Review : Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Title : Mockingjay Author : Suzanne Collins Reading Dates : 13 Oct - 14 Oct 2012 Total Pages : 390
Catching Fire The Hunger Games Catching Fire Mockingjay
From Amazon : Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge...This thrilling final instalment of this ground-breaking trilogy promises to be one of the most talked-about books of the year.

Book Review of Mockingjay.

Mockingjay was an unbearably sad read for me. The ending, which all things considered is supposed to be a good one, didn’t feel like that to me. There were just too many needless and senseless deaths in Mockingjay.

If I could wish for anything regarding The Hunger Games series, it would be for a different ending. So many of the characters, including my favourite, dies brutally and tragically. And the toll that the Districts demands for ending the war is barbaric as well. Worse, when I put myself in their shoes, I can actually understand their need for vengeance. In the end, it all seems to be such a terrible waste because nothing much changes, only the role of victim and persecutor. While the good guys will not always win, I still prefer happy endings or at least endings where I can feel that most of the people got what they deserved. In Mockingjay, it seemed that the heroes suffered a fate worse than the villains.

As for Katniss’s choice for her life partner, it doesn’t come as a surprise to me. It was pretty clear to me by Catching Fire who it would be considering the way she thinks. I’m still disappointed though when she makes her choice. More than anything, it seems to symbolize that nothing changes in Katniss’s world because she lets past events dictate her choice.

To sum it up, The Hunger Games had me wanting to watch the movie while Mockingjay has me reconsidering. The story might have been good but I’d have preferred a happier ending.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes, but not as frequent as I'd like.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series, if there were one ? Yes.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? Young adult and dystopian 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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Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review : Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title : Catching Fire Author : Suzanne Collins Reading Dates : 08 Oct - 12 Oct 2012 Total Pages : 391
Catching Fire The Hunger Games Catching Fire Mockingjay
From Amazon : Suzanne Collins continues the amazing story of Katniss Everdeen in the phenomenal Hunger Games trilogy. Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Book Review of Catching Fire.

I liked Catching Fire but for very different reasons than The Hunger Games.

Catching Fire had a slower pace compared to The Hunger Games and the main storyline in the beginning wasn’t very interesting. At least not to me. What kept me going were the hints of what was going on in the background. It seems strange though how nobody in Katniss’s world catches on.

The second reason I enjoyed Catching Fire was the introduction of a new character and ally for Katniss, Finnick Odair. I even thought that he would have been a better choice for Katniss as a love interest. The funniest moment in the entire Hunger Games series occurs in Catching Fire, between him and Katniss. Considering what he’s been through, I thought it wonderful that he could still keep his sense of humour and even get Katniss to lighten up. In truth, I thought that was the only time Katniss was truly happy, without any strings attached.

As for the romantic triangle between Katniss, Gale and Peeta, the whole thing just annoyed me. Rather than love, I believe what Katniss has with the 2 stems more from her survival instincts. Gale said it perfectly later on, when he comments that Katniss will chose the one she believes she can’t live without. Its also pretty clear to me who that would be considering her psychological makeup. It was also perfectly understandable considering the environment she grew up in.

A good read but Catching Fire would have been better without drawing out the tension between Katniss, Gale and Peeta.

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? Young adult and dystopian readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

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Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review : The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title : The Hunger Games Author : Suzanne Collins Reading Dates : 05 Oct - 08 Oct 2012 Total Pages : 374
The Hunger Games The Hunger Games Catching Fire Mockingjay
From Amazon : In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

Book Review of The Hunger Games.

I absolutely loved The Hunger Games. Katniss’s story was gripping and had me on the edge of my seat throughout the tale.

If I had to pick the strongest reason why I enjoyed it so much, it would be because of the suspense and tension which permeates the tale. I could barely tear myself away from the story because I kept wondering what would happen next. The question of what terrible thing was going to befall the heroine and how she was going to extricate herself from her latest predicament kept me glued to the story from beginning until the end.

The Hunger Games also has a number of pretty interesting characters, ones that you want to root for. My favourite was Rue, which also makes it kind of hard to enjoy the tale at times. Right off the bat we know that there can be only 1 winner in these survival games. And since the heroine most definitely has to be the winner, all that’s left is how and when Rue dies. Its also interesting to note that like most of the audience of The Hunger Games, I started to want Katniss to win only after she tries to give some meaning to Rue’s death. Prior to that, Katniss’s cynicism made it very hard to like or admire her.

As for the ending, while not exactly a cliffhanger, left me on tenterhooks. The Hunger Games may have ended but Katniss and her dearest and closest are definitely not out of the woods yet.

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 young adult and dystopian fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

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

Review : The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Title : The Power of Six Author : Pittacus Lore Reading Dates : 25 Jun - 29 Jun 2012 Total Pages : 380
The Lorien Legacies I Am Number Four The Power of Six The Rise of Nine
From Amazon : 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. And I'm ready to fight. I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened to John Smith. 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. 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 ready 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 might be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

Book Review of The Power of Six.

I enjoyed The Power of Six tremendously. The main reason was because The Power of Six is fun. These kids have the coolest superpowers and it helps that they’re on a quest to save the world as they figure out how to use them.

The Power of Six is told from 2 viewpoints, Numbers Four and Seven. And this is what makes the story work. Number Four who’s recently gained his Legacies and after the loss of his Cepan finally realizes the importance of readying himself to fight, is searching with Six for the rest of the Loriens. And Number Seven who has to do it on her own after her Cepan abandons their mission. Understanding their motives and situation really had me rooting for them.

The other part I enjoyed was how both sides was intent on 1 thing. Getting together with the rest of the Lorien survivors in order to gain the strength to go against the Mogadorians. At the end of the book when they’ve formed into 2 groups with only 2 of their numbers whereabouts and identities unknown, I was disappointed not to be able to read The Rise of Nine immediately.

The only part of the book which irritated me is Four’s infatuation with Sarah. On this point, I can’t help agreeing with Six’s viewpoints regarding Loriens and love.

Still, I’ve added The Rise of Nine to my wish list and am looking forward to picking up the next book.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Most assuredly.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes, I do.
• Who would I recommend this too? Sci-fi adventure fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

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Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; What's In a Name 5 Reading Challenge

Review : A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix

Title : A Confusion of Princes Author : Garth Nix Reading Dates : 10 Jun - 15 Jun 2012 Total Pages : 337
From Amazon : You'd think being a Prince in a vast intergalactic empire would be about as good as it gets. Particularly when Princes are faster, smarter, and stronger than normal humans. Not to mention being mostly immortal. But it isn't as great as it sounds. Princes need to be hard to kill—as Khemri learns the minute he becomes one—for they are always in danger. Their greatest threat? Other Princes. Every Prince wants to become Emperor, and the surest way to do so is to kill, dishonor, or sideline any potential competitor. There are rules, but as Khemri discovers, rules can be bent and even broken. Soon Khemri is drawn into the hidden workings of the Empire and dispatched on a secret mission. In the ruins of space battle he meets a young woman called Raine, who challenges his view of the Empire, of Princes, and of himself. But Khemri is a Prince, and even if he wanted to leave the Empire behind, there are forces that have very definite plans for his future. . . .

Book Review of A Confusion of Princes.

While A Confusion of Princes doesn’t compare with The Abhorsen Trilogy or The Keys of the Kingdom series, it was still an enjoyable read.

The story doesn’t have many highs and lows but it wasn’t predictable either. Garth Nix simply laid a lot of groundwork so that I was able to see the connections and make a pretty good guess as to the end halfway through the story. Still, I wasn’t completely sure until the end.

As for the world building, the author never fails to amaze me with his imagination. Each of the world his books are set in are so different and incredible that I don’t know how he does it. The 3 teks on which Khemri’s world is built on sounds pretty simple on the surface but a lot of work went into defining them and their uses. The Empire too was a profound construct. The power behind that civilization is both huge and restrictive. While it dominates the universe A Confusion of Princes is set in, it also severely limits the roles of its citizens.

As for the characters, the only one we truly get to know is Khemri. While he is both arrogant and selfish at the beginning, I found it hard to dislike him. Perhaps because he knows he is and sometimes even acknowledges to himself how ridiculous or foolish his behaviour is. And as he survives the situations and challenges put before him, he does grow and learn from his experiences. Most important though, he doesn’t suddenly become selfless hero at the end. He may have grown a heart and come to care for those around him but in the end his goals are still for his own benefit. The only difference being he no longer equates power with happiness.

To sum up, basically I enjoyed reading about Khemri’s adventures as he explores the worlds he lives in.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes
• 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 ? No. If I had it I would re-read the book but the story wasn't so good that I'd be wanting to re-read it frequently.
• Who would I recommend this too? Science fiction and space opera fans.
• 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 : 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.

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

Review : Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb

Title : Treachery in Death Author : J.D. Robb Reading Dates : 25 Oct - 27 Oct 2011
In Death Naked in Death Glory in Death Immortal in Death Rapture in Death Ceremony in Death Vengeance in Death Holiday in Death Conspiracy in Death Loyalty in Death Witness in Death Judgment in Death Betrayal in Death Seduction in Death Reunion in Death Purity in Death Portrait in Death Imitation in Death Divided in Death Visions in Death Survivor in Death Origin in Death Memory in Death Born in Death Innocent in Death Creation in Death Strangers in Death Salvation in Death Promises in Death Kindred in Death Fantasy in Death Indulgence in Death Treachery in Death
From Amazon : After her boss, Lieutenant Eve Dallas, suggests that New York policewoman Delia Peabody’s footwork needs some work, Delia books some time in the gym for what almost becomes a “killer” workout. Rather than visit NYPD’s brand-new, state-of-the-art exercise facilities, Peabody opts for the building’s old gym, since fewer of her well-toned, light-on-their-feet co-workers will be there. Upon arriving, Peabody has the place to herself until she hears voices and realizes that she’s listening to two cops angrily arguing about a deal in which they are both involved. Fortunately, the two leave before they realize Delia has overheard them. Not only does Peabody know the name of one of the corrupt cops, she also knows they are both guilty of murder. Now it will be up to Peabody and Eve to take these crooked cops down. The thirty-second (!) entry in Robb’s gritty, futuristic procedural series is one of the best yet: a sexy, high-stakes, high-adrenaline read that will delight series stalwarts, hook readers new to Eve Dallas, and please both mystery and romance readers. --John Charles

Book Review of Treachery In Death.

Treachery In Death was another memorable In Death book. Immediately after finishing it, I had a hankering to re-read some of the In Death books.

What makes this one stand out for me, is that Eve not only knows who she’s up against right from the start but has to set a trap to find the evidence she needs without the opponent getting wind of it. There’s no doubt that she will but how Eve and her team goes about laying the groundwork for it certainly makes for some very tension-filled reading. Especially, at the end, when everything comes together.

The other is that Renee Oberman is the opposite of what Eve holds most dear about her job as a police officer. And as in any Nora Roberts book, this represents plenty of emotionally charged moments. Even if it does get a bit cliched at times, I still couldn’t help being drawn in.

The other typical element is of course the humour. The conversations between Eve and her team is as usual filled with plenty of funny moments, even in the midst of death.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yup, it's already on my wish list.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? Romantic suspense readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

Read another review on the book by :

• About Happy Books
• Under the Boardwalk

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Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, Mystery and Suspense Challenge

Review : Judgement in Death by J.D. Robb

Title : Judgement in Death Author : J.D. Robb Reading Dates : 30 Oct - 31 Oct 2011
In Death Naked in Death Glory in Death Immortal in Death Rapture in Death Ceremony in Death Vengeance in Death Holiday in Death Conspiracy in Death Loyalty in Death Witness in Death Judgment in Death Betrayal in Death Seduction in Death Reunion in Death Purity in Death Portrait in Death Imitation in Death Divided in Death Visions in Death Survivor in Death Origin in Death Memory in Death Born in Death Innocent in Death Creation in Death Strangers in Death Salvation in Death Promises in Death Kindred in Death Fantasy in Death Indulgence in Death Treachery in Death
From Amazon : When a cop killer cuts loose in a club called Purgatory, Detective Eve Dallas descends into an underground criminal hell.

Book Review of Judgement In Death.

Judgement in Death is memorable because it is one of those rare cases where both the readers and Eve are sympathetic to the killer. It is a kind of vindication of Eve’s dedication not just to her badge but to the rule of law because she never hesitates in pursuing justice. Yet, Eve is not without mercy. She does make a concession to the murderer’s feelings at the end.

Other than that, Judgement in Death expands on her relationship with another recurring character, Don Webster. Eve’s relationship with Webster is often difficult as she seems to despise what he does even if she respects the person. Their arguments often strike me as funny since Eve would be as quick to condemn a corrupt police officer but condemns Webster’s job.

This is definitely one of reasons I continue to read the series.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes, but not soon.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes, although not in order.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? Romantic suspense readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge

Review : Artemis Fowl and The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer

Title : Artemis Fowl and The Atlantis Complex Author : Eoin Colfer Reading Dates : 22 Oct - 24 Oct 2011
Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl and The Arctic Incident Artemis Fowl and The Eternity Code Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox Artemis Fowl and The Atlantis Complex Artemis Fowl and The Last Guardian
From goodreads : In the seventh Artemis Fowl title, the 15-year-old mastermind focuses his ingenuity on global warming while struggling with a devastating illness. After Artemis invites four fairy friends to Iceland for a demonstration of his latest invention, the Ice Cube, it becomes clear that he is suffering from the Atlantis Complex, which manifests as obsessive-compulsive behavior, paranoia, and multiple personalities. If this weren’t enough to worry about, a spaceship crashes and disgorges amorphobots programmed to kill. Colfer keeps the action moving with laughs and gadgetry as he bounces between several plotlines that spotlight peripheral characters. A treat for series fans. Grades 5-8. --Lynn Rutan

Book Review of Artemis Fowl and The Atlantis Complex.

The seventh book in the series was disappointing for me. It was a better read than The Time Paradox but again wasn’t up to the standards set by the earlier books.

In The Atlantis Complex, while Artemis shows up right from the start, he doesn’t play much of a role until later on in the story. So, if you’ve read my reviews of the earlier books, it’s pretty much easy to guess why I found this one disappointing. What I’ve always liked about the series is Artemis and his outlandish schemes. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see much of that here. Apart from when Artemis is figuring out the true perpetrator of their present predicament, the rest of it lacks Artemis’s usual finesse.

The ending too was rather predictable. From the first moment when Artemis’s symptoms manifest, I think most readers would be able to guess how it was going to end. Hardly, what I’d expect from Artemis Fowl.

To sum up, The Atlantis Complex isn’t anywhere near as good as the first books in the series but I still wouldn’t write off Artemis Fowl yet.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Maybe.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Probably, but I need a break first.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Only as part of the series.
• 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.

Read another review on the book by :

• Book Couture
• Reading with Tequila

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Review : Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox

Title : Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox Author : Eoin Colfer Reading Dates : 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2011
Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl and The Arctic Incident Artemis Fowl and The Eternity Code Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox Artemis Fowl and The Atlantis Complex Artemis Fowl and The Last Guardian
From goodreads : Grade 4–8—Fourteen-year-old genius and mastermind Artemis Fowl realizes that he has a problem. His mother is nearing death and the only thing that can save her is the brain fluid from a species of lemur that he forced into extinction eight years earlier. He decides that he must travel back in time to right this terrible wrong but his younger self is present in the past and proceeds to challenge the older Artemis's every move. At the older Artemis's side is elf Captain Holly Short of the Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance (LEPrecon) and Mulch Diggums, a dwarf known for his potent flatulence and ground-munching abilities. The trio struggle to circumvent destiny but find the past fraught with deception. The story flows with quick-witted humor and action-packed scenes, and Colfer's love of science shines through in the story's inventions and clever use of engineering. The dueling technology and a game match between clashing masterminds make for an exciting, modern-day fairy tale. There is no integration of previous story lines; while this does not take away from the resolution, it does leave readers questioning some backstory. The author once again offers an exhilarating ride through the fantastical world of Artemis Fowl.—Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL

Book Review of Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox.

Despite all the good vibes I had for the early Artemis Fowl books, I still approached The Time Paradox with a little bit of trepidation. After all, this was the Artemis Fowl book that I disliked and for a certain time discouraged me from picking up the next book in the series.

So, did I change my mind with this re-read ? Maybe, but just a little. The Time Paradoxstill ranks as the Artemis Fowl book I like the least. The reason is a simple one. In the first half, Artemis simply isn’t up to his usual standards. All of which may be intentional but annoying none the less. Artemis doesn’t seem so much to be using his strategic skills as simply blundering from one escapade to another.

Fortunately, Artemis does buck up at the end with a short display of his usual flair. In this case though, it comes a bit too late to make me like this one.

However the first few books makes me want to write this one off as a blip. And so, despite some misgivings, I still picked up Artemis Fowl and The Atlantis Complex.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Probably, but only as 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, just to complete my collection though.
• Who would I recommend this too? Fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? In some part, this depends on the next book. I'll reserve judgement until then.

Books alluded to :

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge

Review : Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony

Title : Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony Author : Eoin Colfer Reading Dates : 15 Oct - 18 Oct 2011
Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl and The Arctic Incident Artemis Fowl and The Eternity Code Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox Artemis Fowl and The Atlantis Complex Artemis Fowl and The Last Guardian
From goodreads : Ten thousand years ago, humans and fairies fought a great battle for the magical island of Ireland. When it became clear to the fairy families that they could never win, they decided to move their civilization underground and keep themselves hidden from the humans. All the fairy families agreed on this, except the eighth family, the demons. The demons planned to lift their small island out of time until they had regrouped and were ready to wage war on the humans once more. However, the time spell went wrong, and the island of Hybras was catapulted into Limbo, where it has remained for ten thousand years. Now the tainted time spell is deteriorating and demons are being sucked back into the present space and time. The fairy council is concerned about this and is monitoring any materializations. But when the spells deterioration accelerates, the materializations become unpredictable. Even the fairy scientists cannot figure out where the next demon will pop up. But someone can. Artemis Fowl, teenage criminal mastermind, has solved temporal equations that no normal human should be intelligent enough to understand. So when a confused and frightened demon pops up in a Sicilian theater, Artemis Fowl is there to meet him. Unfortunately, he is not the only one. A second, mysterious party has also solved the temporal equations, and has managed to abduct the demon before Artemis can secure him. Once again, Artemis will have to pair up with his old comrade, Captain Holly Short, to track down the missing demon and rescue him, before the time spell dissolves completely and the lost demon colony returns violently to Earth.

Book Review of Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony.

There are a few reasons why I enjoy this particular entry in The Artemis Fowl series.

The first are the new additions to Artemis Fowl’s team of specialist troubleshooters. It would definitely be interesting to see how the new members fit into their little family and what they could contribute to it. It helps of course that all of them have a smart mouth on them leading to some very funny conversations between them.

The other is the little twist at the end of the tale. Artemis’s new found abilities certainly opens up some interesting possibilities in the future even if both his enemies and allies alike won’t like it. As a reader though, I definitely wanted to read the next book just to see what Artemis has up his sleeve.

Finally, of course, is that Artemis gets to show off that big brain of his again. Look out for the scene where he saves one of his companions from certain death. That is definitely not something that could be done by any ordinary person.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

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? Fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

Books alluded to :

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge

Review : Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception

Title : Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception Author : Eoin Colfer Reading Dates : 14 Oct - 15 Oct 2011
Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl Artemis Fowl and The Arctic Incident Artemis Fowl and The Eternity Code Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception Artemis Fowl and The Lost Colony Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox Artemis Fowl and The Atlantis Complex Artemis Fowl and The Last Guardian
From goodreads : This fourth outing for Eoin Colfer’s teenage criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl, is--as ever--full of dramatic action, explosions, treachery, high speed chases, windy escapes from Trolls and a generous helping of fairy magic. There are plenty of laughs amidst the action and more new technical gizmos than you could fit into James Bond’s latest car. At the end of Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, Artemis was left with his memory erased of all previous dealings with the fairy folk, any underground realms he may have visited, a certain LEPrecon police officer called Holly Short he may have been acquainted with--even the flatulent, burrowing, kleptomaniac dwarf, Mulch Diggums. Everything. It was part of the deal he struck when he helped save the fairies and they aided his rescue of Fowl Snr. from captivity. But, having been accused of a heinous crime, Holly now needs Fowl’s expertise once more to clear her name and save Fairykind from oblivion. Opal Koboi, the most dangerous pixie who ever lived, has eluded capture and is out for revenge. She’s framed Holly and tried to kill Artemis and his trusty bodyguard Butler. Holly must try to bring Artemis up to speed quickly in order to foil Opal’s dastardly plan to expose the fairies down below to the humans on top. Like J K Rowling, Colfer has complete mastery over the cast of characters he has created in this popular series of novels. Half of the pleasure of the Harry Potter novels is to be had by simply enjoying how the familiar characters interact--savouring their established foibles and characteristics and revelling in all the new things they get up to. In The Opal Deception, Colfer pairs up his heroes and villains brilliantly and has the same amount of tremendous fun with them. It’s witty and enjoyable and will be appreciated by all. (Age 9 and over) --John McLay

Book Review of Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception.

The Opal Deception was another hit for me in the Artemis Fowl series.

Thus far, Opal Koboi is probably Artemis’s best adversary. Best as in, she really is smart enough to be Artemis’s foe and still leave me laughing with her over the top and ridiculous notions. Most of the laughs I had here was due to Opal’s unbelievable instructions to her underlings. Especially since the Brill brothers are not your run-of-the-mill brainless muscle men.

The other reason to rejoice here is of course Artemis’s decision at the end of the book. I really like the idea of Artemis saving the world in his own unique way.

And not only that. It seems nothing is too outrageous whenever he and Butler get together with Holly, Mulch and Foaly. I can’t wait to see what their team gets up to next. Whether official or not, these 5 already make up an extraordinary team of troubleshooters.

I’m definitely reading more of Artemis Fowl.

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? Fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

Books alluded to :

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, What's in a Name Challenge 4