Tag Archives: Book review

James Dashner: The Maze Runner

Book review, World of Books April 7, 2014 Comments: 3

Guess how I decided to read this book? 😉

Here is the trailer:

I can’t say yet whether the movie is better than the book but I seriously doubt it, as the book is rather good (and I haven’t seen the movie yet).

It’s a bit like Hunger Games meets Lost in a maze. And a bit scary and very tense while reading. You want to know what the hell happened and why can’t they remember anything and what is going on?!maze runner

Straight from the beginning it’s rather thrilling and the suspense basically never stops. You get so many questions in your head and you just can’t wait to get them answered and most do get answered but by the end, you only have several more that will require you to read on. 🙂

Talk about a good writer… 😉

And since I got quite a lot of those unanswered questions,  I peeked a bit through the blurbs for the following installments and I am already angry with the powers that be.

That said, i really liked Thomas and his highly analytic and cool mind in the direst of circumstances. This time around I felt stupid because I had all these questions and hoped to get them answered but no, I had to wait to the end. And wonder who would be so evil as to put them all in a situation like this?!

“When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.”

 

Gail Z. Martin: Ice Forged

Book review, World of Books April 2, 2014 Leave a comment

Book One of The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga

I don’t know if anyone else has the same problem, but after reading a lot of fantasy, it becomes difficult trying new things because so many similar characters, stories and worlds. I guess it comes with the genre. So once you had your fill, you basically stop wanting to read about more dwarves, elves, magical abilities, etc.

Imagine my surprise then when I came across a fantasy novel that both sounded interesting and was interesting from the beginning.ice forged

“Condemned as a murderer for killing the man who dishonored his sister, Blaine “Mick” McFadden has spent the last six years in Velant, a penal colony in the frigid northern wastelands. Harsh military discipline and the oppressive magic keep a fragile peace as colonists struggle against a hostile environment. But the supply ships from Dondareth have stopped coming, boding ill for the kingdom that banished the colonists.

Now, as the world’s magic runs wild, McFadden and the people of Velant must fight to survive and decide their fate …”

This description doesn’t even come near to what else is happening in the world of Mick, Connor and other characters (there are many). The story progresses quickly and we learn many different things along the way which will probably help our lost characters get to the bottom of everything (and possibly heal the world’s magic) but for that, we will have to wait for the next sequel.

I did get lost a bit amid all the Mick’s friends from Velant, as not all of them manage to separate themselves into characters you can remember but I didn’t consider that a detriment to  the book.

I must say I enjoyed the fact that magic got incorporated into everyday people’s lives in a quiet manner that gets unraveled later. The loss of that magic is felt rather badly.

I also loved the part where we learn about how resilient humans are, even in the worst of situations, most people will fight for a chance to live. Resilience seems to be a part of human nature.

 

Janet Hubbard: Bordeaux: The Bitter Finish

Book review, World of Books March 12, 2014 Comments: 5

I never thought I would get into a series without starting at the beginning.

But I somehow read the blurbs for both books and didn’t think there would be a connection, save from the main character Max getting into another mystery crime.

Seems I was a bit wrong on that count but it doesn’t matter, as all the important things can be understood from this book in reference to what happened the previous year (in the previous book).

It’s a nice crime story centered around counterfeiting wine with a little romance thrown in. I really enjoy drinking wine but I admit, now it seems I am a total ignoramus when it comes to it (and I thought how I knew a little to get me by). bordeaux

That said, chances of me ever having the knowledge the French characters in this book, who are wine aficionados, have, is basically zero. 🙂 Also, I don’t have the means to drink that kind of wine.

As a side note, what I thought was perfectly reasonably priced wine I enjoy, seems to be the cheapest, lowest quality stuff. 😦 At least when it comes to French wine.

And not only do I have no knowledge of wine industry, I also lack some serious information on the importance and complexity of cheeses. Turns out I am rather ignorant of much of what I enjoy in my everyday life. 😀 Talk about being put down in your place. 😉

Anyway, if you want a nice, educating read about wine you will probably never be able to afford, this is the book for you.

Ok, that was mean. 😉

But really, I make it sound bad when I actually  learned a lot and had fun in the process. The characters and the story could do with some more consolidation but in general, it’s a window into a world that was, until now, unknown to me.

And when the next installment is out, I’ll be reading it. It ended in such a way as to suggest a sequel.

“NYPD detective Max Maguire returns to France as bodyguard to a famous American wine critic. Max’s mother is French—so Max is not only bilingual but blessed, or cursed, with disapproving (and devious) French relatives. Max is not just escorting the critic, she’s also keeping an eye on a very expensive bottle of wine whose authenticity is in dispute, a  pawn in cut-throat wine wars involving critics, wine collectors, and auction houses. Checked into their Paris hotel, it’s not long before Max discovers her client dead in her room and the bottle stolen from the hotel’s safe. So she has no choice but to team up with examining magistrate Olivier Chaumont, the man she had fallen in love with the year before while solving a murder in Champagne. Olivier’s sidekick, Commissaire Abdel Zeroual joins in. Max has no police role in France but she stays  a step ahead of the French investigators using tactics learned back in New York, while Olivier weaves in and out of Bordeaux society where he is certain the murderer lurks. Is this something local, or is there really a counterfeit wine operation in play? Moving back and forth from Bordeaux to Manhattan among vintners, restaurateurs, auctioneers, collectors, the rich, as well as among less privileged players, everyone is propelled towards a shocking climax.”

Tess Gerritsen: Girl Missing

Book review, World of Books March 9, 2014 Comments: 2

I wasn’t aware of the fact that T. Gerritsen wrote romance with a dash of crime before becoming such a great crime thriller writer. Probably because I only got to know her through the Rizzoli and Isles series.

But when the chance presented itself to read one of her early novels being re-published under a new name (through NetGalley), I leaped at the chance because I love her writing.

And I wasn’t sorry. I inhaled the book in one go (during one long evening, ending up very tired at work the other day). 😉girl missing

“A beautiful young woman’s corpse is found dumped in a garbage-strewn alley. Now laid out in the office of medical examiner Kat Novak is an unidentified body that betrays no secrets—except for a matchbook clutched in one stiff hand, seven numbers scrawled inside. When a second victim is discovered, Kat begins to fear that a serial killer is stalking the streets, using a deadly drug to do his dirty work. The police are skeptical. The mayor won’t listen. One of the town’s most prominent citizens, with a missing daughter of his own, is also Kat’s chief suspect. As the death toll rises, Kat races to expose a deadly predator who is close enough to touch her.”

A huge plus for the novel is the fact that even though you follow the story and understand why (at some point) the stuff is happening, until the last moment you aren’t exactly sure who is responsible. I hate being able to guess in advance who the killer is.

And then a love story being woven into it is basically what gets me hooked on a book every time.

Even though you can tell it’s one of the earlier works, the characterizations are much better in later books.

That said, if you are a fan of Tess Gerritsen, you won’t be sorry you picked up this book. The quick pace, the thrilling crimes and facing obstacles to gain love, well, it’s all there. 😉

Max Brooks: World War Z

Book review, World of Books February 26, 2014 Comments: 4

Well, now I certainly understand why people who read the book were upset with the movie. 🙂
After reading the book, I can say the movie is rather loosely based on the book.  I’d say the title comes the closest. 😉

Ok, that was mean of me as I enjoyed the movie and I did recognize some parts of the book that I saw in the movie but really, the movie doesn’t come close to what’s in the book (then again, what movie does?). Actually, it veers off in a completely different way.

But I want to talk about the book and not about the movie. The book I would highly recommend to practically anyone. Because the most important thing that comes out of this book is the rather good (and bleak) depiction of everything that is wrong with the world today.

The story is based on interviews with particular survivors, several years after the end of the World War Z and some of them are actually scum. Not many but there is no problem picking them out. Surprisingly, all of them are either rich or in power! Can you imagine that?wwz

The way the interviews are slowly progressing gives you the image of what and how it all happened.

If you are like me and think that a book that’s based on interviews with people cannot come close to an interesting read that you will devour, well, you would be (like me) very wrong.

It’s fun how the introduction is the explanation on how this book, from the fictional point of view of the interviewer, came to be. And how he had access to many important people after the war.

I don’t want to go into details about the story but what is rather obvious is that Mr. Brooks did some great research in writing it and I, for one, actually learned a lot in general about the world we live in.

The thing is, zombies aside, this book is a very good warning against what we as humans are capable of doing to ourselves, destroying the world we know because of our greed and power cravings.

That is why World War Z is scary.

Justin Cronin: The Twelve

Book review, World of Books February 24, 2014 Leave a comment

It’s been a year since I read The Passage and I’ve been postponing reading The Twelve to closer the release date for the last book (but it’s still not known) and I could no longer wait and had to read it.

There are obvious similarities between the two. The beginning is disjointed and it takes time for the reader to get his bearings because the story is skipping backward and forward and it takes a while before you can connect what happened in the intervening years and how it reflects on the story now.

But you do and you shouldn’t stop reading even if it bothers you.the twelve

We follow the characters from the The Passage five years after the story of that book has happened and even though there is a place where humanity survives, there are hints that all hell might break loose and overtake that little human circle.

Hmm, now that I mentioned hell, I should also mention the fact that God is a big part of the story. Not in the obvious way, but there are references to Peter being a shepherd-like figure, to hearing God’s voice/hints as to which way a character’s life lies, etc. When humanity disappears, turning to God is an obvious choice. And I don’t mean it in a condescending way, we all need some kind of comfort to hold on to.

One thing Mr. Cronin does well is describe what  might be happening in someone’s mind. The description of what goes on in a mind of a crazy person here was unbelievably believable. I hope that doesn’t mean I’m leaning toward crazy?! (since I can imagine it so easily…) 😉

You know, the thing about really good post-apocalyptic books is the fact that they make you aware how much cruelty and pain we inflict on each other and how in any possible scenario of a future apocalypse (except for meteors and stuff like that), we, as humans, will be the ones responsible for bringing about the end of our world. And I really don’t have a hard time believing it after seeing one of the characters pave the road to hell by selecting the so called “good intentions road”. And true to my prediction, he certainly did that.

And here is where it gets both interesting and complicated.

We follow some of the characters from the previous book but we also learn how previous events are going to reverberate down the future and influence our heroes’ lives and choices.

The great thing about Mr. Cronin’s writing is that you really get lost in the story and feel you are truly a part of it. It keeps pulling you in and you are powerless to stop it.

N.K. Jemisin: The Broken Kingdoms read-along #4

Book review, World of Books January 28, 2014 Comments: 7

This is our final week and this week’s questions were created by Grace of Books Without Any Pictures.

 

1.  We finally meet T’vril in his new role as Lord Arameri.  Is he what you expected?
Actually yes. He didn’t get too Arameri but he’s ruthless when he needs to be (seems not as much as his Arameri kin would like).
The Broken Kingdoms by NK Jemisin
2.  Oree is given a choice, to live as the Arameri’s weapon, or to die.  What would you do in that position?
I always like to think I would choose the higher path. But I love living. That said, I’m not sure if I could live with other peoples/godlings lives on my hands.
3.  Do you think that Oree made the right decision by sending Shiny away?  How do you feel about Yeine’s role here?

Yes, but it seems Shiny was expecting it. I think Yeine made the best out of the situation, salvaging what she could without breaking anyone’s tenuous connection to sanity.
4.  What did you think of the ending of the book?  Were you satisfied?
Well, at several points I was worried it was going to go into direction I wasn’t going to enjoy but it all ended up rather well. I knew there was no chance of a happy ending for Shiny and Oree, he has much more to learn and live through before he can start being whole.

 

5.  How did The Broken Kingdoms compare to The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms?  Which did you like better?

I actually like The Broken Kingdoms better. I had a hard time consoling Yeine and Enefa and kept thinking Yeine got smothered a bit by goddess’ entity. It seems Yeine is upset a bit in this book that people find them interchangeable. 😉

This one seems more like a book about life. You have some pleasure and love, you suffer, you get better, you get some pleasure and love, disappointment follows but then there are the most amazing consequences to follow. 🙂

N.K. Jemisin: The Broken Kingdoms read-along #3

Book review, World of Books January 21, 2014 Comments: 6

This week our host is Lauren from Violin in a Void.

Let’s get to it then. 🙂

1. Oree chooses not to reveal Shiny’s identity to Dateh. Did you agree with her decision? What might have happened if she’d chosen otherwise? 

Yes, I agree. It’s never wise to share information with the bad guys. 🙂The Broken Kingdoms by NK Jemisin

I can’t even begin to guess what would have happened if she chose to disclose that information. I’m not sure how much the human Itempass could help them…

 

2. Madding’s dead 😦 How do you feel about his death? What do you make of his last words to Oree?

Didn’t see that coming. Well, not before Oree actually called him through. Then it was obvious as the arrow was just lying there. I must say I couldn’t understand how come Oree didn’t think about that?!

Anyway, what I got out of Madding’s last words is that he truly loved Oree.

 

3. Itempas has seen what terrible things people do in his name. What do you make of Dateh’s interpretation of Itempan faith? Could this help rehabilitate Itempas or will he simply see the New Lights as a delusional sect?

I’m certainly hoping it will put Shiny on the path of spiritual healing. It becomes obvious later on that he was hurt badly and in view of his unbending character, he snapped and then all hell broke lose for the next 2000 years. Talk about being in better control of one’s character…

New Lights are definitely delusional, no doubt about it.

 

4. After Madding’s death, Oree loses the will to live, except to stop the New Lights. Shiny wants to kill her because she’s a demon. Do you think she’ll survive the events of the novel? Is it safer to wipe out the demons?

Safer, probably. Better, no. There should be checks and balances. And demons fit nicely into that. I think she’ll survive, I just wonder at what cost (something is probably going to happen to her – well, more than it already has).

 

5. Itempas shares his feelings about his actions in the God’s War. Have your feelings about him changed at all?

Slightly, yes. Still, he behaved like a spoiled child. And I would expect more from a god with his background. Well, it’s never too late to learn (and learn about yourself, because that is what he seems to be doing now…)

 

6. There’s something odd about Hado. Shiny says to him “You are not quite yourself. […] Something of him lingers.” Oree notes that Hado’s shadow is darker than the non-magical things around him. Could he be more than just a spy, and if so, what?

Ha, ha, it was obvious here who he was and I wondered if the name is the same from book 1 because I just don’t remember. We learn later that he is the human version of Nahadoth from book one but for me it was obvious once I read this paragraph.

Julianna Scott: The Holders

Book review, World of Books January 18, 2014 Leave a comment

I hate to say it, but even though I enjoyed it, it was so very predictable.

Now I feel I cannot go on and make you feel it’s worth reading but if you’re up for some interesting YA fun with some amazing abilities coming through the Celtic history (I think), this would be a nice start to a series (yes, it’s a series, who knew?!). 😉holders

I really liked Becca, most of the time she seemed much smarter than the usual teenage heroines I meet. Being clumsy and not able to direct yourself in space is human nature (and hers as well). She does seem to have a teenage propensity for quick falling in love (not that Alex was far behind). I don’t count this as a spoiler as it’s rather obvious from both the blurb and the beginning of the book.

But it would be a spoiler to let you know what they discover once they get to St. Brigid’s and the story starts unraveling.

I will say that the characters are well portrayed and you understand why they act the way they do, there is a mention of the great smell of libraries (something I definitely notice) and tension at some points will make you try and read faster.

17-year-old Becca spent her whole life protecting her brother from, well, everything. The abandonment of their father, the so called ‘experts’ who insist that voices in his head are unnatural and must be dealt with, and the constant threat of being taken away to some hospital and studied like an animal. When two representatives appear claiming to have the answers to Ryland’s perceived problem, Becca doesn’t buy it for one second. That is until they seem to know things about Ryland and about Becca and Ryland’s family, that forces Becca to concede that there may be more to these people than meets the eye. Though still highly skeptical, Becca agrees to do what’s best for Ryland.

What they find at St. Brigid’s is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family’s heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they’ve been waiting for. However, they are all–especially Becca–in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.

She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There’s an attraction between Becca and Alex that can’t be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.

Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he’s settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he’s done?

Veronica Roth: Divergent

Book review, World of Books January 12, 2014 Comments: 6

Well, I’m not sure what to say about this. It was fine while it lasted but I’m not sure I’ll be continuing (I thought that even before I read the reviews on Amazon).

The idea is great. In a future dystopian world, Chicago population is divided into 5 factions that are all supposed to live a utopian life but it’s not utopian as is soon rather obvious. From the people who are unlucky to be factionless, to the fact that not all who select one of the factions will actually become its members, to the point where most factions resent Abnegation leadership.divergent

I couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed with the fact that characterization is a bit lacking (also, no one packs so much muscles in 2 weeks no matter what they do) and we lack some crucial information (not even a hint to what happened to the world outside Chicago?! – that is just one thing), to the fact that what happens to Four is so very similar to what happens to Peeta in the Hunger Games…

I wish I didn’t sound so very dismissive of the book because I practically inhaled it, but by its end I was no longer sure I wanted to continue reading. Most of my questions would probably get answered in the next book, it’s just that I’m not sure I really want to read on.

The truth is, this novel feels more like a play on a dystopian novel and not an actual story that transports you into the world you’re reading about.

Does that make sense?

 

P.S. After all this, I still want to point out the fact that I read it (quickly) and enjoyed it, it’s just that in hindsight I can actually look at it and see what is it that was bothering me.

 

“In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.”