Like a River Glorious

Like a River Glorious
By Rae Carson

Leah and her friends have arrived in California and are ready to stake their claims and make it rich. However, Leah's uncle Hiram is still desperate to use her "witchy" gold-finding talents to make it rich himself, and he sends an old enemy after her to help him get what he wants. Leah must find a way to defeat her uncle once and for all if she is ever to have peace and be free--and it will take all of her ingenuity and an improvement on her talents that she didn't know she had in order to best Hiram once and for all.

I love the historical fiction element of this series, showing the Gold Rush and settling California in a realistic light, combined with the slight twist of Leah's special power to find gold. Leah's a great character, and I love her friend Jackson's devotion to her, and I think the other supporting characters add so much to the book--without them, the story wouldn't be half as interesting. I love seeing the "family" they've cobbled together and how they look out for each other and care for each other. I'm excited to see what happens in the third book, with the new add-ins to their family. And I totally loved the ending!!

4.5 stars.

The Invaders

The Invaders

By John Flanagan

Philomel, 2012. 429 pgs. Young Adult

Summary:

In the second book of the Brotherband series, Hal and his crew, the Herons, have set out after the ruthless pirate Zavac, who stole the Skandians' treasured artifact, the Andomal. If they can get the artifact back, they may actually be able to redeem themselves and show their faces in Skandia again some day. While the boys have successfully completed their brotherband training, they are still young and need to learn how to work together, use their skills and ingenuity, and hope luck is on their side as they hunt down the pirates. However, things become even more complicated when the pirates take to land when they find out about a secret emerald mine, killing the villagers who stand in their way. The Herons and the villagers, and a few Skandians sent to help, must defeat the pirates or risk losing everything.

Review:

The more I read of John Flanagan, the more I like him. I didn't always care about the details of the battles or the ship terms, but the book still moved really quickly, and you just can't help but love the characters, from smart inventor Will to gruff old seaman Thorn to loyal best friend Stig and so many other characters. I also liked the fact that we perhaps have a hint of romance a little sooner than we did in the Ranger's Apprentice series. Nothing actually happened in this book, but a female character, Lydia, was introduced and both Hal and Stig are drawn to her but also want to maintain their friendship. This is an easy recommendation--fans of adventure, humor, and general awesomeness should definitely check out this series.

5 stars. Clean read...you know, other than the fact that Thorn doesn't bathe that often ;)

Kane Chronicles

I'd previously reviewed the first book in the series, but since I just read the third book, I'm going to go ahead and put all three on here.

The Red Pyramid
By Rick Riordan
Disney/Hyperion Books, 2010. 516 pgs. Middle Grade/Teen fiction

Carter Kane has spent his life being dragged around the world by his father, Dr. Julius Kane, a famous Egyptologist. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Sadie, has lived with their grandparents in England. However, when Carter and his dad go to visit Sadie at Christmas, their lives change completely. Their father takes them to a museum where he tries to summon an Egyptian god. However, he releases five trapped gods, including Set, who sets out to wreak havoc on the world and traps Julius inside Osiris' coffin. Carter and Sadie learn that they are actually powerful descendants of ancient pharoahs, and it becomes their responsibility to restore order to the world--and rescue their dad.

The first book in the Kane Chronicles, this book was a somewhat darker tone than the author's Percy Jackson series, and many readers will likely be less familiar with the Egyptian mythology of this series than the Greek mythology of the Percy Jackson series. However, the action and adventure are still well-written; the book is fast-paced, and both spunky Sadie and somewhat more reserved Carter are interesting characters and I look forward to watching their development in the upcoming books.

The Throne of Fire
By Rick Riordan
Disney/Hyperion Books, 2011. 452 pgs. Young Adult

In book 2 of the Kane Chronicles, Sadie and Carter Kane have 5 days to save the world. Apophis, the god of Chaos, who has been bound for many years, is struggling to get free and even has magicians working to help him. Sadie and Carter have to locate the pieces of the scroll of Ra, the sun god, and use the spells contained in them to locate and revive him in order to balance out Apophis. At the same time, Carter is determined to find Zia, who was hidden somewhere by the world's most powerful magician before he died, and Sadie is dealing with her feelings for Anubis, an Egyptian god, and Walt, one of the Kanes' magical trainees, who seems to be hiding something from them.




The Serpent's Shadow
By Rick Riordan
Disney/Hyperion, 2012. 406 pgs. Young Adult

Carter and Sadie Kane have only a few days to save the world from Chaos. Apophis, the god of Chaos, is determined to wipe out the entire world. He has already killed or converted many magicians to his side, leaving Carter, Sadie, and their young magicians-in-training to try to save the world. The only option open to them is to trust an evil dead magician to lead them to a secret spell that will allow them to trap Apophis's shadow and then execrate the god. As if that's not enough, they need the help of the gods, particularly Ra, the senile old sun god, who might not be ready in time. With the fate of the world in their hands, Carter and Sadie face their most dangerous quest yet.


I have to say, Rick Riordan's books seem to be very similar--kid finds out he/she has magic powers, kid has to battle several demons/evil forces, kid ultimately triumphs. It gets a little repetitive, and yet, I think it still pulls in a lot of readers. And, for some readers, that can actually be a comforting thing--because they can jump into the story, supported by the familiar structure, and read a long book and feel like they've accomplished something. For some readers, that might get a little old, but most readers will still have fun following sarcastic Sadie and more serious Carter on their adventures. As can be expected from Rick Riordan, this book is thrilling good fun. Readers will be swept along with Sadie and Carter as they move, top-speed, to try to save the world. There's a dash of romance, a fair dose of humor, and extra helpings of action and adventure.
I have a harder time following this series than Riordan's other series, but that's probably because I'm not as familiar with the Egyptian gods as the Greek ones. Consequently, I probably don't like it as much as his other books--but I still like it plenty and am happy to recommend it to anyone looking for a super fun series.

The Outcasts

The Outcasts
By John Flanagan
Philomel Books, 2011. 434 pgs. Teen fiction

In Skandia, sixteen-year-old boys must go through brotherband training, where groups must work together while competing against other brotherbands as they try to prove themselves ready to take their place in Skandian society and in the Skandian wolf ships. Hal Mikkelson is half-Skandian, half-Araluen, which, in the eyes of the other Skandians, means he's outsider and probably always will be. His only friend, Stig, is the son a Skandian who stole from his countrymen and then high-tailed it out of the country, which leaves Stig as an outsider as well. They, along with six other outcasts, aren't chosen for a brotherband and by default become a brotherband, the Herons. Competing against larger brotherbands, no one expects the Herons to succeed, but Hal and his new friends are determined to show that they aren't the losers that everyone thinks they are.

In this companion series to The Ranger's Apprentice series, readers will quickly draw parallels with the other series, with small, underdog Hal (similar to Will), strong but not as bright best friend Stig (similar to Horace), and the wise mentor Thorn (similar to Halt). While there are definite similarities, there are enough difference to make the book distinct. Readers familiar with Ranger's Apprentice won't be disappointed by the new series, but it's not necessary to read the other series before diving into this one. Highly recommend to anyone looking for rip-roaring good fun.

John Keating does a great job with the narration of the audiobook.

5 stars. Clean read.

Airman

Airman
By Eoin Colfer
Hyperion, 2008. 11 hrs, 22 mins. Teen fiction

Conor Broekhart was born to fly. In fact, he was born flying--in a hot air balloon over Paris. Returning home to the Saltee Islands off the Irish coast, Conor quickly becomes friends with Princess Isabella, despite her daily, or hourly, or even minutely, threats to have him hanged. He's even given the opportunity to study with Isabella's tutor, a Frenchman named Victor Vigny, who shares Conor's interest in flying. Both are determined that they will fly someday; however, their plan is cut short when the evil Hugo Bonvilain, Marshall of the Saltee Islands, puts into effect his plan to kill the king. Conor discovers his treachery, but Bonvilain catches him, and after convincing Conor's parents that Conor died with the king, sends Conor to Little Saltee where he works in the prison mines, gathering diamonds that make the corrupt Bonvilain rich. Feeling forsaken by his family and his love (Isabella), Conor is determined to forget his former life and survive the wretched conditions of the prison long enough to escape.

With flying, corruption, evil schemes, and a good villain (meaning, a bad villain that you can hate as much as Conor hates him) this book is a good pick for most teen guys, as well as quite a few teen girls. John Keating, as always, does a good narration, making this a good choice for those looking for a good audiobook as well.

3.5 stars. Clean read, other than some very, very slight usage of "d***" and "h***" (although, in some cases, it was comparing prison to the real place, so I'm not even sure if that counts as cursing).

The Girl of Fire and Thorns

The Girl of Fire and Thorns
By Rae Carson
Green Willow Books, 2011. 424 pgs. Teen fiction

Elisa, the second-born princess of Orovalle, is, on her sixteenth birthday, married off to the King Alejandro of Joya d'Arena. As she heads off to a new country, with a husband she doesn't know and only her nurse and a lady-in-waiting for company, Elisa must hide the secret that all of her countrymen know: she is the chosen one. Once every hundred years, God chooses a special servant by placing a gemstone in his or her navel; Elisa possesses that special stone and knows she is called of God, but has no idea what God would actually have her do or how she can be of any use to anyone. Soon, though, she must find a way to help her new countrymen stave off the take over of their country by the Invierne, powerful enemies whose sorcery and strength could easily overpower the people of Joya d'Arena. Still unsure of what exactly God would have her do, Elisa must rely on her faith and new friends to complete a mission that could very well get her killed.

I really enjoyed this new fantasy book, from the characters to the plot to the discussions of faith. Elisa's maturation process from an insecure, overprotected to princess to a fiercely faithful woman is satisfying. The book reads really quickly--I was actually surprised to see (after I'd finished it) that it was over 400 pages long, since it seemed to go by so quickly. A good choice for fans of high fantasy.

4 stars.

Liar's Moon

Liar's Moon
By Elizabeth C. Bunce
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011. 356 pgs. Teen fiction

Digger has returned to her home city of Gerse and find that Durrel Decath, the young noble who was one of her rescuers when she was fleeing the city before, is in prison, accused of murdering his wife. As Digger investigates what really happened, she finds out that there's much more doing on than she realized, including the smuggling and extortion of magical people. Proving that Durrel didn't kill his wife proves harder than she thought--as does denying her growing feelings for him.

A lot of times, the second book in a series is boring or slow; I think Bunce did a good job avoiding that. This book moved pretty well, with action, adventure, and a dash of romance. Fans of Starcrossed will appreciate that. At the same time, they might find themselves disappointed by the fact that most of the characters from the first book don't make an appearance in the second. And for those who hoped Digger's love life might involve a certain rebel prince, they'll be disappointed to see the romance heading a different direction. Overall, though, a lot of fun, and the cliffhanger ending will leave readers hoping Bunce and her publishers put out the third book really quickly.

4 stars.

Son of Neptune

Son of Neptune
By Rick Riordan
Disney/Hyperion Books, 2011. 521 pgs. Teen fiction

After several months of enchanted sleep, Percy Jackson--who has only vague recollections of his previous life experiences--winds up at Camp Jupiter, the camp for the half-human children of the Roman gods. Given that Percy is descended from a Greek god, he isn't fully welcome in camp. However, he and two of the other least popular demigods, Frank and Hazel, find themselves with only days to complete a quest that will require them to defeat giants, free death, and keep their camp from being destroyed. At the same time, Percy has to figure out who he is, Frank has to uncover some family secrets and figure out where his strengths lie, and Hazel has to face up to a bad decision in her past and figure out how to fit in in a world where she doesn't belong.

I highly enjoyed this book. It's adventurous and funny and has a great pace. It was nice to back with Percy, and Hazel and Frank are good additions to the series. I can't wait for the next installment.

I listened to part of the book and read part of it, and I definitely recommend the print version more than the audio version. The narrator did all right for Percy, but for Hazel, he wasn't consistent with her accent, and he made Frank sound like a dope. So, if you can, go for a print copy and pass on the audio.

3.5 stars. Clean read.

The Ranger's Apprentice series

The Ranger's Apprentice Series
By John Flanagan
Teen fantasy/adventure.
(I'm going to review an entire series here, and I'm not going to put in all the lengths and publication dates and stuff.)

A bit of back story on the books: there is a fictional kingdom of Araluen, where at age 15 (or so), kids are apprenticed out to various future positions, such as diplomacy or battle school. There is an elite core of King's Rangers, who are sort of spy/enforcers/strategists/generally intimidating awesome people.

General disclaimer: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS, because in the nature of describing what happens in later books...or, you know, sometimes, just writing at the title, some stuff is going to be given away. I'm not going to mark the spoilers, so continue at your own risk.


Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan
Will, at 15, is an orphan who has been raised in his baron's castle along with the other orphans from the war. He is desperately hoping to be selected for battle school. However, he's rejected and devastated, thinking that he'll be condemned to a life of drudgery as a farmer, but then Halt, the intimidating, famous Halt (hero of the war) suggests that Will might have what it takes to become a Ranger. Halt starts training him, putting him through the strenuous training it will take for him to be successful. Will's skills will be put to the test sooner than expected, though, as a deadly threat enters the country.

Book 2: The Burning Bridge
Rebel Morgarath is raising his army preparing for attack, threatening the entire kingdom. Halt and Will have to figure how to keep the kingdom safe from him and his invading Wargol army. With cunning Morgarath's intrigue and stratagems, they must figure out what the rebel lord is up to before it's too late.

Book 3: The Icebound Land
Will and Evanlynn, the servant girl who isn't exactly who she said she is, have been captured by Erak and the Skandians (who were mercenaries for Morgarath) and are desperate to find a way to escape so they aren't forced into a life of slavery. Meanwhile, Halt and Horace (Will's former ward mate and current best friend) are determined to find Will and Evanlynn, but face a major obstacle along the way.
This was a little harder to read than the other books, because the characters are stuck more than in the other books; they don't accomplish as much. (Plus SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Will is drugged so we lose him mentally for awhile, and it's hard to lose your main character like that.)

Book 4: The Battle for Skandia
Will and Evanlynn have escaped the Skandians but soon, Evanlynn is captured by a Temulji raiding party. When Halt and Horace show up to help save the day, they encounter Erak and his Skandians and, fearing that if the Temulji succeed then they'll turn their sights on Araluen next, they must all work together to defeat the Temulji. I thought the final battle in this book went on a little long, but I also liked how we really got to know some of the characters better. It's so hard to pick a favorite character!

Book 5: The Sorcerer of the North
Will has just started his official assignment as a fully trained Ranger when he is sent on a special assignment; at Castle Macindaw, Lord Syron has mysteriously taken ill and word is spreading of a dark sorcerer being at fault. Will must figure out what is going on--and who is behind it.

Book 6: The Siege of Macindaw
Will is still at Macindaw, having retreated to the forest as Lord Keren has usurped the throne. As he and Malcolm (the alleged sorcerer who is really a healer) and Horace, who as arrived to provide help, devise a plan, Will's friend Alyss is being held prisoner by Lord Keren, and they realize that Keren is in league with the Scotti warriors, who want to use Macindaw as a means for invading the country. (Side note, loved the book, but at this point, I got really tired fo the words "cloak," "cowl," and "mottled".)

Book 7: Erak's Ransom
This book goes back in time before book 5, which could be jarring for some readers, but I didn't mind (of course, I also had been warned by a friend ahead of time, so I knew that was how it was going to work). Halt, Gillan, Will, and Evanlynn set out to rescue Erak, who has been captured by a desert people. However, things turn a little more complicated when Will sets out on his own to find his missing horse and when Erak is captured by another tribe.

Book 8: The Kings of Clonmel
Halt, Will and Horace set out for Hibernia where they must try to keep a phony religious group from overthrowing the king. On the way, Will and Horace find out that there's a lot more to Halt's past than they realized. Once in Hibernia, they have to track the phonies, protect the innocent Hibernians being preyed upon, and convince the weak Hibernian king that he needs to act against the phonies.

Book 9: Halt's Peril
Chasing the fake religious tribe as they cut back into Araluen, Halt is shot by a poisoned arrow and Will must race to Macindaw to find the one person who might be able to save him, the healer Malcom.

Book 10: The Emperor of Nihon-ja
Horace is visiting Nihon-ja on a diplomatic mission, when a group of warriors set out to overthrow the emperor. As Horace tries to help the emperor, Evanlynn, Will, Alyss, and Halt set out to find their missing friend and become embroiled in a fight that will determine the fate of Nihon-ja. This book was interesting in the sense that we don't see Araleun. Granted, that happened when they were in Skandia and Hibernia, but those are at least neighboring countries, whereas Nihon-ja is around the world. And maybe I noticed it more because the book ends with them at sea and they don't make it back, and that's kind of a strange way to end a series, since their careers and their lives are so vitally tied to their homeland.

I loved this series. It's full of action and adventure and witty lines (ah, Halt and his dry humor) and lovable characters and a touch of romance (Okay, I could have done with a bit more of the romance.) It's an easy one to recommend to readers. I listened to all but one of the books (simply because it was checked out and I couldn't wait for it to come back in!), and John Keating does a great job narrating...although I do recommend picking up a book or two at some point just to figure out how things are spelled.

Extra Book: The Lost Stories
In 1896, an archaeology student in the Republic of the Aralan States uncovers a collection of lost stories about the legendary Rangers. In a collection of short stories, readers come to find out more about (among other things) Halt's background, Will's parentage, and what happened after the tenth book in the series.
Reading this was a little bittersweet for me. I loved the chance to see my favorite Araluens one more time and to find out a little more about them, but this book didn't have the same captivating power that the others did. There wasn't as much action, and since the stories weren't necessarily connected to each other, they didn't create the same pull to devour the book to find out what's going to happen. There was, however, a story that made me cry, something I wasn't quite prepared for after reading the ten others dry-eyed. Overall, it isn't quite as wonderful as the rest of the series, but it's definitely something fans of the series should read.

I'm so sad this series is over! Overall, I'll give it 5 stars. There are some books I liked better than others, but it's all rip-roaring good fun. There's a little bit of language, of the milder variety, but otherwise clean.

Dragon Castle

Dragon Castle
By Joseph Bruchac
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011. 346 pgs. Teen fiction

Many years before, Rashko's ancestor, Pavol was the sole survivor when his family was killed by an evil sorcerer. Pavol, keeping his identity a secret, trained intensely to be able to defeat the sorcerer, but he acted the part of a fool to keep himself nonthreatening. After his success, his kingdom had been left alone for years, living in peace. Now, however, Rashko's parents, who are pretty foolish themselves, mysteriously disappear, and Rashko is left with his foolish older brother Paulek to protect their home from the dark force advancing toward them. Rashko knows his brother has a good heart, but he seems taken in by their sudden "guests," while Rashko recognizes that they have only evil in mind. Although Rashko is wise, he doesn't know if he will be enough to save his family and his home.

Drawing on Slovakian culture, Bruchac has created a warm fantasy world. With adventure, a tiny (really, really tiny) hint of romance, humor, and the interweaving of Rashko's and Pavol's stories, this book is a lot of fun to read. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans of The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner.

4 stars. Clean read.

Daughter of Helaman

Daughter of Helaman
By Misty Moncur
Bonneville Books, 2011. 201 pgs. Teen fiction

Although Keturah is of marrying age, she has no intention of getting married yet. Instead, she wants to join her brothers and the other young men of their people as they form a rag-tag army and prepare to battle their enemies. Ezekiel, the boy who has been her friend all her life, wants Keturah to accept his offer of betrothal, and while she thinks she loves him, she can't help the rising feelings she has for Gideon, the only man who seems willing to accept her need to be a soldier.

This was an exciting adventure, the first book in a new series, and overall I enjoyed it and I think other readers will, too. It's fast-paced and Keturah is a spunky character. I was a little put off by the use of modern slang in a historical fiction novel. (Duh, awesome, etc. just don't strike me as being a big part of the vocab before Christ...granted, I don't know what would have been, but it was a bit jarring.) I also got a little frustrated with Keturah going so far as to tell Zeke she loves him (multiple times) but all the while obviously being attracted to Gideon. It honestly made me frustrated with her; I can be sympathetic to her being conflicted about her feelings, but if she KNOWS she's conflicted (and she should, or she's kinda dumb), then she shouldn't tell Zeke she loves him. Also, I didn't feel like her relationship with Zeke was developed enough to really make me take her feelings for him seriously; we see a lot of him being bossy or opposing her (and some good stuff, too), but mainly it felt like the author TOLD the reader that there were feelings there, rather than actually showing it. All in all, though, I was intrigued by the book and look forward to the rest of the series.


3.5 stars.

Ruby Red

Ruby Red
By Kerstin Gier
Henry Holt and Company, 2011. 330 pgs. Teen fiction

Gwen's family has a history of time traveling, and everyone thinks that her cousin Charlotte will be the next time travel, but it turns out to be Gwen instead. Charlotte, in anticipation of her role, has been given all sorts of training to help her blend in when she visits the past as well as an introduction to the secret society that protects the secret of their time travel and the machine that lets them control where they travel. Gwen doesn't have that training and is somewhat at a loss as to what is expected of her. She has a time-travel companion, handsome Gideon, who quickly makes it clear that Gwen is not his type and pretty much beneath his notice, and her mother warns her not to trust anyone, so Gwen is pretty confused as to what's going on and who is even telling the truth.

This is an exciting start to a new series; I like the time-traveling elements (although, I'm not quite sure I understand all of it, so I hope Gwen gets enlightened a little more in the next book so I can understand more as well), and Gwen is a good protagonist. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

4.5 stars. A really, really little bit of language, but otherwise, this one's clean.

Lost in Shangri-La

Lost in Shangri-La
By Mitchell Zuckoff
HarperCollins, 2011. 384 pgs. Adult Nonfiction

In May of 1945, a popular activity at the U.S. Army base in Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, was taking flights to see "Shangri-La," a remote part of the island, completely isolated, surround by mountains and rain forests, with thousands of native inhabitants. Although others had completed this trip, for one group, it didn't turn out so well. When their plane crashed, twenty-one soldiers and WACs died--but three survived. Margaret Hastings and Kenneth Decker, both badly wounded in the crash, and John McCollum (whose twin died in the crash) lived but they were in a remote area of the world, wondering if the natives were cannibalistic, if the Army would be able to evacuate them, and if gangrene would lead to emergency amputation. The Army was able to parachute medics and other soldiers in to help the survivors, but they still didn't know how to get them out.

This is an engaging true story, which, although published for adults, would likely appeal to teen readers interested in WWII and survival stories. (I will say, though, there are pictures of the native men, who traditionally wore penis gourds and little else; some readers might not want to skip the photos.) The details about the survivors as well as the natives are interesting; the rescue was a little less dramatic than what I thought it would be, based on both the dust jacket and the chapters leading up to it, but still, it moves well and is an engaging piece of nonfiction.

4 stars.

The Attolia series

There are four books (so far) in the Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner, and I'd like to stress that there will be spoilers in this post! It's impossible to describe later books in the series without giving away spoilers for earlier books. So, if you don't want spoilers but you do want to read a great series, just trust me that you need to read them and DON'T read any summaries anywhere of them. Okay?


Book 1: The Thief
Recorded Books, 1997. 7 CDs(7 hr., 15 min.) Teen fiction

The magus of Sounis (the king's highest advisor) rescues a common thief from the king's prison and drags him on a long journey to find and steal (from the gods, no less) a mythical stone that gives the possessor of the stone the ultimate right to rule. However, Gen, the thief, is not quite what he seems.


Book 2: The Queen of Attolia
Recorded Books, 2007. 8 CDs (9 hr.) Teen fiction

Eugenides, the thief of Eddis, is captured in the kingdom of Attolia. As punishment, the queen cuts off his right hand and sends him home to Eddis, where he mopes and mourns the loss of his hand, and he thinks, his entire purpose in life. However, when he realizes that Eddis has gone to war with Attolia and that war with Sounis, their neighbor on the other side, Eugenides realizes there might still be something he can do to help his country--and himself.


Book 3: The King of Attolia
Recorded Books, 2006. 9 CDs (10 hr., 30 min.) Teen fiction

Having wed the Queen of Attolia, Eugenides must now try to win over her people. His attendents and royal guard all seem to hate him, including Costis, the young guard who goes so far as to strike the king. Rather than having him killed, Eugenides assigns Costis to his personal guard, and he, like other Attolians, comes to realize that there's more to the king than they initially saw.

Book 4: A Conspiracy of Kings
Greenwillow Books, 2010. 316 pages. Teen fiction

Sophus, the heir to the throne of Sounis, is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He must figure out how to escape, and following the death of his uncle (the king), unite his country, which is divided by civil war and subject to invasion by the Medes. He goes to Attolia to seek help from Eugenides and the queen of Eddis, and it will take all three countries to defeat the Medes and put down the civil war.


This is an intriguing series, with a fantasy world somewhat like Greece in its heyday. There are SOOOO many twists and turns that it's almost impossible to predict everything that's going to happen. I was hooked from the first book, and I actually think it might be my favorite of the series. I actually liked the fourth book the least, but I think that might be because we don't get to see as much of Eugenides as in the other books, since Sophus is the main character. Also, I got a little tired of all the political stuff--I guess I understand why kings and queens would have to act they way they do but sometimes it just doesn't seem so nice and I don't like that. It's accurate and probably necessary for the story...but still, not always easy to read...like when Eugenides doesn't seem quite so nice to Sophus anymore.

One thing that can be a bit jarring about the books is that the narration does change. Book 1 was Gen's story. Book 2 was mostly Gen with some of the queen of Attolia thrown in. Book 3 is mainly Costis's story, and book 4 is entirely Sophus's, and the point of view also changes--sometimes third person limited, sometimes omniscient, and sometimes first person.

I listened to the first three books on CD and really loved Jeff Woodman as the narrator. (I read the fourth one, and my head was a decent narrator ;) but not as good as Woodman). I highly recommend listening to this series if at all possible.

4.5 stars. Clean reads. Great series!! Check it out. I know my summaries didn't do them justice, but trust me: the books are well worth reading.

Heist Society

Heist Society
By Ally Carter
Brilliance Audio, 2009. 5 CDs (6 hr., 10 min.) Teen fiction

Kat Bishop comes from a family a thieves and cons, and although she conned her way into an elite boarding school in order to get away from that life, finds herself drawn back to the family when her father is accused on stealing some paintings from Arturo Taccone, an evil mobster. Kat's dad swears innocence, but Taccone doesn't believe him and he gives Kat two weeks to get his paintings back. So, Kat must assemble a team, figure out who stole the paintings and where he stashed them, and get them back to Taccone or the lives of everyone she loves are in danger.

There's not much not like about this book--there's adventure, suspense, a kick-butt protagonist with a good supporting cast, a bit of a love triangle, and a cool plot line. And, the audio version is great.

4 stars.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
By Allison Goodman
Viking, 2008. 531 pgs. Teen fiction

In the fantasy world where Eon lives, there are 12 dragons, based on the Chinese zodiac. that affect the political system. While the emperor is the ruler, each dragon has a Dragoneye and an apprentice who will eventually become a Dragoneye. These men can tap their dragons' power and are major players in the country's political system. The apprentices are chosen from a group of hopefuls, selected by the dragons themselves. As the year of the Rat Dragon approaches, Eon hopes to be selected as the apprentice. However, Eon is crippled and, worse, a girl, Eona. Although she is disguised as a boy, if she is found out, she will be killed. Yet, she has the dragon sight, meaning she can see the dragons, and she knows that becoming the apprentice would change her life. What she doesn't know is just how much things will change and how dangerous her situation really is.

I don't consider myself to be a hard-core fantasy reader; I like fantasy like Harry Potter where there's a slow introduction to magical things but there are Muggles and everyday things to relate to. Well, this fantasy is NOT like that; readers are thrown into a foreign world. While it's skillfully developed, for some readers (like me), it will be difficult to follow all the intricacies of the world. However, Eon's struggle to find her place in the world and to stop the kingdom from falling apart is an intriguing story (although, really, it took her a long time to figure out the major point, which I won't mention because I don't want to ruin it). Overall, this might be a big investment for readers who aren't adept fantasy readers, particularly since the sequel is another hundred pages, but for readers who like fantasy, adventure, and a girl dominating in a male world, this is a good choice.

4 stars.

The Grimm Legacy

The Grimm Legacy
By Polly Shuman
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2010. 325 pgs. Teen fiction

Elizabeth gets a job as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository where patrons can check out items such as fondue sets, parasols, or shoes. The Repository has special collections, though, including the Grimm collection, which features magical items featured in the Grimm brothers' fairy tales--and someone is stealing these items. One page has gone missing, and a giant bird seems to be following another. Elizabeth and her fellow pages try to figure out who the thief is but soon find themselves in over their heads.

The idea of a circulating repository of magical items was just to fun to pass up, and readers will be satisfied with the book. While it's not exactly a fairy tale itself, fairy tale standards such as magic, romance, and a quest are all present in this story. A great pick for teen girls, I give this one 4 stars.

Dark Life

Dark Life
By Kat Falls
Scholastic Press, 2010. 297 pgs. Teen fiction

In a future world, Ty has spent his whole life living under the sea, and he loves it there. However, problems threaten to change his way of life: a group of bandits, called Seablite, attack ships coming in from the government, and the government threatens to cut off all supply shipments if settlers don't form a posse and track them down. At the same time, Ty meets a Topsider, Gemma, who has some underwater to look for her brother, and Ty, who hasn't ever had any other teenagers to hang out with, quickly becomes involved in her search--and in trying to keep her, and others, from discovering that he has a dark secret: people have speculated that children of the sea settlers has special powers, and while Ty does indeed have a dark gift, he doesn't want anyone to know.

This underwater western-style book mixes in adventure, dystopia, and a hint of romance. The ending is resolved a little bit too quickly, with not quite enough attention and detail given to Gemma's brother or her future, and Ty and his sister both have a chance to display their special talents, but the climatic scenes where they do that are wrapped up in fewer than twenty pages, making it a little rushed for my tastes. Additionally, the romance could have been built up a little bit more; it's introduced rather abruptly, and while I believe that a 15-year-old boy has been falling for the girl all along, the story doesn't really show that. (Maybe that's a plus for male readers, but as a female reader, I'd have liked a little more to show that he's interested, rather than just a retrospective "oh, yeah, I've wanted to kiss her since I met her" thought.) All in all, though, readers looking for an adventure will like this one.

3.5 stars.

The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero
By Rick Riordan
Random House/Listening Library. 14 CDs App. 17 hours. Teen fiction

When Jason Grace wakes up on a school bus on a field trip, he has no idea who he is or where he is. Although Piper and Leo claim to be his girlfriend and best friend, he doesn't have any memories of them--or any memories at all. Soon, they find they are all demigods and are taken to Camp Half Blood, where Annabeth is anxious to find Percy Jackson, who has gone missing. Jason, Piper, and Leo set out on a quest to save Hera, while at the same time wondering if it's all a trick since Hera isn't known for caring about the demigods. As Jason tries to figure out who he is, Piper is trying to figure out if they really have--or could have--a relationship, and Leo is trying to fight the memories of his horrible past.

This book introduces three new heroes, all of whom are likable and have interesting back stories. They are a little bit older than Percy was in the Lightning Thief, so this series can keep the readers who have grown up with Percy. With action, adventure, and a hint of romance, there's a lot here that can appeal to a variety of readers. It sets the stage for a great conflict to come in future books, and I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series.

I listened to the audio version of this book, a little apprehensively since I recently attended a conference where the presenter said she really disliked the narrator and had to switch to the print version instead. Well, I stuck it out for the whole book, and I have to say, for the main characters (Jason, Piper, and Leo), the narrator was tolerable, but for the voices of a lot of secondary characters, I was rolling my eyes. However, the book is well-written, with good characters and adventures, so if you start the audiobook and can't stomach it, don't give up on the book entirely--just switch to the print version.

4 stars.

The Ring of Solomon

The Ring of Solomon
By Jonathan Stroud
Random House/Listening Library, 2010. 12 hrs, 39 mins.. Teen Fiction

Snarky djinni Bartimaeus is in Jerusalem, enslaved by one of King Solomon's powerful (and evil) magicians, Khaba. Meanwhile, in Sheba, a magical messenger informs the queen that she will have to pay a tribute to Solomon or her kingdom will be destroyed. Since Solomon is the owner of a highly powerful ring that allows him instant control of unlimited numbers of magical spirits, Sheba has no options...except one. The queen sends one of her personal guards, Asmira, to Jerusalem to assassinate Solomon and steal his ring. Along the way, she meets Bartimaeus, and "encourages" him to help her on her mission, despite his protests that it's impossible.

This Bartimaeus novel wasn't quite as appealing to me as the other three Bartimaeus books, but it's still a great choice for almost anyone. A clean read and a great mixture of suspense, humor, and adventure--and Bartimaeus's distinctive witty sarcasm.

Four stars.