampire Blood Oath The President's Vampire Red, White and Blood
From Amazon : The ultimate secret. The ultimate agent. Nathaniel Cade returns. For 140 years, Nathaniel Cade has been the President's Vampire, sworn to protect and serve his country. Cade's existence is the most closely guarded of White House secrets: a superhuman covert agent who is the last line of defense against nightmare scenarios that ordinary citizens only dream of. When a new outbreak of an ancient evil-one that he has seen before- comes to light, Cade and his human handler, Zach Barrows, must track down its source. To "protect and serve" often means settling old scores and confronting new betrayals . . . as only a centuries-old predator can.

Book Review of The President's Vampire.

Once again, I had fun with Christopher Farnsworth’s The President’s Vampire series.

Nathaniel Cade and Zach Barrows’ story remains as exciting and fast-paced as ever. The only disappointing bit was Zach’s development as a character. After the incidents in Blood Oath, I had thought that Zach had matured but this doesn’t seem to be the case. While he seems to have grasped the importance of his role, he doesn’t seem ready yet to shoulder the responsibilities and sacrifices that comes with it. Quite often in The President’s Vampire, Zach behaves like a petulant teenager, unwilling to listen to Cade’s advice when it involved personal sacrifices.

The other intriguing bit to the second book was how Cade’s oath here becomes a disadvantage. Early on, I had already wondered what would happen if the wrong person got control of the vampire since he is compelled to obey the orders from the President and his representatives. While the events that transpire here don’t get that far, it does give us a taste of what could happen. And Cade’s nemesis, The Shadow Company seems to have even considered the possibility of gaining control of him themselves.

All in all, an exciting and fun read. I especially love the ending when Cade manages to find a way around his oath.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next book.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? Paranormal, horror or thriller fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. Definitely a keeper.

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Review : Red Glove by Holly Black

Title : Red Glove Author : Holly Black Reading Dates : 3 Sep - 6 Sep 2012 Total Pages : 325
The Curse Workers White Cat Red Glove Black Heart
From Amazon : The cons get craftier and the stakes rise ever higher in the riveting sequel to White Cat—now in paperback! After rescuing his brothers from Zacharov’s retribution and finding out that Lila, the girl he has loved his whole life, will never, ever be his, Cassel is trying to reestablish some kind of normalcy in his life. That was never going to be easy for someone from a worker family that’s tied to one of the big crime families—and whose mother’s cons get more reckless by the day. But Cassel is coming to terms with what it means to be a transformation worker, and he’s figuring out how to have friends. Except normal doesn’t last very long. Soon Cassel is being courted by both sides of the law and is forced to confront his past—a past he remembers only in scattered fragments, and one that could destroy his family and his future. Cassel will have to decide whose side he wants to be on, because neutrality is not an option. And then he will have to pull off his biggest con ever to survive….

Book Review of Red Glove.

Red Glove was better than White Cat. Its not often that a series does that for me.

Cassel and his family are as unpredictable as ever, but what I loved about Red Glove is figuring out what makes Cassel tick, courtesy of his grandfather. The dichotomy in Cassel is a result of both his natural inclination and the upbringing he had. And that’s why he makes such a fascinating read. Cassel can be extremely ruthless in achieving his goals but his goals are ultimately to protect himself and those close to himself. While I can’t actually root for him, I also can’t help wanting him to find a way out of whatever fix he and his family is in.

The other reason to enjoy Red Glove is how he figures out his brother’s murderer and gets himself out of the trap laid by his murdered brother, Phillip. Somehow, Cassel once again manages to twist things in his favour, at least temporarily. It will be interesting to see how he handles the changes in his role regarding the law. I just can’t imagine a law abiding Cassel.

I really wished I already had Black Heart already. I can’t wait to see how Cassel’s story ends.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Definitely
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes
• Who would I recommend this too? Young adult fiction fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. Definitely a keeper series.

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Review : White Cat by Holly Black

Title : White Cat Author : Holly Black Reading Dates : 31 Aug - 02 Sep 2012 Total Pages : 310
The Curse Workers White Cat Red Glove Black Heart
From Amazon : Cassel comes from a family of curse workers—people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, all by the slightest touch of their hands. Since curse work is illegal, they’re all criminals. But not Cassel. He hasn’t got the magic touch, so he’s an outsider—the straight kid in a crooked family—as long as you ignore one small detail: He killed his best friend, Lila. Now he is sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat. He also notices that his brothers are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of one huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to outcon the conmen.

Book Review of White Cat.

There are a few reasons I enjoyed White Cat.

The first being Cassel and his unorthodox family and friends. None of them fit my idea of the typical heroic figure. Yet, every time I decide they’re thorough villains, they do something so unexpectedly nice and loving, that I’m not sure what’s going in those twisted minds of theirs. I mean here’s a family who are obvious criminals and have no compunction whatsoever in manipulating each other, but still stick up for each other at the strangest times. I can’t decide whether I love them or hate them, but I am fascinated by them.

Next is the story. There are so many unexpected twists and red herrings, that I’m having fun trying to figure out things along with Cassel.

The third and last reason is the world of curse workers created by Holly Black. The predicament the curse workers find themselves in sounds like the chicken and egg story. What came first ? The law that forced those with the magical touch to become criminals in order to survive or the workers that abused those powers, thus requiring the creation of laws to protect the populace ?

At the end of the first book, I’m already sure I’m adding the third and final installment of the curse workers, Black Heart to my wish list. Its too bad I won’t be able to read it immediately after the next book, Red Glove.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Definitely
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes
• Who would I recommend this too? Young adult fiction fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. Definitely a keeper series.

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Review : The Rogue by Trudi Canavan

Title : The Rogue Author : Trudi Canavan Reading Dates : 16 Aug - 24 Aug 2012 Total Pages : 523
The Traitor Spy Trilogy The Ambassador's Mission The Rogue Traitor Queen
From Amazon : Discover the magic of Trudi Canavan with her brand new novel in the Traitor Spy Trilogy... Living among the Sachakan rebels, Lorkin does his best to learn about their unique magic. But the Traitors are reluctant to trade their secrets for the Healing they so desperately want. Meanwhile, Sonea searches for the rogue, knowing that Cery cannot avoid assassination forever --- but the rogue's influence over the city's underworld, however, is far greater than she feared. And in the University, two female novices are about to remind the Guild that sometimes their greatest enemy is found within...

Book Review of The Rogue.

The Rogue was an improvement on The Ambassador’s Mission. I’m certainly intrigued by the results of Dannyl’s research and the glimpses of the Traitors we’ve been given. I’ve no doubt that I’ll be reading the last book in the trilogy in hopes of getting answers to my questions.

As in the first book of The Traitor Spy trilogy, there are a few plot lines going on. What interests me the most are the Traitors’ future. In the time that Lorkin spends with the Traitors, we learn of the growing unrest within the Traitors as well as their lack of a future if things go on as they did now. Without a drastic change in their current way of life, it is inevitable that the Traitors will cease to exist at some point in time. How they choose to approach this is something I hope to find out in the next book, The Traitor Queen.

The other part which interests me in The Rogue was the knowledge that Lorkin and Dannyl discover respectively. There’s no doubt that their discoveries are a harbinger of change, but for the Guild of Magicians. It will certainly be interesting to see if the magicians are capable of adapting to what was once considered taboo..

On the other hand, I find that character-wise, none of characters introduced in The Traitor Spy trilogy are as appealing as Sonea and Akkarin. They simply aren’t as likable or as charismatic.

Overall, my interest in The Traitor Spy is simply to revisit old characters and get to know the world Trudi Canavan has built, better.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Maybe, but not frequently.
• 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 ? No.
• Who would I recommend this too? Fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it

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Review : The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

Title : The Throne of Fire Author : Rick Riordan Reading Dates : 30 Jul - 15 Aug 2012 Total Pages : 446
The Kane Chronicles The Red Pyramid The Throne of Fire The Serpent's Shadow
From Amazon : 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?

Book Review of The Throne of Fire.

The Throne of Fire was marginally better than The Red Pyramid but still not as good as the Percy Jackson books. The story was more exciting but my opinions regarding the protagonists of the tale haven’t improved.

The stakes are raised in the second book in The Kane Chronicles and I’ll admit I got caught up in the challenges the Kane siblings encountered in their quest to save the world. Still, I couldn’t help wondering at how obtuse the pair could be regarding what appears to be pretty obvious to me. And they’re supposed to be smart kids.

Also, Sadie has sunked lower in my estimation of her character. While it might be the norm now for heroines to be caught up in love triangles, I really can’t understand why most of them can’t pick a guy and stick with him. The guys’ acceptance of the status quo is baffling too and more than a bit off.

If I wasn’t already almost to the finish line, I’d opt to drop the last book in The Kane Chronicles from my books to read. For now, I’ll just put it way down on my wish list.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Maybe.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Maybe.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? No.
• Who would I recommend this too? Fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it.

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Review : The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Title : The Red Pyramid Author : Rick Riordan Reading Dates : 07 Jul - 30 Jul 2012 Total Pages : 514
The Kane Chronicles The Red Pyramid The Throne of Fire The Serpent's Shadow
From Amazon : Percy Jackson fought Greek Gods. Now the Gods of Egypt are waking in the modern world...'I guess it started the night our dad blew up the British museum...' Carter and Sadie Kane's dad is a brilliant Egyptologist with a secret plan that goes horribly wrong. An explosion shatters the ancient Rosetta stone and unleashes Set, the evil god of chaos ...Set imprisons Dr Kane in a golden coffin and Carter and Sadie must run for their lives. To save their dad, they embark on a terrifying quest from Cairo to Paris to the American South-west and discover the truth about their family's connection to the House of Life: an Egyptian temple of magic that has existed for thousands of years. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt are far from dead and buried. And so, unfortunately, are their gods...

Book Review of The Red Pyramid.

The Red Pyramid was an okay read. It suffers however in comparison to the Percy Jackson series. So fans of Percy Jackson should beware. The Kane Chronicles simply doesn’t measure up.

Whether in terms of the storyline, the humour or the characters, I couldn’t help seeing the lack when compared against the Percy Jackson books. The Egyptian god and magicians don’t seem to have made much of an impact on me as opposed to their Grecian counterparts. The Egyptian gods struck me as boring and I couldn’t find any enjoyment in how they’re supposed to be interwoven into the modern world.

Carter and Sadie Kane too failed to get me on their side. I couldn’t help agreeing with the siblings opinion of each other. Carter is boring and Sadie is annoying. They simply didn’t have Percy Jackson’s flair and charm when it comes to engaging the reader.

In short, if I didn’t have the Throne of Fire in hand, I probably wouldn’t be planning on reading the next book.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Maybe.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Not really.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? No.
• Who would I recommend this too? Fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it.

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Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review : The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang

Title : The Arabian Nights Author : Andrew Lang Reading Dates : 18 Jun - 25 Jun 2012 Total Pages : 347
From Amazon : This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare's finesse to Oscar Wilde's wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim s Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library.

Book Review of The Arabian Nights.

The Arabian Nights wasn’t what I thought the story would be. The stories that Scheherazade tells to save her life doesn’t seem all that compelling to me. Would the Sultan really have stayed her execution for these stories ? I don’t know. To each their own I suppose. The only memorable ones were the tales which I’d already known from childhood like Sinbad and Aladdin.

As for the storytelling, I found it distracting and confusing with the characters within the stories telling tales themselves. It didn’t take long for me to lose track of who was telling what and trying to remember the reasons for the current tale gave me a headache..

Another reason I didn’t like The Arabian Nights was the role of women in the tales. I suppose I shouldn’t complain since these tales were from a different time but still I couldn’t help feeling irritated. Take one of the later stories in the book where the male protagonist simply gives away his wife out of generosity and she not only accepts it but doesn’t find fault with him at all when returned to her husband.

Definitely not my cup of tea.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Not likely
• Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one? No.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? No.
• Who would I recommend this too? No one. At least not this version.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Borrow it.

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Teaser Tuesdays

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

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.

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Teaser Tuesdays

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

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.

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Teaser Tuesdays

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

Review : Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan

Title : Towers of Midnight Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 22 Feb 2012 - 28 Feb 2012 Total Pages :941
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From Amazon : The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One’s prison are crumbling. The Pattern itself is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight. The sun has begun to set upon the Third Age. Perrin Aybara is now hunted by specters from his past: Whitecloaks, a slayer of wolves, and the responsibilities of leadership. All the while, an unseen foe is slowly pulling a noose tight around his neck. To prevail, he must seek answers in Tel’aran’rhiod and find a way--at long last--to master the wolf within him or lose himself to it forever. Meanwhile, Matrim Cauthon prepares for the most difficult challenge of his life. The creatures beyond the stone gateways--the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn--have confused him, taunted him, and left him hanged, his memory stuffed with bits and pieces of other men’s lives. He had hoped that his last confrontation with them would be the end of it, but the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. The time is coming when he will again have to dance with the Snakes and the Foxes, playing a game that cannot be won. The Tower of Ghenjei awaits, and its secrets will reveal the fate of a friend long lost. This penultimate novel of Robert Jordan’s #1 New York Times bestselling series--the second of three based on materials he left behind when he died in 2007--brings dramatic and compelling developments to many threads in the Pattern. The end draws near. Dovie’andi se tovya sagain. It’s time to toss the dice.

Book Review of Towers of Midnight.

Since the previous book, The Gathering Storm, it seems like I’ve been caught in a whirlwind, the excitement and revelations coming almost non-stop throughout the entire story. At no point, did I want to stop reading. Even events affecting the minor characters in the world of the Wheel of Time feel weighty and has me wondering what happens next.

The most fun I had in the book though was with the 3 male protagonists. I enjoyed their parts in the tale here because each of them seems to have come in their own. Not only have they gained confidence in their choices, they’re actually impressing or confounding many who have considered them to be fools, especially the women. Even putting them off balance at times. It was about time to have them put in their place.

As for my usual complain about the female characters in the series, they’re not so annoying here but I do think that Egwene has made too many wrong choices here. And I’m guessing that her hiding of certain facts to preserve the image of the White Tower will have a severe impact on the Last Battle. It will be interesting to see how things play out.

What more can I say ? At the end of the book, I wished that I had the last book in hand because I wanted to read it now. This next year is going to be a long wait.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• 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.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge

Review : The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan

Title : The Gathering Storm Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 17 Feb 2012 - 21 Feb 2012 Total Pages :824
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From Amazon : Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready. The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, was partially written by Robert Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn books, was chosen by Jordan’s editor--his wife, Harriet McDougal--to complete the final book. The scope and size of the volume was such that it could not be contained in a single book, and so Tor proudly presents The Gathering Storm as the first of three novels that will cover the outline left by Robert Jordan, chronicling Tarmon Gai'don and Rand al'Thor's final confrontation with the Dark One. This short sequence will complete the struggle against the Shadow, bringing to a close a journey begun almost twenty years ago and marking the conclusion of the Wheel of Time, the preeminent fantasy epic of our era. In this epic novel, Robert Jordan’s international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward--wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders--his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself. Egwene al’Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower--and possibly the world itself. The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Book Review of The Gathering Storm.

While The Gathering Storm is the first of the books not completed by Robert Jordan himself, I think I wouldn’t have noticed any difference if I hadn’t just re-read the entire series. As it is, I only noticed issues such as lost items re-appearing back without any explanation or certain phrases belonging to one culture being used by another. This doesn’t impact the tale itself, just unexpected reminders.

Anyway, the pace really picks up with The Gathering Storm. Suddenly, so many things are occurring at the same time with the main characters, primarily involving Rand and Egwene’s groups.

I found Egwene’s handling of the Aes Sedai to be both admirable and fitting. Yet, at the same time, I still can’t like most of the female characters in the series. I really cannot understand this believe they have that they must be the one in control for things to turn out right. My sympathies are all with the men on this.

On the other hand, after all the doom and gloom affecting Rand, it is wonderful that he seems to have found his balance again. I’m really eager to see how these changes will affect The Last Battle and his dealings with everyone else. And maybe, pay back those insufferably arrogant Aes Sedai.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• 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.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge

Review : Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan

Title : Knife of Dreams Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 11 Feb 2012 - 17 Feb 2012 Total Pages :793
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From Amazon : The Wheel of Time turns, and Robert Jordan gives us the eleventh volume of his extraordinary masterwork of fantasy. The dead are walking, men die impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable: All are signs of the imminence of Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, when Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, must confront the Dark One as humanity's only hope. But Rand dares not fight until he possesses all the surviving seals on the Dark One's prison and has dealt with the Seanchan, who threaten to overrun all nations this side of the Aryth Ocean and increasingly seem too entrenched to be fought off. But his attempt to make a truce with the Seanchan is shadowed by treachery that may cost him everything. Whatever the price, though, he must have that truce. And he faces other dangers. There are those among the Forsaken who will go to any length to see him dead--and the Black Ajah is at his side.... Unbeknownst to Rand, Perrin has made his own truce with the Seanchan. It is a deal made with the Dark One, in his eyes, but he will do whatever is needed to rescue his wife, Faile, and destroy the Shaido who captured her. Among the Shaido, Faile works to free herself while hiding a secret that might give her her freedom or cause her destruction. And at a town called Malden, the Two Rivers longbow will be matched against Shaido spears.

Book Review of Knife of Dreams.

First off I have to say that Knife of Dreams is the first title in the series which I could not link to what was happening in the story. It doesn’t really have any bearing on the story but perhaps someone could enlighten me on what it means or is referring to here ?

In any case, events are finally moving again in Wheel of Time. Also, while each of the male protagonists are moving separately, all are related to the Seanchan whether it is knowingly making a devil’s bargain with them, attempting to make one or accidentally making one. And where it will all lead to has definitely hooked me to read on again.

Aside from this, the book once again shifts my “allegiances”. Mat is my favourite character in this one. His courtship of Tuon is both funny and sweet while his skills as as a general rather than his luck comes more into play, leaving plenty of tension and excitement.

On the other hand, Perrin’s fixation on his wife is rather annoying. instead of coming off as an extraordinary love, I felt like it was a very selfish one. If in achieving his goal, they lost the war, whatever he did would have become meaningless.

As for Rand, all the events involving him now are rather depressing that I can’t help pitying him. Imagine fighting for people who hate, fear or even see you as nothing more than a tool, knowing that all you’ll find is death even in victory. Knowing that even if you won the war for them, none of these people would ever thank or appreciate your sacrifice. It is all I can do not to shake the lot of them, even those who are supposed to be his friends.

As the Dragon Reborn’s tale progresses, more and more I’m rooting for a miracle to save them all because it certainly seems as if they’re all being manipulated by the other side. Still, I can’t seem to see how a happy ending would be possible here no matter how hard I wish it.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• 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.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge

Review : Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan

Title : Crossroads of Twilight Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 6 Feb 2012 - 11 Feb 2012 Total Pages :822
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From Amazon : In the tenth book of THE WHEEL OF TIME from the New York Times #1 bestselling author Robert Jordan, the world and the characters stand at a crossroads, and the world approaches twilight, when the power of the Shadow grows stronger.Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her nor let her go, not in safety for either of them, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan Empire are in deadly pursuit.Perrin Aybara seeks to free his wife, Faile, a captive of the Shaido, but his only hope may be an alliance with the enemy.Can he remain true to his friend Rand, and to himself?For his love of Faile, Perrin is willing to sell his soul.At Tar Valon, Egwene alVere, the young Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, lays siege to the heart of Aes Sedai power, but she must win quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible, for unless the Aes Sedai are reunited, only the male Ashaman will remain to defend the world against the Dark One, and nothing can hold the Ashaman themselves back from total power except the Aes Sedai and a unified White Tower.In Andor, Elayne Trakand fights for the Lion Throne that is hers by right, but enemies and Darkfriends surround her, plotting her destruction. If she fails, Andor may fall to the Shadow, and the Dragon Reborn with it.Rand alThor, the Dragon Reborn himself, has cleansed the Dark Ones taint from the male half of the True Source, and everything has changed. Yet nothing has, for only men who can channel believe that saidin is clean again, and a man who can channel is still hated and feared even one prophesied to save the world. Now Rand must gamble again, with himself at stake, and he cannot be sure which of his allies are really enemies.

Book Review of Crossroads of Twilight.

I don’t like to say this about a favorite series but I think the Wheel of Time could have done without Crossroads of Twilight. Not that the story here was not needed, but that it would have been better to include the significant bits into Winter’s Heart.

Crossroads of Twilight is told from many different point of views and the main character, Rand al’Thor hardly makes an appearance. What it shows are the effects of his actions at the end of Winter’s Heart.

Only Rand’s closest friends manage to link the effect of his actions to him, even if they do not know what it is he has done. And then, only his male friends trust that whatever it is, is important and to the good.

As for the rest of the world though, once again the women have leapt to the wrong conclusions while believing themselves to be smarter than everyone else. And how they choose to rectify the supposed problem is definitely going to cause problems in the fight against the Shadow.

All in all, as the story progresses, I begin to understand why the Light seems to be in a losing battle. No matter what they may say, everyone is fighting for their own ambitions. Rather than fighting to save the world, they are thinking only of keeping their own nations, people or organizations whole. Yet, while the Wheel of Time does seem to be getting bleaker with the telling, I’m really hoping for a good ending.

It would be simply be too heartbreaking otherwise, after following the growth of the characters for so long.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• 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.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge

Review : Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan

Title : Winter's Heart Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 5 Feb 2012 - 6 Feb 2012 Total Pages :678
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From goodreads : The eagerly awaited sequel to The Path of Daggers, the New York Times #1 bestseller that swept the nation like a firestorm. Rand, with Min, is on the run, and Cadsuane, in Carhien, is trying to figure out where he is headed. Mazrim Taim, the leader of the Black Tower, is revealed to be a liar. Faile, with her companions, is a prisoner of Sevanna's Sept. With Elyas Machera, Berelain, the Prophet, and an "army" of disparate forces, Perrin is moving through country rife with bandits and roving Seanchan. In Ebou Dar, the Seanchan princess known as Daughter of the Nine Moons arrives. In Tar Valon, the schemers and counter-schemers in Elaida's White Tower are shaken to the core when the rebels appear suddenly outside the walls.

Book Review of Winter's Heart.

Winter’s Heart had me on tenterhooks for most of the book. Like Rand, I couldn’t help suspecting the motives of Cadsuane Sedai especially since for all intents and purposes, she was manipulating him to accept her advice.

At the same time, after a long absence, Mat is back in the picture again. His meeting with his fated wife is definitely one of the memorable scenes in the book. And even though I hardly know Tuon, I already feel that she’s the perfect one for him. Yet, Mat and Tuon’s union seems more impossible than any other in the world of the Wheel of Time. Reading how they manage it is definitely going to be interesting, especially since they are fighting on opposite sides of warring nations which seem to have absolutely nothing in common with each other.

The ending was another surprise. While Rand has managed to fulfill another of the Prophecies of the Dragon, he has also left himself in a vulnerable position. I’ll be reading Crossroads of Twilight next to find out the aftermath of his actions.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• 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.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge