Review: To The Blight

 

Title:To the Blight (Part 2 of The Eye of the World) (Wheel of Time Series)

Author: Robert Jordan

Publisher: Starscape

Release Date:  January 7th 2002 (Originally published 1993)

Pursued by Trollocs and Myrddraal, Rand and his friends find refuge in the deserted city of Shadar Logoth. But their wandering—and the many dangers they face—are far from over. For from the lips of a dying Aiel girl they learn that the Dark One means to blind the Eye of the World. Having barely escaped capture and death, Rand finds himself face to face with Aginor: a wielder of the One Power and an ally of the Dark One.

In the battle that follows, Rand will discover his true identity...and destiny.

 
The sequel of From the Two Rivers and part 2 of The Eye of the World, The Blight made for a spectacular beginning for the series. When I started this book, I didn't realize how attached I had become to the characters until one died and other came into greater danger.

The whole beginning of this series is about three young boys from a tiny farming land, The Two Rivers, that is extremely secluded from the rest of the world. These three boys are supposed to change the world - either one of them or all of them - for the better or worse. In this book, Ran al'Thor is finally born into the world of the Aes Sedai and the conflict of Light versus Shadow. At the end of this book, I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat and making so many faces that my friends thought I was actually entertaining. The ending was nothing like I expected and all that I wanted. I'm still reeling from this book and I love it SO much. I can't say too much without giving away wonderful details of the story but I can say that everyone should read it.

The story line of the book is so very interesting, even if it was a bit slow in the first book. The pace definitely quickens in this book and story takes you on a thrill ride. I also really loved all the different settings used in the story as it followed the paths of each boy (and girl). The towns, the people, the countryside -- all very imaginative.

Also, don't be swayed from it because it's an older series; that doesn't make it worse. In fact, if you're a fan of the Lord of the Rings, you'll LOVE this series. I am a LOTR fan and this book really satisfies my love for literature like it.

All in all, I'm just dying to get my hands on the next book!

I gave it FIVE of FIVE Sporks!

 

Teaser Tuesday

 

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

It's Tuesday again! Here's my teaser: (I usually don't do just two sentences. Whatever it takes to finish the blurb.)

""Well," Loial said, "perhaps you humans do have short lives, but you do so much with them, always jumping around, always so hasty. And you have the whole world to do it in. We Ogier are bound to our stedding. " "You're Outside." "For a time, Rand. But I must go back, eventually. This world is yours, yours and your kind's. The stedding are mine. There's too much hurly-burly Outside. And so much is changed from what I read about."" 
- page 204 of " To the Blight: The Eye of the World Part 2 " by Robert Jordan

Review: From the Two Rivers

 

Title:From the Two Rivers (#1 The Wheel of Time series)

Author: Robert Jordan

Publisher: Starscape

Release Date:  January 7th 2002 (First published in 1990)

For Rand al’Thor and his pals, life in the sleepy village of Emond’s Field has been pretty dull. Until the appearance on festival night of Moiraine, a mysterious woman who claims to be an Aes Sdeai—a magician who can wield the One Power. Soon after, the village is attacked by Trollocs—a savage tribe of half-men half-beasts. Rand’s father is nearly killed. But for Rand, the news gets worse. It was not the village the Trollocs were after, Moiraine tells him. It was you, Rand.

Rand and his friends are forced to flee. But his escape will bring him face to face with the Dark One...the most powerful force of evil in the universe.

The Wheel of Time series is an old series for young adult, but it has had nothing but high acclaims. I have been strongly urged to read this series by one of my best friends and I'm glad she did.

One thing that always daunts me with books like these are the old tiny fonts. They hurt my eyes, especially when there's a lot. And there is A LOT. However, I didn't let that sway me. It took me a long time to finish this book because it just didn't hook me right away. The beginning wasn't up to the speed I like but it wasn't that slow either. It was at that iffy area. But, by the end of the book, I was attached to the characters and immediately wanted to know more.

Something I loved about this book is the style. It is so very similar to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. Being a big LotR fan, I couldn't help but love this book. The landscape, the descriptions, the characters, the writing style...all very Tolkien-esque.

The only downside of this book is the pace. I don't care for the pace. It's a little too long for my liking, but that's how it is with lots of description. All in all, I loved the book. Not a light read in the slightest but I'd recommend the series. (Albeit daunting with it's 15 books...)

Review: Mockingjay

 

Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date:  August 24th 2010

Format: Hardback (Bought)

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains - except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

I loved The Hunger Games and I even loved Catching Fire. But I don't love this book. For one, I don't feel the ending was right. I think Katniss deserved to have more of a peaceful end after the Capitol and President Snow was overturned. I wanted to see some more elaboration about her little pieces of happiness.

But...when you start Mockingjay, there is no turning back. I couldn't put it down, even though I wanted to. It was incredibly slow at the beginning, and I was so frustrated with Katniss. She wouldn't rise and do anything for such a long time! Then should would and more problems would arise. I just generally don't like the story. Especially with what happens to Peeta and then how Gale turns out. I was unhappy.

The deaths are countless and some really good characters die. I won't say who, though. I also think that the plot could have been something better. I think Collins could have taken the plot in another direction, something that resulted in a more peaceful -- not necessarily happy -- end for Katniss. I gave the four stars because Collins still can weave a great story and creates such brilliant imagery. Her characters are gripping and I couldn't shut it because I wanted to know what happened to them. (I almost cried at Prim's part.)


Also, to state it again, I HATE love triangles. Especially this one. I became so conflicted, that I just wanted one of them to die so she'd be forced to be happy with the other. No lie.

And I don't know if I'm making sense on the ending part, but I'm not quite sure how to describe. Yes, I know all endings aren't happy. There was just something about it that didn't settle right with me...I just can't put my finger on it.


However, if you've started this series, you have to read this. There's no other way around it. Just be prepared to be totally broken to pieces.

I gave it FOUR out of FIVE Sporks!

 

Review: If I Die by Rachel Vincent

 

Title: If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Release Date:  September 27th 2011

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

Rachel Vincent has done it again.

If I Die is the fifth book in the amazing and ever popular Soul Screamers series. Never before have I heard of the killing off of the main character without ending the series...yet Rachel did it, and she did it in style.

Kaylee Cavanaugh, a bean sidhe who sings for people's souls when they die, learns that she's going to die in a week. How? She's on the reaper list.(Specifically the special list, which means she has no second chance exchanges) Which brings me to Tod, who is the local reaper. Tod is simply amazing. From book one, I thought Kaylee should have been with him instead of Nash. In book four, I was mad at Tod for being mean to Kaylee, but I was still Team Tod. Now, in book five, Tod is put into the spotlight and revealed in all his glory. I don't want to spoil it, but let's just say that Team Tod has just become much happier now!

Now, plot wise....pretty epic. I know Rachel said that it was hard for her to write the book following this, Before I Wake, because it was really hard to top If I Die. I don't blame her. This book was pretty amazing. Simply knowing the main character is going to die is a pretty big plot right there, but executing it the way she did was simply amazing. I thought I had the ending predicted from back to chapter five or so...but I was wrong. And then TOD! Oh, I nearly cried. (It's really cruel to play with the heartstrings of fans. D:) So, needless to say, the action and plot was amazing (even if just the teensiest bit predictable).

As for characters, they were just as awesome as ever. Kaylee has evolved and I like her better than I did in book four. Nash has stayed the same, which is nice that someone is consitent. He does get pretty bad at the end but it still follows the path Nash would've taken anyway. I'm glad he didn't chance, and I'm also glad he's out of the picture. Sabine is badass as always. Tod...amazing. That's all I shall say.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait 'till June for Before I Wake!

I gave it FIVE of FIVE sporks!

Follow Friday (2)

 

It's Friday again, and you know what that means.... ;]

This Friday's Feature is Lisa @ Read. Breathe. Relax.! So you should go check her out and follow her! Now, for the question...

Q. Let's step away from besties...What is the worst book that you've ever read and actually finished?

I'd have to say, Breaking Dawn was the worst book I've ever read and completed. The writing, the character "transformation" (they simply became someone different from Eclipse to Breaking Dawn), and the descriptive scenes....I disliked it all. I thought most of it was disgusting, followed by boring, and poor writing. The first and second book of the series weren't that bad, but I still don't care for the series as a whole. Breaking Dawn was the straw that broke the camel's back. I hated it, and I'd never suggest it to anyone. Sorry, Stephanie Meyer.

What book do YOU wish you never finished?