I wouldn't have met Piti if it hadn't been for a chichigua. To translate chichigua as a kite does not do justice to these beautiful creations of...
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Brielle has always loved to dance, and happened to be discovered by a talent scout. Using a scholarship, she left her country town for a boarding school in the city ��" and found deep tragedy. I won’t ruin the surprise for you by telling you what the tragedy is, but I was disappointed in how long the secret was dragged out. It felt like a writer’s ploy to keep the reader reading, rather than important to the story. Knowing the tragedy right away might have enhanced my enjoyment of the overall book, but instead, I was a little irritated by how long it took before Brielle revealed it.
Back to the story, Brielle returns home. Her father is her only living parent, and does his best to make her feel better. He felt a little too lenient for me. Maybe I just have overprotective parents, but it seemed like he gave her a little too much space, acting more like a neighbor than a dad.
Brielle meets the new boy at school, Jake. He’s hot and warm, something she needs because she feels so cold. His guardian turns out to be an angel. He gives Jake his halo, which allows Jake to heal people. When Jake gives it to Brielle, she gets to See. I really enjoyed the angel aspects of the story. They reminded me of the television show, Supernatural. Then, there is a fallen angel, mysteries from her life in the city, and inner struggles.
Overall, I enjoyed this young adult novel. Shannon Dittemore’s storytelling voice is hard to resist.
I received a copy of SWIPE by Evan Angler from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. It is juvenile fiction ��" a mixture of middle grade and young adult. As I read, I couldn’t decide which age group it leaned toward, but I think thirteen and up would be best. Some of the topics, such as the oppressive government, might be too mature for children, even though nothing in it was really inappropriate.
In SWIPE, whenever someone turns thirteen, the government gives him or her a Mark. This Mark, imprinted on their body, allows them to be “free.” For example, they can buy ice cream. Logan, however, is dreading his Mark ��" when his sister, Lily, was Marked, the government told his family she’d died. Now, he’s petrified of the dark and feels that something is watching him. Enter Erin, a Marked girl who recently moved to the city. Her dad works for the government. According to Erin, as soon as her dad solves his case, they can go home. The case leads her to Logan and the Markless, those who strive to live without the Mark.
The story explores an interesting take on a futuristic world. Most of the country is hard to live in and the West Coast has been destroyed by an Earthquake. The world leans toward a Global Union. Although I don’t normally read dystopian novels, this kept my attention from the first chapter to the end.
While I did enjoy SWIPE, a few points felt awkward. The prologue was confusing and didn’t really pique my interest. After reading the entire novel, the prologue made much more sense. Some sentences felt too 2012, such as “That’s neat.” I would have liked to see more futuristic terminology. Also, the kids in the story seemed too old for thirteen, or almost thirteen.
I recommend SWIPE to dystopian fans, as well as youthful readers. It offers an interesting take on what the world might become.
I received a copy of THE MESSENGER by Siri Mitchell from Bethany House. I greatly enjoy Siri Mitchell’s novels, especially SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY and LOVE’S PURSUIT, so I was excited to read this one.
THE MESSEGER is historical fiction set in one of my favorite time periods ��" the Revolutionary War. Hannah Sunderland is a teenage Quaker living in Philadelphia in 1778. Although the Quaker faith forbids her family from taking sides in the War for Independence, Hannah’s twin brother runs away to join the rebel army. Her brother is now jailed in Philadelphia, but her family and friends refuse to see him. She wishes for a way to visit him with goods.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Jones has also set his sights on the jail. Despite having lost his arm, Jeremiah owns a prestigious bar and works as a colonial spy. When he discovers Hannah wants to see her brother, he tricks a British solider into giving her a pass. Together, they smuggle notes and supplies into the jail to help the prisoners plan an escape ��" however, Hannah’s family wants her to have nothing to do with prickly Jeremiah.
I loved becoming immersed in the setting. Siri Mitchell is excellent at writing descriptions and displaying her characters’ emotions. I would have liked to learn more about the Quaker faith, though. Overall, the book kept my interest from the first chapter to the last. I could help but cheer for Hannah and Jeremiah. Their love story is beautifully woven into the suspense.
The book itself is beautiful. The stylistic font and stunning cover encase an enticing story about a young witch. Shiloh, age sixteen, has a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor. Yes, a manor. It gets better. There’s a ghost at the manor, and a hot young man named Trent. The story sucks you in and doesn’t let you out until you turn the last page, hungering for the next book in the Spellbound series.
I look forward to reading book two, and I recommend the series to anyone who likes witches, ghosts, and manors with secrets.
I greatly enjoyed reading THE WIND OF LIFE ��" THE FLYERS by Oliver Neubert. He was kind enough to send me a signed copy. That shows a lot about the author, when he cares not only about his book, but also about his fans.
I started reading this today during lunch, and hated to go back to work. As soon as I got home, I had to see what happened next and finished the novel within a few hours. It is a fast-paced read, without dull moments. The development of the characters progresses throughout the story ��" it is fun growing with them.
The story involves two races ��" those who fly and those who can’t. They cannot mix. I love how this reflects prejudices in today’s society. Timo, the main character, must help them unite. I don’t want to give too much away in this review, but the culture is richly detailed, really bringing the reader deep into the story. It’s a perfect tool for escapism. The best part is that this is only book one of THE WIND OF LIFE series. I recommend this not only to young adults (Timo is fourteen), but to anyone who loves a good fantasy story.
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PrincessJaylia has commented on (85) products.
Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore
PrincessJaylia, May 17, 2012
Brielle has always loved to dance, and happened to be discovered by a talent scout. Using a scholarship, she left her country town for a boarding school in the city ��" and found deep tragedy. I won’t ruin the surprise for you by telling you what the tragedy is, but I was disappointed in how long the secret was dragged out. It felt like a writer’s ploy to keep the reader reading, rather than important to the story. Knowing the tragedy right away might have enhanced my enjoyment of the overall book, but instead, I was a little irritated by how long it took before Brielle revealed it.Back to the story, Brielle returns home. Her father is her only living parent, and does his best to make her feel better. He felt a little too lenient for me. Maybe I just have overprotective parents, but it seemed like he gave her a little too much space, acting more like a neighbor than a dad.
Brielle meets the new boy at school, Jake. He’s hot and warm, something she needs because she feels so cold. His guardian turns out to be an angel. He gives Jake his halo, which allows Jake to heal people. When Jake gives it to Brielle, she gets to See. I really enjoyed the angel aspects of the story. They reminded me of the television show, Supernatural. Then, there is a fallen angel, mysteries from her life in the city, and inner struggles.
Overall, I enjoyed this young adult novel. Shannon Dittemore’s storytelling voice is hard to resist.
Swipe by Evan Angler
PrincessJaylia, May 2, 2012
I received a copy of SWIPE by Evan Angler from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. It is juvenile fiction ��" a mixture of middle grade and young adult. As I read, I couldn’t decide which age group it leaned toward, but I think thirteen and up would be best. Some of the topics, such as the oppressive government, might be too mature for children, even though nothing in it was really inappropriate.In SWIPE, whenever someone turns thirteen, the government gives him or her a Mark. This Mark, imprinted on their body, allows them to be “free.” For example, they can buy ice cream. Logan, however, is dreading his Mark ��" when his sister, Lily, was Marked, the government told his family she’d died. Now, he’s petrified of the dark and feels that something is watching him. Enter Erin, a Marked girl who recently moved to the city. Her dad works for the government. According to Erin, as soon as her dad solves his case, they can go home. The case leads her to Logan and the Markless, those who strive to live without the Mark.
The story explores an interesting take on a futuristic world. Most of the country is hard to live in and the West Coast has been destroyed by an Earthquake. The world leans toward a Global Union. Although I don’t normally read dystopian novels, this kept my attention from the first chapter to the end.
While I did enjoy SWIPE, a few points felt awkward. The prologue was confusing and didn’t really pique my interest. After reading the entire novel, the prologue made much more sense. Some sentences felt too 2012, such as “That’s neat.” I would have liked to see more futuristic terminology. Also, the kids in the story seemed too old for thirteen, or almost thirteen.
I recommend SWIPE to dystopian fans, as well as youthful readers. It offers an interesting take on what the world might become.
The Messenger by Siri Mitchell
PrincessJaylia, April 30, 2012
I received a copy of THE MESSENGER by Siri Mitchell from Bethany House. I greatly enjoy Siri Mitchell’s novels, especially SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY and LOVE’S PURSUIT, so I was excited to read this one.THE MESSEGER is historical fiction set in one of my favorite time periods ��" the Revolutionary War. Hannah Sunderland is a teenage Quaker living in Philadelphia in 1778. Although the Quaker faith forbids her family from taking sides in the War for Independence, Hannah’s twin brother runs away to join the rebel army. Her brother is now jailed in Philadelphia, but her family and friends refuse to see him. She wishes for a way to visit him with goods.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Jones has also set his sights on the jail. Despite having lost his arm, Jeremiah owns a prestigious bar and works as a colonial spy. When he discovers Hannah wants to see her brother, he tricks a British solider into giving her a pass. Together, they smuggle notes and supplies into the jail to help the prisoners plan an escape ��" however, Hannah’s family wants her to have nothing to do with prickly Jeremiah.
I loved becoming immersed in the setting. Siri Mitchell is excellent at writing descriptions and displaying her characters’ emotions. I would have liked to learn more about the Quaker faith, though. Overall, the book kept my interest from the first chapter to the last. I could help but cheer for Hannah and Jeremiah. Their love story is beautifully woven into the suspense.
Beautifully Broken by Sherry Soule
PrincessJaylia, April 9, 2012
The book itself is beautiful. The stylistic font and stunning cover encase an enticing story about a young witch. Shiloh, age sixteen, has a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor. Yes, a manor. It gets better. There’s a ghost at the manor, and a hot young man named Trent. The story sucks you in and doesn’t let you out until you turn the last page, hungering for the next book in the Spellbound series.I look forward to reading book two, and I recommend the series to anyone who likes witches, ghosts, and manors with secrets.
The Wind of Life - The Flyers by Oliver Neubert
PrincessJaylia, January 10, 2012
I greatly enjoyed reading THE WIND OF LIFE ��" THE FLYERS by Oliver Neubert. He was kind enough to send me a signed copy. That shows a lot about the author, when he cares not only about his book, but also about his fans.I started reading this today during lunch, and hated to go back to work. As soon as I got home, I had to see what happened next and finished the novel within a few hours. It is a fast-paced read, without dull moments. The development of the characters progresses throughout the story ��" it is fun growing with them.
The story involves two races ��" those who fly and those who can’t. They cannot mix. I love how this reflects prejudices in today’s society. Timo, the main character, must help them unite. I don’t want to give too much away in this review, but the culture is richly detailed, really bringing the reader deep into the story. It’s a perfect tool for escapism. The best part is that this is only book one of THE WIND OF LIFE series. I recommend this not only to young adults (Timo is fourteen), but to anyone who loves a good fantasy story.
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