The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse
Marie Rutkorski
Winner's Trilogy
Marshal fiction

"Summary"
In a world of violence and war a young girl, the daughter of the war leader, finds herself at odds with how she is told to act. Her father wants her to join the army. Her best friend wants her to get married and join society. Kestrel doesn't know what she wants, she just knows she is unhappy.

One day in the slave market Kestrel sees a boy. Unlike most slaves he is hot scared of her, he shows defiance and power. On a whim Kestrel buys the boy but he has a dark secret, and if she is not careful that secret will eat her alive and spit her out.

An empire at constant war, a people oppressed and enslaved, a boy consumed by rage, and a girl whose heart and mind are heading in to different directions.

"Review"
I really enjoyed this book. This book has the feel of a teen romance but in truth the book takes a much more interesting social stance. The book not only focuses on finding yourself and keeping love like most teen books but also on what makes an action a good one. how do you know what is right and when do we brake our own rules for the right thing.

So not only is this a interesting book with strong characters and a powerful plot line but it also will make the reader think and push them to be more then they where before.

I have found that more and more these day books are like candy it tasks good but does little for you. This book is more like a nice burger it task good but it also has everything you need to grow.

I would give this book an 8.3 out of 10

The Aeronaut's Windlass

The Aeronaut's Windlass
Jim Butcher
The Cinder Spires
Steam Punk

"Summary"
High above the earth floats the spires, the home of humanity. The Spires fight each other for resources and power in the sky. Captain Grimm is a pirateer for the Spire Albion. After being dismissed from the navy Captain Grimm got the ship Predator and now hunts the skies. After a bad fight that left Predator broken and the crew in dismay, Grimm is talked in to running an mission for the Spirearch, leader of Spire Albion.

Now with two crazy seers, two young navy cadets and one very pompous cat. The crew of the sky ship Predator will head of into adventure to protect their home from an unknown threat. Together will they be able to face what is coming and if they can will they see the threat when it before them?

"Review"
Jim Butcher has done it again. This book is amazing. Ever sense the genre of stream punk became popular I have been looking for a book which represented how I imagined a steam punk world to been, and until I read this book I had not found one.

I could tell you all about how well written this book is, or how interesting the characters are, or even how the unique world creates a whole new experience for the reader, but lots of books have these things. To truly understand how good this book is without reading it is impossible.

For me this book is everything I look for in a book but rarely if ever do I find it. This is not only a must read its a must own and a must read again and again.

I this book gets a 10 out of 10.

The Rithmatist

The Rithmatist
Brandon Sanderson
Rithmatist Series
Historical Fantasy

"Summary"
Joel wants to be a Rithmatist more then anything in the wolrd. He is more skilled at the geometric like magic, then anyone else his age sadly he is not a Rithmatist and he never will be. The Rithmatists are the only defense humanity has against the chalklings who threaten the united american islands.

When young Rithmatists start to disappear from there homes with out a trace. Joel and Melody are assigned to assist a Rithmatist professor to find out what is happening before the threat becomes to much for them to handle. The only problem is who can Joel really trust and can a norm really stand among the magical Rithmatists?

"Review"
Brandon Sanderson has done it again. His new book Rithmatist is a new must read for children and adults alike. The story takes place in an alternate america, where the states are all a collection of islands around the turn of the century. This makes the world really interesting because it is both historical and fantastic.

The magic in this book is just as interesting. Rithmatist magic is a mix of both math and Art. Using chalk the Rithmatist can make lines, circles, and other geometrical shapes to both protect themselves and attack there enemies. Rithmatists can also draw Chaklings, two demenchanal drawings that draw power from the Rithmatists artistic skill and emotional conection to the drawing.

Joel is an amazing character. He is both brilliant but also limited by his lack of Rithmatist power. He is therefore very easy to connect to and I felt that he was able to live the his adventure with him. The writing was a little more basic then most of his other work because this book is for young adults but that does not mean that is it lacking in quality at all.

I loved this book and I can't wait until the next one comes out. If you like his other books or are just looking for an amazing and quick read then check out his book.

I would give this book an 8.9 out of 10.

Uprooted

Uprooted
Naomi Novik
Fairy tale Fantasy

Summary
Once ever ten years the village must sacrifice one of its young maidens to the dragon. The dragon takes them to his home and uses them to clean and cook... The Dragon is the title of the local magician whose job it is to protect the kingdom from the corrupted forest.

Agnieszka is one of the few girls who are born on a pick year. The ten years are up and it is time for the Dragon to pick a new girl to be his maid, but Agnieszka is not worried because everyone one knows he will pick her best friend who is amazing at everything.

But when the Dragon picks her instead, Agnieszka does not know what to do and to make matters worse the Dragon is an insufferable human being. Now with the corrupted woods encroaching on the kingdom and corrupting its people will Agnieszka and the Dragon survive each others long enough to stop the woods?

Review
This book is an amazing and original look at two very well known fair tale ideas. The virgin sacrifice and the evil forest. Naomi Novik does a great job at taking an idea we all know really well and presenting it to her readers in a new light. This book really made me think but also entertained me the who way through.

I was pulled through this book by its powerful narration and compelling characters. I have had the opportunity to read Novik's other book series Temeraire and whether you like it or not you will like "Uprooted". This is a book that is a most read for any young adult or not so young adult.

I would say one thing though, this book is promoted as a young adult novel but it can be a little graphic and upsetting at times i would not recommencement this book for children under the age of 16.

I would give this book a 8.4 out of 10.