The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Summary: *spoilers for The Kiss of Deception*
Lia and Rafe are being held captive in the kingdom of Venda with no chance of escape. While trying to navigate the horrors of being prisoners, they are also trying to learn all they can about their captors and are surprised to find much to praise in them. But their situation becomes more dire as the Komizar is determined to use Lia and her gift for unknown purposes.
My Thoughts:
Honestly, I can't remember what happens. I read it a few months ago now and I did like it. It was interesting how nothing they did was easy and no way out seemed plausible. Although I thought a few things seemed mighty convenient. Pearson managed to get all the characters into some seriously dire straits and I just didn't know what was going to happen to Lia. Now I need to read up on what actually went on.
The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley
Summary:
This is not the Robin Hood you remember from those sweet, sly foxes in the Disney film. Robin an his band of grim and tired outlaws are nearly forced into hiding and inundated with those who also loathe sheriff of Nottingham and all he does to his people. But will things work out for them in the end or is there no happy ending in sight?
My Thoughts:
I love how it was messy and not what you expect. I loved Robin and I loved how very realistically it was portrayed that, yeah, they lived in the forest: no roofs, rain, dirt, etc. They didn't have an easy or terribly envious lifestyle. Things were not idealized, and I loved how Marian rocked the bow. Rather sad to read at times, but so glad I finally did it (thank you, Angie).
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
Summary:
When her father is brutally murdered, Kate is drawn into a world full of revenge, secrets, and hidden gold. She follows the trail of those who killed him, determined to take them on single-handed, but ends up in an alliance with some unlikely characters, soon to be friends.
My Thoughts:
This one was kind of good and bad for me. I think I was most interested in it for the local factor - a lot of it takes place right here in Arizona and even some of it near to where I am. That made it more interesting to me. Otherwise, I was kind of meh about the story and the characters. Her whole motivation for chasing folks down and being insane and doing stuff she shouldn't, at times was a bit unbelievable. I did, however, enjoy the story. For a wild west flavor, check it out.
Winter by Marissa Meyer
Summary: *Spoilers for the first three books*
Winter has been stuck under the thumb of her stepmother for years, but despite her delicate appearance and wandering mind, she's got more power than anyone knows. Cinder is ready to take on Queen Levana and determined to incite the Lunars to rise with her. With the help of her friends and some new allies, they are ready for an uprising, until everything seems to go wrong.
My Thoughts:
A nice finish for a series I adore. I loved how things worked out in the end, I loved seeing how hard it was for Cinder and all the characters. Winter was a really unique kind of person and I often had a hard time figuring out what to think of her and what she was thinking. All together, I think this is a fabulous and unique fairy tale retelling series that I just plain enjoy.
Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
Summary:
Lee has a gift, an unusual power that her family has tried to hide for years: she can sense gold. Her life seems ordinary enough, until all she has and loves is suddenly taken from her unexpectedly. Now Lee must make her way across the country, hoping to escape her past and make a future, but how can she when everyone around her would do anything for gold?
My Thoughts:
Interesting, unique, a bit strange. Reminded me a bit of Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel. I loved Lee and the things she was determined to do. She had a difficult life and I thought her reactions to things was realistic. I didn't like how everything seemed to be put off for a later book, but I guess they had plenty of troubles along the way. A different kind of story, you don't often read about people going west and the difficulties that must have been.Though, two westerns in one mini review post!
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Showing posts with label remnant chronicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label remnant chronicles. Show all posts
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Mini Reviews 20
Labels:
e-book
,
fantasy
,
gold seer trilogy
,
historical fantasy
,
historical fiction
,
lunar chronicles
,
mini reviews
,
remnant chronicles
,
retellings
,
sci-fi
,
young adult
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Book Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication date: July 2014
Pages: 496
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: The Remnant Chronicles, Book 1
Summary (from goodreads):
Well, I have to admit I was annoyed when Pearson didn't come out and say who was who (ie - we don't know which one is which when the story is told from Lia's perspective). I kept thinking I knew and then second guessing it. I think this is what sustained me through pretty much the whole book - I just wanted to figure it out. In that sense, well played, Mary Pearson! And then the end happened and all the action was pretty much dumped into that last quarter of the book. I'm intrigued and want to read the sequel, but not sure what to expect.
Things I Didn't Like:
I think I was annoyed by the length a number of times. Nothing much seems to happen for a long time. Also, Lia should have been a little smarter when thinking about the consequences of her running away.
Read-alikes:
Reminded me a bit of the Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe one or two
mrg-factor: X
some suggestive moments
v-factor: ->->
a bit of fighting happens on page
Overall rating: ****
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication date: July 2014
Pages: 496
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: The Remnant Chronicles, Book 1
Summary (from goodreads):
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.Things I Liked:
She flees on her wedding day.
She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.
She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.
She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.
Well, I have to admit I was annoyed when Pearson didn't come out and say who was who (ie - we don't know which one is which when the story is told from Lia's perspective). I kept thinking I knew and then second guessing it. I think this is what sustained me through pretty much the whole book - I just wanted to figure it out. In that sense, well played, Mary Pearson! And then the end happened and all the action was pretty much dumped into that last quarter of the book. I'm intrigued and want to read the sequel, but not sure what to expect.
Things I Didn't Like:
I think I was annoyed by the length a number of times. Nothing much seems to happen for a long time. Also, Lia should have been a little smarter when thinking about the consequences of her running away.
Read-alikes:
Reminded me a bit of the Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe one or two
mrg-factor: X
some suggestive moments
v-factor: ->->
a bit of fighting happens on page
Overall rating: ****
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Labels:
4 stars
,
fantasy
,
remnant chronicles
,
young adult
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