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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