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I loved the DragonSpell series, so when I saw this one I just had to read it. It took me a little longer to get into then Ms. Paul's other novels, but not much. Before long I was adventuring right along with Tipper and her friends, laughing at their silliness and enjoying the fun.
It is difficult to find good Christian fantasy that doesn't either drive you crazy with preachiness or bore you with bland writing. You don't find either of these problems in this book. Ms. Paul's writing is intelligent and witty and she blends Christian values and allegory in with the story perfectly. Her characters are marvelously flawed and likable, even though most of them are not precisely human. It is so easy to praise their successes and cringe at mistakes you know you would probably make if you were in there place.
Full of humor and moments of peril, Tipper's is not a quest you want to miss. I recommend this book to children who want fun and parents who want quality. I also think this book would make an excellent read-aloud.
This book was utterly...fascinating. It was at times brutal and very dark, but it was always fascinating. The premise of a convent where young women are trained to be both nuns and assassins was highly original, if rather strange. I was worried that I would find it difficult to sympathize with the heroine, but her feelings were so real and understandable that I couldn't help but like Ismae.
Robin LaFevers is a master at description and atmosphere. You never once felt like you were anywhere but in medieval Europe. One of the reasons that I love me stories set in medieval time is for all of the politics and intrigues that go on in a kingdom, or, in this case, a duchy. In that respect, this book was perfect.
I wondered how the author would handle assassinations being carried out by a teenage girl, but you quickly realize that Ismae is no girl. She is despised by her parents throughout her 'childhood', until her father sells her to a man for a few measly coins. This upbringing gives her the motivation needed to kill, coldly and without mercy. If she had stayed that way through the whole novel I might have given up, but when she becomes exposed to the world she learns to forgive and think for herself.
Gavriel Duval is a fantastic love interest. Loyal to a fault, it is easy to like him from the very beginning. He is as dismayed as Ismae when they find themselves unwilling allies in their efforts to reveal (Duval) and destroy (Ismae) the young duchess's enemies - of which she has many. Thankfully, Duval and Ismae have some likable and heroic friends in the form of de Lornay and Beast. (I am really hoping to see more of Beast in the next book.)
I would not recommend this book to everyone, due to the dark and at times disturbing elements, but I enjoyed it a great deal and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark fantasy and historical fiction (though it isn't technically historical). The sequel will be about Sybilla, a fellow assassin of Ismae's, and I can't wait to read it.
I was so excited when Ms. Bebris announced that she was finally writing her Persuasion novel (having written mysteries to tie in with Miss Austen's five other published works already). Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, accidental detectives, were finally going to meet the Wentworths. At Lyme (I love Lyme).
The Deception at Lyme had all the things I loved about the previous books in the series - fun characters, complicated mystery, a bit of danger, a bit of humor and, especially in this case, romance. One thing it didn't have was any hint of the supernatural, but the very human mystery more than made up for the lack of magical influence.
I love how well the author incorporated the characters from Persuasion into the mystery. Mrs.Clay, Mr. Elliot and Sir Walter Elliot are all perfectly portrayed in all their less-than-likable glory, tangled in ambition and deceit. Captain Wentworth and Mr. Darcy get along famously, as I have always suspected that they would. My two favorite Austenesque heroes working together at last (sigh). The new characters were wonderful as well, especially the two gentlemen who take an interest in Georgiana (much to Darcy's chagrin). The charming Sir Lawrence and the enigmatic and possibly villainous Lieutenant St. Clair. Watching Darcy's discomfort was highly entertaining.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries that you can curl up with on a rainy afternoon, and, of course, to anyone who loves Jane Austen's marvelous characters.
I love Claudia Gray's writing style. It grabs you and immediately pushes you into whatever world she is trying to portray, whether it be the dark halls of Evernight Academy, or, in the case of Fateful, 1912 England. Right before the Titanic sails. The history was what I loved most about this book. The sinking of the Titanic is such a fascinating, tragic event for anyone who loves history, and this book perfectly shows the many things that might have happened to people on that ill-fated voyage. (Except for the werewolves, of course.) You see the hope of so many as they travel to America to make new lives for themselves, the decadence of the first class passengers and the bravery of the crew. Ms. Gray invented the entire principal cast of players, yet they are all very believable as people of the time.
Tess Davies, our heroine, is a lady's maid traveling with the somewhat dysfunctional Lisle family. Being an enterprising sort of miss, Tess does not plan to be a maid forever but rather start anew in America. Her plans are disrupted by mysterious gentleman and wolves even before the ship sets sail. She meant to just quietly go about her duties through the trip, but finds herself embroiled in a battle of wills between two werewolves. Alec and Mikhail. To complicate things further, she finds herself falling in love with Alec, though she knows nothing can happen between a servant girl and a first class passenger, even without all the supernatural goings on. I do love Tess; every inch the proper maid, she keeps secrets and faces the most shocking discoveries with a complete lack of hysteria. Her sensible beliefs are turned upside down and though she knows she shouldn't get further involved her heart won't let her start.
Alec is a dreamer whose future fell apart when he was bitten. While a dangerous pack of powerful werewolves want him and his father's influence at their control, he is determined to retain his freedom, but freedom can come at a terrible cost. I love his bravery and stalwart determination as he tries to protect everybody without losing himself.
The minor characters in this novel are as wonderful and well-developed as the main ones. Alec's father is wonderful; strong and supportive while so scared for his son. Tess shares a room with a Lebanese woman named Myriam and two elderly Norwegian ladies who speak no English. The ship is full of passengers from everywhere in the world. The crew is represented by one Seventh Officer Mr. George Greene, and unflappably English gentleman. The Lisle family are as different from each other as family members can be with kind Irene, pasty Leyton and overbearing Lady Regina. These are just a few of the lovely minor characters and you can't help but become involved in their fates, though you know they won't all survive the end.
My one disappointment in this novel was that in Ms. Gray's other books there was always some magnificent plot twist that you didn't see coming (read Evernight and you will see what I'm talking about) and in this one there was not. However, that only barely diminished my overall enjoyment of the story.
I first read this book when it was brand new, and I enjoyed it. Then I read it again, and loved it. There was something about reading it a second time that made me enjoy and understand it more. It was the world that really grabbed me. People are divided into five factions based on what human fault they blame for the troubles of the world. Dauntless blames cowardice, Candor blames deception, Amity blames anger, Abnegation blames selfishness and Erudite blames ignorance. They are all partly right and all partly wrong. The factions worked well enough for a while, when they worked together, but then some started to believe that their factions were better than the others.
Beatrice is in Abnegation, but she doesn't feel selfless enough to stay in a world of grey clothes, bland food and constantly caring for everyone else without ever thinking of herself. So, when it comes time for her to pick the faction she will live with for the rest of her life, she chooses Dauntless. No matter where she goes, she has to conceal the fact that she is Divergent, suited to not one but multiple factions. Equally brave and selfless. But Divergents are labelled rebels and troublemakers, and Beatrice could lose everything if she is discovered. I love Beatrice, or Tris as she calls herself after joining Dauntless. No matter how scared or exhausted, she keeps pushing forward. The first to jump, the first to volunteer, never hesitating in order to prove that she is just as brave as anyone else in Dauntless. But she never forgets where she comes from, and will give of herself for her friends. Yet in some ways she is very hesitant and shy, such as in her growing attraction to her teacher, Four.
Dauntless is not as she imagined it to be. The original intention of its founders was to protect, but some have come to see bravery as being the strongest, the fastest and the cruelest. More than one member of Dauntless would be willing to kill to win. Tris starts to learn that the world wasn't meant to be divided. It is really a very powerful story, the sort that makes you think.
The only one who shares her beliefs, who learns her secret, is her enigmatic instructor who is known only as Four. He is so full of contradictions that she never knows what he is thinking, whether he is truly on her side. He is full of secrets, and when you learn his true identity it makes you want to cry. He pushes her and watches her, more confident in her strength than she is. He and Tris stand against the world, trying to unravel a conspiracy that is taking place around them. The factions are taking stands against each other. Erudite starts slandering Abnegation, and what are their plans involving Dauntless?
The writing style is simple but descriptive, the action scenes stark and immediate. You feel what Tris feels and see what she sees. Veronica Roth is wonderful at painting a picture of a world falling apart, slowly, piece by piece.
This is a brilliant novel with surprising depth, full of sacrifice and true bravery, the kind that drives you to face your fears and give your life for others. You don't have to like science fiction or dystopian novels to love Divergent.
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The Dragons of Chiril by Donita K. Paul
Lieder Madchen, May 17, 2012
I loved the DragonSpell series, so when I saw this one I just had to read it. It took me a little longer to get into then Ms. Paul's other novels, but not much. Before long I was adventuring right along with Tipper and her friends, laughing at their silliness and enjoying the fun.It is difficult to find good Christian fantasy that doesn't either drive you crazy with preachiness or bore you with bland writing. You don't find either of these problems in this book. Ms. Paul's writing is intelligent and witty and she blends Christian values and allegory in with the story perfectly. Her characters are marvelously flawed and likable, even though most of them are not precisely human. It is so easy to praise their successes and cringe at mistakes you know you would probably make if you were in there place.
Full of humor and moments of peril, Tipper's is not a quest you want to miss. I recommend this book to children who want fun and parents who want quality. I also think this book would make an excellent read-aloud.
Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin Trilogy #1) by Robin La Fevers
Lieder Madchen, May 1, 2012
This book was utterly...fascinating. It was at times brutal and very dark, but it was always fascinating. The premise of a convent where young women are trained to be both nuns and assassins was highly original, if rather strange. I was worried that I would find it difficult to sympathize with the heroine, but her feelings were so real and understandable that I couldn't help but like Ismae.Robin LaFevers is a master at description and atmosphere. You never once felt like you were anywhere but in medieval Europe. One of the reasons that I love me stories set in medieval time is for all of the politics and intrigues that go on in a kingdom, or, in this case, a duchy. In that respect, this book was perfect.
I wondered how the author would handle assassinations being carried out by a teenage girl, but you quickly realize that Ismae is no girl. She is despised by her parents throughout her 'childhood', until her father sells her to a man for a few measly coins. This upbringing gives her the motivation needed to kill, coldly and without mercy. If she had stayed that way through the whole novel I might have given up, but when she becomes exposed to the world she learns to forgive and think for herself.
Gavriel Duval is a fantastic love interest. Loyal to a fault, it is easy to like him from the very beginning. He is as dismayed as Ismae when they find themselves unwilling allies in their efforts to reveal (Duval) and destroy (Ismae) the young duchess's enemies - of which she has many. Thankfully, Duval and Ismae have some likable and heroic friends in the form of de Lornay and Beast. (I am really hoping to see more of Beast in the next book.)
I would not recommend this book to everyone, due to the dark and at times disturbing elements, but I enjoyed it a great deal and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark fantasy and historical fiction (though it isn't technically historical). The sequel will be about Sybilla, a fellow assassin of Ismae's, and I can't wait to read it.
The Deception at Lyme: Or, the Peril of Persuasion (Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries) by Carrie Bebris
Lieder Madchen, April 7, 2012
I was so excited when Ms. Bebris announced that she was finally writing her Persuasion novel (having written mysteries to tie in with Miss Austen's five other published works already). Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, accidental detectives, were finally going to meet the Wentworths. At Lyme (I love Lyme).The Deception at Lyme had all the things I loved about the previous books in the series - fun characters, complicated mystery, a bit of danger, a bit of humor and, especially in this case, romance. One thing it didn't have was any hint of the supernatural, but the very human mystery more than made up for the lack of magical influence.
I love how well the author incorporated the characters from Persuasion into the mystery. Mrs.Clay, Mr. Elliot and Sir Walter Elliot are all perfectly portrayed in all their less-than-likable glory, tangled in ambition and deceit. Captain Wentworth and Mr. Darcy get along famously, as I have always suspected that they would. My two favorite Austenesque heroes working together at last (sigh). The new characters were wonderful as well, especially the two gentlemen who take an interest in Georgiana (much to Darcy's chagrin). The charming Sir Lawrence and the enigmatic and possibly villainous Lieutenant St. Clair. Watching Darcy's discomfort was highly entertaining.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries that you can curl up with on a rainy afternoon, and, of course, to anyone who loves Jane Austen's marvelous characters.
Fateful by Claudia Gray
Lieder Madchen, March 16, 2012
I love Claudia Gray's writing style. It grabs you and immediately pushes you into whatever world she is trying to portray, whether it be the dark halls of Evernight Academy, or, in the case of Fateful, 1912 England. Right before the Titanic sails. The history was what I loved most about this book. The sinking of the Titanic is such a fascinating, tragic event for anyone who loves history, and this book perfectly shows the many things that might have happened to people on that ill-fated voyage. (Except for the werewolves, of course.) You see the hope of so many as they travel to America to make new lives for themselves, the decadence of the first class passengers and the bravery of the crew. Ms. Gray invented the entire principal cast of players, yet they are all very believable as people of the time.Tess Davies, our heroine, is a lady's maid traveling with the somewhat dysfunctional Lisle family. Being an enterprising sort of miss, Tess does not plan to be a maid forever but rather start anew in America. Her plans are disrupted by mysterious gentleman and wolves even before the ship sets sail. She meant to just quietly go about her duties through the trip, but finds herself embroiled in a battle of wills between two werewolves. Alec and Mikhail. To complicate things further, she finds herself falling in love with Alec, though she knows nothing can happen between a servant girl and a first class passenger, even without all the supernatural goings on. I do love Tess; every inch the proper maid, she keeps secrets and faces the most shocking discoveries with a complete lack of hysteria. Her sensible beliefs are turned upside down and though she knows she shouldn't get further involved her heart won't let her start.
Alec is a dreamer whose future fell apart when he was bitten. While a dangerous pack of powerful werewolves want him and his father's influence at their control, he is determined to retain his freedom, but freedom can come at a terrible cost. I love his bravery and stalwart determination as he tries to protect everybody without losing himself.
The minor characters in this novel are as wonderful and well-developed as the main ones. Alec's father is wonderful; strong and supportive while so scared for his son. Tess shares a room with a Lebanese woman named Myriam and two elderly Norwegian ladies who speak no English. The ship is full of passengers from everywhere in the world. The crew is represented by one Seventh Officer Mr. George Greene, and unflappably English gentleman. The Lisle family are as different from each other as family members can be with kind Irene, pasty Leyton and overbearing Lady Regina. These are just a few of the lovely minor characters and you can't help but become involved in their fates, though you know they won't all survive the end.
My one disappointment in this novel was that in Ms. Gray's other books there was always some magnificent plot twist that you didn't see coming (read Evernight and you will see what I'm talking about) and in this one there was not. However, that only barely diminished my overall enjoyment of the story.
Divergent (Divergent Trilogy) by Veronica Roth
Lieder Madchen, March 14, 2012
I first read this book when it was brand new, and I enjoyed it. Then I read it again, and loved it. There was something about reading it a second time that made me enjoy and understand it more. It was the world that really grabbed me. People are divided into five factions based on what human fault they blame for the troubles of the world. Dauntless blames cowardice, Candor blames deception, Amity blames anger, Abnegation blames selfishness and Erudite blames ignorance. They are all partly right and all partly wrong. The factions worked well enough for a while, when they worked together, but then some started to believe that their factions were better than the others.Beatrice is in Abnegation, but she doesn't feel selfless enough to stay in a world of grey clothes, bland food and constantly caring for everyone else without ever thinking of herself. So, when it comes time for her to pick the faction she will live with for the rest of her life, she chooses Dauntless. No matter where she goes, she has to conceal the fact that she is Divergent, suited to not one but multiple factions. Equally brave and selfless. But Divergents are labelled rebels and troublemakers, and Beatrice could lose everything if she is discovered. I love Beatrice, or Tris as she calls herself after joining Dauntless. No matter how scared or exhausted, she keeps pushing forward. The first to jump, the first to volunteer, never hesitating in order to prove that she is just as brave as anyone else in Dauntless. But she never forgets where she comes from, and will give of herself for her friends. Yet in some ways she is very hesitant and shy, such as in her growing attraction to her teacher, Four.
Dauntless is not as she imagined it to be. The original intention of its founders was to protect, but some have come to see bravery as being the strongest, the fastest and the cruelest. More than one member of Dauntless would be willing to kill to win. Tris starts to learn that the world wasn't meant to be divided. It is really a very powerful story, the sort that makes you think.
The only one who shares her beliefs, who learns her secret, is her enigmatic instructor who is known only as Four. He is so full of contradictions that she never knows what he is thinking, whether he is truly on her side. He is full of secrets, and when you learn his true identity it makes you want to cry. He pushes her and watches her, more confident in her strength than she is. He and Tris stand against the world, trying to unravel a conspiracy that is taking place around them. The factions are taking stands against each other. Erudite starts slandering Abnegation, and what are their plans involving Dauntless?
The writing style is simple but descriptive, the action scenes stark and immediate. You feel what Tris feels and see what she sees. Veronica Roth is wonderful at painting a picture of a world falling apart, slowly, piece by piece.
This is a brilliant novel with surprising depth, full of sacrifice and true bravery, the kind that drives you to face your fears and give your life for others. You don't have to like science fiction or dystopian novels to love Divergent.
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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