Review: SEEING REDD by Frank Beddor

TITLE: Seeing Redd
AUTHOR: Frank Beddor
AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.LookingGlassWars.com
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Steampunk
PUBLISHED:  August 21, 2007 – Dial Books
MY RATING: 4

SYNOPSIS:


 (Courtesy of GoodReads)

Alyss of Wonderland's rule has only just begun, but the Queendom and her White Imagination are already under threat. Someone has resurrected the brutal Glass Eyes, and they are attacking Wonderland on all sides.

Has renegade Redd Heart freed herself and her assassin Cat from the prism of the Heart Crystal?

Can Alyss trust Boarderland's King Arch, as he extends a benevolent helping hand?

A battle is raging but who is the enemy?

REVIEW:


Book 2 of the Looking Glass Wars Trilogyis a wonderful extension of the story in Wonderland. It isn’t as good as the first book but it isn’t without twists and turns in the story with a great set up for Book 3: ARCHENEMY.

Alyss is coronated as the queen of Wonderland. The new found peace is again being threatened. Even as Alyss is still trying to figure out her duties rumors have begun to spread about the return of Redd. The queendom finds itself under attack by Redd’s glass eyes. Is it Redd herself? More factors come into play in this intricate novel. Hatter defecting? Jack of Diamonds escaping the mines? Arch, the king of the Borderlands, isn’t as innocent as he seems? The story ends in a precarious spot, as should the second book of a trilogy. I’m eager to read the third book.

In the bio about the author it says he spent 3 years planning this trilogy before he wrote one word. It truly shows. I can see bulletin boards of all the details he’s imagined. It also mentions that he is writing the screenplay to make the trilogy into a movie… I’M THERE! I’d love to see this on the big screen!

RATING:


Naturally, I give this book a 4: Very Good: A very good choice to read. I love the details in this book. The descriptions of all the strange places are cool: the Valley of Mushrooms, Chessboard Desert. The unusual animals, creatures and characters are superb in this intricately planned series.


More Books by Frank Beddor:


The Looking Glass Wars Series:

Book 1: THE LOOKING GLASS WARS
Book 2: SEEING REDD
Book 3: ARCHENEMY

Review: FALLEN by Lauren Kate

TITLE: Fallen
AUTHOR: Lauren Kate
AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.LaurenKateBooks.net
GENRE: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
PARANORMAL ELEMENT: Fallen Angels
PUBLISHED: December 8, 2009 - Delacorte Books for YA 
MY RATING: 2 

SYNOPSIS:


A tragedy forces Luce to attend a reform school in FALLEN. She’d grown up seeing spooky, shadowy things following her around.  Luce likes two different gorgeous boys attending the school with her, Daniel and Cam. Cam is safe, charming and eager to win her attention. Daniel is intense and rude to her.  Luce makes a choice between the two boys and finds there is much more going on than choosing to love one over the other. The shadows begin to intensify as she researches about the boy she really likes.

REVIEW:


As a whole the story was intriguing and leaves me wondering what’s next for these two “star-crossed lovers.” There is only a smidgen of background given on what is actually going on. It’s interesting enough for me to want to read the second book, 

The supernatural aspect was interesting and I loved how it brought the biblical proof of angels into the book. I’d like to see where the rest of the story goes, because it ends abruptly. There are bazillions of unanswered questions. What is going on with this school? What’s with the shadows? What’s with all the angels? Why does the world seem to revolve around this one human?

Supernatural Assessment:


One issue I had with the story was the discrepancies with the motives of the angels and demons. I don't get why people think there is such a gray area in the supernatural realm. Angels are good and have already chosen to stay on God's team. Fallen Angels are demons who are bad and have already chosen the "dark side." There's something weird going on in this book that I just don't get. Why is Daniel portrayed as a good angel but called a fallen angel? Fallen angel = demon. Why doesn't he know whose side he's on? Not only that Angels wouldn't act so human and fall in love with one. Only a demon would do that. It's called an incubus. (Look it up.) But Lauren Kate wrote a fiction piece so I'll get over it... for now.

RATED:


It is odd to me that this is the only storyline in this book. There could have been more than just this love triangle going on to make it more interesting. The supernatural discrepancies are kinda awkward. But the cover is so darn pretty. I’d rate it at a 2. Fair: Not quite worth it. I only liked a few things about it. Read if you dare.



 More Books by Lauren Kate:


The Fallen Series:

Book 1: FALLEN
Book 2: TORMENT
Book 3: PASSION (Not reviewed)

Review: CHOSEN by Ted Dekker

TITLE: Chosen
SERIES: The Lost Books (Book 1)
AUTHOR: Ted Dekker
AUTHOR WEBSITE:
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Christian
PUBLISHED: December 15, 2007 - Thomas Nelson
MY RATING: 3

SYNOPSIS:


 (Courtesy of GoodReads)

Think with your heart and prepare to die for you have been chosen.

The land of the Forest Dwellers has been decimated by the Horde under the watchful eye of the vilest of all creatures, Teeleh. Thomas Hunter, supreme commander of the Forest Guard, is forced to lower the recruitment age of his army from 18 to 16. From among thousands, four new recruits are chosen to lead--and perhaps die--for the greater good.

The chosen four are sent on a quest to prove their character, but their mission takes a dramatic turn when they are intercepted, sworn to secrecy, and redirected to a different endgame. Now they must find the seven lost Books of History. Books that have power over the past, present, and future. Books whose words are alive. Books sought by the Dark One that control not only the destiny of their world...but that of ours as well.

REVIEW:


The first book in “The Lost Books” Series CHOSEN is about four teens who were chosen as leaders from among their peers who have just joined the Forest Guard to fight against the Horde—disfigured people whose skin rots from having not soaked regularly in sacred lake waters. Originally, Johnis was rejected from the Guard but proves himself by thinking with his heart, making him one of the four who are sent on a quest. Along the way, Johnis finds he can see creatures that were thought to be only myths and is asked to go on a mission of even greater urgency.   

The story is enjoyable. There are Christian values throughout, which didn’t take away from the story at all. In most Christian novels authors tend to get dorky with the biblical principles but here it is well played. There is an obvious parallel between God, Satan, angels & demons and the characters.  It was just enough to make it intriguing. I loved the aspect of the Horde’s disease, how it takes the mind too.

RATING:


To rate this book, I’d have to give it about a 3: Good: No regrets. It would have ranked higher if he would have appealed to us girls a little bit and gave us a love story amid the battles and disease and journey across the desert. (There was a smidgen of a love interest but only an eighth of a teaspoon worth.)

So will I read the next book? Maybe. Eh… the only thing that piquéd my interest enough to keep reading is that there was one character he spoke of who never showed their face. (the traitor) and I kinda want to know who that was.


MEANINGFUL MOMENT: 


In case you didn't notice, this is the first time I've rated any Christian fiction as high as 3!!! Which means... Ted Dekker = Good Christian Author!


Review: THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins


TITLE: The Hunger Games 
AUTHOR: Suzanne Collins
AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.suzannecollinsbooks.com
GENRE: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Apocolyptic
PUBLISHED:  September 14th, 2008 - Scholastic Press
MY RATING: 4


SYNOPSIS:


 (Courtesy of GoodReads)

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.

When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. , she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature. 

REVIEW:


Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The premise of THE HUNGER GAMES didn’t seem that interesting for me. There was a lot of hype about it. (I’m anti-hype.) But I decided to give it a try anyway. I was surprised. I really thought it would hate the idea of a game of life and death between children. The writing is first person narrative by Katniss. Her little sister’s name is drawn to participate in the hunger games. She is protective of the sweet little thing and mindlessly volunteers in her stead. (I would have been the scared sister, not the protective one.)

The story tells of a world that has been nearly swallowed by the ocean. America is under new management and only the land around the Rockies is above water. There are 12 poor districts ruled by the rich Capitol. The Capital maintains control over the other districts who provide them coal, crops, fish and other such things from each area, by forcing their childrens name to go into a drawing each year to participate in the Hunger Games. They draw two names from each district. They are placed in an enormous dome in the wilderness forced to fight to the death—with cameras watching. Children gladiators—a bit scarey.

I anticipated it being gruesome and it was but the main character is genuine and worth the time invested in this novel. It reads really quickly but left me wanting more with the cliffhanger at the end. (Don’t worry, no spoilers, and it’s not what you think!)

 RATING:


I'd rate it at a 4. Very Goodd. It was worth the time but the violence was a off the hook! This is a YA Novel but the violence is rather ghastly. But of course, I’m a grown up and I’ll be reading the next in the series!




RECOMMENDATIONS:


This is a young adult novel but has the violence level of a rated “R” movie. The movie came out and is actually rated “PG-13” but the killing of children really makes it all that much worse. I just thought I’d warn you! But maybe reading it is easier than seeing it on the big screen. 

More Books by Suzanne Collins:


The Hunger Games Trilogy:

Book 1: THE HUNGER GAMES
Book 2: CATCHING FIRE
Book 3: MOCKINGJAY


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