Reviews! Hooray!

I've got a few reviews today! Been a while!

Firstly:
Making Money by Terry Pratchett
0552154903 / 978-0552154901
Another story taking place in Ankh Morpork, with lots of delicious goodies - like an Igor, the Patrician, some magicians, and a whole bunch of golems! Oh yes, and that ever so imaginative Moist von Lipwig. Last seen as Postmaster General (from a whole two books ago - Going Postal), he has now been elevated (albeit quite suddenly and not at all of his own making) to running AM's Mint. From one frying pan into the other, some would say! I really do enjoy seeing Vetinari scheme and plot and play puppeteer to the lives of the AM citizens without actually scheming or plotting at all! He's a master, and gee whiz, I can't help but have a bit of a crush on the powerful Patrician! I wasn't expecting the "twist" at the end with regards to the Chief Cashier, and I felt a little disappointed that he turned out to NOT be a vampire. (Whoops! Spoilers!) And whilst I do miss stories about the Witches, or Death, or other random tomfoolery, since the last one was about six books ago, Pratchett never fails to deliver the goods! The hilarious, witty goods!
Four balls of yarn

Secondly:
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
0316024961 / 9780316024969
I don't get why fangirls around the world love Jacob!!! :P I LOVED Twilight. I thought it was sexy and beautiful and exciting. I DON'T love New Moon, and I was warned! I WILL read Eclipse of course, but this is turning into The Matrix trilogy. One is GREAT, Two is Okay, Three is going to suck big time, I can smell it coming! Anyway, the epic love story of Bella the average, but extremely accident prone, human and Edward, the gorgeous, shiny, forever young, vampire continues...albeit...without Edward for most of the book. Instead, close friend and werewolf-in-training, Jacob becomes the love triangle instigator for Bella, and fans around the world are split into two camps: Bella/Edward and Bella/Jacob. :P Bella mopes around now that Edward has left, but only because he LOVES her...he must sacrifice their love to keep her safe. (I feel like I'm writing about The Doctor and Rose...but I digress!) Bella slowly learns to live without Edward again, but never succeeds, and suddenly old enemies reappear, and new fantasy monsters emerge! Who knew that an entire young community would turn out to be werewolves? Who knew that Bella would develop a death wish in an effort to "hear" Edward's "dad" voice? Who knew that Jacob would suddenly turn 180 and NOT be all mushy gushy over Bella - the girl of his dreams? I guess losing shoes everyday will do that to a guy! Book Two seemed SO MUCH MORE contrived than the fanciful Book One, and that's too bad. I didn't get as much angst out of it this time, although angst OOZED from the pages. The Cullens came back to Forks ever so easily, and it was just all too "pat on the back" for me. Okay, Stephenie Meyer, this is being made into a movie...you've got it made!
Two and a half balls of yarn

Thirdly:
Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 10
1593078781 / 978-1593078782
Despite my hate on for the Star Wars prequels, some good has come out of the nonsense. The Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures comic-book series is one of them! Inspired by the Cartoon Network's Clone Wars cartoons, each volume contains four 10-ish page stories, illustrated in a vivid colour and fast-paced action, with hints of Japanese manga lurking in the background! Funny, action-filled and definitely Star Wars, Dark Horse Books has a GREAT series on the go! The four stories in Volume 10 are easy to read, and as per the usual formula it seems, one focuses directly on a recognizable Jedi Knight (this one features Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker), clone troopers (one lone trooper vs. an army of battle droids!), a secondary Jedi (Ki-Adi-Mundi & Aayla Secura introduce a new [made up] Jedi), and various other Star Wars denizens (farmers on Dantooine!). These books will hold the attention of the most hardcore Star Wars fan, and the newest young boy just discovering that galaxy far, far away.
Four balls of yarn

Fourthly:
Doctor Who: I Am A Dalek by Gareth Roberts
0563486481 / 9780563486480
Having discovered that I need a daily fix of Doctor Who, I've turned to the original novelizations. This is one of them. Labelled a "Quick Read", it is only 104 pages long, with a large sized font, that one would find in children's books for ages 6-8 (granted, Quick Reads have been MARKETED as children's books). The Daleks are back (when will we EVER be REALLY rid of them?), and only Rose and the Doctor can save the day! Of course! :) Fun and fast, it starts off just like a tv episode. Mr. Roberts, having written other Doctor Who novels and also a handful of the television episodes throughout the four seasons, handily captures the characters of the Doctor (as portrayed by the delicious David Tennant) and Rose (the ever lovely Billie Piper), and sends them back to England to save the world from a lone Dalek. It's easy to picture the two of them running around doing whatever Mr. Roberts writes, which makes this book a success. And really, throw a Dalek into the mix, and you've got classic Doctor Who. Bonus points for this line on page 76: It screamed with pleasure and joy, 'Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate!' A sweet ending too, one that would make fans nod and say, "Yeah, the Doctor WOULD do that!"
Four balls of yarn

Fifthly:
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea Of Wind by Fuyumi Ono
9781598169478
If you've ever watched the Japanese anime based on this seven volume series, you'll be pleased to know that the producers got it spot on! Finally translated into English, Fuyumi Ono's series is a delightful and magical epic, that "explores what it meas to truly know yourself in the face of a destiny outside of your control." The first volume dealt with the red-haired heroine of the anime - Yoko, but this second volume is focused entirely on the young balck-haired kirin - Taiki. The Twelve Kingdoms is heavy with Chinese mythology and has a great deal of civil and political unrest in a land where the kings are chosen by heaven with the help of creatures called kirins, born in eggs that fall from trees. Great storms can whisk an egg away to the far off land of Japan, where the egg will "hatch" and a child will be born who knows they do not belong there, but can never understand why. Taiki is such a child, and when he is brought back to the land of Tai, he must start anew and discover his destiny as one who must choose the next king of Tai, and save the country. As with Volume One, the main character must find an inner strength, and goes through many failures in order to succeed. I love this series! Can't wait for Volume Three!
Five balls of yarn!

Coming soon: The Tiger's Egg, Star Wars: Allegiance

Fantasy review

STARDUST
Neil Gaiman

Now that the movie is out, and the reviews are floating around, I thought it would be nice to remind the general public that Stardust was a BOOK first, and not the other way around.

Following the journey of young Tristan Thorn, on his quest to bring back a fallen star for the girl he loves, Neil Gaiman spins a gorgeous tale of faerie magic and moonlight. Although magical and romantic, Stardust is also very terrifying and cold, but in a rather mischievous manner. Seventeen year old Tristan, raised in the city of Wall, embarks on an innocent journey into the woods, into the Faerie realm, to find the one thing that will bring him love - a fallen star. With some curious help, he finds the Star, not realizing that this star - this Girl - would bring him more than his Heart's Desire. And he is not the only one looking for her. Tristan and the Star must face a unicorn, a witch-queen, an old merchant woman, an heir-to-the-throne and each other to find the greatest prize of all quests - true love.
Neil Gaiman's wonderful prose captivates the reader with mystery and imagery that evokes the fairy tales of old. Stardust is hard to put down, and leaves you wanting more. But, of course, it's Neil Gaiman, who would've thought otherwise?

NOW, go see the movie.

Five balls of yarn

YA book reviews

Read an ARC of Being by Kevin Brooks (0439899737) to be released Feb 07. Hm. Reminded me much of Meg Rosoff's style - that edgy, "I'm a smart teen novel", filled with metaphorical writing and vivid descriptions, kind of style. However, unlike Rosoff, I didn't really get it. I mean, it was the unconventional, YA Bukowski type book, but I couldn't wrap my head around his descriptions of what Robert was. Basically, Robert Smith (how cliche!) is a sixteen year old who goes to the hospital for a routine endoscopy, and ends up being on the run for his life when the doctors discover..."stuff"...inside him that indicate he's not human!!! Dum dum DUM!!! Anyway, the "stuff" inside him don't sound altogether alien to me, and though I'm usually good at putting aside rational thought when reading a lot of YA, I couldn't figure out how this sixteen year old was able to run away so easily and thoroughly...and WHY did the lead female character (also older than him, as in Rosoff's Just In Case) fall in love with him??? I questioned that. Questioned it good. Anyway, wasn't too impressed, didn't come close to the aforementioned Just In Case, and so, only three balls of yarn here.

Speaking of Rosoff, I attempted to delve into How I Live Now (0553376055), but couldn't get past the kissing cousins. Sorry...just not for me. So, a disappointment there. I'm sure I would've liked it, but something in me couldn't go on. Zero balls of yarn. Fifteen year old cousins don't need to fall in love to further ANY story.

Finally getting around to the review of Kenneth Oppel's Airborn (0002005379), which I believe is one of Rachel Duck's favourite YA books. Action, adventure, a dirigible, and a panther/bat cross...what more could you want??? Well...I could list what more I could want, but it was a good book. Good enough at least. I liked the characters, I liked that the lead female wasn't a pansy, but I DIDN'T like the panther/bat creature. Like I said up above, I'm really good at visualizing author's creations, whether they're creatures or places...but once again, the descriptions here failed me. I pictured something that looked pretty stupid...not beautiful like they're supposed to be. And that will cost Mr. Oppel a ball of yarn. It was fun, and I'd like to read his other books now, but I don't feel the urgency that I think I should've. Three and half balls of yarn.

The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean (1582349754) by Alexander McCall Smith
The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean (0676977782) also by Alexander McCall Smith
B-o-r-i-n-g! I think he was trying to make them into a kids series like the wonderfulness that is Nate the Great or even Encyclopedia Brown, in that vein of literature...but he failed. Simple and quick, the Harriet Bean books have no real excitement to them, and she doesn't really do much. Harriet sets out to find her absent minded father's sisters, that she never knew existed. In the second book, she has yet ANOTHER lost aunt, and she must find her too. Her aunts are the ones who end up taking over the story, finding each other, and so become the protagonists. They should perhaps retitle the books "Five Aunts...(oh and Harriet Bean)" and "The Cowgirl Aunt...(oh and Harriet Bean)". Disappointed that what could've been a wonderful fun series for young girls turned out to be NOT. Two balls of yarn each.

Currently finished Book 5 of The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Ridell.
1. Beyond The Deepwoods (0552545929)
2. Stormchaser (0552546283)
3. Midnight Over Sanctaphrax (0552546755)
4. have yet to read
5. The Last of the Sky Pirates (0552547328)
What a FUN series! Lots of fantasy, this series is reminiscent of The Hobbit in some ways! It's not a fun filled world, there are a lot of hardships and dangers, and it's all about overcoming obstacles to find that little bit of goodness on the other side.
UNLIKE their Far Flung Adventures "trilogy" (Hugo Pepper 0385750935 will be released in February, and it's said that it's the third and final installment of that series...but we'll see...), the characters have faults and flaws and aren't junior detectives in their own rights. They're orphens and pirates, trolls and trogs, and characters get KILLED!!! In horrid vicious ways! But, it's all so good! In that wonderful YA book kinda way! Four and half balls of yarn.

A surprise Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy book review

The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (038566365X)
Finally! An English translation of this wonderful fantasy novel! I first saw the film (Russian, with English subtitles) sometime last year I believe, and if you like vampires, you'll love this series! Moscow is home to only one district of Watchmen and Others. Vampires are among us, and there is a treaty that is kept by the Day Watch and the Night Watch, to ensure some sort of normalcy. The Night Watch is comprised of Others of the Light, they "watch" the Day Watch - the Others of the Dark (ie. vampires). They in turn are watched by the Day Watch. Make sense? Good. The main character, Anton, is a young Other of the Light, who is thrown into a series of events that make him question his duty to the Watch. Encountering a young powerful boy, and a highly unstable, yet soon to be High Magician, young woman, Anton must decide whether he will follow his destiny, or create his own. A great thriller, I can't wait until the sequel The Day Watch (0385663668) and The Twilight Watch (0385663773) are released (end of January and July respectively). Oh, if you're expecting it to be a "novelization" of the movie...think again. This goes beyond the movies, and ends quite differently, but still gives you that fantastic intensity! Five balls of yarn!