Sunday, February 26, 2012

Sojourner by Maria Rachel Hooley

 Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Moon has been dreaming of her murder her entire life, and in those dreams, a dark presence is there, watching. When she returns home to Hauser’s Landing, the very place her father disappeared, she comes in contact with a gorgeous boy named Lev Walker, and it’s not long before she’s falling in love. But there’s something wrong with Lev. When she realizes he’s the eerie watcher in her dreams, she’ll have to discover the truth. Is he a guardian angel or a sojourner, an angel of death who has come to collect her soul? From Goodreads





I liked it, it was okay but no more than that, I am glad it was free. I have checked the next 3 books in the series on Amazon but I am not rushing out to buy them even though they are quite cheap. I might get them some time in the future, but just now I don't need to read the continuation. The main character doesn't seem very strong, her only power is that she can see her angel! The angel loves her and has to save her as she has already died 6 times, each time before she turned 18. Basically the end is that either she dies again which he says he can't bear or he saves her which will mean he disappears and she loses him. So we are basically told that the book will have no happy ending.

This book qualifies for: 
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
2012 Ebook Challenge, 
Why Buy the Cow? Reading challenge 2012 ( this book is free on Amazon)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival
against humanity and life against love. From Goodreads.





This book is nr. 1 on the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List and it is being turned into a film so I thought I better read it. It is good, no doubt about it and I got very caught up in it and read it in one sitting! Scary thought that kids between the age of 12 and 18 have to fight to death in a game show. I like the strong girl Katniss who already once has proven that she can survive against all odds and now has to do it again. This book is not for the faint-hearted, normal life for people in the twelve districts is a struggle and they have to be lucky to survive that. We do get a glimpse that life in the Capitol is not great either and I hope we hear more about that in the next books.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Rose by Martin Cruz Smith

 The year is 1872. The place is Wigan, England, a coal town where rich mine owners live lavishly alongside miners no better than slaves. Into this dark, complicated world comes Jonathan Blair, who has accepted a commission to find a missing man.
When he begins his search every road leads back to one woman, a haughty, vixenish pit girl named Rose. With her fiery hair and skirts pinned up over trousers, she cares nothing for a society that calls her unnatural, scandalous, erotic.
As Rose and Blair circle one another, first warily, then with the heat of mutual desire, Blair loses his balance. And the lull induced by Rose's sensual touch leaves  him unprepared for the bizarre, soul-scorching truth.
From Goodreads






I really liked this book and that it has taken me from the 10th of February to the 23rd of February to read is quite misleading. I actually finished the book in just 4 sittings but they were rather far apart but it was not because of the book.
I like his description of Wigan and the whole miners setting. The mystery was intriguing and there was a few things and explanations I had not seen coming.  I will read books written by Martin Cruz Smith again.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder

An undercover mission leads to danger, adventure and an impossible choice...

After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, Opal Cowan has lost her powers. She can no longer create glass magic. More, she's immune to the effects of magic. Opal is an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had, powers that make a difference in the world.
Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that someone has stolen some of her blood - and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or know it could be they are lost forever...
From Goodreads






A brilliant last instalment to The Glass series. Trying to come to terms with her lost powers and how her immunity to magic works. Finding out who she really loves and to trust him. I enjoyed this Glass series by Maria V. Snyder and I will definitely sooner rather than later get hold of her Study series books. 

This is my first book in the Six Degrees of Separation Challenge. Read my PAGE about this challenge. This book connects to author Rachel Caine.

Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Like the colorful pieces of sea glass washed up on shore, Opal has weathered rough waters and twisting currents. But instead of finding a tranquil eddy, Opal is caught in a riptide. Her unique glass messengers which allow instant communication over vast distances have become a vital part of Sitian society. Once used solely by the Councilors and magicians, other powerful factions are now vying for control. Control of the messengers equals control of Sitia. Unfortunately that also means control of Opal. If that isn’t enough of a problem, Opal’s determination to prove blood magic is still being used is met with strong resistance. The Council doubts her, her mentor doubts her, and even her family is concerned. When her world is turned upside down, she begins to doubt herself. In the end, Opal must decide who to believe, who to trust, and who has control—otherwise she will shatter into a million pieces and be swept out by the tide. From Goodreads




The second book in the Glass series continues the story of Opal the Glass Magician and how her magic abilities keep developing. This book is also a lot about trust and how much she is ready to sacrifice for others. I definitely also enjoyed this part of the series and was  so hooked I just "grabbed" (reading ebooks) the last book of the series and kept reading.

Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

 Untrained. Untested. Unleashed.

With her unique magical abilities, Opal has always felt unsure of her place at Sitia’s magic academy. But when the Stormdancer clan needs help, Opal’s knowledge makes her the perfect choice – until the mission goes awry. Pulling her powers in unfamiliar directions, Opal finds herself tapping into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. Now Opal must deal with plotters out to destroy the Stormdancer clan, as well as a traitor in their midst. With danger and deception rising around her, will Opal’s untested abilities destroy her – or save them all?
  From Goodreads






 I really enjoyed this book. I know everything that can go wrong does go wrong and all (nearly all) is well in the end. I loved the description of Opal and all her insecurities, but also of the places and people of this world. Normally I would the say that I am looking forward to read the next 2 books in this trilogy but I have to admit I liked it so much, so after finishing this book on the 6th of February I have been reading the next two titles in the series so I haven't had time to blog about this one. Well I guess it says something about how much I liked this book.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Whisper of a Witch by Suza Kates

 A Choice
Shauni Miller has no idea why her life is changing, but she must answer when an unknown force summons her to a mystical island. She also harbors a secret, one that has the potential to alter her life forever. If she chooses to share it.
A Deception
Dr. Michael Black helps Shauni in her time of need, but sees more in the raven-haired temptress than she ever meant to reveal. He knows she’s hiding something, but then, so is he. 

A Prediction
Both Shauni and Michael have a role to play and decisions to make as a centuries-old prophecy unfolds. Only the fates know if they are meant to be together. Or if one of them has to die. From Goodreads




I like the idea of the 9 women being called together and that each has to have a challenge with evil, but I must admit I overlooked the "there has to be man trouble" that obviously is going to be in each book. I was hoping for more witchcraft and less romance, guess it is my own fault for not reading the back of the book properly. As I have already bought the next 2 books in this series I will most likely read them at some point but I will not be rushing out to buy the next 6 that I presume must be coming. The book gets 3 polar bears because I did enjoy the witch part of it.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

For Love of Mother-Not by Alan Dean Foster

He was just a freckle-faced, redheaded kid with green eyes and a strangely campelling stare when Mother Mastiff first saw him at the auctioneer's block. One hundred credits and he was hers. For years the old woman was his only family. She loved him, fed him, taught him everything she knew--even let him keep the deadly flying snake he called Pip. Then Mother Mastiff mysteriously disappeared and Flinx took Pip to tail her kidnappers. Across the forests and swamps of the winged world called Moth, their only weapons were Pip's venom ... and Flinx's unusual Talents. From Goodreads







I had never heard of Alan Dean Foster so when my husband suggested this book for the 2012 Sci-Fi Challenge I thought why not, this challenge is about trying out new authors and books.
I enjoyed this book and liked the idea about Flinx's talents and how everybody are afraid of them but  he accomplishes more from common sense and being streetwise than from his talents. I am looking forward to follow Pip and Flinx on more adventures.

I am just being told - as I keep forgetting it, that I actually have read a book by Alan Dean Foster before. I have read Midworld. I just don't always remember which book goes with which author. Keeping this blog might help me with that.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

All the books of Pern Challenge 2012 - finished

All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012

Details:
•    Runs January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, join in anytime.
•    You can join anytime but only count Pern books you have read this year.
•    Books can be any format.
•    Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
•    Track progress here, on your blog, on goodreads or LibraryThing. Anywhere really just let me    know where you are posting.
•    When you sign up remember your level of participation can go up but it can’t go down.
•    We’ll be keeping track of progress and prizes, etc. on this page.
•    Sign up using Mr Linky at the end of the post.


Levels:
•    Green– The original trilogy (or any 3)
•    Blue- The original trilogy plus the Harper Hall trilogy (or any 6)
•    Brown– Everything with Ms. McCaffrey as sole author (17)
•    Bronze– Everything except the ones written by Todd alone (22)
•    Gold – The whole lot of them (24-25)


I have chosen the level of Blue to read the original trilogy plus the Harper Hall trilogy. I have them as paperback but just this December I actually bought the original trilogy for my Kindle so that is the edition I will be reading.

All the posts for this challenge can be found HERE
  1. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey (kindle edition)
  2. Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey (kindle edition)
  3. The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey (kindle edition)
  4. Harpersong by Anne McCaffrey (paperback edition)
  5. Harpersinger by Anne McCaffrey (paperback edition)
  6. Harperdrums by Anne McCaffrey (paperback edition) 
I have now finished the Blue level I set myself as my goal for this challenge. I think I might be back at a later date this year and have a go at the Brown level but we'll see. I enjoyed this challenge and it was a good reason to go back to the Pern Series

Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall Trilogy kicks off with this riveting and poetic first installment, in which Menolly -- a gifted musician who dreams of becoming a Harper -- meets a band of fire lizards and becomes their teacher. The beginning to an entrancing fantasy series that McCaffrey fans (as well as Tamora Pierce and Marion Zimmer Bradley lovers) won't want to miss. From Goodreads
In this second breathtaking fantasy in Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall Trilogy, Menolly develops her studies to become a Harper as well as her relationship with the nine fire-lizards. From Goodreads
When his boy soprano voice begins to change, Piemur is drafted by Masterharper Robinton to help with political work and is sent on missions that lead him into unusual and sometimes dangerous adventures. From Goodreads





I reread these 3 books within 2 days, yesterday and today, well into the night, so I have decided to review them together. Having meet Menolly in the first trilogy from Pern, this is her trilogy telling about how she became a harper. I, like last time I read them, enjoyed these books very much and there was a lot I had totally forgotten so it was new to me again. There is not a lot of dragons in these books but lots about the fire lizards and I really like them.