Review: Camelot Burning

Camelot Burning by Kathryn Rose

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Vivienne has a secret. The entire court knows her as Guinevere’s lady-in-waiting, yet she is also Merlin’s apprentice. She is not only highly skilled in alchemy, but in the mechanical arts also. She would rather work with Merlin then serve Guinevere, but family obligations will not permit that. Although she would like nothing better than to leave Camelot and escape her destiny at court, everything is thrown into chaos when King Arthur’s sister, Morgan le Fay, returns to Camelot and promises destruction. Can Vivienne and Merlin create the weapon that will stop Morgan le Fay? Will personal distractions hinder Vivienne’s progress?

Camelot Burning is the first book in the new Metal & Lace series. I chose this book since it includes two of my favorites (Camelot and Steampunk). The story itself was enjoyable and I don’t regret spending the time in its pages, but overall it was just OK. Many times I found my mind wandering and had to stop and refocus myself before moving on. Die hard Camelot and Steampunk fans will most likely enjoy this book, but this should not be an individual’s introduction to either.




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Review: Deep Blue

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Serafina has trained for today. This is the day she is to be betrothed to Prince Mahdi and she wants to win his heart so that it won’t be an empty marriage. But Sera has been having disturbing dreams and she is not sure if it is her imagination, or if she is seeing a dark future. After her mother is struck by a poisoned arrow, all doubts are removed. Serafina must find out who is behind this attack and try and prevent a war between the merpeople. She must find five other mermaids that are destined to work together, but finding them is only the beginning of the quest.

Deep Blue is the first book in the Waterfire Saga. Donnelly takes a mythological realm and creates an epic adventure to satisfy many fantasy fans. The story includes many anecdotes of mermaid historical legends. Readers who are new to the Mer will find a great jumping off point to explore this varied myth. I will warn readers that this book has a huge cliffhanger, so if you don’t like to end a book without satisfaction, you might want to wait until the next book is released. For those who are willing to finish with longing, I promise this book has action until the last page.




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Review: The Advocate

The Advocate by Randy Singer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Theophilus wanted to be a great Advocate. Due to an enemy he made in his youth, he is sent to assist Pontius Pilate in order to prove himself. While there, he witnesses the trial of Christ and begins his own personal struggle with what he saw. He was the person who suggested the Barabbas switch, and after a murderer is released and an innocent man is executed, Theophilus begins to doubt his advocate skills. Over the course of the next 30 years, Theophilus has finally proven himself during a rocky time in Rome’s history. When he is asked to defend Paul in front of Nero, he discovers that there was more to the life of Christ then he had known earlier.

The Advocate is an historical Christian fiction story that brings life into the person of Theophilus. Historians don’t really know who Theophilus was. Luke addresses him in the books of Luke and Acts, but Singer is able to take events that are known and weave a tale that will make the reader want to explore this time in history and these biblical books in more depth. I found myself wishing a friend was also reading this book too so that I would have someone to discuss it with. This would make a great book group read and would also work well to create a flame where a person is beginning to have a spark of interest. I have already started talking this book up.




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Review: The Break-Up Artist

The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Becca Williamson has a very unusual high school job. She breaks up couples, upon request. All it takes is $100 to her PayPal account and she will use her skills to make sure the relationship doesn’t last. She knows that relationships are doomed to fail after her sister is dumped just 6 hours before her wedding ceremony. At her school, the girls in relationships act like zombies and those who are single are treated like the scum of the earth. Then Becca receives a very unusual request. She is hired to break up the top couple, Steve and Huxley. She has her doubts and reservations about breaking them up, but when the guy offers her $300, she cannot refuse.

The Break-Up Artist takes high school dating dynamics to an entirely new level. Anyone who has experienced or is currently experiencing dating in high school knows that it is high drama and many times a revolving door of uncertainty. Siegel captures the doubt and anguish that teens feel in this confusing dating world and spins in a saboteur for hire that will seize the reader and carry them along for the ride. Of course there needs to be additional drama such as the break-up artist falling for a boy and her best friend being in a relationship that could use a good break-up. I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys realistic fiction, romance or comedies. I truly feel all of these genres are covered.




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Review: Rapture Practice

Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Aaron Hartzler grew up in a very strict home. Church was attended twice on Sunday, on Wednesday and any other religious holidays. The family did not own a television and they did not go to the movies. While he was growing up, Aaron couldn’t wait for The Rapture, the time when Jesus would return and take the believers to Heaven. As he grew older, he began to question the beliefs taught him and push the limits of what would be considered acceptable behavior. Everything he did he did in secret and the consequences when caught became more severe.

Rapture Practice is a coming-of-age memoir that has many biblical truths, yet can lead readers on the wrong path. Readers who are coming from a similar background will find strength in the stories, those who are from a religious home (yet not so strict) will see the flaws within, but my biggest fear is that an unbeliever will read this book and think that all Christian households are similar. If an unbeliever were to read this memoir I believe they may be pushed further off the path since the author never discovers truth faith on his own. That is not a spoiler since the subtitle gives away the ending. Although the book is well written and the biblical questioning is common among those growing up in the church, I cannot recommend this book to a wide audience.




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Review: The Drowning

The Drowning by Rachel Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Carl is alive and his brother is dead. Unfortunately, Carl’s memory of what happened is spotty and what he does remember leads him to believe that he killed his brother. This feeling becomes more intense when he sees his brother every time he is wet. He learns that his brother’s girlfriend was also there, but she doesn’t want to talk about what happened. Carl must convince her to trust him before his brother’s spirit takes revenge.

The Drowning is a book that is hard to place in a neat little box. Ninety-five percent of the story is realistic with the issues that everyone experiences with the loss of a loved one, but the other five percent is horror/fantasy due to the haunting spirit. Readers will have to decide for themselves if what Carl is seeing is real or a coping mechanism of his brain. Either way, Ward has created a gripping tale that will captivate the reader and keep their attention till the end.




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Review: She Is Not Invisible

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Laureth Peak is blind, yet her father has taught her to look for patterns and coincidence in things around her. After she receives an email from a person in New York City stating he has found her father’s journal, she decides to take her 7-year old brother on a mission to find their father. All Laureth has to go on is her father’s black book and the patterns she sees around her. The issues a 16-year old girl is able to overcome to travel from London to NYC are amazing even if she didn’t have the issue with her sight.

She is Not Invisible is an extraordinary work in many ways. Laureth has not only adapted to being without sight, many people who interact with her are not aware of her disability. Readers will begin to wonder about patterns and the recurring events around them. Is it just chance, or is there a bigger plan? If you don’t see a pattern, is it that there is not one or is it not being recognized? Sedgwick spins a tale with enough twists and turns to keep the reader wanting more, yet doesn’t drag it out to add unnecessary components. This book is a very fast, yet satisfying read that I will be recommending again and again.




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Review: Expiration Day

Expiration Day by William Campbell Powell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Tania Deeley was raised to know she was special. She was a human child in a world where infertility was the norm and society has embraced androids as child replacements. Although Tania has always known that teknoids were around, she begins to wonder who is human and who is not. Also, is it true that when a teknoid turns eighteen they must be returned to the Oxted Corporation that manufactured them? As she learns truths about herself, her friends and her parents, she begins to look for answers to her questions, even the forbidden ones.

Expiration Day is a science fiction novel that defies the norm. Powell takes our current science and stretches it just enough to still be believable and adds a population crisis to boot. Readers will quickly catch on to the issues being presented, but the truth about Tania is not discovered quickly. Readers will have to reach nearly the end of the book to find out all of the answers and they may still wonder about our world being pushed to this limit. The switching between Tania’s diary and an unknown future being is disconcerting, but the adjustment is quick and I found the story enhanced because of it.




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Review: A Creature of Moonlight

A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The flower girl, Marni, has lived a simple life. Although she is aware that the Gramps who has raised her was the former king, she stays in her small home away from the castle in order to keep alive. The current king, her uncle, killed her mother years before. He had his reasons. Marni’s mother had run away into the woods and had returned pregnant. It is believed that Marni is half dragon and therefore must be kept close and watched. Marni is the only heir to the throne and must now choose between the kingdom that needs a ruler and the dragon that seems to be sending the magical woods after her.

A Creature of Moonlight is a debut novel that will capture the reader at the start and introduce a variety of twists and turns throughout. Hahn has created a strong heroine and a breathtaking storyline that will entertain the reader the whole way through. This stand-alone novel is refreshing in this time of trilogies and longer series. Readers who have enjoyed the adventures in Bitterblue will want to delve into this book and those who love dragon lore will be delighted with the “old tales” introduced within.




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Review: Lovecraft's Monsters

Lovecraft's Monsters by Ellen Datlow

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Lovecraft’s Monsters is not for the faint of heart. This short story anthology includes stories that are directly related to the monsters created by H. P. Lovecraft and some that skirt around them. Readers will enjoy the new tales of the horrific creatures and must take the time to look at each illustration. Datlow selected many intriguing tales to include in this anthology, but like any short story collection, not all will be enjoyed by every reader. This is not an anthology of well-known authors, but many authors will be known by some readers and others will have the reader looking for their other works. This is definitely one of those works that is better read in small chunks and not read quickly in a couple of days.



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Review: The Forever Song

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Allison Sekemoto has given up on being a good vampire. After being turned, she tried relentlessly to keep her humanity within herself. Now Sarren has killed the love of her life, Zeke, and Allison has embraced her monster in order to hunt down and kill Sarren. As she continues to follow Sarren, she discovers the path is leading straight to Eden, the last vampire-free zone left on Earth. She is not alone. Her creator, Kanin, and Jackal, her blood brother, have joined her on this quest. Can they reach Sarren before Eden is destroyed? Will Allison be able to overcome the shocking truths that Sarren has in store for her?

The Forever Song is the third and final book in the Blood of Eden series. Readers who were disturbed with the characters killed off in the last book will find new twists and turns in this next volume. Kagawa will not disappoint readers with the fast paced style and they will remember that these three books span about one year of Allison’s life. As a series finale I found that the larger questions were all answered, yet Kagawa left a few openings for short stories or a spin off series in the future. The Forever Song is a satisfying read and a great conclusion.




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Review: Yes, It's Hot in Here: Adventures in the Weird, Woolly World of Sports Mascots

Yes, It's Hot in Here: Adventures in the Weird, Woolly World of Sports Mascots by A.J. Mass

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Modern day mascots are believed to have originated from the Renaissance jester. Their main role is entertaining an audience and keeping them focused on the “floor.” Yes, It’s Hot in Here explores what it is like to be a mascot in the sports world. Mass covers high school, college and professional sports teams and what is expected from these individuals. Although there are times where Mass comes across as a jaded ex-employee, readers will see his love for this role and explore aspects of the team mascot that only a few would have already known. This is not a book I would normally pick up, but it was nominated to be a “Rosie Book” and after looking deeper into the description I thought I would give it a try. Once I got into the stories, I couldn’t help but keep reading. This is one of those books that will need to be talked up, yet will satisfy the readers who are willing to try.



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Review: Sunrise

Sunrise by Mike Mullin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



It has been nearly a year since the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted and sent North America into a harsh winter and chaos. Towns and groups are attacking each other and the government is not willing or able to assist. Alex and Darla have come to the realization that their home is not safe and the adults are not willing to step up and do what is necessary. Can they do what it takes to survive? What lines are they unwilling to cross?

Sunrise is the final book in the Ashfall series. Those of us who have waited over a year and half for this final book will quickly discover that the wait was worth it. Mullin doesn’t spend any time coddling readers with background and memory jogging. He plunges quickly into the next era of this adventure and sweeps the reader along for the ride. As Alex and Darla face new and harrowing trials, the reader will quickly realize how unprepared the average person would be to survive an apocalypse of this magnitude. I know I would not be an Alex or a Darla, but I hope if I am ever faced with a life surviving situation like this, I can find people like them and join their team.




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Review: The Klaatu Terminus

The Klaatu Terminus by Pete Hautman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Tucker Feye and Lia continue their adventures through the Klaatu Diskos. The Diskos appear to be not so random anymore and the pair, along with a few others, keep jumping into them willingly and are sucked into the Timesweeps along the way. Is there anything special about these individuals? Why are the Diskos centered on Hopewell? Their journey takes them into the recent past, the present and the distant future. If you did not read books 1 and 2, don’t even think about jumping into this book. Readers who have already finished the first parts of this series will not be disappointed in the action, relationship exploration and truths revealed. Hautman weaves the many time streams that have popped up into a finale which will delight the reader. Many questions previously left unanswered will all be explored in this final volume in the series. The ending is worth the wait and only a few (not me) will figure out the why to it all.




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Review: Shattered Secrets

Shattered Secrets by Krystal Wade

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Abigail Nichols has boy problems. After crushing after her best friend for years, they finally kiss and then he ignores her for 3 months. She decides to go on a date with a childhood friend, but knows there is no connection. She is hoping it will make Derick jealous and it does, but then her life is turned upside down after she is kidnapped, thrown in the trunk of a car and taken to a remote cabin. She is rescued by none other than the two boys who she pit against each other. Both have been keeping secrets from her and Abigail quickly realizes that her entire life was just a series of lies. Her parents are not who she believed they were and darker forces are at work around her.

Shattered Secrets is the first book in a new series by Krystal Wade. Readers of Wade’s Darkness Falls series will see a lot of parallels between the stories. Both story lines have a girl who has powers she wasn’t aware of, is being hidden on earth away from her native world and two boys that equally believe they are the one for her. These parallels might be enjoyable for some readers, but for me it was a turn off. I wanted a new story with new developments, not the same story with different characters. I still enjoyed the book and will look for the second book in the series, but wish the series were more different.




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Review: The Here and Now

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Prenna James believes she is finally adjusting after immigrating to New York five years earlier. The largest issue with her immigration wasn’t that it was a different country, but that it was a different time. See … Prenna is from the future. In her future, a mosquito-borne plague has mutated and the world as she knew it was in shambles. Prenna and the group she immigrated with have several important rules they must follow. They must never tell a time native about themselves, they must not interfere with their history, and they should never become intimate with anyone outside of their community. Then Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves and everything changes. She begins to question the rules set down and wonders if any of the rules are really meant to be kept.

The Here and Now is a science fiction story with so many time paradoxes the reader will not want to try and keep them straight. Readers of Brashares’ The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series will enjoy the relationships explored throughout, but they must be willing to step away from the realistic genre into the sci-fi genre. Who set the rules and why were they created? If the future is so bad, why are they not allowed to change it? Although this novel can easily be classified as science fiction, it has enough adventure and romance to pull in a multi-faceted reading group. The Here and Now appears to be a stand-alone novel and the ending is satisfying in its own right, but it looks like other short stories or books could come out of this world.




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Review: Far From You

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Sophie’s parents do not believe her. She has been drug free for six months, but when her best friend is killed during what everyone believes was a drug deal gone wrong, Sophie is sent away. She must go into rehab and get clean. Since she has already kicked the habit, when she returns she is even more determined to find out what happened that night and why she was set up instead of also being killed. Can she find out who was behind the murder? Can she uncover the truth before she becomes a victim again?

Far From You is a fast paced who-done-it that will have readers attempting to guess the real reasons of the murder and drug set up. Sharpe creates a situation where the main character knows there is more to the story, but the layers of secrets that need to be revealed are ever developing. The story comes to the reader in multiple points of view and gives them insight into other developments without exposing the truth too soon. Far From You will satisfy male and female readers of all ages, not just the teen crowd.




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