fiction

October REading

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Minion Book Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2vjeGKMv-U
Frankenstein Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JUxl5411AM
Curious Incident of Dog in Nighttime REview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV0qM8z2aHw
Novels and Nonsense: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfP0El1vakyfkkXbyJwy0Q
Brunette Bibliophile: https://www.youtube.com/user/Just4Teens2012/featured

Books for MKs is a charity organization that donates books to missionary kids on the foreign mission field all over the world. Donate now at http://www.gofundme.com/booksformks to help these children get reading material!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, and COMMENT!

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/thekai05
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Instagram: http://instagram.com/thekai05/

Book Review: The Revenge of the Shadow King

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The Revenge of the Shadow King
The Revenge of the Shadow King by Derek Benz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Max Sumner and his three best friends, Harley, Ernie, and Natalia–who form the secret club The Grey Griffins–seem to be the only people in their very normal Minnesota town to notice that strange things have started to happen. When creatures like goblins and fairies and unicorns, all characters from a card game the Grey Griffins play, begin to make appearances in Max’s backyard, Max and his friends know something is terribly wrong. And it’s up to them to stop the wicked creatures of the cards from destroying their town-indeed, their world. – GoodReads

I liked this book pretty well, but it wasn’t amazing or anything. Most of the characters, plot, and writing were very trite and redundant. But there were a few really good scenes that kept me interested enough to finish reading the book.

The writing keeps stating the obvious over and over again, and has a problem with “telling” instead of “showing”. The writing is mostly good and interesting, but I never really got lost in the story. I never forgot that I was reading a book. Continue reading →

Book Review: The White Dragon

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The White Dragon
The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This 3rd book in the Pern series follows Jaxom who has the only albino dragon in the world. He and his dragon, Ruth, set out to prove that they can do anything regular dragons can do, fly together, fight in the skies, travel “between” and through time. Through their adventures, they discover even more talents that other dragons do not have, such as understanding the mischievous little fire-lizards. When all of Pern is in danger, and Jaxom’s lady-love is threatened, Jaxom and Ruth will need all their talents and the help of their friends to save the world!

I love Anne McCaffrey’s writing! She puts together these strings of events that follow one upon another in a meandering story-arc that finally comes full circle. In this book, we see Jaxom growing up, fighting for his dragon rights, breaking the rules, and ultimately finding his place in the world. But underneath the overall story, there are a thousand little details that bring the story to life! Continue reading →

Book Review: Frankenstein

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Frankenstein
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is nothing like any of the movies, and very different from what I expected it to be. The parts that are usually the iconic moments – the “alive!” birth of the monster, the final fatal confrontation of the creator and his monster, etc… – these were brushed over in two sentences, and other scenes were described in detail, drawn out, and dwelt on. I liked the direction the story took!

I loved the over-the-top gothic drama; it was actually so ornate and dramatic that it became funny at times! The style reminded me of Ann Radcliffe’s gothic romance mysteries. Continue reading →

Book Review: Minion

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Minion
Minion by John David Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Michael Morn might be a villain, but he’s really not a bad guy. When you live in New Liberty, there are no Supers and only two kinds of people: those who turn to crime and those who suffer. Michael and his adoptive father spend their days building boxes—special devices with mysterious abilities—that they sell to the mob at a price. They provide for each other, they look out for each other, and they’d never betray each other.

But then a Super comes to town, and Michael’s world is thrown into disarray. The Comet could destroy everything Michael and his dad have built, the safe and secure life they’ve made for themselves. And now Michael and his father face a choice: to hold tight to their life or to let it unravel. -GoodReads

This is such a fantastic book! A perfect companion novel to SideKicked. This story is told from the perspective of the “bad guys” and criminals, hoping not to be caught by the superheroes. It’s not a sequel to SideKicked though, because all the characters are new. Different people, different city, different story.

I thought it was very interesting that the word “minion” comes from and old French word “mignon” meaning “darling”. It explores the meaning of good and evil and the limits of family relationships, friendships, and romance. Really deep stuff, but told with such an action-filled plot and beautifully complex characters. This book tugged at my soul! Continue reading →

Book Review: Assassin’s Apprentice

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Assassin's Apprentice
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom. -GoodReads

I love epic fantasy, and this book is the epitome of all that is good in fantasy! It has everything a good book should have – diverse characters, unique magic system, action, suspenseful plot, danger, intrigue, and of course, wonderful character development.

I was enchanted with the entire story, and immediately fell in love with Fitz! His unique perspective on the world of the Six Duchies and the royal court was exciting to read about. Continue reading →

Book Review: Aunt Dimity Beats The Devil

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Aunt Dimity Beats The Devil
Aunt Dimity Beats The Devil by Nancy Atherton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With rain crashing down, as her range rover climbs a steep embankment on the Northumberland moors, Lori Shepherd is beginning to doubt the wisdom of her decision to evaluate a book collection at Wyrdhurst Hall. The grim, neo-gothic hall that greets her is full of surprises: including a charming, secretive stranger and tales of haunted love. It will take all of Lori’s paranormal experience to solve the puzzle and restore peace to a family haunted by its past. – Good Reads

This is the perfect fluffy book for a chilly autumn evening! Curling up with a cup of tea and a hilarious ghost mystery just before Halloween- it doesn’t get any better than that! I like ghost stories when the spirits are friendly, like Aunt Dimity and her ghostly cohorts. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Alchemyst

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The Alchemyst
The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty.

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It’s the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That’s exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won’t know what’s happening until it’s too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

Sometimes legends are true. – Good Reads

I liked this book pretty well. I loved the fantasy aspect, with lots of magic and ancient myths! The story is good, and the plot moves quickly. I liked the characters, but although they are all interesting and diverse, I didn’t really connect with any of them. Continue reading →

Princess Bride Book Tag

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Novels and Nonsense Original Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yttluNKBnfs
Gabby @Gabs About Books: https://www.youtube.com/user/GabsAboutBooks

Books for MKs is a charity organization that donates books to missionary kids on the foreign mission field all over the world.

Donate now at http://www.gofundme.com/booksformks to help these children get reading material!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, and COMMENT!

Book Review: The Joys of Love

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The Joys of Love
The Joys of Love by Madeleine L’Engle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

During the summer of 1946, twenty-year-old Elizabeth is doing what she has dreamed of since she was a little girl: working in the theatre company on the sea where she is an apprentice actress. She’s never felt so alive. And soon she finds another passion: Kurt Canitz, the dashing young director of the company. Then Elizabeth’s perfect summer is profoundly shaken when Kurt turns out not to be the kind of man she thought he was.

Moving and romantic, this coming-of-age story was written during the 1940s. As revealed in an introduction by the author’s granddaughter Léna Roy, the protagonist Elizabeth is close to an autobiographical portrait of L’Engle herself as a young woman—“vibrant, vulnerable, and yearning for love and all that life has to offer.”  -GoodReads

 

I enjoyed reading this book! L’Engle has such a unique writing style; she can take a side-character with a toothache, and make their toothache be a philosophical commentary on the fantasy vs. reality of emotional entanglements, weaving it so perfectly into the storyline that you barely realize she’s doing it. As always, brilliant writing! Continue reading →