Eighth Grade Bites - Review

Title: Eighth Grade Bites
Author: Heather Brewer
Series: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod
Rating: 4/5 stars
Review:

Vladimir Tod isn't your normal thirteen-year-old. Instead, he's a half-vampire. Vlad's parents died when he was ten and he has no idea of the extent of his powers. The only people who know his secret are his aunt Nelly and his best friend Henry - whom he bit when they were eight. When one of his teachers mysteriously vanishes and the new substitute begins questioning him a little too much, Vlad begins to fear for his life.

You'd think after all the hype over Twilight, I'd be sick of vampire books. Well, actually I am. Except this one was actually pretty good. It was more of an action novel than a love filled vampire-romance novel. It's a little bit juvenile, but you can't expect a deep, though provoking YA vampire novel. The plot kept me interested and I was curious to see what was going to happen next throughout the novel.

I liked the characters of Vlad and Henry. The two really seemed to go well together and the playful banter and jokes added depth to their relationship. I didn't really like the way Vlad opened up to Otis near the end of the book. It seemed forced and I didn't like how trusting he was.

I can't wait to read the sequel and see what happens next. Brewer did a great job of getting her readers excited for the next book. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA vampire novels that don't follow the same romance plot of Twilight. (And hey, at least this one wasn't badly written.)

Have you read this book? What are your opinions on it?

Orphan's Quest

Title: Orphan's Quest
Author: Pat Nelson Childs
Series: The Chronicles of Firma
Rating: 4/5 stars
Review:

Rokey has lived in the Nobel Contemplative, a place where orphaned boys are sent, since he was two. Ever since he was a child, he wondered who his parents are and hoped of one day reuniting with them. When he fails at a job given to him by the administration, he is sent out of the Contemplative, never to return. He is given a small amount of money and a recommendation for work and is set off alone. Rokey wonders what will happen to him, how he will survive. What he doesn't expect how ever, is to find love and find out someone is after his life.

I found this novel on my quest for LGBT fantasy novels and this popped up. I'm really glad I found this book too, since it was a good read. The story starts out good and sucks you in, but there's a brief lull in the plot right after he meets up with Flaskamper, though it does pick up again shortly after. Some parts of the story were a little hard to pick up at first since the author uses some terminology I'm not too familiar with (he calls minutes minmark, and hours marks), but it didn't detract from the story too much.

The only thing I didn't like during the story was when they would get into trouble. It seemed like every other chapter they were getting into some sort of trouble, but by the next chapter they're escaped pretty much unscathed. It's a little bit too unrealistic to go through all those battles, come out on top, then have what happens at the end, happen.

Nonetheless, I did enjoy the book though and would gladly recommend it to fantasy lovers. Rokey and Flash are loveable characters and I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel, Scion's Blood.

Evermore

Title: Evermore
Author: Alyson Noel
Series: The Immortals 1
Rating: 5/5 stars
Review:

One day, Ever and her entire family are in a car crash. Her mother, her father, her little sister and her dog all die, but somehow she survives. And after surviving, she finds she has new talents. She can see people's auras, read their minds, see into the past and future, oh and she can communicate with her dead sister. Then Damen Auguste comes along and she finds out he has the power to cancel out hers.

I absolutely loved this book. I picked it up from the library this afternoon and finished it in a couple hours. It was engaging, well thought out and I didn't want to put it down.

The characters were pretty deep - not some cookie cutter stereotype. I do think we could have used a bit more depth with Ever's friends, but it wasn't too bad. I also liked the whole flower thing too. That was very romantic and funny.

Though the plot is a little cliched, Noel handled everything in a way that was unique and interesting. Looking back, and thinking about some things it seems a little cliche but it didn't seem so while I was reading it.

The only real fault I can find with the book is when Ever visits Disneyland. Magic Kingdom, is not in Disneyland nor is it in California. It's at Disney World in Florida. I think she probably should have done a little bit more research on that one. (But that might just be because I'm anal about things like that.)

Luck in the Shadows

Title: Luck in the Shadows
Author: Lynn Flewelling
Series: Nightrunner
Rating: 4/5 stars
Review:

The novel opens with Alec of Kerry locked in a dungeon and being tortured for information. Though Alec is innocent of being a spy, his captors will not believe him. After a couple days of torture, a young bard is captured and thrown into the dungeon with him.

The young bard turns out to be Seregil, a spy and thief of sorts who helps Alec escape from the dungeon. Freed from captivity, the two steal a horse and try and get as far away as possible. While on their journey, Seregil offers Alec and opportunity - become his apprentice.

The novel was excellently written. The characters were both well rounded and deep. The plot kept me interested and had a few surprise twists in it.

It's a long novel, and I found myself wondering if it would ever end. Yet when I reached the end, I wanted more. Flewelling really grips you with her writing and leaves you wanting more.

Filled with secrets, thieves and treachery, this is a book I'd recommend to any fantasy fans. The novel isn't really YA, nor is it adult fiction, so it can work for both age groups.

The Warrior Heir

Title: The Warrior Heir
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Series: The Heir Trilogy
Rating: 4/5 stars
Review:

Cinda Williams Chima's The Warrior Heir follows the adventures of Jack Swift after he discovers his role in the guilds - magical armies warring for control. There are five races; warriors, wizards, enchanters, sorcerers and soothsayers. Each race is powerful in its own way, but wizards are thought to be the strongest. For years wizards have ruled over the other races. Two rival clans, The White Rose and The Red Rose constantly fight for control in a Gladiator style tournament known as The Game - instead of losing "precious" wizards in wars; they control warriors and have them fight to the death. As a result of The Game, the warrior race has all but died out. Then Jack Swift comes along - a wizard born without a stone. Desperate to save his life, his family calls on Jessamine Longbranch. Longbranch becomes a Frankenstein like character, experimenting on Jack - instead of giving him a wizard's stone, she implants a warrior's stone.

Published in 2006, The Warrior Heir was Chima's first novel. The novel later evolved into The Heir Series, with The Wizard Heir published in 2007 and The Dragon Heir published in 2008. The Warrior heir has won numerous awards including Voya's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for 2006-2007 and has appeared on American Library Association's popular paperback list for 2008.

The Warrior Heir is filled with twists and turns at every corner - the writing is engaging and keeps the reader interested. Though the book is better written and more engaging than other fantasy book such at Harry Potter and Twilight, it has received much less attention. Not only does the book present an interesting read, it also speaks out against class systems and encourages equality. There are many morals within the story and teaches a lesson while keeping the reader entertained.

Chima created a fictitious world that is both realistic and engaging. Her characters are original and her magic system is exquisite. I absolutely loved this novel and I've gone back and read it about four times now. I highly recommend this novel for those who love fantasy and YA novels.

Stormbreaker

Title: Stormbreaker
Author: Anthony Horowitz
Series: Alex Rider
Rating: 1/5 stars
Review:

What if James Bond had been a fourteen-year-old kid? Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz answers that question with its main character, Alex Rider. Alex is a normal boy, living with his uncle in London, England. But one day, his uncle is killed in a car crash, and the facts just don't add up. Alex begins asking questions and sneaking around, trying to get to the bottom of what really happened. When meeting with his uncle's boss at Royal and Crown, he finds out the truth. His uncle wasn't a bank manager, he was an MI6 agent, and he wasn't killed in a car crash, he was killed while on assignment. Eager to complete Ian Rider's mission, they send his nephew out into the field.

Released in September of 2000, Stormbreaker is the first novel in a series of spy novels featuring fourteen-year-old, Alex Rider. The novel and all sequels are published by Walker Books. Stormbreaker appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, topping off at #1 for children's series. On July 21, 2006, a film adaption was released, staring Alex Pettyfer at Alex Rider.

As a whole, the novel isn't well written. The author prefers "telling" over showing. Instead of using detail and the senses to give the reader information, he uses what are referred to as "info dumps." Which are basically blocks of information that are vital to the storyline, but the author couldn't think of a way to give you that information so they just tell it all to you. Instead of letting you feel the actions, and make it realistic, Horowitz just says "Alex rider did this. The bad guy did that." It's very boring and unentertaining.

The novel isn't realistic either - the idea of a government agency sending an untrained child on itself if unbelievable. Even in the most desperate of situations, sending in someone untrained is suicide, sending in an untrained child is suicide plus a public riot. Not to mention the "gadgets" Alex receives. Some of them are plausible, such as the yo-yo or even the "zit cream". But the fake GameBoy is just pathetic. Having a computer appear as a GameBoy to transmit images is believable, but having that same computer turn into an x-ray machine just by switching out cartridges is not.

The plot is also predictable. Everyone can easily see what's coming next - it's a straight forward novel with no real twists and turns in it. It's a classic happy, nothing can happen to the main character, ending. It's important for a novel to keep the reader engaged with plot twists, but this novel is one of those books you pick up and know the ending after reading two chapters.

Though not well written, this novel paved the way for similar books. The Young James Bond series, written by Charlie Higson, came out in March of 2005. Fledgling Jason Steed, written by Mark A. Cooper, came out in September of 2008. The novel also spawned several sequel all featuring Alex Rider.

Overall, the book is good for a young child who wouldn't question anything. For an older child or an adult, the novel is very poor quality. Between being poorly written, and not being very realistic, this is definitely not an "all ages" novel. It would be best for someone eight-years-old and under, maybe even younger.