Audio Book Review: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It has been one heck of a journey with Aelin and all the others. This book started at a very tough point in their lives. Got tougher. But we made it to the end. There maybe tears and laughs in getting here, but we're here.

War does a lot of things to people. From forming bonds of love to breaking those bonds and even the people. We see that through this book. So many emotions and realizations.

Things were looking badly without the fire heart in the beginning. Everyone was trying their best, and we could see the stress was high for them all. There are good and bad decisions, all done with the best of intentions for the kingdom.

This series is one whole journey that needs to be made from the beginning. And so worth the adventure.

I remember there was one character I wasn't fond of when I first met them. They turned out to be the one I was most moved for in the end. The most tears for. I loved the manifestation to who she became and getting there. Manon. Even Dorian became more than the sheltered prince.

Aelin and her swagger and quick clips are always great. But when she broke, it was hard. The ending was worth it all.

I'm left wanting to see how their lives go. I want to know about the families they have and how they stay in touch and what fun adventures they have. I want so much more with them all!

This series is worth the read or listen. Great to meet the characters and live through their wins and battles with life, each other, and fight for what they believe in.

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Audio Book Review: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is of Chaol and Nesryn's journey to Antica to find Chaol healer(s) to help heal him to walk and to talk to them to bring home an army to help fight the Valg. What they find in Antica is so much more than they expected.

I've loved Chaol from the beginning. I thought he was getting a bit more brooding coming into this book. This book takes Chaol back to being himself again. Yrene is the healer that can help him. And she is great at standing up to him, although she has her own struggles to work past as well...Because Chaol is from the land whose soldiers killed her mother.

These two go head to head with their personal trauma. And in doing so, Yrene works through that barrier in Chaol. He is holding himself back with that darkness that's left feeding off of what he is holding in. Chaol slowly opens up to Yrene, as she does with him. They grow closer and closer.

Nesryn came with Chaol to her family's home land. She looks forward to seeing family here and feels even more comfortable here. She finds she has much in common with one of the Princes, Sartaq.

When Sartaq readies to fly out to his Rukhin troops, he asks Nesryn to go with him. She agrees. And their adventure begins. The dangers they face open their eyes to more than they wanted to admit. And they learn great details and information about Maeve and the Valg. So many details!

Oh wow. The things learned in this book. Just wait until they return to the others and share this information. WOW! It's going to make a HUGE difference!

I love where the people go in this story. Nesryn's adventures were ones I was looking forward to each time I listened to the story.

Have the Valg arrived at this continent too?

I love listening to this book. The narrator is amazing. I listened to it in tandem with Empire of Storms and they really compliment each other well. The things we learn...some major points picked up!

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Audio Book Review: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There's one thing to be said about being late to a series. At least all the books are out.

I listened to this in tandem with Tower of Dawn. So it took me a LOT longer to get through this than normal.

This book is about Aelin, Rowan, Darian, Manon, Elide, and Lorcan's journey over time. All they had to do and endure to get to where they needed to be. To find the lock.

They all have separate journeys that come together as one.

I'll say. I'm amazed at the masterful planning of Aelin's mind. She's really learned some serious skills other than being an assassin from her former master. All her contacts in the past, through her short life and she's made the rounds, are seen here. We see how she's played her hand and who answers.

There's a little unexpected event that comes about at the end. But, Aelin saw when it happened and she quickly planned for it. Wow, she's quick on her feet.

This book was amazing. It's interesting to see how the different gods and goddesses influence their selected person through life to get to this point. Leading them to others that can help, and possibly fall in love with, to where they are needed.

They all bring a piece of the puzzle to Aelin with what they learn of the Valg, Morath, and other people and places that are involved.

I really do think this story and series is masterfully planned out and put into words.

The narrator is wonderful with her accents and personalities for the characters.

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Audio Book Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think this is my favorite book so far.

So much happens and it all comes together. Celaena, or now known as Aelin, has lived a full life as an assassin. She has seen and lived many things in her life. And it all shows now. She takes all the things she's seen and learned and information about people and puts it all into play here.

I really liked that there's mysterious actions earlier in the book, then we get the answer as to what she was doing or where at. And then why. To see all that Aelin plans out. WOW! That girl has a creative mind and I love it.

I love that she surprises people with her plans too. She has a young personality and a mind full of information. She really does deserve a happy life.

I'm surprised at the arrival and play of one character in the story. Didn't expect to see that character do what they do. And I'm curious to see how things go with that character in the future and the plan for the wyrd keys... with that person and with Aelin.

I loved what we learned about the main characters in play. Oh, and then there's all our friends. So much happens! And they all come into play.

Such a great story with lots of movement and action. And we get results.

I'm sorry if this sounds vague. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. So if you've read this book and want to talk details, I'm here for you!

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Audio Book Review: The Mystery of Emerald Flame by Pip Ballantine

The Mystery of Emerald Flame by Pip Ballantine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adventure with Steampunk, perfect!

Our Ministry Seven divide to deal with two different things. Verity and a few of the younger members head out on airship with her new friend from the academy to find out about the Emerald Flame. Henry and the rest of the Seven stay home, and look into the Illuminati and if they know their address.

Things are getting complicated. And the things both see... wow.
Henry looks to go undercover in the Illuminati to get the information they need. What he sees is... frightening. To see someone have that power. To do that with automatons and people... It can be allowed to keep happening.

Verity goes on a trip and the things she learns about the Sound that she can do and the Emerald Flame are amazing. Seeing Verity in action using the Sound to affect automatons is amazing. To see the ancient dig site and imagine the underground city. It sounds amazing.

I love that the steampunk stories by Pip and Tee are always full of the equipment. The world is truly what it says it is. This along with the adventurous story is what keeps me coming back to them.

Pip is the narrator of the story as well. I love her voice and accent. She does well with the voices of the kids of London along with the adults.

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Audio Book Review: Marked by Kim Richardson

Marked by Kim Richardson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've seen completely opposite and mixed reviews of this book. When I read a terrible review, I had to check it out. lol.

So which reviews do I think are right....
I'd say it falls somewhere in between.

The main character is 16 years old. Maybe if she was a little older it would be easier to accept the potential budding relationship, the forbidden relationship, in Horizon. But, if she was a little older the story wouldn't get away with not asking questions. She's got innocents going for her in that token.

Kara dies early in the book as the book takes place with her becoming a Guardian Angle in Horizon. She's learning how to save people and if can't save them, then their soul. Her and her petty officer are finding demons are arriving way sooner than expected as they work to save people. There becomes a whole thing on the demons fighting them for souls....but how are they finding them so fast?

Then, there comes a big case. One of a special child, and Rookie Kara is picked as one of the six to work to save the child. This is where where I struggled. Why is Kara special? Why was she the ONLY rookie chosen for this dangerous mission? There's no reasons given before or during the events. The only thing said is the Chief picks the people for the case. The Chief is left to be implied that he's...God. So if so, that's why no one questions that Kara was picked for this. So, my guess, he knows something we don't know. Yet.

They are picked for their strengths. Kara doesn't even ask what her strength is so she can play to it. She just goes right along with it...

I do like the ending. It answers some questions we have through the book.

I may give book 2 a try to see if the series picks up better for me. It wasn't a book that I couldn't wait to get back to. It was okay, but not wowing for me. However it does have some really nice elements to it.

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Audio Book Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We follow Celaena as she travels to a new continent that has fae and magic. She has a job to do, but will she do it? She's found by Rowan, one of Maeve's warriors that's bound to her, and taken to see Maeve. Celaena's aunt wants to see what Celaena can do. She must train and show her powers to Queen Maeve to get into the Fae city and learn what she can of the Word Keys to save her home land.

Celaena has a knack for finding tough people who don't like her and she feels the same for them, and becoming the best of friends over time. Celaena does that with Rowan, like she did with Chaol. Rowan works with her to come into her fae form and powers. Lots of training. All while facing her past.

There's something on these lands killing demi-fae, the half fae. Rowan is investigating and has Celaena help him.

Celaena is one that comes up with amazing ideas. She's far smarter than her years. Being an assassin has helped her with this. Yet, she still has a young, naive reaction to things and does like to joke and dance.

I really enjoyed Celaena's adventures here. Though, I'm probably in the minority with the rest of the book.... I know all the characters are out on their own doing important things that will explain and lead to a lot. We even see new characters. But... I was bored with their sections of the book. Until the end. Which left me wanting to see what they all do next.

It's good to see the characters moving forward and stepping into adulthood. They are all young adults, 18-20 years old. The events happening are pushing them to make adult decisions and crossing lines to follow their beliefs. I do like that. I remember being that age and the tough decisions in love and life that happen.

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Audio Book Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sarah is great at creating characters we are invested in. We grow attached to them. I feel like she enjoys pulling my heart strings.

Celaena is the King's champion. She now is sent on missions to eliminate people on his list. Celaena has been doing things a little...differently with her missions. And she builds her relationships with Dorian, Chaol, and Nehemia.

Things aren't exactly what they seem. Celaena has been doing her own thing as are others.

I have mixed feelings with this book. There's something in the works. There's more happening behind the scenes than we are aware of. I'm not sure who's pulling the strings yet, but someone is. And there's powerful keys in the world that the King can't get...but he has at least one already.

So my mixed feelings come to Celaena and her feeling with one person who doesn't tell her something, that she could have prevented a terrible event. Something that hits me with this is because she was hiding information too. She didn't tell everything. She was playing her own agenda and keeping things secret. But she holds all that against another and looses that deep bond. They are still friends.

Celaena's hidden past is starting to surface. Oh the things that could come with this information...

I'm curious where life is taking Celaena next. Even if my heart is partly broken.

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Audio Book Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After being left heartbroken from the novellas leading up to the series, and Celeana's past, I finally jumped into to the first full length book. This book was great. I loved the potential threads here.

Celeana is broken, which we knew from before she was sent to the salt mines. (The previous novellas.) She had a different upbringing. This book takes her from the salt mines that were to be her death and puts her in the hope of winning her way to the King's Champion for her freedom in four years. There is a line Celeana has to walk and cross as the King is one she's not a fan of.

She will compete against other men who want this position as well. But while the competition is happening, there's another danger that is attacking the competitors. A very old danger that lingers in the shadows. And Celeana is drawn into it. She must survive not only the challenges to become the Champion but also the ancient beast set to destroy the potential champions.

As she goes through, Celeana makes new friends. I love the bonds she creates with her wit and charm. Her guard and who she trains with, Chaol, is a huge part of the story as he's always at her side...to make sure she doesn't kill the prince. The prince has other plans and enjoys spending time with Celeana. And we have a princess visiting who befriends Celeana. I love Nehemia. She is a strong woman with her country, training, and opinions. There is much, much more to her and we start to see that.

I have really enjoyed all the potential threads set in motion here in this book as we fight the evil here and see Celeana strengthen again in the challenges. I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of them


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Audio Book Review: The Silver Serpent by David Debord

The Silver Serpent by David Debord
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This felt like the starts of a journey to find who they are.

We have 4 young adults who are of the age to start adulthood. But... they have other ideas about what they want to do compared to what their parents say they are to do. And with the news Oskar shares about a big tournament for champions announced to happen in their little village with the Prince present, Shanis and Hierm are excited to enter. However, when the Princes guards and many others are in town for the competition, one guard gets an idea to have his way with a young girl. Shanis helps Khalyndryn and the four young adults go on the run, fearing what would happen to them with a princes guard killed.

This leads them to find two "merchants" and join them on their mission... to find the Silver Serpent.

As they embark on this journey, these four young adults along with the two new friends learn more about themselves, the kingdom, and countries around them. They learn about friendship, love, and who they are.

This story does have a feel of young growth to it as I listened.

The audio version was nice, though the names are so, so close to the same that it's hard to tell who's name it being said. There was a few times I thought Larris was mentioned instead of his brother's name, and vise versa. This makes it hard to follow at times when talking about family. Other than the names, the audio was nice.

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Audio Book Review: Masters of Fate

Masters of Fate

By:  A.K. DuBoff
Publish Date:  October 17, 2018, Audiobook Release December 13, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 8 hrs 55 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Young Adult, Sci Fi, Fantasy

Series:  3rd Book in Dark Stars Trilogy series

Synopsis:
A Space Fantasy Sci-Fi Adventure

The final fight will change their perception forever.

Everything Elle Hartmut and her friends thought they knew about the alien menace—and the nature of their universe—is wrong.

With mounting evidence that the aliens behind the Darkness reside on a hyperdimensional plane above spacetime, Elle and the Dark Sentinels will need a new approach to win. However, preventing the impending alien invasion will test their team in ways they never imagined.

The ancient artifacts wielded by the Dark Sentinels may hold the key to victory. If they can understand and master their true abilities, they may still be able to save the Hegemony and their loved ones before the invasion’s final stage consumes them all.

The Dark Stars trilogy combines high-tech sci-fi with traditional fantasy magic, perfect for fans of Final Fantasy, Star Ocean, and Xenosaga. Join Elle in her final battle against the Darkness!


My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I love Kristin as a narrator. She breaths live into all the characters, giving each their own voice and personality. Such a great pleasure to listen to her.

We learn a great deal about the Crystalline network and the aliens. Some of the crystalline network was a deep detail that kind of skipped over me, but I like how there are different planes to the network. The Crystalline network reminds me of save points or respawning points in a game. But it also has a computer network feel to it as well. Very interesting blend to create different dimensions. As for the aliens... they are trouble. Yes, there's more to them but I don't want to give it away.

I enjoyed the new friend we pick up in this book. He's very special and willing to help. He adds to the gaming world feel with the group and their powers. I love this!

The crew finds a new artifact in their travels through new places. The new artifact fits right in as each one is important and a key to the hyperdimensional planes. Yes, hyperdimensional planes. That's a lot in one word. There are details about this in the book, however I fall in the same mind as Elle and I don't always follow what is told of it. But I get a solid feel for it through their actions. Thank you for showing and relating the descriptions to what we've seen and done!

This is the last book of the trilogy. We get answers to what's been happening as things have escalated through the series with the Darkness and aliens. This book felt to have more technical items to it for me, but with those details came answers. I didn't always understand what was said as I had to digest it and think on it because it came in the form of audio, I may have caught it sooner if I read it, but it was answers. We see what happens to our favorite four as things come to a close. I enjoyed the way this story tied up for us.

Audio Book Review: A Light in the Dark

A Light in the Dark

By:  A.K. DuBoff
Publish Date:  August 8, 2018, Audiobook Release November 20, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 8 hrs 34 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Young Adult, Sci Fi, Fantasy

Series:  2nd Book in Dark Stars Trilogy series

Synopsis:
A Space Fantasy Sci-Fi Adventure

The real invasion is about to begin.

An alien fleet is coming. Elle and her friends are the Hegemony's best chance for fighting back, but they'll need to head straight into enemy territory in order to identify the Darkness' origin.

The Hegemony is out of time... and the war may already be lost before it even starts. The only chance for salvation is the mysterious shard of the Master Crystal, supposedly capable of initiating a universal-scale reset. Except, no one knows what a reset of that magnitude might entail, or if it's possible.

Despite the risks, no step is too extreme in the frantic fight for survival. Elle and her friends must stop the insidious alien menace before every world is consumed.

The Dark Stars trilogy combines high-tech sci-fi with traditional fantasy magic, perfect for fans of Final Fantasy, Star Ocean, and Xenosaga. Continue the adventure today!


My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Elle and her team have done the first step for what they were made for, create back up the worlds in the archive. But when doing this, they learned there are aliens coming. They wait a week before Elle talks them into action. It's time to go learn what they can of the Darkness that's overtaking worlds so they can fight it. Off to investigate they go.

It is a pleasure to listen to Kristin again. I've not listened to her narration in a while, but once starting a story I knew why I enjoy listening to her. She brings the story to life to me as she voices each character as their own with tone and personality. Her pacing goes with the action of the story as well, keeping me hooked when things are moving quickly. I love her work.

Our crew tests their immunity to the black smoke as they investigate the first planet that was consumed to learn what they can of the black smoke and crystals.

As we investigate, we see Elle and crew in dangerous situations. But how else do you learn details? I love how we get to see them in action, fighting the darkness and working as a team.

I love how the characters are created from the world and with this, they react to the world. There's a great give and take between the characters and the world in events that happen. Never a dull moment with this team as they fight to learn and battle the darkness.

This book handled a situation that could be repetitive rather well and made it new for us. I really like how the same scenes become new as we learn different details that bring our characters to the conclusion they need. However, things are different. This difference is what drew me deeper into the story, to see if their plan B works or not.

I'm 100% invested in this series. I love the characters and their relationships along with the trouble of the darkness in the world. It still have a video game feel to what the crew does, but not as much as it did in the first book. I don't mind though because the group have grown as individuals and as a team and I love it.

With the ending of this book, I'm diving right into the third audiobook because I want to know what happens with the Darkness!

Book Review & Giveaway: Walker

Walker

By:  Michelle Flick

Publish Date:  December 11, 2013

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal

Series:  Stand-alone

Recommendation:  Oh yes. I would highly recommend to young girls, and adults who enjoy dream walkers.

Synopsis:
Kate isn’t thrilled to be moving to the middle of nowhere. She's already lost her parents, now she's leaving the only place she's ever known as home. She’s not there long when she realizes her dreams aren’t her own and that she has the ability to walk through other people's dreams. Not only that, but she might have found her dream guy--literally. He's in her dreams.

Just when she starts to get the hang of dream walking, strange murders in her new town start to occur. Girls are being killed as they sleep with no evidence, no suspects and no clear motive behind the deaths. It doesn’t take Kate very long to realize that the girls aren’t just being killed as they sleep—they’re being killed in their sleep.

Kate must figure out how to find the killer in the real world and keep the ones she loves safe while they sleep.

First Sentence:
I stared out into the great, big backyard my sister now owned.

Purchase At:
Amazon

My Thoughts and Summary:
Kate doesn't learn until after she and her sister move to the new town how different they are. They are Dream Walkers. New school, new home, and parents gone. Kate is miserable. Trying to adjust to the loss of her parents and being in a new place in the middle of nowhere is hard. She finds she enjoys sleep as she's blank and doesn't remember her pain for her lost parents. Learning her sisters circumstances, she offers to try this place and finds a few great friends. Along with making enemies. Colton has taken a liking to Kate but his girlfriend is the mean girl at high school. She's known for ruining lives. But Kate finds solstice in her dreams. What scared her at first becomes her escape each day - other peoples dreams. Then the murders start. Girls are dying while they sleep. Kate can't interact with people in their dreams, but she comes across two guys and one isn't the dream man the other is, and yet the dream guy is in a coma...

I enjoyed the fun friendship with Kate's new friends. Elisa is her closest friend, and a hoot. Elisa pops off the page at us. And Nick and Colton are adorable catches!

Kate's strongeness, in the beginning, with the not-nice girl and her boyfriend that seems to like Kate was great. Mature yet still a kid in high school. She's learning to deal with a lot and makes mistakes too. But, she admits her mistakes, this is good. Kids need to learn they are going to make mistakes and try better the next time around. Kate is a rule model for this. She learns when it comes to relationships.

Kate does visit other peoples dreams. Some are rather strange, but hey, we all have those out there dreams. I like that there was a blend of dreams, as people have. There were strange dreams, happy dreams, and even scary struggling dreams.

I really enjoyed the growth of the story as the book went on. The pacing worked nicely to introduce us to the characters at the right moments. And to add in the murder mystery with us getting more and more involved.

This was a quick read for me. I kept going, flipping pages for several reasons. I wanted to learn more of the dreams that Kate visited. The secrets and mysteries of everyone's that was shown through the dreams. Then what was going on with the deaths, they seemed to be related to sleeping. Then there were the boys in Kate's life. lol. Oh, the choices of a teen.

There is a murder mystery here. People dying in what looks like their sleep, but maybe not. And there are mysteriously two others that seem to see her in the dream world where the dreamers can not see her.

Nice combination in a clean book for the YA crowd. I enjoyed the freshness of the story.



About The Author:
Michelle Flick lives in Western New York with her family. She teaches 8th grade ELA and is a lover of coffee, dogs, and music. You can find Michelle on Facebook, twitter and on her blog: www.flickspicks1.blogspot.com

About the dog:
Fergie is real! She is a 5-year-old collie. She hates tiled floors, loves the outside, and is never far from her family members. She is as loving and loyal as the Fergie in the novel!


GIVEAWAY TIME!!
Michelle is graciously offering a giveaway!

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Book Review: Ada, Legend of a Healer

Ada
Legend of a Healer

By:  R.A. McDonald

Publisher:  House of Lore Publishing

Publish Date:  January 2011

Format:  Paperback 250pgs, Trade size 5 1/2x 8 1/2

Genre:  Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult (healers)

Series:  1st book in Ada Healer series

Recommendation:  For Young Readers who enjoy Healers and action as well.  Also, has great ideas to talk on with others about thoughts that surface here.

Book Synopsis:
No sickness, No injuries, No pain, No limits.

If you had the power to heal, what would you do?

For fifteen-year-old Ada discovering that she can heal feels more like a curse than a gift.  When she learns of the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance, and sees the indifference of so-called friends, she sets out for Paris to find her.

The power to heal protects her, but also has her hunted by a man who sees her as nothing more than his fountain of youth.  Ada realizes her true power is her will to survive, and that her only chance at freedom is to become the best at escaping.

First Sentence:
Usually an indoor plant will bend and twist to find the direction with the most sun, but not the plant in Ada's room.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Ada is 15 and at the Between house after getting kicked out of another foster home, like her history of being kicked out of schools or upsetting her foster parents.  She has 3 days for her Aunt Jessie to contact them before her social worker will have to send her to juvenile.  Ada can tell by felling or smelling there is something wrong with someone.  But they don't like hearing it when Ada asks or suggests health issues, hence part of her troubles with foster homes.  The others are just not nice people.  Ada's Aunt finally shows up and comes through but she travels for her own business with herbs.  Ada's Aunt tells her she knows it's been hard on her but "it was preparation for what's to come."  After learning more about herself and who might be after her if they know about her ability, Ada goes on the run and finds herself in Paris, meeting a nice young man and looking for her lost mother.

Ada is a strong young girl that has come from some harsh surroundings.  Not only has she been in homes that are not so nice, but in lovely homes she loses after she mentions something about someones health not being good, even for something small.  But all this hardens Ada to deal with the not so nice people that find out what she can do, at the same time as she finds out.  Ada is a fighter.  She is one to keep going and survive.  And even makes her own way in the world as well.  She is a strong young girl.

Ada has a strong belief about helping people.  And a big part of me believes the same as her.  But I do see the other side of the coin.  Actually both sides of extreme here with healing.  But you have to read the book to get the view as well.  To me the author has opened my mind a little more to think on the helping of others.  There are different views to each side and legitimate reasons to each.  I really liked the way the author pulled this all together and keeping each character true to their thoughts.

Ada finds clues taking her to Paris, France.  Here Ada learns more about herself and grows as well.  She starts to see another side to helping people willingly.  Ada even makes a few great friends that help her in learning many new things to protect herself.  My only hope for future books, is we get to see Daniel again.  I really liked him and his Uncle.  Very nice.  Daniel has been kind and yet challenges Ada to try and do more without pushing her.  Just him being around makes Ada want to do more and better.

This is nice story for a Young Adult or even a Young Reader.  I would definitely pass this book along to my son or a friends child with no worries at all.

I found I enjoyed this Young Reader book more than I was expecting.  And so much so I would love to read more of Ada and her journeys.


I received a copy of this book from the Publisher for an honest review.

This book qualifies for the YA Reading Challenge, and the Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Floor to Ceiling Books.

Just for Thought...

I'm curious of your thoughts... One day the mind was wondering, a lot.  But I came up with a few thoughts, questions... what ever you would like to call them, for chats with you.  I thought it would be neat to have a nice chat with you on different things in and regarding books.  I don't think this will become a post for every week, but I have several thoughts here to start some chats.  I do hope you will join in and share your thoughts.

Violence & Young Adult Books?

Is there ever to much violence in Young Adult books?

I started pondering this as I keep going to back to the Hunger Games books.  Yes, I read it. I loved it. I suggested it.  Friends kids read it. And my twelve year old son is reading it.

But let me explain, as brief as I can.  I wanted nothing to do with this book when I heard about it.  I didn't think any YA book should be about young adults, children, killing each other for enjoyment of viewers or not.  Then a friend in the book world finally convinced me to read it.  I didn't find it so bad when I did read it.  I even mention in my review, as you know there is killing going on you don't really see it or witness Katniss doing it.  She is struggling with surviving, on her own, not out killing the other kids.  So, I was happy with the book.  And passed it on to friends and my son as well.

But, there seems to be so much "killing" in the world and on television for the young ones these days.  So, my question is do you think there is to much in books as well?

Maybe it's my selection in books, and Young Adult books, but I don't seem to see it on an overly done process yet.  Maybe you have read different books than I and have or have not seen it.  So, I'm curious about your thoughts on it.