So, yesterday was the official kick-off of the Keep Portland Weird festival here in Paris, which meant that I had a reading/screening in the...
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* Hardcover: 352 pages
* Publisher: Candlewick (September 11, 2012)
* ISBN-10: 0763655279
* Author: E. M. Kokie
* Cover Art: Love it, it conveys so much I want a poster!
* Overall rating:*****+ out of 5 stars!
* Obtained: I received an ARC for review. Thank you!
Personal Effects by E. M. Kokie
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.
After his older brother dies in Iraq, Matt makes a discovery that rocks his beliefs about strength, bravery, and honor in this page-turning debut.
Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life �" failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief, social mores, and self-discovery in a provocative first novel. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
You know that rare feeling you get with a book? The one where you read the first chapter and already feel like you've known the main character your whole life? Or the feeling you get from a book where you have to stop yourself from reading more just to make it last longer and to sleep?
Personal Effects gives the reader both. Just from the synopsis I guessed what the "shocking revelation" about T.J. was. Even having guessed it, it didn't take anything away from the experience of reading this book. I loved Matt. He was such a strong character and had such an awesome voice I was sucked in after the first page.
When we learn of T.J.'s death, my heart broke for Matt. He went through so much after he finds out about the death. All of this makes the reader's heart break even more. Matt has a very close friend Shauna who I really liked. I wish she had had more face time in the book, but at the same time I think that what time she had was just right.
This is such a powerful book, I don't think there are enough book on this subject in the Iraq War. Kokie did such an amazing job on showing us what Matt was going through.
Having a male narrator was a refreshing change in YA. I loved this book. This is a book I will buying a finished copy of when it releases. If you want a new book, with a strong male voice I would highly recommend this book.
* Hardcover: 288 pages
* Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (May 1, 2012)
* ISBN-10: 1442451963
* Author: Abby Grahame
* Cover art: One of the best of the year.
* Overall rating: ****1/2 stars out of 5
* Obtained: My personal book shelf.
Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.
The prettiest people often have the ugliest secrets…
Eighteen-year-old Maggie Darlington has turned into an entirely different person. The once spirited teen is now passive and reserved. A change Lord and Lady Darlington can’t help but be grateful for.
It’s 1912, and the Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall have more than just the extensive grounds to maintain. As one of Britain’s most elite families, they need to keep up appearances that things are as they have always been… even as their carefully constructed façade rapidly comes undone.
Maggie has a secret. And she’s not the only one… the handsome groom Michael, the beautiful new French nanny Therese, the Darlingtons’ teenage houseguests Teddy and Jessica, and even Maggie’s younger sister Lila are all hiding something. Passion, betrayal, heartache, and whispered declarations of love take place under the Darlingtons’ massive roof. And one of these secrets has the power to ruin the Darlingtons forever.
When scandalous satires start appearing in the newspaper with details that closely mirror the lives of the Darlingtons, everyone is looking over their shoulder, worrying their scandal will be next. Because at Wentworth Hall, nothing stays secret for long.(Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I really enjoyed myself while I was reading this book. I've always been fascinated by Edwardian England. The only thing bumping this down from 5 stars to 4 and a half was the fact that the "secrets" that were held in Wentworth Hall I found way too predictable. However, it didn't diminish my like of the story too much. Just a pinch. I figured out what Therese was hiding very early on and I figured out what Maggie was hiding fairly quickly as well.
I really liked Nora's character she was such a gossip and such fun too! Teddy and Jessica didn't have as much page time as I would have expected but they were good fun as well.
I really liked Wesley and his friend Ian when they arrive in the story. Lord and Lady Darlington were less likable, but I don't think we are meant to like them.
I'm not sure if this is a series or a stand alone. I hope it's a series, I really enjoyed it and the way ended left me wanting to know what happened to Wesley, Nora, Therese, Lila and the others. The epilogue only tells us what happened to Maggie in any detail. We get a clip of Lila, Ian and Wesley but nothing of the others.
If you like books about the upper-crust then this is a must read for you. I would highly recommend this book to fans of Edwardian era books as well.
* Hardcover: 400 pages
* Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (August 24, 2010)
* ISBN-10: 0439023513
* Author: Suzanne Collins
* Cover art: I like it
* Over all rating: ***1/2 out of 5 stars
* Obtained: Gifted from my friend Lori.
MockingJay by Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.
My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I want to start this by saying I found this one really disappointing. I was expecting so much more after reading Catching Fire which is my favorite of the series.
There were a lot of things in this book, I thought were unnecessary. There were a few deaths that really didn't do anything for the story.
I really wanted to know more about Annie. But we didn't get to learn a whole lot about her. I found Finnick to be very endearing again in this one.
Katniss was likable until the end. I didn't like what was done to her character at the end of the series in a lot of ways I felt like the last part of MockingJay ruined the entire series. I found Peeta as annoying as ever in this one. I was very pleased to see we got to learn more about Gale. I really enjoyed his character.
Over all I'd say give this a read just to see how the series ends, but be weary of it.
* Hardcover: 384 pages
* Publisher: Voice (June 9, 2009)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1401340903
* Author: Katherine Howe
* Cover art: I like the old timey feel.
* Over all rating: *** out of 5 stars
* Obtained: Borrowed from a friend
The Physick book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews
Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie’s grandmother’s abandoned home near Salem, she can’t refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest�"to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge.
As the pieces of Deliverance’s harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem’s dark past than she could have ever imagined.(Synopsis provided by goodreads)
After reading the synopsis of this book I wanted to read it. The story line it's self was good, but for me the writing style fell flat. There were times when it was incredibly slow. I found Liz to be obnoxious. I thought that Grace was the most interesting character in the book. Connie bugged me at times, like really bugged me. I had a lot of issues with this one. Mainly in the writing style and in Connie herself. However, I liked the story itself.
The whole premise and idea was original. I like anything having to do with the Salem Witch Trials. Howe's description of the house was really good. I felt like I was there. I just wish the book was about 100 pages shorter then it was and Connie was more mature and Liz wasn't even in the book.
* Hardcover: 320 pages
* Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 1, 2012)
* ISBN-10: 1423134664
* Author: Stacey Kade
* Cover Art: I like it. Works well with the rest of the series.
* Overall rating:**** 1/2 out of 5 stars
* Obtained:My personal book shelf
Body and Soul by Stacey Kade
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews
The Ghost
I’ve been trapped in the body of Lily “Ally” Turner for a month now. Talk about a fashion crisis on an epic scale. What worries me more, though, is sometimes I catch Will looking at me like he thinks I’m Lily...or that he wishes I were. Without the good looks of my former self, I don’t know who I am, or if who that is is good enough. I need out of this mess. Now.
Will and I have been looking for a solution, one that would separate me from Lily without killing her. But it’s not going well. Then, when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, we run into Misty, my former best friend and boyfriend-stealer extraordinaire, who claims she’s being haunted...by me. Seriously?
I’m determined to get to the bottom of who’s pretending to be the spirit of Alona Dare (while I’m pretending to be someone else) and then get the heck out of this body. Or die trying...
The Goth
I’ll admit it. It’s really weird to look at Alona but see Lily. I do know the difference, though, contrary to what Alona might be saying. And Alona is more than a pretty face to me, not that she would believe that.
Our one lead for some help in this messed up situation might be a page torn from the yellow pages-�"the “Psychics” section-�"I found in my dad’s stuff. One of the “fakes” seems a bit more real-�"and odd-�"than the others. Before I can investigate further, though, Alona is off and chasing a ghost that’s probably nothing more than a figment of Misty’s guilty imagination. Now Lily’s family is freaking out because she didn’t come home, my mom is ordering me to stay out of it, and something is definitely wrong with the person formerly known as Lily “Ally” Turner... (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
This was such an awesome end to the series. I loved every page. Alona and Will are back and Alona is just as snarky as ever. Will is just as Will has he was in the previous books. We get to meet some new characters that were a delight.
I had a few theories based on the cover alone, those turned out to be wrong. I must say I'm glad they were because the actual ending was way better then my theories. I am a bit sad having to say goodbye by Alona and Will.
I think what I like the best about the series is how light hearted it is. Yes, it does touch on some heavy topics, but Kade did such a fantastic job of making the series light and fun. I must say the description of Alona's headstone is amazing. Very detailed, it was almost as if the reader could reach out and touch it.
Kade has become an author like Amy Plum, Michelle Ray and Rachel Hawkins, I will pick up anything they write without knowing what it's about because I know it will AWESOME!
If you have not read The Ghost and the Goth or Queen of the Dead yet, you have to! I love this series. I only hope one day I can meet Kade and get my books signed!
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Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie
moiraethefatesbookreview, May 25, 2012
* Hardcover: 352 pages* Publisher: Candlewick (September 11, 2012)
* ISBN-10: 0763655279
* Author: E. M. Kokie
* Cover Art: Love it, it conveys so much I want a poster!
* Overall rating:*****+ out of 5 stars!
* Obtained: I received an ARC for review. Thank you!
Personal Effects by E. M. Kokie
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.
After his older brother dies in Iraq, Matt makes a discovery that rocks his beliefs about strength, bravery, and honor in this page-turning debut.
Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life �" failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief, social mores, and self-discovery in a provocative first novel. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
You know that rare feeling you get with a book? The one where you read the first chapter and already feel like you've known the main character your whole life? Or the feeling you get from a book where you have to stop yourself from reading more just to make it last longer and to sleep?
Personal Effects gives the reader both. Just from the synopsis I guessed what the "shocking revelation" about T.J. was. Even having guessed it, it didn't take anything away from the experience of reading this book. I loved Matt. He was such a strong character and had such an awesome voice I was sucked in after the first page.
When we learn of T.J.'s death, my heart broke for Matt. He went through so much after he finds out about the death. All of this makes the reader's heart break even more. Matt has a very close friend Shauna who I really liked. I wish she had had more face time in the book, but at the same time I think that what time she had was just right.
This is such a powerful book, I don't think there are enough book on this subject in the Iraq War. Kokie did such an amazing job on showing us what Matt was going through.
Having a male narrator was a refreshing change in YA. I loved this book. This is a book I will buying a finished copy of when it releases. If you want a new book, with a strong male voice I would highly recommend this book.
Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame
moiraethefatesbookreview, May 20, 2012
* Hardcover: 288 pages* Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (May 1, 2012)
* ISBN-10: 1442451963
* Author: Abby Grahame
* Cover art: One of the best of the year.
* Overall rating: ****1/2 stars out of 5
* Obtained: My personal book shelf.
Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.
The prettiest people often have the ugliest secrets…
Eighteen-year-old Maggie Darlington has turned into an entirely different person. The once spirited teen is now passive and reserved. A change Lord and Lady Darlington can’t help but be grateful for.
It’s 1912, and the Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall have more than just the extensive grounds to maintain. As one of Britain’s most elite families, they need to keep up appearances that things are as they have always been… even as their carefully constructed façade rapidly comes undone.
Maggie has a secret. And she’s not the only one… the handsome groom Michael, the beautiful new French nanny Therese, the Darlingtons’ teenage houseguests Teddy and Jessica, and even Maggie’s younger sister Lila are all hiding something. Passion, betrayal, heartache, and whispered declarations of love take place under the Darlingtons’ massive roof. And one of these secrets has the power to ruin the Darlingtons forever.
When scandalous satires start appearing in the newspaper with details that closely mirror the lives of the Darlingtons, everyone is looking over their shoulder, worrying their scandal will be next. Because at Wentworth Hall, nothing stays secret for long.(Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I really enjoyed myself while I was reading this book. I've always been fascinated by Edwardian England. The only thing bumping this down from 5 stars to 4 and a half was the fact that the "secrets" that were held in Wentworth Hall I found way too predictable. However, it didn't diminish my like of the story too much. Just a pinch. I figured out what Therese was hiding very early on and I figured out what Maggie was hiding fairly quickly as well.
I really liked Nora's character she was such a gossip and such fun too! Teddy and Jessica didn't have as much page time as I would have expected but they were good fun as well.
I really liked Wesley and his friend Ian when they arrive in the story. Lord and Lady Darlington were less likable, but I don't think we are meant to like them.
I'm not sure if this is a series or a stand alone. I hope it's a series, I really enjoyed it and the way ended left me wanting to know what happened to Wesley, Nora, Therese, Lila and the others. The epilogue only tells us what happened to Maggie in any detail. We get a clip of Lila, Ian and Wesley but nothing of the others.
If you like books about the upper-crust then this is a must read for you. I would highly recommend this book to fans of Edwardian era books as well.
Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins
moiraethefatesbookreview, May 19, 2012
* Hardcover: 400 pages* Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (August 24, 2010)
* ISBN-10: 0439023513
* Author: Suzanne Collins
* Cover art: I like it
* Over all rating: ***1/2 out of 5 stars
* Obtained: Gifted from my friend Lori.
MockingJay by Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.
My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I want to start this by saying I found this one really disappointing. I was expecting so much more after reading Catching Fire which is my favorite of the series.
There were a lot of things in this book, I thought were unnecessary. There were a few deaths that really didn't do anything for the story.
I really wanted to know more about Annie. But we didn't get to learn a whole lot about her. I found Finnick to be very endearing again in this one.
Katniss was likable until the end. I didn't like what was done to her character at the end of the series in a lot of ways I felt like the last part of MockingJay ruined the entire series. I found Peeta as annoying as ever in this one. I was very pleased to see we got to learn more about Gale. I really enjoyed his character.
Over all I'd say give this a read just to see how the series ends, but be weary of it.
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
moiraethefatesbookreview, May 6, 2012
* Hardcover: 384 pages* Publisher: Voice (June 9, 2009)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1401340903
* Author: Katherine Howe
* Cover art: I like the old timey feel.
* Over all rating: *** out of 5 stars
* Obtained: Borrowed from a friend
The Physick book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews
Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie’s grandmother’s abandoned home near Salem, she can’t refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest�"to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge.
As the pieces of Deliverance’s harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem’s dark past than she could have ever imagined.(Synopsis provided by goodreads)
After reading the synopsis of this book I wanted to read it. The story line it's self was good, but for me the writing style fell flat. There were times when it was incredibly slow. I found Liz to be obnoxious. I thought that Grace was the most interesting character in the book. Connie bugged me at times, like really bugged me. I had a lot of issues with this one. Mainly in the writing style and in Connie herself. However, I liked the story itself.
The whole premise and idea was original. I like anything having to do with the Salem Witch Trials. Howe's description of the house was really good. I felt like I was there. I just wish the book was about 100 pages shorter then it was and Connie was more mature and Liz wasn't even in the book.
Body & Soul (a Ghost and the Goth Novel) (Ghost and the Goth Novels) by Stacey Kade
moiraethefatesbookreview, May 6, 2012
* Hardcover: 320 pages* Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 1, 2012)
* ISBN-10: 1423134664
* Author: Stacey Kade
* Cover Art: I like it. Works well with the rest of the series.
* Overall rating:**** 1/2 out of 5 stars
* Obtained:My personal book shelf
Body and Soul by Stacey Kade
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews
The Ghost
I’ve been trapped in the body of Lily “Ally” Turner for a month now. Talk about a fashion crisis on an epic scale. What worries me more, though, is sometimes I catch Will looking at me like he thinks I’m Lily...or that he wishes I were. Without the good looks of my former self, I don’t know who I am, or if who that is is good enough. I need out of this mess. Now.
Will and I have been looking for a solution, one that would separate me from Lily without killing her. But it’s not going well. Then, when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, we run into Misty, my former best friend and boyfriend-stealer extraordinaire, who claims she’s being haunted...by me. Seriously?
I’m determined to get to the bottom of who’s pretending to be the spirit of Alona Dare (while I’m pretending to be someone else) and then get the heck out of this body. Or die trying...
The Goth
I’ll admit it. It’s really weird to look at Alona but see Lily. I do know the difference, though, contrary to what Alona might be saying. And Alona is more than a pretty face to me, not that she would believe that.
Our one lead for some help in this messed up situation might be a page torn from the yellow pages-�"the “Psychics” section-�"I found in my dad’s stuff. One of the “fakes” seems a bit more real-�"and odd-�"than the others. Before I can investigate further, though, Alona is off and chasing a ghost that’s probably nothing more than a figment of Misty’s guilty imagination. Now Lily’s family is freaking out because she didn’t come home, my mom is ordering me to stay out of it, and something is definitely wrong with the person formerly known as Lily “Ally” Turner... (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
This was such an awesome end to the series. I loved every page. Alona and Will are back and Alona is just as snarky as ever. Will is just as Will has he was in the previous books. We get to meet some new characters that were a delight.
I had a few theories based on the cover alone, those turned out to be wrong. I must say I'm glad they were because the actual ending was way better then my theories. I am a bit sad having to say goodbye by Alona and Will.
I think what I like the best about the series is how light hearted it is. Yes, it does touch on some heavy topics, but Kade did such a fantastic job of making the series light and fun. I must say the description of Alona's headstone is amazing. Very detailed, it was almost as if the reader could reach out and touch it.
Kade has become an author like Amy Plum, Michelle Ray and Rachel Hawkins, I will pick up anything they write without knowing what it's about because I know it will AWESOME!
If you have not read The Ghost and the Goth or Queen of the Dead yet, you have to! I love this series. I only hope one day I can meet Kade and get my books signed!
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