The Inherited - Lily Burlington

The Inherited - Book 1
Lily Burlington
Inkitt
Copyright Date: September 9, 2017
B0753S3X57

The amazon.com product description:

One second Catherine believes that she is a normal girl, the next she finds herself betrothed to a Prince. Together they are thrust into a world of political intrigue, ancient oaths, & deadly mystery.

All Cat wants is to make it through her final exams and to get into a good university but that is put on hold when two men show up on her doorstep and tell her she is the last descendant of an ancient and forgotten royal bloodline. Not only that, but they offer her the chance of a lifetime trip to spend the summer living it up in castles and yachts off the coast of France. The only hitch is that she has to be a brooding prince's arm candy.

A summer of parties and beaches changes faster than the tides when old secrets begin to be unearthed and blood binding decrees are called upon.

Can truth and love survive when the path to the throne and crown is riddled with deception and daggers?

First of all, I want to note that I got an ARC for this book through Inkitt in return for a review. That said, on with the review.

The Inherited - book one is definitely a "first book". There are plenty of loose ends left for the rest of the series. Right off the bat, it reminded me of The Selection by Kiera Cass. It's a quick read, but, for the most part, it kept my attention. However, there was one issue that honestly should have been caught before it got to this stage. First of all, while the description above calls the main character Catherine, all through the actual book she's called Winnifred or Fred. Her mother's name also changes through the book. It's a minor thing, but I have to admit that it's definitely a bit jarring.

In spite of that, this was a very readable book, and I wouldn't mind finding out what's going to happen in the next one. It definitely seems as though most of the meatier plots of this book got left to be resolved in future titles. Also, I found that the characters grew on me a bit as the book progressed. I also found it very refreshing to not have a love-triangle set-up for once.

Like The Selection, The Inherited reads to me like a teen/Young Adult book, and I'd recommend it to that age group.

Book Rambling: Teen Books

In the past year or so I've noticed a bit of a trend within the teen books section of the bookstore: Authors I've seen in the regular fiction section are starting to come out with teen books now: Philipa Gregory, Sherrilyn Kenyon, David Weber, and Elizabeth George are only a few of the authors names I've seen.

Many of them are newer books, but a few have been writing for the teen market for a while now, like Mercedes Lackey who's onto the third book in her Shadow Grail series which started with Legacies. Or, James Patterson, known for the Maximum Ride series and some other teen novels such as Daniel X.

What kind of puzzles me though is the way that some of the books tie into the authors' other books. Sherrilyn Kenyon's the first author that comes to mind for me with this. She's better known for her paranormal romance series concerning the Dark Hunters. This is where I get somewhat surprised, and I'm trying to figure out what market she's appealing to.

I certainly wouldn't recommend the Dark Hunter books to teens at all, but Nick, the main character in this series is also a character in those books - this series concerns his teen years before we see him as a Squire to the Dark Hunters. At the same time, I feel like this series contradicts that one. I just don't see any place for zombies and the like in the Dark Hunter series as I know it, but that seems to be the main topic of the Chronicles of Nick novels. On the other hand, I have to admit - I haven't read any of the Chronicles of Nick series. Maybe someone who has can enlighten me.

The author that comes to mind as having done a really good job tying a teen series into an existing world is David Weber. Instead of trying to use an existing character, he's working with a time-period much earlier in the world and a character we don't know very much about - Stephanie Harrington, the discoverer of treecats. A Beautiful Friendship, the start of this series maintains the feeling of the main series, and is interesting to readers of that series, and would also work to attract new readers.

Why turn to teen books though? There've been spin-off books before in the Honor Harrington world, and some of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books were shelved as teen/young adult at the library even though they're classed as fantasy in the bookstore. Is it that they have a particular story to tell which best fits that medium? or is more likely that there's a market for teen fiction right now?

What do you think is the answer? All I know is that I like some of these books, and the David Weber ones especially seem to be missed by adults who like science-fiction and his other books. Heck, if I hadn't been in the regular habit of checking the upcoming books by some of these authors, I'd have missed out on some very good stories!

Snow White And The Huntsman - Lily Blake, Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock, Hossein Amini

Snow White and the Huntsman
Lily Blake, Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock, Hossein Amini
Poppy; 1 Pap/Pstr edition
Copyright Date: June 5, 2012
978-0316213271

The amazon.com product description:

A breathtaking new vision of a legendary tale. Snow White is the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman who was dispatched to kill her.

It's a new vision of a legendary tale all right, but that's about all it is. I borrowed this book based on the cover, movie trailer and description, thinking it looked to be a good read. Not the case at all. There's a large font-size, so the book is really quite short (which was actually a blessing in disguise). Aside from that, I feel like the product blurb is false, and I couldn't recognize this as Snow White aside from character names - certainly the book is nothing like the Disney version I grew up with. I don't know how it compares with the older forms of the story though.

I think this might be a case of "which came first? the movie or the book?". If the book came first, it must have been intentionally written for the movie to be made, because that's what this felt like - a movie on paper. And, it felt very sketchy. None of the characters grabbed my interest at all - and I don't think it's because Snow White and the Huntsman is a teen book.

I'll be bluntly honest here. By the end of Snow White and the Huntsman, I felt as though I'd wasted my time reading it. At the beginning, it seemed like a book that could be really good, but it quickly went down hill.

The Selection - Kiera Cass

The Selection
Kiera Cass
HarperTeen
Copyright: April 2012
978-0062059932

The amazon.com product description:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Honestly, The Selection is a book I picked up on a whim. That said, once I'd picked it up, I couldn't put the book down again. Ended up finishing the read the same night. So, the first thing that comes to mind about the story is that it is a quick read - but captivating at the same time.

The story seemed somewhat familiar to me too, the idea of the prince choosing a bride from a certain limited pool of girls. In that sense the story is similar to Gail Carson Levine's novel Princess Academy. I don't know if the similarities are more than superficial though, as I haven't read any of Gail Carson Levine's books. But, if you liked that, and you like books that are set in a very regimented future, this might be a perfect book for you.

I do have to say, I found the main character's name to be slightly annoying, "America" just isn't a person's name to me. On the other hand, once I'd read farther in, her mother's reasoning for naming her that does fit, and suits her character very well.

This is a teen-oriented book, so the main thrust is along the "do I love him? does he love me? who should I choose?" lines, but despite that, there are other themes being mixed in as well to form a very captivating book. I certainly found the characters, America and Maxon mostly, to be fascinating and definitely not annoying - something I should admit to having felt with some other teen books.

Still, there was one big downside I found to the book. It resolved nothing. Definitely we have to wait for the second book in the series - according to amazon,com, it's supposed to be a trilogy. I'm curious to see what's going to happen there.

A lot of reviews that I've read are comparing The Selection to The Hunger Games. For myself, I don't really see the comparison, and I've never watched any of the reality TV shows that are the other component of the comparisons. So, I guess I'm coming at this book from more or less a clean slate perspective.

Still, irregardless of my complaints as to the ending or lack of, I did quite enjoy the read, and if you're looking for a light, quick read, I have to suggest giving Keira Cass' The Selection a try.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press
Copyright: 2008
978-0439023481

The amazon.com product description:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

As I said in my last review, The Hunger Games got a lot of press when it first came out, and even more on the release of the movie, which is currently in theatres. Actually, it was the release of the movie that made me re-read the book this time.

I have to say that I found it as good this time as I did last time, and in some ways, found it even more intriguing. Mostly due to noticing the various hints of things to come in the later two books, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Not to mention having skimmed through books like The Girl Who Was On Fire, a book of essays on the world of The Hunger Games, including aspects of the different characters. All these factors combined to make me both more aware of the details of the characters and world that Suzanne Collins has created and more thoughtful about the read.

 Yes, this world is a violent and brutal place - It's perfectly normal for people to starve to death, and any world where children being forced to kill each other on TV is seen as normal and entertaining can't be called anything but violent and cold, but at the same time, The Hunger Games isn't only about that. It's also about doing the right thing, even when that's nearly impossible. This isn't just a book glorifying violence, it's more.

Katniss is quite the character too. From the start, she's a rule-breaker, breaking the rules about hunting - of course, that's simply the only way she and her family: mother and sister, can survive. But, the skills she picks up in hunting will serve her well in the arena, as will the attitude. Katniss is a survivor, and it shows. But, there's more to the games than simply being able to find food and avoid the other tributes. And those games (or not games) are where she's going to have a bit more trouble.

The Hunger Games is a teen book, and it shows with the inevitable love triangle aspect, but that just adds to the struggle for Katniss. Who will she choose? By the end of the Games, the question might be more "who can she choose?" Peeta or Gale? That question will last through the whole trilogy.

Teen book or not, Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games is an immensely popular book that will grab the attention of more than just the teen readers out there. If you haven't read it yet, it's well worth the time.

The Giver - Lois Lowry

The Giver
Lois Lowry
Delacorte Books
Copyright: 2006
978-0385732550

The Amazon.com product description:

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world.

When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does Jonas begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Believe it or not, I'd never read this Newberry Award-winning book before, but I read it yesterday and quite enjoyed the experience. For all that The Giver is a very short book  - I think it took me maybe two hours overall to read, it was also a very thought-provoking one. I picked up the book on the recommendation of one of my co-workers and I'm glad I did.


As the story starts out, everything seems more or less normal, with a few changes - everyone uses bicycles to get around, for example and everything is done in a very disciplined manner. But, it's a society where everyone is generally happy, even though, as we discover, they have no real choice in how they live their lives. It's only as the story progresses that we learn how they came to that point by giving things up. There is one person in the community who remembers how things were before - the Giver. Jonas, the main character of the story is chosen to become the next Giver, and so the rest of the book is spent going through his training, by which he and we learn what everyone has given up: True family, love, even the ability to see colour or hear music. On the other hand, they've also given up real pain, violence and poverty.

At times, The Giver isn't the easiest book to read, being rather sad in places, but it's also extremely thought-provoking I found. Although, I'm still not completely certain about the ending to the story. It felt rather unresolved to me. On the other hand, something I only just found out while writing this review is that there are more books set in the same world: Gathering Blue and The Messenger. There's a good chance that they might resolve things, at least a bit.

I'm definitely going to have to read some more of Lois Lowry's books. She's an effective writer, who I can't believe I missed out on until now. This is one of those books that even though it's written for teens, I think that anyone will like. The Giver certainly swept me away into it's pages.

"Waiting On" Wednesday - May 18

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

My pick for the week is:

The Shadow Grail #2: Conspiracies
By Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Tor Books
Release Date: July 5, 2011
978-0765328236

The amazon.com product description:

The second book in the Shadow Grail series by the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Spirit and her friends Burke, Loch, Muirin, and Addie have managed to defeat the evil force that has been killing students at Oakhurst Academy for the past forty years—or so they think. When a series of magical attacks disrupts the school, Doctor Ambrosius calls upon alumnus Mark Rider to secure the campus—and start training the students for war. The only student without magic, Spirit doesn’t trust Mark or his methods. She knows that Oakhurst isn’t safe. And if Spirit and her friends want to live long enough to graduate, they have to find out what is really going on—before it’s too late.

 I read the first book in The Shadow Grail series, Legacies last year and really enjoyed it - of course, I can't really think of any Mercedes Lackey books I haven't liked over the years. The concept is an intriguing one, being the typical reverse of the usual.

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Divergent
Veronica Roth
Katherine Tegen Books
Copyright: May 2011
978-0062024022

The amazon.com product description:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

 I've seen Divergent compared to The Hunger Games in other reviews, and I have to say, I can see where the comparisons are coming from. Like that series of books, Veronica Roth's debut novel is set in a society that's managed to put itself back together after some kind of terrible war. It's in the aftermath of that war that society takes on the shape it has at the start of the book.

The glimpses we get of that society - through the eyes of Beatrice - are intriguing. I would have liked more of them. We learn quite a bit about Beatrice, but at the same time, it feels like there's a whole lot about the world that she doesn't know - especially about the other factions. And, even about her own family. It rather felt to me as though family was meant to come in second to the faction in terms of loyalty.

Actually, having finished reading Divergent this afternoon, I'm not really sure what I think of the book. I enjoyed the read, but there were things about it that bugged me. And at least one of these is just personal preference: font size. When it comes to a book, I like to feel that I'm getting full value from the book in terms of the amount of story there is. Divergent feels somewhat deceptive on that count. The font size is pretty large, making the book a quick read.

While the book was definitely exciting - what else would you expect from reading about a faction where initiation tests include doing things like jumping into and out of a moving train? - at the same time, it felt flat too. I think it was that most of the focus was on Beatrice, or Tris as she chose to be called and Four. As a result, the other characters and the world didn't seem to be completely developed as much as it could have been.

Also, Beatrice seemed surprisingly ignorant at times, but a lot of that could be because of the way the world is set up and controlled - eg the school and what it teaches. But still...

For all that this review seems to be mostly negative, I still have to say that I enjoyed reading Divergent, and I'm curious to read the sequels - it's a planned trilogy. It's just that, to be honest, this book isn't going to be making it's way onto my favourite books list.

Pegasus - Robin McKinley

Pegasus
Robin McKinley
Putnam Juvenile
Copyright: November 2010
978-0399246777

The amazon.com product description:

A gorgeously written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her Pegasus.

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pagasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own Pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But its different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close-so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo-and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

New York Times bestselling Robin McKinley weaves an unforgettable tale of unbreakable friendship, mythical creatures and courtly drama destined to become a classic. 

I've read and enjoyed a number of Robin McKinley's other books before, especially The Blue Sword (one of my favourites) and Chalice. As a result, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of Pegasus. The e-book version was the easiest - and worked out to be very readable.

Pegasus is a story that works for more than just teens, just as The Blue Sword was (is). The world (shared by humans, pegasi and other magical creatures) is well written and makes a lot of sense to me as a reader. I loved the sense of history that the passages from the old notebooks added to the story. The land itself is beautiful, described with rich colours and detail.

Sylvi is a character I think I could quite get to like as a person, while some of the mages...
And the pegasi. The one thing about them is that even after finishing the book, I don't have a good mental picture of what they look like. Beautiful, yes, but it sounds like their proportions are all different than those of horses (which is what I was visualizing when I started reading the book). Not that it made any difference in my enjoyment of this novel.

I think I remember reading that there is going to be a sequel to Pegasus, but I can't remember where, though I believe it was on Robin McKinley's blog. I really hope there is one, as Pegasus leaves a lot of issues unresolved at the end. I know that I'm definitely looking forward to reading more in this world.

Recommended for anyone from an older child through teens and adults if you like fantasy.

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press
Copyright: August 2010
978-0439023511

The amazon.com product description:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

Mockingjay is the third and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy, following on The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. It's also going to be a hard one to review without giving out spoilers. So... Off the top, I'm going to say that Mockingjay was an incredible story that kept me up until it was finished. In other words, I was reading until three A.M.

At the end of Catching Fire, Katniss was safe, as were half of the remaining tributes from the Quarter Quell Hunger Games. But, the fate of the others, including Peeta remained unknown. Well, Mockingjay picks things up from that point and keeps going as if there'd never been a break. All of the unresolved threads from Catching Fire are picked up at some point and sorted out: District 13, Katniss's family, Peeta, District 12, and of course, the Rebellion.

Even without a Hunger Games to center on, Mockingjay is a fast-paced and exciting novel to read. Although, it does rather require reading the first two books to understand this one. It's a bit different though, because there is more to it than just the action sequences. Katniss is learning about herself and how she's seen by the world of Panem, as well as the responsibilities that brings, being the Mockingjay and symbol of the rebellion. She does have some hard choices to make in this book.

There are some pretty good twists that you'll never see coming too. Not everyone is as they seem. That's a good part of what made the book so impossible to put down.

I won't recommend this series to younger teens. It's just a bit too brutal and violent. But, for older teens and some adults? Go for it. You won't be able to put it down. One thing about Mockingjay in this vein is that it doesn't glorify violence and war. It treats it as horrible, but sometimes as a necessity. The characters change because of what's going on.

A very good book, and a worthy ending to a good series.

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic
Copyright: 2009
978-0439023498

The amazon.com product description:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games, which I read last week. To be honest, although the second half of the book was incredible (I missed the bus twice, because I couldn't put it down), the first half didn't catch me the same way The Hunger Games did. It seems, I guess, to be more of a "middle book" than the first book did. The ending isn't good or bad. In fact, it doesn't seem to resolve anything at all. Of course, that's because there's Mockingjay coming out next month. Catching Fire has left plenty of story for the third book in the series.

This book (and The Hunger Games, for that matter) is not for younger teens. The violence of the story is not sugar-coated in any way. It's not sexual activity that's the problem in this book, like it is in some others, it's the violence - all of which is absolutely integral to the story. Panem is not a nice world. Which is something anyone who's read The Hunger Games already would know. Starvation, fear and violence are commonplace things in this world. And yet, it's a captivating world to read about.

I can't wait for the third book to come out next month, and I can really understand why this series is such a hit with readers.

The Shadow Grail #1: Legacies - Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill

The Shadow Grail #1: Legacies
Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Tor Books
Copyright Date: July 6, 2010
978-0765317612

The amazon.com product description:

Who—or what—is stalking the students at Oakhurst Academy?

In the wake of the accident that killed her family, Spirit White is spirited away to Oakhurst Academy, a combination school and orphanage in the middle of Montana. There she learns she is a legacy—not only to the school, which her parents also attended, but to magic.

All the students at Oakhurst have magical powers, and although Spirit’s hasn’t manifested itself yet, the administrators insist she has one. Spirit isn’t sure she cares. Devastated by the loss of her family, she finds comfort with a group of friends: Burke Hallows, Lachlann Spears, Muirin Shae, and Adelaide Lake.

But something strange is going on at Oakhurst. Students start disappearing under mysterious circumstances, and the school seems to be trying to cover it up. Spirit and her friends must find out what’s happening—before one of them becomes the next victim…

Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill have teamed up before to write some very good books in the same world as the SERRAted Edge series, so I knew this was likely to be a good story. It was, although a rather short one, I found. I bought the book yesterday afternoon and finished it last night.

It's an interesting story, but the more I think about it, the more uncomfortable the school at Oakhurst makes me in terms of the amount of control the school has over its students. And, it seems to me that the students probably aren't going to be that well prepared for life in the regular world. Still, it's a good story, and a promising start to a new series. I'm not sure where the series title, The Shadow Grail, comes from yet, but perhaps we'll find out in the next book when it comes out. According to the excerpt in the back of this one, it seems to pick up right where Legacies leaves off.

Legacies is definitely a teen oriented book, and would probably appeal to fans of the P.C. Cast House of Night series and similar books. Older readers will probably still like it too - I did, even though I don't generally like books set in high school - even fantasy high schools.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series, whatever it is going to be called, and whenever it's due out.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press
Copyright: 2008
978-0439023481

The amazon.com product description:

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a book that got a lot of press when it first came out. Even Time Magazine had an article about both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, the sequel At the time, I wasn't interested in reading it, but now the release of the third book, Mockingjay is getting closer, I thought I should give it a try.

I'm glad I did. The book almost defies words. It's dark, violent and nasty, but the characters are what really makes the story fly. Katniss' motivations make sense to me as a reader all the way through the story. But one of the things I really liked about the story was that it didn't have an overall message or moral like some of the other teen/kids books I've read lately.

The story just caught me up within the first pages. I started reading The Hunger Games while I was at work, and finished the book the same night. I just couldn't put the book down until it was done. It's not a long read, I'll admit, but everything the story really needed was there. I think it would have been nice to have some more background on what caused the world to become the one we see in the story, but that might have slowed the pace of the book down too much. Things are pretty clear as they are.

And it's not a world I'd want to live in! Rampant starvation, governmental controls, and then the Hunger Games themselves. It actually reminds me of the short story The Lottery that I had to read for English class years ago.

I'm now on to Catching Fire, and waiting for the third book.

Lady Knight - Tamora Pierce

Lady Knight
Tamora Pierce
Random House
Copyright: 2004
978-0375829086

The amazon.com product description:

Kel has finally achieved her lifelong dream of being a knight. But it’s not turning out as she imagined at all. She is torn between a duty she has sworn to uphold and a quest that she feels could turn the tide of war. . . .

This is a surprise! I was sure I'd reviewed Lady Knight before at least once, but it doesn't look like it. All of the other books in this series have at least one prior review on All Booked Up, but not Lady Knight. And it's not that I haven't read the book before, either. Guess it was one that just got left out thanks to a backlog of books to be reviewed.

Anyway, Lady Knight is the fourth book in the Protector Of The Small Quartet, following The First Test, Page, and Squire. The books are geared towards girls between the ages of nine and early teens in my opinion, although in my local bookstores they're found in the Teen section.

In this book, Kel has made it to her goal: she's successfully made it through training as both a page and a squire, and also survived the Ordeal. Now, her first command is to be in charge of a refugee camp, rather than on the front lines of the war. Is she being "protected" once again by people who don't thing women can be knights?

Add to that the way she feels as though she's under two conflicting sets of orders, both of which she has to obey: to stay and protect the camp and the people of it, and at the same time, to find the creator of the horrible weapons being sent against Tortall and stop him. How can she do both?

Honestly, I think this is the best of the four books in the series. It's certainly the most exciting, and at the same time, in spite of  the tension and drama, there are the moments of lightness and fun. These books may be written for the teen audience, but Tamora Pierce writes books that an audience of any age can enjoy.

Squire - Tamora Pierce

Squire
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 9780679889199

The amazon.com product description:

At the age of 14 and standing five foot ten, Keladry of Mindelan is a squire. A squire serves and learns from a seasoned knight for four years, then faces a final test. That final test is the Ordeal, which takes place in a magical room called the Chamber. There, a squire encounters the parts of him- or herself that the Chamber deems the most difficult to face–be they fears, failings, or unrepented wicked deeds. Does Kel have what it takes to survive the Ordeal?

Squire is the third book in the Protector of the Small Quartet, and the sequel to Page. As with the previous books in the series, the book follows Kel through her training on her way to becoming a Knight. Now, she's made it to being a squire, but will she be chosen to serve a Knight?

It's somewhat amusing, the trend in this series: each of the books gets longer, which I think is a good thing. Of course, as Kel gets older, she's out doing more, so there's more to tell, resulting in a story that should be attractive to girls from about the age of nine through their early teens. On the other hand, I still am not overly enamored of the way the books are shaped around the message of "Girls can do anything just as well as boys". Not that it's not a message that needs to be heard, it's just that I feel like it overwhelms the story in this particular series. That might be as much because I'm outside of the target audience by a large amoun though.

This series is geared towards girls ages about ten and up, although the books are found in the Teen section of my local bookstore. Still, it's also a story that anyone can enjoy be they children or adults. I have to admit, the animals make the story as much as the people do. If that confuses you, you need to read the Immortals Quartet about Daine, which is set between the Lioness books and the Protector of the Small Quartet. Still, Jump is hillarious, the sparrows need to be seen to be believed, and Peachblossom, Kel's horse fits right in with the rest of her crazy group.

You wouldn't think that the animals are believable, but within the context of the story, they work. All of it works and fits, be it the foreign cultures overlayed on the world or the magic. It all works within rules that make it real and working within the world Tamora Pierce has created.

Page - Tamora Pierce

Page
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 9780679889182

The amazon.com product description:

Kel fights to maintain the rigorous regimen of a page while confronting the prejudices that come with being a female in a man’s world and coping with a crush on her closest friend, Neal.
“Pierce makes Kel sweat for her success through perseverance, hard work,
and skill. Readers will appreciate this true example of grrrl power.”
—School Library Journal 

Page is the second book in the Protector of the Small Quartet, following on The First Test, which I reviewed the other day. I've read and reviewed the book before, and that review is here.

Kel made it through her probationary year as a page in the first book and in this book, we follow her through the rest of her term as a page, right up to her final exams. We follow her through her training in both the arts of combat and of ettiquete, but also in her interactions with the other pages and squires - some of whom don't thing that girls can be pages, squires or knights.

An exciting read for any girl who likes fantasy novels from age nine through early teens. This book, along with the other books in the series are all to be found in the teen section of the bookstore, but these four in particular seem to be written more for the nine to twelve year olds. As such, I found it to be a rather short read, being able to finish the book along with The First Test in the same evening after work.

I do like this series, more or less, but as the School Library Journal points out in the product description: "Readers will appreciate this true example of grrrl power." That's exactly what I find to be written in too obviously. For me at least, the whole "Girls can do anything" message is laid on too heavily on the story. Still, it's a good read and one I'm probably going to end up reading again in the future.

The First Test - Tamora Pierce

The First Test
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 1999
ISBN: 9780679889175

The amazon.com product description:

Keladry (known as Kel) is the first girl to take advantage of the decree that permits girls to train for the knighthood. The only thing that can stop her is Lord Wyldon, the training master of pages and squires. He does not think girls should be knights and puts her on probation for one year. It is a trial period that no male page has to endure and one that separates the friendly Kel even more from her fellow trainees. But Kel is not someone to underestimate. . . .

I wouldn't mind knowing how come I end up with a backlog of books to review every single time I read my way through The Protector Of The Small Quartet. In other words, this is definitely a reread and my original review is here.

The First Test is a very quick read, maybe a couple of hours at most, and in my opinion, even though it, along with the other books in the series can be found in the "teen" section of the bookstore, the story is geared more to the nine to twelve year old set.

This time as I was reading it, I was much more aware of the overlays of other cultures, particularly the Yammani, that Kel was familar with. Perhaps that's because I've been doing a bit more reading on Japan lately and that appears to be the culture that Tamora Pierce was modeling it off of. It's an interesting little thing that adds more depth to the books though, at least in my opinion.

One thing I don't care for in this series, and I know I've commented on it before with Tamora Pierce's other Tortall books is the "Girls can do anything" message. I know it's true, I know it's important for girls to know that, but I just feel that these books push it too hard, that the story is there to push the moral. Of course, a lot of that may be that I'm distinctly older than the target audience, who might not notice it as much. I just find it a bit "in your face", even though I still really like the books.

Little Brother - Cory Doctorow

This review was originally posted at Royal Reviews.

Little Brother
Cory Doctorow
Tor Books
Copyright: 2008
978-0765319852

The amazon.com product description:

Marcus, a.k.a “w1n5t0n,” is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works–and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school’s intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems.

But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they’re mercilessly interrogated for days.

When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself.

Engrossing but somewhat spooky was my first  reaction as I started to read Cory Doctorow's Little Brother. Not because the book was a horror novel (which it's not), but because it was a warning of what our world could so easily become if we're not careful.

Little Brother is the story of Markus, a teen living in the near future (references to Windows Vista, wi-fi etc, all set the period), but it's a world where surveillance is everywhere, even in schools. One day he and some friends decided to cut school in order to continue with a multi-player game. Bad decision. They end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, during a terrorist attack and are gathered up by Homeland Security for interrogation.

When Markus is finally released, several days later, he discovers his parents had believed him to be one of the victims of the attack, and he discovers how much power Homeland Security really has. Too much. And everyone seems to think that's OK.

What's one teen to do? Try and stop them. That's what Little Brother is about, the struggle and the growing movement against Homeland Security and paranoia.

I liked this book a lot, it didn't feel young like some of the teen books I've read. Instead, I think it's just as good a read for adults as it is for teens. There's a lot of information in here as well, mostly tech-related but it all fits into the story well, IMHO, but not everyone may feel that way. The story is from Markus's point of view, and it's clear he's quite the computer whiz, as are a lot of other people in this time and place. It's good, because we get a very clear picture of his thoughts and feelings as he discovers the dark side of the world he lives in, but it's also a bit of a negative. I for one would have liked to see some of the reaction outside of San Francisco to the terrorist attack and the crack-down.

The ending was definitely interesting. Happy, but not complete, rather like real life. It felt like there was more to the story, although perhaps not enough for more stories. It wasn't too 'perfect' though, which is a bit of a change. On the other hand, was the tech knowledge of Markus and most of the other characters in the story realistic? I can't really say.

This book is, I think, designed as a warning against complacency and trading freedoms for security. It definitely left me thinking hard.

Recommended for people who like science fiction, technology and an exciting story (a.k.a. most teens and many adults).

Trickster's Queen - Tamora Pierce

Trickster's Queen
Tamora Pierce
Random House
Copyright: 2004
9780375828782

The Amazon.com product description:

Aly’s adventure continues. . . . No longer a slave, Alanna’s daughter is now spying as part of an underground rebellion against the colonial rulers of the Copper Isles. The people in the rebellion believe that a prophecy in which a new queen will rise up to take the throne is about to be realized. Aly is busy keeping the potential teenage queen and her younger siblings safe, while also keeping her in the dark about her future. But Aly, who is usually adept at anticipating danger and changes, is in for a few nasty surprises.

Trickster's Queen is the concluding volume to the duology about Alianne, the daughter of Alanna from the Song of the Lioness Quartet and the sequel to Trickster's Choice. It's also another really good read. I'm kind of disappointed that I had it on my shelves for over a year before I got around to reading the book. It should have been finished much sooner than that.

While this book picks up where the first book left off, there are some very interesting twists and turns, although some aspects of the ending can be predicted from the start, others come as complete surprises. Dovasary really comes into her own in this book, as does Nawat. All of the characters are well thought out and interesting as people too, even the secondary characters.

Definitely a good book for any teen girl (or adult) who likes fantasy, it's a different type of storyline. Where the other books have girls who want to fight, Aly wants to follow her father and become a spy/spymistress instead. A good reminder that there's more than one path you can follow to do what you want. I also liked that the "girl power" message wasn't overly in-your-face, unlike some of Tamora Pierce's books.

Overall, I really liked this book a lot.

Trickster's Choice - Tamora Pierce

Trickster's Choice
Tamora Pierce
Random House
Copyright: 2004
978-0375828799

The Amazon.com product description:

Tamora Pierce brings readers another Tortall adventure! Alianne is the teenage daughter of the famed Alanna, the first lady knight in Tortall. Young Aly follows in the quieter footsteps of her father, however, delighting in the art of spying. When she is captured and sold as a slave to an exiled royal family in the faraway Copper Islands, it is this skill that makes a difference in a world filled with political intrigue, murderous conspiracy, and warring gods. This is the first of two books featuring Alianne.

 In terms of the timeline for the Tortall novels, these two are the last ones so far. Trickster's Choice and its sequel, Trickster's Queen are set after all the other books: the Lioness Quartet, the Immortals Quartet and the Keladry books.

These two books are a bit different from most of the others Tamora Pierce has written too. First of all, they're written for slightly older teens IMHO, given that Aly is older in the first book, much like the Beka Cooper series. And then, where all the other books in the world of Tortall have been written in sets of four, there are only the two books in this set.

Aside from those pieces of trivia, the important thing about these books is that they're well written, and good stories. I was reading the second book, Trickster's Queen last night, and the next thing I realized was that it was after one in the morning. Where did the time go?

Of course, that's true of most of the Tortall novels, but I liked this one more than most of them. I didn't find that the "Girls are as good as boys/girls can be whatever they want to be" message to be as in-your-face present as it is in some of Tamora Pierce's books, which I really appreciated. That's the one thing about her books that I don't really care for.

Overall, Trickster's Choice is a good, solid read that is longer than most of the other books the author's written in this world. It's also a book I'm likely to find myself re-reading in the future.