Glint

:My random thoughts:

I noticed that a lot of Goodreads.com reviewers started this book thinking Ellie and Argent's worlds would cross, That one of the girls would end up in the other one's world.  And I was no exception. I thought Ellie would venture into Argent's world to find Danny.  After I realized that didn't happen, for awhile I kinda lost interest in the book.  But, I picked it up again, because I have vowed that each book I start, I will finish it. Unless it is unmoral or depraved.  And, as so often happens, my first glance was very wrong.  After my second start at Glint, I found it very, very satisfying.

:Publisher's Description:

Ellie and her little brother Danny spend their lonely days making up stories about a young girl in a world of dragons and shape-shifters, a girl as brave and cunning as they would like to be.
Five years later Danny disappears. The police have no clues. They fear he is dead, but Ellie knows better. She also knows that she is the only one who can find him.
At the same time, in the world Danny and Ellie imagined, a young girl named Argent sets off on a quest of her own to reclaim a stolen dragon hatchling.
As each girl makes her way closer to her goal, the boundaries between the worlds of fantasy and reality begin to blur until it's unclear where one world ends and the other begins. Gripping, compelling, and utterly absorbing, Glint is the story of two worlds—and two heroines—that readers will never forget.

:info to know:

Author: Ann Coburn

My recommended age:  11+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher: HarperCollins

Number of Pages: 432

• Characters:  First off, when you read about Argent, you might think her a bit shallow.  And I won't differ, but I think she is perfect that way.  Remember, Argent and her whole world was created by an 11 Year Old, She naturally wouldn't have the same depth as Ellie and Danny.  Second, Lukos is freakin' awesome.  He was my first introduction to a Were creature, and I was....impressed. To say the least.
  

 Plot:
The book consisted of both Argent's quest to save the Dragons, and Effie's plot to find her brother and save him.  But, Ms. Coburn had the canny way of ending a chapter with you hanging on.  Then, you had to read all through the next girl's chapter, be left hanging again, and complete the last cliff hanger.  It made for a very fast read.

Writing Style:
As said in the plot, she kept me reading with anticipation.

Cover:
It is nice.  No extra remarks to be made.

Ending:
Well...I have read Sherlock Holmes for a couple of years now.  I have studied his methods, I have tried them myself.  So, when it comes to Mysteries, I usually ace them.  Except for Agatha Christie's.  The ending of Effie's plot would have come as a shock to most, but since I..*coughcough* diducted who the kidnapper was half way through the book...It didn't surprise me.  I'll give you readers a hint:

The body parts in jars.

 The really solved it for me. 

World Building:
Well, Argent's world was supposed to have been built by a drugged 11 year old...and I must say, Bravo Danny.

Language:

None.

Drugs and Drink:

Danny is drugged to keep him asleep and calm while kidnapped.

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:

Danny's kidnapper isn't gentle, but nothing bad really happens.

In Argent's world, A Duke is lit aflame, a Dragon theif is mauled by a Lion, and Lukos almost gets stoned.

#Howdaretheystonemydearie.

Ratings:

It was a fast read, and I do NOT agree with the haters from Goodreads...I give this book a:

I did this review while drinking a hot cup of tea...it made me feel very writerly and professional. It might become a tradition now...Drink Hot tea while reviewing books.

Behemoth

:My random thoughts:

I've always been intrigued by the idea of supposedly extinct animals still being alive, and this book seemed like a good novel to help feed that interest. What I expected was a novel, though interesting, without much truth in it, outside of Creationism. What I got, however, was much different. A novel that gave me so many questions, so many thought provoking statements, and still without that clash of adventure one must have when writing about Dinosaurs. 

:Publisher's Description:

Author Jonathan C. Leicht, who travels the country teaching creation seminars, bypassed his busy teaching schedule long enough to pen this adventure-filled novel that will have readers at the edge of their seats. At the center of Behemoth is Jim Thompson, chief game warden of the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Jim has a major problem. Three of his prized elephants have been gored to death in the past month. The only clues are mysterious tracks reportedly belonging to a creature long thought extinct. Thompson suddenly finds himself on a tumultuous adventure across the African continent, hoping to convince himself and the world that he is on the verge of an incredible discovery. He is not alone. On the other side of the world, Professor Stephen Gregory is embarking on an adventure of his own. Forced to resign over his unpopular scientific beliefs, this once-distinguished professor gets the chance of a lifetime when he is offered an expedition into the heart of Africa in search of a creature that could prove his theories true once and for all.

:info to know:

Author:  Jonathan C. Leicht

My recommended age:  12+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher: Westbow Press

Number of Pages: 240

• Characters:  They were all very real.  But Stephen Gregory really takes the award for most realistic character.  His story is so true. He started out as an Evolutionist Scientist, and was a renowned debater.  Many respected his views. But after his views changed, the scientific word shunned him, and even though they once respected his thoughts, he was now considered raving.  That is such a truthful happening. Many Creationist scientists lose their position in the scientific world after leaving evolution behind.
  

 Plot:
The book has two plots, Dr. Gregory's and Jim Thompson's. Both men searching for dinosaurs, and not knowing about each other.  However, while Jim's story remains pretty straight, with the exception of the Chipekwe giving them the slip by following a Rhino, Dr. Gregory's has a major twist towards the end. Lets just say..it involves Guerrillas, traitors, and guns, shall I?

Writing Style:
Unless you really are interested in this sort of book,you probably wont like it, as it doesn't have the fastest pace.  It can actually be rather slow. But, if you really are interested, that shouldn't detain you.

Cover:
Kinda reminded me of The Inheritance cycle....

Ending:
Well, it was very expected.

World Building:
Africa. Congo.

Language:

None.

Drugs and Drink:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

Dr. Stephen Gregory is a widower, and falls in love with a certian Missionary in the Congo....the outcome should make any happy.

It was all clean.

Violence:

If you have Guerrillas, can you honestly NOT have a bit of violence? A team member of Dr. Stephen's gets his throat cut, and it is a tad bit descriptive, but I didn't have a problem with it. And all the guerrillas end up on the losing side...thanks to the 'Behemoth' pretty much though.  So, warning: Don't ever fire on a Dinosaur unless you are in a big boat.

Ratings:

 

It was a really great read.  It has given me a lot of encouragement, and honestly? I got more from it, then I have from My Ken Ham school book...just saying.

 

 

Artemis Fowl

:My random thoughts:

I had heard much about this raved upon book and it's following series.  But, I'm not much of a reader of best sellers. I haven't read Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Twilight series, and I just read the Hunger Games.  But, after seeing most of the books at our library, I decided, "Well, Might as well try".  That was a huge turning point at my life.  Huge. How can I ever properly express my utmost love for that naughty 12 year old? How, my friends?

:Publisher's Description:

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit.  These aren’t the fairies of bedtime stories; these fairies are armed and dangerous. 

            Artemis thinks he has them right where he wants them…but then they stop playing by the rules.

:info to know:

Author:  Eion Colfer

My recommended age:  10+

Their recommended age: 10+

Publisher: Hyperion books

Number of Pages: 304

• Characters:   Amazing. Shall I do a run down of my favorite? 
  Artemis:   He is, by far, my favorite villain after Moriarty. His cunning, his smarts, his everything, is just, just, captivating.  Sometimes, I forgot he was only 12, until the lollipop remark...*snicker*...and then, I think Artemis must've been knocked off key.  I loved the ending of the book the most, because I think it showed the little boy hidden under the criminal mastermind. It brought tears to my eyes.
  
  
  Butler: Come on, don't we all wish, at one point or another, to have such a loyal friend/bodyguard as  Butler? I simply adore that guy. He is like a teddy bear with a machine gun. Really, he is.
  
  
  Foaly: Computer Geek Centaur? Yes, thank you.
  
  
  Commander Root: He reminded me of the very image of an US Army Sarge. And I found his outbursts, and his annoyance at the whole world very humorous.

 Plot:
I wondered the whole book long how Artemis AND the Folk were going to win the battle, and triumph. We all know, of course, that Artemis would ultimately win, but the Fairies just couldn't go away empty handed. And they also had the advantage of technology centuries above humans.  But, I think it all wrapped up nicely.  And, always remember, at the core of every Technology, is a wee bit of magic. And magic, can be cheated.

Writing Style:
I will admit, it was a bit slow towards the middle.  But, after delving into it, I became sucked in.  I know a lot of people abjected top the way the Fairies thought about Humans (AKA Mud people), and they said Mr. Colfer was trying to sell propaganda about saving the earth, but I don't feel that way at all.  Just because the Fairies didn't like the way Humans do things, doesn't mean Mr. Colfer does. You CAN have different opinions then your Characters, ya know.

Cover:
Isn't Artemis the cutest little fella in black shades?

Ending:
It made me cry.  But it wrapped up nicely. It left room for a sequel without driving us crazy to "WHAT NEXT?"

World Building:
I think he did a good job. Naturally, Earth already exists, but whodathunk to make an underground world? Amazing.  He could have easily made the fairies retreat into the forests with an Invisible shielding of some sort, but nope, Underground they went.

Language:

Outside of some Fairy language we couldn't understand? None.

Drugs and Drink:

Artemis drugs Holly, and at the end, he drugs himself, Butler, and Juliet. I wont tell you why.

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:

Harmless stuff, pretty much. Trolls are nasty creatures, but the first encoutner with the brutes ends with all well.  The second encounter, Butler Dies (High light for spoiler: But never fear! Holly revives him!), And Juliet is in peril. Butler fights many times, but with clean methods, and Juliet loves watching wrestling. Artemis and the whole household nearly die.  There is nothing I would abject to in a movie.

Ratings:

 

Is it any shock that I give this book a:

 

Have you read this series yet?

How often do you read popular books?

Torn Heart

:My random thoughts:

This book has been on my i-want-to-read-really-really-bad list for like, FOREVER.  An dI finally worked up the courage to talk to Ellyn about reviewing it.  She said yes, and I think I jumped and squealed with pure joy.  I really love reading books my young authors, (young meaning below the age of 20), and I was very eager to get my hands and imagination on Torn Heart.  Which, is wonderfully named, BTW.

:Publisher's Description:

A rebellion is rising… The peasants of Sierr have dealt with Queen Livia’s cruel hand long enough. Sixteen-year-old Jacha Simyrna, who has spent her whole life stealing food and places to sleep in the queen’s castle, finds herself trapped between the two sides. The clink of promised gold echoes in Jacha’s ears as she sets out to do what the queen asks of her, but she finds life with the peasants different than she had ever thought it would be. Will Jacha yield herself to the powers of money, or the powers of friendship?

:info to know:

Author:  Ellyn Gibbs

My recommended age:  10+

Their recommended age: na

Publisher: Createspace

 

Number of Pages: 246

• Characters:   Superb.  I really enjoyed learning about all of them.  However, I really wish there was more depth into Verrda and the Dark men.  However, that would've taken away from Jacha's story.  Torn Heart isn't about Vorrda, it's about Jacha.  {Hint, Ellyn, perhaps you could build this into a series? Writing some about the beginning of the Dark Men, and another shwoing what happened after Torn Heart ends?}  She has done a post on her blog, HERE about the characters, if you wish to read it.

 Plot:
What do you call books that you forget you are reading, that make you forget there is a plot, and you read along until, BAM! You are closing that last page?

Writing Style:
Ellyn is really good. But, that sounds like a cheap reply.  She is a new writer, so there is some difference in her writing and, lets say, C.S Lewis'.  But it has a charm all it's own.  I really do believe, that Ellyn will bud (she has already started!) into a very gifted, and enriching writer!

Cover:
She made it her self, and I absolutely LOVED it!

Ending:
It left me hungry.  For more.  It was final in it's own way, but I kept thinking, "Does Kiann and Jacha get married?". 

World Building:
Beautiful.  I could picture everything from the Palace halls to the Brick yard with extreme clarity.

Language:

None.

Drugs and Drink:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

One kissing scene.  But it was in a way that made me giggle, not go "Oh, bleck!".

Violence:

There is a battle towards the end.  Many die.  But it wasn't gory or horrid.  Very clean and matter of fact.
What is a fantasy novel without a battle?  A rotten book, thats what.

Ratings:

Ellyn has a gift.  That is certain.   I have 'known' her since before this book was published, and squealed with delight once it was.  We are in a writing club (Inkblots, check us out!) together, and I count her as a valued e-friend.

But even if she was a perfect stranger to me, I'd still give Torn Heart a

Now, who would be interested in a giveaway with this book? If I get enough 'yay's I shall put my copy to to shared. If I don't, I shall hoard it like a glutton. Of books.