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.

Deadweather and Sunrise

Deadweather and Sunrise
Geoff Rodkey
Young Adult Fantasy
The Chronicles of Egg

Summary
Egg lives on Deadwearther an ugly, smelly island full of pirates and cutthroats. Sadly this this not the worst part of Eggs life. His mother died giving birth to him and his family hates him for it. So with siblings who hate him and an abusive father what is a overly smart boy to do.

One day Eggs father finds something odd in the hills and takes them all to the Island of Sunrise, the jewel of the island, to find out what it is. Soon after arriving his family is met by a nice man who invites them over for dinner. As they get to know the new family Egg's dad and siblings has an accident. Now Egg is all alone, living with a family he does not know and something is very wrong.

Review
This is a great book written my a new author. Egg is a smart interesting character that is both believable and incredible, which is hard to do for a writer. Often in books characters are ether annoyingly perfect or ridiculously incompetent. Egg though is a real and balanced character that helps the reader to feel like they are in the story with him.

This odyssey like adventure leads the reader to down a magical path to find love, friendship and family. And although this is just the start of Egg's adventures this book is a good stand alone novel for both children and adults.

I would give this book an 8.1 out of 10. I can;t wait to see what else this amazing author puts out.

Written in Red

"Written in Red"
Anne Bishop
A Novel of the Others
Urban Fantasy

"Summary"
When the world began there where only the Others, creators great and horrible. Shapeshifters, vampires, Elementals and beings so terrible that even the Others fear them. Then came Humans into the world. The humans and the Others fought for centuries until a deal was finally made between the two groups. The Others would provide the land and the humans will provide the industry.

One night in the modern age a young women running from her passed wonders into the Others Courtyard searching for safety and a job. The leader of the Courtyard finds her odd she is human but she does not smell like prey. Finding this interesting he hires her to be the liaison between the humans and the Others.

This young women is Meg Corbyn. She has the power to see the future when her skin is cute. For all of her life she has been kept a prisoner and used by others to make money of off her pain. Now for the first time in her life she is free to make her own choices and be who she is.

But who is she? and what is happening to her new friends?

"Review"
This is an amazing book. Meg is an amazing characters. Over the last few years I have been really disappointed in the writing of female characters. Ether the characters are whinny, uncertain, and immature or she is overly masculine, mannish, and unbelievable as a rounded female character. Meg on the other hand is a well balanced character who is both strong and feminine, intelligent and innocent. She is a compelling focus for the novel which leads the reader down a unique vision of how the world would be if monsters truly excited.

I have now read all three of the books that have come out sense 2015, and they are all just as good as the first one. The writer, she has created a world that is interesting and unique for her readers. The secondary characters feel real and complete. The story is strong and pulls the readers through the book all the way to the last page.

I give this book 9 out of 10.

Earth Girl

"Earth Girl"
Janet Edwards
Sci-fi
Earth Girl trilogy

Summary
Over 700 years from now the human race is spread out across the stars. We fled earth looking for what was out there, and we let our home planet fall in to ruin. We have cured every illness and handicap known to man. All save one. The ape maker.

Every few thousand babies, or so, is born with an auto-immune disease which makes it deadly for them to live on any planet but earth. These children are called Apes, throw backs and the handicapped.

The government has set up a strong system which keeps the handicapped supported and separate from the rest of the population but takes care of every need. Everything but acceptance and respect. unfortunately these are the things that matter most to Jarra.

Out of anger at her life and hatred of the norms, Jarra applies to an off world school with has its first year on earth. Her plan is to be better than they are and then reveal to them who she really is, but when faced with people can she really go through with her plan?

Review
This book is amazing. I believe that anyone who works in the mental health field or knows someone with a mental or physical illness needs to read this book. This book follows the tradition of Science Fiction where it challenges social norms and beliefs that are hard to face head on. In this case it challenges our treatment and understanding of those we would call handicapped.

I work would with children who have varying kinds of mental and social disabilities. And I myself am so dyslexic that I could not read properly until I was 16 years old. I tell you this because I want you to understand how liberating this book was for me.

People often do not want to read a book or watch a movie about people who are handicapped because it makes us feel sad or uncomfortable. Also they are often not very action packed and so therefore do not draw a lot of attention from the average reader. This book is different.

In this book the writer invents an illness that is impossible to exist. The main character is as normal as you or me. She is smart, strong and kind. But in her world she is living with a debilitating handicap. Because of this we as the reader get the chance to look without fear or awkwardness in to the lives of those who are different and to see how often what we do to be nice is more painful then the things people do on purpose to be mean.

I have read thousands of books in my life and very few of them have touched me in such a personal and profound way. If you are looking for a book that will challenge your way of thinking and help you to understand those who are different from you, but is also fun, interesting and adventurous. Then this is the book for you.

For me this book is a 10 out of 10.

Gates of Thread and Stone

"Gates of Thread and Stone"
Lori M. Lee
Sci-fi/Fantacy
Gates of Thread and Stone #1

Summary
Imagine a world in which magic and technology developed and competed side by side. For a long time magic was dominated. But as time moved on technology coat up to the wonders of magic and made it so that anyone with the press of a button could perform wonders.

Fearing the end of the way of magic, they attacked those devoted to the way of technology. This led to a war that destroyed everything. Magic all but left the world and few advanced tech remained.

From that destruction, one town came in to being. A town of pain and cruelty. A time of fear and death. but with in that is one girl who is good and light, and although she does not know it yet she just might be the answer to everyone’s wish for a better life.

Review
I really enjoyed this book. The world was pretty cool; it really reminds me of that old 1980's movie "Wizards". Although the book is not quite as weird as that movie. The main character was interesting and the writing style was quick passed and engaging.

The plot was a little simple. She basically wrote the "heroes journey", but in an attempt to be something else, she often got side tracked and started going in odd directions. Luckily by page 100 she gets in to her groove and focuses on what she really wants to say. That’s when I was hooked. The author is still finding her voice but what she had written is amazing.

I would give this book a 7.8 but if the next ones in the series are increasingly good I would increase that to and 8 something.

Allies and Assassins

Allies and Assassins
Justin Somper
Enemies of the Prince, #1
Fantasy Mystery/Adventure

Summary
As the next in to the princedom Jared lived a almost care free life. Yes he has to hunt and go to boring meetings but for the most part he is left to himself. Also Jared knows that when his brother has kids he will be removed from the line of succession. Sadly for him all that is about to change.

The great prince Anders has been murdered, and Jared must now run the princedom. But with the death of his brother over his head and the council fighting each other and plotting against each other will Jared have time to learn how to rules the country before he himself becomes the target of assassination?

Review
I Really enjoyed this book. The writing was clear and strong. The characters are interesting and relatable. I spent the whole book with my mind racing trying to both find the killer and understand the political back baiting and undercutting taking place around Jared the main character.

The story really pulled me in and I enjoyed the time the author took to help the reader understand not only the main characters but also everyone else. Because of this the book had a sense of completeness to the world and the people in it.

My only real problem with the book was that I guessed who the killer was within one page of meeting him. And although the book does a good job of trying to cover up the killers actions and confuse the reader. I still knew it was him so this made a lot of the false tracks in the book boring and uninteresting.

Over all I would give this book a 7.5 out of 10, but I think the next book has a lot promise and if its good this number may go up.

Nightshade

Nightshade
Andrea Cremer
Nightshade Series
Romantic Fantasy

Summary
Life is hard in High school. It’s even harder when you have known your destiny sense you where born. But for Calla it’s even worse because she is a werewolf, and the soon to be alpha of a new pack.

All of that may just change when Calla can't goes against her kind’s greatest rules and saves a young, cute, human boy. With Him by her side Calla starts to question everything she has ever known and everything she was destined to be.

But will she have the strength to turn against everything and everyone she has known for the love of a strange boy and the hope of true freedom?

Review
Over the entire book was pretty good. The plot and characters where pretty similar to a lot of romantic fantasy that I have been seeing sense twilight came out, but as fare as the genre goes this one was one of the best.

The plot twists are simple but powerful. The ideas shown in the book are interesting and compelling; especially to a young reader who is questioning there place in the world as we all did.

In the end the whole series is quite good and worth a look. The ending of the book was great but the ending of the series pissed me off a lot, although I do find that does happen a lot.

I would give this book a 7.8 out of 10.