Take a photo of a barcode or cover
The story of the cowardly lion is a very interesting one. The third book walks us through his childhood, how he met Dorothy, and the part he is to play in the future of Oz.
The lion, Brrr, has quite an eventful past, and the way he received the name "cowardly" is very entertaining, and yet very sad. Brrr's entire life has been trying to fit in, somewhere, anywhere, and the fear that he never truly will haunts him.
We are introduced once again to the strange character of Yackle, the old woman who has followed the story of Oz through all three books so far. We also get a glimpse into her history and why she seems to be so eternal. We meet the Clock of the Time Dragan and it helps us to tie many of the loose ends together. Although the series still seems to lack a true conclusion, most of what has been on my mind was cleared up throughout this book.
4/5
The lion, Brrr, has quite an eventful past, and the way he received the name "cowardly" is very entertaining, and yet very sad. Brrr's entire life has been trying to fit in, somewhere, anywhere, and the fear that he never truly will haunts him.
We are introduced once again to the strange character of Yackle, the old woman who has followed the story of Oz through all three books so far. We also get a glimpse into her history and why she seems to be so eternal. We meet the Clock of the Time Dragan and it helps us to tie many of the loose ends together. Although the series still seems to lack a true conclusion, most of what has been on my mind was cleared up throughout this book.
4/5
Schuyler has been on the run since the from her own people, the Blue Bloods of New York, ever since the fateful day the Silver Bloods were fully revealed (end of book 3). She seeks refuge with a group of Blue Bloods from Paris, only to witness their almost destruction as the Silver Bloods and the demon that was accidently released wreak havoc on their annual ball.
She returns to New York to live in secrecy from her friends and try to find the secret her family has hidden for years. With the help of her human conduit, smuggling books out of the archives, she stumbles upon what her true mission should be. While one mystery begins to be solved, many more unravel around her as dark secrets are revealed, and the romance between her and Jack resurfaces.
A good series that I have enjoyed so far. The characters all change very dramatically in this book. It seems to be a major turning point in the overall story. It got a little soap opera-ish with some of the back and forth hidden lives and secrets. At times it almost made it a little hard to follow what everyone was really doing.
3.5/5
She returns to New York to live in secrecy from her friends and try to find the secret her family has hidden for years. With the help of her human conduit, smuggling books out of the archives, she stumbles upon what her true mission should be. While one mystery begins to be solved, many more unravel around her as dark secrets are revealed, and the romance between her and Jack resurfaces.
A good series that I have enjoyed so far. The characters all change very dramatically in this book. It seems to be a major turning point in the overall story. It got a little soap opera-ish with some of the back and forth hidden lives and secrets. At times it almost made it a little hard to follow what everyone was really doing.
3.5/5
The gods exist. We just don't realize it, or at least not all of us. But then one day Zues's master lightning bolt is stolen. He blames Poseidon, all because of an ancient vow that he has broken. A vow not to have children with mortals. The demi-gods are too powerful and could potentially overthrow the gods themselves. Percy Jackson, is this son. And not only did he not steal the bolt, he doesn't even know what he really is.
As a result of the bolt being stolen, the immortals launch an attack on Percy to try and get the bolt, either to give it to Zeus or keep it for themselves. When Percy's family and his best friend, Grover, find out they take him to Camp Half-Blood, a safe training grounds for the demi-gods to grow and learn their past and how to defend themselves.
From Camp Half-Blood Percy is given a quest to find out who really did take the bolt to avoid a battle of the gods that would detroy modern civilization in the process. His quest will take him across the country, from New York to LA, from the Underworld to Mt Olympus. He must confront a variety of mythical creatures, some that offer to help, and some that are set on him failing.
This is a great book (much better than the movie, which is actually a completely different story). The characters are likeable and hateable, they are just enough surprises to keep things interesting without being too confusing for the young adults.
4/5
I was a little shocked at how different the movie was from the book. The movie takes half the book out and makes up the middle part of the story completely. There are several major gods missing, and few extras thrown in to make up for it. Percy's father, Poseidon, is shown in a completely different angle that makes many of Percy's reactions seem a bit odd. It's probably the more different movie adaptation I've ever seen.
As a result of the bolt being stolen, the immortals launch an attack on Percy to try and get the bolt, either to give it to Zeus or keep it for themselves. When Percy's family and his best friend, Grover, find out they take him to Camp Half-Blood, a safe training grounds for the demi-gods to grow and learn their past and how to defend themselves.
From Camp Half-Blood Percy is given a quest to find out who really did take the bolt to avoid a battle of the gods that would detroy modern civilization in the process. His quest will take him across the country, from New York to LA, from the Underworld to Mt Olympus. He must confront a variety of mythical creatures, some that offer to help, and some that are set on him failing.
This is a great book (much better than the movie, which is actually a completely different story). The characters are likeable and hateable, they are just enough surprises to keep things interesting without being too confusing for the young adults.
4/5
I was a little shocked at how different the movie was from the book. The movie takes half the book out and makes up the middle part of the story completely. There are several major gods missing, and few extras thrown in to make up for it. Percy's father, Poseidon, is shown in a completely different angle that makes many of Percy's reactions seem a bit odd. It's probably the more different movie adaptation I've ever seen.
I know I'm a little behind the game on this series, just getting it into my reading now, but it was worth the wait.
Katniss lives in the 12th district, the poorest district there is, with her mother and her sister, Prim. She sneaks out under the fences during the day to poach in the forest for food to eat and trade with her friend, Gale. They support their families and keep from starving, but the consequenses of being caught could be deadly.
The day of the Reaping is here. The Reaping is the day two children, a boy and a girl ages 12-18, from each of the 12 districts are chosen to participate in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are a deadly showdown forcing the children to fight for their lives. There can be only one winner....the last one left alive. Katniss is shocked when her sister is selected from the list to participate and quickly volunteers to take her place.
In the Capitol she is prepared for the games with her fellow selection from district 12, a boy named Peeta. They strike up an unusual friendship that Katniss is scared will only interfere with her winning the game so she can return to her family. Once the game starts she strikes out on her own, hoping to outlast the other contestants. But the gamemakers seem to be forcing her to make a decision. A decision between her life or the life of Peeta. After all, there is only one winner.
This book may sound gory and bloody and rather harsh. Parts of it are, but not so much that it took away from the tale of Katniss discovering who she is and who she can be. She learns the meaning of friendship and trust, compassion and revenge, and above all, what sacrifice really means.
The other contestants in the game are written in a way that they stand out as individuals, but not so much that they take away from the characters of Katniss and Peeta. I'm looking forward to continuing to story to see what the gamemakers have in store.
4/5
Katniss lives in the 12th district, the poorest district there is, with her mother and her sister, Prim. She sneaks out under the fences during the day to poach in the forest for food to eat and trade with her friend, Gale. They support their families and keep from starving, but the consequenses of being caught could be deadly.
The day of the Reaping is here. The Reaping is the day two children, a boy and a girl ages 12-18, from each of the 12 districts are chosen to participate in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are a deadly showdown forcing the children to fight for their lives. There can be only one winner....the last one left alive. Katniss is shocked when her sister is selected from the list to participate and quickly volunteers to take her place.
In the Capitol she is prepared for the games with her fellow selection from district 12, a boy named Peeta. They strike up an unusual friendship that Katniss is scared will only interfere with her winning the game so she can return to her family. Once the game starts she strikes out on her own, hoping to outlast the other contestants. But the gamemakers seem to be forcing her to make a decision. A decision between her life or the life of Peeta. After all, there is only one winner.
This book may sound gory and bloody and rather harsh. Parts of it are, but not so much that it took away from the tale of Katniss discovering who she is and who she can be. She learns the meaning of friendship and trust, compassion and revenge, and above all, what sacrifice really means.
The other contestants in the game are written in a way that they stand out as individuals, but not so much that they take away from the characters of Katniss and Peeta. I'm looking forward to continuing to story to see what the gamemakers have in store.
4/5
After reading Perfect Timing, I knew I had to try another of Jill Mansell's books. I'd heard great things about Millie's Fling and it didn't disappoint. Millie is in a rut. A job rut, a boyfriend rut, and she needs some change. Little does she know that change will come about with her decision to speak to bestselling romance author, Orla Hart. Orla immediately takes Millie "under her wing" and sets about trying to find the perfect man for her....and while she's at it, she's going to write a book about Millie's romantic woes and hopefully the finding of her perfect guy.
Millie's roommate and best friend, Hester, is having her own romantic problems as well. With a boyfriend far away for work and a past crush coming back into town, she is torn as to what she should do. Throw in handsome eligible bachelors of every sort and things start happening. But will Millie be able to find the man of her dreams?
4/5
Millie's roommate and best friend, Hester, is having her own romantic problems as well. With a boyfriend far away for work and a past crush coming back into town, she is torn as to what she should do. Throw in handsome eligible bachelors of every sort and things start happening. But will Millie be able to find the man of her dreams?
4/5
The Magician of Hoad is the story of a boy, Heriot, a boy that is discontent with his place in the world, has always seemed to not fit in. Then one day he finds out that he is actually so much more than he expected. He is a magician, but not just any magician. He is to become the official Magician of Hoad.
But the boy, realizes quickly that he does not want his destiny to be determined by his new title. He wants to be the man he decides he wants to be. He realizes that his powers can be a dangerous thing and that some people would stop at nothing to control them, and if they can't, they would destroy them.
Ultimately this seems to be a coming of age story. Heriot spends his life trying to find out who he really is and what he is really supposed to do. He realizes that neither of these have answers that anyone can give him but himself.
3/5
But the boy, realizes quickly that he does not want his destiny to be determined by his new title. He wants to be the man he decides he wants to be. He realizes that his powers can be a dangerous thing and that some people would stop at nothing to control them, and if they can't, they would destroy them.
Ultimately this seems to be a coming of age story. Heriot spends his life trying to find out who he really is and what he is really supposed to do. He realizes that neither of these have answers that anyone can give him but himself.
3/5
Lyra has always been adventurous and it has led her into several awkward predicaments, but she is about to stumble into her greatest adventure yet. An unknown force, known only as the Gobblers, has been stealing children. Rumors abound about what happens to the stolen children. When one of Lyra's friends is taken, she decides that she must go find him.
Her quest takes her across the world from the city of Oxford to the swamps where the gyptians live and finally in to frozen north of Svalbard. Here she discovers the awful truth of what the Gobblers are really doing, and it's worse than anyone had imagined.
Lyra's adventures are beyond belief and fantastic. While she can be quite an obnoxious brat at times, you can't help but fall in love with her and her friends. Her friends are varied but loyal. There's just something about the girl that they can't resist wanting to help. The story is written in a way that draws you into her life and had you rooting for her the whole time.
4/5
Her quest takes her across the world from the city of Oxford to the swamps where the gyptians live and finally in to frozen north of Svalbard. Here she discovers the awful truth of what the Gobblers are really doing, and it's worse than anyone had imagined.
Lyra's adventures are beyond belief and fantastic. While she can be quite an obnoxious brat at times, you can't help but fall in love with her and her friends. Her friends are varied but loyal. There's just something about the girl that they can't resist wanting to help. The story is written in a way that draws you into her life and had you rooting for her the whole time.
4/5
The second book in His Dark Materials Trilogy was not nearly as well written as the first. Lyra has crossed over into another world where she meets Will, from yet another world. At first the jumping around was a little confusing, but I think that helped me understand how Lyra felt. Being in a place that is so similar to home, yet at the same time completely different.
Lyra is the same loveable brat that she is in the first book. We see how she has developed as a character a little bit. She has learned that her actions have consequences, and they are not always what she expects them to be. We also meet her new friend, Will. This book is more a tale about Will's quest than Lyra's. The world they meet in is haunted by strange creatures that seem to feed off people and they uncover an artifact with strange powers that no one really understands.
This book seems to be more of a transition book. Things needed to happen in order to continue the story, but I just didn't find this part to be nearly as interesting as book 1 or 3.
3/5
Lyra is the same loveable brat that she is in the first book. We see how she has developed as a character a little bit. She has learned that her actions have consequences, and they are not always what she expects them to be. We also meet her new friend, Will. This book is more a tale about Will's quest than Lyra's. The world they meet in is haunted by strange creatures that seem to feed off people and they uncover an artifact with strange powers that no one really understands.
This book seems to be more of a transition book. Things needed to happen in order to continue the story, but I just didn't find this part to be nearly as interesting as book 1 or 3.
3/5
Aislynn Greatham's brother has gone missing. He left many weeks ago on a strange mission and no one has heard word from him since. Desparate to find him Aislynn writes to one of his best friends , Jarrod Maxwell, to see if he would be willing to help. The two of them, along with a family knight for chaperone, strike out on the slimmest of clues to try and find where her brother has gone.
Aislynn Greatham is a "typical" medieval daughter to me. Obedient to her father in just about everything. Betrothed and happy about it for a political reason. She didn't seem to have much to her at first. She never really has too much more to her character, but a hidden strength and love for her family is revealed as she travels with Jarrod to find her brother.
Jarrod Maxwell has a grudge against the world. An illigitimate child of a noble and a war camp follower, he feels that the world does not accept him and that he has no place, other than that of friend to Aislynn's brother. He jumps at the chance to help his best friend and tries his best to deal with the sister that has been sent along with him. Jarrod was a fantastic character. He grows and develops with every page. He changes from a cold, hard man to a man that has learned to love and forgive by the end of the story.
The story seems to be a typical romance. Boy meets girl. Girl and boy don't like each other. Something dramatic happens and they fall in love.
2/5
Aislynn Greatham is a "typical" medieval daughter to me. Obedient to her father in just about everything. Betrothed and happy about it for a political reason. She didn't seem to have much to her at first. She never really has too much more to her character, but a hidden strength and love for her family is revealed as she travels with Jarrod to find her brother.
Jarrod Maxwell has a grudge against the world. An illigitimate child of a noble and a war camp follower, he feels that the world does not accept him and that he has no place, other than that of friend to Aislynn's brother. He jumps at the chance to help his best friend and tries his best to deal with the sister that has been sent along with him. Jarrod was a fantastic character. He grows and develops with every page. He changes from a cold, hard man to a man that has learned to love and forgive by the end of the story.
The story seems to be a typical romance. Boy meets girl. Girl and boy don't like each other. Something dramatic happens and they fall in love.
2/5
.png)
3. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 518
Acquired: 2/27/2010
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have it: Third (final) of a series
Series: His Dark Materials #3
Lyra and Will are back and still trying to find a way to Lyra's father, Lord Asriel. Lord Asriel's war is fully underway, but the final and decisive battle is still to come. Lyra and Will meet Mary Malone, a friend made in Will's earth, in yet another version of the world. (The jumping around sounds much more confusing that it actually is in the book.) Mary must help them find a way to understand dust and save all the worlds in existence.
Lyra is a character I will always love. She is so realistic to me it's frightening. Will is a bit to steadfast for my taste...almost too stubborn and to be real at times.
I hate to say too much about the plot and ruin it for people who have not yet read the first two. This was a fantastic end to a series. I was sad to see it stop, but completely happy about the way it did. Not all the strings were tied off nice and neat, but that's life, messy. All the plot lines were wrapped up in a way that allowed the characters to have resolution and a continuing purpose beyond the end of the story.
The twists and turns were numerous, but all made sense as they occurred. They were also spaced out in a way that made the story seem more real and believable.
5/5
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 518
Acquired: 2/27/2010
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have it: Third (final) of a series
Series: His Dark Materials #3
Lyra and Will are back and still trying to find a way to Lyra's father, Lord Asriel. Lord Asriel's war is fully underway, but the final and decisive battle is still to come. Lyra and Will meet Mary Malone, a friend made in Will's earth, in yet another version of the world. (The jumping around sounds much more confusing that it actually is in the book.) Mary must help them find a way to understand dust and save all the worlds in existence.
Lyra is a character I will always love. She is so realistic to me it's frightening. Will is a bit to steadfast for my taste...almost too stubborn and to be real at times.
I hate to say too much about the plot and ruin it for people who have not yet read the first two. This was a fantastic end to a series. I was sad to see it stop, but completely happy about the way it did. Not all the strings were tied off nice and neat, but that's life, messy. All the plot lines were wrapped up in a way that allowed the characters to have resolution and a continuing purpose beyond the end of the story.
The twists and turns were numerous, but all made sense as they occurred. They were also spaced out in a way that made the story seem more real and believable.
5/5