Probably because of Student-Teaching and First-Year Teaching, I didn't read as many books in 2013 as I would've liked, so this year, it seems, I'm trying to make up the difference. Already I've read 24 books and show no sign of slowing. I don't have time, unfortunately, to give full reviews to any of them, unfortunately. Some of them already have older reviews, so you can check those as well. But anyway, here are some mini-reviews to give you an idea about my feeling for them, in roughly the reverse order from how I read them. Because the reviews are short, I've added pictures, just in case those make you want to read more than the reviews.
---
Warbreaker
Brandon Sanderson
What can I say except that I have loved every book that I have read thus far by Brandon Sanderson and this book is no exception.
This tells the story of two kingdoms on the brink of war. The oldest princess Vivenna has been trained from her youth to marry the God-King of Hallendren, but at the last minute the king sends his youngest daughter, Siri instead. Siri feels hopeless in matters of the court, but struggles to do her best to please the strong and silent God-King while also trying to discover how to keep her country safe. A short time afterwards, Vivenna goes to Hallendren to try to free Siri, but ends up in the underground trying to keep Hallendren from going to war.
Both of the girls have stark character arcs from the beginning to the end of the book, yet both are for the better. Meanwhile, the other characters are compelling and wonderful to follow, especially the Returned God Lightsong who doesn't believe himself a God, or the enigmatic Vasher who is working towards some unknown end using the strange ability that "Breath" provides him.
As usual, Sanderson creates a truly believable world even though most elements in it are foreign to us. He leads us in slowly through characters that are also learning as they go and so we participate in their sense of discovery. The characters are convincing, the plot is engrossing, and the conclusion is satisfying. What more can I say? You should read Brandon Sanderson.
---
Book of a Thousand Days
Shannon Hale
I've read this book before and I'm glad to have read it again.
This tells the story of a maid and her princess who are to be locked in a tower for many years because the princess would not marry who her father wanted her to. We are told the story: what they do, how they survive, and how what they do afterwards, as if through the journal of the maid. It is a wonderful storytelling device and it brings us to have a better understanding of her character.
It's a quick read and it's also an enjoyable and meaningful read. High recommend.
---
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Across A Star-Swept Sea
Diana Peterfreund
I talk about these two together because "Across A Star-Swept Sea" is a modern sci-fi take on "The Scarlet Pimpernel.
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic romance/adventure novel. It's been around for long enough that you can find more detailed reviews of it than I have time for, but suffice it to say that I love the old language and wit contained therein and the plot is still interesting and engaging, especially after the first few chapters and you really understand what's going on. Well deserving of the title "Classic".
Diana Peterfruend's modern take on the story is also very interesting and engaging, though for different reasons. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where genetic engineering went terribly wrong and caused a catastrophe and some many people to become "Reduced", or mentally impaired, the people on the two islands of this book have overcome that past through medicine. But now, on one island, a rebellion has taken over and is using drugs to induce the previous nobels into a permanently Reduced state in order to get back at them. However, their efforts are constantly thwarted by a mysterious figure known as "The Wild Poppy", who is in truth a girl by the name of Persis Blake.
Full of action and romance, the book lives up well to the story it borrows from. And yet they are not fully the same story because these characters are unique and work within the compelling world that Peterfreund had created.
I don't know if it helps or not to read "For Darkness Shows The Stars", a book by the same author also set in the same world and based off of "Persuasion" by Jane Austen. That book was first and a few characters in it also appear in this book. And yet, I don't think one has to read them in any particular order as they are two different looks at the same thing.
Either way, both "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Across A Star-Swept Sea" get my thumbs up as terrific books to read. Perhaps one of the things I like best about Diana Peterfreund's books, and the reason why I hope she keeps on writing similar books, is because they drove me to read the old classics, and for that I am thankful.
---
These Broken Stars
Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
I'll admit, I wasn't sure at first if I'd like it because it sounded a little like some other stories I've read.
Guy and girl meet, have feelings for each other, but can't fall in love because they're from completely different social classes, except then some catastrophe happens that forces them to be together for so long that they end up falling for each other anyway.
And yet, because of how much I enjoyed the two main characters and felt that they were unique individuals, I loved it and would heartily recommend this book to anyone.
As already alluded to, Tarver is a war hero aboard the Icarus luxary space crusar, there along with many of the elite. He meets Lilac, but soon discovers how much they are from different social classes and backs off. Then, the Icarus begins to crash due to an unknown cause and Tarver and Lilac manage to escape together on a pod down to an unknown planet. There they do their best to survive and be rescued, except all is not as it seems on the planet.
Both main characters have good character arcs from start to finish. As the book-flap will tell you, they are not the same people at the end as they were in the beginning. The plot is relatively simple, but the characters and their interactions make it interesting the whole way through. I also thought that a good job was done with the alternating viewpoints between Lilac and Tarver.
Perhaps what I really like about this book is that it serves well as a stand alone book. I've heard that they may try to make it into a trilogy or what-not, but even if those books are no good, this book is worth reading on its own, so I'm glad to have read it.
---
Pathfinder, Ruins
Orson Scott Card
Ah, Orson Scott Card. I have loved much by him over the years and I was delighted to find enjoyment in both Pathfinder and Ruins as well.
On a planet far from our own, yet based off of ours, Rigg, following the death of his father, goes on quest to find the sister he never knew he had. He has always had the ability to see the "paths" of living creatures - where they have been over time, but he has been warned not to let others know of this. Yet he must use it and learn more of it as he journeys on. And soon he discovers that he is not the only one with special abilities and he, along with them, are the key to escape and saving the planet.
Card is a writer who creates compelling characters, plot, and still manages to get interesting philosophical dialogue into the story without the narrative feeling bogged down. At least, that's how I view it. If you enjoy good sci-fi/fantasy as well as a healthy dose of philosophical discussions, both Pathfinder and Ruins will serve you well. These books are part of a trilogy, so time will tell if the ending will satisfy or not, but I have high hopes for it. Knowing Card's previous work, he is practiced at what he does and he does it well. Give these books a try.
---
---
Warbreaker
Brandon Sanderson
What can I say except that I have loved every book that I have read thus far by Brandon Sanderson and this book is no exception.
This tells the story of two kingdoms on the brink of war. The oldest princess Vivenna has been trained from her youth to marry the God-King of Hallendren, but at the last minute the king sends his youngest daughter, Siri instead. Siri feels hopeless in matters of the court, but struggles to do her best to please the strong and silent God-King while also trying to discover how to keep her country safe. A short time afterwards, Vivenna goes to Hallendren to try to free Siri, but ends up in the underground trying to keep Hallendren from going to war.
Both of the girls have stark character arcs from the beginning to the end of the book, yet both are for the better. Meanwhile, the other characters are compelling and wonderful to follow, especially the Returned God Lightsong who doesn't believe himself a God, or the enigmatic Vasher who is working towards some unknown end using the strange ability that "Breath" provides him.
As usual, Sanderson creates a truly believable world even though most elements in it are foreign to us. He leads us in slowly through characters that are also learning as they go and so we participate in their sense of discovery. The characters are convincing, the plot is engrossing, and the conclusion is satisfying. What more can I say? You should read Brandon Sanderson.
---
Book of a Thousand Days
Shannon Hale
I've read this book before and I'm glad to have read it again.
This tells the story of a maid and her princess who are to be locked in a tower for many years because the princess would not marry who her father wanted her to. We are told the story: what they do, how they survive, and how what they do afterwards, as if through the journal of the maid. It is a wonderful storytelling device and it brings us to have a better understanding of her character.
It's a quick read and it's also an enjoyable and meaningful read. High recommend.
---
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Across A Star-Swept Sea
Diana Peterfreund
I talk about these two together because "Across A Star-Swept Sea" is a modern sci-fi take on "The Scarlet Pimpernel.
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic romance/adventure novel. It's been around for long enough that you can find more detailed reviews of it than I have time for, but suffice it to say that I love the old language and wit contained therein and the plot is still interesting and engaging, especially after the first few chapters and you really understand what's going on. Well deserving of the title "Classic".
Diana Peterfruend's modern take on the story is also very interesting and engaging, though for different reasons. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where genetic engineering went terribly wrong and caused a catastrophe and some many people to become "Reduced", or mentally impaired, the people on the two islands of this book have overcome that past through medicine. But now, on one island, a rebellion has taken over and is using drugs to induce the previous nobels into a permanently Reduced state in order to get back at them. However, their efforts are constantly thwarted by a mysterious figure known as "The Wild Poppy", who is in truth a girl by the name of Persis Blake.
Full of action and romance, the book lives up well to the story it borrows from. And yet they are not fully the same story because these characters are unique and work within the compelling world that Peterfreund had created.
I don't know if it helps or not to read "For Darkness Shows The Stars", a book by the same author also set in the same world and based off of "Persuasion" by Jane Austen. That book was first and a few characters in it also appear in this book. And yet, I don't think one has to read them in any particular order as they are two different looks at the same thing.
Either way, both "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Across A Star-Swept Sea" get my thumbs up as terrific books to read. Perhaps one of the things I like best about Diana Peterfreund's books, and the reason why I hope she keeps on writing similar books, is because they drove me to read the old classics, and for that I am thankful.
---
These Broken Stars
Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
I'll admit, I wasn't sure at first if I'd like it because it sounded a little like some other stories I've read.
Guy and girl meet, have feelings for each other, but can't fall in love because they're from completely different social classes, except then some catastrophe happens that forces them to be together for so long that they end up falling for each other anyway.
And yet, because of how much I enjoyed the two main characters and felt that they were unique individuals, I loved it and would heartily recommend this book to anyone.
As already alluded to, Tarver is a war hero aboard the Icarus luxary space crusar, there along with many of the elite. He meets Lilac, but soon discovers how much they are from different social classes and backs off. Then, the Icarus begins to crash due to an unknown cause and Tarver and Lilac manage to escape together on a pod down to an unknown planet. There they do their best to survive and be rescued, except all is not as it seems on the planet.
Both main characters have good character arcs from start to finish. As the book-flap will tell you, they are not the same people at the end as they were in the beginning. The plot is relatively simple, but the characters and their interactions make it interesting the whole way through. I also thought that a good job was done with the alternating viewpoints between Lilac and Tarver.
Perhaps what I really like about this book is that it serves well as a stand alone book. I've heard that they may try to make it into a trilogy or what-not, but even if those books are no good, this book is worth reading on its own, so I'm glad to have read it.
---
Pathfinder, Ruins
Orson Scott Card
Ah, Orson Scott Card. I have loved much by him over the years and I was delighted to find enjoyment in both Pathfinder and Ruins as well.
On a planet far from our own, yet based off of ours, Rigg, following the death of his father, goes on quest to find the sister he never knew he had. He has always had the ability to see the "paths" of living creatures - where they have been over time, but he has been warned not to let others know of this. Yet he must use it and learn more of it as he journeys on. And soon he discovers that he is not the only one with special abilities and he, along with them, are the key to escape and saving the planet.
Card is a writer who creates compelling characters, plot, and still manages to get interesting philosophical dialogue into the story without the narrative feeling bogged down. At least, that's how I view it. If you enjoy good sci-fi/fantasy as well as a healthy dose of philosophical discussions, both Pathfinder and Ruins will serve you well. These books are part of a trilogy, so time will tell if the ending will satisfy or not, but I have high hopes for it. Knowing Card's previous work, he is practiced at what he does and he does it well. Give these books a try.
---
Ernest Cline
What can I say except that this book is an 80s nerd-fest? I think you have to be a nerd who likes games and the 80s to like this, but since I fit that bill and loved it, I can't really say if others will or not.
The story deals with a future in which there is a virtual game called OASIS that almost everyone uses because the real world is so bleak. The creator of the game, Halliday, left behind an easter egg in the game, leaving his whole fortune to whoever can find it. Wade Watts is one of the fanatic searchers, but in the five years since the beginning of the hunt, no one has turned up a single clue, until now.
Filled with game and 80s references, this books is a blur. It reads well with plenty of action, mystery, excitement, and some romance. It's a nerd's dream. Perhaps my favorite thing was that the book doesn't leave the real world behind either - its an integral part of the story. The conclusion is also satisfying. There are plenty of good meanings to take from the book. All this being said, while I'm glad to have read it myself, I can't really recommend it either due to the frequent use of profanity and some amoral and atheistic stances that I disagree with. I skimmed those parts where I could, but better not to have to worry about them at all. If you don't mind what I've described, or don't mind a little skimming, and you're an 80s nerd, then by all means you should read this book, but as for me I'm happy to have read it once, but I probably won't be reading it again.
---
---
Xenocide, Children of the Mind, Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, Shadow of the Giant
Orson Scott Card
Anyone who knows me knows that I love the books in the Enderverse. This isn't my first or second or third time reading these. I'd say this is my 6th or 7th time? Maybe? I've lost count. So I recommend these books heartily.
That being said, it should be noted that the series that follows Ender is more sci-fi and philosophical, whereas the series that follows Bean discusses more the way that politics and military operations work. Both series, I think, give good insight into human character and the deep and complicated inner workings of thought. Of these 6 (out of the 8 original), Ender's Shadow is the easiest to recommend without reserve. Ender's Shadow is similar to Ender's Game, but not quite as full of symbolism and, of course, the drive of the story is very different. Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, and Shadow of the Giant are more similar to Ender's Shadow, but still different as they discusses happenings on Earth and is more about war and political maneuverings. Xenocide and Children of the Mind, originally intended to be one book, I can only really recommend to people who love sci-fi and enjoy deep philosophical conversations. But as for me, I love these books.
---
Ella Enchanted
---
Ella Enchanted
Gail Carson Levine
This is, as one might imagine from the title, a children's fantasy story. Ella is a girl cursed at birth with having to obey any and every order given her. Throughout the story she struggles with this while still trying to deal with the death of her mother, the coldness of her father, her love for the prince. This makes for some funny moments, but also some poignant ones. Perhaps my favorite part of the whole story was that didn't realize until just near the very end that this is actually a retelling of a famous fairy tale.
Overall, if you enjoy children's literature and fantasy and fairy tales, this is an excellent book to take home with you.
---
---
Emma, Pride & Prejudice
Jane Austin
So I'm a guy and a Jane Austin fan. And why not? Her novels are excellent and filled with insights into society and character. And what's more, they're about love - enduring, meaningful, and understanding love.
I tried to write synopsis of them, but I can't do them justice, so I deleted them. If you want a synopsis, look them up. In short, they are romance stories with much deeper characters, insights, and meanings than most modern romance stories. So I recommend them as much as I can. They are classics that are, actually, classics in my book. They fit the bill of being both great stories and deep in a literary sense. Read them as soon as you can, then keep reading.
---
---
The Rithmatist
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is a genius author. I'll probably read most everything he writes. Although this isn't the greatest thing he's written, this book is still great.
This is a YA book, so it's not as long as some of his other books. The plot takes place in an alternate history U.S. where the U.S is really a conglomeration of islands. But more important to the plot, there are wild chalklings that attack people and certain chosen people called Rithmatists who use chalk drawings of their own to combat them. The main character, Joel, is not a Rithmatist, but he's always dreamed about it and is enrolled at a school where Rithmatists also go. Soon his interest in Rithmatics leads him to be caught up in trying to find the mysterious Scribbler, a mysterious figure abducting Rithmatics students.
Overall, the writing is excellent, the insight into character supurb, and the plot and world-building of the book are, as usual, stunning. Sanderson is very adept at making us the reader, feel informed on whatever system of magic he has invented, only to later show us that we know very little on a grander scheme of things. This is a definite recommend.
---
Hoot
---
The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, The Iron Knight
Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett
This book was a great start to the year. A parody on classic city-guards vs dragons type stories, this story constantly pokes fun at fantasy clichés, while, at the same time, conforming, in some ways, to them.
In this story a Secret Society develops a plan to summon a dragon to cause panic and then have a puppet "heir to the throne" "vanquish" it in order to take control of the city Ankh-Morpork. Captain Vimes of the City Night Watch, generally viewed as a group of useless incompetents, begins to notice some odd goings on and soon becomes charged with stopping the dragon.
It's a bit hard to describe, but this novel is witty and hilarious, yet sharply insightful at the same time. I hope to read more by Pratchett in the coming years to see what happens as the characters in this novel already begin to have some great character arcs.
---------------------------------------
And that, finally, is that. Some excellent stories read and more to come.
---
Hoot
Carl Hiassen
The title says it all in many ways. It's full of laughs and owls.
The basic plot is that a new kid named Roy becomes interested the "running boy" who runs past a bus stop at full speed every now and again in the mornings. It turns out there is a link between this boy and the shenanigans happening at the construction site of a new pancake house and soon Roy, the boy, and a girl named Beatrice all become involved.
The premise sounds silly, yet between all the crazy incidents in the book, it's somehow believable. Truth is stranger than fiction, as they say. Anyway, I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters - they have their personal issues and reasons and they grow over the course of the book, especially Roy. It's kid friendly, yet it also teaches concepts of doing what's right, even if it's unpopular, which is a good message for everyone to hear. If you enjoy children's literature, check it out.
---
The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, The Iron Knight
Julie Kagawa
Current pop culture meets fairyland meets romance.
Meghan Chase believes she's a normal girl, but strange things have happened around her since she was small. On her 16th birthday, her younger brother is kidnapped and she has to go into Neverland in order to get him back. She is aided on one hand by Puck of the Summer Court and on the other, Ash, the Ice Prince of the Winter Court.
These novels were fun and enjoyable, yet not super deep, for me at least. Don't get me wrong, none of the books were bad and I did enjoy reading them, but only the last one was really thought provoking. The last book, "The Iron Knight", indeed was the best, which is nice for a series to end on a high note.
Romance was definitely the focus of these books, but the interplay between the fairy world and the real world was interesting too and the characters were interesting to get to know. Overall, if you're looking for a modern fairyland romance, this is a fine book to choose, but it's not on my top reads for this year either.
---
These novels were fun and enjoyable, yet not super deep, for me at least. Don't get me wrong, none of the books were bad and I did enjoy reading them, but only the last one was really thought provoking. The last book, "The Iron Knight", indeed was the best, which is nice for a series to end on a high note.
Romance was definitely the focus of these books, but the interplay between the fairy world and the real world was interesting too and the characters were interesting to get to know. Overall, if you're looking for a modern fairyland romance, this is a fine book to choose, but it's not on my top reads for this year either.
---
Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett
This book was a great start to the year. A parody on classic city-guards vs dragons type stories, this story constantly pokes fun at fantasy clichés, while, at the same time, conforming, in some ways, to them.
In this story a Secret Society develops a plan to summon a dragon to cause panic and then have a puppet "heir to the throne" "vanquish" it in order to take control of the city Ankh-Morpork. Captain Vimes of the City Night Watch, generally viewed as a group of useless incompetents, begins to notice some odd goings on and soon becomes charged with stopping the dragon.
It's a bit hard to describe, but this novel is witty and hilarious, yet sharply insightful at the same time. I hope to read more by Pratchett in the coming years to see what happens as the characters in this novel already begin to have some great character arcs.
---------------------------------------
And that, finally, is that. Some excellent stories read and more to come.
