Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Dear Readers,

After finishing Lord of the Rings, I felt I deserved some mindless teen fantasy, so I read Bitterblue. Just because it is mindless doesn't mean it isn't good though.
Bitterblue is the third book in a wonderful series by Kristin Cashore. It is the sequel to the book Graceling and the companion to Fire. Both of those books are also wonderful. The have a different story that I have not read in many other fantasy books.
I will give you a brief over view of the other two books and some background info before I tell you about Bitterblue.
Graceling centers around a girl named Katsa. She is "graced". In the Seven Kingdoms there are people who are born with two different colored eyes. These people are born with special gifts like not having to sleep, mind reading, baking, reading, being strong, and many many many other things. Katsa is said to have the grace of killing people. The first book follows her story and near the end you met the main character of Bitterblue, Bitterblue. Katsa returns in Bitterblue.

Fire is a completely different story. This story takes place in a different kingdom on the other side of a impassible mountain range. This story centers around Fire, who is what they call a monster. The monsters have the ability to control peoples minds. Monsters are not only human there are also monster animals. They are known by their strange colors. Fire's hair is a mix of brilliant orange, red, and pink, hence the name fire. She also makes an appearance in Bitterblue. 
Bitterblue takes place in one of the Seven Kingdoms. Bitterblue become queen after her horrible father's reign of 35 years. The kingdom she takes control of is in shambles. King Leck, her father, was graced with the ability to control peoples mind. He did many many horrors as king, and the kingdom is taking a long time to come out of his shadow. At first the task of bring her kingdom out of Leck's fog seems impossible to Bitterblue. She herself does not remember much about her father and her time with him. To bring peace to her kingdom Bitterblue must look into the past to figure out what is happening in the present. Of course she does not complete this task alone. There is a wonderful parade of characters some new and some familiar from the other books.
If you need a quick and easy but wonderful read I would recommend picking up this book.
Read on, dear readers.
Lindsey

Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

It is finished!!!!
There you go Julie! I did it, and I loved mostly every minute of it.
I say mostly ever minute because there were some minutes that I actually considered dropping the book.
I will start out telling you about the things I disliked. Well disliked might be to strong of  word. I will start out telling you about the things that I didn't not appreciate.
Number One: Tom Bombadli. Someone told me that you either love him or you hate him. I have no strong feelings towards this man. He was just kinda of a distraction. When I wanted some real action he kept popping up, and clouding the story line with useless problems. I do not understand why Tolkien decided to add this character in the book. I am glad they left that part out in the movie because otherwise the movie would be super long. Oh wait the movies are long anyway...
Number Two: The first 300 pages of the book. Besides Tom Bombadli there were many other problems that drug down the hobbits from their quest and the plot line. I like description, but sometimes Tolkien had a little to much.
Okay so I really only have two complaints about this book.
Now to the things I liked.
This book is the closest to the perfect fantasy book that I have ever read. First I must talk about the characters.
The characters are one of the things that make a fantasy book or movie a flop or a success. Fantasy needs relatable characters to make up for the strangeness in the book. Many of the characters in this book fill that roll. If you have read The Hobbit, Bilbo feels like an old friend, and it almost comforting to have him at the start of the book. Likewise with Gandalf. The kind wizard has already gained our trust in the previous novel, so now it is easy to like him even though he is a little strange. The new Hobbits you meet come onto the scene and steal the show. Frodo the main hero in the book has fears, dreams, hopes, and hunger pains just like everyone else. Sam who turns out to be another hero in the end shows the character true loyalty. Sam is the most loyal character I have ever read. He is willing to embark on a journey with his master that he knows he will most likely not come back from. Even when the rest of the Fellowship considers leaving Sam stays true. Mary and Pippin are comic relief. They too possess loyalty to Frodo and the quest, but their curious and humorous sides often break the tension in tight moments. The rest of the fellowship is made up of very different characters. There is a dwarf, elf, and two men. The dwarf Gimli is like an old uncle who loves you and would go to great lengths to protect you. The elf Legolas is a graceful, clever helper on the journey. Boromir one of the men, goes forth with courage, but also acts as the needed weak link later. And the last member Aragorn has many rules. He is the person who gets the Hobbits back on track after the excursion in the forest with Tom, he provides wisdom on the fate of the ring, he backs up Gandalf and eventually takes over the roll of guide. So over all the characters are awesome!
The plot line has no equal. Okay, the first part is really boring, but when the plot picks up it has no equal. This is the perfect journey story. Each character has their own motives and yet they are untied by the common goal of destroying the ring. This goal keeps the plot line moving. Plot line great!
Even though the descriptions can be a little lengthy, the writing style is amazing. I really started to enjoy how much was on each page. I would read for what felt like hours, and I would only have read about 30 pages. That could get annoying, but each page was filled with so much wonderfulness that I wanted to keep reading. The way to story is woven together keeps each page interesting and new.
So overall this book is great. I have a few complaints, but they are definitely out weighed by the positives. What ever genre you like, you will love this story. Don't get discouraged by the semi boring beginning. Keep going and you will be rewarded!
Lindsey

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Dear Readers,

Wow. All I can say is wow.
We are reading this book for my book club, and we have yet to discuss but I have finished the book. And it is amazing! I flew threw this book. It was so good I could not put it down.
This book falls under the Sci-Fi genre, but it is not all futuristic and unrelatable. It is in the future, but it is not the distant future. The chilling thing about this book is that it is the all to near future.
The novel takes place about after the "Heart-land War". This was the second civil war in the United States. As with the first civil war it dealt with social issues. This war dealt with abortion. One side said it was right the other said it was wrong. To stop the fighting a Bill of Life was purposed that supposedly worked for both sides. Unwinding.
Unwinding is a process that can be done on unwanted children between the age of 13 and 18. This process takes apart the body and uses every part in a transplant, so that all of the parts are living and therefore the person is still alive.
Unwinding was created to solve the problem of abortion, but with this solution came different problems. By the age of 13 the unwanted children did not want to die. They did not want to be unwound. This novel follows the stories of three unwinds on their journeys to safety.
Connor was unruly and disrespectful, and his parents were tired of dealing with him. They decided to have him unwound. After finding the slip his parents signed his life away on, he decides to skip town and escape his impending doom.
Risa is a ward of the state. At the age of 13 the state decides that she has not done enough in her short life to show promise for a rewarding future. As a result of budget cuts and over crowding Risa is going to be unwound.
Lev is a tithe. His parents adhere strictly to the belief of giving 10 percent of what you own back to the Lord. Lev their tenth child, is to be tithed to the Lord, and sent away to a harvesting camp to be unwound.
Their paths cross in a rather unexpected way. Connor who is running from the police causes an accident that stop Risa's bus. Lev's car, which is on the way to the harvest camps, is also stopped by Connor. After saving Lev from death by JuveyCops, Connor, Risa, and Lev run into the forest. They escaped their unwinding or so they think. Now they only have to survive until they turn 18, but this task proves harder than it appears.
As different character weave in and out of the book the goal of the three main characters remains the same, escape the horrible fate they were once destined to. They grow and change on their journey, and in the end they hardly resemble the people they started out as.
While following the exciting story of the unwinds, the book brings up many social issues.
In the beginning unwinding is mentioned, but not clearly explained. Through the characters stories you start to understand the inhumanity in this practice. They say that by unwinding a child they are not technically dead, but is that really true? Is it really human to take away a child's future? Their parts are still technically alive, but they have no life. They do not have a chance to contribute to society. They do not have a chance to grow up, to get married, to have kids, to have grandchildren, to live their lives. They really do not have the chance to die either. Everything that should be their's is taken away from them.
This is sickly close to abortion. An aborted child has no chance to live the life they could. All of the things that come with being born are taken away from them. There should not be a discussion of when life really starts. Conception or birth? Does it matter? At either stage they still have potential. They will have things to contribute to the world.
Unwinding was such "a great solution" because by the age of 13 it was said that they could tell whether or not the child would contribute. That is completely untrue. People change, and with that change comes influence. As the main characters travel to safety this becomes very clear. The characters change. They evolve. They become kinder, smarter, important, and needed.
During one part of the novel someone mentions the fact that before the Heartland Wars people started to pick the leaders of the country not because they could leader, but because they had similar beliefs on one subject. This is obviously happening in our society. We are becoming to narrow minded and only seeing the world through our own little view. We put to much importance in topics that will not make a difference to our countries safety or well being. If continue on this path our future may be a kin to Unwind.
By writing this novel Neal Shusterman was making a clear statement on abortion and many more topics, which you will have to read the book to find out. It is a chilling book, that shows the all to near future. The future of our world in which human life becomes disposable, people become immune to inhumanity, and potential is determined to quickly. This book is a must read for everyone. It doesn't matter if you say that you like Sci-Fi or not you should pick up this book. 
Lindsey 

The Ranger's Apprentice (Books 8-10) by John Flanagan

Dear Readers,

I finished it!! All ten books are done!! And I am very pleased. I enjoyed this series. Fantasy definitely has to be one of my favorite genres. There is nothing I enjoy more than being sucked into a story and forgetting that I am reading. This series did not let me down. The characters were interesting and relatable, the plot was fast paced and gripping, and the fantasy land was fantastically made.

The main reason I love these books is the characters. From the beginning of the series you relate to the main character Will. You want him to succeed. When he meets new friends you become to like the friends. When become romantically involved with his childhood sweat heart you are rooting for him all the way.
I really did enjoy the relationships that form between the characters. In the last three books the characters are older. I would say they are mid-twenties. During the seventh book Halt gets married to Lady Pauline. This made me smile sooooooo much. I was rooting for them too. After that Will and Alyss's relationship develops. I really enjoy when the are subtle love stories in books. I do not need to read a flat out romance book because I can get all of the cuteness I need from the small romances in fantasy novel. Another romance springs up but I will let you find that one out for yourself.
I found that plot to be semi-repetitive, but that fit. (I didn't care to much about the plot because I was caught up with the characters.) The plot of every book seemed to take the same pattern. A problem would arise Halt, Will, and Horace would run off the solve it. Some unexpected, unplanned thing would happen and the rangers would stick there heads together and come up with something. In the end everything would turn out fine, their friends would hug them, then everything would turn back to normal. Or atleast until the next book when the same thing would happen again. It seemed as if the young Will had way too much happen in his short life. As I said before though I did not really care about the plot.
I would highly recommend this series!!!! Really!! I know that I said this before, but after finishing I think that my recommendation comes a little higher. So just Read It!!
Lindsey

The Ranger's Apprentice Series Books 2 to 7 by John Flanagan

Dear Readers,

 My last post was about the first book in this amazing fantasy series. Well, since then I have finished the next seven books. (I am waiting for the eighth book to come in at the library so I can finish the last three.) I read these books in such rapid succession. It can only be compared to the manner in which the Rangers shoot their arrows.
I read about a book a day for a week. So now I have up through Erak's Ransom completed, and I enjoyed every page that I read! You can really tell when I fantasy book is well written. John Flanagan switches between the major conflicts in the book with such ease. Just when you are into one part of the plot he switches to the other conflict. This technique keeps you from getting bored, and it kept me turning the pages!

Not only does Mr. Flanagan use very techniques, he also has very original ideas. I have read many many many fantasy books, so when I read a fantasy series I really look for originality. This story is one that I have not heard before. The conflicts and plot lines are different from most of the fantasy books I have read. The world these books take place is also very interesting. The world has different names, but you can tell that this new world is based on the map of Europe and surrounding countries. The main country is obviously England, the neighboring country Gallica is of course France, and all of the other places have strong geographical and ethnic similarities to real countries.  I really appreciated this creative take on Europe's map. Just because it is a fantasy book there does not have to be a new, strange world.
Besides being original and well written, the books are full of interesting characters

and wonderful conflicts.
Will, the Ranger's Apprentice, leads a very interesting life. At the age of 15 he is already fighting against strange creatures, making plans, and riding across the country with his teacher, Halt. As the books go on Will of course ages and takes on new challenges and tasks. He grows from the shy young apprentice to a strong and trust worthy young man who can solve almost any conflict. Halt and Will develop a special relationship that will leave you smiling. Will, an orphan who never had a father, now has a strong male figure in his life the exemplify. Halt who is normally serious, aloof, and lonely now has a bright spot in his days. The two characters have witty exchanges and touching moments. Besides the two main characters there is a parade of interesting and new characters in each book. Some turn out to be friends that will reappear through out the whole series, and some turn out to be enemies that cause the friends to bond. Personally I enjoy a little romance in every book I read, and the later books in this series do not fall short of the expectation. The romances aren't mushy or cheesy, but as the young Will and his friends grow they find new roles in each others' lives. Also some of the older characters rekindle old sparks.
Each conflict shows the characters strengths. This group of characters has crazy amount of courage and strength. They travel all of the known world to complete missions, save their friends, and find out secret information. The books show how friendship can be more binding then any contract written on paper. The friendship that the characters develop are something the we need exemplify in our own lives.They make promises and stick to them. They would do anything to keep their friends out of trouble. So not only do the books take you to other places, the provide a very good example to young readers out there of what true friendship looks like.
I really like this series. It is uncommon for me to not like fantasy, but there are few series that I would reread and this is one of them. For some reason the character, plot, and writing style really appeal to me. I would recommend this series to anyone. It may be written for a young audience, but anybody would enjoy the fast paced, fun, adventurous nature of this series. So if you are bored pick them up and I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. I will post about the rest of the series once I have finished with it! (Which will probably be in a few days.) So until then keep reading my friends!
Lindsey

The Ruins of Gorlan (Number #1 of the Ranger's Apprentice) by John Flanagan

Dear Readers,

So continues the binge. This time I read the first book in the series so I can tell you more about it! I picked this book up while my younger brother was reading and read the first 60 pages. I though hmm... that is pretty good, but never finished. Well now it is finished. It was surprisingly good. Again it was another fantasy, which is just up my alley.
The Ruins of Gorlan starts out with introducing the main character, Will. He is a castle ward, an orphan who was left at the castle after his parents died. Unlike the other wards Will does not know who his parents are. When he was dropped off on the castle doorstep There was a note saying his father was a hero and his mother died. Other than that Will has no information about his family.
At the age of 15 the castle wards are chosen by the craft-masters of the castle to become apprentices. Will longs to go to battle school to become a knight as to make his father, the hero, proud. When the day of choosing comes Will does not get his wish. Instead he becomes the Ranger's Apprentice. The Ranger are a strange group of people who no one knows much about. Each fief has its own ranger, and Will must now study under the ranger in his fief. It is believed by the townsfolk that the Rangers use magic to become invisible and move form one place to another without being seen. During his apprenticeship Will learns the truth about the Rangers.
This book was good. Not one of the best fantasy books I have read, but still entertaining. I did not like the magical creatures in the novels. They were sort of creepy and gave me the willy nillies. I heard from a friend that the series gets better and the books get a little less weird and more realistic. I am looking forward to the rest of the series with eagerness.
As I have said for the last two books, if you want a fantasy book that keeps your mind away from the present, entertains you, and is exciting I recommend getting your hands on a copy of this book. Enjoy!
Dream Big, READ!!!
Lindsey

The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Dear Readers,
I told you yesterday that I have started my yearly fantasy binge, and I wasn't lying. After finishing The Serpent's Shadow my mind was to far gone to come back and read meaningful things so I checked out Clockwork Prince. 498 pages in 24 hours of non-continual reading. Apparently I liked this book. Again it is a continuation of one of the series that read. It is part of the Infernal Devices series which is a prequel series to the Mortal Instruments series. They again are really fantasy and very fictitious, which is one of the reasons I love them.
The mortal instruments was written first. It follows the story of young shadowhunters in New York City in modern times. The Infernal Devices series was more of an after thought. It's about shadowhunters in Victorian Era England. It almost has a steam punk feel to it, with clockwork creatures, unknown heritage, and unexpected romance.
Tessa the main character of the main book has special powers that no one understands. After touching an object Tessa can turn into the person who last possessed the object. She takes on their appearance and is able to read their thoughts. On her trip to England from New York to see her brother she is captured by two evil old sisters that force her to use her gift.
Eventually she meets then men of the series. Jem and Will. I believe they rival any other male characters in crappy teen fiction. Jem and Will are two completely different boys. They are both shadowhunters living at the institution in London. Will is dark and mysterious and Jem is open and almost bubbly (oh goodness listen to me explain those boys, I act like I know them personally). They are best friends, and rely on each other constantly.   Both boys made me smile constantly in this book, of course they also made me ask the question 'why don't I know any boys like this?'.
I would highly recommend this book if you want an escapes. Of course it is fantasy, so if you don't like fantasy you may not like it. But trust me girls there is enough steamy romance to get your fill. So enjoy and keep reading!
Lindsey