Review: To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kira has always wanted to discover life on a new world.  She travels with survey missions to uncolonized planets to determine if they can handle human life.  During one of these missions, Kira stumbles across an alien relic.  Her excitement is over the top until the ancient dust all around her starts moving.  This discovery was just the start and as war begins in the stars, Kira must travel the galaxy to save humankind.  Does Kira have the skills and knowledge to stop this war?  How far will she have to go to find all the answers?

 

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is an epic science fiction novel that is not for the weak reader.  The print copy is just under 900 pages and the audiobook tops 32 hours!  Even though it is very long, it is a stand-alone story.  I just looked at the book as a duology or trilogy that was released all at once.  I understand why Paolini didn’t separate the story; there really weren’t any good pausing points.  At the beginning of the story, I had trouble understanding all the “advanced” science, but once my mind wrapped around the technology, I was fully absorbed by the story.  I loved this book and recommend it to those who want to invest time in a good sci-fi tale.

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Review: Night Shine

Night Shine by Tessa Gratton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nothing is an orphan who also lives in the palace.  No one pays any attention to her except the Great Demon and the prince.  Prince Kirin is her best friend and heir to the throne.  After Kirin is kidnapped, Nothing believes that Kirin was taken by the Sorceress Who Eats Girls.  The prince’s bodyguard also believes this, even though the sorceress has never bothered boys before.  During this rescue operation, what will Nothing and the bodyguard have to overcome?  Will they be able to rescue Kirin and keep his secrets?

 

Night Shine is a stand-alone fantasy adventure with an LGBTQ+ twist.  The storyline moves along quickly and since it was a stand-alone, the adventure was compact and complete.  I would have to say that there aren’t many fantasy books with LGBTQ+ characters in them and this story fulfills this overlooked niche without being too pushy.  Overall this was an enjoyable story, but I’m glad it was not a series.

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Review: The Other Side of the Sky

The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Prince North has spent his entire life in the sky.  He lives in a city that is suspended high in the air by engines whose science has long been forgotten.  Nimh lives on the surface and is the living goddess to her people.  It has been 10 years since she was chosen and she still doesn’t know what her role will be to her people.  North and Nimh are linked through a prophecy that is hard to interpret.  They can’t deny that there is a connection between them, but since no one can touch Nimh (without her losing her powers) they are pulled between saving their people or following this connection.  Will these two young people be able to unravel the prophecy in time?

 

The Other Side of the Sky is the first book in a series with the same title.  The story is told in alternating voices, but I didn’t have any trouble following along with the transitions.  There is action and adventure in this sci-fi fantasy and readers will also enjoy a little bit of romance thrown in.  Since this is the first book in a series, there are a lot of unanswered questions, yet readers will still finish the book feeling satisfied with this portion of the story.  Kaufman and Spooner weaved their styles together in a smooth way and readers won’t even notice two different authors.  I enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next installment to be released. 

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Review: Majesty

Majesty by Katharine McGee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Princess Beatrice is quickly learning what it means to be queen.  America has never had a queen on its throne and it thought it would have longer to adjust to this change.  Now that Beatrice’s father is dead, everyone’s role is being pushed in a new direction.  Princess Samantha is now the next in line to the throne and is having trouble living up to her reputation as a party princess.  Daphne has always wanted to be royal and has not always done what was right to those around her.  Now she is facing the troubles that are soon to follow a person without integrity.  Three women in three different situations all trying to deal with a country usually lead by men.  Will Beatrice get the man she loves?  What does the country need from her?

 

Majesty is the second book in the American Royals series.  I love this alternate reality where America became a country without democracy.  These young women are all dealing with a life-changing dilemma and must determine who they can trust and love along the way.  McGee has written a story that encompasses more than one tale that all weave together into a larger drama.  I can’t wait for the third book to be released and I recommend this book to everyone who read the first book.  If you haven’t started the series … why not?!

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Review: Teen Titans: Beast Boy

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Garfield has a bucket list for his senior year.  One item on his list is to gain weight and another is to kiss his crush.  It doesn’t look like either one of these is going to take place.  No matter how many protein shakes he drinks or weights he lifts, he can’t seem to get taller or heavier.  Gar’s friends try and support him, even though they don’t understand what the big deal is.  Gar is getting bold with his attempts to impress the Chosen Ones and accepts a dare that would make most people cringe.  The effects of this dare are not what he expected though.  He wakes up taller and bulkier … he even seems to be faster.  What is causing these changes?  Why have people been lying to him?

 

Teen Titans: Beast Boy is the second Teen Titans graphic novel.  Just like “Raven,” this is an independent story that can be read on its own.  I enjoyed the creation backstory of this character, but the ending left me feeling as if I should know more.  If this becomes part of other stories that come back to Beast Boy to tell what happens next, then that is fine.  But, if this is the only graphic novel about this character, it leaves too many unanswered questions.  This was a short read (I finished in about an hour) and the graphics were fun.  This is a good book as long as you don’t want a complete story.

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Review: The Nemesis

The Nemesis by S.J. Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tyrus had made Nemesis his Empress and then he shocked the galaxy when he killed her.  It has been three years and he is more of a tyrant now than ever before.  But rumors are floating around the galaxy that Nemesis is not dead.  Some have whispered that they saw her in faraway star systems and these whispers have led to rumors.  Will Nemesis truly rise from the dead?  Will she lead the people against the man she once loved?

 

The Nemesis is the third and final book in The Diabolic trilogy.  This Sci-Fi adventure takes place primarily in space and readers will enjoy the world-hopping and backstabbing that transpires throughout.  Kincaid did a wonderful job answering questions along the way and readers will be wondering into the final pages where the story will end.  Will you be satisfied with the ending?  Well, read the conclusion to The Nemesis to find out.

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Review: Kind of a Big Deal

Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Josie Pie was a big deal … in high school.  She even dropped out of high school to move to New York City and become a star!  Her dream was short-lived and now she is a nanny in Montana where she is hoping to earn money and pay down the debt she racked up in NYC.  She is isolated in a town where she knows no one and her old support system has fallen apart.  Josie is desperate to get away from her life and decides to start reading again.  What she doesn’t expect is to literally be pulled into the books she is reading.  Is she going crazy?  What is causing the phenomenon?

 

Kind of a Big Deal is a stand-alone novel that is definitely more comedy than fine literature.  I found myself rolling my eyes at the characters and storyline while also trying to figure out where Hale was going to take the story next.  I’m not sure I would have finished the book if I hadn’t committed to reviewing it.  It is a short read, so as something to fill in some free time, it was OK.  Definitely not a book to make time for, but if you don’t have anything else on your agenda, it is good for a laugh.

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