Reviews: Divergent & Secret Zoo

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth
Beatrice lives in a society divided into factions. One day a year, all sixteen-year-olds must choose a faction and stay in that faction for the rest of their lives.
But Beatrice doesn't feel she belongs in the faction of her family and when she selects another, she must leave them behind. During a brutal initiation, she is drawn to a leader and together they uncover a plot that threatens all of the factions and their whole world. This is the first of a series of dystopian thrillers. 4 Elves-highly recommended.

THE SECRET ZOO by Bryan Chick
When you were a kid visiting the zoo, did you ever fantasize about being with the animals on the other side of the glass? This middle-grade fantasy takes you not only to the other side of the glass, but to a secret world hidden inside the zoo. When Noah's sister, Megan, disappears and animals leave cryptic notes, he and his friends, Ella & Richie, set off in the middle of the night to find Megan. With help from a polar bear, penguins and a rhino, these friends set off on a wild and dangerous adventure. 3 Elves - Recommended

The MAZE RUNNER review

Finally got around to reading THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner and enjoyed it more than I expected. The bulk of the action takes place in an enclosed space called the Glade, which is surrounded by the Maze. Our hero, Thomas, wakes up in the lift and is deposited in the Glade. Filled with boys, Thomas must learn how to survive and yearns to explore the Maze. Things get really interesting when the first girl arrives in the Glade, as she seems to be the key to escaping the Maze so they can all go home. The ending leaves you wishing for a sequel. 3 Elves - Recommended

New Reviews-The Warlock&Curse of Deadman's Forest

THE WARLOCK: This is the fifth book in the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel and like the others before, is a roller-coaster ride with action galore. The author, Michael Scott, is an authority on mythology and folklore, and his books are full of characters like Isis, Osiris, Scathach, Palamedes, Joan of Arc, Machiavelli and Shakespeare - even Billy the Kid is along for the ride. This is a fun read, and as usual, the ending has you anxiously awaiting a sequel as the heroes are running out of time.

THE CURSE OF DEADMAN'S FOREST by Victoria Laurie: This is the second book in the Oracles of Delphi Keep series and like the first book in the series, brings back Ian Wigby and his sister Theodosia. Their adventures started when they explored the tunnels beneath the White Cliffs of Dover and soon they were traveling far beyond the orphanage in England. In this sequel, they travel to Spain and a cursed forest in Germany through a magic portal, seeking other Oracles to defeat a growing evil. There are three Oracles now, and the children need to gather three more to be successful,so the adventures will continue.

Book Review of SPELLS by Aprilynne Pike

I just finished SPELLS by Aprilynne Pike, the sequel to her book, WINGS. After I started the book, I realized that I didn't remember WINGS that well and with no prologue, the only way to follow the story was to re-read the first book. This wasn't so bad since I really enjoyed reading the book again (and it was a pretty fast read).

In her sequel, the writer enters the faerie world of Avalon. It's a colorful world, full of music, ballet, art and a complex class structure. Laurel is having a hard time choosing between Tamani, a faerie friend since childhood, and David, her human boyfriend. When trolls kidnap her best girlfriend, she turns to David to help save her friend instead of Tamani. Does this mean that David is her choice? I'll be anticipating the next book to find out...

MARIGOLD on Kindle for $.99

My book, MARIGOLD: Book One of the Elven Chronicles, is on Kindle and The Nook for only $.99!!
http://www.amazon.com/Marigold-ebook/dp/B0053H9DJY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1310943477&sr=1-1

Book Review for DELIRIUM

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver is a dystopian Romeo + Juliet fantasy for YA readers. Although I didn't love this book by Oliver as much as BEFORE I FALL, I was captivated by the characters and story. Oliver really draws you into the world, and the future she paints is not so unbelievable. The story is very emotional and at the same time, heartbreaking. Highly recommended.

Voices of Dragons book review

I just read VOICES OF DRAGONS by Carrie Vaughn. The premise of the book is pretty great: dragons and humans, after living together peacefully, have been separated by fear and misunderstandings. A teen, Kay, befriends a dragon by chance and realizes that friendships between species can occur and endure. But, the military wants to stir up the dragons and force them to attack humans so they can take over their land. Kay and her dragon must take a stand to prove to both dragons and humans that both races can live in peace.

I wish that there had been more character development between Kay and her friends and Kay and her dragon. There was a fair amount of action, but it was at the expense of interaction with family and friends. The book seemed a bit rushed and the ending left room for a sequel. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would read the sequel if there is one.