The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner

Summary

As the French Revolution descends into nightmare, Yann Margoza, a mysterious and extraordinary practitioner of magic, uses his skills to help spirit refugees out of France. If he fails, their fates lie under the blade of the guillotine. But the question of Yann's true identity and the kidnapping of his true love, Sido, expose him to dangers that threaten to destroy him. With Paris on the verge of collapse, Yann must summon all his strength and courage to rescue his beloved Sido and outwit the devil's own--this time for good.

Number of pages: 362

Review

My dear Sally Gardner has done it again with this amazing and extremely vivid telling of the French Revolution. Last time we left Yann and Sido to those times of Terror, Sido was safely deposited in England while Yann used his super duper gypsy powers to smuggle all kinds of people from the bloody lands of France into England. So it seems Yann has a secret reputation as the Silver Blade, but he doesn’t take much notice after mooning over Miss Sido who it seems isn’t answering his latest letter. Of course many of the original characters are in this new story. It really does complete the story of Yann and Sido. I was really excited to read it, though I find it hard to say which book is better The Red Necklace or The Silver Blade. Very tough decision indeed.

You do need a good attention span, though, because there is a very good chance that you might get lost a bit. There are so many twits and turns in this novel, and while those are what make a good story, there are times where getting “lost” in a story might not be a good thing.

The history part was very interesting. I can’t say that I know much of the French Revolution, but from what I read here I think it was accurate. It was really intriguing especially about how people escaped the country. The measures they took were incredible. But hey, to find out the tricked their way out, you’ll just have to read the book. So taking all that into consideration . . . from 1-10? I give The Silver Blade a 6.

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

Summary

For Anastasia Romanov, life as the privileged daughter of Russia’s last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from the imperial palace when the Bolsheviks seize control of the government, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia. But even while the rebels debate the family’s future with agonizing slowness and the threat to their lives grows more menacing, romance quietly blooms between Anastasia and Sasha, a sympathetic young guard she has known since childhood. But will the strength of their love be enough to save Anastasia from a violent death?

Inspired by the mysteries that have long surrounded the last days of the Romanov family, Susanne Dunlap’s new novel is a haunting vision of the life—and love story—of Russia’s last princess.

Number of pages: 327

Review

Here is a good dose of historical fiction for you. I find that writing about a historic event or time isn’t as hard as writing about a person in history, I mean, what have you got to work with? What has been known about the person? Rumors of what could have happened in their lives? And then to write about that person in first person, to write the feelings that they might have had or their thoughts on this or that subject. I would think it takes more than a bit of imaginations and common sense to fill in the blanks. And then to make it interesting! I’d say that’s no small job! So what’s that got to say about Susanne Dunlap’s book Anastasia’s Secret? She nailed the facts and history part. It was informative, but definitely not boring. it was funny because a week after I finished the book, I was in history class when we started to learn about World War I and how the Russians affected a great deal of the events. I had already learned basically everything from this book. It talked a great deal about the conditions of the poor, and how bad the army was going into the war by sending in really you boys to fight when most had never even worn a pair of shoes before—which is where Sasha comes in.

I really loved taking a look through Anastasia’s eyes. The book tells her story from a little girl with a curiosity that may not be all that favorable to a Grand Duchess, up until her time as a young woman in the fate of those who wish harm on her, and her loved ones. So maybe it’s not the traditional way most thought of the youngest grand duchess, but I think it is a new refreshing way to look at her life story. It gives Grand Duchess Anastasia, who I always thought of as a rich girl with an unfortunate life, personality and depth. From 1-10? Anastasia’s Secret gets a 6.5

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Summary

Restless souls and empty hearts.

Brooklyn can’t sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca died a year ago, and now their friend Gabe has died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there, waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca chasing her through her dreams.

Nico can’t stop. He’s always running, trying so hard not to feel the pain of missing Lucca. But when he begins receiving messages from his dead brother, telling him to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

Number of Pages: 412

Review

First thing that I want to point out to you all is that this entire story is in the form of poetry. If there is one thing that bothers me is that when you read about how great a book is online, and you get it only to find that the book you ordered is in a completely different form than what you thought! Like getting for instance—I don’t know—a comic book (yes that has actually happened to me, you can imagine my disappointment). So when I read online about this really touching story of two grieving teenagers, and get it only to find that it isn’t a novel, but a bunch of poems, I thought of the comic book incident and got mad. But after my first initial feeling of annoyance, I figured I should give this book a try. I was impressed. This was the first poetry story that I read, and I liked it so much that it is most likely that it will not be the last. So I am giving you this information up front so that no one gets surprised. But I also want you to consider doing something new and maybe choose this story to read. Nico and Brooklyn are both grieving, both confused, and both being haunted, but by different spirits. Brooklyn is being full out haunted with nightmares, and sleepless nights by her friend, Gabe. Nico on the other hand isn’t being haunted so much, more like getting messages from his brother pushing him a bit to help the girlfriend he left behind, Brooklyn.

I loved the way poems keep everything honest, straight to the point. But if you are going to write a story completely created from poems, then it has to be done right. Chasing Brooklyn was done right. If the first poetry book I read was poorly created I can guarantee that I would be extremely hesitant to read another one. This book was sweet, sad, hopeful, and so many more emotions that connect the dots of these two people and their steps of letting go and finding love and comfort in one another. From 1-10? I am proud to give this book an 8.

Coming Soon

Hellooo there people! Ok, I realize I am EXTREMELY behind on my posts . . . sorry about that. Who would think that school took up so much time? Well, it does -.- and not to mention that I have this problem with reading a book, and jumping to the next before I can write my thoughts down (or time to breathe). I really shouldn't do that, but here are some book that I have read recently, currently reading, or planning on reading in the next, ooooh I'd say, week or so.

1. A Map of the Unknown World by Lisa Ann Sandell
2. Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
3. The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
4. Fire by Kristin Cashore
5. The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner
6. Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap
7. Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
8. I am Remembrant's Daughter by Lynn Cullen
9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Now that I have it written down I feel the need to speed things up a bit so expect these soon. Time to get down to the books!

Num8ers by Rachel Ward

Summary

Since the day her mother did, Jem has known about the numbers.

Numberes that pop into her head when she looks into someone’s eyes. They’re dates, the numbers. Dates predicting with brute accuracy each person’s death.

Burdened by such grim knowledge, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. Maybe they can find happiness together, if only in the brief time that remains before his expiration date. But on a trip to London, Jem forsees a chilling chain of events.

The city’s a target.

The clock;s running out.

The countdown is on to a blowup.

Number of pages: 325

Review

Just like the cover, this story is intense. From the very beginning actually. Jem has the unfortunate circumstance of having the knowledge of everyone’s death in her head. She just has to look at them in the eye and the numbers that flash in her head are the dates of their last day. She hates it, and fears it which makes her to keep those around her at arms length, so as not to care when eventually the numbers come true and they are taken from her. Living on the fringes of society, she is a loner until the day that she starts to make a friend in the equally lonely, but much more jumpy and excited, Spider. This is their adventure of running from the law when they are suspected of being terrorists when seen leaving an attack moments before, finding a true and unique love in each other, and Jem trying to figure out a way to save Spider from his number that's in her head that is fast approaching.

Like I said this book is very intense. I don’t mean it in the “action in every corner” sort of way; it’s more of a “brings out your emotions” sort of way. That doesn’t mean it is not a good book, it just means that this is a tough book to swallow if you are looking for a happy ending. I will admit it, I cried. This book got me so frustrated! Yet, it was good enough that I couldn’t put it down until I knew how a unique book like this could end. I was expecting a little more action and excitement from what I read from the summary, but otherwise it was good. The ending was the most exciting part in this book. So from 1-10? I give Num8ers a 5.5.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Summary

A HIDDEN TRUTH.

MORTAL ENEMIES.

DOOMED LOVE.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human for.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to like. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as human forever. She’ll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Number of Pages: 323

Summary

Dragons are something completely new to me, but from what I’ve read from Firelight I find them awesome. Ok, so from the beginning: a draki colony, who are descendants of dragons, have a rare draki in their midst. Jacinda is the only fire-breathing draki. Now I know that when people think “dragon” they automatically think of fire, but apparently in this story the fire-breathers are not common at all. Jacinda of course has to break one of their biggest rules, which eventually leads her mother to make the decision to take her and her twin sister away from the others and fling them in the real world in a whirlwind. You think that what her mother was trying to do was good, but at the cost of killing Jacindas draki spirit? Seems kind of harsh to me. Still, Jacinda starts to learn that the other drakis aren’t what she always thought they were, and her family doesn’t understand her at all. So when handsome and extremely off limits, Will, comes into the picture she discovers that he is the only thing in that godforsaken desert that can keep her draki alive, but at the cost of revealing the ultimate secret of drakis everywhere. Or will her love for Will overcome the fact that she is a draki and he and his family hunts them? Oh did I forget to mention that? Well yeah, he is a draki hunter. Go figure right. But of course he is a good guy so not to worry!

I found this book to be interesting, and captivating. I find it very entertaining that instead of blushing when her crush comes in like other girls, she starts to breathe fire. Honestly I can’t wait for the next book. The characters were nicely created, and the setting was very descriptive. I could feel when the heat of that desert drained the moisture from Jacinda’s skin trying to kill her draki. The romance was touched on nicely, and unlike most books where the girl flings herself at the guys, Jacinda tries to keep him away. Even though that technique doesn’t exactly work out it is still and interesting twist. So from 1-10? I give this book an 8! Not bad, eh?

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Summary

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in Savannah. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce—he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Number of Pages: 452

Review

Have you ever had that moment when you spot someone that you know, but have no freaking clue who they are or how you know them? I know i have. This story is about a troubled girl named Luce that has one of the BIGGEST déjà voo moments ever when she is sent to Sword & Cross reform school, and meets the mysterious, cold, and extremely familiar Daniel Grigori. Drawn to him from the start, Luce tries to get to know him more. When Daniel clearly shows that he is not interested Luce obviously has to start snooping a bit to find out what is this guys problem! What she begins to discover doesn’t even come close to what she could ever have thought of. Of course there is also friendly, handsome Cam. It is clear that he’s into her from the start, and she likes him. Really she does, but is what she feeling for Cam enough to trample the feelings she has for Daniel? With the help of her fellow semi-crazy reform school friends, she is out to sort out her feelings and choose between easy and safe, or intense and longing?

This romance story is unconventional . . . and attention grabbing. Turning away from the clichés of paranormal romances, I loved how in the beginning Daniel wanted nothing to do with Luce at first. It was intriguing, and so frustrating! I guess that is why I considered Fallen a good read. It brings out your reaction easily. Of course my favorite part of the books—the characters—were so created so good. They were people I liked from the start yet complex in their own ways. There was a time somewhere around the middle of the book that slowed to a crawl. I admit that the excitement wore off a bit in that section. That did make me take off a point or two from me absolutely loving this book. Of course when I pushed through that part the ending was good. I was a tiny bit confused at the end because of the epilogue, but the ending is enough to make me want to read the next book. I also just want to note that the cover came out so amazing. Loved it! Well now to tally up the points I have to say that from 1-10? I give this book a . . . 7.5!