Welcome to Six Sentence Saturday.
Where I try to express my thoughts on recent reads using only 6 sentences!!!!.
At the end of each review I will post a
rating scale of 1-5 using the cute and original (lol) Playing Cards.
Rating scale will be as follows:
5 of Hearts- You must read this book NOW!!
4 of Hearts- A great read, put it on your TBR list.
3 of Hearts- Glad I read but no big deal
2 of Hearts- Why did I finish this?
Joker Card - Don't bother (why did I?)
Six Sentence Saturday is an idea that I occasionally borrow from Staci at Life in the Thumb.
The New World by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking Prequel) by Patrick NessCompletion Date: May 23, 2011
Reason for Reading: Finish the series.
In this dramatic prequel to the award-winning Chaos Walking Trilogy, author Patrick Ness gives us a short story of Viola's journey to the New World.When I first received my eReader, I was a bit obsessed with free e-books, so when I saw this one by Patrick Ness offered I figured it was a chance to finish the series. I actually enjoyed learning about Viola's back story because in the beginning of the trilogy she just lands on the planet and all the details of where she came from are not explored. It was nice to get a taste of the ship she came from and learn more about her parents because we never get a chance to meet them in the actual trilogy. This is a really good intro to the series and the writing for people that are a bit worried they won't like it. I recommend it for first-timers and for those that love the trilogy and want a bit of back story. As for me, I am all about finishing series this year, so it full-filled that and managed to be a good read.
Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan
Completion Date: May 24, 2011
Reason for Reading: I love Carrie Ryan's books!
Tabitha can’t shake the feeling that something exists beyond the fences of her village. And when she sneaks out, past the gates and down the path into the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she meets a boy who teaches her heart things she never knew. But love in a world surrounded by so much death doesn’t come without its sacrifices, and Tabitha gradually realizes just how much she’ll have to give up to live among the Unconsecrated.When I saw that this story was available, I knew I was going to have to see what else Ryan adds to her world. It is a bit of a romance story, but it is not exactly your typical one because Tabitha has been isolated for years and there are zombies surrounding her village. I really enjoy Ryan's writing and this was no exception. It was perfect for that moment of disappointment when I finished the trilogy and didn't think I had anything else to read by her. I really enjoyed Tabitha as a character because in just a short time she really grows. The story also fills in a few more details about the world itself, so it was a worthwhile read!
From New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ryan comes an original story of love after the Return.
Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa
Completion Date: May 24, 2011
Reason for Reading: Curiousity.
Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.Julie Kagawa is a very popular author lately, but my library didn't have her books and I wasn't sure if I was going to like her. I decided to try this short work just to get a taste for her writing and the world that is so popular. I am still not entirely sure I want to run out and get the series, but this was an interesting story that made me a bit curious about the larger story arch. I also thought it was a prequel before I read it, but I have since found out in falls in-between books 1 and 2. I was intrigued to see mentions of characters like Puck, because that makes me think of a Shakespearean connection and I like the references to fairies. I think I will likely wind up reading the series just because I am curious and hopeful that I might enjoy it as much as others.
Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....
Dead Time by Christy Ann Conlin
Completion Date: May 26, 2011
Reason for Reading: I love Christy Ann Conlin's book, Heave.
In Dead Time, Isabella is in jail and waiting to be tried for a horrifically violent crime. Her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, Lulu, is dead. Even her name makes Isabella want to poke somebody in the eye with a stick. True, Isabella was jealous and asked her boyfriend, Sergei, to prove his love, but how could she have known how far it would go? She's obviously the victim here. Sergei will tell them, will make them believe her story. Or will he?I learned a very valuable lesson about this book: Do not get excited about books just because you loved the authors' other book. And, I LOVED Heave by Conlin, so when I heard that she had a new book out I was jumping up and down with excitement. Then, I read the book and discovered that it was very different from her other books because it is part of a series of books that address serious issues in a teens life. When you look at it from that perspective, it is a fantastic book and the idea behind the series is wonderful for teens everywhere. I obviously will have to wait a little longer for what I am looking for from Conlin, but in the meantime this is rather ground-breaking series that I am glad I stumbled onto accidentally. To find out more about Single Voice, visit this website.
Shelter by Jen Sookfong Lee
Completion Date: May 26, 2011
Reason for Reading: It was here.
Abby, the narrator of Shelter, is only in high school, but she feels responsible for holding her family together. Her father works two jobs and is rarely home. Her mom, angry about their financial woes, escapes to nightclubs with her girlfriends. When Abby meets Sean, an attractive, sensitive guy who lets her confide in him, it's not surprising that she falls in love fast -- and hard. Sure, he's a little older, but Abby still wants to give herself to him. But Abby's first time is not at all what she imagined.This is the flip-side to the Christy Ann Conlin book. I had no real intentions of reading it, but I figured since it was here I might as well see what it is about. The two stories are related in the fact that they both deal with young girls going to extremes for love. This is a huge factor in young adult fiction lately, but these stories are believable and are almost like fables for the teens of this generation. There is always a moral and it isn't usually a very good one. I think if you are dealing with a problem with your teen and you are having communication issues, there is probably a book in this series that will hopefully cause them to stop and think.
The Ratings:
The New World, Hare Moon, and Winter's Passage receive this card:
Dead Time and Shelter receive this card:
Series Mentioned in this Post:
Chaos Walking Series:
The New World
The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Forest of Hands and Teeth Series:
The Dark and Hollow Places (Review forth-coming)
Hare Moon
Iron Fey Series:
The Iron King
The Iron Daughter
Winter's Passage (according to FictFact. Goodreads says 1.5)
The Iron Queen
Summer's Crossing
The Iron Knight
Can you believe I still haven't read the Ness short story??? I don't know what the hell is wrong with me! I need to get with it! Sounds like a great one though :)
ReplyDelete**Chris: I hope you enjoy it if you read it. :)
ReplyDeleteI just finished Monsters of Men this month - and now I need to read that e-story! Love that series - he's brilliant.
ReplyDelete**Carrie: I saw you had read Monsters of Men. I actually was happier with that book than I was with book 2.
ReplyDeleteI really loved The New World! Like you said, it was nice to get a look at Viola's life before she lands. Though in a way, I'm actually glad to have read it after the trilogy because I enjoyed getting to know her the way I did there. Does that make any sense?
ReplyDelete**Debi: Yes, I can see your point-of-view, too. On the one hand it is worth it to see what you think of Ness' writing, but on the other hand I think I appreciated it more afterwards than I would have before.
ReplyDeleteOh I hadn't heard about Hare Moon! I need it, like, right now! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it :)
ReplyDelete**Kay: I hope you enjoy Hare Moon!
ReplyDeleteI just checked out The Forest of Hands and Teeth from the library and can't wait to read it. I'm glad to hear that you enjoy this author so much.
ReplyDelete**Samantha: I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I hope you do, too!
ReplyDelete