Review: ANOTHER JEKYLL, ANOTHER HYDE by Dina and Daniel Nayeri(to be released on March 27, 2011)

Courtesy of Net Galley(Candlewick Press)

Thomas Goodman-Brown is having a new mother, and she is Governess Nicola Vileroy, the care-taker of his ex-girlfriend. Well, not that he care much, since he’s wrecked after his ex, Bella Faust and her four siblings went to Geneva. The night of his father’s wedding with Vileroy, he got busted for possession of drugs that wasn’t his, and got bailed by his friend, Connor. After he was bailed, Conner and he go to Club Elixir, where he receives a bottle of W. Thomas takes W and finds himself very high and even black out later. He then wakes up few days later, with only  vague recollection of what has happened. Soon, he finds himself having untimely blackouts with absolutely no idea what he was doing when Vileroy says he does.

Dina and Daniel Nayeri bring us a reimagined tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with demons and Upper East Side family troubles.

In short, the characters are enjoyable, the ones to love are lovable and the baddies just make you hate them enough. Thomas is so sweet, trying to cheer his sort-of girlfriend and just attempting to make up for lost time. He is also smart, being able to piece everything together, and hey, you don’t always get to read about a guy who wants to become a lawyer. Nicola Vileroy is just mean, you’ll clench your teeth as much as I do if you read the story-I don’t want to give anything out. Even when Hyde appears only after half of the novel, his presence and effects are clear and strong enough to make you pity the victim and hate Hyde.

The story itself is entertaining. You get to watch Thomas investigate and slowly learn the truth. Everything is reasonable and well paced. It reminds me a little of Sherlock Holmes.

Another thing worthy of mention is the relationship between Thomas and his father. They were sometimes like friend, and I appreciate a father who actually listens to his child and is not swept by his new wife.

The writing is neat and compact, successfully arousing tension and create atmosphere. The only thing though, is that I don’t like the abundance of references to social websites. Five years later and people may forget what Facebook looks like.

Another Jekyll, Another Hyde is a fun and extremely entertaining adventure novel with little paranormal thrown in, a shorter read compared to the usual 400 pages.  However, I do not recommend it to those who like their novel with a lot of paranormal and romance. And of course, it's a series, but if you don't mind having to piece some stuff together and wanting to know what has happened in the previous novels, enjoy.

The guy on the cover is cute and innocent,but I don;t remember seeing him in the novel. Mmm, may be my bad. It's a nice change to see a guy on a cover though the cover is still not interesting enough for me. It also reminds me of Fractured Light's cover(my review here).

Ratings: 4 stars

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Review: DRAGON'S OATH by P.C & Kristin Cast

The novella follows Dragon Lankford as he ventures to the days when he first met Anastasia, at the funeral of his mate. Read the beautiful story of the couple when they’re young and Dragon’s  fight against Darkness.

     When the House of Night novels are withering and dying, the novella is a refreshing short read. It’s better than the full novels, probably because it doesn’t involve Neferet and Zoey. Written in the same way, a little more mature than the novels(it doesn’t involve teen perspective), Dragon’s Oath describes the heartbreaking love story of Dragon and Anastasia. The illustrations between the chapters are beautiful too, as the artist is a very talented individual. I just could droll over her lively drawings.

     When you feel tired of reading the novels, you’ll love the novella for the newness of it.

     I like this cover, but the US cover is better.

Ratings: 4 stars

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Review: IRONSIDE: A MODERN FAERY TALE by Holly Black

In the realm of the Faery, it’s time for Roiben’s coronation. On the night of the coronation, Kaye, drunk from faery wine, declares her love for Roiben and asks for a quest. Roiben sends her on an impossible one: to find a faery that can tell an untruth, and everybody knows no faery can tell a lie, even the tiniest one. See how impossible the quest is? Miserable and convinced that she doesn’t belong anywhere, Kaye tells her mother the truth - that she is a changeling in the place of her daughter. So Kaye ventures to the Seelie Court to see Queen Silarial. In exchange for the human Kaye, she has to give out Roiben’s real name. She uses a fake one, and escapes with Ethine, Roiben’s sister. The two, along with Corny, Kaye’s gay friend, went into hiding. Later, Kaye finds out about the Seelie Queen’s plan, to let Roiben battle his sister to death for the Seelie throne. Will Kaye make it in time to warn Roiben? Or will she fail to save her love because of the quest?

     Author Holly Black brings us another tale of dark faery politics and dangerous love. Darker and deadlier than the previous novel, Tithe( I haven’t read Valiant, and judging by the summary, Valiant took place way before Tithe), Ironside is sexy and completely different from the norm. Language lively and expressively vivid, the plot is complete and not without a lot of twists and turns.

     Kaye, as always, is brave and very likeable. Roiben is his usual stay-away-from-me-as-you-will-hurt-yourself self. All of the characters are fully fleshed out and lively.

     Also, the relationship between Kaye and Roiben is as heartbreaking as ever. You’ll cry and laugh as Kaye dances a figurative dance of love with Roiben. I love how Kaye’s relationship with her mother shift and change into a deeper, truer relationship. The misunderstandings are cleared and lies busted, as Kaye learns that her mother’s love will never diminish, even if she’s a pixie.

    Intriguing and magickal, Ironside is a dark modern faery tale with a fresh angle. A job well done by Holly Black, though I wish there were more stories of Kaye and Roiben. Perhaps there are necessary full-stops for wonderful stories.

     Cover: This is a cover I Love! See how the well the black contrasts with the  shine?

Ratings: 5 stars

* For mature readers

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Review: TITHE: A MODERN FAERY TALE by Holly Black

Kaye Fierch, a sixteen-year-old girl who believed in faeries returns to her mother’s old home after an accident. She still believes in faeries, though her family and friends thought that it was her own imaginary. One night, after a friend tries to grope her, she runs and heads to the forest. There in the rain she meets Roiben, injured and bleeding to death. She saves him, and he leaves, leaving Kaye three ungranted wishes. Shortly after, Kaye receives a warning from her old faery friends, Lutie-loo and Spike to stay away from the “Dark One”, Roiben.  Kaye thought she wouldn’t see Roiben again, but one afternoon while dining in a restaurant with her friends, there Roiben was, rude and cruel, and he pisses Kaye off, but she learns his real name. One fateful night, Kaye’s faery friends tell her that she is a changeling, a pixie child left in the place of a human child since young. She is to become the sacrifice of “Tithe”, a ritual every seven years to bind solitary faeries to the Unseelie Court, only that it will not work, because Kaye is not a mortal.  She will do it, but will the faeries save her in time? Thus begins an adventure full of dangerous magick, deceiving fay and deadly romance.

     Author Holly Black brings you an enchanting tale of faery and magick, and Tithe may be one of my favorite novel. Dark and moody, this is a heavier and deadlier story than the other books I’d read. Fast moving and beautifully woven, unflinching and unforgiving, huge mistakes and deadly consequences, you would love this new age fairytale with some twists.

     The main character, Kaye is a fleshed out character, full of emotions and teen actions. However young she may be, Black’s character is very mature, and you’ll love her for her brains and bravery. Roiben is cold and distant, though there is a reason for that. He is handsome and able, a gentleman in a sea of rogues. Readers will love him for his past and his ethics, as well as his love for Kaye (ohh, big spoiler!!) and his naturally sad personality. The other characters are well constructed too, the Unseelie Queen, Seelie Queen, Kayes mother and many others. They are also highly believable and I could believe that they exist. A fine example of a great writing.

     The actions and mystery and gore and romance and suspense are fulfilling too. At least to my stomach. The building up was tense and just enough and the climax well constructed. And oh, what a cliff hanger! It just made me yearning for more.

  

     A work of art, Tithe is a dark faery tale with darker consequences, one readers with more mature taste will definitely love.

     The cover is simple, unusually how the red still conveys a dark, moody feeling. Though I still like the cover below better(well, it’s shinier and prettier).

Ratings: 4.5 stars(heehee, the writing definitely deserved 5 stars, but I seriously don’t like the cover)

 

* For mature readers(contains profanities and near disturbing images)

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Review : DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth

Beatrice Prior is one of the Abnegation faction, one of the five factions in dystopian Chicago. Every 16 year-olds are given a choice to choose their faction, and family for ever : Dauntless(the brave), Amity(the peaceful), Candor(the honest), Erudite(the intelligent) and Abnegation(the selfless). Before they choose, the teenagers are given a test to help them decide which faction they're supposed to be in. Beatrice's results shows that she's a Divergent, something rare and dangerous. She is warned to keep the secret to herself, just to keep herself safe. In the end, Beatrice chooses Dauntless and leave her family behind. At Dauntless compounds, Beatrice is known as  "Tris" and makes new friends and try to survive brutal tests during Initiation, all the while feeling drawn to a quiet Four who seems to have a past. Can Tris survive Initiation? Who is Four? And most important, why must Tris keep her test results a secret?

     Again, another dystopian which gripped my heart. Divergent is moderately paced, speeding up in the last 100 pages or so. Slightly predictable, but with a few interesting twists I didn't foresee. Good, vivid language that made me fell in love with the Dauntless community (the better part of it, at least). The world Roth painted is so clear, I yearned to be a part of it and yet fear that those described in Divergent will become our future. Let's hope I'll be long gone when that happens.

     The main character, Tris, and also the narrator, is strong, brave, intelligent, loyal and self sacrificing, even if she doesn't know it. She is not blinded by new found love with you-know-who, a quality which made her practical and mature and is willing to look only for the good side of people, something people in real life needed badly. Tris is with potential and flaws, which made her a very three dimensional and lively character. She resembles Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games (my review here), only a little more braver, less calculating and minus the love triangle. She is the kind of friend I would love to have, though sometimes I want to knock her head for not seeing the events that are coming her way.

     Four is another favorite. I love him far better than Peeta or Gale(The Hunger Games), and even Stefan from The Vampire Diaries (my review here). I love his no nonsense tone, his figure, his sense of justice and everything that comes along with the package. He felt real and compassionate. Again, his flaws accentuates his admirable qualities, not that he has many flaws. And his phobia of heights is a little funny. Sign me up for a date with the man! ( I sound like a boy-crazed girl, right? Ah, very well.) The other characters are very lively as well, especially good ol' Christina.

     The romance between Tris and Four is full of chemistry and quite convincing. Both of them are attracted to each other by their strength and bravery. The way Tris got hurt and jealous is cute, and is essential to add realism to the relationship.Four is just as quick to protect Tris, even when he's risking his own life. Oww, how sweet. Can you find a couple as on par with each other as Tris and Four are?

     I would like to read more about the locked fence, Four' relationship with his father and the Prior family, but I don't think that's quite possible with some major events happening to the 'rentals. Beautifully crafted, and humorous and times, Divergent is one dystopian you do not want to miss.

     The cover is simple and elegant, though I like the UK cover more, especially the tease line in beside the ravens.

Divergent book jacket UK edition

Ratings : 4 stars (I would love to give a 4.5 if the novel isn't so predictable in parts)

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Review : ARTEMIS FOWL- THE ARCTIC INCIDENT by Eoin Colfer

                                                                              

       Artemis Fowl receives a clue about his father's wherabouts from Russia. When he is about to leave for the rescue, LEP officer Holly Short "kidnapped" him to the Lower Element to investigate about the recent illegal smuggling of human alkaline batteries. But Artemis and Butler were proved innocent. Eager to catch the mastermind of this business, Commander Julius Root made a deal with Artemis : the LEPs help him find his father in return for Artemis' help to find out the smuggler. When Artemis, Commander Root, Holly and Butler arrived at the Arctic circle, they were ambushed by goblins. The four escaped just by scratch. Meanwhile, down at the Lower Elements, the B'wa Kells opened fire on the faeries. With Foaly, the smartest one in the Lower Elements, it's up to the four at the Arctic Circle to save the day.

          The Arctic Incident hooks you up from the very beginning. Full of action and wit (though not much suspense), it sure will make you wanna have some more. The plot was mere brilliance - it sparks your imagination. You will focus on not only the main character, but also the minor characters. The chemistry between the bunch are strong, and one couldn't survive without the other. Relationships in the novel ends up in a lot of ways, as original hatred changes to respect. The lively description let me be with the characters all the time. Dialogues written at the right amount and some parts will make you chuckle a little. Best part is The Arctic Incident can be read alone or read as a series.

Cover : it looks flashier in my hands.

Rating : 4.5 stars

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Review : INCARCERON by Catherine Fisher

 

Finn the Starseer is a Prisoner of Incarceron, a vast cell which hold thousands of criminals. He has strange dreams of the Outside, where stars shine and birds sing. Instead, he is in the wing of Comitatus, and he is forced to use his skills to hold a cart long enough for an ambush. Finn gets the empathy of  a Maestra, and holds her captive by the order of Jeromic, the leader. He gets what he wants-a crystal key he sees in his dreams, but not before he watches the Maestra and her companions fall to death. Together with Keiro, Gildas and Attia, Finn finds a way to the Outside.

       Claudia Arlexi is also a prisoner of some sort in the Realm. Although she is in the Outside, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron is trapped in an Era, unable to advance and unable to evolve. As the date of her arranged marriage with the Earl of Casper draws near, Clausia tries to find the key to Incarceron. with the help of her tutor, Jared. When she finds it, a switch in the Key enables the Finn and Claudia to communicate with each other. Claudia is very sure that Finn is the lost Prince of Havaarna, Giles, the boy she was engaged to before he died. At what lengths will the two Prisoners do to Escape?

An entrancing tale of bravery and cruelty of man. Claudia, a haughty, false royalty in a frozen time; Finn, a kind, believing Prisoner. Both are hell bent on escaping, both are alone. Fisher's melodious language transported me to the time when Claudia and Finn live, feeling what they feel and doing what they did. It has its fair share of moving moments, when the Warden of Incarceron confessed his love to his daughter, and the love between student and teacher. The story is original, the suspense thrilling. There are also a few unexpected twists in the storyline. In the end, it is a tale about commitment, love and belief in what you do.

The cover is spectacular, even though the Key is not quite what I'd pictured.

Ratings : 5 stars (PERFECT!)

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Review : PRISONER OF ZENDA by Anthony Hope

 

Rudolf Rassendyll is a young man in 18th (or is it 19th) century London. He is 29 and he's unemployed. He goes to Ruritania in central Europe for a coronation and by accidence, he met King Rudolf the Fifth. Rudolf and the King are shocked by their near resemblance to each other and here enters the wicked Rupert of Hentzau and his plan to depose the King. At the same time, Rudolf falls in love with the beautiful Princess Flavia, whom King Rudolf is going to marry.

I read the simplified version of the text and boy, was it BORING! I always hadn't like to read simplified version of books, so maybe I was a little prejudiced. The language is simple and the plot boring that I fell asleep halfway through it, even when I'm not supposed to.

The cover : seriously?

Ratings : 2 stars

Review: MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

Katniss has survived the Capitol for the third time. Now she's at District 13, with her friends and family, and a whole lot of scars and heartache. She thought she had freedom, but District 13 were only using her to take down the Capitol. When the Capitol sent a destroyed Peeta home, Katniss broke down. Then they attacked the Capitol, and finally the Capitol was taken down. Katniss finally had her own life, though sore and broken.

The highly anticipated end to the Hunger Games trilogy doesn't disappoints. Collins continue to build suspense and action, giving you this page turner. The ending though, leaves both Katniss and the readers crying and smiling. Thumbs up for Collins.

The cover is fiery red, selling the image of girl on fire, Katniss. Simple and nice, but I couldn't say I fell in love with it on first sight.

Ratings : 4.5 stars

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Review: CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen had escaped the Hunger Games once, and now she's to save herself from the Capitol's wrath. Now the Capitol's held a new Game, requiring two of the former Hunger Games winner from each district to participate. Last time Peeta was to sacrifice himself for Katniss, but this time Katniss wanted to save him. They continue to play their star crossed lovers' part and form allies with a few of the former winners. But Katniss was seperated with Peeta when a blow went off and hot Katniss unconscious.

Collins did a great job, as usual, and had me reading the book for several hours non-stop. The suspense was thick and actions incredible. A lively portrayal of survival and a cliff hanger at the end of the book. Perfect!

The cover of my version of paperback is light colored with a mockingjay at the front. Plain, but eye catching nontheless.

Ratings : 4.5 stars

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Review : THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is set in the perspective of  Katniss Everdeen, the main character of the book. The story took place at North America, where the Capitol holds the Hunger Games every year, choosing 24 contestants from 12 districts, the only rule is you lose, you die, and only one is to be the winner. 16-year-old Katniss from District 12 was chosen, along with Peeta Mellark. They were shipped to the arena, fighting to survive. Survival was second nature to Katniss, but she still couldn.t escape the terrible aftermath of killing people and seeing people getting killed. During the games, Katniss teamed up with wounded Peeta and played the part of two star crossed lovers. Finally, when it was down to the two of them, Katniss took two poisonous berries out, one for Peeta and one for her. The capitol lets two of them off of the hook, knowing that the games had to have a winner.

The Hunger Games is a breathtaking thriller that will keep you awake in the night. The plot is fast and thrilling, going from one scene to another. Collins' writing fully conveys the life and feelings of the 16-year-old Katniss. As Stephen King had said " Constant suspense and couldn't stop reading. "

The cover is in line with the adventurous story within.

Ratings : 4.5 stars

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