Six Sentence Saturday - September 3, 2011

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 Ness

Completion 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.

From New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ryan comes an original story of love after the Return.

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!

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.

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....

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.

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 Ask and the Answer

Monsters of Men

The Forest of Hands and Teeth Series:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The Dead-Tossed Waves

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

Chaos Walking - Book Three: Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Chaos Walking - Book Three: Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Completion Date: May 23, 2011

Reason for Reading: Finish the Trilogy.

"War," says the Mayor. "At last." Three armies march on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others. Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape. As the battles commence, how can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there ever be peace when they're so hopelessly outnumbered? And if war makes monsters of men, what terrible choices await? But then a third voice breaks into the battle, one bent on revenge - the electrifying finale to the award-winning "Chaos Walking" trilogy, Monsters of Men is a heart-stopping novel about power, survival, and the devastating realities of war.

What to even say about this book that hasn't been said before... The first book in this trilogy was rather good, but the second book didn't do a lot for me. This meant that I put off reading the third book for quite some time. In an attempt to finish up some series/trilogies, though, I decided to add this book to my list for the Once Upon a Time challenge. I finally got around to it in May. I have to say, this was a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that my feelings for were all over the place. This book made me rethink the entire trilogy and decide that I might like it overall a bit more than I expected to upon completing book two. Ness does write an entire story, but I still don't love it as much as other series and trilogies.

This book picks up where book two left off. Everything that has been put in motion in the first two books has to reach some sort of conclusion. They have been plunged into war, another shuttle has arrived to survey the planet, and things are very tense from the very first page. Todd and Viola take it upon themselves to change the outcome of events, but they still make decisions that they regret. No one is perfect and Ness addresses this issue a lot. The book was fast-paced with lots of different ideas circulating around. Does everything get tied up in a neat little bow with the final page? Nope! I actually think there is a lot of unanswered questions, but sometimes that makes the series all that more appealing. Plus, it is insanely popular, so there could always be a fourth book.

I still have issues with the series. I might like Viola and Todd a bit more with this book, but overall I never really warmed up to them. This is likely the main reason why I didn't love this trilogy as much as other people. It helps if you like the main characters... They bothered me and sometimes I just wanted to skip through some of their scenes, but I read on and wasn't as disappointed as I expected to be. The books do overall address lots of issues that can easily pertain to the world we are currently living in. This is just some of those issues taken to an extreme that I hope we never have to deal with in our world.

Overall, an interesting book that is hard to review because it is the final one and it is no fun having an entire trilogy ruined for a person.

This book counts for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. I received a review copy of this book from Random House Canada.

Series:

The New World (short story)

The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Ask and the Answer

Monsters of Men

The Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking Book 2 by Patrick Ness

Part two of the literary sci-fi thriller follows a boy and a girl who are caught in a warring town where thoughts can be heard — and secrets are never safe.

Reaching the end of their tense and desperate flight in THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO, Todd and Viola did not find healing and hope in Haven. They found instead their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss, waiting to welcome them to New Prentisstown. There they are forced into separate lives: Todd to prison, and Viola to a house of healing where her wounds are treated. Soon Viola is swept into the ruthless activities of the Answer, aimed at overthrowing the tyrannical government. Todd, meanwhile, faces impossible choices when forced to join the mayor’s oppressive new regime. In alternating narratives — Todd’s gritty and volatile; Viola’s calmer but equally stubborn — the two struggle to reconcile their own dubious actions with their deepest beliefs. Torn by confusion and compromise, suspicion and betrayal, can their trust in each other possibly survive?

I FINALLY read the second book in the Chaos Walking series. I preordered it, so I had it right away. That was last year! I also apparently never reviewed book 1, so isn't it impressive that I am reviewing book two the day after finishing it? I was a lot better at reviewing books last year than I have been this year. It is rather funny because I read a lot more last year than this year, but anyways... I finished the book. My initial reaction was that I liked it and I am looking forward to book 3, but I didn't love it. I didn't love book 1, either, so it is not surprising. There are a lot of people that love this series - which is why I read it in the first place. I am sorry I am going to have to vent for a moment here!

One of the reasons that I went years without reading young adult books is because I find that I cannot relate to their decision-making, etc. This was my problem with this book. I know I am not that far away from my teen years, but even in my teen years I found teens annoying in books. I am not sure what it is, maybe I grew up fast, but I can't relate. Todd and Viola, the main characters in this book, think so black and white. They would be freaking out about something and I would not get what the big deal was... They are just too wholesome! It's what makes all the drama in the book, though, so if they changed a lot would be missing from the book and people would probably not be as captivated by it as they are at the moment. So, I guess what I am saying is that I didn't always relate very well to the two main characters. That can be a problem, but I am still looking forward to book 3.

On the good side, the books are page-turners. Even if I didn't always agree with what Viola and Todd were doing; I still wanted to see what was happening. I like a book with a lot of action and this book fit the bill. I get tired of books that nothing every seems to happen in them. The strange thing is that I do like Todd and Viola. There thought-processes don't always make sense to me, but they still were interesting and I enjoyed watching them progress. I am a little afraid that this is ANOTHER book series for teens where the main characters are more obsessed with each other than in love, but at least it isn't entirely as blatant as other series.... I think part of the minor issues I had with this book is that I am getting a bit tired of that plot device, but until the Twilight obsession dies down a bit I doubt we have seen the last of it.

Anyway, if this review makes any sense at all I am happy. I don't want to give too much away, but I also feel like this review sounds more like a negative review than a positive one. Is it possible to enjoy a book that you essentially disliked? Whatever the case, I am going to read book three and then we will see what my thoughts are on the series overall.