The Tales of Beedle the Bard

I’ve been reviewing for a few months now and I’m actually surprised that I haven’t at some stage bring in Harry Potter in one way or another. So may I present my First and hopefully not last review on Harry Potter. Hold your applauds, please, please thank you. Now unfortunately my review is not on one of the Harry Potter novels itself, but one of the alternate books. My favorite one actually, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, written by J.K. Rowling.

I would recommend to all lovers of Harry Potter and even people who aren’t very fond of them, the stories are very well written  and gave brilliant imagery. Unfortunately one or two of the stories may be to descriptive and gruesome for some young fans.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard contains five richly diverse fairy tales, each with it’s own magical character, that will variously bring delight, laughter and the thrill of mortal peril.

The imagery as I said is brilliant, the descriptive imagery is also very well done. My favourite picture would have to be the warlocks hairy heart. Funny enough I think there are two or three books concerning Harry Potter, like this, but I’ve only ever read this one.

 I’ve read this book five to six times now. I just think they are remarkable bedtime stories. Full of adventure, terror, choices, death and a hopping pot. One thing I love about these stories is that it’s not written by J. K. Rowling. After every short story is a few pages from Albus Dumbledore himself, He explains everything that happened and has explanations for simply everything.

“All will change,” they prophesied, “When a maid catches his fancy.”

“Seeing that this was necessary to please her, the warlock drew his wand, unlocked the crystal casket, sliced open his own breast and replaced the hairy heart in the empty cavity it had once occupied.” 

“In his other hand, he held his wand, trying to coax from his own chest the shrivelled, hairy heart. But the hairy heart was stronger than he was, and refused to relinquish its hold upon his senses or to return to the coffin in which it had been locked for so long.”

I thought this book was very enjoyable. I have to say I love it when authors write a second series of sin of books or guide lines to things that have happened to the characters in the actual books, or in this case it’s a set of stories that were said at some point. One of these stories was even read out in the movie. I think it’s an amazing idea when authors do this. It really keeps you intrigued throughout the series.

Lemony Snicket Week

To be honest I really missed reviewing books a lot while my pres were on. It’s the one place I can give my opinion in complete truth. I’ve so many books in my room I’m worried that when we move house that I’ll have to have at least six boxes just for my books. And to think, I might not be moving till the summer and I buy at least ten books every month. Think of the boxes and boxes of books! Ooh glob.

This weeks books are A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Hostile Hospital and The Carnivorous Carnival. Written by the astounding, yet mad Lemony Snicket himself.

One of my favorite things about this book is how you realize how much the children need each other. When Violet is taken from Klaus and Sunny, you can really see how desperate they are for their sister. Klaus and Sunny see that they need their sisters inventive skills to save themselves, not just Klaus’s book knowledge or Sunny’s biting skills.

I think that Klaus is really growing as a character, when his sister is taken he takes charge and becomes the eldest who must save the day. He also comes up with a way to by time, which he uses in the next book, but it sadly doesn't help in the book to come.

I have to say this book of the series is my favorite  so far I hope. They just keep getting better. I hope that when your reading them that your safely sitting down. I found it so amazing that embarrassingly I stood up when something shocking happened. (spoilers, to telling) and nearly fell over the dog in my own home. It was just amazing. For once I felt like I didn't know what  would happen in the end, weather they’d make it or not, but your going to have to read to read it to find that out. I would recommend it to tens and up and would give it five out of five stars.

Now to The Carnivorous Carnival, one thing I love about these books is how the author Lemony Snicket puts himself in the books, It’s done brilliantly. My favorite and first thing I do when I open the books is check the page before chapter one’s picture. On this page in each book there is a very smart and entertaining quote about Beatrice, The authors so called lost lover who is now dead. Some of them are just brilliant.

To tell you the truth I didn’t find this book as good as the last few. It just wasn't as enjoyable. It didn't feel at all realistic when it came to the costumes. I mean Sunny had purple fluff wrapped around her and they thought that she was half wolf. I don’t want to make this book out to be that bad. I have to say the ending was brilliant and it makes up for the start of the book, and the news the children find out will change the plot of the books for the rest of the series. I would recommend it to tens and up and would give it three out of five stars.

“The sad truth is the truth is sad.”

“For Beatrice, summer without you is as cold as winter. Winter without you, is even colder.” 

“In the secret pocket, she often kept a small pocket dictionary, which she would take out whenever she encountered a word she did not know.”

“Miracles are like meatballs, because nobody can exactly agree on what they are made of, where they come from, or hoe often they should appear.”

“For Beatrice, our love broke my heart, and stopped yours.”

“I am so tired, I can hardy type these worfs.”

Hope you enjoyed reading my review.

Witch Crag

My pres are all over. yes! I'm so happy, and worried at the same time for the results.. The good thing is I have no school today. All the teachers are to lazy to get up out of bed because they're so tired of watching us do are pres. Or they're busy correcting them, either or I have no school. I was very tired last night and plus I didn't get to use the internet... Mum... So instead I'm going to start writing now and hopefully have this up before the end of the day. Enough about me, lets get to the book.

This weeks book I will be reviewing is Witch Crag, by Kate Cann. I really enjoyed it, and must recommend it straight away because I thought it was such an amazing read.

In a tribe where basic survival is the only priority, Kita must make a choice: to accept arranged marriages and being treated with less value than sheep, or escape and journey to the place that even the strangest men fear with their lives - Witch Crag.
But a common threat is facing the witches and sheepmen alike. The tribes must somehow overcome their prejudices and join together if they are to win a war that threatens to destroy everything they hold as good.

My favorite character would have to be the main one, for one, Kita’s courage was astonishing, the way she spoke her mind to escape and take care of her friends. The layout and wording were something that always got me interested. My favorite layout of the speech is when it’s about one or more main characters and it’s them giving they’re opinion or expressing their feelings. The way Kita expressed her anger and jealousy towards her friends falling for each other was the most intriguing.

All though in witch crag its self is said to be a terrifying place where men are killed and their body’s hung. I think you will get a surprise when you find out what really go’s on there. I have to say at first I wasn’t happy with the ending, but I realised after a bit of time That I was just so involved in the book, I just didn’t want it to end. From how amazing it was I had to give five stars.

I have to say I haven’t picked up a book that I don’t know a thing about, read it, and enjoy  it as much as I did this book. I really think this book actually had everything from love, to war, to action adventure, to magical fantasy. I would actually read this book again if I got the time. I think I loved it so much because it reminded me so much about the Chaos Walking trilogy. Which is a brilliant thing by the way.

Lemony Snicket week 6-7

Long time no reviewing. It feels like I haven’t review anything in so long. I feel like I haven’t anything in such a long time. I bet I’ve probably lost regular viewers, if I had any (feeling scared). I've still been reading as much as I can with the pres this week, again, sadly. I’ve gotten a little notebook that is just for writing book reviews, so it’s very good at reviewing on the go and not just on my laptop. Also I will now have reviews up every week from today. I’ve really missed it. Here’s this weeks review hope you enjoy it.

This week I will be reviewing the next two book in the (amazing) Lemony Snicket series know as A Series of Unfortunate Events. Which are books six, The Ersatz Elevator and book seven, The Vile Village.

In The Ersatz Elevator, The Baudelaire orphans are adopted by very, very rich people, whose penthouse apartment is located mysteriously close to the place where all their misfortune began. Even though their new home in the city is fancy, and the children are clever and charming, I'm sorry to say that still, the unlucky orphans will encounter more disaster and woe. In fact, in this sixth book in A Series of Unfortunate Events, the children will experience a darkened staircase, a red herring, an auction, parsley soda, some friends in a dire situation, a secret passageway, and pinstripe suits.

I found The Ersatz Elevator to be very entertaining. I know I’ve said in past reviews that the books were getting quite predictable, but by the middle of of this book it was changing in many ways. Things were found out and betrayals were made. Those are the things I thought Lemony Snicket wouldn't write, but he has and now I gotten into them even more. From the near death experiences to them getting away in the end.

Soon after the incident with The Austere Academy the children are taken on by another family. Esme and Jerome Squalor.
Esme is completely over obsessed with what is in and what is out (concerning fashion and style) at every second of every day. That is one of the reasons I find her character so eccentric. She is just amazing, she may not have one little care for the Baudelaire siblings. She would be horrid to them and make them wear a hideous suits that are to big for them. The fact that she doesn't care for anyone else's welbeing I one of the reasons I’m intreged by her. Also She has quite a secret, one you wouldn’t expect.
Jeronme is a bit of a push over and agrees with someone even if they’re wrong, just so an argument doesn't break out. He is quite a very plain and simple person.

In The Vile Village, Mr. Poe has run out of options on places to send the children. He then sends them to a village called V.F.D. where the children are being raised by everyone in it. “It takes a village to raise a child”. I’m this book the children will face migrating crows, an angry mob, a newspaper headline, the arrest of innocent people, the Deluxe Cell, and some very strange hats.

I would have to say that The Vile Village would have to be my favorite of the series so far. From what you expect to happen in each book, is not what you get in this one. You would expect the children to be inventing, reading and well.. Biting, but that’s not the case. They’re also this on the search for they’re friends the Quagmire triplets, Isadora and Duncan.

I really enjoyed this book more than the first few, it’s not at all what you expect. I actually finished this book in one day because I got so intrigued by it all. There was just something about this book that made me not want to put it down for more than 2.3 seconds.
One thing I love about Isadora is that she is a poet, the couplets she wrote were one of the things I waited to read about, especially her ones that were actually riddles in themselves. I have to admit though I only got one or two right.

“Are you ready?“ Klaus asked finally.
“No,” Sunny answered.
“Me neither,” Violet said, “but if we wait until we’re ready we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives, Let’s go.”

“It was darker than a pitch-black pather, covered in tar, eating black licorice at the very bottom of the deepest part of the Black Sea.”


“There is no way of knowing for sure whether or not you can trust someone, for the simple reason that circumstances change all of the time.”

“For Beatrice-
When we were together I felt breathless.
Now, you are.”

I would recommend these books to ten and up and would give The Ersatz Elevator four out of five stars, and would give The Vile Village four out of five stars. I realised how much I’ve missed reviewing, I promise to never miss another one. Thanks for reading.

Cake anyone?

Also I have my pre's. I promise when they're over to post one heck of a review on the next two Series of Unfortunate Events novels.

Tell me no Lies

I think this may be one of the last reviews I’ll be doing, at least till after my pres. Hopefully I’ll get one up next Monday, I’ll have to wait and see. Anyway about the book I read for this week. It’s quite a short book, only a hundred and ninety-seven pages. Another thing is that this books surprised me an awful lot, I don’t mean that in the case of the story, but in the theme of the book. From the way it explained it on the back of the book it didn't turn out exactly the way I was expecting. Let me explain by telling you the description of the back of the book.

Mike could feel her eyes like lasers, boring into his back. He had to fight not to turn around. Did she know his face? Had she recognized him?
Gemma cuts out pictures of her scrapbook - pictures of mothers, like the one she will never, ever see again.
Mike is a new boy at school; a boy who is desperate not to be noticed - who has a secret so terrible it will haunt him forever.
But Gemma’s sure she’s seen Mike’s face before. And now she’s out to get him.

Okay now to me hen I read that it sound like a mystery book, with suspicion, discovery and maybe a murder. But after reading it I realised half way through it wasn't what I thought. This book, “Tell me no lies” by Malorie Blackman, Is not very well described when saying the story. Even the praise at the start of the book from different places misdirected me. For example “This story goes at a fast pace and has a nightmare logic that is gripping and disturbing”, written by Nicholas Tucker, Independent. From these descriptions and the cover of the book I never would have guessed it was all based on bullying.

After realising the real theme I have to say it wasn't half bad. I’m not into bullying books myself I find them to sad or depressing, which is funny because some of my favorite books to read are murder novels. One thing I enjoy about a book is when the story switches between two characters and how it explains how they both fee in the situation at hand. In this story it explains each side to the bullying, the bullied and the one doing the bullying.

I really like though the fact that both Mike and Gemma’s personal life were so interesting and private. How they hide their emotions when other people were around and in the ways they hid it.

Overall It was a good book, even if it wasn't what I hoped. I would give this book four out of five stars and recommend it to elevens and up. I think next time a pick up a book I’m going to make sure I know what it’s about first.

Lemony Snicket Week 4-5

This is the second Lemony Snicket week now, I think it’s working out according to plan. I’m just going to review to books this week, I find that to be easier since I had to much to write about the books in the first review and I didn’t have enough time or space to write it all. So hopefully it’ll be easier this week.

The two books I will be reviewing are the forth and fifth, The Miserable Mill and The Austere Academy, written by Lemony Snicket of coarse. I have to say they weren’t as good as the first three but they were still morbid and interesting.

One thing I find about the books is this it seems to be the same thing happening in each book. The three children get sent to a new home and guardian who is either cruel or has a problem in there life. Count Olaf dresses up and discusses himself, but it seems the adults are dimwitted and don’t believe when the children say it’s Olaf. He always nearly has the children in his grasp but they just get away just nearly, but I found with the fifth book there was a little twist which has really put my faith back in the books. I’m excited to read the next one.

The Miserable Mill is the forth book, the plot to this one is that the children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumber mill. They find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log. They’re sent to live with the workers, to work and be treated like a worker. One thing I love about these books is that they’re realistic, but this book disappointed me with that. The fact that he think that a baby can fight a grown woman who has a sword, defending herself with just her four sharp teeth is beyond me.

In The Austere Academy, the children are sent to a boarding school, which was really smart to put in the books I think, so the children could learn, invent, read and bite things. I really enjoyed this book because the children have actually made friends. Two other orphans, know as the Quagmire triplets, Isadora and Duncan. You’ll understand when you read the book why twins are known as triplets. The Baudelaire children have to face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E., and the metric system.

I’m really enjoying these books, when ever they let me down in some case they always give me a reason to keep on reading. I would give The Miserable Mill three out of five stars and would give The Austere Academy five out of five stars. I’m really enjoying writing about this one series of books, I’m looking forward to next time.

                             

Dolly

Well this is a first …
This has never happened to me. Ever. Not ever in my life time. You’re probably wandering what I’m babbling on about, the thing is for once I have actually picked a terrible book. There I said it! I a “book reader” have actually picked a terrible book. I never thought this would happen to me but I guess it had to happen to me at some stage. It’s done and dusted now, time to show you my criticizing side.

The book I will be reviewing this week is Dolly by Susan Hill, and surprisingly it’s a horror or ghost story as they say for books. When I picked this book up I was excited about reading it since I had only read one horror/ghost story novel and I didn't even finish it, and the fact that it was written by Susan Hill. Usually the last page of the book is a posh picture (Not judging, that one of my favorite parts of a book) and a paragraph on where they grew up and where and how their life is going now. Also it says a few books they have written in the past. It mentioned that she had written The Woman in Black! I was astonished! I thought this would be the scariest book I was ever going to read, but I was one hundred per cent wrong.

There was one scary part in this book, no scratch that, there was only one creepy part in this book. That was the only good part of the book I’m sorry to say. The middle was very predictable irritating and the end was delusional, not well thought out and was not explained which I find very annoying in a book, especially if there’s not going to be a sequel to explain it for you.

The book was about an eight year old boy who’s parents died and is sent to live with his Aunty in a big, dark, scary house beside a morbid graveyard. A few days later his cousin Leonora a little nine year old girl with curls in her hair who is disobedient, spoilt, rude and well.. a brat of a child technically. Edward’s cousin gets a doll from her Aunty which she’s not happy with. While Edward is minding it he keeps it under his bed. In the middle of the night he wakes up in a shocked condition from the wind blowing through the trees but also from the sound of a baby crying, that is coming from under his bed.

One thing I really didn't like was how she changed it so much. At first they say Edward’s cousin Leonora is possessed by a demon, but then she changes it to a doll that cries in the night. The time and dates in the story I thought were way to active. It went from him being aged twenty to eight to thirty to forty in a hundred pages. Also the ending was very confusing, (warning!!spoiler!!) what happened was Edward had buried the doll in the ground and when they dug it up it looked like an old woman with wrinkles and it’s hair had fallen out in chunks. It turns out that that is how his cousins child turns out to look like, she had cancer. Then his daughter turned out like a doll that he gave to his cousin for her daughter turned out like a doll that he gave his cousin for her daughter.

I’m sorry to say that I didn't enjoy this book, It was a very big disappointment. I would recommend this book to older people maybe in there seventy’s or eighty’s, I would give this book one out of ten. Susan Hill has let me down.  

Lemony Snicket week 1-3

Okay, this is the first ‘Lemony Snicket week’. This week I’ll be reviewing the first three books in the ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’. The names of the three books are ‘The Bad Beginning’, ‘The Reptile Room’ and ‘The Wide Window’. If you have seen the movie then you will understand why I am reviewing the first three all together. If not, I’ll tell you. The movie is based on the first three books but when I saw the movie I thought it was brilliant and that the movie would be the first book. Actually it’s the first three all squished together, But it was really good I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I’m not here to review the movie, I’m here to review the books.

I have been sitting here for over twenty minutes thinking of how to make this work. How to review a series of books every second week and make each review as unique as the last. I don’t know the answer to how yet but I’m sure it will come to me. I hope.

On the back of every book there is always the description of what the overall plot is. For these books it’s different, But good kind of different. It has.. Well.. Hmm.. I’m exactly sure how to word it, So I’ll show you a bit of one, because there quite long, my favorite one, on the back of ‘The Bad Beginning’:

Dear Reader, 

I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune. 

I really love the way the author narrates the story, It’s really funny at times when he’d even bring himself in for examples in some of there situations the children are in.

Now for the actual plot of the series. The Baudelaire’s misfortunes come into play when they receive the awful news from Mr. Poe, a Banker in charge of their enormous fortune, to say that their house has burned down and their parents has died in the incident. Requested in their parents will that their guardian must be a relative, they are sent off to live with Count Olaf who they actually have never heard of or seen. When they begin living with Olaf they realize what a terrible person he is and the plans he has up his sleeve to steal the Baudelaire fortune left by their parents, by any means possible. Even if it means murder.

Now to introduce the Baudelaire siblings. Violet Baudelaire is a fourteen-years-old. You can tell she is thinking hard when her long hair is tied up in a ribbon to keep it out of her eyes. Violet has a real knack for inventing and building strange devices, so her brain is often filled with images of pulleys, levers and gears, and she never wanted to be distracted by something as trivial as her hair.

Klaus Baudelaire is the middle child, The only boy, a little older than twelve who wears glasses. Klaus loved to read, everything he would read he would remember. He knew how to tell an alligator from a crocodile. He knew who killed Julius Caesar. And he knew much about the tiny, slimy animals found at Briny Beach.

Sunny Baudelaire, the youngest, liked to bite things. She is an infant, and very small for her age, scarcely larger than a boot. What she lacks in size, however, she makes up for with her four small, yet sharp teeth.

“…you know that a good, long session of weeping can often make you feel better, even if your circumstances have not changed one bit.”

“There are many, many types of books in the world, which makes good sense, because there are many, many types of people, and everybody wants to read something different.”

“In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle.” 

“This is my knife. It is very sharp and very eager to hurt you.”

“For Beatrice--My love for you I shall live forever. You, however, did not.” 

I really am enjoying these books and I can’t wait to review some more of them in two weeks. There all the things I love in a great book, Morbid, creepy, the use of vocabulary and … Unfortunate.

Reviews and Such

I think I’ll start with Happy new years eve. I don’t know about you but for some reason it feels like I haven’t written a review in a while, but I guess with Christmas it feels like that to me. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and got lots of books. This weeks review is going to a bit different than my normal reviews. I don’t have a book to review, well I sort of do but I’ll explain throughout the blog.

For Christmas I got ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ the book set which is made up the thirteen books written by Lemony Snicket, Which I’m sure you’re all aware of. As you can see that’s a lot of books to review in one blog, for one week. So I was thinking that every second week It’ll be, Lets say .. ‘Lemony Snicket week’. It may take a few second weeks but I think it will be easier to review them all then and since the books are quite small I’ll be reviewing two or three a week. Hope that’s alright with you.

I didn't want to leave you with no review at all this week and just me talking on about next weeks review. I thought I might as well review something I got that I read in maybe twenty minutes, It may not seem that long but I really enjoyed reading it.

It’s not exactly a book as such, It’s a poetry book. I’m not very into reading poetry but I do love Tim Burton. ‘The Melancholy Death of  Oyster boy & Other Stories’ Written by nun other than Tim Burton himself. I have to say that it was really very amusing. I would recommend if you like Tim Burton or enjoy poetry that you give it a try.

I’ll write a few poems down, in replacement to quotes.

STICK BOY AND MATCH GIRL IN LOVE

Stick boy liked Match girl,
 he liked her a lot.
He liked her cute figure,
he thought she was hot.

But could a flame ever burn
 for a match and a stick?
 It did quiet literally;
he burned up pretty quick. 


MELONHEAD

There once was a morose melonhead, 
 who sat there All day 
and wished he were dead.

But you should be careful
about the things that you wish,
Because the last thing he heard
 was a deafening squish.

SUE

To avoid a lawsuit,
 we’ll just call her sue 
(or “that girl who likes to sniff lots of glue”).

The reason I know 
 That this is the case
is when she blows her nose,

Kleenex sticks to her face.

If you liked them you should read the others for example, “Robot Boy”, “Voodoo Girl” or “The boy with nails in his eyes”.

I must say that the illustrations were the best part, if you have seen Tim Burtons drawings before you’ll understand where I'm coming from, if not you must go and look them up now, they’re incredible.

Okay, so next weeks review will be the start of “Lemony Snicket week”, and then that’ll be every second week for a while. Hopefully it works out.

                      These are Tim Burton's drawings to match his poems.

                               This will be the series I'll be reviewing for a while.

The Ask and the Answer

The book I will be review for this week is.. Wait. Aren't I forgetting something. Hmmm. Oooh yes. Christmas. Merry Christmas eve everyone. I guess you suppose this review is going to be all Christmassy and Merry, full of candy canes and sleigh bells. Well I’m afraid it wouldn't fit with the book I’m reviewing this week. Which is full of loss, torture, action, suspense and murders most foul. If you like you can go and find a happy review of ‘The night before Christmas’, or something along those lines, But if you are intrigued by what I have told you I recommended you stick around.

Wow. I must say I was very dramatic in writing that opening. Very well lets get on with the book, those who have stayed to read. The book I have review this week is “The Ask and the Answer”, The second book from the Chaos Walking trilogy written by Patrick Ness. I enjoyed this book very much, more then the first. So I must say they are getting better and better. This one had way more  suspense than the last and I think that’s why I enjoyed it much more. The fact that I couldn't put it down because something was always happening, there was never one dull second. Never.

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss.
Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor’s new order.
But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even alive? And who are the mysterious Answer?
And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode…

Of coarse you can’t tell but while I wrote that I was remembering everything that resulted in all things said up above. While answering the questions in my head as well. I would love to tell you everything that happened, all the amazing fights and horrible gruesome deaths, to the mind manipulation and betrayal. But I’ll hold it in, Believe me I’m trying my best not to rune it for the people who want to read it, really I am.

Now for something I haven’t done in a review in a while, My favorite character. I have to say it’s Viola. When reviewing the first book I didn't have a favorite  because they were all so different and interesting in there own ways, But I have to change that now. Viola has changed the most within the two books, I know most people would say it was Todd but I have to disagree. Her personality and feeling have grown a lot. She goes from being a non-speaking shy girl, to a strong leader full of confidence and is not scared to speak her mind. She has some fierce anger inside too, will never give in to the enemy and do what’s right.

Also the relationship between Todd and Viola has grown some what, but that is all I’ll say.

“How do you know yer alive if you don’t hurt?”

“Yer the only friend I got, pigpiss… Ain’t that the biggest tragedy you ever heard?”

“She tried to kill you, Viola. She tried to blow you up… You don’t owe her nothing,’ he says.
But I feel his arms on me and I’m realizing things don’t seem so impossible anymore. I feel Todd touching me and there’s anger rising in my gut but it’s not at him and I grunt and I pull myself up again, leaning on him to keep me there as I stand. ‘I do own her,’ I say. ‘I owe her the look on her face when she sees me alive.”

“Or perhaps we should just ask Todd.”
I pound the glass right at his face. He doesn’t even flinch.
And then she says, “Todd would never tell you. Never.”
And the Mayor just looks at me.
And he smiles.”

“You won’t,” says the Mayor, smiling again. “Everyone knows you aren’t a killer, Todd.”
He pushes Viola forward again-
She calls out from the pain of it-
Viola. I think-
Viola-
I grit my teeth and raise the rifle-
I cock it-
And I say what’s true-
“I would kill to save her,” I say.”

“As to how you’ll help me,” he says. “Well, we have met the Answer, have we not?”
He turns back to look at us, his eyes glinting. “It’s time for them to meet the Ask.”

I have to say the last quote there would have to be my favorite of all. I always try to look out for when they bring the title into the book, explaining why it is called what it is.

I would give this book five out of five stars and would recommend it to thirteens and up. It is an amazing book as I have said many times in this review you must be sick of it, But it really is. I think it will be very hard for you to find a better book to read with the qualities I have said.

Again, Merry Christmas eve. I hope you get lots of books for Christmas, I sure hope I do. Now I’m off to watch my favorite Christmas movie, ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’.

Dark Lord: A Fiend in Need

First things first, I have to apologize for not having a review up last Monday. With study and Christmas shopping it was just mayhem. Complete. Utter. Stress filling mayhem. So to make up for it I shall make this review a good one.

I really did  love the book I reviewed last, Dark Lord: Teenage Years and I absolutely recommend it by the way. Usually I wait a week or two before I review the sequel of a book I’ve just read. You know to  recover from the emotional pain it has caused me, but in this case not so much. The second of the Dark Lord books was just casually sitting on my shelf before it caught my eye when I was choosing what to read next. From then on it was no longer just sitting there. It was sitting there just mocking me with its amazing cover and many other qualities. I’m afraid in a moment of weakness and I heard a voice calling to me, telling me to pick the book up. So from those events this weeks review is… drum role please… Dark Lord: A Fiend in Need. (By Jamie Thomson)

I don’t have much to go on in this review, I literally pored my heart out in the first Dark Lord review, But the review must go on!

I did enjoy this book quite much. There were the same laughs, maybe even a bit funnier then the last. The same old weird, strange and wonderful characters and a few new faces. Plus the illustrations were as unremarkable as ever, I especially love the image of the Dark Lord himself. I expected him to be a bit more scary though, for example maybe a cross between an Orc from Lord of the Rings and the Litch from Adventure Time, but it was still first-rate.

The second of two.. well I’m not sure it’s a good idea myself to tell you what it’s about I seem to go on forever with explaining so I’ll just borrow the description from the back of the book:

SALVATIONS, WRETCHED MINION!
It is I, the Great Dirk, destroyer of worlds and most gifted writer ever! My loyal servant Sooz, child of the night, is trapped in the Darklands. The horror! It is vital that I return there before she causes too much trouble…

Time for some negativity unfortunately. Since the first one was so astonishing I think he rushed the second a bit. Some obstacles were just to simply got out of and every time Sooz told Dirk to do something or stop him from doing something he would just agree with her, which I found a bit irritating. I mean he is the Great Dark Lord, is he not and he seems to be taking orders from a child. I was disappointed at this point, but then the disappointment was replaced with suspense and fear when he… well you’ll have to read it to find out. The ending to me was over quite fast and I wasn’t happy knowing this is how it would end, but with that last single line I just stopped thinking about the negative things and was staring at that line for over an hour shocked to the very core.

“Mental problems! Typical of you humans that is, typical. You find someone with an intellect way beyond your own feeble capacities and what do you do? Honour them? Give them the respect they deserve? Put them in charge of bio-weapons research or something useful like that? No, they label you insane and put you in s home with some kid named Christopher! Pah!”

“Sooz’s haw dropped. For a moment she thought it was Darth Vader himself, right out of the Star Wars films, but as the figure drew nearer, she could see that the helmet wasn’t right, it was black and shiny but more like a crusader helmet from medieval Earth, and black clothes and a cape were cut differently.”

“Oh, it’s like that, is it?” said Belchvile. “just coz I’m an Orc I must be stupid, eh? that’s just racist, that is!”

“How dare you!” said Grout. “That’s a detention right there, boy!”
“Of coarse, sir” said Dirk. “but don’t you think you should send me out of the class as well? Only I have an important call to make. If not, I will simply sit here and loudly sing “La Marseillaise”, easily the best of all your absurd Earthly national anthems, until you do.”

Over all it was an amusing, witty, adventurous and bizarre book and with the way it ended, I’m sure a third is not far away.

I shall not end with threatening you to buy this book. I will leave you with the threat from the Great Dark Lord, destroyer of worlds himself, left of the back of the novel:

BUY THIS BOOK OR SUFFER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

* An unwanted surgical procedure.
* Being turned into a zombie servant. 
* Being cursed with the Cantrip of Uncontrollable Flatulence. 

THE CHOICE IS YOURS. 
MWA HA HA! 

 

Dark Lord: Teenage years

I think my review should start with an evil laugh. You’ll understand more once I tell you about the book. I got the first and second book together and started them instantly. The name of the book is Dark Lord: teenage years by Jamie Thomson. Unfortunately I might not have a review up next week. Exams, but I’ll try and if one isn't up on Monday I apologise. Sincerely.

Thirteen-year-old schoolboy, Dirk Lloyd, has a dark secret - in fact he is a dark secret. Dirk - according to his own account - is the earthly incarnation of a Dark Lord, supreme ruler of the Darklands and leader of great armies of orcs and warriors, intent on destruction and bloody devastation. Following a colossal final battle between the forces of good and evil, the Dark Lord was defeated and hurled by his arch-foe's spells into the Pit of Uttermost Despair. At the bottom of the Pit lies...a supermarket car park in the municipal town of Whiteshields, somewhere in modern day England. And when he is found, and tries to explain that he is the Dark Lord, people think he means Dirk Lloyd. The fact that he's trapped in the puny body of a schoolboy doesn't help. And so begins Dirk's battle to recover his dignity, his power, and his lands... Along the way he faces the inconvenience of being fostered by a do-gooding family, the Purejoies; the torture of endless hours of drudgery at the Whiteshields Brainwashing Centre (aka school); a vengeful Headmaster; two interfering Psychotic Persecutors (psychotherapists); and constant laughter and disrespect when he attempts to marshall his lackeys and lickspittles (friends) to do what he wants them to. Dirk makes friends with the son of his foster family, Christopher, and the local Goth Girl, Sooz, and together they attempt to cast a spell that will transport Dirk back to his homeland. Inevitably, not everything goes to plan... But that's for book 2.

It may seem like a lot for writing just to say what the story's about, but believe me, this book deserves it. I really did love this book. I haven’t enjoyed a book and actually laughed out loud like this since Skulduggery Pleasant.

Why I got bought these books was because this book was the Roald Dahl Funny Prize winner 2012 in the seven to fourteen category.

I have to say my favourite character would have to be Sooz (Susan), known as the child of the night by Dirk Lloyd aka The Dark Lord. She’s very funny and I like the tone of voice and the fact that her personality is so strange, weird and wonderful.

“You may call me master”.

“Purejoie! Your homework is late - no excuses, detention.
Then he became Christopher again. ‘I think not, Mousehammer! Meet my bodyguard, Darth Vader!’ 
 Christopher put on the deep, dark voice with the breathing difficulties and said, 'Your powers are weak old man! The ability to give out detention is insignificant next to the power of the force'”.

“He’s like, really miserable. Depressed or something, I’m not sure. The whole thing seems to have hit him pretty hard. He’s like Darth Vader on valium. Hasn't said a word since we got back, just stares glumly out the window”.

“Well, Goths are people who follow a particular fashion style. And a particular kind of music. But it has to be Gothic - you know, some Victorian looking stuff, horror films, maybe a vampire look, which I’m so pleased you noticed. Bit of heavy metal sometimes, or grunge, or some indie bands, and death rock as well. But mostly for me, straight up Goth are kind of, well, different, like outsiders. We don’t fit in with normal people. Or “Normies” as I call them”. 

“‘I shall use all my evil genius to see you liberated from the baleful influence of that tyrant Grousammer and you will be free to prowl the night like the sweet little vampire you are’, Dirk enthused.”

I loved this book and I can’t wait to start the next one. If I could I would give it a thousand stars but I’ll just stick with five out of five for now. I would recommend this book to elevens and up. I would just like to give a big, MASSIVE thanks to Paul Sherry for buying me these books!

Thank you.

Lady of the Shades

What. A. Weird. Read. And yet I loved every second of it. 

Darren Shan is one of my favorite authors, of all time! I’ve read two of his series’ of books. Which I have reviewed and if I remember where absolutely amazing. My book I am going to review this week I picked up at random. And bought instantly just because I saw the name Darren Shan. The thing is I didn't even read the back to see what it was about. which I think wouldn't of made any difference, because It made no sense. To me anyway. I’ll explain throughout my review. 

Woops, I guess I forgot to give the name of the book. Lady of the Shades. A fantastic novel from a fantastic writer. I don’t think I have ever read a book with so many plot twists in my entire life, every time another was said I just got more hooked. I really had to figure out how it all pieced together.

With the darkness of John Connolly and the quirkiness of Neil Gaiman, Lady of the Shades is a dark supernatural thriller for adults from the number one bestselling YA author, Darren Shan.

Ed, an American author on the hunt for a story for his next book, arrives in London looking for inspiration. A stranger in a strange city, he's haunted by a deadly secret that refuses to stay buried, and no matter how hard he tries he cannot escape the manifest sins of his past.

What Ed wants is answers, what he find is something he definitely didn’t bargain for: the beautiful and untouchable Andeanna Menderes. Andeanna is a woman who is dangerously bound to one of London’s most notorious crime lords, and if they are caught together it could mean death for them both.

Ensnared in an illicit affair that can only be conducted in the shadows, Ed’s world is turned upside down as a series of shattering revelations blurs the line between  what’s real and what’s not…

I thought the description of the back of the book would be hard to figure out what it was actually about so you should be able to figure out this one out easily. I figured I would have to say this at some stage in this review but, this but is very messed up, really weird.. But in a scary, interesting way I guess. 

“I wake abruptly from a troubled sleep to find the dead pressing in tightly around me.”

It was a very good book. I only got into it around part two or three because that’s when there was loads of things you have to think about and figure out. It reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes story which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it. It took him thirteen years to write it which is amazing. 

I would recommend this book to fifteens and up. All I can say it it’s a bit of a twister and you will never expect what happens. I would give this book four out of five stars. I have to say it again even though your probably sick of hearing it but I’m warning you it’s a very strange book, but there was no dull moment. Darren Shan has done it again and I have extra love for the cover. 

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

Fairy Tales. Everyone knows the stories, from the evil villains, to thee ’Happily ever after’. One thing about Fairy Tales is that there so predictable. Now, I’m not saying I don’t like them, in fact I love them. My favorites are the  Grimm brothers, when there not changed for kids because there to morbid or scary.

The name of the book I’m reviewing this week is The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell. obviously you can see from the name and the little paragraph up there that this book is about fairy Tales. But not how I described them, this book was amazing and had all my favorite characters and they had a few from nursery rhymes.

One thing I only noticed after I bought the book, was the author. Chris Colfer. At first his name didn’t ring any bells, but then I went to the last page and it showed a picture of the author. You probably know who it is by the name, but if you don’t know, like me, It is the boy from glee that goes by the name of Kurt Hummel on the television series Glee. I was really shocked. It’s actually his first novel, I really hope he writes more because he’s quite good at it.

Alex and Conner Bailey’s world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales.
“The Land of Stories” tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.
But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

My favorite thing about this book was that it wasn’t set during the fairy tales, it’s set after them. When Alex and Conner soon discover, the stories they know so well haven’t ended in this magical land- Goldilocks is now a wanted fugitive, Red Riding Hood has her own kingdom, and Queen Cinderella is about to become a mother.

“Woo! It’s so cold, I think we may be twin sisters now,” he said through rattling teeth.”

“Even in the worst of situations-even when it seems no one in the world appreciates you-as long as you have hope, everything can get better.”

“ We've lost count.” Lampton said. “There are three currently. King Chester had four sons: Chance Charming, Chase Charming, Chandler Charming, and Charlie Charming.”

“Maybe there are so many paintings of her because she’s the first monarch the kingdom has ever had. It doesn't have the history the Charming Kingdom has,”  Alex said.
  “Or she’s just a self-obsessed twit,” Conner said.

There were some funny bits in the book, like the posters or signs like:

Sir Humpty Dumpty’s wall, you were a good egg and shall be missed by more than just the king’s horses and men. Rest in pieces.

In memory of the Boy Who Cried Wolf, you were a liar, but you were loved.

WANTED. DEAD OR ALIVE. GOLDILOCKS. FOR BURGLARY, THIEVERY, AND RUNNING FROM THE LAW.

Okay, although I did enjoy this book especially thee characters, there was a few things that I didn't like very much. The twins escaped dangerous situations far too easily, again, the plot lacking imagination. The sentences were far to simplistic, even for a children’s book for example he uses “Conner said” or “Alex said” every single time they speak.

I would recommend this book to children from the age of eight and up. I did enjoy bits and parts of it, it was a very good read. I hope if he decides to write any more books he will be able to improve some weak parts of the plot.

Who Could That Be at This Hour?

So I have been very busy week with study and homework and more study, but of coarse I still made time for reading. Actually I  surprisingly I finished two books this week and started the next one.. I can’t tell If that’s a good thing or a bad thing.. I’m going to say a good thing. Okay, lets get down to business. Lemony Snicket. If you don’t know the name.. get your butt onto the internet and look this genius up. NOW. I’m NOT kidding. Stop reading this and go. ……… okay, your back? You know all about his greatness? Yes. Okay. Now lets get down to business for real.

Before you consider reading “Who Could That Be at This Hour?” ask yourself these questions:

1. Are you curious about what is happening in a seaside town that is no longer by the sea?

2. Do you want to know more about a stolen item that wasn't stolen at all?

3. Do you think that’s any of your business? Why? What kind of person are you? Really?

4. Who is that behind you…

I don’t know about you but when I read that for the first time in easons I looked behind me to find a little kid with pony tails staring at me. It was terrifying. But even though this is a good, mysterious piece to put on the back of a book, It doesn't really tell you what the story’s about. So that’s why I’m going to write one that tells you exactly what it’s about.

 In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows. He started by asking questions that shouldn't have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published, in four volumes that shouldn't be read. This is the first volume.

It may not make that much sense but I really do recommend you read it. If you have read ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ then you know what I’m talking about when I say that Lemony Snicket’s books are perfect nonsense and also perfectly serious and logical. He is just brilliant when it comes to the way he writes and the way he words the scene or the characters.

“It looked like something the Hemlock needed, or a piece of equipment a plumber had left behind. It looked like none of your business.”

“The library was one enormous room, with long, high meta shelves and the perfect quiet that libraries provide for anyone looking for an answer.”

“There’s an easy method for finding someone when you hear them scream. First get a clean sheet of paper and a sharp pencil. Then sketch out nine rows of fourteen squares each. Then throw the piece of paper away and find whoever is screaming so you can help them. It is no time to fiddle with paper.”

 I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the next three. I have to confess I haven’t finished ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ yet. I am a failure... No, but I have good reasons.
1. I just haven’t had time, I'm always busy saving the world and what not.
2. Of course in Dundalk they don’t actually have the books.. they never do..
I’m going to wait till Christmas or till I have money and order them. I have read one and two and they were amazing but I will get round to the rest.

Okay, back to “Who Could That Be at This Hour?” It was really good I mean really, really good. I would give it five out of five and recommend it to all ages. Even though Lemony is absolutely bonkers, completely mad, over the edge, He still did a fricken amazing job at writing this book.

The Knife of Never Letting go

So this week I’m going to review a book that was recommended to me by my very wise when it comes to books cousin, Meg. I’m glad she did because It was amazing. It’s call The Knife of never letting go, It’s from a trilogy called Chaos Walking written by Patrick Ness. I really wanted to finish it Friday night. I tried really hard. For example drinking loads and leaving lights on and listening to music but it worked to no avail.. I still fell asleep. When I woke up I realized I had read a hundred and twenty-two pages and I was only ten pages from the end. So I finished reading it in my aunties house the next day. And I was so shocked by the ending. I didn't even care there was a kid climbing on my back. I was frozen with shock.

When I first bought it and read the back It made no sense to me at all. I was so confused. So I asked  the smartest thing I know. The Internet. Still I didn't understand. I put a post on facebook asking people and they just said “Just keep reading”, “Just keep reading”. I did. After about three or four chapter I figured it out. I’m here to explain it right and to make sure you don’t end up like me.

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. After I finished it on Saturday I went straight to easons and bought the next one along with three other books, even though I had six at home I haven’t read yet (I don’t have a problem).

“But a knife ain’t just a think, is it? It’s a choice, It’s a choice, it’s something you do. A knife says yes or no, cut or not, die or don’t. A knife takes a decision out of your hand and puts it in the world and it never goes back again.”

“I promised to keep on going but maybe keep on going means coming back first.”

“And she says, “Then lets just take the effing road and get ourselves to Haven.”
I smile , a little. “You said effing,” I say. “You actually said the word effing.” 

“…and I have this stupid little thought that Aaron didn't survive the croc attack after all, that he died but he’s so pissed off at me that dying didn't stop him from coming here to kill me anyway.”

Usually I would love to have the super power or gift that the main character or all the characters have. But in this case not one bit. For someone to read my thoughts all the time would be really creepy.

I really did enjoy this book the more I got into it. I would say who my favorite character is and why, but he/she/it isn't supposed to be in the book in the first place. It may seem confusing now but if you read the book you will understand. He/she/it is found in the swamp (that’s a hint, if you read it.).

I would say this book would be aimed towards young adults. I would say for ages fourteen and up. I would give it four out of five because the beginning was hard to grasp at first.

I absolutely ended up adoring this book. It was amazing, really something to get into, terrifying, full of suspense and I could go on but I have to go and start my next book.

A Monster Calls

Last weekend I bought six books and I only finished one, that’s the one I will be reviewing today. I have to say after reading a book that was five hundred and seventy two pages long, it was a good to read one only two hundred and fifthteen pages. It was a good break. I think my eyes deserve a little break. You know the way people say you can go square eyed by watching a television? Would you get rectangular -because books are the shape- eyes from reading to much? If so.. Ooh man… AHH!! … OH! Phew… my eyes are okay. Phew, anyway now that that’s over and done with let get reviewing.

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor’s been expecting- he’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth.

Ooh by the way. The book is called A Monster Calls, but I guess you guessed that yourself. It's an amazing book written by Patrick Ness. The illustrations are astonishing really, done by Jim Kay, spooky yet scary. I have to say it was a great book.

It is actually a little spooky. Not scary. Spooky. I found it hard to read before I went to sleep because I thought the monster would come to my window or I would have nightmares. Still I really enjoyed it. It’s one of those books with a meaning in it. I usually don’t like them but in this case I really did.

“You do not write life with words, the monster said. You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”

“I wish I had a hundred years, she said, very quietly. A hundred years I could give to you.”

“Conor was no longer invisible. They all saw him now. But he was further away than ever.”

From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

I would recommend this book to twelves and up. I have to say it is a really heart warming book. And to tell the truth, I cried twice while reading this book. So good luck with trying not to cry.

An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

                                               
           

Me after finishing the last sentence, on the last page. 

The Mark of Athena

I will be reviewing the third book of a book I have already reviewed. Actually I review the second one two weeks ago and that one was amazing. But Rick Riordan must be a mad genius or something because these books just keep getting better and better. They get funnier, and have twice as much adventure. I have to say I wish we were learning about Greek mythology in school because I would know everything there is to know.

So this week I’m reviewing The Mark Of Athena from the amazing Heroes Of Olympus series of books. This book has it all: character and relationship development, and action packed plot. Basically, this book was the bomb. The book starts off were The Son Of Neptune left off. We finally get to see Annabeth and Percy reunited at last. Unfortunately, the heart warming reunion is cut short to some demi-god mischief and of course since there demi -gods not everything ever go’s to plan. One thing I  loved about this book was that within the first twenty pages, the action begins.

In The Son Of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Half-blood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the series will unite them with Jason, Piper and  Leo. But they number only six, who will complete the Prophecy of seven?

The Greek and Roman demi-gods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. The they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death you might ask? Much of the prophecy remains a mystery…

With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes and an exotic setting, The Mark Of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan. 

One very complicated relationship Is Piper and Leo’s. Even thought Piper's with Jason. To Piper Leo looks like a boy she used to know and love, Sammy. When Piper questions Leo he seems to have no idea what she is saying at all. And then Piper shows Leo one of her flash backs, which really complicates things.

Since you have all the relationships like Piper/Jason, Percy/Annabeth, Hazel/Frank and then Leo. Leo. He reminds me of a few people, one in general is chandler Bing. If you know him awesome, If not GO LOOK HIM UP NOW AND DON’T COME BACK TILL YOU KNOW! …. Leo is someone who never stops joking around and messing, which is why he’s my favorite character. Apart from being the … emmm.. Seventh wheel? He is pretty awesome.

 “Gods of Olympus.” Piper stared at Leo. “what happened to you?”
His hair was greased back. He had welding goggles on his forehead, a lipstick mark on his cheek, tattoos all over his arms, and a T-shirt that read HOT STUFF, BAD BOY, and TEAM LEO.
“Long story,” he said”

“Did someone just call me wine dude?” he asked in a lazy drawl. “It’s Bacchus, please. Or Mr. Bacchus. Or Lord Bacchus. Or, sometimes, Oh-My-Gods-Please-Don’t-Kill-Me, Lord Bacchus.”

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Aphrodite said. “war is coming. Bloodshed is inevitable. So there’s really only one thing to do.2
“Uh… and that is?” Annabeth ventured.
“why, have tea and chat, obviously”

“This is Annabeth,” Jason said. “Uh, normally she doesn't judo-flip people.”

“Hercules, huh?” Percy frowned. “That guy was like the Starbucks of Ancient Greece. Everywhere you turn--there he is.”

“Oh my god, I am so awesome!” Leo bellowed.
“So awesome!” Echo yelled back.
“He is funny,” a nymph ventured.
“And cute, in a scrawny way,” another said.
“Scrawny?” Leo asked. “Baby I invented scrawny. Scrawny is the new sizzling hot.”

“Behold,” Percy bellowed “The gods chosen beverage, tremble before the horror of diet coke.”

The ending makes me want to cry.. So I can't talk about it..

I have to say I loved this book. I really do recommend you read them. But of course you will have to read the Percy Jackson series first. But believe me when I say it is worth it. These books are amazing and I recommend then to twelve’s and up. I would give this book ten out of ten.

I can’t wait for the next one, The House of Hades. which should be out in under 350 days. I can’t wait!

This is me now, waiting for The House of Hades. 

Young Sherlock Holmes: Snake Bite

So this week I finished another amazing book. It’s the forth book from a set of books I have already reviewed, but most of the authors are writing more so I will be probably be talking about the same book a few times. Still, I love when they write more books on a series because I hate when they end. I guess I could do what doctor who does, he pulls the last page out so It never has to end.

This weeks book was Young Sherlock Holmes : Snake Bite, by Andrew lane. I finished the first four Young Sherlock Holmes at the start of July. I really love the first four books I thought they were amazing and I couldn't put them down. My fingers were glued to the page. But not literally glued because then I wouldn't of been able to see what happened next.

Kidnapped and taken to china, Sherlock finds himself plunged into adventure. How can three men be bitten by the same poisonous snake in different parts of shanghai? Who wants them dead, and why? The answer seems to lie in a message hidden in a diagram like a spider’s web. But solving it leads to an even more urgent question: what has all this got to do with a plot to blow up an American warship? Sherlock is about to experience greater terrors than any he has faced before… Sherlock Holmes: think you know him? Think again.

I would say my favorite character but It was just Sherlock that was in this book, that was one thing I didn't like about the book. Usually I would say Mycroft is my favorite because he is just awesome, he works for the government and is super mysterious.

I have to say I didn't like this one as much as the first four. I was hoping all the characters were in it because I want to learn more about Amyus  Crowe’s back round. Also there wasn’t as much action and
adventure in this one. The ending with Mycroft’s letter was something I wish I hadn't read.

I’m not happy with Sherlock and Virginia. The way they are going is not good and I found the ending very bitter. I may as well be angry because I want then to be together or for Virginia to die some kind of horrible tragic and heart wrenching death which destroys Sherlock and explains his aversion to relationships, but I guess not…

Even so it was well paced, interesting as always and with a nice little mystery involved. I would recommend for twelve’s and up for this book and would give it eight out of ten. Anyone who loves Sherlock Holmes like myself will love these books, hopefully as much as I did.

Over all it was a interesting, funny, full with adventures, mystery and a little scary at parts when they were close to death.

Andrew Lane has written another amazing book.