Review: Antonio Simon, Jr – The Gullwing Odyssey

The Gullwing Odyssey
Antonio Simon, Jr

Marco the messenger boy really tries to stay out of trouble. When he is instead swept up into impersonating an ambassador, things in his life get far, far more troublesome than he could have ever imagined.

18310045This novel had some fantastic laugh out loud parts that I couldn’t help sharing with my partner. And then she laughed as well. I really enjoyed it for those moments, and the language twists and the sheer absurdity of the fights that take place.

Light fiction that I just couldn’t put down. I’m not going to profess that it has no ‘deeper issues’, but sometimes you just want to read something to chill and enjoy. This novel is it.

Did I mention that it has dragons? And that they are personified just like humans? And that I love dragons? I felt like I could have done with more from their perspective, but you know what? I was too busy laughing to pay too much attention.

Some of the text just seemed a bit clunky (I feel like this is my favourite way of describing a novel at the moment). The main thing was that some of the storyline elements weren’t wrapped up nicely throughout the novel. For example the contents of the package. I can’t say more without giving anything away… Perhaps this is something that will be explored in the other novels of the Gullwing Series.

I’m giving this 3 stars. Or 4 stars. I can’t decide. It’s not ‘average’, but it’s not ‘outstanding’ either. Undecided.

4star

Review: Jaclyn Moriarty – A Tangle of Gold

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A Tangle of Gold
Jaclyn Moriarty

What a Corner of White and Cracks in the Kingdom started, A Tangle of Gold is here to make it conclude. Madeline and Elliot’s worlds are going to combine with a crash. Well, the people in them anyway. As all the cracks are shut down and guarded again, others discover exciting abilities to free themselves around the bright colour storms.

25578558Ah, the ending. It tidied things up nicely. Perhaps too nicely. Worlds never end like that. So it could be unexpected, except the minute a couple of people do their ‘expose’ thing, then it becomes obvious what is happening around that, and it proves to be inevitable. It was already so unpredictable, in its own way it was predictable.

How much time can you spend thinking about similes and turned about sentences? Just as sometimes characters from different provinces don’t understand what is going on, neither did I! And not in a good, ‘I will work it out later’, kind of way.

I’m not sure how I felt about the romance. People kissing other people, true loves going wrong, was this a fantasy novel or a teen kiss-and-tell? And really, the chances of them all being so similar? I really can’t talk much about this novel because I’d give away the plot lines. But whatever is happening, and it is happening, the Colours are there to stay.

Again, I find myself undecided on where I would put this novel. I’m going to give it 3 stars again, just like the first two books in this series. I hate to be the party pooper, and I’m sure (I know, in fact), that a lot of readers out there are super keen on the series. I’d suggest reading the first, and then deciding if they are for you.

3star

Thanks to Macmillian for providing me with a proof copy.

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Review: Jaclyn Moriarty – A Corner of White

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A Corner of White
Jaclyn Moriarty

Madeleine and Elliot are from totally different worlds, one of which has forgotten the existence of the other. At first glance, their lives are hard by today’s standards, and things are upset. Little does the reader know simply how upset that is!

8661987This novel started so slowly and got so confusing at times that I couldn’t work out what was going on. I struggled to get into it, and found myself easily distracted. Near the end, I was finally hit with a shock of ‘wow’, but it only lasted a couple of pages.

A hint of history, for those of us who aren’t fabulous at history, but I’m not exactly certain how they fitted into the muddled text. Added bonus facts about Isaac Newton? Yes please. Jack thinking he is Byron? Really confusing in what I thought was the real world.

I wanted the different characters to grow tangibly, but I’m not sure they ever did. Madeleine and Elliot both make the same discoveries about themselves, through their communications. But I don’t think I really felt it happening, the rest of the text left me too confused.

The last surreal novel I read, In the Skin of a Monster, polarised me far more than this one – I hated it! aCoW at least had a sense of order, and I could understand the distinct worlds. Even the overlapping was reasonable, and I could cope with that. I think this novel could have been told just through letter to make it even more obscure!

From the blurbs at the back of my copy of the novel, Moriarty is a specialist in interesting forms of fantasy fiction. I’m not sure how tempted I am to read those other novels, although a couple involve schools, which usually gets me excited.

I’m really not sure how I felt about this novel. I’m going to give it a solid 3 stars, and get started on the next. I wasn’t enthralled enough to give it 4 stars.

3star

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Review: Isobelle Carmody – Obernewtyn

Obernewtyn
Isobelle Carmody

Elspeth has mental talents that she must keep secret from a post-apocalyptic world. She can hear the thoughts of humans and animals, and change those thoughts if she needs to. But she can’t protect herself from being proclaimed a misfit and sent to Obernewtyn. Things are not what they seem there, and freedom is not everything it could be.

3233802Elspeth goes from a lonely loner to someone who dares to have friends. Funny how losing everything seems to do that to a person. She progresses rapidly from someone only concerned about saving herself to someone who can and will help others. It’s that transformation that brought me back to this novel over and over again.

I always wonder what might have happened about Jes if things were different. There’s more powers than seem obvious, and I’m certain that given more space (which could happen since Isobelle has promised me a sequel!!!) there could be more explanation of this. Evolution keeps happening afterall.

This is one of my favourite Carmody books. I’ve never reviewed it before because it’s just a given for me that it is fantastic, and what more can I say about it? But my girlfriend had never read it, so we set about having me read it to her as a pre-sleep ritual. Reading it out loud made me appreciate again the gentle nuances of language and foreshadowing of the rest of the novels.

I in fact own two copies of it (the pictured illustration and the plain Penguin classics version). So that totally suited us when we were travelling between two houses and wanted to keep up our reading each night. Note to self though, after I’ve been reading aloud for at least 2 chapters, I start to stumble over words.

5 stars. You expected? Of course I love this novel, and I’ve lost count of how many times I have reread it. I started in high school, and spent the last 15-odd years waiting for the series to be finished. You can read my review of ‘The Red Queen‘, the last book in the chronicles.

5star

Review: Isobelle Carmody – Alyzon Whitestarr

Alyzon Whitestarr
Isobelle Carmody

Alyzon is the most boring member of her family. She isn’t artistic, she doesn’t play an instrument and she doesn’t have any interesting physical features. One day she is hit on the head, and wakes up with her senses overwhelmed by smells, real and dubious. She’s a response to a sickness that takes over spirits, and they’re after her… and her sister.

1961314I forget how much I like this novel every time I put it away on the shelf, and then when I pick it up I just can’t stop reading it. It’s fascinating to think that special extensions of senses are just evolution. Let me evolve that way! I wish I had abilities like this. But I wouldn’t want to be able to smell the rotting meat of infected people.

As always, the characters come alive even from the single perspective of Alyzon. This is helped by the fact that we get all of Alyzon’s extended senses telling us (and her) things that other people wouldn’t notice. I like that there is a varied cast, not everyone is boring and mainstream. This reflects the fact that people are different on the inside, even if you can’t see it.

People on GoodReads seem really divided about it. Some hate it, call it boring and awful. Others love it. I can agree that it is often wordy, but it’s part of the story! How else can Alyzon talk about her extended senses? Perhaps it is people reading it as adults. To me, this is a perfect teenage novel, just as it was when I was younger.

I was inspired to read this again because it’s coming out from Ford Street Publishing this year! And when I spoke to Isobelle Carmody (about 3 times in the space of a week), she said she felt like she hadn’t finished with the world of Alyzon. Never mind that Isobelle tends to not want to let go of any of her characters (uh hum, Obernewtyn).

5 stars from me. Did you really expect anything else?

5star

Review: Brandon Sanderson – Mitosis

Mitosis
Brandon Sanderson

This tiny (#1.5) short story occurred in between the first and second novels of the Reckoner’s series (Steelheart and Fireflight respectively).

18966322I remind astounded by the sheer number of convincing magic systems Sanderson can create. There are so many interesting novels about superheroes, it’s hard to stand out.

It’s almost too short to write a review, you don’t really get that much story. It is where David first gets his insights into how the epics work, so it’s valuable in that way.

Since it is a Brandon Sanderson, I’ll give it five stars by default , but it’s just too hard to come up with that much of an opinion. I wasn’t that excited about the extra material in the novel (having read the second one already), but it would be worth it if you’re just starting and reading the novels in series.

5star

Review: Brandon Sanderson – Words of Radiance

Words of Radiance
Brandon Sanderson

The Everstorm is coming. While the 10 High-Princes quarrel, the Parshmen are plotting their last stand. With scholars trying to crack the secrets of the Shattered Plains, it’s still not apparent who or what will triumph, or if they will all die in the impending storm.

20343865The characters really really get into their strides here. And well they should, as this novel neatly wraps up the first two. I don’t know how I felt about the ending. It was a little neat, but also open ended. I loved Adolin’s final gesture – finally! Get on it boy! Kal, hmm, don’t know what I think about you. Sometimes you are just so dumb, and sometimes you are brilliant.

I love how Sanderson kills off his characters. It gives his novels an edge that makes me want to keep reading. There is nothing worse than series when a character dies, and then is resurrected several chapters or books later. There is an exception that slips itself in, but I’m going to leave that out – plot spoiler!

I wish Sanderson hadn’t needed to waste time finishing The Wheel of Time! People are polarised on whether they like it or not. And if they were coming to read Sanderson’s own work next, I think they would be unfairly biased towards/against it.

As usual, another Brandon Sanderson ripper. I had to restrain myself after reading the first novel in this series to not gobble up this one too quickly. I knew the third novel wasn’t out yet, and who knows when it will be out (2017????), or when I can get a copy? These novels were published 4 years apart…

An easy 5 stars from me. Sanderson and publishers, just take my money and give me everything.

5star

Review: Brandon Sanderson – The Way of Kings

The Way of Kings
Brandon Sanderson

A war rages across the Shattered Plains and the home city of Roshar, with 10 high princes fighting separately for wealth. Our main characters are of varying kinds – a soldier reduced to slavery, a girl trying to return her family’s wealth and a lord with a sudden leading into madness.

10063939This novel is told from a number of perspectives, and this usually urks me. I still felt irritated with this, because really, it could have been written mostly (particularly Shallan’s) in seperate parts. I didn’t have trouble keeping track of the story threads, but I did feel myself rushing through certain sections to get to the next mention of my favourite characters (mainly Kaladin).

Yet another debut magic scheme comes to life in this novel. To me, one of the best things about Sanderson’s work are the unique magic systems. This one involves Shardplate and Shardblades, and people who can infuse themselves with stormlight. I don’t detect any similarities to anyone else’s magic systems, and that’s unique by itself.

Brandon Sanderson has become more ‘mainstream’ since being responsible for completing Wheel of Time. In fact, the reverse of my copy of the novel basically compares this new set of novels to those. Which is unfair, Brandon Sanderson is more than capable of keeping things amazing.

Oh, I should mention that this comes as two separate parts, which I suppose could be read separately if need be. I read them in quick procession, but that was because I was lucky to be given both. If you aren’t sure you will like this novel (if you don’t, what’s wrong with you?!?), you can just buy the first one. It wraps itself up nicely, but I can see why it is broken up, as no one would want to cart around the size of the novel it would be,

5 stars from me (were you really expecting anything else?). I couldn’t put it down, and kept losing myself into the novel and losing a couple of hours of my time.

5star

Review: Isobelle Carmody – The Red Queen

The Red Queen
Isobelle Carmody

Elspeth is reaching the end of her quest. She has travelled across the land, but suddenly been halted – for no reason that she can work out. Not to mention she seems to be destined for death sooner rather than later. The question is, will she be able to work out the remaining clues before everyone dies?

Article Lead - narrow1002356196gkwzavimage.related.articleLeadNarrow.353x0.gkryzo.png1447991145658.jpg-300x0This is the finale of The Obernewtyn Chronicles. It was originally intended to be 5 books, it extended to 6, and then 7. The 7th book in particular was delayed several times. I expected it to be polished and beautiful, and for the most part it was. Having just read the other 6 books though, I could see plot holes and unfinished business. Also Elspeth spent a lot of time ‘gnawing’, relaxing, ‘gnawing’, relaxing. It got a bit repetitive.

I don’t know whether I felt disappointed in this novel or not. In the end, the very end was a bit of a let down after all the trials of coming there. I wanted to know more about the future. Ah, Rushton and Elspeth. What will happen? What about the other characters? How many of them will survive?

I made the mistake of looking at a couple of other reviews after having finished reading it, because I felt confused about how I felt. Other people complained about the section in Habitat, but I personally enjoyed that. The repetition did drive me pretty nuts though.

I didn’t feel comfortable with the idea that machines would come back. Sentinal and Ines were too aware. Even if the law is not to harm humans, I would always feel nervous trusting a machine. A future teller can’t see everything after all. But is that really what the ending suggests?

I will reread it – eventually. Even with its unanswered questions, I’ve invested too much in the series, and enjoyed the first 4 books so much that it’s not a question of if, but when.

4star

Review: Brandon Sanderson – Warbreaker

Warbreaker
Brandon Sanderson

Two princesses with hair that changes colour with their moods are let loose into the colourful capital of Hallandren – where one thrives and the other suffers. Naturally enough, the one that is suffering thinks that the one that is ‘thriving’ must be faking it! But as it is revealed, they aren’t the same people at all. With a war threatening, one is completely unaware of the war, and the other is unaware what she is doing. The God King could make a difference, but he is silent…

1268479Sometimes it feels like someone who didn’t read the novel wrote the blurb. Breath isn’t focussed by colour! It lets you see all the beautiful colours that are present. And with that note, and other great thing about Sanderson novels is that at the back, there is usually an explanation of the unique magic system he has come up with.

So this magic system is where every person in the world has ‘Breath’. Just one. Unless they sell it (becoming dull), or gain more than one. People with more Breath are more powerful, and it’s obvious to others because the colours brighten around them. The Breath can be used for protection, or for offence. And for the pantheon, it is what keeps them alive.

The characters. Well, it’s told from different perspectives, which actually worked quite well for me, but then I can forgive Sanderson almost anything. I’m not sure I was given enough information to really work out the plot for myself, an insight into the opposing ‘team’ with another perspective might have been good, but there was plenty packed in.

While browsing my bookshelf and lamenting that I didn’t have any of the other books I was currently reading at home, this one jumped out at me. I was pretty much immobile at that point (motorbike accident) and so I wanted something that was going to absorb me. Imagine me leaning on the furniture getting around the house, but with this book in one hand as well!

4 stars from me. This book actually sat on my shelf for at least a year before I read it. It’s an ex-library copy, and I’m pretty sure it cost me a grand total of 50c. That makes it an absolute bargain for the hours of interest I got out of it.

4star