Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

Thank you to WaterBrook Blogging for Books program for allowing me to read  the advanced copy of this book!

A weary stranger walks into temple courtyard looking for shelter, suddenly he is attacked and killed by a giant black bird. At the man’s vigil a stranger starts to speak of an ancient debt that needs to be paid. Melaia quickly learns stories are not just stories. On top of this new discovery she is forced leave her home and go to a near by kingdom to play her harp for an ailing king. Stepping out of the temple she starts to learn things she never dreamed of, and face choices that will make or break this world.

Melaia is an young priestess who is gifted in medicine, music, and a few more interesting things. She has traits like honestly, curiosity, trustworthiness, impulsive, headstrong, kindness and more. When she steps out of her sheltered world she faces many challenges and discoveries; she also is forced to trust a group of people, err angels.  I liked her, she was human by the fact she knew almost nothing, she started as an innocent young girl and ends up enlightened women.
Then there is Trevin who is questionable at times making him a character I want to trust but can't, he was wonderfully written. The angels and everyone else was unique and crafted exceptionally well.

The plot always seemed to be a twist or turn or piece of insight. This made the book very quick and gripping but slightly confusing at times with all the information. Karyn also isn’t an over descriptive writer, at times there were gaps or misunderstandings in the description. I don't know if they'll be fixed by the time the book is mass published. It was nearly to the point that I feel there wasn't enough description, a first for me. Still, I am someone who would rather fill in blanks and have a short book over having every description “spoon feed” to me and have a very long boring book. Yet the world and races where easily explained in the 277 pages. 

 In closing I loved this book, it was much better then I thought it would be. I can’t wait for “Blood of Man” the next book is this series. As well as any other books by Karyn Henley. 

A+ 

The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers

Thank you to Water Brook's Blogging for Books program for giving me this book to review.

Showbiz! Grady is on tour with Professor Floyd, the local Feechie Show Master. Grady and Floyd travel from city to city putting on shows were Grady is the only "real" Feechie in the civil world. But when the show losses it's attraction to the public they must making a living some other way.

Grady was a good character. I think he could be fondly liked by underdog and big-timer alike. With him being an orphan, his all around ugly looks, and his only "friend" being a grouch everyone is sure to take pity on the boy.

Since the book is in first person the fact that Grady hasn't been to a school shows. Rogers wrote the book like anyone without a formal education would. Ain't that odd? I think Rogers broke every rule in the English language at some point in the book. I know it was an attempt to make the book realistic but I couldn't read it without getting a headache.

The plot was all around slow for me. It took me a week to read this book; normally a book about this size would take a couple days. I didn't really understand what Rogers goal for the plot was till the last 100 pages or so. Though on the last 100 pages the book picked up and then the last 20 pages he made this book even better. He had a nice happy ending for this over all sad story.

Rogers' did a good job on making a book I think a lot of people will enjoy. It just wasn't for me.

C

Something New...

Thanks to Noah from http://http://noahsreads.blogspot.com/ for awarding me with the Stylish Blogger Award! (Sorry it took so long) :)

To accept this award, I must do four things:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

3. Award 15 great bloggers :D

4. Contact the bloggers and tell them of the award.

Seven things about me:
1) My favorite color is purple or blue.

2) I am a cat person

3) I love Mac!

4) I don't have a favorite food, I have a lot of favorite foods.

5) I am a night owl
6) My favorite pop is Mountain Dew Voltage
7) As my name hints I am an archer


Who gets the award next??

Nolan: Guy With Book http://www.guywithbook.com/
Silver Angel: Silver Angel's Musings http://silverangelsmusings.blogspot.com/
Chris: Endurance and Victory http://enduranceandvictory.blogspot.com/
Evergreena: Evergreena's Journal http://www.evergreenasjournal.blogspot.com/
Manny: Turning the World Upside Down http://crazy-pie-randomness.blogspot.com/
SciF1Author: http://scif1.wordpress.com/
Ryebrynn: Ryebrynn's Random Rambling http://ryebrynnsrandomramblings.blogspot.com/
Jake: Teenage Writer http://teenagewritingrocks.blogspot.com/
Eli B.: The Dragon's Gate http://enterthelandofalagara.blogspot.com/
Storyteller: A Writer's Journey http://storytellerjourney.blogspot.com/
Macey: A Girl's Journey http://thedoorwithin-agirlsjourney.blogspot.com/
Squeaks: Hidden Doorways http://hiddendoorways.blogspot.com/
Savannah Sword: Play it by Ear http://playitgrand.blogspot.com/
Cson: Hornspoon Reviews http://www.hornspoon.com/
Eagle Wings: http://eagleswingseyrie.blogspot.com/


Thanks all!

The Map Across Time by C.S. Lakin

When Sherbourne’s queen dies the king goes insane, shoving his daughter and deformed son away. Trying fill the empty space his wife left he turns into a collectaholic, thinking things will help fill the hole. But greed over takes him, to afford his stuff he raises higher taxes on the poor. Sadly for Sherourne the king’s greed is only an underlying problem. There is a deeper sha’mad, destruction, happening and the only way to fix this qa’lal, or curse, is to go back to where (or when) it started, over 300 years earlier. Will the rejected prince take a risk to gain favor in his father’s eyes and save the kingdom? Who will be the Pa’lat, the Deliverer?

Aletha and Adin are a prince and princess.
Aletha is the older of the two, and it shows through her actions. At a young age she was forced to grow up quickly, to protect her brother and be a leader of the kingdom.
Adin meanwhile is shy.  With his hunched back, scared face and twisted leg he feels like a freak. Gladly letting Aletha take most of the roles the young prince should. Adin had the most character development in the book, he wasn’t the same person in the end. He also over came many troubles, teaching a lesson of perseverance.  
The rest of the characters in “The Map Across Time” are enough to give depth but not overwhelm us. It was like “Goldy Locks and the Three Bears” just right. Not to many and not to few.

This book is over 400 pages and I have to say Lakin did a great job giving description and insight without bogging down the book. Every question is answered, there wasn’t anything unneeded, and the time travel was done excellent. The plot wasn’t overly confusing but it was intricate. The only problem was the plot wasn’t “fast pace”, it was well paced to keep me reading but not “I can’t stop reading this book” fast. Looking back there is nothing I can think of that Lakin could have done to speed the plot up without hurting the book.
Most of the time I think the characters make the book, but this is an exception. The plot in this book is purely amazing, the characters and world just added to it.

Sherbourne was masterfully woven together. There is; history, language (some used above), lands, creatures, even futures in this world.

Great book well worth reading!

A

P.S. Some might read this book and wonder how it is related to Wolf of Tebron, you’ll learn. Just hang in there, it’s near the end.

Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz

~Warning! This is the last book in the series, read the first books before reading this one.~

Alex is free! He has escaped his life as a teen spy; he is now free to be what he wants to be. A Schoolboy. Just MI6 has other things in mind. A perfect mission for Alex has arrived and he is needed. Jack in all her stubbornness demands them to leave him alone, but another sniper shooting shows he needs protection.  Grudgingly Alex accepts this mission, knowing that “In the end, there is not way out.” – pg. 166. He once more goes undercover in an international school to check and make sure the security is sound, with Jack along for the ride. What he, and MI6 don’t know is that they’re nothing but pawns and a deadly game.

This book starts out amazing, Scorpia is back and ready to prove itself. As I started reading this book and reached page 32, 50, then 100 I was wondering, “Where is Alex?” he hadn’t shown up in the book yet. Sure he has been mentioned, but not seen. It was a interesting change in style, one that took me a while to get over. But as I read on I saw how clever Horowitz was to do it this way. By knowing the first part we got to know the main villain, Razim, who is more chilling then all of Alex’s past enemies. He is a true psychopath, when he spoke I would be filled with dread as I saw where the conversation was going.  Razim is the one of the best/worst villains I’ve ever read. His henchman is pure genius, I was dumbfounded at who it was. 
Scorpia Rising shows Alex has grown up. A year has passed since his first mission and he is no longer a kid. I was expecting it, I have been a fan of these books for years. I have grown up with Alex, I knew he would be more like an adult then a kid in this book. He needed to be. Something that really drove this point home for me was that Alex has always wanted a gun, well this time he has it.

The plot was amazing, that is all I have to say. I would read this book and glance at the clock later thinking just minutes had passed when it had been hours of reading. It was intense but not confusing, insightful without giving anything away, it was easy to understand yet had 3 of the best twists I have ever read. Horowitz is just an amazing author.

This book is the last book to the Alex Rider series and it answered all the questions I had. It is sad to see one of my favorite series close but I know that Alex can’t be a kid forever. I applaud Anthony Horowitz for writing a wonderful series, and for closing it so well. Even though it does hurt to know this is “the end”.

A+