Oct 24, 2012

Cinder, by Marissa Meyers


Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group: 12+
Issues of Violence: action violence, gun shooting, dagger usage.
Intimacy Level: low and appropriate
Swearing: d*** it.
Recommendation: yes, 5 out of 5 stars 


Holy Ka-la-ma-zoo,
I have another five-star review
This is not common,
No, it's quite rare,
So pick it up if you dare,
But let me warn you, be prepared,
For it will blow your mind. 



The quality of my poem proves that poetry is not my forte (or desire, for that matter). The content of the poetry, however, should speak volumes. 
Blurb:
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
Book Trailer:


Initial Reaction: *****
Cinder, by Marissa Meyer, started out with multiple strikes against my reading tastes. It's another Cinderella story (overdone), the main character, Cinder, is a cyborg (I didn't even know/care what that was); the story is set in New Bejing, China (I'm just not into Asian culture very much), and it's a spacey technology futuristic science fiction novel. I wasn't interested...until my little sister (with identical reading taste to me) read it in 6 hours and gushed about it until she completely shriveled up.
My time is precious, so I hesitated to pick up "just any book"; therefore, I read practically all 394 Amazon reviews before accepting my sister's copy. Others said, "This isn't usually my type of book, but I loved it!" I'm thrilled to follow suit.

Simply put, Cinder is spectacular. It's in-depth, thought-provoking, believable, hard-core, clean, and as original as a re-done fairytale can get.

Characters: *****
As fairytale-esque as the original Cinderella story is, Marissa Meyer brings Cinder into a strangely realistic light (though set in a stretched fascinating science-fiction future). Cinder's personality reads like a real person plastered on paper. Her reactions are believable and her humor is tactful and very realistic. The animosity with the stepmother and Cinder is very natural, the relationship and interest that grows between Prince Kai and Cinder is believable and doesn't just happen with a single glass-slipper dance, and Cinder is a fully-developed unique character whom I'd love to meet. She's a "go-getter" instead of a reactor. What I loved most was, though her raw torn life slowly broke my heart, she never allowed her heart to break so much that it crippled her; instead, she pushed herself into action again and again, seeking what she knew must be right. She didn't just lay down to be trampled. She also wasn't a completely innocent complacent maid who sang to her pet mice. She was believable because she had sass, purpose, determination, and fear.

Prince Kai was also a delightful character. Though he's a good-looking eighteen-year-old prince, he doesn't automatically have the tact a good ruler needs. It's clear that he's in an odd mixture of having to jump into adulthood while wanting to embrace and enjoy the small joys of young manhood (like crushes, sarcasm, and personal choices). I appreciated the fact that he wasn't instantaneously politically correct. His adviser corrected him quite often and I, as a reader, could see that Prince Kai needed a little correction. I watched him grow as a man and a leader, struggling with responsibility and desire.  Prince Kai had impressive dynamic.

I can't begin to enter how thoroughly all the other characters were developed, but I was never left wanting.

Plot: *****
Cinder stayed true to the general outline of the Cinderella story, but still held a full plot of its own. Cinder's life didn't revolve around the ball or the prince, it had greater meaning: fighting against the plague, pursuing freedom, and being faithful to her country are only a few. I discovered the world of New Bejing--the prejudices, the "norm", the needs, and the hope of the people in good things. Every chapter left me turning a page without so much as a clock-check. It's believable and constantly moving. Not once did I feel a drag or roll my eyes at a boring twist.

Something I greatly appreciated about the author's delivery of this book deals with predictability. A few plot points were predictable, but the writing sent the message that Meyer knew some things were predictable and it was okay that the reader could predict them. She didn't insult my intelligence by expecting me to be "shocked" when facts I suspected were revealed. These predictable plot lines did not drive the story--a rare, but greatly appreciated form of writing.

On the romance front, it's much more realistic than the typical three-days-to-fall-in-love story. The questions Cinder asks herself about relationship are strangely accurate to the doubtful hope that young teenagers address. Prince Kai, of course, is charming and handsome with giggling fan clubs who wonder in squeaky voices about his schedule and whisper about him "being in the nude". It's funny, petty, and strangely accurate to today's obsessions with actors (only often we don't have to "wonder" too much compared to some shamelessness on screen). His interaction with Cinder is endearing and still believable.

Writing Style: *****
Marissa Meyer's writing style was as clean-cut as a handsome prince. It was fresh with new descriptions, while staying clear enough for a smooth flow. Descriptions were woven into the story without large distracting chunks. The use and choice of words took me to deeper understanding in each situation instead of bogging me down with forced "author-voice." So refreshing!



Other:
Overall, it's clean other than a swear word or two that remain on the mild side. "Scary moments" consist of more intense scenes than shoot 'em up, blood and gore moments. The evil queen and her guards from the moon have the ability to control minds to an extent and often threaten people with this power. For example, forcing a woman to poise a dagger at her own eye with the intent of having her gouge it out herself or forcing a character to level a gun at her own head with the intent to force her to shoot herself. All description remains appropriate while still carrying the story, the moment, and the intensity.

Spiritual Content: *****
On the spiritual front, statues of Buddha are seen around the Palace in New Bejing. There is no  mention of the religion behind it or others following it. Cinder doesn't seem to have or follow any sort of religion and there are no spiritual themes (Christian or other) portrayed through the book.

Overall Recommendation:
This book was phenomenal. All I can say is, READ IT.  Or, if you're the audiobook type, click here for a clip provided by Macmillan Audio of the first few pages.





Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

Oct 12, 2012

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (book 1), by J. K. Rowling

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.


Summary:
Intended Age-Group: 9-12
Issues of Violence: action violence, monsters, bullying.
Intimacy Level: none
Swearing: d**n, usage of the word "hell" in expressions
Recommendation: yes, 5 out of 5 stars (see end of entry)

I've already posted reviews for the Harry Potter Series in chunks. books 1-3, books 4-6, and book 7, but I've been reading the series to the hubby for his first time and, since I'm going through them again, I wanted to post individual book reviews to be more thorough (find book 2 review here).

Back Cover Blurb:
Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

Initial Reaction: *****

The Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling, is original. There's no other way to say it. The story is so unique and enthralling it's hard not to feel a part of the story as you read. Even better, the content is for all reading age-groups. It's intended for 9-12-year-olds, but would more appropriately be 9-129-year-olds (who love imagination.)

Characters: *****
Harry, the eleven-year-old protagonist, is easy to relate to because he's not fully accepted -- a common trend among teenagers and people in general. He hopes for something greater and finds it in the discovery that he is a wizard. Once he's thrust into the wizarding world as a walking beacon of fame, he encounters trials, rejection, judgment, adventure, and questions he never knew his mind could tackle. He's adamant to pursue what's right, even if that means breaking rules or putting himself in danger.

An issue I've heard mentioned quite a few times about the Harry Potter is that "Harry and his friends are rewarded for breaking rules." I don't agree. Many of their rule-breaking escapades are done with good intent, but when they're caught they often result in detention or point-deductions. When they are rewarded, it's for something greater--saving people's lives, doing the daring that has to be done, that sort of thing. Still, rules are never lifted for these students, no matter how many times they break them for the "greater good". Rules are set in place for a reason, not just to be broken, and I was proud to see the professors standing by them.

Engaging Quality: *****
The wizarding world is alluring, filled with shops of the imagination. Books, magical animals, racing broomsticks, wands, potions, planets, goblins, you name it. We get to discover it along with Harry, gaping in awe at the new candies and magic he sees. We get to meet the students of Hogwarts and pick with him who we like and who we don't. We enter the dangers of discovery, curiosity, and adventure. We learn more about the evil Dark Lord who murdered Harry's parents and made him famous.

Violence: *****
Some scenes in the books are more scary for younger readers. For example, venturing into the Forbidden Forest filled with dangerous beasts and a mysterious creature drinking blood from another animal. It's a disturbing picture, but Dumbledore does a good job explaining that it is not right--it is disturbing. A lesson is always learned. Another instance is when Harry fights against an evil wizard and wounds (like burning) are inflicted. The scenes are intense, but never too dark for the intended age-group.

Writing Quality: *****
The writing style of this book (and the entire series, for that matter) is very easy to follow. So easy, in fact, I've heard people say that J. K. Rowling is "not a good writer." I disagree, because being a good writer greatly hinges on your definition of "writer." The Harry Potter series is filled with an entire new believable and wonderful world, deep characters who build trust, dislike, laughs and questions in the reader, a plot filled with unpredictable twists and surprises, and lessons that are truly applicable to life. J. K. Rowling's descriptions are not elaborate and thick like Tolkien (author of Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit). For that, I am truly grateful. Hers is aimed at a younger audience with enough meat to satisfy an older audience. Everyone's reading preference is different, but the quality of writing can't just be judged by book's grammatical make-up.

Overall Recommendation: *****
From a Christian stand-point, I address the issue of "magic" here. No spiritual entities are mentioned. I do not believe these books encourage any sort of true witchcraft, they are merely stories of the imagination. These books sparked my imagination and started the first pushes toward my love of reading and my desire for writing. I recommend the first book to the intended age-group and above. Enter into your imagination and never, ever, let it die.






Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

Oct 4, 2012

Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter, by Marcus MacGregor

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group: Teen+
Issues of Violence: action violence, animal violence
Intimacy Level: mild attraction
Swearing: none
Recommendation: yes, 4 out of 5 stars (see end of entry)

Blurb:
Wade Boss is a man with rare talent, able to train tigers and control bears in a wrestling match. His animal training business is well-known in the Hollywood world of acting. Perhaps this is why he's the first one called when a stray tiger is found in an old lady's garage. When Wade arrives on the scene with a tranquilizer gun, he's met with a new world that makes an escaped tiger look as tame as a puppy.

Hybrid beasts. Escaped, but none of the good guys know from where. Wade Boss, with a heart to help the hurting and a history of being good with animals, finds himself in a bind as an on-call hunter by a secret society.

Initial Reaction: *****
I was skeptically interested in this novel when it arrived on my doorstep--a generously given signed copy from the author, Marcus MacGregor. The cover was such a crazy mixture of futuristic and cowboy I wasn't sure what to think. I didn't love western novels, but Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter was far from a western. Instead, it carried all the details we love about the western lifestyle: manners, skill with a gun, horseback riding, hunting, fierce bravery, and faithful love, all the while drawing us into current day action.

I was, to my immense surprise and pleasure, drawn in to this novel as if lassoed. It was gradual and took several chapters to fully hook me, but once hooked the book found its way into my purse to be pulled out at sacred spare moments.

Characters: *****
The characters were endearing and believable, though only a few were deep enough to be "main" characters, chiefly Wade Boss. He made very believable choices, especially when thrust into supernatural situations. He falls into "typical Texas gentleman" category, but the author presented this in a new way so it wasn't cliche. 

Plot: *****
As the plot grew, I felt for Boss in more ways than one. It was easy to become frustrated when fate turned him a raw hand. His situations never really had a clear-cut right answer, which made the gamble of his job and safety a hard bet for him to make...and a hard bet to watch. Sometimes, he made choices that were frustrating. I wanted to yell at him to go and communicate a little more, but at the same time I could understand the urgency pushing him onward.

Writing: *****
The writing rests on the winds of 'telling' more than 'showing', which risked pulling me out of the story; however, MacGregor managed to tug me back into Boss's character in the action scenes. Another distraction when reading is the "head-hopping" between characters. Instead of being in Wade Boss's head the whole time, I saw glimpses into almost every side-character and even the fierce animal's minds. On occasion, this was interesting, but often times I wished I was just in one character's eyes.

Likes:
The novel was clean of swear words, free of inappropriate romance, and the violence was contained in a very appropriate manner. At one point, Boss found himself interested in a blonde who was not his current girlfriend and invited her to an evening of "showing her the city". Even though Wade Boss tried to excuse away his guilt and doubts, it was obvious that he teetered on the line of two-timing. I was disappointed in him because of this, but his own thoughts behind the matter and his actions to clean up his own little mess reminded me that he's a human and he really did want to do the right thing. Though the attraction is charming, it had its stretched moments. Boss's devotion and feelings for the lovely blonde seemed a little too instantaneous a couple of times, but love is blinding, right?

Spiritual Content: *****
On the spiritual front, there was no clear message, but Boss and another character prayed over a meal. I liked the small interaction and focus on God, though I hope to see more intentionality behind this in future books.

Other:
The hybrid animals were very convincing. Two animals mixed together came out of the breeding experiment with characteristics from each animal. It was very interesting to see how a hybrid acted around humans--scared or fierce, flee or fight? Which mentality would dominate the hybrid? The snake-mind or the coyote-mind? Either the author did a lot of research or he'd just been around animals a lot, but the character's interaction with beasts, hunting, and animal training all taught me a little about animals that I didn't know. His knowledge saturated the pages and hugely impacted the believability factor.

At first, it was a little hard to believe that, just because Wade Boss was an animal trainer and took out one anomaly on his own, a confidential society would reveal their secrets and rely on him solely for the capture of the escaped anomalies, but after more behind-the-scenes interaction I understood the lack of professionalism in certain areas and it was...refreshing. I liked seeing a "secret society" that didn't have everything squeaky clean, that didn't have the black-coat assassins to call whenever they needed something shut down.

Overall Recommendation:
The book had a fun mixture of modern cowboy and futuristic experimentation. I can honestly say that it was the cleanest, most well-delivered and well-written self-published novel I've read to this day. I love being surprised by good books and I look forward to the continuation of Wade Boss. I recommend it to the intended age-group (teens and up) and highly salute Marcus MacGregor for an excellent debut novel.





Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

Oct 2, 2012

October Objectives

Welcome to October, the month of falling leaves, ghosts in trees, pumpkin pies, and hot cider. Spiders go into hibernation, long sleeves come out of boxes, and the colors of the month are orange, red, brown, and pink (for Breast Cancer Awareness Month). Readers nestle up with fuzzy socks, craft-makers stalk Pinterest, and we all dream about saving up our cash for Christmas gifts (but rarely do). 

With the knowledge that readers will be picking up more books due to weather, school, and all-around jovial holidays, I have a list of reviews coming! First will be an independently published debut novel, Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter, by Marcus MacGregor about a Texas cowboy, hybrid monsters on the loose, and Hollywood glamor. The next reviews will be on the Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling. I've already reviewed the books in clumps (books 1-3, 4-6, and 7), but want to have an individual review for each book since they are all so different. Last will be a new novel by Marissa Meyer called, Cinder--a futuristic dystopian twist on Cinderella in Bejing, China.

And that's just October! Gird up your bookmarks, my friends, and let me know if there are other specific books you would like reviewed during these upcoming holidays!



Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.