Archive for December, 2011

Mercedes Thompson, or “Mercy” as I know her, is not a vampire or a werewolf, she doesn’t belong to the fae nor is she human. But, she is something. Something extraordinary ― she is a Walker.

“Moon Called” is another story that reminds me just why I love Young Adult (YA) Fantasy books so much. You’d think that after so many, I would be tired of the genre but that is not the case. I have read a few ‘doozies’ but this, ladies (and gentlemen?), is not one of them. Somehow Patricia Briggs gives a new spin to a world similar to the likes of our wonderful Miss Sookie Stackhouse’s. A world in which every myth and legend is beginning to become truth in the eyes of the human race.

The biggest difference with this series though, is our Heroin. Mercy is a character that is not only believable but easy to be around (which is kind of essential when you will be in her head for a while). She is strong, kind, caring and a little strange. But it’s her weaknesses and insecurities that make her so believable, and relatable.

I am one of the people that love a happy ending and a bit of romance, but what I do find is that often stories (especially in the YA genre) lose their ‘real life’ edge. The love stories tend to be all Romeo and Juliet styled, except they have the happy ending that Romeo and Juliet never did.

That was what I loved about the Sookie Stackhouse series. No matter how crazy the world gets, the relationships, the reactions, they remain almost…‘real’.

The Mercedes Thompson series of books seems to be very similar in that respect. The story line and characters are, of course, entirely different but the feel of the book (without the drugs and sex… so far at least) is very similar and I think that is one of the main reasons I love it so much.

I can’t wait to get started on “Blood Bound”, book 2 of the series, as it promises to be just as brilliant as the first!

Inheritance is the long awaited final book in the Inheritance Cycle written by Christopher Paolini.If you are unfamiliar with the books I am pretty sure you will at least have heard of the movie – “Eragon” – which was the first book in the series.

Since its release, Inheritance has received a broad range of reviews – I’ve read reviews where people have out right said that they hated it… and then I have read reviews where people have written about how much they enjoyed it.

My rating? I would give Inheritance 4 stars. And I’m always very lenient with the stars. I don’t think I’ve ever given below a three star rating. (This is a weakness I need to work on!).

The conclusion did feel a little drawn out in times, and I found myself day dreaming a little more than I would usually (although this could also be attributed to the fact that it has been so long since Brisingr). But other than the few bits where I felt like they were giving too much detail (this is why I couldn’t finish Lord of the Rings!) I thought the book was brilliantly thought out.

Yes, there are some unanswered questions, but only the minor things which keeps Paolini’s options open for when he wants to return to the series (as he mentions in his Acknowledgements.)

The book started right where Brisngr left off and the battle to remove King Galbatorix from his throne in Uru’bean is at it’s final stages as the Varden move closer and closer to the city, claiming other territories, strategically, as they go. There are a lot of twists and turns and different adventures going on all at the same time and with you will get to follow Roran, Nasuada and Eragon in different parts of the final part of the epic tale.

I thought that the book rounded off nicely and gave us an ending that was true to the characters, regardless of whether it was theending that everyone wanted.

I do hope that there is some kind of spin-off series or any kind of return in the near future as I would love to know more about some of the mysterious characters (Angela? Solembum?) but until then, I am content with how this part of Eragon and Saphira’s journey concluded.

Wow… it has been ages since my last post. I think I have become almost a ghost online these days.

My excuse? I suppose I don’t really have a good one other than bad time management and prioritisation… is that good enough?

I don’t know.

But what I do know is that I want to change that.

New Years resolution numero uno: Blog more.

I see a list coming on.

2) Eat less.

3) Read more (Much easier now that I have a Kindle… birthdays are the best!).

4) Smoke even less (I’m at the social smoking level now).

5) Laugh more.

6) Frown less.

I could keep going I suppose but I think I’ll just stop and rather post a cool funny picture and move onto the next post which will be a book review. I have four to come.

“Inheritance” by Christopher Poalini

“Crossed” by Ally Condie

“Divergent” by Veronica Roth

“Moon Called” by Patricia Briggs (which I am almost finished!)

Ok, now for the funny, as promised….