Review: Dust

Dust
Sarah Daltry
YA Fantasy

Who makes YOUR choices?

"I was once the type of person who was impressed by starlight; the type of person who would dance beneath glass ceilings and let the world swim in its loveliness. The sky reminds me of the parties we used to throw - parties like the one last night. The memories bring back the trill of harps and endless ripples of satisfied laughter. Now, though, when I try to recall what I felt, all I hear is screaming."

In a world ravaged by war and oppressive forces of evil, a princess must fight to claim her bloodright and save her people.

When the princess, Alondra, falls for the beautiful, blue eyes of a hooded stranger, it awakens in her a taste for freedom and an escape from her duty.

But her parents have other plans; they have a kingdom to protect and Alondra must marry to ensure the peace between nations. Only what happens when your parents choose a cold-hearted assassin as your betrothed? 

As lies, illusions, and long hidden vendettas surface, the princess has to confront a very secret history. One that makes her realize that she not only risks losing her liberty, but also everything she has known and loved.

I received a copy of Dust for review from Little Bird Publishing. Thank you!!

What I didn't like: 

I wasn't able to fully understand the magic system in the world of Dust- is it something anyone could learn, or hereditary? Who issued the prophecy about Alondra, Seamus, and Tevlin? What exactly happened in the much-referenced Wars? The backstory for the book definitely needed more fleshing out. I would have been able to comprehend and connect to the current story if I got the references and the histories of the world and the characters. A prequel to Dust would be an awesome solution to this. 

What I liked: 

All the characters were nice and complex. I liked how Alondra was rebellious and wanted to choose her own fate but ultimately loved her people more than herself. It was also refreshing and realistic to see her somewhat lose herself during all the destruction- hating everything and not caring if it burned. It was the kind of madness that SHOULD happen to a sheltered girl who witnessed so much carnage and death to and by the people she loved. This happens a lot in YA literature- only in one book that I can think of (Mockingjay) did we receive a description of what a traumatized person would really be like, so that's lots of brownie points for Sarah Daltry.

Another thing I enjoyed, contrary to public opinion on Goodreads, were alternating then/now chapters. Admittedly, it took me a little while to buy into it. When I did, I thought it was great! It really showcased the character development Alondra goes through and the stark contrast between the world at peace and the world at war. 

Cover remarks- gorgeous!
Rating:

Happy holidays!
Love,
Esty

Review: The Blood of Olympus

The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5)

Rick Riordan

Middle Grade, Greek Mythology

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

SPOILERS BELOW

GUYS. THE END OF AN ERA IS UPON US.

*sniffs*

The standout thing about this? I did NOT expect the tears coming our way. I thought I personally would be emotional (because of the fact that I have like kissed the Percy Jackson books goodnight since I was 10 years old) but in no way did I think Rick Riordan would crank up the feel factor like he did. 

The personal journeys our characters went through are immense - but the series truly reached it's peak in that aspect in The Blood of Olympus with Nico's and Reyna's points of view. My heart just broke for them again and again but also swelled with insane pride. 

And the MOMENTS. I just can't even. Percy and Annabeth in the spot of the rivalry in Athens. Never before has a book made me sob from PURE HAPPINESS. 

I EVEN STARTED TO LOVE PIPER AND FRANK! If that doesn't speak of character development, nothing does. 

LEO. Enough said. 

And of course, the never- ending slew of cracks that could make even the most mature reader bust out laughing. Even Jason got in a few this time!

But there was just this one thing that nagged and nagged me about this installment and that was the lack of closure. 

For God's sake this is the last demigod book EVER and we didn't have any chapters from Percy or Annabeth's point of view. We never found out what happens to Apollo or the Oracle of Delphi. And all the FREAKING GODS OF OLYMPUS THEMSELVES come down to fight with their children and we don't know what they said to them. The book ends with everyone thinking Leo's dead. HOW ON EARTH AM I SUPPOSED TO FEEL SATISFIED HERE?? 

Percy hasn't seen his mom in a year. The Hunters and Amazons don't come to the final battle. There's no Olympic council rewarding all the heroes. The demigods of Camp Half-Blood don't make a new clay bead. REYNA DOESN'T FIND LOVE.

I WANT MY ENDS TIED UP ALL NICE AND PRETTY, MR. RIORDAN. I'VE LOVED EVERY BOOK OF YOURS FOR ENOUGH YEARS TO EXPECT THIS. 

But of course, it was beautiful nonetheless. I could never give anything by this author anything less than 5 stars. Now all that's left is to go mourn the loss of my childhood. Supporting comments much appreciated! *wipes tears and blows nose* Rating:

Review: The Artemis Fowl Files

The Artemis Fowl Files
Eoin Colfer
Companion to the Artemis Fowl series

The Artemis Fowl Files is comprised of two original stories: "LEPrecon": the story of Fairy Police Captain Holly Short's move from Traffic to Recon following her initiation into the Fairy Police; and "The Seventh Dwarf", featuring Mulch, Butler, and Artemis himself.

EXTRAS INCLUDE: 
• "Behind-the-scenes" interviews with major characters including: Artemis, Holly, Foaly, Mulch, and Eoin 
Colfer himself
• Coded section from the Fairy Book for kids to translate
• A section for Fairy Spotters including the different categories of Fairy and their physical characteristics 
and personality traits, including: Elves, Trolls, Sprites, Pixies Goblins, Dwarves and Centaurs
• Technical diagrams of Foaly's inventions

Hey there! Here for a rare middle-of-the-week post. Enjoy!

You can read my review of Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian here. As you can see in the link, I absolutely ADORE this series. Genius young criminal mastermind? Kick-butt faeries? What's not to love? So, naturally, I was overjoyed to stumble upon this great find in the library.

The book was quick and fun (200 pages) with activities to entertain a kid for hours (fortunately, I have stuff to do. I did not abandon my maturity. But I would have like to:)). 

The stories were written flawlessly and the interviews had me laughing. I adored getting bonus content from my favorite characters- you get some more of Holly's background which I thought was pretty cool, and a story of Artemis and Mulch that has been referenced in the series but I hadn't known had been written! You can read this companion after having read just one of the series. 

Rating:

Love,
Esty

Book-to-Movie Review: Mockingjay Part 1

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

book by Suzanne Collins

When Katniss destroys the games, she goes to District 13 after District 12 is destroyed. She meets President Coin who convinces her to be the symbol of rebellion, while trying to save Peeta from the Capitol.

IMDb, you continue to fail with these synopses. 

My review of the Catching Fire movie. 

As you can see in the above review, Catching Fire was pretty much unbeatable on every front. Lucky for me, I wasn't holding out for better than the second movie, but rather a REALLY GOOD ADAPTATION of what Mockingjay as an individual book and the series as a whole was all about. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED.

However if you didn't like the book you won't like this movie (I'm basing this on friends). I thought Mockingjay was truly a perfect conclusion to the trilogy- full circle (Prim's death, Coin's suggestion of a new Hunger Games). Therefore, I found the film to be a real success.

Just like in the first two movies, this one stays close to the book not only in dialogue and events, but in TONE AND FEEL. You experience everything Katniss feels right along with her. You can especially see this in the scene with the rescue mission for Peeta (a welcome addition that wasn't in the novel)- you're worried sick for BOTH Gale and Peeta, and at the same time listening to Finnick tell his story and absolutely destroying your heart. You're jumpy just like she is- the cat makes a little noise and the whole crowd got a heart attack. 

I missed Cinna and loved Prim. 

Effie and Haymitch. I actually applauded when they FINALLY got on screen. (quietly. Relax, I remembered I was in a theater) If nothing else, they are the reason I watch these films. 

The acting was SUPERB. I was peering through my fingers from fear in the scene where Peeta attacks. And Jennifer Lawrence gave me chills with her lines REPEATEDLY.

Mockingjay Part 1 was not a feast for the eyes the way Catching Fire was (in regards to the gorgeous shots) but it touched my soul in the way the book did and the previous movies didn't- the sirens, the bombings, the wounded, the bodies, the chilling shots of massacres and singing of The Hanging Tree (dear god that one is going to play in people's nightmares for a long time). Everything was so real and realistic. 

Amazing work, people. Now please hurry along Part 2. A year is too long a wait for me. 

Rating: 

Happy weekend!

Love,

Esty

Review: The Shadow of the Swarm

The Shadow of the Swarm (The Morrow Secrets #2)
Susan Mcnally
Middle grade, adventure

What will Tallitha do next? How will she escape from the sinister castle at Hellstone Tors and the grip of the Morrow Swarm? Will she ever see Winderling Spires again?

Grand Witches, Hellstone Shroves, evil relatives, strange creatures and supernatural powers abound in the second book in Tallitha Mouldson’s exciting adventures in the strange land of Breedoor.

Find out what happens in the next instalment of The Morrow Secrets and meet some exciting new characters as Tallitha and her trusted friends’ battle to free her from the Swarm and the spell of Hellstone Tors. 

You can read my review of book #1 here.

The Morrow Secrets and it's sequel, The Shadow of the Swarm,  were sent to me by Sweet Cherry Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you guys!

In the end of The Morrow Secrets I really started to get into the story. In this installment, Tallitha and Tyaas are stuck in Hellstone Tors, separated from Esmeralda and their friends the skinks. This made for an opportunity to play with the POVs, which I am happy to say the author took. We get chapters told by Cissie and her family who meet up with the Skinks, Esmeralda, and the Morrow Sisters back at Winderling Spires. I like the new and old characters so this method was a a refreshing change from book #1 :)

The novel is much bigger than the first, but a lot more happens so it can be excused. I also think the writing got a lot better, not colorful for the sake of being colorful like before but more natural. 

The art and cover were, as always, gorgeous. Recommended for a strong young reader, or for a spooky bedtime story to read to kids a bit at a time.

As you can see, from now on I'll be posting on weekends only. School is so intense this year! 
Love,
Esty

Feature and Follow Friday - Featured Blogger!

Hey guys! Happy weekend! To the newcomers, welcome to my blog! As you can see, been soooo super busy- last post was last week's FF! Not to worry- I have some reviews and a massive STS coming your way(:

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read and Rachel at Parajunkee. For the rules, head on over to their blogs. (I'll try to put the Linkup right here below but it never seems to work for me) This week I got to be their featured blogger! So happy and excited, and looking forward to meeting new people and discovering new blogs. The interview with me can be found at Parajunkee. My preferred method of following is GFC, but Bloglovin and Twitter are great too! 

Let's do this! This week's question is:

Craziest thing you'd be willing to do for an ARC you are dying to read (aka what would you doooo-ooo for that ARC you want? *think of the Klondike Bar music*) - Suggested by A Great Read

I think the answer to 'what wouldn't I do for an ARC I'm dying to read' would be shorter(; I draw the limit at jump off a plane and swim with sharks. I would bungee jump though!

Love,

Esty