Category Book Reviews

Apr 23 2013
Image

Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did! (4/23/2013)

a111Top 10 Tuesday is a feature hosted every week by The Broke and the Bookish. I love it because it gives me a chance to sit and stare at my library once a week and admire all the excellent books I’ve read. This weeks category is:

Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did

Less:

#1 The Night Circus: I am really picky with ARCs and don’t usually take home any fiction because I never end up reading them. So when this one came out of the box, something abobut it perked my interest and I broke my rule and took it home, and I am so glad I did. It was beautiful, magical, and absorbing and to this day one of the best books that I’ve ever read. 

#2 Kushiel’s Dart: I bought this one based on a recommend from a trusted coworker. For the longest time I kept passing it over because, frankly, I thought the premise sounded a little boring. When I finally did get around to it I kicked myself for not picking it up sooner. It has every element I expect from a good book and more.

#3 Succubus Blues: Honestly I found the cover somewhat less than appealing, but I really loved the vampire Academy books, so I thought I would give it a try. I am a really scattered reader and almost never read sequels back-to-back. I devoured this entire series in about a week and a half and to this day it is still one of my all-time favorites.

#4 Dead Witch Walking: I didn’t really find the covers of these to compelling at first (they’ve gotten a lot better as of late) but I was just getting into the urban fantasy genre and had my go-to person for book recommends tell me it was worth reading. The first hundred pages or so where a bit of a struggle, but after that the entire series captured me. These books are amazing and they have some of the best sidekicks of any series I’ve ever read. Read full review

#5 Beautiful Disaster: I am sure I am not the only person who does this, but I picked this one up solely because I received an ARC for the second book. And I love it. In my review, I had some criticisms of basic outlining for the story but other than that found the book to be incredibly absorbing and fun. I have resolve to read anything else this author writes because her writing was outstanding! Read full review

More:

#6 Falling Kingdoms: I find it exhausting to consider all the things I didn’t like about this book. No world building, too many viewpoint characters, and a week outline to name a few. Awesome cover gods – you really let me down here. Read full review

#7 Inkheart: I have yet to hear another negative review of this book, so I’m the absolute minority. But come on! The story is about a girl who can bring characters from her books to life. The possibilities are endless!! And, sadly,  untapped. Not more than a handful of characters ever made their way out from the pages. And the girl spent a great deal of time wandering from one place to another trying to figure out what was going on. I’m angry for what this book could have been.

#8 Bitterblue: Graceling was one of my favorite books ever (and fire was pretty good too). I had host of issues with this particular book, however, and I was certain that I would love it. Not so… Read full review

#9 The Maze Runner:  This one was probably my biggest disappointment out of everything on this list. It’s one of the bestsellers of the teen fantasy genre that people absolutely rave about it. It also has one of the coolest concepts of any series I’ve ever read, so it’s a real shame that the author didn’t take it where I thought I could go. Withholding information to create suspense can work to an authors favor, but all of the false tension made me tired of not knowing what was going on (and bored).

#10 Eve & Adam: Written by the author that got me hooked on reading as a kid with the Animorph series, I  snagged this one the minute it hit the shelf. Unfortunately, despite some really strong writing passages near the beginning of the book, the story left me seriously wanting. Read full review

Apr 21 2013

Book Reviews: Animorphs -The Encounter / The Message

a1Title: The Encounter

Author: K.A. Applegate

Series: Animorphs #3

Genre: Young Adult

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: When Tobias, Jake, Rachel, Marco, and Cassie were given the ability to morph, they were also given one very important warning: Never stay in a morph for more than two hours. It seemed a small price to pay, since the kids know that humans everywhere are being forced to let slimy, spineless creatures creep into their brains. And the only way the kids can fight back is not to be human. But Tobias stayed in his morph too long. And now he’s a hawk — with a boy’s mind — forever. Tobias knows they can’t give up. That they all made a promise. So now it’s four kids and a hawk against a force that’s determined to destroy them. Or die trying…

The Review:

There’s something incredibly fascinating and heart-wrenching about someone’s struggle to hold onto their humanity after a horrific event. The books from Tobias’s viewpoint always have a different, more introspective tone then the rest of the series. I guess you’d be pretty insightful too if you spent every day alone with nature and your thoughts. I don’t think I was old enough to appreciate its depth as a kid, but I sort of do now. Back then, I was mainly just disappointed that the potential to try new animal morphs was gone. This time around, however, I’m enjoying it more than ever before… and that’s an exciting thing (I also notice more plot holes than ever before.  I guess when you’re writing a series like this in under 100 pages it’s difficult to be completely thorough… right? Just go with it – lol.)

a2.0Title: The Message

Author: K.A. Applegate

Series: Animorphs #4

Genre: Young Adult

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: It all started with the dreams. But Cassie didn’t pay much attention to them. She and her friends had all been having weird dreams since they’d first learned to morph. Maybe it was just some crazy side effect. That’s when Cassie discovers that Tobias has been having the exact same dreams. Dreams about the ocean. And a strange feeling that someone is calling to them. Calling for help. Now Cassie, Tobias, Jake, Rachel, and Marco have to figure out if the dreams are a message – or a trap. And if it is a trap, it could mean the end – for everyone…

The Review:

After careful consideration, I’ve made a decision (which, of course, is subject to change at any given moment): Cassie is my favorite Animorph. She gets along with everyone, is humble, hard-working, and compassionate. But what I love most about Cassie is her remarkable affinity for animals. She is the character I always envied because she knows the most about animals out of the group and she can control her morph on how amazing would it be to be able to control your morphing – how cool is that. As far as the books go, her stories aren’t always the most action-packed, but they are often the most powerful and profound. At least for me.

by Niki Hawkes

Apr 19 2013
Image

Book Review: The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

z1Title: The Sweetest Dark

Author: Shana Abe

Series: The Sweetest Dark #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance / Historical

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
 
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

The Review:

There are several things I really liked about this book. For one thing, the writing style and overall voice were amazing! The overall presentation of the story was unlike anything I have ever read and it made me instantly happy that I picked it up. I also really liked the main character and got behind her story right away. She is smart and sassy and generally the type of person you want on your side. I was completely sold… For about the first 50 pages.

It’s not that she lost me completely – throughout the story the strengths I listed above were still present. She simply Made some outlining decisions that I thought could have been better. For example, the first half of the book was working towards a big reveal (which is a tool used by writers to keep the readers interest as the plot unfolds). Unfortunately the big reveal in this story was something we already knew from reading the Overview. It just wasn’t enough to keep me excited, especially since it also lacked in the romance department. I didn’t realize how essential romantic tension was until I read this book. The whole idea of a preordained soulmate is romantic in itself, but the blind acceptance of that left a bad taste in my mouth.

Speaking of bad taste (on a random note), there seem to be a tad bit of unnecessary profanity in this book. Don’t get me wrong I think swearing can really add to my enjoyment of a book when it is used to help define character or is simply for humorous effect. It did neither here – Abe dropped the F-bomb in a situation that wasn’t serious enough to draw it from an otherwise proper character. While swearing doesn’t bother me in the least, I don’t think it has a place in a teen genre.

Overall, I think the unique approach to this story along with Abe’s obviously excellent writing skills make this a worthwhile read, despite my concerns. She also tied it up well enough that I am genuinely looking forward to reading the second book. I still gave the book 4 out of 5 stars, and I’m pretty sure my little holdups wont bother many other people – it really is a great book!

Recommendations: I would probably feel comfortable recommending this one to teenagers 15+. While there is nothing blatant, there are still a few suggestive elements that would get me in trouble with some parents around here. As always, use your own discretion.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Apr 17 2013
Image

Book Review: Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck

a1Title: Tiger’s Curse

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: Tiger’s Curse #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Rating: 2/5 stars

The Overview: The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

The Review:

I wanted to like this one, I really did. I’m a sucker for books with exotic animals or different cultures, and this one had both (which were actually the best elements of the story). I even had one of my coworkers swear up and down that this was her “most favorite book ever!” Combine all of that with the strong sales trend I’d been noticing and a killer cover to boot and, needless to say, it didn’t’ take much to talk me into buying this one.

But I didn’t like it. I hate it when that happens.

The basic idea for the book was great, But there were elements to the actual plot line that I think could have been stronger, specifically regarding conflicts. For at least the first 50 to 100 pages there were no conflicts or inciting moments to let us know what the overall arc of the story was supposed to be. There was, however, a plethora of false tension while the main character discovered what we already knew from reading the back of the book. This is a poor choice of pacing on the authors part. The basic conflict of the story should be evident right up front if you really want to grab your readers. The sooner the better, in my opinion.
.
In the teen genre, at least some sort of romantic tension has to be present for me to enjoy the book… as long as it’s done right. Tiger’s Curse has so much senseless turmoil between characters that I got bored with that element of the plot pretty quickly. I actually think that without stronger and external conflicts to drive her story Huock was forced to create trouble out of thin air to have something to write about.
.
Overall this one was a disappointment for me, not for the story idea or the writing, but with general outlining. I’ve read so many brilliant books of late that it just didn’t stack up. Like I said, though, it sales are strong and I’ve talked to at least three people who absolutely loved it.
.
Recommendations: I would recommend this to people looking for a light read. There was also a great deal of fabulous Indian culture throughout which gave the book a unique flavor, so I might actually recommend this to people in the mood for something different (with disclaimers).
.
Other books you might like:
 
Apr 13 2013

Book Reviews by Niki Hawkes is Now on Facebook!

fb

Book Reviews by Niki Hawkes is now on Facebook!

It’s an easier way to stay updated, but it’s also a place where I can let my hair down a bit as you get all the quirky posts and updates that aren’t big enough to sustain a blog post. Get access to:

  • Book reviews and recommendations
  • Release dates for forthcoming books
  • Important updates from popular authors
  • Fun quotes and memes – book related, of course
  • Links to other excellent book bloggers
  • Writing tips tips and links

And anything else I think my fellow book lovers will enjoy!

So stop on by at https://www.facebook.com/BookReviewsByNikiHawkes and “Like” the page to become part of this fabulous book-loving community! :)

Apr 12 2013
Image

Book Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

b1Title: Beautiful Disaster

Author: Jamie McGuire

Series: n/a

Genre: Fiction / Romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

The Overview: Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

The Review:

I haven’t been so enraptured in a book since I read The Night Circus two years ago. The stars really aligned for me on this one and I  found myself considering cancelling plans so I could stay home and read it (Oh, the hazards of befriending a booknerd). It was perfect: great pacing, great characters, and great plot…until about halfway through. 

I’m not a fan of senseless turmoil, and I felt the end half of the book had that in abundance. She almost would’ve done herself a service to end the book sooner and focus more one lengthening the bits at the beginning that were working so well for her. Without going into specifics, let’s suffice to say she climaxed a fantastically building conflict a bit too premature, then she introduced another conflict that I thought was a bit silly. The dark moodiness of the cover and the book’s description led me to believe that there was something really dark and twisted in this girl’s past (which ironically is not usually my cup of tea), and honestly I think that’s really what the story needed to keep going. Don’t even get me started on the profound unhealthiness of the relationships in the book. Although I guess it’s difficult to have senseless turmoil without that element.

Even though I had some gripes with the plot, I have to give the author kudos for her character creation. Her focus on physical description – particularly mannerisms and facial expressions – made for some awesome characters. Each one came across as a real person, and I haven’t seen many authors who pulled it off better. She really brought them to life for me, and that’s the main reason why I still rated the book so highly. When the plot turned, I still found the characters wildly entertaining and that was more than enough to keep my attention. Another more subtle strength to her writing was in setting. I found myself reliving my own college experience countless times throughout the book, and I imagine others will do the same. McGuire wrote without specifics, and I think it was a deliberate tactic to make the story come alive for each individual’s experiences.

Overall, I consider McGuire and exceptionally talented writer, I just wished she’d taken the basic story in a different direction. I enjoyed her writing style and characterization so much that I will definitely be picking up anything else she writes.

Recommendations: Although the novel wasn’t incredibly graphic, there were a lot of sex scenes. There was also a fair bit of language and a hint of violence. All-in-all, subject matter considered, I thought it was very tastefully done. because of this, though, I would recommend this book mostly to women who are comfortable with the romance genre but also enjoy works of fiction. I’m creating a new category for this book: a robust romance!

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like: