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 : 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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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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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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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 : 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 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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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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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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Review : Cinder by Marissa Meyer

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

Book Review of Cinder.

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

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

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

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

My conclusions :

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

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

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

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

Review : The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan

Title : The Path of Daggers Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 4 Feb 2012 - 5 Feb 2012 Total Pages :643
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 : For millions of fans around the globe, the wait is over. Sequel to the international blockbuster bestseller A Crown of Swords, this epic volume continues one of history's greatest fictional journeys and the most extraordinary work of American fantasy ever published--The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and worldwide bestselling series--The Wheel of Time. The phenomenal tale that is mesmerizing a generation of readers now continues. The Seanchan invasion force is in possession of Ebou Dar. Nynaeve, Elayne, and Aviendha head for Caemlyn and Elayne's rightful throne, but on the way they discover an enemy much worse than the Seanchan. In Illian, Rand vows to throw the Seanchan back as he did once before. But signs of madness are appearing among the Asha'man. In Ghealdan, Perrin faces the intrigues of Whitecloaks, Seanchan invaders, the scattered Shaido Aiel, and the Prophet himself. Perrin's beloved wife, Faile, may pay with her life, and Perrin himself may have to destroy his soul to save her. Meanwhile the rebel Aes Sedai under their young Amyrlin, Egwene al'Vere, face an army that intends to keep them away from the White Tower. But Egwene is determined to unseat the usurper Elaida and reunite the Aes Sedai. She does not yet understand the price that others--and she herself--will pay.

Book Review of The Path of Daggers.

The Path of Daggers has the slowest pacing of the entire Wheel of Time series so far. Worst, the entire story seemed to drag on that I almost gave up on finishing the book. I probably would have except it is book 8 in the series.

The story told here is not entirely without interest. Some significant turning points in the story are reached; most important being that Rand finds himself biting off more than he can chew. Yet, the telling of the tale seems lacking. Too much time is wasted in building up to these events. If I weren’t a fan of the series, I would have simply stopped reading altogether. It is only the wanting to know what happens next that kept me glued to the tale.

After the earlier books, The Path of Daggers was a let-down but not a book you could skip and keep abreast of the story.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Probably.
• 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 : A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

Title : A Crown of Swords Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 29 Jan 2012 - 3 Feb 2012 Total Pages :856
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 : Elayne, Aviendha and Mat come ever closer to the bowl ter'angreal that may reverse the world's endless heatwave and restore natural weather. Egwene begins to gather all manner of women who can channel - Sea Folk, Windfinders, Wise Ones, and some surprising others. And, above all, Rand faces the dread Forsaken Sammael, in the shadows of Shadar Logoth, where the blood-hungry mist, Mashadar, waits for prey...

Book Review of A Crown of Swords.

A Crown of Swords is a mixed bag. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending but the middle parts nearly bored me to tears. The reason is simple. The beginning and end of the book focuses on Rand’s plans while the middle focuses on Elayne and Nynaeve’s.

While Rand doesn’t appear much in the book, it is those parts which I find most interesting. Certainly, those bits had me revising some of the guesses I made on the future direction of the story and the role of a number of the characters.

On the other hand, Elayne and Nynaeve seem to spend a great deal of time either condemning everyone else as fools or deciding what everyone else should be doing. So much so, that I don’t find myself missing out on the story at all despite skimming through those parts. The only thing of interest here is that which concerns Mat. I certainly had myself a good laugh at his horror and embarrassment to discover the tables turned when he becomes the object of a queen’s attentions.

A Crown of Swords has the funniest bits in the Wheel of Time, even if I find the focus on the female protagonists annoying.

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 Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

Title : Lord of Chaos Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 24 Jan 2012 - 29 Jan 2012 Total Pages :987
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 this sequel to the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Fires of Heaven, we plunge again into Robert Jordan's extraordinarily rich, totally unforgettable world: On the slopes of Shayol Ghul, the Myrddraal swords are forged, and the sky is not the sky of this world; In Salidar the White Tower in exile prepares an embassy to Caemlyn, where Rand Al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, holds the throne--and where an unexpected visitor may change the world.... In Emond's Field, Perrin Goldeneyes, Lord of the Two Rivers, feels the pull of ta'veren to ta'veren and prepares to march.... Morgase of Caemlyn finds a most unexpected, and quite unwelcome, ally....And south lies Illian, where Sammael holds sway....

Book Review of Lord of Chaos.

As the title suggests, Lord of Chaos ups the tension in The Wheel of Time. The Dark Lord has begun to move even if we aren’t able to figure out his plans yet. And Rand finds himself balancing numerous factions which are either openly or secretly hostile to him. Really, even though this is not my first time reading Lord of Chaos, I couldn’t put the book down for wondering when all those balls Rand was juggling would collapse. Especially, as there are very few friends left which he can wholly trust.

Egwene too faces similar difficulties as Rand and she should have my sympathies, but once again I merely found her methods exasperating. While I enjoyed reading how she handled the other Aes Sedai, turn and turn about being fair and all, I found her decisions regarding Mat arbitrary and exasperating. It is no wonder the men in the world of the Wheel of Time do not want to deal with the women. She doesn’t even bother to ask his or Rand’s reasons, simply deciding that whatever foolish plan they have in mind couldn’t rival her needs.

It is really funny since I would expect myself to side with the women against the men. Yet, often I think that all the female characters need be taught a lesson. Without their interference, certain issues would probably have been resolved sooner or perhaps not even been raised. It is not that there aren’t times when I believe them to be right. It is just that their views makes them insufferable and hard to live with most of the time.

Still, Lord of Chaos has one of my favorite endings in the Wheel of Time series.

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