No Rules of Engagement Review

Title: No Rules of Engagement

Author: Thomas Wilson

Publisher: Smashwords.com, 2011

Genre: Sci-fi

Rate: 3/5 – It Is Okay

Get it here: Kindle US

I received a Kindle eBook version from the author in order to review it.

Eight-year-old Alexander does not like when people touch him, in fact he killed another kid just for doing so. One day when he is busy looking at his fire ants taking out a colony of regular ants, a guy from the army requires his attention. Alexander has been picked to battle against an unknown alien enemy in the future.

My .mobi version which was downloaded from smashwords.com contained several errors which made it quite annoying to read. There were several words missing, and the point of view changed a couple of times from third person to first person. I think it is sad that the book has been published with these mistakes as it removes some of the professional feeling, as if it has been rushed. In my opinion there were more telling and showing as well, including several repetitions such as the water bottle.

One of my main concerns with this book was the main character Alexander Hawk. I know it says that his IQ is off the scale, but come on. An eight-year-old knows more about warfare than a general? And the fact that he smokes cigarettes, and his extreme egoism do not make him a likeable character. Needless to say when he talks about his girlfriend and those kinds of things. It is just weird, and not something you expect from his age.

However, I enjoyed how the plot twisted in the end, it was a pleasant surprise and I am looking forward to be reading book no. 2 when it is published. 

The Canary List Review

Title: The Canary List: A Novel

Author: Sigmund Brouwer

Publisher: WaterBrook Press, 2011

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Rate: 3/5 – It Is Okay

Get it here: Amazon UK & US, Kindle UK & US. WaterBrook Press

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

A young troubled girl named Jamie Piper has been thrown in and out of different foster homes her entire life. She gets blamed for all kind of trouble, and is therefore sent to a school for troubled kids. Here she finds comfort in her teacher Mr. Grey, who got her into reading. One night when Evil is out to get her, she flees to his house to seek cover.

Jamie has the gift of sensing ‘Evil’ or ‘darkness’, and due to her ability the Catholic Church wants her. However, some people from the church wants her dead rather than alive, and they will by all means do everything to get to her. Due to all the scandal lately, about the abused forced upon children by the Catholic priests, some believe that they are demon possessed. Meaning they do not fight their inner demons, and what if the next pope is demon possessed, what will happen then?

The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer captivates the reader by changing the point of view of his characters in very short chapters. The whole conspiracy against the church is very fascinating, because like Mr. Grey keeps asking himself, WHY? Why does the Church want a little girl like Jamie? Why is he, a schoolteacher involved in a conspiracy against the Catholic Church?

My personal opinion of the Canary List, is that there is too much telling rather than showing. This is, however, difficult to master. Another thing that slightly annoyed me during the book is that many little details are repeated too many times. We got it the first time, and if we missed it – we caught it the second time, but something is mentioned around ten times (yes, I counted it). However, I really enjoyed the characters, and I was especially fond of the chapters from Jamie’s point of view, as the narrative seemed like something a twelve-year-old would say!

Wicked Lovely Review

Author: Melissa Marr

Publisher: HarperTeen, 2007

Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance

Rate: 3/5 – It Is Okay!

Get it here: Amazon UK & US, Kindle UK & US

Wicked Lovely

‘All teenagers have problems, but few of them can match those of Aislinn, who has the power to see faeries. Quite understandably, she wishes that she could share her friends' obliviousness and tries hard to avoid these invisible intruders. But one faery in particular refuses to leave her alone. Keenan the Summer King is convinced beyond all reasoning that Aislinn is the queen he has been seeking for nine centuries. What's a 21st-century girl to do when she's stalked by a suitor nobody else can see?’ From Goodreads.com

his is Melissa Marr’s debut novel and I think she did a really good job for a first time novel. Aislinn, the main character – our heroin, is a somewhat likeable character. When reading through the book you can really feel her annoyance against the faeries, especially Keenan. That is beautifully described. I like the fact that she did not really succumb to him, but that he tricked her and drugged her. Then she becomes indecisive, which is a bit annoying, but it is a tough decision that she has to make.

The universe of the faeries is really well developed. I am really fond of the different courts and how they all have a purpose that is described beautifully in later volumes of this series.

However, it would be a less interesting book if it were not for the fact that there is not one guy after her, but two. She has a best friend, Seth, who lives in an old train. But that might be the only interesting thing about him. He is extremely boring, though this was not intended I am sure. It seems to me that Marr tried to create a cute alternative guy here, so all the pretty guys are not Justin Biebers (NOT SAYING JUSTIN IS PRETTY!!!!!), but she failed miserable. He does nothing that adds to his character in this book. All he does is wait around for Aislinn to realise that he loves her.

So what saves this book is the fact that Keenan has to find his summer queen, and he is driven by will power, and he will not take no for an answer.

Crescendo Review

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Rate: 2/5 – Not my style

Get it here: Amazon UK & US, Kindle UK & US

Crescendo

‘Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.’ From Goodreads.com

In the sequel to “Hush, hush” Becca Fitzpatrick continues the love story of Nora and Patch, yet Patch seems to be driven away from Nora, even though he is her guardian angel. Nora’s best friend Vee is occupied as well, dating Patch’s friend. So Nora feels alone, and starts hanging out with an old friend who is involved in something shabby. The relationship between her and Patch is not great as they are fighting all the time, and Patch is not there to protect her when she needs it.

This book was even worse than the first, and I had hoped it would give me some answers.  I hated that cliché “oh no my boyfriend hangs out with my school bully, sad pathetic me”- that Nora had going on. I was really disappointed by the poorly constructed arguments in Nora and Patch’s fighting. It was just plain weird to be honest.

I REALLY enjoyed the ending and I am actually looking forward to reading the next because I still have some hope that Nora will grow up!

Hush, Hush Review

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2009
Genre: Urban fantasy, YA.
Rate: 3/5 – It Is Okay
Get it here: Amazon UK & US, Kindle US

Hush, hush

‘‘For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along." From Goodreads.com

I really enjoy the story’s premise. The fact that Patch seems to be everywhere that Nora is. You get the feeling that he is really stalking her. Then you have all these dangerous events happening around her as well, and it started when he came along. You want to trust him, but there is just something nagging in the back of your mind. Something that tells you to run away and hide from him.

However, the main thing that made me slightly dislike this story is Nora. She annoys me so much. To me she is just a stupid teenager who cannot think rational and makes bad discussions.  She comes across as a little too obsessed of Patch as well. But I really enjoyed the fact that he, indeed, wanted her harm. An anti-hero. But as it turns out he saved her in the end, or so you think.

Harry Potter 1 Review

Author: J. K. Rowling

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (1997)

Genre: Fantasy

Rate: 5/5 - I loved it!

Get it here: Amazon UK & US

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone)

'We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' Quote from the book.

Harry has been hidden away his entire life; his aunt and uncle make him sleep in their cupboard under the stairs, and locks him in whenever they please. He does not own anything besides the over-sized second-hand clothes he has inherited from his fat cousin. Then one day, a twist of faith, Harry receives a letter from Hogwarts, a school for young wizards and witches and his entire life is turned upside down.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone) is author J. K. Rowling’s debut novel that made her world famous! It is, in my opinion, one of the best children books ever written.

I remember the day my mother came home with this book. It was October 1998, just a month before my ninth birthday. The book was yet too difficult for me to read by myself so she read it for me the first time. I instantly fell in love with the magical world that J. K. R. created. To be honest, this book destroyed other books for me, as I was so amazed by the story line and the likeable characters.

One of the best things about J. K. R’s writing is how she plants details that, when reading, you might not necessarily understand, but later on, in other volumes, they are rather important.

When reading it again as I have aged since I was first amazed by this masterpiece, I realise that this book may be too juvenile for adult readers. But reading it out loud for your children, or younger family members, is a brilliant idea, and they will love you for it!

The Hobbit Review

Author: J. R. R. Tolkien

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Fantasy

Rate: 5/5 - I loved it!

Get it here: Amazon UK & US, Kindle UK & US

The Hobbit

'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.' Quoted from the book.

This is the tale of adventure knocking on a young hobbit’s door. Bilbo Baggins’ spends his time avoiding adventure as most hobbits do. The hobbits are small people, not much taller than 3 foot 6, with really furry feet. An old family friend, Gandalf the Grey, volunteers Bilbo to join a mission led by dwarves. His contract is to steal their treasure back from Smaug the dragon. Despite the fact that the hobbit and the dwarves have almost the same height, the dwarves are sceptic about dragging Bilbo with them; they do not think much of him. Bilbo proves his worth more than once, to everyone’s surprise.

J. R. R. Tolkien is the father of almost any fantasy related themes, and the world he has created is nothing but marvellous. When reading The Hobbit in our current days, it might seem like you have read something like this before. Every book out there is a product of intertextuality, and Tolkien’s universe has been copied too many times to count.

If you are looking for an original story with almost every possible creature you can imagine, then look no further!