Archives

Jun 7 2013
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Coming Soon: Perdition by Ann Aguirre

8.27Title: Perdition

Author: Ann Aguirre

Series: The Dred Chronicles #1

Genre: Science Fiction

Release Date: August 27, 2013

The Overview: The prison ship Perdition, a floating city where the Conglomerate’s most dangerous criminals are confined for life, orbits endlessly around a barren asteroid.
Life inside is even more bleak. Hailed as the Dread Queen, inmate Dresdemona “Dred” Devos controls one of Perdition’s six territories, bordered on both sides by would-be kings eager to challenge her claim. Keeping them at bay requires constant vigilance, as well as a steady influx of new recruits to replace the fallen. Survival is a constant battle, and death is the only escape.

Of the newest convicts, only one is worth Dred’s attention. The mercenary Jael, with his deadly gaze and attitude, may be the most dangerous criminal onboard. His combat skill could give her the edge she needs, if he doesn’t betray her first. Unfortunately, that’s what he does best. Winning Jael’s allegiance will be a challenge, but failure could be worse than death…

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Nik’s Notes:

I actually mourned when I found out that Endgame was Aguirre’s last Sirantha Jax book. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve already got plans to read it again within the next year (and with the current size of my TBR pile, that is a huge commitment). I had no idea she was going to do a spinoff series, and I think I actually squealed when I found out. This author is fantastic, and must-read for any science fiction and urban fantasy fan. In all seriousness, this is the book release I am most excited about between now and the end of the year…she’s that good.

Click on the cover below to see a full review of the Sirantha Jax series. Although the featured title is of the final book, there are no spoilers and it’s more my impression of the series as a whole. Enjoy!

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Jun 6 2013
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Dragon Obsession – The Visual Files

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 Dragon Lake by Michael Whelan

This is the second Michael Whelan piece I’ve featured and it also happens to be a cover photo from the same Melanie Rawn series, Dragon Prince. As you can see On the right, I’ve tried to re-create it with colored pencil but it’s nowhere close to being finished (…or as vibrant. I’m definitely going to have to branch out into different mediums for this one). There are several different types of dragons that people envision when they read a story and I have to say that this photo comes really close to my “ideal” dragon.

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 5 2013
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Book Review: Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos

bjhgTitle: The Planet Thieves

Author: Dan Krokos

Series: The Planet Thieves

Genre: Young Reader

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Two weeks ago, thirteen-year-old Mason Stark and seventeen of his fellow cadets from the Academy for Earth Space Command boarded the SS Egypt. The trip was supposed to be a short routine voyage to log their required spacetime for summer quarter.

But routine goes out the airlock when they’re attacked by the Tremist, an alien race who have been at war with humanity for the last sixty years.

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The Review:

What a cool book!

This was a a fast-paced story that just kept adding to the excitement with each page. My favorite was the very beginning: Krokos dropped in the inciting incident right away, told us what was important to the protagonist, and gave the audience a lovable character worth rooting for. All in all, it was probably the best intro to a book I’ve read all year.

Characterization was definitely one of this author’s strengths. I mentioned above how much I liked the main protagonist, but the side characters were just as good, adding a great deal of humor and entertainment to the story. Although I enjoyed the overall story and conflicts, the characters are what’s fueling my desire to read the second book – I just have to know what happens to them next!

This would be an excellent introductory book for kids wanting to try science fiction. It had all the elements of space travel, alien races, new worlds, and most importantly, laser weapon battles! Heck, forget science fiction – this is a great book to get kids interested in science. Krokos interspersed a good bit of facts on the laws of the universe and did so in a way that was fun and made you want to learn more.

Overall, for the younger audience, it was perfect – it emphasized good morals like loyalty and friendship and also had some really cool moments of wonder. It is not quite on the level of Ender’s Game as far as its ability to be appealing to both adults and children, (mostly because it lacked a little robustness and complexity) but it’s the closest thing I’ve come across since.

Recommendations: Even though it wasn’t quite the groundbreaking tale I hoped it would be, it was definitely a worthwhile book and one I will be recommending a lot in the future. My only caution for parents is that it did contain a bit of light profanity.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 4 2013
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Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Epic Adventures (6/4/2013)

a6 2This week’s feature, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is supposed to feature travel in some way. Because travel is just not that exciting to me unless it’s in the form of some grand adventure, so I have tweaked to the category a bit:

Top Ten Epic Adventures!

All of these contain epic adventures in one form or another, whether it be by the high seas or through dangerous ogre-infested mountains. They are guaranteed to make you feel like you are on the journey with them without ever leaving your armchair.

I have reviews for some of them, if you’d like to read them you can click on the covers below:

Magician: Apprentice (5/5 stars!)

Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

 Sword Dancer/Sword Singer (4/5 stars)

Sword – Dancer/Sword – Singer by Jennifer Roberson

Sword – Dancer/Sword – Singer by Jennifer Roberson

 Pawn of Prophecy (4.5/5 stars)

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

 Redwall (5/5 stars)

Redwall by Brian Jacques

Redwall by Brian Jacques

These are all fantastic books and ones that I recommend constantly because who doesn’t love a good adventure? If you have a top ten list, I’d love to see it – leave a comment so I can come check it out! :-)

Jun 3 2013
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Out This Month – Noteworthy Releases June 2013!

cccc2These are, in my opinion, the best of the best book releases in June. There aren’t very many teen books this month, which is a contrasts to the last few months where it seems like I was struggling to include a good fantasy. My favorite release is Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead, but as I’ve already read it, I am most excited to pick up The Human by Keary Taylor. Are any of them on your list?

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Jun 2 2013
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Coming Soon: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

brackenTitle: Never Fade

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: The Darkest Minds #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Release Date: October 15, 2013

The Overview: Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

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Nik’s Notes:

After reading The Darkest Minds, I felt highly entertained yet still a little dissatisfied. I go into great detail in my review so I won’t delve into it here, but suffice to say it was a bit of a downer. Aside from that, I quite enjoyed the writing style, the characters, and the love story. Those things were powerful enough that even though I finish the book in a bad mood, I still want to see where she takes it next. If you liked Divergent, Partials, and The 5th Wave, this might be a great author for you to try next…

 Here’s my review of book #1:

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