I received this as an e-galley from Netgalley. I received no other compensation other than the free e-galley.
I love twists on fairy tales or stories that read like fairy tales and Shannon Hale's stories are some of my favorites. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone is as good if not better than the first one. This story takes place after Britta is chosen as princess and some of the other girls are on their way to Asland to visit her and take part in the wedding. Miri will also be going to the Queen's Castle to study to become a teacher for Mount Eskel and Peder will be going to learn more about stone cutting. Miri is still waiting for Peder to ask her to be his betrothed, but so far nothing. When the group arrives in Asland, things are not as great as they believed. Miri's beloved Mount Eskel faces horrible tributes that will take away all that she won from the traders and Steffan is very distant to poor Britta. The royal family does not seem as impressive to Miri and the girls. Also many in the lowlands are upset with their king, because of the high tributes and revolution is on many lips. Miri does enjoy Queen's Castle and meets Timon who introduces her to the salons, where revolution and new ideas are discussed. Events escalate and Miri must decide if she is Mountain or Lowland and if friendship or change is more important. Can she triumph and be both?
Shannon Hale brings back the charming cast of characters from the first book and you can't help cheering for Miri and the Mount Eskel girls.
Favorite Character: Miri is one of my favorite characters of all time. She is loyal, stubborn, opinionated, and forthright. She always speaks her mind for better or for worse. She is small in stature but huge in heart.
Favorite Quote: "We choose who we are... You are your own person...You can be who you will."
"Words were slippery and alive, words wrestled out of her grip and became something new. Words were dangerous."
"We study, Miss Miri, we read and ponder and examine every side, so when it comes time to make a choice we have hop of a good one."
I loved this book! This is definitely one of my favorites for the year. Miri is a great and strong heroine as are most of the girls in this story. Definitely 5 bars of chocolate!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Random Read-September
I was able to finish Tiger Lily for my August read and have already recommended it to someone else to read! This is a meme hosted by Sarah at www.imlovingbooks.com. You can create a list or use your Goodreads To Be Read feature to choose a book. After deciding on your list, then go to random.org and type in the number of books on your list and see what you get for the month. My Random Read this month is The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy, which was number 18 on my list. I love the idea of what happens next in fairytales and I also think it will be funny to see the Princes Charming give their sides of the story. We never really hear about the Princes Charming, so it will be good to see their personalities and to give them names rather than their exaggerated surnames. Let me know what you are reading and hope you enjoy!
Review Copy Cleanup Results
Well I was only able to finish Holding on to Zoe this month. However I am 3/4ths of the way through Princess Academy: Palace of Stone, which I hope to finish and review this long weekend. Thanks to Nyx Book Reviews and Books, Biscuits, and Tea for hosting this event.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Reading Stack #20
I was able to finish one book while on my trip to Missouri to go to my cousin's wedding. Tiger Lily is done and reviewed, so the only book left for my challenges this month is Princess Academy: Palace of Stone. I decided The Perks of Being a Wallflower would be my next read for the Dusty Book shelf challenge. I also plan on starting For Darkness Shows the Stars very soon, so that I can finish the Classics challenge while Persuasion is fresh in my mind. Enshadowed comes out on Tuesday, so that is another book I would like to read very soon, but probably the library will not get a copy until the first part of September. For now I will try to stick with the first three and add others as time allows.
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
I finally got around to finishing my Random Reads book for this month! I really enjoyed Tiger Lily and will try to read the Peaches series, because I enjoyed Jodi Lynn Anderson's writing.
Tiger Lily is Anderson's take on the story of Peter Pan, before Wendy. It is told from the perspective of Tinker Bell.Tiger Lily is the daughter of Tik Tok, shaman for the Sky Eaters. She is wild and unkempt and not your usual girl and her tribe both fears and respects her. As daughter to the shaman, her life and marriage is important to the tribe. In Neverland, no one ages, except for Englanders and others who land on the shores. For fear of the aging disease, the Sky Eaters and other tribes do not help the Englanders, so when Tiger Lily saves one of them, the tribe determines to tame her. She is to be forced to marry Giant, the worst man in the tribe at the end of the dry season and in the meantime, she escapes to the forest and meets Peter Pan and the feared lost boys. Tiger Lily learns that Pan is not what everyone fears and falls for him and him for her. Pan has his enemy in Captain Hook, who is angry at Peter for stealing away his cabin boys aka the lost boys. As Hook plots for Pan's life and Tiger Lily's marriage draws near, their relationship and their lives are in danger, but the main danger may lurk where the two least expect it.
I enjoyed Anderson's take on the Peter Pan story. She also deals strongly with the themes of good and evil and decides no one is truly good or evil. The romance between Tiger Lily and Peter in the story did not appeal to me as much as Tiger Lily's character and the struggles of some of the minor characters. Tinker Bell is a great narrator and it was nice to see her as not an irrational female as she is often portrayed, but as someone who cares for her friend Tiger Lily enough to overpower her love of Pan. Pine Sap, one of Tiger Lily's few friends, was another great character, because he truly loves her for who she is.
Her theme of good and evil often flips what we see as good and evil; she shows how 19th century "Englanders" used Christianity to replace native beliefs that lead to some evils occurring to the natives. At times the book seems anti-Christian, but I think it is really just a judgment on 19th century expansion and colonization and not necessary Christian beliefs. The one character of Tik Tok was an interesting way to show transgender people and talk about why saying things like, just change one thing and you are great are not ok. The ending shows the danger of this. There are many different topics that could be discussed with this book.
Favorite Character: Tinker Bell. I loved seeing a side of her that wasn't just a jealous, for lack of a better word, cougar woman. She has feelings and her love for Tiger Lily and Tiger Lily's for her was one of the best friendships I have read lately.
Favorite Quote: There were several I liked. "Sometimes I think that maybe we are just stories. Like we may as well just be words on a page, because we're only what we've done and what we are going to do." "Sometimes love means not being able to bear seeing the one you love the way they are, when they're not what you hoped for them."
There were a few things I had to think about with this book, before deciding on a rating. I did enjoy it, but a few things mentioned early did bother me. I give it 4 bars of chocolate, because I think it would generate interesting discussion and I loved Tink as the narrator.
Tiger Lily is Anderson's take on the story of Peter Pan, before Wendy. It is told from the perspective of Tinker Bell.Tiger Lily is the daughter of Tik Tok, shaman for the Sky Eaters. She is wild and unkempt and not your usual girl and her tribe both fears and respects her. As daughter to the shaman, her life and marriage is important to the tribe. In Neverland, no one ages, except for Englanders and others who land on the shores. For fear of the aging disease, the Sky Eaters and other tribes do not help the Englanders, so when Tiger Lily saves one of them, the tribe determines to tame her. She is to be forced to marry Giant, the worst man in the tribe at the end of the dry season and in the meantime, she escapes to the forest and meets Peter Pan and the feared lost boys. Tiger Lily learns that Pan is not what everyone fears and falls for him and him for her. Pan has his enemy in Captain Hook, who is angry at Peter for stealing away his cabin boys aka the lost boys. As Hook plots for Pan's life and Tiger Lily's marriage draws near, their relationship and their lives are in danger, but the main danger may lurk where the two least expect it.
I enjoyed Anderson's take on the Peter Pan story. She also deals strongly with the themes of good and evil and decides no one is truly good or evil. The romance between Tiger Lily and Peter in the story did not appeal to me as much as Tiger Lily's character and the struggles of some of the minor characters. Tinker Bell is a great narrator and it was nice to see her as not an irrational female as she is often portrayed, but as someone who cares for her friend Tiger Lily enough to overpower her love of Pan. Pine Sap, one of Tiger Lily's few friends, was another great character, because he truly loves her for who she is.
Her theme of good and evil often flips what we see as good and evil; she shows how 19th century "Englanders" used Christianity to replace native beliefs that lead to some evils occurring to the natives. At times the book seems anti-Christian, but I think it is really just a judgment on 19th century expansion and colonization and not necessary Christian beliefs. The one character of Tik Tok was an interesting way to show transgender people and talk about why saying things like, just change one thing and you are great are not ok. The ending shows the danger of this. There are many different topics that could be discussed with this book.
Favorite Character: Tinker Bell. I loved seeing a side of her that wasn't just a jealous, for lack of a better word, cougar woman. She has feelings and her love for Tiger Lily and Tiger Lily's for her was one of the best friendships I have read lately.
Favorite Quote: There were several I liked. "Sometimes I think that maybe we are just stories. Like we may as well just be words on a page, because we're only what we've done and what we are going to do." "Sometimes love means not being able to bear seeing the one you love the way they are, when they're not what you hoped for them."
There were a few things I had to think about with this book, before deciding on a rating. I did enjoy it, but a few things mentioned early did bother me. I give it 4 bars of chocolate, because I think it would generate interesting discussion and I loved Tink as the narrator.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Demigod Diaries by Rick and Haley Riordan
Demigod Diaries: The Heroes of Olympus is four short stories with a few puzzles and pictures in the middle. The first story is the Diary of Luke Castellan and chronologically takes place before the Lightning Thief. This is a story from Thalia and Luke's time before finding Camp Half-blood. Thalia and Luke follow a sheep's advice and end up trapped in a house with a cursed adult demi-god.
In Percy Jackson and the Staff of Hermes, the story occurs following the Last Olympian. In this story Hermes's caduceus has been stolen and he asks for Percy's help. Percy and Annabeth agree to help and Percy needs to find a way to celebrate their one month first kiss anniversary while trying to recover the staff.
In Leo Valdez and the Quest for Buford, Leo's desk has walked away, taking with it a part he needs for the Argo II. If Leo, Jason, and Piper cannot find the piece in an hour, Half-Blood Woods will explode. Throw in the dryads crazy cousins and Leo will be lucky to make it out alive. This story takes place after the Lost Hero.
The first three stories were written by Rick Riordan and the last story, Son of Magic is by his 16 year old son Haley. Son of Magic is the story of Alabaster, son of Hecate, a demigod who sided with Kronos. Alabaster is hunted by Lamia, a daughter of Hecate and a monster who wants only to kill him. Alabaster befriends Dr. Claymore, a man who scoffs at religion and myths and studies the afterlife. Alabaster needs Dr. Claymore to help him find a way to keep Lamia in the Underworld, because for some reason (see Lost Hero/Son of Neptune for answer) she cannot be killed.
All the stories were just as good as the other books in Riordan's series, but Haley's surprised me the most. I loved his take on how the Mist was created and why monsters can find demigods. His writing was excellent and maybe even more mature and definitely a little darker than his dad's. I like that he did not shy away from the religious questions myths often create and even though he did not show his own beliefs, he did not attack others. If he is writing this well at 16, I can't wait to see what he writes as an adult.
Favorite Character: I could pick a character from each story, but I will just pick two. I have always liked Annabeth and her loyalty to Percy. She is all the good traits of Athena, with a few of the flaws, but she always is drawn to Percy and the two complement each other well. I also liked Alabaster, even though he chose the wrong side. He believes strongly in his causes and seems to want what is best for demigods and he wants to make his mother proud. I hope he shows up in other books.
Favorite Quote: "That is not the Bacchanalian Jingle! That is the theme song for Psych!"
I loved this short story collection, but then I haven't read a Rick Riordan book I didn't like yet. 5 bars of chocolate for sure!
In Percy Jackson and the Staff of Hermes, the story occurs following the Last Olympian. In this story Hermes's caduceus has been stolen and he asks for Percy's help. Percy and Annabeth agree to help and Percy needs to find a way to celebrate their one month first kiss anniversary while trying to recover the staff.
In Leo Valdez and the Quest for Buford, Leo's desk has walked away, taking with it a part he needs for the Argo II. If Leo, Jason, and Piper cannot find the piece in an hour, Half-Blood Woods will explode. Throw in the dryads crazy cousins and Leo will be lucky to make it out alive. This story takes place after the Lost Hero.
The first three stories were written by Rick Riordan and the last story, Son of Magic is by his 16 year old son Haley. Son of Magic is the story of Alabaster, son of Hecate, a demigod who sided with Kronos. Alabaster is hunted by Lamia, a daughter of Hecate and a monster who wants only to kill him. Alabaster befriends Dr. Claymore, a man who scoffs at religion and myths and studies the afterlife. Alabaster needs Dr. Claymore to help him find a way to keep Lamia in the Underworld, because for some reason (see Lost Hero/Son of Neptune for answer) she cannot be killed.
All the stories were just as good as the other books in Riordan's series, but Haley's surprised me the most. I loved his take on how the Mist was created and why monsters can find demigods. His writing was excellent and maybe even more mature and definitely a little darker than his dad's. I like that he did not shy away from the religious questions myths often create and even though he did not show his own beliefs, he did not attack others. If he is writing this well at 16, I can't wait to see what he writes as an adult.
Favorite Character: I could pick a character from each story, but I will just pick two. I have always liked Annabeth and her loyalty to Percy. She is all the good traits of Athena, with a few of the flaws, but she always is drawn to Percy and the two complement each other well. I also liked Alabaster, even though he chose the wrong side. He believes strongly in his causes and seems to want what is best for demigods and he wants to make his mother proud. I hope he shows up in other books.
Favorite Quote: "That is not the Bacchanalian Jingle! That is the theme song for Psych!"
I loved this short story collection, but then I haven't read a Rick Riordan book I didn't like yet. 5 bars of chocolate for sure!
Holding on to Zoe by George Ella Lyon
I received an e-galley of this from Netgalley.com, that is the only compensation I received for this review.
Jules's life has never been easy. Her dad left when she was really young, leaving her with a mom who selfishly ignores Jules's problems. On top of her bad homelife, now her boyfriend has left town. Unfortunately for Jules, he left after he found out she was pregnant. For Jules, Zoe offers her redemption, Zoe is her baby. Jules would do anything for Zoe and anything to keep Zoe safe, even when holding on to Zoe means putting her own health and sanity on the line. Jules will need her friend Reba, Reba's mom, Dr. Douglas, and even her own mother to put her life back in order.
This book was not what I expected at all. Without being too spoilery, Jules has problems on top of problems. Her problems run the gamut of selfish mom, absent father, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, abandonment issues, and mental health issues. I picked this up as a book about teenage pregnancy and it is so much more. At times her problems seemed like too much, but it was nice to see her mother finally start acting like a mother in the end, which made her problems seem more real. Thankfully Jules's best friend, Reba sticks by her and Reba's mother is like a real mother should be.
I love George Ella Lyon's picture books and her author presentations are great as well. This was a very different book compared to her usual stories, but it was still well-written.
Favorite Character: Reba was an ideal best friend. She was willing to stick by Jules no matter what and there was so many things she had to deal with regarding Jules.
Favorite Quote: "And what if the babies grow faster? What if they outgrow their moms? Can that happen?"
This is not my usual kind of read and at times Jules's problems seemed like too much, but overall it was well-written. I give it 3.5 bars of chocolate.
Jules's life has never been easy. Her dad left when she was really young, leaving her with a mom who selfishly ignores Jules's problems. On top of her bad homelife, now her boyfriend has left town. Unfortunately for Jules, he left after he found out she was pregnant. For Jules, Zoe offers her redemption, Zoe is her baby. Jules would do anything for Zoe and anything to keep Zoe safe, even when holding on to Zoe means putting her own health and sanity on the line. Jules will need her friend Reba, Reba's mom, Dr. Douglas, and even her own mother to put her life back in order.
This book was not what I expected at all. Without being too spoilery, Jules has problems on top of problems. Her problems run the gamut of selfish mom, absent father, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, abandonment issues, and mental health issues. I picked this up as a book about teenage pregnancy and it is so much more. At times her problems seemed like too much, but it was nice to see her mother finally start acting like a mother in the end, which made her problems seem more real. Thankfully Jules's best friend, Reba sticks by her and Reba's mother is like a real mother should be.
I love George Ella Lyon's picture books and her author presentations are great as well. This was a very different book compared to her usual stories, but it was still well-written.
Favorite Character: Reba was an ideal best friend. She was willing to stick by Jules no matter what and there was so many things she had to deal with regarding Jules.
Favorite Quote: "And what if the babies grow faster? What if they outgrow their moms? Can that happen?"
This is not my usual kind of read and at times Jules's problems seemed like too much, but overall it was well-written. I give it 3.5 bars of chocolate.
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