The Fallen Book 1: The Fallen and Leviathan Book Review

Hi Guys,
Today I'm reviewing The Fallen Book 1: The Fallen and Leviathan by Thomas E. Sniegoski. I read this book during the summer of 2011. The reason I haven't posted a review for this sooner, was because I wasn't really impressed with it. The writing, to me, was average, the characters were very one-dimensional, and having so many characters, had me confused on what name matched which character...(if that makes any sense). This is a book about children of fallen angels and mortals(nephilim), the angels that are trying to hunt and kill them, and a special nephilim child, who can redeem the fallen angels. Here is the synopsis from the back of the book:

On his eighteenth birthday, Aaron begins to hear strange voices and is convinced he is going insane. But having moved from foster home to foster home, Aaron doesn't know whom he can trust. He wants to confide in the cute girl from class, but fears she'll confirm he's crazy.
Then a mysterious man begins following Aaron. He knows about Aaron's troubled past and his new powers. And he has a message for Aaron: As the son of a mortal and an angel, Aaron has been chosen to redeem the Fallen.
Aaron tries to dismiss the news and resists his supernatural abilities. But he must accept his newfound heritage — and quickly. For the dark powers are gaining strength, and are hell-bent on destroying him....

My first impression of this book was great, I'd seen the ABC Family movie for it, and I thought it was going to be a great... but unfortunately, the book was almost the complete opposite. The book started out really good, it was very interesting, all the things happening to him had me astounded (even though I knew what it was all leading to I liked reading about it, and I was trapped in the book, so it was like I knew... but I didn't know... O_o? haha). Then it went downhill, and it didn't pick up until the very end. This book was on my debt-list for a very long time, once I got about 150 pages in. I literally had to force myself to finish the book just to get it off my debt-list. I still want to read the next couple books, because I thought the end of the first was picking up at a rapid pace, so I want to see where it goes. But I'm very scared that it might be like the first book (if anyone has read it, please leave a comment and let me know what you thought). I give this book 2/5 stars, because of the reasons I listed at the top of this post. I gave it 2 stars, because it was very good at the beginning and end of this book, you just had to get through the 400 pages or so in the middle. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone based on just this one novel, but because I haven't read the rest of the series, I don't know if it gets better as it goes along. So if you really like angel stories, I guess you should check it out... but only if you also like books that ramble on and on for no apparent reason, and that don't have very interesting characters, or have too many characters to remember them all. (I really wanted to like this book too...) :(

Reminder: If you have read the next couple books in this series, please... please leave a comment letting me know what you thought of it, so that I don't have to endure another horrible book like this one.

The Hobbit Book Review

Hi Guys,
This week I'm doing a book review for The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, this is the first book I've read in 2012! I'm excited about finishing my first Goodreads book challenge. I want to read 50 books this year, and I hope I can accomplish my goal. The Hobbit is the prequel to The Lord of The Rings Trilogy, and it follows a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo goes on a quest with Gandalf and several Dwarves, and they have many misadventures. They meet lots monstrous creatures, my favorite is the guest appearance of Gollum, who plays a large part in this book, even though he's in it for a short period of time. Here is the synopsis from the back of the book:

Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo-alone and unaided-who had to confront the great dragon Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside . . .

My first impression of this book was good. I've been a fan of the Lord of the Rings movies, I haven't read the books yet, but I thought it would be best to start with the Hobbit, and so I sort of knew what it was about. This book was really great. The plot was fast paced, the characters were great, the mythology was well thought out, and I enjoyed the author's humor throughout the book. This book had action throughout, it seemed that in every chapter there was a new creature that they had to fight. The creatures were amazing to learn about, and I learned a lot about most of them. The humor between Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves, had me laughing a lot throughout this book. I only disliked a few things. One of the things I didn't quite like about the book was all the singing that was done. I know they're all mythical creatures... but really... why do they have to sing? I felt like I was reading a script for Glee (I like Glee, I just don't think I'd like to read about it). The lyrics were great, and went along with the story well, but I didn't like reading the same song several times throughout the book. My personal favorite song was Over the Misty Mountains Cold, it was very eery but it made the mood of that scene. Another thing I didn't really like about this book was the character Gandalf. I liked Gandalf throughout the Lord of the Rings movies, he was one of my favorite characters, but in this book, I just couldn't connect with him. I could connect with every other character though, especially Bilbo, Thorin, and Gollum. I even liked the enemies throughout the book, Smaug was a great addition towards the end, and the Spider scene was cool. I also liked the elves, and the trolls. I just don't know what was wrong with Gandalf's character, something just seemed off to me. Especially when he kept leaving them and coming back just in the nick of time. I give this book 4/5 stars because of these two reasons, but other than that this book was amazing. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the Lord of the Rings series... I would recommend it to anyone really. Check it out if you get a chance, it's worth the 20 pages worth of lyrics, and Gandalf's mysterious disappearances.

Additional Announcement: This book is being made into a movie. The movie is set to release in December of 2012. You can watch the trailer online now. I was happy to hear Over the Misty Mountains Cold during the trailer. I can't wait until the movie, I just hope it lives up to the book. Just don't watch the movie without reading the book first. :D

The Spiderwick Chronicles Book Review

Hi Guys,
This week I'm going to be reviewing a book series I read as a child in elementary school, The Spiderwick Chronicles. I look back at the series and I'm amazed at how well I grasped it as a young child. It's a complex idea written in a great way that appeals to kids and adults. Here is the synopsis from the back of each book of the series:

The Field Guide: When the three Grace children -- Mallory, Jared, and Simon -- and their mom move into Aunt Lucinda's old house, readers know there's magic afoot. The kids uncover a nest of assembled junk, and on a visit to the secret library via the dumbwaiter, Jared finds a note describing "my secret to all mankind." After a few mysterious pranks that get blamed on Jared, the boy finally digs up the real prize: Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Fortunately enough, the kids meet one of the critters listed in the guide -- a brownie named Thimbletack -- who makes it all "real" and helps provide the book's suspenseful conclusion: "'Throw the book away, toss it in a fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.'"

The Seeing Stone: A thrilling follow-up to DiTerlizzi and Black's first Spiderwick Chronicles book, The Seeing Stone has Jared and Mallory rescuing Simon from a band of goblins. When the young boy is kidnapped, Thimbletack leads Jared to a stone that allows him to have "the sight," or the ability to see magical creatures. Soon, the brother and sister are outfoxing a hungry troll, working with a helpful goblin named Hogsqueal to thwart the other goblins, and taking care of a wounded griffin.

Lucinda's Secret: Fresh from near-fatal goblin and troll attacks in the previous book (The Seeing Stone, the children are torn over whether to hang onto their long-lost great-great-uncle's book or to turn it over to the menacing faeries. Thimbletack--the house brownie who's transmogrified into an angry "boggart"--has lost his patience with the kids, and he starts subjecting Jared to increasingly nasty pranks. Hoping that Lucinda might know something about Uncle Arthur's fate (or at least have some advice on how to fend off the faeries), the three children talk their mom into a trip to the asylum for a visit--but there they learn their situation might be even more dangerous than they imagined. (And, as readers of the series know, the kids already thought they were in hot water.)

The Ironwood Tree: At school, someone is running around pretending to be Jared, and it's not Simon. To make matters even worse, now Mallory has disappeared and something foul in the water is killing off all the plants and animals for miles around. Clues point to the old abandoned quarry, just outside of town. Dwarves have taken over an abandoned mine there. And the faerie world's abuzz with the news that a creature with plans to rule the world has offered them a gift to join with him -- he's given them a queen...

The Wrath of Mulgarath: The Final Battle

My first impression of these books was good, because the cover was great, the summary was interesting, and they had a picture on every other page haha. I read the first couple books in a day, and as a third/fourth grader that was pretty good. I liked the books alright, but each book wasn't really like a book, it was more like a part of a book, they should've just combined the five to make one great book. I give this series 2/5 stars now, but as a kid I would probably give it 5/5. The story was very magical, and it puts you into a new world with many new creatures. It opened up the world of fantasy to me, and I'm thankful for that. I would definitely recommend it to kids in elementary school/ beginning middle school kids as well. Adults might like it as well, just not as much as the kids of course. This series is also a movie, that combines all five books of course, and I liked the movie, and thought the characters perfectly. There were some differences between the books and the movie, nothing really big though. The one thing I didn't like about the movie was them leaving out the dwarves, elves, the unicorn, and the phooka. I would judge each book differently, that's why I had to judge the series as a whole. :D

Power of Six Book Review

Hi Guys,
This week I'm doing a review on The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore. This is the sequel to the bestselling book I am Number Four. This book switches perspective between Four and Seven. Seven is an orphan girl living in a convent. Four is still on the run from the FBI as well as Mogadorians. Here is the synopsis from the front flap of the book:

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.
I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.
And I'm ready to fight.

My first reaction to this book was good, because I'd already read, and loved, I am Number Four. Not to mention that the cover of this book is amazing. I thought this book was decent, it seemed rushed to me. The only things that kept me reading this book were the characters and the plot. I liked Number Seven, I thought she was innocent and I liked how she looked out for others. I also liked Number four, Number nine, Number ten, Number six, Sam, and... you guys might not want to hear this... Sarah. I know, I know... what she did to Four was wrong, but I think there had to be something that happened that made her do that to him. I still think she's a good person. I like Sam and Six's chemistry throughout the book, and I liked how four and nine were not afraid to kick butt towards the end. Number ten amazed me from the moment I found out who she was. I didn't like Number Seven's cepan... she was a total... never-mind that... I did start to like her towards the end, as for the other nuns... i didn't like them. I gave this book 3/5 stars because the only things I liked about it were the characters and the plot. The dialogue was horrible... and there were other reasons I didn't like this book, but I don't want to go through them. I did like the book though. I think people should read it, there is always at least one book in a series that is horrible, and this is that book. I hope the next one will be really good. :D

The Secret Circle: The Captive Part 2 and The Power Book Review

Hey Guys,
This week I'll be reviewing The Secret Circle: The Captive Part 2 and The Power by L.J. Smith. This is an omnibus of the books that were written in the 90's. This is a story about a coven of witches and their adventures. This book contains the second half of the second book and the entire third book. Here is the synopsis from the back of the book:

CAUGHT IN THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL...
Cassie has joined the most alluring-and deadly-in-crowd imaginable. But power comes with a price, and it's more dangerous than she knows. Torn between the dueling desires of the two leaders of the Secret Circle, she must ultimately choose between saving all of the New Salem, and her own dangerous love for bewitching Adam, which threatens to tear the circle apart. In the ultimate battle between good and evil, will Cassie's supernatural powers be strong enough to lead the coven out of danger? Or will she fall prey to the dark forces within?
...WILL SHE SACRIFICE HER LOVE FOR THE CIRCLE TO SURVIVE?

My first impression of this book was good, because I had already read the first book, and I liked it, so I was very excited for this one and I couldn't wait to see how it ended. This book was very good as well, it didn't disappoint. I liked how the characters developed, and I also liked how the plot played out and ended. I was rooting for Cassie and Adam, but I was disappointed at the way it ended (Spoiler: I mean... how could Dianna just do that... and I bet Adam was happy about Dianna just giving him up(sarcastic). I give this book 4/5 stars because I liked it, I didn't like how it ended abruptly and the exact way it ended, but I think everyone should read it. :D

The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive Part 1 Book Review

Hey Guys,
This week I'll be reviewing The Secret Circle: the Initiation and The Captive Part 1 by L.J. Smith. This is an omnibus of the books that were written in the 90's. This is a story about a coven of witches and their adventures. This book contains the first book and the first half of the second. Here is the synopsis from the back of the book:

The circle's power has lured her home
Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witches that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants—even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her.

My first impression of this book was that I wasn't going to like it. I've never really read any books about witches besides Harry Potter (and the witches/wizards from Harry Potter are WAY different than the witches in these books). I then learned that a friend of mine read it, and she told me that I should read it because it was really good. Even after that I didn't want to read it. It wasn't until I saw that the book was being adapted into a show that decided to read it. (I don't know why, but when I find out a book is being made into a movie/tv show, It makes me want to read the book, if it sounds decent, I guess I just like to compare them, and be happy with the result, I don't like when things are changed around to much(Vampire Diaries/Secret Circle) but I still like them anyway). I'm glad I chose to read the books, they are amazing. I loved them, and I loved the witches from this book... about evenly to the witches/wizards in Harry Potter. I liked the plot, and I really liked the characters. I like books with several important characters like this, because I like to see what happens to each of them. I give this book 4/5 stars, because I liked it... but I don't think it was one of my favorites, but you should definitely check it out anyway. :D

Warm Bodies Book Review

Hi guys,
This week I'm doing a review on a book I just finished a week or two ago. The book is Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. This book is about zombies, and their fight to be normal and accepted in a futuristic world where humans are the endangered species, and "bonies" are the Apex predator. The humans want to rebuild but can't with zombies attacking them every time they step outside their safe haven. With that being said, here is the synopsis from the back of the book:

R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.
After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.

This book was extraordinary, I enjoyed reading from the perspective of R. He had a lot of thoughts going through his head that he couldn't at all express, so it was nice to know what was happening with R first hand. Learning things about Julie, the human love interest, is great as well. At first she seems really tough and aggressive but later on in the book you find that she's exactly the opposite. I liked how this book showed the perspective of a Zombie. Normally, in zombie movies/books, you just see the perspective of humans, and this book will change your perspective on zombies because it's narrated by one. I liked all the characters, even the antagonists, it was hard not to. They were all so true to themselves and they didn't completely change who they were throughout the book. I liked how Marion made it so that zombies weren't the apex predators. In this world, there are bonies (Which are like zombies, except they don't have flesh, and they also have supernatural capabilities), and by their descriptions and actions, they are worse than any zombie I've ever read in a book or seen in a movie. As you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I only had one problem with it though... the constant swearing, and the occasional vulgar scene. I'm not saying the author shouldn't have done it, he was just trying to portray the world in which he though zombies would live, and as for the profanity, most Americans do it, that's why he wrote with the constant cussing... to make it feel real and more close to home for the reader. I just didn't like it because it was a constant thing, and I'm not one who likes contemptible scenes in a book, or cuss words in every sentence, but that just means that he had another audience who liked it for those reasons. I give this book 4/5 stars because of the vulgar scenes and the endless profanity. Other than those two things this book is great, and you should definately check it out. It is worth your time.

Additional Announcement: They are making a movie of this book in 2013 I believe, so you can go and check out the cast of the movie on IMDb.com But you should definately read the book before you see the movie.

Fear (ARC) Book Review

Hi Guys,
This week I'm going to review Fear by Michael Grant. This is the fifth book in the Gone series. This is one of my favorite book series' ever. I like the plot, the characters, and the dialogue. I got to read this book so early because I was one of the few people to receive an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy), the reason these are sent out are so the publisher and the author get an idea of what the reactions would be. This was the first ARC I've ever received, and I was extremely excited about it. Here is the synopsis from the back of the book:

This is a blood-pumping, white-knuckle sci-fi thriller of epic proportions. Night is falling in the FAYZ. Even though it's been nearly a year since everyone over the age of fifteen disappeared, the sun has continued to shine on the kids of Perdido Beach. Now, though, the gaiaphage has blotted out the sun and plunged the FAYZ into perpetual gloom. Divided and dispirited, the survivors face their greatest enemy yet - the darkness of their own minds...

My first impression of this book was obviously good, because I've read the earlier books in the series, and this cover didn't disappoint me, I loved that it looked grimy and dark. It definitely captured the mood of the book. After so many years of reading this series, you would think it would get a little predictable... but it doesn't. Everything that happened in this book took me by surprise. This book was shocking from beginning to end. You find out new things about the kids of the FAYZ, the leaders of the FAYZ, and things about the FAYZ itself. This is the first Gone novel to show the perspective of those from the outside. I couldn't believe what happened at the end of this book. The trials Dianna goes through in this book took me by surprise as well. Some of my favorite characters have secrets of their own, like Edilio, I didn't see that one coming and was kind of appalled by it. The idea of a full blackout in the FAYZ was great. I was scared just reading about it, and I didn't think of how helpless some of the mutants would be in the dark. I give this book 5/5 stars because it skyrocketed past my expectations and took me by surprise... I couldn't put it down. I'm anxiously awaiting the next and last book, Light, by Michael Grant. This is my favorite book series. Grant is a great author, and makes writing seem easy. I can't wait. You definitely need to check this book out when it's released in April!

The Last Olympian Book Review

Hi Guys,
This week I'm reviewing the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan. I really liked this book, and I was excited about it because it was the last in the Percy Jackson series, and it was going to be epic. It met all my expectations... maybe a little too much. Here is the synopsis from the front flap:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.
While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

I liked this book a lot. There was tons of action, romance, myths, and secrets revealed. I'll start with the romance, the love triangle is decided upon between Percy, Annabeth, and Rachel. (And the end solution made me happy.) There were many more myths added as well, lots of myths about titans, but one goddess you might no have known about before this book was Hestia goddess of the Hearth. There were tons of secrets revealed, but of course I can't tell you without spoiling. For the action, like I said, there were tons of action. I was looking forward to the action of this book, but it disappointed me. Not because there is too little action but because there is too much. I like reading action packed books, but I don't like spending 30 pages talking about 1 small battle. I also like the dialogue of this book, the author makes every one of his characters funny and sarcastic and I like it. I gave this book a 4/5 stars just because of the tons of action.

The Battle of the Labyrinth Book Review

Hi Guys,
This week I'm reviewing The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan. I really enjoyed this series and I'm excited to share my opinions with you. Here is the synopsis from the front flap:

As an incoming freshman, Percy isn't expecting his high school orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends will set out on a quest through the Labyrinth-a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.

My first impression of this book was that it had a very nice cover and it leaves you with so many questions, kind of like the second book in this series. I liked this book a lot, there was continuous action that didn't stop throughout the whole book. I liked seeing all the monsters from my favorite Greek myths be brought to life in a current time. The only thing I disliked about the book was that they were in the Labyrinth throughout the whole book, and it had a couple parts where it dragged on. Other than that I thought the book was great. My rating of this book is 4/5 stars. The next review that will be up, will be for The Last Olympian, the fifth and last Percy Jackson book, by Rick Riordan.