Review: Reckless

 

Title: Reckless (Reckless #1)

Author: Cornelia Funke

Publisher:  Little Brown Books

Release Date:  September 5th 2011

Ever since Jacob Reckless was a child, he has been escaping to a hidden world through a portal in his father's abandoned study. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as a finder of enchanted items and buried secrets. He's also made many enemies and allies—most important, Fox, a beautiful shape-shifting vixen whom Jacob cares for more than he lets on.

But life in this other world is about to change. Tragedy strikes when Jacob's younger brother, Will, follows him through the portal. Brutally attacked, Will is infected with a curse that is quickly transforming him into a Goyl—a ruthless killing machine, with skin made of stone.

Jacob is prepared to fight to save his brother, but in a land built on trickery and lies, Jacob will need all the wit, courage, and reckless spirit he can summon to reverse the dark spell—before it's too late.

I picked this book up at my high school's book fair because I was instantly drawn to the cover. It's pretty amazing, especially in person because one of the guy's eye is really shiny and stuff. When I read the back of it, I thought it sounded super interesting.

Upon reading the book, I've found that it's probably geared more toward middle-grade readers because of the very simple writing. The story itself wasn't anything spectacular; it was more about solving a problem which was only there to show the Mirrorworld to the reader. I was hoping to read about how Jacob's father went missing -- in the Mirrorworld -- and what happened to him. Funke touches on that lightly, but only for a few pages.

The characters were alright. None of them were very deep or interesting. I never became attached to any single one. The plot seemed to have a climax, but it wasn't very much of an impact.

I gave it three Sporks, because the world was interesting but it wasn't a book that amazed me. There wasn't much to the story, at least for me. I wouldn't advise people against it, but only recommend for light reading.

I gave this THREE out of FIVE Sporks!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Ironskin

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

  

Ironskin

by Tina Connolly

Release Date: October 2012

Publisher: Tor Books

From Goodreads;

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain -- the ironskin.

Now Jane returns to the war-torn country to help a fey-cursed child. Helping the unruly Dorie suppress her curse is hard enough -- she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Mr. Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio -- and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows he cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things are true? Step by step Jane must unlock the secrets of her new life -- and discover just how far she will go to become whole again.

Comments;

I love anything fey related so this was an instant attention-grabber for me. The description sounds genuinely intriguing. I also really like the cover from the swirly smoke to her shoes. Something about the mask is off to me, but not hideously so that it ruins the face. Normally, I wouldn't like the font colour for the title but I don't mind it in this case because it really makes it pop out here. This seems like a book I'd pick up in B&N and buy. :]

What do you think?

Review: The Iron King

 

Title: The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Release Date:  February 1st 2010

Format: Paperback (Bought)

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined. Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

The first thing I said when I closed this book was, "I WANT MOOOORRRE!". And yes, I said it loudly.

This...this is the first book to really grip me and make me love it since My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent. My brain is in overload from this book, but in a very happy way.

Okay, okay, I'm calming down and starting at the beginning.

Breathe.

Okay. When I first opened the book, I read about a little girl and the loss of her father. It's a plot point that I've seen multiple times, but it wasn't that big of a deal, so I looked past it. Then Robbie came in. Inssttannnt looovvve!!! He's cute, he's funny, he's friendly... I want one. Just sayin'.

Anyway, I so didn't get the whole digital creepy fey or the iron fey until the very end. I sorta had a brain fart and forgot the title of the book (Ahem, IRON King... Duh) and totally looked passed them, which made the ending fun and surprising. Machina makes me think of the hot dude from the Matrix when Meghan goes to dethrone him. He just sounds super bad like that.

The two Mega-Hotties of the story -- Puck (Robbie) and Ash -- were so developed, that I felt I could look up from the pages and find them standing in front of me. (Which, for the record, I would have loved to happen, tehe.)I am still Team Puck all the way, and am upset that Meghan would hurt her best friend's heart. She had feelings for him, you know it, but she ignored them. Because every girl has to go for the bad boy. That was the only part I disliked in the story, but I still like Ash.

The plot was fantasmagorical - a word I reserve for the best and most wonderful things. It made me want to start writing a plot of my own, one to rival the mastery that Julie Kagawa made. Which, I think , would be very hard. Except, my plot would include Puck coming out of that tree. I almost cried at the end when he didn't. Almost.

Ahem...I shall, um, stop rambling in my fan-girlness now, though. This book is BY FAR in my top three favourite books. And...wait for it...it has to have a favourite quote! I leave you with, a Puck quote. :D

" "Oh, we're playing nice now?" Puck remained seated, looking anything but compliant. "Shall we have tea first? Brew up a nice pot of kiss-my-ass?" "

P.S. I'm hunting for my own Grimalkin now.

I give it FIVE out of FIVE sporks