Tag Archives: book reviews

May 5 2013
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Book Review: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Title: Fablehaven

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: Fablehaven  #1

Genre: Young Adult

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite … Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

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The Review:

I have been trying to write this review for at least three months. Everything I put to paper just doesn’t do the series justice, and I’m stuck staring at a full page of notes not knowing the best way to put them together. Suffice to say, I love everything about this series and am now reading it again for my fifth or sixth time (which is really saying something given how many books I have on my TBR list). It is one of the best series I’ve ever read even compared to all the mainstream adult fantasy out there. Let’s put it this way, it’s not quite Harry Potter epic, but it is the closest thing I’ve come across since.
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What Brandon Mull does so well is offer adventure and wonder at every turn to capture your imagination and make you feel like a kid again. Every few pages he introduces something fun and creative, but it’s never frivolous. Every scene takes us farther and farther into this brilliant world which only continues to build off itself and get more exciting with each book. I found every last moment captivating and am in awe at Mull’s ability to tell such a great story. It’s weird, too, because he keeps the plot simple enough for kids to really get into, introducing rounded, relatable characters, but writes in a sophisticated enough manner for adults to enjoy just as much if not more than the kids. It’s not a fluke, either. I saw him do the same thing in the Candy Shop Wars – he just knows how to weave wonder and magic into his story in a way that’s accessible to all ages.
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Overall, I’m not sure what else to say without absolutely gushing – it’s clear I love this series. Most people have usually already read it, and I’m assuming that if you’re reading this review you probably have too. All I can say is, if you enjoy fantasy and children’s literature and have not yet picked this one up, it should definitely be next on your list!
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Recommendations:  I recommend this to anyone who says they loved Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. It’s also the first one I gravitates to when parents are trying to get their kids more into reading (provided said child likes fantasy). Personally, I don’t think this series has any age limit so I recommend it to anybody wanting to go on an adventure and feel like a kid again!
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Other books you might like:
May 4 2013
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April 2013 Review Recap!

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This is a once a month feature (obviously) where I to look back and admire all the books I’ve read and provide my readers (you guys) with the opportunity to access any reviews you may have missed. I realize I’m a few days late for an April Recap, but I’ve never done one before and I really didn’t want to wait until next month to start.

This has been one of the best months of reading that I’ve ever had. I have to thank The Broke and the Bookish for hosting their Top 10 Tuesday feature because, about two months ago, they provided the topic “top 10 books at the top of my spring 2013 reading list“. I compiled a list of books that I was most excited to read and then promptly realized that ARCs, sequels, and the endless list of my TBR pile would keep me from reading those books for many months to come. How stupid is that? The books I most want to read take a backseat to my “obligations”.  Anyway, I decided that from here on out I would focus my reading on the books that excite me most and not on the endless list of books that I feel like I “should be reading.” Unfortunately, since I’m only just reading it the top books on my list now, most of the reviews won’t be posted until May. Even so, I did get in quite a bit of good reading last month.

So without further ado, here’s a look at Aprils reviews (you can click on the covers to read the full reviews):

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs (5/5 stars)

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

 Eve and Adam by K.A. Applegate and Michael Grant (3.5/5 stars)

Eve & Adam by K.A. Applegate and Michael Grant

The Ghost King by R.A. Salvatore (5/5 stars)

The Ghost King by R.A.Salvador

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (4.5/5 stars)

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Maguire

Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck (2/5 stars)

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe (4/5 stars)

The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

And my Favorite….

Fragments by Dan Wells (5/5 stars!)

Fragments by Dan Wells

There you have it! There were a couple I didn’t really care for, but for the most part this is a collection of fantastic books. It also oddly represents my reading habits, as you can see it’s a bit scattered and from a few different genres. It’s difficult to choose a favorite but I landed on Fragments as the best book on the list, but barely. The one that will stick with me for years to come is The Ghost King, so it gets an honorable mention.

May 3 2013
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Coming Soon: Spirit Animals

9:10 mullTitle: Spirit Animals

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: Wild Born #1

Genre: Young Adult

Release Date:  September 10, 2013

The Overview: Four children separated by vast distances all undergo the same ritual, watched by cloaked strangers. Four flashes of light erupt, and from them emerge the unmistakable shapes of incredible beasts – a wolf, a leopard, a panda, a falcon. Suddenly the paths of these children – and the world – have been changed forever.

Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers . . . and on you.

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Nik’s Notes:

Oh my gosh!  Of all the awesome new releases between now and December, this just might be the book I am most looking forward to reading. If you take Harry Potter out of the running, Brandon Mull is by far my favorite young adult author, specifically for his Fablehaven series. Take that excellent writing and wonder-filled storytelling ability and add in animal shape shifters and I can’t see how this book would be anything less than amazing! If I could write my own novel with even the fraction of the skill that Mull has all my goals will have been achieved. If you haven’t read Fablehaven yet, you are solely missing out!

May 2 2013
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Out This Month – Noteworthy Releases May 2013!

cccApril was kind of a slow month for me. Sure, the new Robin Hobb came out, and that’s awesome in its own right, but there wasn’t much else that I was just dying to read. May, on the other hand is packed with books that I’ve been eager to get my hands on. Any of them on your reading list?

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May 1 2013
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Book Review: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

a2Title: Frost Burned

Author: Patricia Briggs

Series: Mercy Thompson #7

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…. After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted. Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

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The Review:

I never have anything bad to say about Patricia Briggs! I have loved every book in the Mercy series so far, putting them at the top of my all-time favorites list.  Already owning the paperbacks, I decided to invest in the hardcovers because I like them that much. Not only are they fun to read, but they also have excellent characters, story, and humor.

 With each new book so far, Briggs has introduced a new element of supernatural expanding the otherworldliness of her series. Now were at the point where there is so much back history and development with each creature and character that the storyline for this book was almost a culmination of everything we have read so far. Frankly, the characters could be doing practically anything at this point and I would still enjoy reading about it.

Conflicts that happen in past books play a big role in this one, so it didn’t take long to get into the action of the story. I love how Briggs paces her novels, there is usually barely enough time to catch your breath before she launches from one action scene to the other. Mix that with fantastic, lovable characters and a great deal of humor, and you have yourself one fantastic series! I am bummed that it’s going to be at least a year before I get to read another one… It kind of makes me wish I had read it slower. Oh, well. I guess I’ll just have to go back and do a series reread!

As a side note, I chose to read the Alpha and  Omega series because there are rather important things in those books that played a major role in Frost Burned. In fact, if I hadn’t read them I would’ve been a little confused with the feeling of, “Wow, I don’t remember that in the last Mercy book… What other stuff that I forget?” (this usually only happens if I read books in a series too far apart). Anyway, the first A&O book, Cry Wolf, I didn’t really care for. However, the other two, Hunting Ground and Fair Game, were every bit as good as the Mercy series, adding a lot of back-history to the werewolf culture.

Recommendations: These books don’t have near as much language and sex as many other urban fantasies on the market, which is why (aside from their obvious awesomeness) I recommend them the most often. Along with Butcher’s Dresden Files, these books are excellent starter sets for the genre and must-reads for any hard-core fans!

by Niki Hawkes

 Other books you might like:

Apr 30 2013
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Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book! (4/30/2013)

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This is a feature posted by The Broke and The Bookish that allows book bloggers to talk about the books they loved – or hated – and provides a platform for us to get to know each other. This week’s topic is:

Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

I want to disclaim that these subjects will almost always make me give the book a second glance, but I have a much more thorough selection process before they actually wind up on my shelf at home (I’ve gotten really picky lately). There is a broad spectrum of books in the categories I’m about to name. For the sake of geeking out about books I love, I have chosen to provide pictures of the covers that best represent each category.

 #1 dragons:

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Dragon Avenger by E.E. Knight

Because I am a slave to my obsessions. I try everything I can get my hands on, Seriously though, if publishers were marketing specifically to me all they would have to do is put a pretty dragon on the cover and I would pick the book up – regardless if there is an actual dragon anywhere in it.

#2 animals:  

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Wild Born by Brandon Mull

Yep this is pretty much the only subject that will get me to read nonfiction. However, any genre novel that manages to incorporate animals will grab my attention right away.

#3 magic/wizards:

Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

It seems like all of my favorite books have at least some element of magic. When you love dragons and fantasy as much as I do, magic sort of goes hand in hand with those topics. Unique magic systems, like the ones found in the Mistborn trilogy, can be highly memorable and sometimes the best parts of a story.

#4 dystopian:

Partials by Dan Wells

I am up to the point where I will actually read anything set in a dystopian story as long as the basic concept sounds good. I am so glad I have, because it has allowed me to enjoy some of the best books I’ve read in years!

#5 vampire/werewolf:

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

I went through all of my teen years saying with conviction that I hate paranormal creatures. And then along came an unsuspecting paranormal romance by Lori Handeland…One thing led to another, and now I simply can’t get enough. Who knew these stories also had some of the best characterization and romance for any genre – with robust, complex storylines to boot!

#6 Richelle Mead:

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead (June 4th)

Yep, put this name on any cover and I guarantee you I will pick it up. Vampire Academy was great, but my favorite was her Succubus series. And I really liked Gameboard of the Gods coming out in June.

#7 swords/adventure:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Most of the fantasy books I’ve and loved offered a great deal of battle scenes and adventure. To have a cool adventure, you usually have to be in a cool setting; therefore, most of my favorite world building stories also had a major elements of adventure and exploration.

#8 teen:

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Teen is my weak spot, my guilty pleasure. Anything that can be categorized as fantasy or paranormal gets at least a basic look through, and I usually spend most of my browsing time in this section. I also am quite fond of books with girls in pretty dresses… And they’re everywhere.

#9 love:

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I’m a romantic at heart, and I usually don’t pick up a book unless it has at least a chance for a love story. PS. This cover in particular is one of the most intriguing covers/titles out there… I’m going to read it.

#10 nonhuman races:

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Whether it be elves or aliens the opportunity to read about someone’s take on the development of a new species (or a spin of a well-known one) grabs my attention every time. On a side note, I will also pick up ANYTHING with cover art done by Luis Royo…And you know what? He hasn’t led me astray yet!

What are your book-trigger words?  Leave a blog address in the comments area so I can visit your TTT. :)