The Alchemyst

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel book 1
Michael Scott
New York: Delacorte Press, 2007
400 pages


Sophie and Josh Newman are normal teen-aged twins whose world suddenly turns upside down. It turns out that their bosses are actually immortal, most mythologies are true, Atlantis existed, and they themselves are the key to saving or destroying the world. Packed with action from the first page, The Alchemyst launches a fast-paced, adventure filled series where the fate of the world lies with two seemingly ordinary people. Fantasy fans who love an unrelenting pace in their reads are sure to enjoy these novels!

I will admit that I'm a little late to the game on this series. In fact, I've owned the first four books for a couple of years, but hadn't yet gotten around to reading them. My loss, as it turns out. The Alchemyst is a great fantasy book for younger teens who have enjoyed the Harry Potter books, and also for those teens who get bored of a story when the descriptive sections run too long. There's plenty of intrigue for the readers who want to "figure it out", and tons of action for those looking for a wild ride. Truly the first novel in this series has a little something for everyone!

Book Count: 19 read, 181 to go.

The Scorpio Races

The Scorpio Races
Maggie Stiefvater
New York: Scholastic Press, 2011
416 pages


I had the pleasure to meet Maggie Stiefvater this past summer at a book signing in London, Ontario for the last book in her Wolves of Mercy Falls series. The Scorpio Races had not yet been released, but by the way she hinted about this novel she was already making me believe that it might have been the best one she had written. I was right - it is!

Puck and Sean live on an island where the deadly capall uisce, waterhorses, come ashore and wreak havoc on the land. In turn, the islanders attempt to catch and train these animals to race in the yearly Scorpio Races. Sean has raced for years and won, and Puck is racing to save her family. Their unlikely relationship sees them through treachery, terror and loss - and that's all before the race begins.

This book had me hook, line and sinker from the first page. Filled with real characters and familiar heartache, Maggie's books continue to impress me in their manner and complexity. While written for teens, The Scorpio Races would be equally enjoyed by adults who read fantasy and/or paranormal fiction. I remain waiting ever impatiently for the next of Maggie's books!

Book Count: 18 read, 182 to go.

Mockingjay

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
Toronto: Scholastic, Inc., 2010
400 pages

Against more odds than you can hope to calculate, Katniss has survived the Hunger Games twice.  Rescued by the people of the long-lost District 13, Katniss chooses to become their pawn in the uprising against the Capitol in the small hope that she can save Peeta, who has been captured by President Snow. Not all is as it seems, and Katniss will soon have to face impossible choices to save the people she holds most dear.

The only reason I didn't finish this book in one sitting was because I had to go to work today. I finished the last two chapters on my break. It's that good. Terrifying in places, perhaps geared towards older teens and adults even more so than the other two novels in the series, but good nevertheless.

I've heard a lot of readers say that this book disappointed them - the end was depressing, it wasn't what they had hoped for, the first book was better. While the first book was my favourite by far, I think the reason that Mockingjay wasn't as well received as the other books in the series is that the tone of the story changed - it became too real. Civil war is something we see in the news all the time now - some of us have even been personally touched by its tragedies. Having Katniss, Peeta, Gale and the rest of the crew fighting a civil war, losing friends and loved ones at every step, is a little too familiar to us. The Games in the first two books were foreign - left only to the power of our imaginations. War is real, it's not a game, and people die. But life for some goes on, and at the end of it all, Mockingjay does leave us with some hope for our future.

Book Count: 17 read, 183 to go.

Catching Fire

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins
Toronto: Scholastic Press, 2010
400 pages

Why, oh why, did I wait so long to read this book? I loved The Hunger Games, once I came to terms with the horrifying nature of the world Katniss and Peeta live in, and actually own the entire trilogy, but hadn't got to the second and third books yet. I remedied that error this morning. Read the whole thing in pretty much one sitting. Even ignored my Christmas wrapping and decorating (If you know me, you know this is a huge deal.)

Against all odd, Katniss and Peeta have both survived the Hunger Games. Pretending to be in love, they have won over the citizens of Panem. The ruling body - not so much. Katniss' defiance of the government has created a spark that may lead to revolution - something President Snow wants no part of. But it is the 75th anniversary of the Quell, and there is a special tribute coming - one that sends Katniss and Peeta back into the horrors of the Hunger Games.

Read the first one. Then this. Then read the third one. Make a weekend out of it - you won't regret it!

Book Count: 16 read, 184 to go!

Troublemaker 2

Trouble Maker 2
Janet Evanovich
Dark Horse, 2010
112 pages

It took me a surprisingly long time to get my hands on a copy of this book! The publisher quickly released a combined version of this story after the second hardcover was released, and I actually could not find it in local bookstores. Of course I ended up ordering it online to make sure I had a matched set for my shelves! Note to publisher: bad marketing strategy! First make us all buy them separately and then entice us with a combined, prettier edition. Works every time.

I love Janet Evanovich's characters. They make me laugh! Reading them in graphic novel form is just as hilarious as it is with the written word - sometimes more so as you can see their expressions when the boat blows up, the chicken destroys the car, and the dog really does eat everything in sight. Those moments are just a few tidbits of the wacky action in this novel. Hooker and Barnaby are trying to return a statue to its original owner, get Hookers boat back, and save the life of a friend. Add a little voodoo magic, and get ready for a lot of trouble!

Readers new to the Hooker and Barnaby story should start with the two novels Metro Girl, and Motor Mouth and definitely read Troublemaker 1 before launching into this most recent adventure.

Book Count: 15 down, 185 to go...

Chi's Sweet Home: Volume 7

Chi's Sweet Home: Volume 7
Konami Kanata
New York: Vertical Inc., 2011.
168 pages

I cannot get enough of this cat! Hilarious, harmless and hairy, Chi's adventures just make me grin! The simple storyline is great for emerging readers, and the cat antics are so true to real life feline behaviour that anyone who has ever laid eyes on a cat can relate.

While there are complete stories within each book, the series should be read in order to help readers learn about Chi's origins and who all of the various characters in the story are. I can't wait for volume 8! Hope there is one...

Book Count: 14 down, 186 to go!

Tick Tock

Tick Tock
James Patterson
New York: Little Brown, & Company, 2011
416 pages

I think I'm starting to like Detective Michael Bennett almost as much as I like Alex Cross. Probably the only reason I like Cross more is that Morgan Freeman played him in the movies. Granted, they are very similar characters: both law enforcement, both very good at it, both family focused, and both targets for absolutely insane criminals.

Tick Tock is definitely my favourite Bennett book thus far. Faced with a madman copying multiple mass murders, Bennett still finds time to have a midlife crisis with two love interest and take care of his 10 kids, some of whom are being bullied. Talk about multitasking.

Book Count: 13 down, 187 to go...

The Power of Six

The Power of Six
Pittacus Lore
Harper Collins, 2011
448 pages

The first sequel to the popular I am Number Four takes on a refreshingly new voice with Number Seven, a girl hidden away across the globe from the characters in the first book. The story switches between Number Seven and her struggles in a nunnery in Europe and Number Four and his crew back in the United States. Ultimately their stories merge, setting us up for even more action in future novels.

While I understand the appeal of the alien race hiding on Earth, I did watch Roswell after all, I find these books to be a little bit familiar and predictable. Run, run, run - plot revelation with environmental overtones - run, run, run - battle with Mogadorians - run a little bit more - end of book. Don't get me wrong - I still want to read the rest of them to find out what happens, but in the grand scheme of things there are much better novels for teens out on the market .

Book Count: 12 down, 188 to go!

Sorry 'bout that...

So, we bought a house, we moved, I unpacked my books, and now I'm reading again! I actually read one more book in October - The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore - and couple of books in November - Tick Tock by James Patterson and Chi's Sweet Home: Vol. 7. All three were really quick reads! December is shaping up to be a bit more fruitful. I've finished two books so far and am almost done two more (one is a bus book and the other is a bedstand book - they don't get as much attention as my "day off" book!).

I also have a large chunk of vacation time headed my way, so hopefully I can put a dent in that library book pile!

Reviews to come shortly.

Book count is now 16 - need to step it up...