Elphame's Choice/ Brighid's Quest reviews

Elphame's Choice by P.C. Cast

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I absolutely love P.C. Cast. She has a way of being really creative but making it seem so believable you think it could be real. This book takes you back into the world of Parthalon, which if you've read P.C. before you know it from the Divine books. Like those this book has an emphasis on good vs. evil as well as love and trust. You can feel the loneliness of some of the characters, as well as the buds of love and joy that develop. The story is one wrapped in magic as well as pain though. The things the characters have suffered has let them learn and grow, making their personalities strong and brave. You will fall in love with this world and the people P.C. has creates in it.



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Brighid's Quest by P.C. Cast

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Again I have to share my praise for P.C. Cast. This book was fabulous! It had a different focus than some of her books, it went from pain, death and suffering to love, life and happiness. It shows you the experience and trials a person who has lost a loved one may go through (I was crying for a large portion of the book). It is deffinately a difficult thing to be able to express through a book but the story is written so that you can begin to at least understand it. The transition from dealing with the death then recovering is done well, you see it's not something that you can just forget, but you can heal from it. Then to make you love the book even though it is sad, it brings back love, life and happiness, it a is difficult thing to accomplish but she does it. When that love is realized the trials to come are easier because the characters now have each other. And of course throughout the book, she gives you the sense that there will be redemption, you are not lost to the pain. You close the book with a sense of newness and redemption. Though I am hoping from the epilogue, there will be another book to the Parthalon series.



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Accross The Universe review

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book. The story kept you guessing and wanting more. When you finally figure out what's going on, you wonder how they can fix everything. Then you don't find out, because that will be hopefully coming in the second book. You wonder how a society could run the way it had been. How anyone could think that was okay to do to anothe human being. But clearly there have been those who devalue life causing strife and pain, thinking it is for the greater good. But it is not. This book brings up points of view that make you question how the world runs. Would it be better if everyone were the same? Would the wars and suffering end if all differences were gone? Would it be a better world if people simply followed as they were told? These are things this book makes you think about, and feel disgusted by at times. If our world had swayed a different way...



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Radient Shadows

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What I like most abou these books, they are all tied together, but not the same storyline. The characters are in many of the books, but the main character is different. This one centers on Ani, a half breed, and Devlin, of the High Court. They are originally tied together because of disobedience, but as they spend more time together it grows into a true bond. Their lives are completely changed by each other. They found who they are in each other. This is a beautiful story of love, lies, and change.



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The "Launch" of the Good Ship Godspeed!

(Jeremy West over at Novel Thoughts made the awesome banner you're look at!)

Hey everyone, Guess what?! Penguin Teen has a pretty cool project that they've kept secret that was launched today for Across the Universe! It's a fun interactive website that they put in place of the countdown splash page! Here's the link: Across the Universe Website Seriously, it's so cool how you can go from room to room and see what it would be like to actually be on the Godspeed!

And here is a new interview with Beth!



And if you haven't seen it already, here's the book trailer.



Also, io9 will be having an exclusive excerpt from page 111 from Across the Universe. It will be live from 11:11am to 11:11pm here!

The book comes out TODAY (1.11.11) so head to your local library or bookstore to check it out!

More links for even more Across the Universe fun!

• AtU on Facebook
• Beth's Website
• Beth's Blog
• Follow Beth on Twitter
  

• Penguin Teen Website
• Penguin Teen on Twitter
• Penguin Teen on Facebook
  

• Buy Across the Universe on Amazon!

Here again is the new interview with Beth!

Awakened

Awakened by P.C. Cast

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have loved the HoN books, all of them. The first thing I thought when I bought this one was, it's so thin, I was sad. But though it was shorter than some of the others in the series it was great. There were twists and turns I had not expected, and characters popping in and out of the story you thought were finished or still continuing. And I'll be honest I was crying a lot as I read, but that's good because it means the authors wrote it in a way that really connects you to the characters. When they felt pain so did you. I was not expecting some of the reactions to certain events or the choice of sides for some characters, deffinately some serious changes. It seems there will be some very unexpected events in the next book as well. I can not wait until November for the next installment!!!



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Book Giveaway!

I am hosting a book giveaway starting Jan.10 and ending Feb.10(it will now be the 23), 2011 to celebrate my daughters 1st Birthday! To enter you MUST be a follower. The books are be:

*******I have decided to extend the closing date, because I will be out of town until feb.23*******

(all are gently used copies)

• Wicked by G. Maguire

• Eldest by C. Paolini

• Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

• Hard cover copy of Eclipse by S. Meyer

This is how to enter:

1. you MUST be a follower
2. make a comment on one of my short stories, some sort of critique, nice, mean or ugly, doesn't matter so long as it's productive, thanks. (bonus entry)
3. leave you email address (so I will be able to contact the winner)as a comment on this post
4. tell me which book you would like most, labeled 1-4 please

AtU Giveaway

SO, my sister, Christina, is giving away a SIGNED copy of Across The Universe by Beth Revis so check out her blog for a chance to win!

The Hunger Games

I have to tell everyone I know, READ THIS SERIES!!!
(***note: my review of Mockingjay has spoilers***)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a superb book! I absolutely loved it. The thing that makes it so good is because it is plausable. Though it's not set in the world as we know it, you could see something like this happening. The characters are riveting and spell-binding. So much passion and drive you feel for them, for their suffering, anxiety... everything. It makes you wonder how people could ever treat another human that way, and yet, it wouldn't surprise you if it did happen. You realize the depths of darkness that a person is capable of. But, These are all reasons why the story is so captivating.



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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Again, Suzanne Collins has done a fabulous job. She continues the story she introduced in The Hunger Games, only to see after all the suffering and trials the characters have been through, they will just see more. Picking up the story from their escape from harm to only realize it is so much worse than it was before. Introducing even darker characters and plots and bringing a culmination where they must decide what to do next. Will they fight or flee? Will they live through it? Could it possibly get worse if they fight? or if they flee? Will they ever see peace and quiet... I suggest you go get your keys and drive to the store, and BUY THIS BOOK! (and of course read, IMMEDIATLY!)



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Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


So this is the conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy. The story begins in The Hunger Games (book 1)by introducing a family, who have already suffered the loss of a father. Then, to make matters worse the youngest sister, Primrose is selected to compete in the Hunger Games. But Katniss, the elder sister (and main provider), volunteers to go in her place and possibly lose her life as well. Alongside her a boy named Peeta is selected to enter. Apparently he has been in love with her for a while, and he declares his love to the nation just before the Games begin (Katniss believes it is just a ploy to help them survive the games). Throughout the games you realize he meant it, and though the Games can only have one survivor (he tries to ensure it is her). They work the system to both survive. Which angers the Capitol- the ruling government, to the point that they are now trying to find a way to have them killed. Enter the Quarter Quells, (in book 2- Catching Fire). Katniss is again entered into the Games, along with other Victors of previous Games. She swears to protect Peeta because she believes he is the better person of the two. The other Victors and the Rebels have another plan, they want her to be their spokesperson for the war to come, so they break her from the Games. Mockingjay (book 3), now she has to decide what she will do, be the voice and face of the rebels against the Capitol? and possibly be used by yet another government for control? Meanwhile, Peeta was captured and is being tortued and used against her. Will she help the Rebels, will Peeta survive? Will the Capitol be brought down? Can they ever have peace, and hope for a good future? This book will make you sad, angry, happy and so much more. You hope for their cause, yet wonder if it's all worth it. The sacrifices and pain they suffer, could it be ended? Will the new government actually be any better? Will Katniss and Peeta ever have their own happily ever afters?



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