Sunday, February 26, 2012

Magic on the Hunt (Allie Beckstrom #6) by Devon Monk

Magic on the Hunt (Allie Beckstrom, #6)Magic on the Hunt by Devon Monk

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In the secret lockup of the Authority, the council that decides what can and can't be done with magic, an undead magic user has possessed one of the prisoners. He wants his freedom-and then some. Now Allie Beckstrom and her lover, Zayvion, are the first line of defense against the chaos he's about to unleash on the city of Portland...

~~~


Another good installment of the Allie Beckstrom series. Still have not resolved any of the problems in the books, but having a heck of a time trying. lol I don't have any more of the series right now, which may be for the best. I feel like I am a little burnt out on this series at the moment. Maybe we will see some resolution to some of the problems facing Allie and pals in the next book.



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Friday, February 24, 2012

Wool 4 - The Unraveling (Wool #4) by Hugh Howey

Wool 4 - The UnravelingWool 4 - The Unraveling by Hugh Howey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The stories are getting longer, yeah!! In Wool 4 we follow two story lines. Juliette's and those in the silo. We follow Juliette as she discovers the a truth about the silo and we see what effect her 'cleaning' has on those left in the silo. We get to see things from both sides as the seeds for a new uprising are sowed. I am very much looking forward to the next book, but at the same time am hesitant to start because I know that it is the last one. (At least for now. I heard a rumor that there may be more in the future.)



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***Kindle edition

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Wool 3: Casting Off (Wool #3) by Hugh Howey

Wool 3: Casting OffWool 3: Casting Off by Hugh Howey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The silo has appointed a new sheriff. Her name is Juliette, and she comes not from the shadows of deputies, but from the depths of the down deep.

But what does being a mechanic have to do with upholding the law? And how will she be able to concentrate on the silo's future when she is surrounded by the ghosts of its past?

Before she can even settle in, the whirring gears of the silo begin to grind anew. Things aren't right. And the people whose help she most needs are gone.

If Juliette isn't careful, she'll soon be among them.

~~~


Excellent read. As much as I enjoyed the first 2 books in this short story series, this one was even better.



In book #2 we learned more about life inside the silo and this book takes up where that one left off. We follow Juliette as she ascends from the deep pits of the silo, where she has been content to live her life taking care of the machines that allow the silo to survive. She is convinced to take a position as the new sheriff which is the beginning of a life changing journey for not only herself, but for possibly everyone who lives in the silo. As people start to die and revelations are made Juliette begins to question her very existence and what she has always been lead to believe. She makes shocking discoveries that lead her to the place that is most feared in the silo, the outside world.



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Monday, February 20, 2012

Wool 2: Proper Gauge (Wool #2) by Hugh Howey

Wool 2: Proper GaugeWool 2: Proper Gauge by Hugh Howey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A cleaning has been performed, and now the silo is without a sheriff. With only one good candidate available, Mayor Jahns and Deputy Mames set off for the Down Deep to recruit her in person. Along the way, they discover much about each other, troubling news about this candidate, and stumble upon fractured alliances that could spell the doom of a silo they've worked long years to protect.

~~~


A wonderful second chapter in this wonderful series of short stories. In this book we focus more on the world inside the silo. We get to know some of the characters that we briefly met in the first book and we learn quite a bit more about what life is like inside the silo.



Very much looking forward to #3.



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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Wool (Wool #1) by Hugh Howey

WoolWool by Hugh Howey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


They live beneath the earth in a prison of their own making. There is a view of the outside world, a spoiled and rotten world, their forefathers left behind. But this view fades over time, ruined by the toxic airs that kill any who brave them.
So they leave it to the criminals, those who break the rules, and who are sent to cleaning. Why do they do it, these people condemned to death? Sheriff Holston has always wondered. Now he is about to find out.
~~~



Wonderful quick read. Now I see why they gave it away free. I am heading to Amazon now to buy the next short story in this series.



Imagine living in a silo where your only contact with the outside world is through viewing windows that show a brown world where nothing lives and the only thing that moves are the black clouds drifting across the dead world. Where the once great cities lay in ruins on the horizon.

Generations live out their lives in the silo, drawing a lottery to attempt to have children in the very limited space.



The ultimate sin is to wonder about what is outside the silo. Wanting to go outside is a sin so great that it meets banishment. But as long as you are going outside you might as well clean the lens that give a view of the outside world while your out there, right?



Very interesting concept and wonderful story. I am very interested to see what the author does next.



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Saturday, February 18, 2012

The 19 Dragons by S.M. Reine

The 19 DragonsThe 19 Dragons by S.M. Reine

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


There are nineteen provinces in the Land held aloft by nineteen pillars. Above the earth there is sky, and nobody knows what goes below except the Nineteen Dragons.

That is all you need to know, but that is not all there is to be known.

The Device has been stolen and the godlike Dragons have been rendered mortal. Someone is murdering them one by one, and each death brings the world closer to its end. Unless the Device is somehow restored to its deceased owner, the Dragons are doomed to destruction-- and the human world will go with them.

~~~

Interesting storyline. Not something that I would normally pick up and read, but I grabbed it free from Amazon for my Kindle. Glad that I did. I rather enjoyed it, although it did seem like it was just a portion of something bigger.







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Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom #5) by Devon Monk

Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom, #5)Magic at the Gate by Devon Monk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Allie Beckstrom's lover, Zayvion Jones, is a Guardian of the Gate, imbued with both light and dark magic and responsible for ensuring that those energies don't mix. But Zayvion lies in a coma, his soul trapped in death's realm. And when Allie discovers that the only way to save Zayvion is to sacrifice her very own magical essence, she makes a decision that may have grave consequences for the entire world.

~~~



The first half of this book was good, about the same as the last few, but the last half............ With the exception of the very first book in the series, it was probably the best yet. I very much am looking forward to the next book in hopes that it keeps the pace set. Love meeting all of the wonderful characters that we are getting to know. All in all a wonderful action packed series.



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Monday, February 13, 2012

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

Igraine the BraveIgraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the spirit of DRAGON RIDER and THE THIEF LORD, an enchanting fairy tale told with Cornelia's trademark warmth and wit: Perfect Funke fare for readers in the middle grades--Cornelia's "sweet spot"!Igraine dreams of becoming a famous knight just like her great grandfather, but the truth is, life at the family castle is rather boring. Until the nephew of the baroness-next-door shows up. He's got a dastardly plan to capture the castle and claim as his own the wonderful singing spell books that belong to Igraine's magician parents. To make matters worse, at the very moment of the siege, her mom and dad botch a spell, turning themselves into pigs! Aided by a Gentle Giant and a Sorrowful Knight, it's up to Igraine to be brave and save the day--and the books!

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Loved this book. What a wonderful feel good story. Igraine is fabulous and I totally became immersed in her world. Books like this are why I so enjoy reading children/teen books.



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Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Odd and the Frost GiantsOdd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why.
And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch.
Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell.
Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he had ever imagined.
A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.
It's going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever.
Someone just like Odd...

~~~



Cute fun read........... I enjoy Gaiman's books and this was no exception.



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Magic on the Storm (Allie Beckstrom #4) by Devon Monk

Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom, #5)Magic at the Gate by Devon Monk

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Allison Beckstrom is committed to her work tracing illegal spells. Now, there's an apocalyptic storm bearing down on Portland, and when it hits, all the magic in the area will turn unstable and destructive. To stop it from taking out the entire city, Allie and her lover, the mysterious Zayvion Jones, must work with the Authority-the enigmatic arbiters of all things magic-and take a stand against a magical wildstorm that will obliterate all in its path...

~~~



Another great chapter in the life of Allie Beckstrom. These books remind me a lot of the Weather Warden books simply because they are like a chapter of a novel. The entire book covers a couple days and then the next book takes up right where this one left off. Not to say that I don't enjoy that but I sure am glad that I have them all here on my TBR pile or I do not think that I would enjoy them quite as much.







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Saturday, February 4, 2012

Magic in the Shadows (Allie Beckstrom, #3) by Devon Monk

Magic in the Shadows (Allie Beckstrom, #3)Magic in the Shadows by Devon Monk

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Allison Beckstrom's magic has taken its toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her memories-including those of the man she supposedly loves. But lost memories aren't the only things preying on Allie's thoughts.

Her late father, the prominent businessman-and sorcerer-Daniel Beckstrom, has somehow channeled himself into her very mind. With the help of The Authority, a secret organization of magic users, she hopes to gain better control over her own abilities-and find a way to deal with her father...
~~~



This book brought back exactly why I enjoyed the previous 2 books in this series so much. Action packed, non-stop, magical ride........... Totally enjoyed this book. Love Shamus and Stone, two new characters and am very pleased with where the book is going so far. Ending was almost like we just stopped in the middle of the story with no finish, but then again,I really want to read the next book which is what the author had in mind. lol



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