Book Review #5 - The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The series, aptly named, follows Percy Jackson, a young boy who soon discovers he is a half-blood - half Greek god, half human. Percy is sent to camp Half-Blood where other kids like him are sent. Unfortunately, Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the main suspect. Thus, Percy ventures to find the bolt and prove his innocence. On the way, he discovers a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
This book was recommended to me by multiple people. Although I expected an immature, fantasy-myth standby written for elementary school students, I was very taken with this book. Especially at how purely funny it is. Rick is an awesome writer for this, appealing to both the younger average of his audience and the elder ones who may have been pestered by friends or sibling to read this great start. Percy is easy to like and sympathize with, and Annabeth is well-drawn. Grover is the typical comic-relief best friend, and I do hope he can serve a true purpose in future books. As said before, I look forward to continuing this series.

Book Review #4 - Marked by PC and Kristin Cast

Marked is the first book in the House of Night series, which follows the adventures of Zoey Redbird, who is Marked by a Tracker to become a fledgling vampyre. Then she begins to attend the House of Night, where she will train to become an adult vampire. Zoey, unlike most fledglings, has an affinity for all five elements, water, fire, wind, earth, and spirit. With her new friends and abilities, Zoey must venture into the dangerous future with the courage to face whatever may come.
I wasn't sure what to expect as I read the first chapter. The story on the surface wasn't very unique; vampyres, love, teenage angst, a heroine with family and boy problems who is amazingly gifted. What the Casts did correctly, however, was give her flaws. Legit, real character flaws. It made her mostly believable and easy to relate to. Her friends, which include the country-girl Stevie Rae, smart-guy Damien, and the "twins" Erin and Shaunee, are all very like-able. I didn't think I would be won over by a vampyre teen novel of all things. I look forward to the other books. All in all, and good but not great way to start a series.

Book Review #3 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In Post-Armageddon North America, the nation of Panem, a country of 12 outlying districts and a shining Capitol, is holding it's yearly Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are fights to the death between 24 children under 18, a boy and a girl from each district as a punishment for the district uprising over 70 years ago. Katniss Everdeen steps up into her sister's place, and thus the 74th Hunger Games begin.
I heard a lot of hype about this book and decided to give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised. Although it took me about a quarter of the way through the book to get into it and care about the characters, the ride after that was phenomenal. Katniss is a mostly three dimensional character, although she is hard to relate to and care about. Peeta is lovable, the typical love interest. Gale is the token enigma.
That really was one thing that bothered me - the love triangle. I finished the book both satisfied and thinking, "Really? Really?" I'm very, very tired of love triangles, especially when it comes to books like this where the reader's excitement and interest should come from the action and plot, not from the lack-luster romance under story. I understand it was to add some depth, but I found it an unnecessary cop out to thicken the plot. It was fine to begin with, and in fact, Suzanne could have used the plot to do so much more if she wasn't limiting herself to the romance line. None the less, I enjoyed it and looked forward to Catching Fire.

Book Review #2 - Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

Rebel Angels is the sequel to Libba Bray's A Great And Terrible Beauty. It's nearly Christmas and the girls are leaving Spence to spend time with their families. Meanwhile, Gemma's visions intensify and become more frequent, and more visits to the realms are inevitable.
I loved this more than the first one. 548 pages and I flew through it in less than a week. Felicity finally won me over. Her past matches perfectly with how she acts now and gives her the depth her character craved. Ann gets deeper and even easier to relate to. Libba did a great job of inducting real modern-day problems into a Victorian gothic. The twists had me putting the book down and shaking my head in amazement. Libba is one of those authors who do that wonderful thing where the sequel is just as or even more amazing in this case than the first book. I look forward to really reading The Sweet Far Thing, the final book, and see where our girls end up.

Book Review #1 - A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Great And Terrible Beauty is the first of the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray. The series is about Gemma Doyle, an English girl growing up in India with her family. Gemma is prone to visions, often bad ones, that typically come true. After what seems to be a random act of violence, Gemma and her family move back to England where Gemma is sent to the finishing school Spence academy. Here she meets Ann, her roommate, a plain orphan girl with talent in singing, Felicity, a powerful and rebellious daughter of the admiral, and Pippa, Felicity's beautiful best friend. Eventually, Gemma discovers the supernatural power she holds and her mother's connection to a shadowy group called the Order.
I loved this book. All the characters are very three-dimensional. It's awesome to read a book centered around women/feminism and not have "perfect Mary-Sue" characters. Gemma is easy to relate to while still maintaining the heroine aspect of her character. Ann is by far the most balanced character; not beautiful, but talented. Selfless though self-pitying. Kartik is an interesting enigma, and I look forward to learning more about him in the upcoming books. Pippa was annoying, but lovable enough to make you care. Felicity has yet to truly impress me. I hope this can change in the next book.
The plot itself is unique. The setting of late-1800's Victorian backdrop suites the book perfectly. It kept me firmly wrapped up in both the supernatural main plot and the character's general life problems. Occasionally, however, I found myself caring more about the characters than the main story itself, though it is up to the reader to decide whether this is a bad thing or not.
All in all, definitely worth reading.