Clockwork Angel
Book 1 of the Infernal Devices series
By Cassandra Clare
9/10 Stars
Movie rumored!
Tessa Gray’s aunt just died and she is going to live with her brother in London. But immediately after arriving, Tessa is kidnapped by a pair of warlocks, the Dark Sisters, who will prepare her for marriage with a mysterious Magister by teaching her of a power she has inside, allowing her to become another person, living or dead. She is rescued and soon feels at home at the London Institute of Shadowhunters, angel-human beings created to fight demons. The danger just grows higher and higher as Tessa and the Shadowhunters fight to figure out who Tessa is, and how to get her brother back.
An amazing, spellbinding book full of twists, and mystery, and romance, and action. I couldn’t put this book down, and bought the next one right after, since I was loving the book so much. Cassandra Clare does a great job with her plot & characters, and if you are a fan of the Mortal Instruments series, you’ll recognize a few last names, and a couple awesome characters will return. I highly recommend this book to ages 13 and up.
2Nobody’s Princess
Book 1 of the Nobody’s Princess series
By Esther Friesner
9/10 Stars
Helen is tired of being overlooked. She wants to be able to control her own life, say yes or no, always. But instead she is at the needle or putting on silly dresses and hairstyles without anyone listening to her. Then someone tells her, “If Aphrodite could get her hands on one of Zeus’ thunderbolts, even Zeus wouldn’t dare ignore her.” And since she can’t get a thunderbolt, she goes with the next best thing, a sword. A completely new perspective of the famous Helen of Troy, this book is full of inspiring women warriors including Atalanta & the Oracle herself, but also includes many, men in particular, who don’t agree with women being able to defend themselves.
This was an amazing book! I’m already dying for the next one. Helen is so spunky and strong you can’t help but admire her for her persistence. Incredibly written with great characters you might just recognize and hunts you may have heard of (think Theseus and the boar hunt), I highly recommend this book to all females & all those who enjoy Greek myths.
1City of Bones
Book 1 of Mortal Instruments series
Movie coming out this summer!
By Cassandra Clare
4.8 Stars
Fifteen year old Clarissa Fray, known as Clary, sneaks out to a night club with her best friend Simon and her world changes. When she sees a group of strangely marked teenagers kill a seemingly innocent boy, she screams, but no one else can see them. Soon, one of the teens seeks her out and tells her the truth. She’s a Shadowhunter, an ancient breed of half angel- half human demon-hunters, and her father is the biggest threat the Shadowhunters yet.
An amazing book that I picked up and set down too many times before I finally decided to read it. I am very glad I did. Recommended for at least ages 12 and up, this book is full of action, mystery, romance, and adventure. It has believable scenes and characters you can’t stop reading about, and you will pick a favorite supporting character. I already have a bunch.. Satisfying and interesting, the series continues with City of Glass and the movie is coming out this summer!
1Mysterious Benedict Society & the Perilous Journey
Book 2 of the Mysterious Benedict Society series
By Trenton Lee Stewart
4.9 Stars
The members of the Mysterious Benedict Society were looking forward to reuniting again for a mysterious surprise Mr. Benedict is planning, until Mr. Benedict & Number Two are kidnapped by none other than Mr. Curtain. Now it’s up to the children to find them, all by themselves,
Another fantastic addition to Mysterious Benedict Society series. As usual, the plot is great, the characters are so real, you expect them to jump off the page,and the mysteries are so intricate you can’t help but try to solve them yourself.
0City of Glass
Book 3 of the Mortal Instruments series
By Cassandra Clare
Recommended for at least 12 and up
4.8 Stars
Clary & Jace are still struggling with the new =found revelation they are brother and sister when Clary learns her mother’s coma is because of a spell she set on herself. The only chance to save her is by going to the Shadowhunter city of glass and seeking out Ragnor Fell. But quickly, things become complicated when Clary is left behind and breaks into the city illegally with a vampire at her side. Simon is locked up with a traitor, Clary is shoved away by her friends, and a new, mysterious figure, Sebastian, joins the group. Who is Sebastian and why is he interested in Clary? How can Clary save her mother, and Jace? And how will they ever save the doomed world of the Shadowhunters?
Fabulous new setting in the city of glass, with fresh new characters and situations you couldn’t have predicted. I highly recommend this.
0Immortal Fire
By Anne Ursu
Book 3 of the Cronus Chronicles
4 1/4 Stars
This final book of the amazing Cronus Chronicles does an amazing job of answering all the questions you may have, and bringing a last spinning adventure to brave cousins, Charlotte & Zee.
This book was done well, with great twists and turns, and lots of surprises. Definitely my favorite out of the three, because the cousins’ pure of heart and strong determination shines through.
0The Siren Song
By Anne Ursu
Book 2 of the Cronus Chronicles
4 Stars
After narrowly escaping Philonecron’s clutches, Charlotte and Zee are still on edge, haunted my dreams of the mistreated Dead and urges to take revenge on Philonecron. Zee is focused on getting back at Philonecron and doesn’t tell Charlotte about a strange dream warning he received until he disappears. Charlotte is trying to reclaim her parents’ trust after vanishing to the Underworld, and dealing with embarrassment & a disbelieving shrink, until Zee starts acting strange and her family is gifted a cruise around history landmarks..that ends up transporting itself to the Mediterranean. Suddenly, Charlotte is thrown into a mysterious vengeful plot by Poseidon, and it’s up to her to save her family and the cruise ship. But why does Poseidon want to take revenge on her? And what is Philonecron up to?
Another fantastic addition to the Cronus Chronicles. I sat on the edge of my seat the entire time, wondering what ever was going to happen next! I highly recommend it.
0The Shadow Thieves
By Anne Urs
Book 1 of the Cronus Chronicles
4 Stars
We begin in the middle.. Charlotte Mielswetski (say it with me: Meals-wet-ski) is a normal moody eighth grader with puzzled parents & a special talent for talking her way out of anything, until a kitten appears in her path and her English cousin Zachary (Zee) comes to visit. Suddenly, Charlotte’s best friend and classmates become deeply ill and strange clay-like men seem to stalk her. Charlotte begins to realize something is very wrong, and learns that the shadowy men were originally following her cousin, and have been infecting all the children with a strange disease. Following an attack by the shadow clay men, Charotte’s English teacher explains that Greek myths are real, the men are stealing shadows to make an army to overthrow the Underworld, and the half god-half demon leader of the army, a (stylish) evil genius named Philonecron is planning on Zee being his second in command, throwing the Dead into eternal torture. Can Zee & Charlotte find out the real truth about the strange happenings before it is too late?
This is an amazing book that has an intense plot but a unique perspective on the story with changing point of views and order of events. I highly recommend it for girls & boys of all ages.
0When You Reach Me
By Rebecca Stead
4 Stars
“Book, bag, pocket, shoe.”
It all started when Sal got punched in the face for seemingly no reason. Then Sal starts ignoring Miranda and she doesn’t know why. And she finally has to walk by the crazy, laughing man under the mailbox all alone. Suddenly, the hidden spare key to her apartment is stolen, and she starts receiving strange notes. They are urgent, telling her that a life is in mortal danger. But who’s life? And can Miranda really save a life before it’s too late?
Wow. Yes, I’m starting this review again with wow. This is another fabulous book, with a detailed plot and woven thread of mystery. This author is incredible. The time traveling concepts and world concepts are amazing. I loved this book, and highly recommend it to every reader out there, boy or girl, kid or adult.
1Origin
By Jessica Khoury
4 1/2 Stars
Pia has grown up in a laboratory deep in the Amazon forest, but she has never been out of the fence. Except for a careless thirteen steps when she was young and didn’t know why she could never leave. You see, she has been created for one purpose, creating a super race. She is immortal and will never, ever die. Probably. She is surrounded by mysterious characters that she called Aunt and Uncle, and doesn’t see anything strange about her life. That is, until Harriet comes into Little Cambridge and a hole opens in her fence. Suddenly, her world is flipped when she discovers that the world outside her cage is friendly and nice, nothing like the horrible tales she has heard. She meets a boy, a special boy, and her emotions are thrown out of balance. Could there be a terrible secret behind Little Cambridge? And could Pia, sensible, practical Pia, disobey reason and fall for the only real thing that makes her happy?
Wow. This book is fantastic! As you may have noticed, it’s on my favorite books list, because it is so amazing. I admit I was doubtful at the beginning of the book, but it truly is a great book! It is written brilliantly, and I never expected anything to happen! I thought I could predict what would happen, but this book is not predictable at all. I highly recommend it to everyone who appreciates an awesome book!
1Whisper
By Phoebe Kitanidis
4 Stars
If only I could have a cup of coffee. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin. I hope she realizes he hates her. I wish I could kick him out of my life. Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She can walk down the street and hear dozens of desires. Her mother and her agree they can make the world a better place with making people happy. Unfortunately, everything unravels on her birthday, when her rebellious, gloomy, friend-less sister Jessica messes her life up. And then disappears. Soon, Joy is finding out that her Whisper senses are picking up darker desires and that her perfect life is built on lies. Will Joy find her older sister in time, or will everything fall to pieces?
This is an amazing book with usual teen drama mixed with unnatural romance and family relationships. I absolutely recommend it to girls and guys ages 12 and up.
0Warriors: Power of Three: The Sight
Book 1 of the third Warriors series, The Power of Three
In Firestar’s Quest, Firestar received a prophecy. “There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws.” Firestar realizes that the kits of Squirrelflight, his daughter, must be the ones of the prophecy. In the beginning, Jaykit, Lionkit, and Hollykit, all want to train to become warriors, even though Jaykit is blind. As time goes by, Hollykit decides she wants to help heal warriors. When the three become apprentices, Hollypaw is Leafpool’s apprentice, the medicine cat, Lionpaw is paired with Ashfur, and Jaypaw is with Brightheart. Jaypaw is upset that the other cats see his blindness as a weakness, but he has always been blind. They pity him and paired him with a one-eyed cat. Hollypaw decides she isn’t up to being a medicine cat, because she hates blood and herbs. In a battle, Jaypaw can barely distinguish enemy from friend, so he and Hollypaw trade roles. Jaypaw, Hollypaw, and Lionpaw find themselves acting differently from the rest of the clan and don’t know why. Will they discover their true destiny before it’s too late?
Another amazing edition to the Warriors series’, Power of Three is a great series, but not my favorite. It is interesting to see the cats grow up and change names. I love it and recommend it.
2Warriors: The New Prophecy: Midnight
Book 1 of the second Warriors series, The New Prophecy
By Erin Hunter
3 1/2 Stars
Sixth months have passed since the last book in the original Warriors series, The Darkest Hour. Tigerstar’s son, Bramblepaw, has received his warrior name, Brambleclaw, and Firestar has had two kits with Sandstorm, Squirrelpaw and Leafpaw. Leafpaw is training to become a medicine cat with Cinderpelt, and Squirrelpaw is training to become a warrior with Dustpelt. In a dream, StarClan tells Brambleclaw, Graystripe’s daughter Feathertail, Crowpaw, and Tigerstar’s daughter Tawnypelt, to listen to what Midnight has to say. Eventually, the cats begin a journey toward the setting sun along with Feathertail’s brother Stormfur and Squirrelpaw. Back in the forest, the Clans are frantic to find their lost cats and save the forest.
This was an incredible beginning to the next Warriors series, The New Prophecy, that I really enjoyed. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the original Warriors series, or anyone who loves adventure, excitement, mystery, or cats.
0Hush, Hush
Book 1 of the Hush, Hush Series
By Becca Fitzpatrick
4 Stars
Nora Grey has never been very attracted to any boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushed her. When her teacher moves seat arrangements, she is partnered with a mysterious transfer student, Patch. Patch has an easy smile, dark eyes, and knows things he shouldn’t. Against her better judgement, Nora finds herself getting closer to him. After a series of terrifying encounters, Nora doesn’t know if Patch is her protector..or her killer. She has to figure out her true friends, and dangerous enemies before it’s too late.
This book is actually surprisingly good. Nora is a likable character, and I enjoyed the suspense and mystery. Also, the author did a great job with hidden evil characters. For example, I thought they had finally defeated their enemy when she encountered her true enemy. Overall, it was a throughly thrilling and suspenseful story. I recommend it to ages 11 and over.
0Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Book 1 of the Percy Jackson series
By Rick Riordan
4 3/4 Stars
Percy has never stayed at one school for more than a year. At his current school, he’s sure he will get expelled for some unexplainable reason pretty soon. He never imagined the way he would get expelled though. A dangerous math teacher shifts into her true form, exposing Percy to the real world. A world where Greek gods are alive, and monsters roam the earth. And the biggest surprise: Percy’s father who got “lost at sea” is a very important god, making Percy a demigod at Camp Half Blood. Soon Percy Jackson is thrust into an adventure where he could save the world and maybe survive himself. But in when his friends are in danger, Percy doesn’t know who to trust. Will he save his friends, mom, and the world? Or will everyone perish from a “friend’s” evil hand?
One of my favorite book series, Percy is a great, likable character. I especially like Annabeth who is a good asset to the story. The book is written really well and I highly recommend it to kids ages 7 and up to 60.
1