Book Sake

Book Review: Pandora's Key: The Key Trilogy, Book One by Nancy Richardson Fischer

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Pandora's Key: The Key Trilogy, Book One by Nancy Richardson Fischer
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publish Date: November 19, 2011

Publisher’s Description
The key to saving the world hangs from her neck…

Sixteen-year-old Evangeline Theopolis doesn’t know her father, her mother is having delusions, and her godmother is, at the very least, a murderer. A clandestine Order called the Archivists is trying to find and kill her for a magical talisman she believes is just a necklace with an antique key charm. And an ancient and lethal female Sect is bent on kidnapping her.

To fight her deadly adversaries Evangeline is forced to use both her wits and the supernatural talents she never imagined she possessed. Her journey takes her to the steps of Mount Olympus where she will discover her true identity and have a decision to make: accept who she really is or take responsibility for the destruction of the world.

PANDORA’S KEY is a fast-paced, edgy urban fantasy about a young woman’s treacherous path to self-awareness and the realization that sometimes you have to play the hero in your own life’s story. Fans of Suzanne Collins and Stephenie Meyer will appreciate the magic infused gritty realism, flawed yet powerful heroine, intricate plot and cast of characters to love, despise or pity.

Book Review
In Pandora’s Key the story of Evangeline moves along quite quickly, a wonderful thing after reading so many books with slow starts. Hearing about the mythology of Pandora and Pandora’s box was a treat, I don’t think I’ve read a book based on the Pandora mythology previously. The entire story was well written and there wasn’t a dull moment to be found. I felt bad for Evangeline upon her discovery that her life wasn’t really her own and that there were so many falsehoods placed upon her. People aren’t who she thinks they are and she ends up having to put her trust in someone new. While this story wrapped up the beginning, there is still so much more that can be had in continuing on the series and I would love to see where it goes.

Book Rating: 4/5
Book Received From: Won from Author
Reviewer: Jessica

Visit Nancy Richardson Fischer's website to find out more about The Key Trilogy.
The Key Trilogy is on Facebook too.

Book Review: Throne of the Crescent Moon (Crescent Moon Kingdoms)

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Throne of the Crescent Moon (Crescent Moon Kingdoms) by Saladin Ahmed
Publisher: DAW Publisher
Publish Date: February 7, 2012

Publisher’s Description
From Saladin Ahmed, finalist for the Nebula and Campbell Awards, comes one of the year's most anticipated fantasy debuts, THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON, a fantasy adventure with all the magic of The Arabian Nights.

The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, land of djenn and ghuls, holy warriors and heretics, Khalifs and killers, is at the boiling point of a power struggle between the iron-fisted Khalif and the mysterious master thief known as the Falcon Prince. In the midst of this brewing rebellion a series of brutal supernatural murders strikes at the heart of the Kingdoms. It is up to a handful of heroes to learn the truth behind these killings:

Doctor Adoulla Makhslood, "The last real ghul hunter in the great city of Dhamsawaat," just wants a quiet cup of tea. Three score and more years old, he has grown weary of hunting monsters and saving lives, and is more than ready to retire from his dangerous and demanding vocation. But when an old flame's family is murdered, Adoulla is drawn back to the hunter's path.

Raseed bas Raseed, Adoulla's young assistant, a hidebound holy warrior whose prowess is matched only by his piety, is eager to deliver God's justice. But even as Raseed's sword is tested by ghuls and manjackals, his soul is tested when he and Adoulla cross paths with the tribeswoman Zamia.

Zamia Badawi, Protector of the Band, has been gifted with the near-mythical power of the Lion-Shape, but shunned by her people for daring to take up a man's title. She lives only to avenge her father's death. Until she learns that Adoulla and his allies also hunt her father's killer. Until she meets Raseed.

When they learn that the murders and the Falcon Prince's brewing revolution are connected, the companions must race against time--and struggle against their own misgivings--to save the life of a vicious despot. In so doing they discover a plot for the Throne of the Crescent Moon that threatens to turn Dhamsawaat, and the world itself, into a blood-soaked ruin.

Book Review
This story was what I expected, what I wanted, and more. While I was a bit thrown off by the cover for the book…I thought it was meant for children, my boyfriend looked at it and said for an older crowd cause kids don’t want fat dudes in their books. So, I guess it was just me – but I went into it thinking that it was meant for a younger crowd and thus was surprised with the few curse words thrown around here and there. That said most times cursing was used it was perfectly placed and these “fat dudes” were freaking awesome.

The more I rehash what happened in the book and the characters that were part of it the more I realize how much I enjoyed this story. For something that could have simply been a dark and devious tale with ghuls, death, and destruction, it was so much more. Love was a part of the story, even if it wasn’t in your face the entire time. Friendship was one of the biggest parts and the friendship these characters had was simply divine – especially that between the main character Adoulla and his two friends that help him on his quest to save the world. The humor was probably one of my favorite things that I didn’t expect in the story. It was sprinkled throughout the story in bits and pieces and lightened the story from the despair that was the central focus. I want to reread this one again as I am sure there were plenty of things that I didn’t absorb or let sink in enough to appreciate them.

Book Rating: 4/5
Book Received From: DAW for Review
Reviewer: Jessica

Book Review: Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth

noreply@blogger.com (brittany) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth
Publisher: Harper
Publish Date: February 7, 2012

Publisher's Description

Growing up in a family of political journalists—and daughter of President Reagan’s White House social secretary—Ali Wentworth rebelled against her blue-blood upbringing, embracing Hollywood, motorcycles, even a few wildly inappropriate marriage proposals. Today she is an acclaimed comedic actress and writer, former Oprah regular, wife of political and media star George Stephanopoulos, and a mother who lets her two girls eat cotton candy before bed. Though she’s settled down, her rebellious nature thrives in her comedy and her view of her crazy world.

In this addictively funny and warm memoir, she takes us through the looking glass and into the wonderland of her life, from a childhood among Washington’s elite to a stint in the psych ward they called a New England prep school; days doing L.A. sketch comedy (with then-aspiring artists Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow) to a series of spectacularly failed loves (that eventually led her to Mr. Right). Constant throughout is her mother, Muffie—a flawlessly elegant yet firm, no-nonsense force of nature and pure WASP convictions.

As charming and off-the-wall as Ali herself, Ali in Wonderland is an entertaining look at life that is both intimate and hilarious.

Book Review

I requested this book after reading the reviews, particularly the quotes from Kathy Griffin and Chelsea Handler, because I know that if they think someone is funny, so will I. I was right – Ali Wentworth proved to be quite the comedian and storyteller in Ali in Wonderland. I’m not sure everything in this book is true, as the title states, “and other tall tales”, but this "memoir" is hilarious anyway. Her descriptions of people are so ridiculous that I found myself rereading those parts to my boyfriend, hoping he’d get a kick out of them as well. I believe this was one of my favorite lines:

“Abigail was an anemic blonde from Winnetka, Illinois. Abigail was light on the outside, but dark on the inside. She had a face like a fetus and wore Fair Isle sweaters, knee socks, and clogs.”

Hah – I love that. Surely not everyone will appreciate her sense of humor, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s all in the little things she says – things you might overlook if you are waiting for the next big joke. There’s no buildup, there’s no punch line, this woman is just funny. Period. I definitely suggest reading this one. 4/5 stars for the occasional dull moment, but they are few and far between.

Book Rating: 4/5
Book Received From: Harper for Review
Reviewer: Brittany

Waiting On Wednesday (98): Ichiro by Ryan Inzana

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Ichiro by Ryan Inzana
Publisher:Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Publish Date:March 20, 2012

Publisher's Description
Ichiro lives in New York City with his Japanese mother. His father, an American soldier, was killed in Iraq. Now, Ichi’s mom has decided they should move back to Japan to live with Ichi’s grandfather.

Grandfather becomes Ichi’s tour guide, taking him to temples as well as the Hiroshima Peace Park, where Ichi starts to question the nature of war. After a supernatural encounter with the gods and creatures of Japanese mythology, Ichi must face his fears if he is to get back home. In doing so, he learns about the nature of man, of gods, and of war. He also learns there are no easy answers—for gods or men.

* A supernatural story featuring Japanese mythology sound interesting to me. - Jessica

---Want to participate? Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave a link in the comments section!

Follower Love Giveaway Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

This Hop Start at 12:01 AM EST on Tuesday, February 7th and runs through February 14th. Our giveaway at Book Sake is open Internationally.

The Hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Rachael Renee Anderson.

We will have one winner who will be able to choose between these two ARC books. We picked an adult book and a children's book to give the best options. Just fill out the form below.

The Orphan of Awkward Falls (ARC) by Keith Graves

OR

Those Across the River (ARC) by Christopher Buehlman

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Book Review: Born Wicked: The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book One by Jessica Spotswood

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Born Wicked: The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book Oneby Jessica Spotswood
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publish Date: February 7, 2012

Publisher’s Description
Blessed with a gift...cursed with a secret.

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood - not even from each other.

Book Review (ARC)
I was so looking forward to reading Born Wicked from the moment I heard about it and it did not disappoint. The more I think about the story, the more I like it. The story opens right away with magic, no holding back here. And anyone that reads my reviews know how I love my characters and the characters drive this story. The addition of the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood adds some scare and dread factor for the girls. There are a few mysteries to the story that were easy to guess and it was logical for things to go in that direction, I just wish that it would have been more surprising in those aspects. Even with that I still loved the storyline and the idea behind it all. I was left wondering where the story would go from the ending and how it will affect each of the sisters and the other characters that were featured more prominently. Yes, I will absolutely, definitely be reading the next book in the series.

Book Rating: 4/5
Book Received From: Library Thing for Review
Reviewer: Jessica

In My Mailbox (69)

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox. Let us know what looks good to you and leave us a link so we can check out what you got over the week.

For Review

The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols

The Professionals by Owen Laukkanen

Dating the Undead by Gena Showalter & Jill Monroe

Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre

The Eye of the World: Book One of 'The Wheel of Time' by Robert Jordan

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones

Won

Love Unfinished by Darian Wilk

Bond Girl: A Novel by Erin Duffy

What would you read first?

Leave us a link to your IMM, we'd love to drool over your reads!

Thanks to Darian Wilk, Jennifer Echols, Macmillan, First Second, Book Perk, Planned TV Arts, and Penguin for this weeks books!

Graphic Novel Review: Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley Publisher: Oni Press
Publish Date: August 18, 2004

Publisher's Description

Scott Pilgrim's life is so awesome. He's 23 years old, in a rock band, "between jobs," and dating a cute high school girl. Everything's fantastic until a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties.

But the path to Ms Flowers isn't covered in rose petals. Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends stand in the way between Scott and true happiness. Can Scott beat the bad guys and get the girl without turning his precious little life upside-down?

About the Author

Bryan Lee O'Malley has been alive since 1979. His first book was called LOST AT SEA. His second book is this one.

Book Review

What an odd and interesting comic. The main character, Scott Pilgrim, is charming in that slacker kind of way. His friends are just as entertaining. The core of this book is the relationships and for that I really enjoyed it.

However, a little more then half way through the book some elements of sci-fi are introduced and then ends in a mortal combat style battle complete with demon cheerleaders and fireballs. Say what? Where did that come from?

But for some reason, this works. The art is perfect for the story. Simple no colors, but still the expressions of the characters are instantly recognizable and priceless.

I am looking forward to reading the next 5 volumes. Really curious to see how this ends because the start is nuts.

Book Rating: 5/5
Book Received From: Personal Purchase
Reviewer: Chris

Book Review: Entice (Need) by Carrie Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Entice (Need) by Carrie Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publish Date: December 14, 2010

Publisher’s Description
Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie. . . She's Astley's queen.

Book Review
I love this series and can’t believe I waited so long to read the third book! This one veers out of our normal world, well normal in that there are pixies and all, and adds in the mythology of Valhalla, yes, that means a little bit about Thor and Odin too. Zara is one of my favorite female characters in a young adult series because she doesn’t just sit around and whine, she gets off her butt and does something about the problems. While her choices sometimes put her in danger, they are still choices that she is taking responsibility for and doing for more than just herself. Actually, she’s a pretty unselfish girl. Yes, she wants Nick back because she loves him, but it’s more than that. She knows his friends all need him as well and so she is risking life and limb to get him back. Zara isn’t without her own internal conflict though. Astley is always around, she is his queen now after all, but she’s not quite sure what that means. We get to see into Astley’s character a bit more and whew, there’s some unexpected stuff in his life. I know I won’t wait so long to read the next book in the series, it can’t get here soon enough!

Book Rating: 5/5
Book Received From: Personal Purchase
Reviewer: Jessica
Read my reviews on the first two books in the series: Need and Captivate. Keep an eye out for Book 4, Endure, coming out in May 2012.

Short Story Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (The Steampunk Chronicles) by Kady Cross

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (The Steampunk Chronicles) by Kady Cross
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: May 1, 2011

Publisher’s Description
Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined…
An ebook exclusive prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles.

Book Review
Oh how I love The Girl in the Steel Corset. This short prequel can be read separately from the first book in The Steampunk Chronicles and you won’t be missing anything. If you’ve already read book one, then this will just add to Finley’s story. While much of what I loved about the first book in the series is missing from this one (Jack Dandy anyone?), it still has a great story that stands on it’s own. We get to see more of Finley and how strong of a person she can be and I loved Phoebe and her mother as well – both very entertaining women. I definitely love that Kady Cross is able to write outstanding characters, not wasting time with chicks that can’t handle themselves. She doesn’t half-write any characters, they are each complete and wonderful (or horrible) in their own way.

Book Rating: 4/5
Book Received From: Freebie on Amazon
Reviewer: Jessica
Check out my review of The Girl in the Steel Corset, the first book in The Steampunk Chronicles.

Waiting on Wednesday (97): Wide Open by Deborah Coates

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Wide Open by Deborah Coates
Publisher: Tor Books

Publish Date:March 13, 2012

Publisher's Description
When Sergeant Hallie Michaels comes back to South Dakota from Afghanistan on ten days' compassionate leave, her sister Dell's ghost is waiting at the airport to greet her.

The sheriff says that Dell's death was suicide, but Hallie doesn't believe it. Something happened or Dell's ghost wouldn't still be hanging around. Friends and family, mourning Dell's loss, think Hallie's letting her grief interfere with her judgment.

The one person who seems willing to listen is the deputy sheriff, Boyd Davies, who shows up everywhere and helps when he doesn't have to.

As Hallie asks more questions, she attracts new ghosts, women who disappeared without a trace. Soon, someone's trying to beat her up, burn down her father's ranch, and stop her investigation.

Hallie's going to need Boyd, her friends, and all the ghosts she can find to defeat an enemy who has an unimaginable ancient power at his command.

*I love a good mystery with some ghosts in it! - Jessica

---Want to participate? Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave a link in the comments section!

Book Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Incarnateby Jodi Meadows
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publish Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher’s Description
NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

Book Review (ARC)
The beginning of the story started off a bit slow for me and I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep reading, but I am glad I pressed on as the rest of the novel more than made up for the slow start. There were moments in this story that I wanted to get violent on Ana’s mother. What a horrible, horrible mother! Ana is portrayed in such a devastating way; it’s hard not to want to protect her. She reacts as if she will be abused both physically and mentally and it’s all because that is what she is used to from her mother. Luckily she is finally shown some kindness and this helps Ana to realize the person she really is, which is not a doormat.

First love is thrown into the mix and it feels deep and true despite the newness of the relationship. The dragons and the sylphs are both disastrous elements to the story and make for extra danger during an already turbulent time for Ana. These creatures are side characters to the main story and I would have loved to see and know more about each of them in this world. Will I read the next book in the series? Of course…the ending has me clamoring to know more!

Book Rating: 4/5
Book Received From: HarperCollins for Review
Reviewer: Jessica

Graphic Novel Review: Hades: Lord of the Dead (Olympians) by George O'Connor

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:30:00 +0000

Hades: Lord of the Dead (Olympians) by George O'Connor
Publisher: First Second
Publish Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher’s Description
Volume 4 of the highly acclaimed Olympians series!

Hades: Lord of the Dead tells the story of the great God of the Underworld and one of the most famous of all Greek myths: Hades’ abduction of Persephone and her mother’s revenge. Be prepared to see a new side of Persephone in this dynamic adaptation of the story of the creation of the seasons.

In Olympians, O’Connor draws from primary documents to reconstruct and retell classic Greek myths. But these stories aren’t sedate, scholarly works. They’re action-packed, fast-paced, high-drama adventures with monsters, romance, and not a few huge explosions. O’Connor’s vibrant, kinetic art brings ancient tales to undeniable life in a perfect fusion of super-hero aesthetics and ancient Greek mythology.

Book Review by Chris
This book is called Hades, but it’s really about Persephone. It’s still an entertaining read. I didn’t know much about Persephone, the wife of Hades, and according to the author not much has been written about the Queen of the Dead. So I guess this book is the author’s imaging of how Persephone came to be and I think it is pretty good.

However if you were really looking forward to some Hades lore, the start of the book does give a good amount of details regarding Hades and his realm. The delivery of these facts is quick and fun, so it doesn’t feel like you are reading an encyclopedia.

The artwork is simple and bold, nothing too complex. Also it is part of a series, all by the same writer/artist. It’s an exciting delivery method of the Greek Myths. Instead of laborious text, you get energetic images bringing these Gods to life. I think they’d all make a great addition of a kid’s bookshelf. Book Rating: 4/5

Book Review by Jessica

I love anything mythology related and the story of Persephone is a good one. (Just as Chris said, it’s not really about Hades.) I especially liked the spin that the author put on this version of her. I learned some new things about the character, as well as tidbits about other characters. The back of the book features a panel-by-panel play-by-play telling you what all of the different characters and places are and what words that may be unfamiliar to the reader mean. Hades is shown to be nicer than I ever would have thought him to be and I think that’s partially because of the twist with Persephone. This is definitely a story that could be loved by any reader, no matter if they usually pick up graphic novels or not. Readers will be entertained and learn something new all in one read, I would love to read the rest of this series. Book Rating: 4/5

Book Review by Kole

I’ve read many stories about the Olympians and the Titans but this is the first to say that Persephone actually liked being with Hades. I don’t know if this is true or if it’s just a creative turn from all of the other stories. Either way it’s a fresh new look at the story. Not only is the story great but the artwork compliments it very well. I found myself looking at the art for longer periods of time than I spent reading. I liked Hades not being portrayed as evil. It’s another part of the story that makes it fresh. Although it was a little short for me. I feel like they could have extended the story or gone more in depth. I haven’t read any of the others in this series but I hope that they are as different from old myths as this is. I feel like this series has lots of promise. I look forward to reading all of the Olympians series. Book Rating: 4/5

Book Received From: First Second for Review
There is a website devoted to the series, Olympians, that has sections for readers and teachers. There is even a Mad Libs area - genius! There is also a blog for the series, Olympians Rule! Check out the other books in the series too:

In My Mailbox (68)

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox. Let us know what looks good to you and leave us a link so we can check out what you got over the week.

For Review
Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed (Finished copy - so freaking excited! - Jessica)

Asylum: Book One of the Birch Harbor Series by Kristen Selleck

The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry
What to Look for in Winter: A Memoir in Blindness by Candia McWilliam (ARC)

Katja from the Punk Band by Simon Logan (ARC)

Into the Darkest Corner: A Novel by Elizabeth Haynes (ARC)

Won
My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness by Gwyneth Paltrow

What would you read first?

Leave us a link to your IMM, we'd love to drool over your reads!

Thanks to HarperCollins, DAW, Penguin, ChiZine Publications, Grand Central Publishing and the authors for this weeks books!

Graphic Novel Review: Green Lantern: Rebirth by Geoff Johns

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Green Lantern: Rebirth by Geoff Johns
Publisher: DC Comics
Publish Date: May 11, 2010

Publisher's Description

The sold out 6-issue miniseries event of 2004-2005 — written by Geoff Johns (BLACKEST NIGHT, TEEN TITANS) with art by Ethan Van Sciver and Prentis Rollins — is available in this new edition, complete with the preview story from Wizard Magazine as well as a number of extras previously only available in ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH!

Hal Jordan was considered the greatest Green Lantern of them all. But Jordan lost control, allowed himself to be corrupted and transformed into the villainous Parallax. Later, Jordan reappeared and made the ultimate sacrifice — a sacrifice that allowed him to become the Spectre, the Wrath of God.

After several years of activity on Earth, The Spectre became restless and sought a way to prove himself worthy of that noble reputation. See how a man born without fear and seeking to rebuild his life, puts cosmic forces into motion that will have repercussions not only on Earth but across the universe. This volume sets up the events of BLACKEST NIGHT and revitalized Green Lantern as one of the most important heroes of the DCU!

Book Review

If you haven’t read any Green Lantern graphic novels this one will make absolutely no sense at all. It starts out with Hal dead and the spectre inside of him. The art was not my favorite of the Green Lantern series. The characters look so different in this one than in all of the other books. I prefer the artist for Blackest Night. I’d definitely suggest reading the stories previous to this one in order to understand what’s going on here. If you aren't up on everything in Green Lantern's world you will be even more lost than I was!

Book Rating: 3/5

Book Received From: Library Loan
Reviewer: Kole

Book Review: Whirligig by Paul Fleischman

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Whirligig by Paul Fleischman
Publisher: Square Fish / Holt.
Publish Date: October 12, 2010

Publisher's Description

Sixteen-year-old Brent Bishop is sent on an unusual journey of repentance--building wind toys across the land--after he inadvertently causes the death of a young woman.

Book Review by Jessica

The story gets started quickly and reminds us that what we do can effect other people without us even meaning to. The sixteen-year-old quickly grows up when he is dealing with his sentence and has time alone to think over his actions. The moral lesson within the story isn’t harsh or shoved into your face, but at times it is too loose to have much meaning. The storylines of the strangers that Brent meets on his journeys aren’t fully fleshed out and so you don’t get to see that what he is doing has any effect on them at all. If anything the story is all about him, but it isn’t overly emotional, which you would expect someone in that situation to be. It was lacking in bringing all the pieces of the story together and the character of Brent felt flat to me at times. Book Rating: 3/5

Book Review by Kole

The cover for this book didn’t really draw me in. There was nothing special about it and it didn’t really explain what would happen in the book. I guess the plot was the most compelling if I had to choose. Everything about this book was very boring, but the plot was the least boring of them all. Some of the characters they introduced in chapters had nothing to do with the main character and they never appeared again in the book. It just seemed like they were from a different book. Overall it was boring and hard to follow. Book Rating: 1/5

Book Received From: Holt for Review

Book Review: Death Valley by Johanna Stokes

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Death Valley by Johanna Stokes
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Publish Date: June 1, 2007

Publisher's Description

A handful of high school seniors plan a rave in a bomb shelter. When one of them knocks the door closed, they get locked up for the weekend. When they emerge, the entire San Fernando Valley is populated by zombies...

Book Review

This would have worked much better as a movie. The story isn’t helped by comic format since it relies more on suspense and scares. The art was bright and energetic, but I think that kind of worked against the comic. Bright happy doesn’t really mix with zombie destruction. These are the same writers that did X Isle. It seems more like that are putting together a movie pitch as opposed to taking the comic format with any seriousness. If you want a good zombie comic book, check out The Walking Dead. It really takes the zombie genre in an exciting direction.

Book Rating: 2/5

Book Received From: Library Loan
Reviewer: Chris

Waiting on Wednesday (96): Chrysanthe by Yves Meynard

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:36:00 +0000

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Chrysanthe by Yves Meynard
Publisher:Tor Books

Publish Date: March 13, 2012

Publisher's Description
Christine, the princess and heir to the real world of Chrysanthe, is kidnapped as a small child by a powerful magician and exiled in a Made World that is a version of our present reality. In exile, supervised by her strict "uncle"(actually a wizard in disguise), she undergoes bogus memory recovery therapy, through which she is forced to remember childhood rape and abuse by her parents and others. She is terribly stunted emotionally by this terrifying plot, but at seventeen discovers it is all a lie. Christine escapes with a rescuer, Sir Quentin, a knight from Chrysanthe, in a thrilling chase across realities.

Once home, the magical standoff caused by her exile is broken, and a war begins, in spite of the best efforts of her father, the king, and his wizard, Melogian. And that war, which takes up nearly the last third of the work, is a marvel of magical invention and terror, a battle between good and evil forces that resounds with echoes of the great battles of fantasy literature.

* A princess, an adventure, magic, a knight, and a battle...yes! - Jessica

---Want to participate? Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave a link in the comments section!

Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publish Date: January 24, 2012

Publisher’s Description
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

Book Review (ARC)
From the opening of this story the reader knows that Nikki is doomed. When Nikki comes back to the world and reenters the lives of her friends and family she sees the destruction she has caused by simply disappearing. The reactions of her little brother are so simple and true that they are remarkably touching. Watching Nikki struggle with herself and trying not to cause any further harm to those she loved is also moving. It’s a very emotional read and just following along with Nikki’s line of thought can be distressing. There were a number of times that I teared up at the thought of how alone Nikki felt with the information on her future and the realities of her life. The love she felt for Jack is both what caused her to end up in the Everneath and led to her return and it is something so strong that she hangs on to it by her fingernails. Everneath isn’t a run-of-the-mill pretty story where everything ties up nicely and you are done. And even though it’s a paranormal read, it’s still a thought provoking story that is both gritty and tender all at once. If this is how Brodi Ashton debuts, I can’t wait to see what else is hiding up her sleeves.

And if you haven’t checked out her blog http://brodiashton.blogspot.com/ before, do it. She’s really freaking funny.

Book Rating: 4/5
Book Received From: HarperCollins for Review
Reviewer: Jessica

Read Liesl & Po by Lauren Olive for Free

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Read Liesl & Po for free at HarperCollins. It will only be online until 1/31/12, so check it out soon.

About Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

Giveaway: She Tells All by Judah Lee Davis

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Here's your chance to win one of ten copies of
She tells all: Sometimes to get to heaven, you gotta go through hell by Judah Lee Davis.

After finding a pair of magic stilettos that transform her into the ultimate hot goddess, Madison Miller is certain she will get lucky tonight. But in her quest to find the ultimate hottie, she finds something so unexpected.

Now, as she takes a good, hard look at her life, she relives the past that transformed her into a vainglory vixen and realizes an important lesson about why she should NEVER sleep with strangers.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Book Review: She Tells All by Judah Lee Davis

noreply@blogger.com (brittany) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

She tells all: Sometimes to get to heaven, you gotta go through hell by Judah Lee Davis

Publisher: Create Space

Publish Date: July 13, 2010

Publisher’s Description

After finding a pair of magic stilettos that transform her into the ultimate hot goddess, Madison Miller is certain she will get lucky tonight. But in her quest to find the ultimate hottie, she finds something so unexpected.

Now, as she takes a good, hard look at her life, she relives the past that transformed her into a vainglory vixen and realizes an important lesson about why she should NEVER sleep with strangers.

Book Review

She Tells All is absolutely hilarious. It was like having my closest, dirtiest, and morally misguided girlfriend tell me about all of her naughty little endeavors. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty damn intriguing to me. I laughed throughout the entire story. My favorite part was when the main character, Madison – a slightly chubby, very drunk, easily influenced young lady – entered a wet t-shirt contest at the request of her friends, who hoped to win $300 off her triple D breasts. This is how it went down, almost literally:

“I tried to start shaking what my momma gave me, but I had two things working against me: I was white and I was suddenly completely sober. I bent my knees and tried to stick my butt out, but I knew if I got too low, I’d end up on the flo. I felt like a fat grasshopper taking a dump."

Genius! I now feel the need to come up with equally brilliant similes to describe the way I dance.

Overall, I really got a kick out of this book. Admittedly, the story behind this façade of humor isn’t all that gripping, but it was enough to keep me interested. I actually read the entire book in one shot and then over again, just for a good laugh. I think some people will be more touched by the sad and uplifting parts than I was, but I just didn’t think that there was enough detail to get me emotionally invested. I guess that's my only criticism, but She Tells All is so funny it almost doesn't matter. I think every woman should read this book, but those with a crude sense of humor and a bit of a wild side will definitely appreciate this unfortunate series of events the most.

Book Rating: 4/5

Book Received From: Author for Review

Reviewer: Brittany
Check out the giveaway for 10 copies of She Tells All by Judah Lee Davis!

In My Mailbox (67)

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox. Let us know what looks good to you and leave us a link so we can check out what you got over the week.

For Review

Hades: Lord of the Dead (Olympians)by George O'Connor

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Fallen in Love: A Fallen Novel in Stories by Lauren Kate

Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlan

Bought

Bone, Vol. 1: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith

What would you read first?

Leave us a link to your IMM, we'd love to drool over your reads!

Thanks to First Second, Macmillan, Knopf, Random House Children's, Tor/Forge, Putnam and Grove Press for this weeks books!

Book Review: Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street by Peter Abrahams

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood St.by Peter Abrahams
Publisher: Philomel
Publish Date: January 19, 2012

Publisher’s Description
Robbie Forester always knew life wasn't fair, but she never thought she could do anything about it. Until one day a powerful charm comes into her possession, a charm that guides her, her three friends, and her dog Pendleton on the path to justice. But the charm doesn't seem to understand that the path has gotten dangerous, and Robbie and her friends find themselves in a menacing world of thievery, arson, big yachts, and even bigger bank accounts. Will Robbie and her band of thieves end up in more trouble than they ever could have imagined? Edgar Award–winning novelist Peter Abrahams weaves a tale of action, adventure, danger, and magic that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, guessing at every turn.

Peter Abrahams (www.peterabrahams.com) has written many books for kids, adults, and teens. Down the Rabbit Hole, the first book in his New York Times bestselling Echo Falls series, won an Agatha Award and was an Edgar Award nominee, and his novel Reality Check won the 2010 Edgar Award for best young adult mystery novel. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Chet & Bernie mysteries under the pen name Spencer Quinn. Peter lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Book Review (ARC)
This version of Robin Hood is a light, quick read. That’s about what I expected for the age range it’s aimed at. The story was cute and entertaining and I think it would be liked by both boys and girls. We have Robbie our main character and three friends of hers (another girl and two boys) that we follow around. Magic powers come and go, but don’t always seem logical for the story. If the powers always came when helping the kids do good or stay safe it would make more sense – winning a game, not so much. It’s never explained where these powers come from and some of the things the kids do, while they are trying to be helpful overall, they just don’t feel like the right thing to do at all times. While it follows the – steal from the rich, give to the poor – they don’t know in full who they are stealing from, which causes the slight issue for me. Kids however might not even see this – just knowing that the one with all the money is bad, those who can’t afford their terms and are being taken advantage of are good. Or parents can fill the children in on what’s what and talk about the issues this book raises.

Book Rating: 3/5
Book Received From: Philomel / Penguin for Review
Reviewer: Jessica

Book Review: The Thorn & The Blossom by Theodora Goss

noreply@blogger.com (Book Sake) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story
Publisher: Quirk Books
Publish Date: January 17, 2012

Publisher’s Description
One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.

When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .

The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

Book Review
When first presented with the trailer for this book I was intrigued. I thought the format was new and different and highly appropriate for the two sided love story that would be told. One I received the book for review the format quickly lost its charm. The book was difficult to hold while reading and this is because there is no binding to it due to the accordion fold design. As I turned pages, I continually felt as if I would be ripping pages and struggle with the hard covers to keep them lined up while holding the book to read. Reading this sitting up or in bed proved more annoying than anything. I finished the first story that way, and then the following day I read the other half of the story while sitting at a table with the book flat on the table. This was easier on the book, but not comfortable for me (my neck bearing all of the pain).

The story was lovely and I was interested on the other point of view while I was reading the first one. I read Evelyn’s story first and the moved over to Brendan’s. The problem I found with this two separate stories was that once I got to Brendan’s side I found that it was too easy to skim because I had just read most of the story on Evelyn’s side. All the things that were spoken are featured on both sides and I felt as if I were wasting time re-reading the same diaglogue again. There was very little extra to Brendan’s story that wasn’t featured in Evelyn’s. Just some thoughts of his here and there and what happened in his life when Evelyn wasn’t around.

While the idea is charming and lovely, it just didn’t pan out the way I hoped. If I were to rate the format of the book separately from the story, I would give the format a 2/5 and the story a 4/5. The format was beautiful, loved the cover, the idea, and the illustrations, but it was just too cumbersome and I don’t want to reread it because of it. So a 3/5 it is.

Book Rating: 3/5
Book Received From: Quirk Books for Review
Reviewer: Jessica