Category Archives: World of Books

Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games

World of Books March 20, 2012 Comments: 12

I admit, I am quite late to this party, but what’s even stranger is, how did this party happen without me catching even a hint of its progress?

I mean, considering my taste in books, this one falls right in – except for the freshly discovred post-apocaliptic worlds I used to avoid. That might be the reason. πŸ™‚

Anyway, after hearing about the movie, I checked the books and decided to give it a go at first (luckily for me, there are three).
And here I need to give you a word of advice:
DO NOT start reading that book unless you have enough time to finish it. Reading until 2 am when you have to get up in the morning is not very appropriate if you have to stay awake the whole day after. πŸ™‚

But it’s been a very long time since that happened to me.

So, the story. The basics are probably familiar to everyone interested in either the book or the movie.

What I’m wondering though is whether the movie will be able to display the bleakness of the lives in some of the districts and the non-smiling faces of the contestants (and in some cases aggresive and blood-thirsty).

Possibly the practicality of Katnyss’  character?
The world she lives in calls for practicality if you want to survive. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have feelings, her family means everything to her but that is also where practicality steps in – she needs to keep them alive and well.
She’s as strong a girl (she’s 16) as you could imagine.

I must say I’m wondering which parts of the book are not going into the movie, and also how are some parts I’d like to see transfered onto the screen possibly being delivered?

I plan on seeing the movie and then reading the following 2 books (if I can wait that long). πŸ™‚

I can’t help but wonder if someone will be able to do something to bring down the awful world they live in.

Amanda Hocking: Hollowland (The Hollow #1)

World of Books February 28, 2012 Comments: 3

My first dystopic, zombie novel ever! πŸ™‚

And I loved it. Not so much the part where it ends with a cliffhanger and I have to wait for the next book, but everything else was great. Including the zombies. πŸ™‚

Ok, so before I give you the idea it’s a funny story, it isn’t. In no way can you call a future where a virus turns people into zombies and coming into contact with their saliva or blood while sporting an open wound, will transform you into one too, funny.
Honestly, I never thought I’d find a novel with such a topic interesting. But if there are more like this, I’m all ears (or eyes in this case). πŸ™‚

Important to mention is that this is a YA novel. I do seem to be on a kick with those lately. But what can I say, I enjoy the perspective. πŸ™‚

Remy is an incredible (albeit  a bit too far away from my perspective) character and I enjoyed immensely her track to find her little brother.
I won’t give you any spoilers because even a hint might give away too much.
But, if you enjoy YA novels and are not scared of depressing future scenarios, you might give this one a try.

The first book is free for download and I just saw the second one is 5$.

P.S. Did you know Amanda is a self-publishing wonder? She made quite an amount of money through e-publishing,  and serves as a poster girl for those who want to go that way. The only problem is, it’s not so easily reproducible.

Trish Milburn: White Witch

World of Books February 22, 2012 Comments: 3

I wonder why is YA literature so tempting and interesting?
Once you start reading YA novels, it’s really easy to get sucked into that teenage world full of strong emotions and instant decisions that always seem monumental. πŸ™‚

Sometimes I wish I would feel again such strength of conviction and emotion. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy some YA novels.
And I really enjoyed this one. πŸ™‚

The good thing is, it’s only the first in three. The bad news is, there doesn’t seem to be much information on when the others are coming out. Or any. The really bad news is that by the time next book comes out, I’ll forget most of what happened in this one.

But let me say something about the book.
I love the new witch angle – that the covens are secret and some time ago got their powers from evil sources so they are all evil now. And we get enough proof of that – but basically, it’s again all about power, having it, maintaining it and getting more of it.

Jax is not yet 17 (when according to bad witch lore she would come into her full powers) but she manages to run away from her coven in order not to lead the evil life they will make her lead.
And this is where the story starts and gets interesting with hunters hunting the supernatural beings (and of course, who gets to fall in love?), with high-school problems, meeting a best friend, fighting off some bad stuff and looking for a way out of the life on the run.
All this is done very nicely, the pace is quick and you get pulled into the story without having to concentrate. Of course, it follows a traditional YA approach but in a novel enough manner.

I wish the sequel would come out soon as I really enjoyed reading White Witch.

M.J. Rose: The Book of Lost Fragrances

World of Books February 19, 2012 Comments: 17

As an avid reader, I always love an opportunity to receive a free book on the topic that interests me. Perfumes certainly qualify as a topic.
Therefore, I was more than happy to receive an ARC of The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose, especially as The Reincarnationist has been on my to-be-read pile for some time (it’s still there, I’m afraid).
And speaking of reincarnation, even though I haven’t read any other books by MJ Rose, reincarnation seems to be a recurring theme.
If I were to say my thoughts on the subject, it would probably be, I believe it’s possible but I can’t say I’m sure it’s real. Then again, most of the stuff I believe fall into the same category. πŸ™‚

Onto the book itself.

I love the idea of a perfume that enables you to become aware of your past lives. I must say, I never before heard of memory tools out of the history that made that possible. I don’t know if that part of the book is real or invented.
I just realized, I cannot put this book in a category. If I were to classify it, it would be a novel about a quest. Intentional and unintentional.
Also, it’s obviously a novel by an author who put a lot of research into the perfume industry (every perfumista out there will recognize so many familiar problems, issues and notes). I’m still wondering about blue lotus…

I’m also wondering about so many things in this novel, did Napoleon really have such a delicate sense of smell, are perfumers sellling dreams and not formulas, are the Triads causing so much problems for the Tibet, or is it China itself, or is there a connection between the two (which strikes me as the most possible), is it possible to learn about your past lives, are tulpas real/possible, etc.

The book poses so many questions. At the same time, there are many wonderful ideas to be taken from it.
Perfumers are artists (and Jac being the true manifestation and at the same time struggling with her genius), scents described in colors, all the things to see in Paris (I’m visiting L’Orangerie on my next trip), the whole reincarnation – Lama – Tibet angle, love (although I’m not terribly happy with the love scenes), the sorcerer of scent idea…

I won’t tell you the details of the story but I will tell you that if you order the book before March 1, you are eligible for a sample of perfume being released alongside the book (although only for residents of USA and Canada I’m afraid):

How does it work?

1. Just click on the preferred website and pre-order THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES from the links below.
2. Email the receipt or a scan of it to LostFragrances@gmail.com along with your name and your Snail mail address for fragrance delivery.

Your sample of Γ‚mes SΕ“urs will be shipped to you on or before March 13th. The book will arrive separately, from the store of your choice, at the same time so you can enjoy both together.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Btw, I completely forgot to mention the Γ‚mes SΕ“urs angle – souls finding each other again and again through time, but then again, you won’t miss that angle once you start reading. πŸ™‚
And speaking of that, it’s all left a  bit hanging in the end – I realize the idea behind it but I think the perspective should have been explained better.
All in all, a very interesting book to read.

*Offer ends March 1st, is limited numbers of supplies available and only to readers in the US and Canada.

Tom Knox: The Lost Goddess

World of Books February 17, 2012 Comments: 2

Well, I don’t know where to start.

I actually can’t be sure what I think of this book. It’s obviously interested enough if I managed to finish it. And it raises some interesting and troubling questions, without actually aiming to make you conform to the answer. But that only happens at the end.

In the meantime, you go through an action packed thriller that didn’t manage to pull me into the story. Although it did manage to broaden my geographical and historical horizons. Sometimes in a more gory and troubling manner than I would have wanted.

Quite a lot of story describes the regime of Khmer Rouge and Cambodian bloody history. This part made me realize my historical knowledge of the 1960s to 2000. is seriously lacking. Because I don’t remember learning about the Khmer Rouge which could be termed as smart because it’s too tragic (and traumatic) for teenage years if you ask me. I don’t see how it could be described in any historical book without coming across as a horrible tragedy, contained in one country and performed by its people on its people.
But I don’t want to go into that – the history of our world is full of tragedies (which always makes me think of the movie The Fifth Element where Milla J. watches the history of our world and considers humans not worth saving).

I realize I haven’t really said much about the book. πŸ™‚
I should warn you that some parts are not for sensitive people or those with a weak stomach and good imagination. Because at some parts I kept thinking to myself, please, this can’t be true. Although, I’m afraid it probably is (was). Which brings me back to the fact that this was an educational read and one that made me realize how little we know of the world outside the cocoon of our lives.

Unfortunately, I could understand the character of Chemda the best. Both Jake (the photographer) and Julia (the archeologist) weren’t people I could connect with or understand their motivation. But I’m not holding that against the book because the experience was eye opening and the premise of guilt/the leap in mankind’s thinking/and the god module was a very interesting one. More so than many I’ve come across lately.
But it still feels it could have been better intertwined in the story, because after finishing it, I felt like the parts were disjointed in my head.

Still, in my opinion, it is a book worth reading.
Especially if you consider my reviews are usually short and I obviously had a lot to say about this one. πŸ™‚

Veronica Blade: Something Witchy This Way Comes

World of Books February 2, 2012 Comments: 3

I’m pretty sure it hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that except for romance, I am also a fan of YA novels (where there is always romance as well). πŸ™‚

And I must say, I didn’t think I was going to say this (I blame it on Ms Blade) but now that I finally read a stand-alone book, I am wishing for sequels. Usually, I’m upset with the cliffhanger in all those YA series but now I read this and enjoyed it a lot, I wish there were more adventures for Tessa and Hayden.
Tessa who is Miss Perfect (and I don’t mean it in a condescending way) and Hayden who is the poster bad boy. πŸ™‚ And who of course gets in contact with his conscience and good nature during the book.
Again, I don’t mean it in a condescending way, it’s actually quite nicely done.

I must say I enjoyed all the Star Wars references (especially when those concerned Hayden).

I could give a word about the story now. πŸ™‚
Basically, Tessa finds out she’s a witch and can do all these interesting things, and is courtes by one group that is saying the other possible group to belong to is not nice. Of course. πŸ™‚
So, Hayden is enlisted as her bodyguard during school hours and this is where the story starts. It’s easy to follow and enjoy the book, it has the feel of watching a good teenage movie.
One of the things I especially liked is that the problems don’t rain from all sides but some situations actually have a positive resolution.
And, of course, the novel ends with a happy-end and the final feeling. Which is something I missed (everything nowadays is coming out in numerous sequels, not that I mind a lot, but it’s hard keeping track in your head what happened where).

So, even though I was happy to press my Kindle button for the last page, I did feel a bit sad I wasn’t going to read more about Tessa and Hayden.

(which is in no way an endorsement to Ms Blade to write a sequel, I believe the story is perfect the way it is and that a sequel might ruin the whole)

Some romance for cold winter days (or nights)

World of Books January 29, 2012 Comments: 4

Stephanie Laurens: In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster

I’ve been following the Cynsters forever. πŸ™‚ I have to say I didn’t expect there would be more after the original Devil’s crew of rakes, but luckily, there are always other family members on the lookout for love (or not). πŸ™‚

This is the second book in the trilogy and we still have Angelica’s and laird’s story left (to come out soon, luckily for me). πŸ™‚
In this book, we get to know the laird much better and I really appreciated that, it made me eager to read his story when the time comes. As obviously the first 2 kidnappings of Cynster sisters (so he can marry one because of a complicated story) didn’t work out well for him.

I must say though, the lead male character Jeremy (a scholar turning half-warrior during the novel) is incredibly fun to read. He and Eliza go through some peril and a serious adventure during which both grow as people and fall in love (of course) with each other through their adversities. I particularly loved their theorizing as to why they should take advantage of the fact that she is obviously ruined (as she had to spend nights with only him as company). πŸ™‚
Jeremy is also one of the rare male characters in romance novels who, even though he could have the woman he loves without him declaring it, decides to take all the facts into account and state his true feelings.
In the end, they both grow as people and show their families their true worth. πŸ™‚

Sabrina Jeffries: A Lady Never Surrenders

This is the last novel of the Hellions of Halstead, the story of the youngest sister, Celia an Jackson Pinter, the investigator into the murder of her parents. The investigation starts in the first novel and runs through the whole year, which is how much time all 5 of them have in order to get marries unless their grandmother disinherits them.

Celia is the most fragile of them, not in appearance so much, but in emotions. Which is why her love story with Pinter (who has some problems of his own) is fraught with misunderstanding (and some heavy passion). I have to say, this seems one of the better S. Jeffries novels I read in a long time. She is always good, but this one made me react to many of the stories encounters. And that is one of the ways I know a story is good (any kind of story).
In the end, the manage to understand each other (through some serious misunderstandings and flounderings on Mr. Pinter’s part – of course, he is a man, understanding female feelings is a bit difficult for him).

As this is the last Hellion of Halstead to get her love story, of course that the murder of their parents is solved.

Linda Mooney: Captive Surrender

I find the premise of the story, even though it’s set in a future universe that doesn’t exist, a bit scary and unfortunately possible. Kidnapping people and forcing them to have sex in order to broadcast it all over the universe (in this case) in order to make money seems not so far fetched in today’s world.
Maurra is a member of Psi Police Corps and is kidnapped and forced into this by a guy she formerly sent to prison who got free.
And as the story is set in a universe full of different species, of course, her kidnapped partner is of another (much bigger) species. The problem is, it is forbidden to have inter-species relations and her a member of police force that uses their psi powers, she both needs to uphold the law as well as help the innocent, who is in this predicament because of her.

In the end, they break free and then a whole another set of problems occurs but the story is interesting, fast-paced and well a bit too short. πŸ™‚ I could have used a couple of more pages of this story. Especially as it’s a sci-fi romance, something I haven’t read in a while (I forgot how good they can get).

The only question I am left with is, is Maurra completely human in appearance or not? As there is a mention of her having 3 arms which are never explained afterwards. And I wondered where would you place a third arm on a human body… (as this was advanced uncorrected proof, that could account for this particular problem)

P.S. As I read this on my Kindle, I only now saw the cover – I have to say, Maurra looks much better (and smarter) in my mind than on that cover.

Matthew Reilly: Scarecrow Returns

World of Books January 22, 2012 1 Comment

I promise, a perfume review is coming soon. πŸ™‚

But until then, another book I read that deserves I talk about it. Besides, I’m a Matthew Reilly fan for years now (albeit I almost stopped being that after he killed a certain character some time ago).
And this is the part where I need to say that I REALLY doubted him. I was so upset at a certain point in the book, and kept thinking that I am not reading another MR novel after this if keeps going like that, but luckily for me, I was wrong and I hope there will be more MR novels in the future because I really enjoy them.

I mean, you shouldn’t expect a novel that will become a classic (although it might in the fast-paced action category if those will ever become classics) – it’s like reading a Hollywood action movie of the James Bond/Mission Impossible/Die Hard variety.
It’s fast, action-packed and mostly fun. Until you get to the conspiracy theory part where it’s usually US conspiracy although not known by the top authority. It’s also very believable (in the possibility of people like that existing and attempting to destroy certain countries) and quite likely unfortunately. Not in the whole action-packed, impossible to survive situations, but from the perspective that we have no idea what is actually happening at top levels in our world.

Ok, enough with the conspiracy theories. πŸ™‚
It’s an easy read and if you enjoyed the previous Scarecrow novels, you’re bound to enjoy this one.
And now that I’ve read it, I’m ready for the next Jack West installment (even though Scarecrow and Jack Reilly bear many similarities, not that I really mind). πŸ™‚

S.K.S. Perry: Darkside

World of Books January 20, 2012 Comments: 3

Where to start?

It’s been a while since I read such a light-bantered book.

At first, I thought the main character, James, wasn’t really funny, more that he tried too hard to be funny but as the story progressed and I get to know him, he became a really cute-funny, slightly dorky guy.
Although, I’m not sure he’d be happy to be called that, being an Eternal (someone who is dead, but not dead dead – the book explanation). πŸ™‚

I must say in all my fantastical reading so far, I haven’t yet come across the term of an Eternal, a being that is neither truly dead nor alive, spiritual so it can’t be killed.
The story is told from his perspective, how he came to be an Eternal and to fight on the side of good. Which he does throughout the book (fight against evil).

Anyway, we have the usual set of fantastic beings, vampires, fae, weres, trolls, goblins, etc. The interesting thing is though that the Darkside is in this case our world, and the world of fae is Summerland (well, other beings live there as well).

The spectral dog part is one I really enjoyed I must say. πŸ™‚
And even though James seems light-hearted and likes banter, he is at the moment of his first death, leading a solitary, unemotional life because everyone he loved died.
Luckily for him, in this book, his heart and emotions are once again his (through again some interesting mystical stuff).

A little fragrant bit – the favoutite perfume of his unfortunately dead girlfriend, was Eternity.

Even though I didn’t think of that in the beginning, I really enjoyed the book and its light tone. It made me smile and laugh and that is something any one of us can use in large quantities.
Luckily for me, there is another book in the series. πŸ™‚

Kresley Cole: Lothaire

World of Books January 13, 2012 1 Comment

*probable spoilers ahead*

The Enemy of the Old.

That’s who Lothaire is. And when I say “of the old” it actually means several millenia old (more than I can possible wrap my mind around).

He and Nix go together way back (and he remembers her name – Phenix) – it seems they started their immortal lives at about the same time and had dealings all throughout history – mostly friendly. He is the Enemy of the Old which makes him evil so friendliness isn’t a characteristic of his dealings.
And make no mistake about that – you cannot call him anything else but evil until the end – even though at times you might be prone to forget it and forgive possibly. Try and ignore his gorgeousness in the process too. πŸ™‚

But the most important part of this story for me is Ellie. She practically stole Lothaire’s book. πŸ™‚
In my opinion, she is the strongest female character so far in the Immortals after Dark series (and she should be, as she is the Bride of the Enemy of the Old).
There are her own references throughout the book about her being stubborn, but she actually isn’t stubborn. At least not from my perspective. She is extremely strong in character, proud, fair, compassionate and loving. I can see though how pride can be mistaken for stubborness, but the more stubborn person in this book is Lothaire.

I don’t want to go into details about the story as there is a lot of new information coming to light and I couldn’t possibly decide what would be more important as I can’t enumerate everything. Just read it and enjoy (and tell me if I’m right about Ellie). πŸ™‚

Those who read my reviews probably know by now I am a huge fan of Kresley Cole. πŸ™‚ Luckily for me, now that I have my Kindle, I didn’t have to wait for the actual book to arrive in my bookstore. The moment it was out, I had it and then got sucked into its world.
The best thing about that world and its stories is that, except for the part where the pair gets together in the end, is that I can never guess what is going to happen. 
Which of course works wonders for speedy reading. πŸ™‚

I have no idea when the next book in the series is coming out (I just know it’s not soon enough) but I’m wondering if it’s about Kristoff’s love story…
As we’re left with an interesting parting scene in Lothaire…