Book Review: The Vampire Diaries Vol.1-2

Fiction: The Vampire Diaries Vol.1-2-The awakening and The struggle
Author: L.J Smith
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Romance, YA
Rating: 7.5/10

Summary: [taken from Barnesandnobles.com]

Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.
Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.
Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her. Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.
--

L.J Smith's approach to the vampire theory is mysterious and intriguing. Yet the whole making of the characters, their descriptions, their feelings for each other weren't exactly translated into words very well. The summary (see above) seems like it's a book worth reading, but when you read the book, you'll find that it's nothing special. Well, at least that's how I saw it.

A lot of people were comparing this to amazing well-written stories like Twilight or the Sookie Stackhouse Series, so I assumed it would be good. The story starts out strong but then falls apart when the characters realize their own feelings for each other. The plot was way too rushed and the author didn't spend enough time in deciding the characters' feelings for each other - to wring out some emotion from the readers. Elena instantly falls in love with Stefan and the way she wants to grab his attention seems kind of forced and desperate (as opposed to the introduced character). I didn't like her at all - her character development wasn't as strong and descriptive as I wanted it to be.

On the other hand, Stefan was your average good-looking vampire boy who tries to blend in but doesn't. He transfers to the school and instantly notices how Elena looks like the girl he loved in his past. That right there ruined it for me completely. It seemed like he didn't get over the first girl at all; he was falling for Elena was because of her looks despite Elena having the exact opposite personality from the girl he loved in the past.

My expectations for this story weren't met, but I enjoyed the [petty drama] of two vampire brothers fighting for the same girl and trying to win her over. Overall, it was an almost good-read if it weren't for the quick description of the characters, and their desperate attempts at finding love in each other.

By: Eli
Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Psyche in a Dress [Needs Editing]

Fiction: Psyche in a Dress
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 10/10

Summary: [taken from barnesandnobles.com]

But this is what I could not give up:

I could not give up myself
Psyche has known Love—scented with jasmine and tasting of fresh oranges. Yet he is fleeting and fragile, lost to her too quickly. Punished by self-doubt, Psyche yearns to be transformed, like the beautiful and brutal figures in the myths her lover once spoke of. Attempting to uncover beauty in the darkness, she is challenged, tested, and changed by the gods and demons who tempt her. Her faith must be found again, for if she is to love, she must never look back.

-

This is..
Only the most deep and astounding story there is. There is not a single word that can describe how beautifully written this story in form of prose is.

Francesca Lia Block writes about a young girl named Psyche who had found love in her childhood but in an instant she lost it. As time goes by, she grows and becomes a women. She then tries to fall in love again by meeting various man, only to realize that her one and true love will always be that man from when she was a little girl. Through all the struggles she goes through, she realizes that she's playing all the stories her lost love had told her when she was little, she realizes that she will not ever find anybody to love more than that man.
The way this book was written was amazingly deep and cunning, by fusing stories from Greek mythology, Francesca Lia Block paints a world filled with wonder and realism through the use of deep and expressing words which will leave you with a deep understanding of how much pain and suffering the character is going through. The story narrates through out Psyche's whole life as a women and a mother, and then at the end it leaves you wanting for more..
This book is poetry itself along with powerful and beautifully well written prose, you will re-read it again.
This book is raw literature itself. With a deep understanding of even the simplest things, it makes for a great and unique read. Honestly, I took my time reading this, for this makes you forget everything around you since the descriptions were so explained in detailed, you could actually see what was happening and for a moment, you can almost imagine the world Psyche belongs to.
Truly a deep and amazing read. For a mature audience. This book is a memorable one that will always stay in my mind as one of the most unique and amazing stories I've ever reading. There is not a single word that can describe such masterpiece.

Eli.

Book Review: Ink Exchange [needs editing]

Fiction: Ink Exchange
Author: Melissa Marr
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Drama
Rating: 7/10

Summary [Taken from: Harpercollins.com]: Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.
Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.
The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

I'm one of those people who judge books by their cover, but luckily I don't do the same for people.
This book should be put at the top of the list for it's amazing and captivating cover, unfortunately I can't say the same thing for the story itself.

I managed to painfully finish it and I was glad to get rid of it. The story itself was a little hard to follow since you had to remember a lot of names and I mean a lot but I managed to somewhat understand what the hell was happening.
First, the characters were well written and somehow captivating. Second, there were various plots to follow altogether, evil mothers, evil fairies with a lot of power, Irial's true love was dying and Leslie is being forced into marrying the summer king-Irial- in order to restore peace in the fairy world. As describe in the story, the fairies are really good looking creatures so of course all the girls were dying to be with Irial except Leslie since she was already in love with another guy.
The romance was constant since there were a lot of love triangles. The story was pretty good but the thing that just threw it off was the useless scenes that weren't needed, a lot of useless details and just continuous talk that just wasted my time.

Overall, it was an almost-great read. If you like fairies and just constant fantasy, then this is the book for you.

Eli.

Moral Disorder

Fiction: Moral Disorder

Author: Margaret Atwood

Genres: Romance, Life, Psychological

Rating: 10/10

More than 20 years ago, Margaret Atwood wrote a short story called 'Happy Endings' that presented a series of possible plots that could follow the beginning of 'John and Mary meet'. Finally, the narrator steps in to announce that the only "authentic ending" is death, but that beginnings are much more "fun" and the "in between" is what connoisseurs prefer.

The blurb for this book anxiously declares that "Moral Disorder" is "almost a novel", but it turns out to be much better than just a novel. This is a book that, structurally as well as thematically, invites readers to experience the orderly and disorderly beginnings, endings, and in-betweens of a life.

The stories present incidents from the life of one person. She's the first-person narrator in some stories and 'Nell' in others, who is usually uncertain about what kind of girl or woman she wants to be. An intellectual with pimples on her bum? Or "practical and mundane" like her parents? And how can she determine which role is an impersonation and which is the reality? "A sister pretending to be a monster or a monster pretending to be a sister?" It's hard to tell.

Real time presents "a small window" between the frighteningly predictable plots of "not yet" and the well-worked tales of "back then". Many of the stories in "Moral Disorder" are about "back then" - about growing up. Nell's relationship with her sister and the consequences of falling in love are displayed in this book. Nell is clearly aware of the inevitable gap between how she felt then, how she remembers feeling, and of the temptation to change details to make the events sound more exciting. It is hard to admit that her sister was not a changeling who sucked up her mother's energy rather than simply the owner of a hamster from whom the mother caught a thyroid disease.

One day, Nell notices how beautiful the winter landscape is, but knows that she would never photograph it for her Christmas cards. It was, she says, "beautiful in real life, but too overdone for art." Atwood, too, works hard to circumvent cheap emotion or consolation. These stories are not simply unsentimental; they're rigorously anti-sentimental and, at their darkest, they're also at their funniest.

Atwood’s fierce determination to veer off the well worn romance track is a little bit like a slap on the face or a douse of water. It stings, but it refreshes. The words, as told by Nell, felt almost like she was detached from the stories - just retelling it the way she remembers. The rawness of the words are something that can’t be described out loud - there isn't any extra baggage, no filler words. I had to push through the pages like foliage, never knowing where it was going to take me next.

The book is full of wonderful details - the way in which the narrator, as a teenager, smeared her face with frozen Noxzema face cream before doing her homework (she had a theory that it would "stimulate the blood flow" to her brain); the way in which her sister argues with the drivers of other cars, all of whom she calls Fred; her recipe for "nuts and bolts", a vile-sounding hors d'oeuvre.

There is a total of 11 stories in the novel. When, in the final piece, it emerges that the mother's horse was called Nell, it feels as if we are being gently reminded that this is not a memoir but something made up. Asked in an interview if the book was autobiographical, Atwood replied, "There has to be some blood in the cookie to make the gingerbread person come alive." There's plenty of wit, compassion and grace present in "Moral Disorder."

After a long hiatus,
B.

Edited by: Joey

Book Review: The Time Traveler's Wife

Fiction: The Time Traveler's Wife

Author: Audrey Niffenegger

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: 10/10

Unconventional, original and undeniably romantic – this story takes you around the bends of time where Clare discovers her soul mate at the age of six, and he (Henry) appearing to already be thirty-six at the time. It all seems rather surreal, though later on we uncover the whirl wind that is their untypical boy meets girl love story.

Niffenegger breaks barriers and boundaries of love in this novel, demonstrating the idea of fate in the most unexpected way. Impossible but true, Henry suffers from a rare condition where his genetic clock periodically resets and he finds himself pulled suddenly into his past or future. Through his misadventures in this unwanted time travelling, he finds himself to stumble upon a six-year old Clare, whom he already knows shall be his future wife. At this young age of pure innocence and naivety, Clare is already convinced that her heart can belong to no one other than Henry. Funny as it may seem, Clare grows up with the assurance of Henry being all she’ll ever want and need, thus it appears that she no longer has anything to worry about because as far as she’s concerned: the future is very well taken care of – it just seems to be a matter of waiting. Always waiting.

Personally, when I stumbled upon this book myself, it was in itself purely unexpected. I was clearing up in my mum’s room, and stashed away in some dusty yellow Selfridges bag was this book. The thick layer of dust over it made me hestitate to pull it out, but I am now glad beyond reason that I had disregarded its condition, for this novel has surely etched itself in my mind and heart. You will find that no matter how imperfect and struggling love can be, a moment’s bliss is worth all of it. An elegy to love and loss, and perhaps the reality of relationships and love itself, it is beautifully written, unmissable and dazzlingly imaginative.

I guess for me, what makes an amazing novel really worthwhile is the impression it leaves on you as a reader. It's safe to say that this novel has impacted me greatly; it offered me heart melting conversations, thought provoking concepts and genuine tears. I was taken away, lost in this story were ‘time is nothing’ – and finding that you can love whenever, wherever, forever. This story gave me hope, entertainment and impossible inspiration.

A must read.

---

I have also just recently found out that it has been made into a film and will be released in August here in London, so I'm pretty surprised and truthfully ecstatic about it.

By: Ces

Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Peeps

Fiction: Peeps
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Genres: Fantasy, Comedy, Mystery, YA
Rating: 9.5/10

Summary:

"One year ago, Cal Thompson was a college freshman more interested in meeting girls and partying in New York City than in attending his biology classes. Now, after a fateful encounter with a mysterious woman named Morgan, biology has become, literally, Cal’s life.
Cal was infected by a parasite that has a truly horrifying effect on its host. Cal himself is a carrier, unchanged by the parasite, but he’s infected the girlfriends he’s had since Morgan—and all have turned into the ravening ghouls Cal calls peeps. The rest of us know them as vampires. And it’s Cal’s job to hunt them down before they can create even more of their kind. . . . "

This is something entirely different from what I usually read. Definitely a hilarious piece of work, I thoroughly enjoyed Cal's adventures of finding out where his ex-girlfriends were and the problems that he had to deal with that made him go..well, crazy. This book can be partly categorized into the theme of vampires, but the whole STD spin off made it tremendously different and interesting.

Peeps has some strong situations and language, and it turns out that it's just that much more attention grabbing. The effects of the disease parallels the conventional vampire setup, but it's definitely funnier and more lighthearted. The teen aspect of Westerfield's book is that unlike the usual way for someone to turn into a vampire (they need to be bitten by another one), the disease is sexually transmitted. Which... totally made me read the book. [Ed's note: ...and raises some eyebrows as to Cal's promiscuity].

Since Cal has a strong immune system that prevents him from turning crazy and allows him to stay in control, he joins an organization whose main goal is to hunt down peeps like his ex-girlfriends - those without that extra layer of protection. Perhaps the interesting part of the book is that in each chapter, Westerfeld includes a description of various real parasites and diseases; a taste of real science, so that while you read the book, you might come to believe that everything you read might happen for real.

The combination of action, romance and that extra dash of scientific commentary makes for a great read.

By: Eli.
Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Untamed

Fiction: Untamed [House of Night Series]
[Book 4]
Author: P.C Cast, Kristin Cast
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, YA
Rating: 10/10

I was in my school library when I finally found the book I was desperately looking for.
[Whoo me!]

I was absolutely psyched to read it. My expectations were high, but they were well met once I finished reading the book. It was totally awesome. I am addicted to this series and can't wait to read the next book in the House of Night series, HUNTED.

A lot of mysteries were revealed in the 4th book. Neferet, Zoey' s enemy, has declared war against humans and is trying to awaken an ancient evil, who is more powerful than anything or anyone. This evil is someone beautiful and dangerous. On top of all of this, there is some kind of darkness surrounding the Academy and is targeting Zoey. Neferet has deceived everybody, and now, they think that this someone is related to their goddess, Nyx [the goddess of all vampires, basically]. Actually, the truth is that he is a fallen angel [a lot like Lucifer], who hates humans, especially women, and is now coming back to get revenge!

The good thing, though, is that Zoey has her friends back and maybe even her boyfriend, Erik Night. Her friends, who were dead, have now come back to life.

The weirdest thing that happened while I was reading this book was that I found myself visualizing everything that was happening. And, I have to say, I have a pretty awesome imagination. The way the author described everything was simply amazing, because it was easy to imagine how beautiful the fallen angel was. I really love this kind of action. Cast's use of words was superb and incredibly visualizing. I really enjoyed this book.

I am anxiously looking forward to the next book.

By: Eli
Edited by: Joey

Book Review: Chosen

Fiction: Chosen [House of Night Series]
[Book 3]
Author: P.C Cast, Kristin Cast
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, YA
Rating: 10/10





What can I say about this series?I totally love it. These books are a must read.

Tagline?

A 16-year old girl has the future of humanity in her hands and her enemy is the strongest priestess in the House of Night Academy.

~
In the third book of the house of night series, Zoey Redbird struggles to get back her friends' trust and friendship. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, has been reborn from being undead and has acquired a new mark, which is completely different from the normal fledgings [students in the academy in the process of becoming vampires]. All in all, this book has lots of good and bad surprises along with a few steamy characters to die for.

The story is thrilling and filled with action. The drama is powerful, especially when some of Zoey's friends reject the change [into vampires] and die.

I am completely in love with the characters, especially Zoey, who is far from being a mistress in distress. There is a dash of comedy to it and quite a bit of romance, which will leave you completely satisfied at the end.

You can say these series have a litle of everything: romance, action, comedy, suspence, mystery and a touch of something special.

I love this series!

By: Eli
Edited By: Annie

Book Review: The Hunger Games

Fiction: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genres: Science Fiction, Suspense, Romance, Action, everything
Rating: 8/10

24 Kids.

1 Winner.

How to be the winner? Be the last one alive.

~

In the country of Panem, there are 12 slave districts surrounding an authoritarian city called the Capitol. Each year, a boy and girl from every district is selected by random lottery for the Hunger Games.

~

The Hunger Games are a grim reminder to all those living in the 12 districts of the consequences of rebellion and the power that the Capitol holds. This control mechanism pits all the contestants against each other in a desolate and hostile environment, where the only method of action is “to kill or be killed”. The winner gets a life of ease, along with special treatments to his or her district. The losers can only lose in one way – by dying.

~
We follow this gripping tale by listening to the narrative of Katniss Everdeen, a girl who takes her sister’s place as District 12’s female representative in the 74th Games. Along with her comes Peeta Mellark, the baker’s son who once saved her family by providing them with some loaves of bread. With these two competing against those who’ve trained their whole lives for a chance at the Games, hope seems slim. And what happens when the two are forced to turn on each other in a place where the “only unspoken” rule is you can’t eat the dead contestants?
~
But this isn’t even the fun part yet. Every moment of the games is televised to the entire nation, and all the citizens are required to watch the gruesome display of supreme power by the Capitol. Sizzling right underneath the subplot of political intrigue is a love story that holds the readers (and the residents of Panem) in complete fascination.
~
Reading about this post-apocalyptic world is grisly, terrifying, and at the same time, exhilarating. The Games are not simply tests of strength or agility, but of both intelligence and the instinct to survive. Suspense and action are keywords that provide the readers with a fast-paced journey through a world where the next page seems too far away. It will be inevitable that in a few years, you’ll be watching Hunger Games, the movie.

"Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. Let the games begin…"

By: Annie

Book Review: Betrayed

Fiction: Betrayed [House of Night Series]
[Book 2]
Author: P.C Cast, Kristin Cast
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, YA
Rating: 10/10




The second book of the House of Night series is better than the first.
Following Zoey Redbird's new life as a vampire in training has become even more exciting. Along with becoming the high priestess of the House of Night, Zoey' s life has turned out to be way more complicated.

First, she encounters her ex-boyfriend Heath again and they imprint [When a vampire sucks the blood of a human and they form a special bond.]. Then, she becomes Erik's girlfriend, the hottest guy in the academy. And on top of this, she feels an attraction towards the most god-like teacher in the academy, Loren, and he feels the same way towards her.

Moreover; human students are starting to turn up dead from blood loss and all the evidence points towards the House of Night Academy. She also finds out that her high priestess (mentor), Neferet, isn't who everyone thinks she is. Many secrets are revealed and enemies become friends.

Along with other unexpected surprises that I'll leave for you to find out yourself, Betrayed has become a story impossible to put down. It was hotter than the first book; the scenes were surprising and steamy. It kept me at the edge of my seat and I seriously could not put down the book because of its amazingly well-written plots. The humor - which was in parts you'd least expect to find - was amazing and kept me laughing. The action was thrilling with the new enemies that were made and secrets that were uncovered. Zoey struggles as a new vampire who has been given the mission of finding out the secrets that surround the academy and the teachers themselves.





By: Eli
Edited By: Joey

Book Review: Thicker than Water

Fiction: Thicker than Water
Author: Carla Jablonski
Genres: Drama, Romance, YA
Rating: 8.5/10

[Even though I loved this book, I found that the ending was absurd and disappointing. It was a story I couldn't put down and a story with an amazing plot and strong characters I could relate to. However, while I was so much into it, I (along with the main character) was fooled by its surprising twist, which I hadn't seen it coming..until this day. I still laugh about it, because it's something I never experience in a book and it's something I find unique in a way.]

The story goes like this: It's about a girl, Kia, who's mother is dying of cancer. Her father is a complete fool and is never home, and her friends can't help her because they have problems of their own. The only way to escape the reality she lives in is while cutting herself.

In the mist of everything, she is introduced to a goth world filled with vampire fanatics and people who enjoy living in the darkness. This world is something out of the ordinary. And while being a part of it, she meets the sexy and handsome DJ Damon, whom she instantly assumes is a vampire due to the world he belongs to and the mysteries that surround him.

Jablonski introduces us to a world where everything is not what it seems; that appearances can be deceiving; and that reality can be mixed with fantasy. There are some things you want to believe, even though it seems irrational or unreal. In this story, Kia is able to experience the feeling of being liberated by a world that is fake and make-believe, yet she refuses to see otherwise. The pain caused by her dying mother is unbearable and she wants to be set free. By confining her self to Damon and believing that he is a vampire, she grabs hold of an escape that she badly needs.

While reading this book, I was entranced by its plot and its mysterious characters. The method in which it is written will surely make you feel addicted to it. The intensity and the depth of the characters; the feelings and strong personalities, are so well described that every reader can understand what Kia is going through.

[The book is a painfully true novel about how the cruelty of reality can cause us to escape to a fantasy world where lines blur between life and death.]

By: Eli

Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Marked

Fiction: Marked [House of night Series]
[Book 1]
Author: P.C Cast + Kristin Cast
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, YA
Rating: 9.5/10

[The reason for taking 0.5 points away: I found the story to be lacking in some parts, but I did enjoyed reading it.]

I finished reading this book today and am totally looking forward to reading the second one and so on. The plot is very original - something I haven't read in a while.

From being a total outcast in her old school, to becoming the high priestess of the house of night, Zoey Redbird seems to have come to the right place. But the House of night isn't as peaceful or safe as her old school, as mysterious events happen and enemies begin to arise. Then, along with Zoey's new powers comes [the danger of living in a secret world.]

Overall, it's about a girl struggling to understand and fit into her new vampire school and about the changes that she goes through. An example is how she transforms from being completely grossed out by blood into totally liking it. Of course, don't forget meeting the school preps and getting to know the school's hottest guy, Erik Night.

The plot is interesting, the dialogue is of modern-age - funny and spicy. There are moments that leave you both laughing and crying, moments that take you from sadness to hilarity, and moments that makes you sigh as everything unravels for Zoey and her friends in the House of night.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this book to the core, mostly because I'm into every kind of vampire series. Since I am a devoted vampire fan, I am looking forward to the next books which I will surely be reviewing later on.

By: Eli

Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Twilight

Fiction: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, YA
Rating: 10/10

I finished this book a long time ago, but couldn't help letting go for its well-written plot and originality. From time to time, I go back to reading it because I can't get enough of it.

This is one of the best vampire books I have read in my life. Honestly, the characters are well developed and the story keeps you wanting for more.

Isabella Swan goes to Forks, Washington to live with her father, Charlie. Upon arrival, she starts to attend Forks' high school and thereby meets Edward Collin, the biggest mystery to be ever known.

After a series of strange events, Bella starts to question Edward's real identity. This is especially true after he saves her from a car accident, and the story only escalates in suspense.

Stephenie Meyer can seriously write a thrilling story with powerful characters. [Her imagery allows readers to imagine incredible scenes] and get a clear view of what's happening in the story.

Her characters are thrilling to the core, especially Edward Cullen, whose personality is strong and is easy to befriend. Bella, on the other hand, is a curious character and intriguing character.

It's easy to get in deep with the story, since it's easily understandable. The descriptions of the characters, setting and [plot flow together into a masterpiece]. All in all, I enjoyed reading this one till the very end.

Romance, action, spellbinding characters, and a story to die for.

By: Eli

Edited By: Annie

Nobody's Princess

Fiction: Nobody’s Princess
Author: Esther Friesner
Genre: Historic, Adventure
Rating: 8.5/10

The first impression I got from this book was that it might be one of those horrid spinoffs of some fairy tale. Like Just Ella (though I enjoyed that one) or that one by Jane Yolen, Briar Rose. It had the word “Princess” in it, so don't blame one for making assumptions.

Of course, like most times, I was dead wrong. This book turned out to be about Helen of Troy. Yes, that one. The one whose face launched a thousand ships…supposedly. It was the initial blurb that drew me in:

“She is beautiful, she is a princess, and Aphrodite is her favourite goddess, but something in Helen of Sparta just itches for more out of life. Unlike her prissy sister, Clytemnestra, she takes no pleasure in weaving and embroidery. And despite what her mother says, she’s not even close to being interested in getting married. Instead, she wants to do combat training with her older brothers, go on heroic adventures, and be free to do what she wants and find out who she is.”

Okay, at first glance, I thought it was a tad presumptuous of the author to create our lovable, war-incurring Helen into some tomboy. But then I thought to myself, “Hey, it has a unique plot. Might be a good read.” So I followed myself on that instinct.

I’m what you would call one of those history nuts. I know way too much about Ancient Greece and the history of it too. This was the first time that somebody shone the spotlight directly on Helen. Sure, she was known as the most beautiful woman short of Aphrodite, but that was when she was mature.
In this book, Helen is portrayed as a tall, awkward, gangly girl. Can you imagine a girl like that growing into the Helen of Troy? I suppose that it was partially to extend a hand out to the girls who are reading this to say that even if you are tall and gangly, you might grow up to become extremely beautiful. I enjoyed reading about her escapades and her determination to get what she wanted.

The first few chapters really made a deep impact on me. I’m not going to reveal the whole book, but it has an epiphany where Helen, our cute gangly Helen, realizes that being beautiful has advantages. It’s disturbing to think that a seven year old girl can realize this so early on in life, but I guess it worked for her. She knew how to charm people with her smile and a flick of her hair.

The most surprising thing is how many of my preconceived stereotypes this book broke about Helen of Troy. She wasn’t blonde; she was a brunette. She wasn’t pretty from the get-go; people weren’t compelled to make her their bride when looking at her in her crib. She wasn’t weak and meek; the exact opposite actually. And she wasn’t dumb. Of course, I don’t know how many creative liberties Esther Friesner took with this book, so I’m calling these stereotypes “cracked” until further notice.

The level of reading is fairly easy. It would be advised that you know a bit about Greek mythology before reading, it would make the read more enjoyable. There is also a sequel now, called Nobody’s Prize.

If you enjoy reading historic novels, here are some recommendations of mine:

- The Black Stallion, Tim Farley: a very touching story about Alexander the Great’s courageous black stallion Bucephalus and his adventures with Alexander. This book actually brought tears to my eyes in the ending. People usually think of dogs as fiercely loyal, but who knew horses could be that loyal too?

-Troy, Adele Geras: a story of two very different but close sisters who lived in Troy at the height of the Trojan War. Romance, sisterly drama, and internal conflicts ensue! The book conveys very accurately what it was like to live during the time of war.

-The Red Thread, Roderick Townley: a girl keeps having dreams of her past life—no, her past TWO lives. She finds out that she was killed in one of them—murdered. But how can she forgive her own murderer when it happened 400 years ago? Like a tapestry, there are so many complex layers woven together in this story. It's like reading three plots at once - with them all joining together at the end

By: Berber
Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Girl, Interrupted

Non-Fiction: Girl, Interrupted
Author: Susanna Kaysen
Genre: Drama, Memoir,YA

At first i didn't pay much attention to this novel, thinking maybe it was just some book about a typical girl's problems. But then I thought "what the heck"and started reading the first page. It was the most original story I've read so far [in a long time]. How should i say it - it was raw literature, simply brilliant and hillarious to the point of tears.

Susanna Kaysen writes about her memories as a young 18-year old girl struggling in a psychiatric hospital where she was admitted apparently because she suffered from Borderline personality disorder. She tried commiting suicide and [slitting her wrists], from there, she met a psycologist and concluded that she had this kind of disorder.

She met various people [with whom] she became friends with.
Her memories of being in the hospital were something unique, [especially when] outsiders feared them. Due of the fact that they were different and suffered from a disorder, they seemed like they had been cast off to the side by society and their own parents just because they did things that weren't "normal" to most people.

Heck, what does it even mean to be normal?

It's special in its ability to make you think about greater concepts. For the most part, it's a brilliant memoir of a world we hardly know of. The world of Susanna Kaysen may seem crazy and scary, but inside the hospital everything is peaceful and free, as [described] by the author.

And maybe at the end, you'll find yourself asking if she really suffered from BPD, whether or not if it was a matter of choice, or perhaps she was simply questioning her own sanity.

By: Eli
Edited By: Annie

Book Review: Graceling

Book Review: Graceling

Author: Kristen Cashore

Genres: Fantasy, YA

Rating: 3.5/5

The fact that I am the first person from my library to borrow this book is surprising but understandable, considering its inconspicuous hiding place. It was sitting in a dusty corner of the very lowest shelf, among books whose widths span the length of my hand. I happen to have a gift for finding great books (by looking in places where only the mightiest of heart traverse), and I congratulate myself on discovering yet another jewel among paperback trash (ie. Mates, Dates, etc books). However, I shall not indulge the reason behind why I picked it up (Ok, fine - the cover looked pretty), and will contend myself with simply providing you with my personal account.

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Blend of jacket cover and my edits:

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The setting is a familiar idea - a beautiful and fantastical land divided into seven countries. In this world, some people are born with an extreme skill - called Grace - and are often feared and exploited. Katsa, niece of King Randa of the Middluns, carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of Killing. For the most part, she is her uncle's toy, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, her life suddenly takes a drastic turn. She never expected to become Po's friend, or to learn the truth about his Grace and her own. And for the first time, it occurs to her that there is a more important calling beyond the borders of her world, a secret that has the power to destroy all seven kingdoms... with simply words alone.

The characters were absolutely enthralling. Unlike many other heroines, Katsa had absolute power over almost every aspect of her life. She was a refreshing change from the girls in distress who are always squalling to be saved. And Po? It is simply too easy to fall in love with him. His lazy arrogance tainted with surprising intuition makes for a great secondary character.

I found the plot elements especially creative. I never knew what was going to happen next, but I could see both the plausibility and logic when it did happen. The world Cashore created was rather comprehensive for a YA (and for a non heavy-duty fantasy), and there is definitely a lot of potential for future books in the same setting.

There were, however, a few aspects of the book I had qualms with. The climax was too short, and too pitiful an end to what the whole novel built up towards. The pacing was wonderful in the beginning, but turned erratic near the end. Again, the climax was less than satisfying, and though I would love the book to be longer if only to admire the characters some more, the end was much too stretched out. There is no point adding more to the plot if it doesn't amount to something, and Cashore was only good at tying up the strings of the subplot as opposed to the main political intrigue.

Graceling is not deep as it is entertaining. It makes for a great, light read, but if you're looking for something to make you cry and laugh, this isn't the book for you. Not a winter night's tale, but a good bus-stop/ boring-class/ read.
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Next on my reading list? The Hunger Games, A Curse as Dark as Gold, and Book of a Thousand Days. I'm open to any recommendations (apparently the Sword of Truth series are quite good? I shudder at the length of the books in comparison to my free time). Can't wait till the Break - then I can get down to the heavy ones.

Book Review: Summers at Castle Auburn

Book Review: Summers at Castle Auburn

Author: Sharon Shinn

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

Rating: 3.5/5

There are two large shelves dedicated to YA books at my public library. It is interesting to note that her books actually occupy a great percentage of that shelf space, though based on the two books I've read by her, I never felt that she deserved it. However, this is to show that I've never come across Summers at Castle Auburn.  

Coriel is the illegitimate child of the noble Halsing line, and spends three months of every year at court. Though she often feels out of place in a society where every action is first weighed against the gain and loss of favour, she continues to visit court to see her adoring half-sister, Elisandra. Elisandra is engaged to Prince Bryan, and though Coriel is at first infatuated with him, she soon begins to see the dark undercurrents beneath the idyllic life at Castle Auburn.

For a more comprehensive intro, click here.

The only major concern I had with the book was the great amount of ambiguity associated with the main character's feelings. Usually, I'm able to establish a great and understanding relationship with the main character and can perceive what he/she feels through her thoughts and actions However, Coriel was always a two dimensional character to me. She behaved in ways that suprised me, and it was only the justifications that the author provided afterwards that anything was truly explained. Had her character been logistically developed, I would have understood Coriel's actions a little better. Perhaps this sort of equivocal shadowing was on purpose, but I believe it could have been pulled off much better.

Apart from the perceptual shallowness of the story, I loved Shinn's vivid descriptions. She has the ability to paint beautiful pictures within the readers' minds. The pacing left little to be desired, and she was exceptional at crafting language between the lines. Not only does this book have a creative plotline, Shinn is great at solving the problems she creates within the story. This makes for a fast and absorbing read.

It is without reservations that I recommend this book.

Book Review: Notes of a War Story

I love visiting the library because I always come home with a few good books that I can add permanently to my own small library of books. My library sells books that have been withdrawn from the system for only 25 cents, and really, where else can you find a deal like that?


One of the books I recently took home was Notes for a War Story, by Gipi. It was translated from Italian (I believe) into English by Alexis Siegel. Before I go on any further, I must point out that this book is a comic book, done in green and black overtones.

Comic: Notes for a War Story
Author: Gipi
Genres: War, Friendship
Rating: 7/10

As the title suggests, Notes for a War Story deals with a trio of friends during an unnamed war in what is perceived to be modern times. To survive, the three resort to petty crimes and eventually find themselves under the tutelage of a thug named Felix. From there, their actions escalate in immorality, which is undeniably linked to higher risks and consequences. It is from these wartime adventures that we begin to understand each character's background and the road they've chosen for themselves.

The narrator is Giuliano, who gave up a life of certain privilege to be with his friends - Christian and Stephano, dubbed the "Little Killer". The camaraderie that builds between these three friends is their way of dealing with circumstances of the war. However, there is an inevitable bridge that the narrator cannot cross, as he has a past with a family that he does not want to forget, while Christian and Stephano can only look forward to tomorrow to escape theirs.

It is Gipi's exploration of the relationship between these lost boys and their perceptions of the world around them that speaks volumes. The cry for humanity in a world that has lost touch with morality and order is visible in each character's urge to connect with something that holds sentimental value - from Christian's admiration of a perfect home to Stephano's willingness to connect with Felix, the father he never had.

Though it's fictional, the book is filled with very fine observations that go far in the development of characters. Throughout the book, these boys transform from subjects of examination into animated livelihoods, holding the readers captive in the way they speak, look and act. The art seems entirely too appropriate for the content of the book, with dark shades of green and gray daunting every page.

Nothing is truly resolved in this book, but this is simply a reflection of the lives that go on after the ravage of the war. Gipi has outdone himself with the curiosity he provokes in the readers and the pure, emotional impact of an imaginary world that is only one step away from reality.

One cannot read this book and not be affected in some way.


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I'm happy today because I just received a new copy of Persepolis today for free. It's interesting - Remembrance Day is coming up and I'm reading numerous war books.

I've been out these past few days due to my busy schedule and lack of inspiration. I needed some time to relax and read - the weekend provided ample opportunity. I should be preparing for a very important interview, but I'm currently hooked on a nonfiction I picked up out of curiosity - True Stories from the Nation's ER. It has proved to be worth much more than it cost ($0.25), and has literally made me laugh and cry.

Book Review and Interview: Daughter of the Forest; Juliet Marillier

Fiction: Daughter of the Forest
Author: Juliet Marillier
Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Romance

I remember that fateful day when I asked the librarian for an interesting fantasy novel and she picked one off the shelf, stuffed it in my hands and told me that I just had to read it. Little did I know that it would eventually become my favourite novel. If you’re a sucker for romance fantasy novels, perhaps you should flip through best-selling Daughter of the Forest and see how much you might like it.

Daughter of the Forest is basically a spin-off of a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale called The Six Swans. Like numerous fairy tales, the main character Sorcha has to deal with an evil stepmother who not only spellbinds her father, but also curses her six brothers to become swans. Faced with the impossible task of overcoming challenging obstacles all on her own, Sorcha has to vow herself to silence and weave shirts of stinging nettles to break her brothers’ enchantment. However, with a twist of fate, Sorcha falls into the hands of the enemy, but also in love. Perhaps her biggest obstacle yet is deciding between “the life that she has always known and a love that comes only once”.

Unlike most fairy tale adaptations, Daughter of the Forest is not set against a backdrop of blue skies and pretty butterflies. More often than not, the impediments that Sorcha faces are realistic and meaningful. This is not a quick read, and sometimes deals with deep and grim situations. In addition, this novel also has a historic component to it. It’s set in Ireland and Britain in the ninth century, with a good description of the feud that pits both cultures against one another.

For the few days that I was engrossed in Daughter of the Forest, I think I was living in the world brought alive by Marillier’s “rich words”, as the librarian put it. I felt like I was brought to a world that I wished was in existence and was finally given the chance to experience; to watch a fairy tale play out before my eyes. One of the main characteristics of this book is its ability to incite emotions. I laughed and cried, both literally. For those who can’t get enough of it, there is a second and third book to this trilogy. However, I believe both are less compelling than the first one. To put it simply, this is a must read for all fantasy lovers.

- Annie

Short Bio

Juliet Marillier is an Australian best-selling author who was born in New Zealand and grew up listening to old Celtic legends and folktales. Some of her works include The Sevenwaters Trilogy, the Saga of the Light Isles and The Bridei Chronicles. They have been welcomed by many in eight languages. We were fortunate to get in touch with her through email and had this interview.

My Interview with Juliet Marillier


A: Is it really true that you wrote this all at one time as a 200 000 word blockbuster?

I did take three years to write Daughter of the Forest, because I was working fulltime in another job and was a single mother of two school-aged children. I worked on it evenings and weekends.

A: Was it hard for you to publish it? Did you get rejected at first?

Not very hard. I sent it to a local publisher for an opinion (I knew it wasn't the kind of book they published, but they had a policy of reading and commenting on any manuscript sent in by an author from this state.) They were very encouraging and suggested two mainstream publishers for me to try. Only one of those two accepted unsolicited manuscripts, so I sent an outline and three chapters to them. They asked to see the whole ms, and when they'd read it they made me an offer.

A: If I'm writing something and I get a writer's block, how do I get over it?

If you can't summon up the motivation to write something, it's probably better to put this piece of writing aside for awhile and try something completely different. I don't really believe in writer's block. You might get stuck on a particular piece of writing, but there should always be SOMETHING you can write, even if it's just a daily journal entry. If you're trying to write and can't get the flow happening, doing some exercise is a good circuit-breaker.

A: Did you get a chance to choose the cover you wanted for the book?

No. This is usually all done by the publishing house. Sometimes the author gets consulted - my Australian publisher is very good about this. Sometimes the author doesn't get to see the cover until it's all done. I found some of mine rather surprising! My best covers are the ones by the artist Kinuko Craft (American editions of Wolfskin, Foxmask, Wildwood Dancing and the forthcoming Cybele's Secret.) Kinuko always reads the whole book and captures the atmosphere perfectly in her painting.

Book Review: Remember Me?

Fiction: Remember Me?
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Chicklit
Rating: 3/5

I haven't had such fun reading a book in a long time - especially staying up until 2am to finish it. I had expected Remember Me? to be something of the usual, something that mirrored her Shopaholic series, in which the main character carries on as if she wants to buy the whole world.

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I liked Alexia from Remember Me? immensely. She's a girl who suffers from a car crash and wakes up without any idea of what's happened in the last three years. One word: amnesia. The interesting take on this is that the last thing she rememers is that she'd been a pretty average girl with a pretty average job in a pretty average life.

However, waking up in a private chamber of a London hospital, she realizes that she'd changed immensely. She is now two sizes smaller with a beautiful, toned body and gorgeous, unbelievable clothes that she had no way in hell of paying for before. But the most surprising thing of all is that big, fat diamond ring and gold wedding band with her intials carved into it. Yep- she's married; and to a Greek God no less. In three years, she'd gone from nobody to someone with a perfect life.

As great as things may seem, her ventures into this brand new world makes her feel as if she's living the life of a different person. In the fab and glam of it all, she seems to have lost herself. No one's able to answer her questions until, that is, she meets a guy who seems to know everything aout her. Suddenly, nothing's normal. Why in the world does he feel like her other half when she's already married?

Remember Me? is poignant in its narrative of finding an anchor in a lost and almost senseless world. The highlight of the novel is the heroine's road to self-discovery, complimented by the gradual collection of new memories and at the same time mourning the old.

Kinsella was able to bring to life the hopes and fears of an individual with astounding success, and the exploration of human emotions is something that hasn't graced her other works in such a realistic style. I was truly touched by the end of the book, and the only upsetting aspect was that there wasn't more for me to read. This is without doubt a wonderful literary escape.

Ps. Why is there a sunflower on the front cover, you ask? It is the cutest thing ever, and I was so touched by it that I felt like I was falling in love with a fictional character...

You've got to find out yourself!