A Dance With Dragons

A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance — beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys's claim to Westeros forever.

Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone — a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.

                                                      Mary Joy- This book is an amazing read the entire way through and closes with a starting cliff hanger. It picks up where A Storm of Swards left off, but with the other half of the characters left out in A Feast for Crows. Typical of Martin's style, it is full of plot twists, schemes and no shortage of blood and death. It is an intense read that will leave readers waiting expectantly for the next installment of the series. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

A Feast for Crows

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

After centuries of bitter strife, the seven powers dividing the land have beaten one another into an uneasy truce. But it's not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters of the Seven Kingdoms gather. Now, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—emerge from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges of the terrible times ahead. Nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages, are coming together to stake their fortunes...and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests—but only a few are the survivors. 

                               Mary Joy- This book definitely picks up the slack from the last one. It brings the stories of several of the main characters to starting closure, demonstrating Martin's ability to completely change a plot line and still engage even the most unwilling of readers. My only complaint about the book is that it focuses fully on only about half the main characters, leaving out the input of some of my favorite characters. However, this book is overall a very gripping story and is, in my opinion, the best book in the series.

Rating: 9 out of 10

2nd Chance

2nd Chance by James Patterson

2nd Chance reconvenes the Women's Murder Club, four friends (a detective, a reporter, an assistant district attorney, and a medical examiner) who used their networking skills, feminine intuition, and professional wiles to solve a baffling series of murders in 1st to Die. This time, the murders of two African Americans, a little girl and an old woman, bear all the signs of a serial killer for Lindsay Boxer, newly promoted to lieutenant of San Francisco's homicide squad. But there's an odd detail she finds even more disturbing: both victims were related to city cops. A symbol glimpsed at both murder scenes leads to a racist hate group, but the taunting killer strikes again and again, leaving deliberate clues and eluding the police ever more cleverly. In the meantime, each of the women has a personal stake at risk--and the killer knows who they are.

                                 Sheila Fennell- enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced, the plot had a lot of good twists and turns. The reader was led in different directions to find the murderer. But at the end a small clue, which I have overlooked pointed out the killer. My favorite character was Lindsay Boxer, but I didn't really like her friend they were bad at finding the murderer. Lindsay takes a lot of chances that almost cost her life. But the end is definitely a surprise!

Rating: 8 out of 10

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

Zoo Station

Zoo Station by David Downing

By 1939, Anglo-American journalist John Russell has spent fifteen years in Berlin, where his German-born son lives. He writes human-interest pieces for British and American papers, avoiding the investigative journalism that could get him deported. But as war approaches, he faces the prospect of having to leave his son and his longtime girlfriend.

Then, an acquaintance from his communist days approaches him to do some work for the Soviets. Russell is reluctant but ultimately unable to resist. He becomes involved in other dangerous activities, helping a Jewish family and an idealistic American reporter. When the British and the Nazis notice his involvement with the Soviets, Russell is dragged into the world of warring intelligence services.

                            Desarae- If your into reading about drugs and all of that stuff, this would be perfect. It gets into depth with drugs, abuse, and sex. I do not recommend this book to anyone that feels uncomfortable when they read about drugs. Reading this book as a freshman set my book standards pretty high. It was a very good book!

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

The Final Warning

The Final Warning by James Patterson

Maximum Ride is a perfectly normal teenager who just happens to be able to fly, the result of an out-of-control government experiment. 

Max and the other members of the Flock -- six kids who share her remarkable ability -- have been asked to aid a group of environmental scientists studying the causes of global warming. The expedition seems like a perfect combination of adventure, activism -- and escaping government forces who watch the Flock like a hawk.

But even in Antarctica, trapped in the harshest weather on our planet, Maximum Ride is an irresistible target in constant danger. For whoever controls her powers could also control the world. Maximum Ride is James Patterson's greatest character, a heroine who manages to be human and fearless at once.

                                           Smee Bucket- This is the 4th book in the Maximum Ride series, and if you ask me, the series should have ended with book 3. In fact, book 3 seemed like a conclusion. This book reads a lot as if Patterson was pressured into continuing the series by fans and by parents who didn't like hos portrayal of scientists in earlier books. Basically, Max and her flock must save the world from Global Warming, and along the way they learn that not all scientists are bad guys. I thought I was reading an action-novel. Whether or not you believe/support global warming, this book's content, plot, and mood is very different from the earlier books, which is annoying. 

Rating: 2 out of 10

Gone

Gone by Michael Grant 

In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young.

There are teens, but not one single adult. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

                             When I first read this book, I was amazed! I read the book with a day and was completely obsessed! I love the way the book is laid out. It shows the point of views of many characters. There is a lot of plot twists and surprises the way throughout the book. The characters come alive with their detailed personalities and emotions. I highly recommend this book and the others in this series. 

Rating: 10 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 

                               

Lolita

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Humbert Humbert - scholar, aesthete and romantic - has fallen completely and utterly in love with Lolita Haze, his landlady's gum-snapping, silky skinned twelve-year-old daughter. Reluctantly agreeing to marry Mrs Haze just to be close to Lolita, Humbert suffers greatly in the pursuit of romance; but when Lo herself starts looking for attention elsewhere, he will carry her off on a desperate cross-country misadventure, all in the name of Love. Hilarious, flamboyant, heart-breaking and full of ingenious word play, Lolita is an immaculate, unforgettable masterpiece of obsession, delusion and lust.


                                         Alyssa DeCarlucci- This book is written in a strange, but beautiful way. The entire premise of the book is weird and a bit inappropriate which is why it is a banned book. Although strange, I like how poetically written it is and it makes me want to continue reading. This book overall was good, but is more for older readers because it's content. It could be difficult to understand for younger readers as well.

Rating:7 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

Franny and Zooey

Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger

The short story, "Franny", takes place in an unnamed college town and tells the tale of an undergraduate who is becoming disenchanted with the selfishness and inauthenticity she perceives all around her.

The novella, Zooey, is named for Zooey Glass, the second-youngest member of the Glass family. As his younger sister, Franny, suffers a spiritual and existential breakdown in her parents' Manhattan living room -- leaving Bessie, her mother, deeply concerned -- Zooey comes to her aid, offering what he thinks is brotherly love, understanding, and words of sage advice.

                                   I was very surprised by the ssophisticatedmanner in which this book was written. In stark contrast to Salinger's other famous work, "The Catcher in the Rye", this book was immensely wordy, and where as Holden from Catcher despises actors, one of the main characters in this book, Zooey Glass, is a professional actor, with the other Franny, being an amateur. It is a read which deserves periodic reflection, and may require one to carry around a pocket dictionary, but despite and also because of these facts it is a satisfying and worthwhile read.

Rating: 8.877777 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

We Were Liars

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

                                   "Me, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat. Gat, Mirren Johnny, and me." They were liars, but they were so beautiful. Lockhart wrote one of the deepest and most beautiful novels ever.  Each chapter is like a short story. Also, every paragraph seemed as if it was the last. Lockhart is gifted. She is deep and her writing is like no other. 

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

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

                                      Austin Shaw: The Fault in Our Stars is the greatest story of all time. The way Augustus Waters speaks is inevitably the most amazing way to speak to another. John Green will make you laugh and cry. It's an easy read and an amazing story. 

Rating: 10 out of 10


                                Desarae- This was absolutely amazing! I was attached to it for like 2 days straight. It shows the struggle of loving someone and also having a health condition. There are parts of the book that are very emotional, and there are also parts that are absolutely adorable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that likes reading about love stories! 


Rating: 10 out of 10

A Clock Work Orange

A Clock Work Orange by Anthony Burgess

Fifteen-year-old Alex and his three friends start an evening's mayhem by hitting an old man, tearing up his books and stripping him of money and clothes.

Or rather Alex and his three droogs tolchock an old veck, razrez his books, pull off his outer platties and take a malenky bit of cutter. For Alex's confessions are written in 'nadsat' - the teenage argot of a not-too-distant future.

Because of his delinquent excesses, Alex is jailed and made subject to 'Ludovico's Technique', a chilling experiment in Reclamation Treatment...

                     Ivy Musser: This is a very unique book. The author uses a made-up/teenage slang that is often difficult to decipher. Very graphic and typically meant for young, but mature readers. I quite enjoyed this book despite it's graphics. This book has also been made into a film, which I also think is excellent. This book was made in the '70's, but set in the 'future' which creates an unusual, but interesting setting for the story. 

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. 

                  Ivy Musser: I thought it was an excellent novel. I think the fact that the author some of her personal experiences for the inspiration really helped the book become successful. The climax of the novel was most powerful and brought me to tears. The author is very descriptive with a neat writing style which is what drew me into the book. After reading this book, I wanted to read more by this particular author. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

Perfect Chemistry

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. 

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

                      Janelle Hayward: Perfect Chemistry was an amazing read. The story was so strong, each scene filling me with sadness or joy. I simply couldn't put it down. The suspense, growing love, and constant action was just amazing I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a story after your heart. 

Rating: 10 out of 10


                   This was one of the best books I have ever read. The plot was AMAZING, I never wanted to put the book down! I love the characters so much, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! My emotions were constantly changing, hands down one of the best books ever!


Rating: 10 out of 10