Book Review: Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull

Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication date: March 2013
Pages: 512
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Beyonders, Book 3

Summary from goodreads: *Spoilers are inevitable for the first two books*

Jason and Rachel were not born in Lyrian. They did not grow up in Lyrian. But after all of the battles and losses, the triumphs and adventures, and most of all, the friendships forged in this fantastical world, Lyrian has become home to them in a way they never could have imagined.

And so, armed now with the prophecy of a dying oracle, they have gone on their separate quests—each surrounded by brave and powerful allies—knowing that the chance for success is slim. But Jason and Rachel are ready at last to become the heroes Lyrian needs, no matter the cost.

Things I Liked:
Brandon Mull has some seriously interesting things going on in his imagination.  This series pulls out all the stops and throws it all out there.  I did like how all the characters had to work together and do everything they could and more to even have a hope of succeeding.  It was well-plotted and allowed us to see what each person's contribution should be.  I especially liked how it focused a lot on how Rachel and others had serious doubts about the success of their mission and how this was dealt with.  Each person was unique in their responses to the pressure and stress.  Some really interesting fantasy stuff too.  The ending was pretty good as well, if a little bittersweet.

Things I Didn't Like:
I had a hard time feeling motivated to read this one.  It felt really long and got bogged down a lot by repetitive character feelings and actions.  I struggled to keep going, even with the snippets of action and adventure.  There was just too much stuff that distracted from the story, I think.  Still, a satisfying conclusion and a series for fans of complicated and a little bit crazy fantasies.

Read-alikes:
Reminds me of Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Also like the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some fighting

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray

A Karissa Review

Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray
Publisher: Crown
Publication date: May 2012
Pages: 256

Summary from goodreads:

A mom in her early fifties, Clover knows she no longer turns heads the way she used to, and she's only really missed when dinner isn't on the table on time. Then Clover wakes up one morning to discover she's invisible--truly invisible. She panics even more when her family doesn't notice a thing. Her best friend immediately observes the change, which relieves Clover immensely--she's not losing her mind after all! But she is crushed by the realization that neither her husband nor her children ever truly look at her. She was invisible even before she knew it. Clover discovers that there are others like her, women of a certain age who seem to have disappeared. As she uses her invisibility to get to know her family and her town better, Clover leads the way in helping invisible women become recognized and appreciated no matter what their role.

What I Liked:
I loved, loved, loved this book. I loved the premise, and the way it deals with it on a literal and figurative level. For those of us of a “certain age,” well, we can really relate. At my library, I recommend this book to any of my patrons willing to admit they are over 40. Not only is the story clever and well written, there’s some fun humor in here. Here’s a teaser – She finds a meeting of other “affected” women, but they meet in empty hotel conference rooms. To make the room seem “empty” none of the invisible women wear clothes. (They are invisible, their clothes aren’t.) Her first encounter with this situation prompts my very favorite line of the book. I only sample adult fiction through Reader’s Digest Condensed books, because I really hate the language, sex, and blecgh you find in them. And RD takes all that out. So I read this book through RD first, and loved it so much, I went to a book store and rifled through the actual book to see if it was okay to recommend to others. And it is! It’s totally clean! (Except, maybe, for mental images of an invisible naked 50 year old woman...)

What I Didn’t Like:
The ending seemed plausible, but maybe too quickly wrapped up….

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel AND Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie
Publisher: Gutenberg Project
Publication date: originally published in 1911
Pages: 162
Source: Free e-book
For: Classic Double Challenge

Second Star by Alyssa B. Scheinmel
Publisher: Macmillan
Publication date: May 2014
Pages: 256
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Classic Double Challenge

Summary of Peter and Wendy (PW) from amazon:

Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A mischievous boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang, the Lost Boys, interacting with mermaids, Native Americans, fairies, pirates, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside of Neverland.

Summary of Second Star (SS) from goodreads:

A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

Things I Liked about PW:
The story is so much more quirky than the movies have made it out to be.  More humor for the adults who read it than fun for the kids who enjoy it, I think.  Still, it's whimsical and fun and has some interesting thoughts about kids and their nature. The basic story is still there, though, with some added other adventures most movies have left out.
 
Things I Liked about SS:
I was really enjoying this book, like loving the twist on Peter Pan that it played - a surfing story complete with a Neverland beach of perfect waves.  I even enjoyed the James Hook character and his evil, but not too evil feel.  I was sucked into the story.  But I kind of found the ending disappointing.

Things I Didn't Like about PW:
Sometimes it was just trying too hard to be a book about adults talking about kids who never grow up.  I think this was more of my own expectations of what Peter Pan's story is really about.  Peter isn't really all that likeable, is he?
 
Things I Didn't Like about SS:
As I mentioned, the ending kind of threw me off.  I liked the concept, got sucked into the drama and the update and really liked seeing the elements of Peter Pan that made it in.  But, found the ending wasn't as satisfying. Not that I didn't think it could end any other way, necessarily, but I just thought it was weird (trying not to be spoilery here).  Also, Wendy kind of bugged me throughout.

Read-alikes:
Lots of Peter Pan spin offs out there, tho this one seems a bit different than others
  
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS for PW:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS for SS:
s-factor: !@
some

mrg-factor: X
mostly just kind of implied stuff

v-factor: ->
it does get a bit intense in sections

Overall rating: ****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage