The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. 

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. 

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

                         Smee Bucket- This is the first book of Riordan's "Kane Chronicles" series, which is about two siblings who are decedents of powerful Egyptian magicians. They learn how the Egyptian myths still play out in the modern world and must save the world from approaching chaos. This series is similar to the "Percy Jackson" series, but the gods and goddesses work in different ways. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the "Percy Jackson" series, partly from personal preference and partly because it was hard to get used to the way Egyptian magic works in the story. All in all, this is an enjoyable series that I recommend if you like mythology or adventure stories. 


Rating: 7 out of 10

The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan 

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

                                    Smee Bucket- This is the first book in the "Heroes of Olympus" series, which is the continuation of the Percy Jackson series. Despite this you don't need to read the "Percy Jackson" series before reading this one, (although I do recommend it) and this book isn't about him anyway. Riordan packs even more mythology and adventure into this series, making the books twice as long as those in the first series. This book introduces three new demigods, who Riordan fans will like as much as the originals. Anyone who likes adventure, mythology, and humor should read this book. You'll get hooked!

Rating: 9 out of 10

The Lightning Thief

The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan 

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

                          Smee Bucket- This is the first book of my favorite series, which concerns Percy Jackson, a modern demigod who must train to be a hero and save the world. In this series Riordan combines Greek myths with humor and pop culture, creating a fast-paced, interesting, and funny story. This book is suitable for younger readers (10+), but later books and the continuing series (The Heroes of Olympus) have more adult situations, since the characters age. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

A Storm of Swords

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. And as opposing forces manoeuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords...

                                       Mary Joy- This novel suffers from some middle-chapter dryness. A relatively slow, plodding plot is punctuated with shockers like the Red Wedding, which, while good on their own, do little to rescue the story. While this book is certainly interesting, it's nowhere near the level of the first two. While I personally did not enjoy the book that much, I encourage readers to push through it, because the story definitely picks up in the novels that follow.


Rating: 6.5 out of 10

A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

Time is out of joint. The summer of peace and plenty, ten years long, is drawing to a close, and the harsh, chill winter approaches like an angry beast. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon;who held sway over an age of enforced peace are dead...victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns, as pretenders to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms prepare to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. 

As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky;a comet the color of blood and flame;six factions struggle for control of a divided land. Eddard;s son Robb has declared himself King in the North. In the south, Joffrey, the heir apparent, rules in name only, victim of the scheming courtiers who teem over King's Landing. Robert's two brothers each seek their own dominion, while a disfavored house turns once more to conquest. And a continent away, an exiled queen, the Mother of Dragons, risks everything to lead her precious brood across a hard hot desert to win back the crown that is rightfully hers. 

                                           Mary Joy-This book has a lot to live up to after "A Game of Thrones", and it certainly does. The struggles its characters face in the first novel become more pronounced in this book, and the series' plot begins to thicken over again. "A Clash of Kings" is an impressive book, just as or at least very nearly as good as "A Game of Thrones".

 

 

Rating: 8 out of 10 

                               

A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes of the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

                          Mary Joy- This book will appeal to anyone with even the slightest taste for fantasy. It is full of interesting and very realistic characters who's conflicts keep the suspense high, and of course the author's penchant for killing off the main characters and tossing in entirely unexpected plot twists will keep the pages turning. Over all "A Game Of Thrones" is a great book for anyone who wants a good read and is not daunted by the sheer length.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

                                         Griff- This book is full of mystery and action. It will keep readers on their toes as they read through the adventures of the main character. The reader will cheer and cry along with the characters and feel as though they were with them. If you're in the mood for suspense and mystery this book is definitely for you!

Rating:10 out of 10

City Of Bones

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

                                   Griff- This book emotionally tore me limb from limb with twists and turns all along the way. Just when you think you know everything, there's something else the author adds to give it a spin. this book was fantastic and I recommend it to all audiences. The author's style will leave you curious, and that will force you to go out and get the next book. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

No Safety in Numbers

No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz

Life As We Knew It meets Lord of the Flies in a mall that looks just like yours

A biological bomb has just been discovered in the air ducts of a busy suburban mall. At first nobody knows if it's even life threatening, but then the entire complex is quarantined, people start getting sick, supplies start running low, and there's no way out. Among the hundreds of trapped shoppers are four teens.

                                 I liked the idea of the book, but I think it was poorly written. It was just boring and slow for most of the book and I just couldn't get into it. The setting was often the same and I had to push myself to finish the book. Not worth my time. Very disappointed.

Rating: 3 out of 10

Bruiser

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends – why he can’t care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can’t be explained. I know, because they're happening to me."

When Brontë starts dating Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins – the guy voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” her twin brother, Tennyson, isn’t surprised. But then strange things begin to occur. Tennyson and Brontë’s scrapes heal unnaturally fast, and cuts disappear before their eyes. What at first seems like their good fortune turns out to be more than they bargained for…much more.

                           I really liked this book, but it was a bit slow at parts. I loved the mystery of it at the beginning and I wanted to keep reading to get all of the details. The characters I quickly fell in love with especially Bruiser. I loved how he was tough, but still had some sensitivity. Bruiser is a must read for anyone who loves mystery and romance. 

Rating: 7 out of 10 

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

                                 This book was on of my favorites. It kept me on the edge of my seat through everything. I thought the whole idea of the novel was creative and interesting and I loved the romance that was throne in. I thought it had the perfect balance romance, violence, action and intensity along with the mystery of what was going to happen next. I also love how Tris is a strong female protagonist in the story, but realistically, she isn't perfect. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay

Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

                       I had high hopes for this book because of how much I loved the first two, but after reading this I was really let down. It was slow and nowhere near as well written as the two before it. Also I was disappointed with the entire ending and who Katniss ended up with. I feel like not much happened at all through the book and it was a waste of my time reading it. Very disappointed. 

Rating: 4 out of 10

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

                     Surprisingly just as good as, if not better than the first one. It was action packed and still had just the right amount of romance. I loved the idea for the arena this time and all the new characters that were introduced. I liked how it was similar to the first, but had enough differences to make it worth reading for sure. Again it was very well written and I could read it over and over. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.

When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. , she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

                  I loved the creative idea of this book and how futuristic it was. I quickly fell in love with all of the characters and it was like I could feel the pain Katniss felt at different times in the novel. I thought it was very well written and I loved the fact that Katniss was a strong female character, but still had her weakness like all people. Defiantly a must read if you haven't done so already.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Maze Runner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

                          I thought the book was very well written and had a very interesting plot. Not only was the plot unique, the ending is a huge shocker. I started on the second book and I can't wait to finish it!

Rating : 8 out of 10