Tag Archives: book reviews

May 20 2013
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Your Pick for Nik – June’s Selection!

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Thank you all for your votes (and nominations – they were all fantastic)!

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

This month’s winner is…  the Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey!

It was a really close one this month, as it just barely edged out  Hitchhiker’s Guide and Pure (which will be included in next month’s nominations). I have already started this one and I can tell you already that it will blow your mind. Great choice this month, people!

A thorough review and discussion for this book will take place on July 1st, so there’s plenty of time to pick it up if you want to participate. For more information on the Your Pick for Nik! book club,  click here. 

Here’s A look at what the books about:

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

**Don’t forget to tune in Monday, May 27 for the review and discussion of May’s Selection:  Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken.**

“If you think reading is boring, you’re doing it wrong.”

May 19 2013
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Book Review: The Spirit War by Rachel Aaron

a1Title: The Spirit War

Author: Rachel Aaron

Series: The Legend of Eli Monpress #4

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

The Overview: Eli Monpress is vain. He’s cocky. And he’s a thief. 

But he’s a thief who has just seen his bounty topped and he’s not happy about it. The bounty topper, as it turns out, is his best friend, bodyguard, and master swordsman, Josef. Who has been keeping secrets from Eli. Apparently, he’s the only prince of a rather feisty country and his mother (a formidable queen who’s every bit as driven and stubborn as he is) wants him to come home and do his duty, which means throwing over personal ambitions like proving he’s the greatest swordsman who ever lived.

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The Review:

I want to start out by sharing the overview for the first book:

Eli Monpress is talented. He’s charming. And he’s a thief.

But not just any thief. He’s the greatest thief of the age – and he’s also a wizard. And with the help of his partners – a swordsman with the most powerful magic sword in the world but no magical ability of his own, and a demonseed who can step through shadows and punch through walls – he’s going to put his plan into effect.

The first step is to increase the size of the bounty on his head, so he’ll need to steal some big things. But he’ll start small for now. He’ll just steal something that no one will miss – at least for a while.

Like a king.

I don’t know about you, but that short teaser convinced me right away that I wanted to give the series a try – and it was even better than I could have imagined. The first three books have to be, by far, one of the most memorable trilogies I’ve ever read. There was a high level of originality and it was spectacularly funny without ever crossing over to stupid or overdone.

I have to give major kudos to Aaron for pulling off two things you rarely see done well in fantasy: creating a feel of wonder, and doing so using almost poetic imagery. A lot of authors try to introduce wonder into their stories but it usually comes off ridiculous rather than awe-inspiring. Aaron pulls it off in a cheeky, fun manner without losing any more serious and thought-provoking overtones. She did this through exceptional character development and dialogue and introducing epic world-building and magic systems. I can’t say enough good things about this series. I am hooked, and will definitely read anything Aaron publishes in the future.

Surprisingly, compared to the first three novels, I thought the Spririt War started out a bit slow. Luckily, it was still rich, quality writing, so the pace didn’t bother me like it might have in other books. Regardless, the slower pace can be attributed to Aaron’s choice to expand on some minor characters and introduce some new ones, which means that she couldn’t possibly take it any faster if she wanted to develop them properly. I have criticized authors in the past for telling their stories from multiple viewpoints. I believe the key to doing this well is making sure all of your characters add directly to the overall arc – with each perspectives taking nothing away from the story’s momentum. All of Aaron’s viewpoint characters help maintain this momentum, adding a complexity to the story that still blows my mind.

Aspiring writers out there, including myself, could learn a lot by studying the way this author weaves the story, creates and maintains characters, and describes her world. She brings things to life and does so in a beautifully effortless manner. I will definitely be rereading this series for tips because there were moments of pure brilliance in every aspect of her writing.

Recommendations: As I said before, this series is whimsical without being ridiculous. I find myself recommending it to many types of readers because it’s one of those stories that has appeal for all ages (but for the sake of a few “scary” moments, I keep the recommends to 10+). It is probably best for fantasy lovers who are in the mood for something different. Its also my number one choice when someone says they want something “fun” to read.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

May 16 2013
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Coming Soon: Unhinged

s1Title: Unhinged

Author: A. G. Howard

Series: Splintered #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Release Date: January 7, 2104

The Overview: Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she’s always dreamed of.

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Nik’s Notes:

I have a weakness for awesome covers, and this one is the best one I’ve seen all year. Book 1 was enticing enough, but now I’m convinced I can’t ignore this series any longer. The only reason I haven’t picked it up yet is that “Alice in Wonderland” is not exactly a personal favorite. However, I’ve been reading a lot of great reviews and hear it’s original enough to make it worth the effort. I’m putting it in the TBR pile, but probably will hold off for a few months seeing as this one isn’t released until 2014. 

May 15 2013
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Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection #1

Genre: Teen Fiction

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself–and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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The Review:

I picked this one up expecting a light, romantic read and that’s exactly what I got. I knew this would be the perfect book for me because #1 I love competitions (which oddly really was the number one draw) #2 I’m in a dystopian phase #3 my guilty pleasure is The Bachelor (don’t tell anyone, I’ll lose my street cred) and #4 I love sweet love stories. The Selection satiated all those cravings and more… I also really liked the writing style and overall voice.

Interestingly enough, there were lots of elements that evoked images of a watered-down Hunger Games. Something along the lines of “the life and times of the people in the Capitol,” only in this version, the fight to the death is figurative… And over a boy. I found the comparisons fascinating and delighted in the fact that Cass managed to flip it into a lighthearted romance – and as that’s what I was in the mood for, it was perfect.

There wasn’t a whole lot of complexity in the story. Everything was pretty straightforward. So if you’re looking for a well-developed dystopian society where secrets are revealed around every corner, this may not be the novel for you. While I actually liked the hierarchal systems and the post-America histories here, there were a few too many implausibilities for me to take it seriously. That’s okay though, because I didn’t expect it to be profound – I just went with it.

Recommendations: I would mention it in passing to dystopian fans, but would probably hand this to someone looking for more of a romance. Unlike some of the more intense dystopians, I would feel comfortable recommending this to younger teens. This definitely made my “Top 10 Books When you Need Something Light & Fun” list and I liked it so much I’ve already devoured the second book.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

May 14 2013
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Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Books with Cringe-Worthy Scenes! (3/14/2013)

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This is a feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish allowing bloggers to geek out about books and connect with other bloggers. Among the vast array of excellent topics we discuss, this week is the only one so far that I’ve been dreading. The category is “Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects” (such as abuse, suicide, rape etc.). Personally, I read to escape reality not to get dragged into the dark dregs of society. Even so, some of the books I read deal with these difficult subject matters anyway but are never the primary focus of the story. With that in mind, I’ve altered this week’s category to highlight some authors who I feel “went there” (and totally grossed me out in the process).

Top Ten Books with Cringe-Worthy Scenes:

There you have it, my top 10 books/series with the truly graphic moments that have scarred me for life. I won’t go into details for each book because, frankly, I’ve tried to block most of it out. I will say, of all the books on the list, Obsidian Butterfly probably violated my delicate sensibilities the most. Although they’ve been marked for their cringe-worthy moments, some of these series are still at the top of my favorites lists.

If you visit, be sure to leave a comment so I can check out your Top Ten List!

May 13 2013
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Your Pick for Nik! – June’s Nominations!

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To cast your vote, just leave a comment indicating your chosen titles (up to 3) – and may the best book win!

It’s that time again for us to pick our next book! I want to give a special thanks to all of you who nominated titles for June’s Selection – I’m astounded at how many titles I really want to read – phenomenal picks!

Voting starts today (June 13, 2013) and will remain open until Sunday the 19th (Remember: YOU CAN VOTE FOR MORE THAN 1).

For those of you new to the book club, Your Pick for Nik! is a monthly feature where I turn over control of my reading list to you!

Here’s how it works: I will nominate titles from my TBR list (or, at least for this month, YOU nominated the titles) and you will choose which one gets featured. It can be one you’ve already read and want to discuss, one you want to read but wish to see my feedback on first, or – and this is my favorite part – you can read it along with me!

Depicted below are the top 10 nominations I received. Simply vote for your favorites, and let the best book win! At 10:00 am (MST) on Monday the 2oth I will announce the winner. Come the end of June, I will post a thorough review of the chosen title – and hopefully find out what you thought of it as well!

So without further ado…

June’s Nominations: 

a1Title: The 5th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up

#1 Pure by Julianna Baggott

#1 Pure by Julianna Baggott

Title: Pure

Author: Julianna Baggott

Genre: Fiction

Overview:We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

abTitle: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: Team Fantasy

Overview: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

q2Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king’s council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

q3Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

q4Title: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams

Genre: Science Fiction

Overview: Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

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q5Title: Imminent Danger: and How to Fly Straight into It

Author: Michelle Proulx

Genre: Teen Science Fiction

Overview: High school junior Eris Miller thinks she’s having a bad day when her roommate’s boyfriend catches her stepping out of the shower wearing nothing but a towel. Then she gets abducted by scaly six-armed aliens with a strange fondness for the color blue, and her day suddenly gets a whole lot worse. Trapped on a spaceship bound for the slave markets of Sirius B, Eris fears she’ll never see her home again. But then fate whisks her away from her reptilian captors and into the arms of Varrin, a fast-talking space pirate who promises to deliver her safely back to Earth. He claims to have her best interests at heart, but Eris soon discovers that her charming rescuer has a hidden agenda. As they race across the galaxy, outrunning a villainous figure from Varrin’s past, Eris begins to realize that their relationship is putting her planet, her life and her heart in imminent danger. She knows that trusting Varrin could prove deadly … but what other choice does she have?

q6Title: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Overview:Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours. But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal.

q7Title: Invisibility

Author: Andrea Cremer

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Overview: Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

q7Title: Sabriel

Author: Garth Nix

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him. She soon finds companions in Mogget, a cat whose aloof manner barely conceals its malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free in body but still trapped by painful memories. As the three travel deep into the Old Kingdom, threats mount on all sides. And every step brings them closer to a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death — and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own hidden destiny. With “Sabriel,” the first installment in the Abhorsen trilogy, Garth Nix exploded onto the fantasy scene as a rising star, in a novel that takes readers to a world where the line between the living and the dead isn’t always clear — and sometimes disappears altogether.