The Reluctant Heiress Eva Ibbotson

Summary

Being an heiress in 1920s Austria with nothing but a broken-down castle to your name and nary a penny in your purse could be frustrating for anyone but the Princess Theresa-Maria of Pfaffenstein. Tessa, however, is thrilled with her situation, as it allows her to concentrate on her love of the arts—and no one in the Viennese opera company need know that their delightful and charming under-wardrobe mistress is really a princess, but when the dashing self-made millionaire Guy Farne arrives at the opera in search of suitable entertainment for his high society guests, Tessa realized that there may be more to life—and love—than just music. And while the attraction between them is undeniable, Guy’s insufferable snob of a fiancée only solidifies Tessa’s determination to keep her true identity a secret. Yet, after a chance meeting with the handsome Englishman, Tessa’s reserve begins to melt, and she starts to wonder if it’s too late for a fairy-tale ending.

• Number of pages: 325

Review

This is a hard review for me. I am not exactly sure why that would be because I dove through this book in like three days max and I love all of the books by Eva Ibbotson. Ibbotson’s stories always have that affect on me: I love them, but they are hard to describe. But I will do my best so here it goes.

The characters Ibbotson creates in her stories are so interesting to read about, if not a bit unrealistic. Their characteristics and personalities are exaggerated a bit, but not that it’s not fun to read. My personal preference in a book is clean no-nonsense writing that has plenty of dialogue. Eva Ibbotson is a writer that I would put in the category of “flowery writing”, but she writes the stories so well that I can't help loving it. Her plots are always interesting romances that one would read when they are in the mood to live out a fairytale love story. Whether the attraction is thwarted by a vile fiancé (like it is in this story) or that the love can’t flourish because of a stupid misunderstanding by a one of the characters, the stories are captivating. I couldn’t help but worry when Guy gave Tessa the cold shoulder. Or find myself amused with the little boy who loved Tessa so much. I always felt some type of emotion throughout the book. What’s good is that Eva finds a way at the end to make every situation come together in a happy ending that always has a little surprising twist at the end. I would absolutely recommend people to read The Reluctant Heiress, but you have to give it your best try and let the story turn naturally and smoothly through your mind. From 1-10? I would give this lovely story a 7.5.

The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

Summary

Before he knows about the roses, sixteen-year-old jack lived an unremarkable like in the small Ohio town of Trinity. Only the medicine he has to take daily and the thick scar above his heart set him apart from the other high schoolers. Then one day Jack skips his medicine. Suddenly, he is stronger, fiercer, and more confident than ever before, and it feels great until he loses control of his own strength and nearly kills another player during soccer team tryouts.

Soon, jack learns the startling truth about himself: he is Weirlind, part of an underground society of magical people who live among us. At their helm sits the feuding houses of the Red Rose and the Whir Rose, whose power is determined by playing the Game—a magical tournament in which each house sponsors a warrior to fight to the death, the winning house rules the Weir.

As if his bizarre heritage isn’t enough, Jack finds out that he’s not just another member of Weirlind---he’s one of the last of the warriors---at a time when both houses are scouting for a player.

• Number of pages: 426

Review

I chose to read this book because I felt like I was reading too many girly books with female leads. I needed a good guy character to change things up a bit! This book was just the story to read for guys mainly. The whole concepts of magical people and such have become popular of late, but The Warrior Heir is completely different and original from all others. Granted, it was difficult to wrap my mind around all the terms and follow along without confusing a "Weir" with "guilds" and such. It slowed considerably in the middle of the story, but the ending was satisfactory enough. The Game and what it stands for is quite unsettling and gruesome. This book was interesting for the most part has bursts of good fast-paced action and from 1 to 10? I have to give this a 6.

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

Summary

As sixteen-rear-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy that has divided her family for generations, her twin sister, Alice, works to hone the skills shell need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister’s role in the prophecy, and that’s not the only thing she wants. There’s also Lia’s beloved, James.

The sisters always knew that the prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn’t know what betrayal could lead them to do.

In the end, only one sister will be standing.

Number of pages: 340

Review

Lia’s story is intense. Guardian of the Gate is the 2^nd book in the Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy. In this book Lia is on a journey to find the last two keys and the missing pages of the prophecy. This is a story filled with mystery, passion, determination, and betrayal. I just wanted to cry some parts while at other times I was so frustrated at how hopeless it all seemed. I really enjoyed this book. This is better than the first book, Prophecy of the Sisters, and I didn’t think that was even possible. This is not a mystery with clues, but with suspense, which I found thrilling. You never know whom you can trust in this story and that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I had to reread this book again once I finished it, like watching a movie mystery and keeping an eye out for any little tidbits of clues you might have missed and finding yourself at the ending just as shocked and thrilled from the last time you read it. From 1 to the desirable 10? I give this book a . . . 8.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Summary

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorope have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, they find themselves entangles in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents’ deaths, a boy a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don’t know whom they can trust. They just know they cat trust each other.

Number of pages: 343

Review

This story was awesome. I just finished this book and continued to the next in a matter of 5 minutes. I guess that it ends at a point where it's too difficult not to want to see what happens next. So these twin sisters have some family issues that you wouldn’t even imagine. It's told by Lia, who is obviously the good twin-while she starts to uncover an ancient prophecy-that involves her and her sister. She is the quieter one of the two, and the eldest (though by mere minutes I believe). Her story though kinda scary at times is complicated and I couldn’t put it down. Zink created the mystery so that it doesn't give away enough to guess the outcome, but won't tire you and leave you just waiting for an end to come. Now her sister Alice? She was just evil! Ugh! I just wanted to slap her at times, no joke. I really, really hope Lia kicks her butt in the end. This book had just the right amount of mystery and emotion that completely had me engrossed until the end. There were times that the story slowed, but it wasn’t to bad and the parts that were good were good. So from 1-10? I do believe I shall give it an . . . 8.

The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees

Summary

Young and beautiful Violetta is of noble blood, but her country is in shambles. She and her comic companion, Feste, have just arrived in London on a mysterious quest. Their journey has been long and their misfortunes many, but it is not until they encounter the playwright William Shakespeare that the whole story is reveled. Violetta and Feste are in search of an ancient holy relic-her country’s greatest treasure-that the evil Malvolio has stolen. Malvolio’s plot seems complex and wide reaching, but it’s not clear who else is involved . . . until Violetta’s childhood love, Stephan, enters the scene. Is this remarkable story a comedy or a tragedy? Spun from Shakespeare’s unproarious, Twelfth Night, Celia Rees has crafted a wholly original adventure that stretches from the shores of Illyria to the Forest of Arden, where romance and danger go hand in hand.

Number of pages: 287

Review

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is not a play I am actually familiar with, but this book kind of makes me want to know more about it. This book is like a “what-happened-after” story with Viola’s noble and beautiful daughter, Violetta. When her country’s most holy relic is stolen as well as her country, and she goes and tries to get it back. Because obviously the female lead needs some spunk and this one has it. Now add the really handsome boyfriend and a mischievous Fool and this story gets interesting. The plot was good, but I got confused at times. Rees wanted to make it seem like you never know who you can trust, but it got to the point where I was like “whaaaat???” I did really like all the characters. Especially how Rees incorporated Shakespeare (“Will”) in the whole book that helped to save the day. I never really thought to give Shakespeare a personality before, but I loved how he turned out here knowing how this loyal and, to be honest, stressed out guy really becomes extremely famous. The ending came suddenly. I was reading and was surprised to see the pages thinning when at the time it seemed like the story was going nowhere. It was a good ending, though a bit predictable. From 1- 10? All around I would have to give this a 6.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Summary

She was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue, a word she could not taste. Her name was Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. And when she was older, she watched as a colt was born, and she heard the first word on his tongue, his name, Falada.

From the Grimm’s fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original, and magical tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can lead the people she has made her own.

http://www.squeetus.com/stage/books_goose.htm

Number of pages: 383

Review

Fairy tales are great, aren’t they? Stories told to little children at night, those that are famous for there magic and such. Well, this is one of those but changed and created to be enjoyed by everyone. Well, at least I enjoyed it. Shannon Hale’s rendition of Grimm’s story of Goose Girl is unique from the original, but just as enjoyable. So this princess, Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee (very pretty name by the way) has theses gifts that give her the language of animals, preferably birds, as well as the ability to speak to and control the wind. This whole concept Shannon Hale created with communicating with nature is incredible. Can you imagine it? Understanding the wind and its knowledge of what it’s seen, controlling of fire, knowing the first word of a foal and the squawk of a bird. I don’t know about you, but I think that would be awesome. And these abilities are formed so that is seems that it could be possible for all of it to happen. Actually, now that I think about it, these books are also considered fantasy. During the entire book the characters tell stories to each other, nursery stories and legends. Those tales are beautifully created. There was excitement throughout the story, but sometimes it was too stretched out for my taste. From 1-10? All in all I give this book a 7.

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Summary

The winds of change are blowing through Paris in 1789, both for France and a mysterious Gypsy boy named Yann Margoza. He was born with a gift for knowing what people are thinking and an uncanny ability to throw his voice, skills he uses while working for a foolish magician. On the night of a special performance, he meets shy Sido, a lonely heiress with a cold-hearted father. Though they have the shortest of conversations, an attachment is born that will influence both their paths. While revolution is afoot in France Sido is being used as the pawn of the fearful villain Count Kalliovsky. Some have instead called him the devil; and only Yann, for Sido’s sake, will dare to oppose him.

Number of pages: 378

Review

Sally Gardner has done the amazing task of creating a historical fiction that I am sure will captivate anyone who is up for it. I, personally, love historical fiction books, but I am confident in saying that those of you who don’t like those types of books will love this French Revolution story. There’s action, magic, romance, mystery. What could be better? Some times it did get a little creepy and disturbing, what with beheading and such things. The people of France were quite gruesome at this stage of the Revolution. The characters were wonderfully created. You really got a sense of each essence of the characters. It gives you a look at those dark times in France from both an aristocratic point of view (Sido) and the point of view of Yann the Gypsy fellow with charming looks and amazing abilities. basically, this story was intriguing from start to finish. I can’t wait to read the sequel, The Silver Blade! From 1-10? I give this book a 8.