"Wizard's first rule: people are stupid."

Guys, it's finally happened.

I finished Wizard's First Rule! And in case you forgot what I said before I started reading it... in August... 

My Pre-Reading

Although it did take me a while to read, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a nice beginning to the series, and it introduced all (or most) of the characters well. While some of them grow and develop over the course of the novel, some don't really. But it's ok, because they have 12 more books or something like that in which to grow! You can't have everybody figure their lives out all at once.

While some high fantasy novels have 1000 characters and it's impossible to keep them all straight, I felt like Goodkind did an excellent job of keeping the story interesting and engaging with a minimal number of characters. The bloodlines aren't all over the place and intertwined and confusing, and the main characters at the beginning are the main characters at the ending. 

Having watching The Legend of the Seeker TV show, it was really interesting to see how the book differed. Although there were some differences, I definitely enjoyed both by themselves and even together. 

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes high fantasty or enjoyed The Legend of the Seeker. I can't wait to read more about Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, and everyone else in the rest of the series! 

I'd give this book a 4/5.


--Ashley

Pandemonium

I still have not left for work, but it is suppose to happen soon. I will be on a boat for three to four weeks and I will have plenty of time to read. I may get behind on posting here, but once I am back I will catch up on all the books I will have read.


Is anyone else super excited for the HUNGER GAMES movie tonight?!? I am totally going to the midnight showing!

Title: Pandemonium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis:   After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again. 


Why?: This is Ashley's March pick and it is also a sequel to Ashley's first pick for this blog. I really enjoyed Delirium and am very excited to see where this sequel will take us.


Expectations: I really enjoyed Delirium. In my long-winded post on it, I write of my hope for Alex's death to be finite. I also wonder of the world outside the city. I think both of these will be answered. 


Judging a book by its cover: The cover has very fall and earthy colors. The flower looks exotic. I am so thankful that the inside cover of this book does not have a creepy girl's face!


-PAUL

A Million Suns Review

I just finished this book hours ago. I've been reading a few chapters a night since around March 10 but, the past two nights I read at least 50 pages per night. 

SPOILERS!!!


After the big reveal involving the planet, I could not put this book down. I literally read each night until I was falling asleep with the book still in my hands. The characters picked up right from where they left off. Unlike some sequels, the reader was still able to learn more about the characters as they experienced new situations. I enjoyed seeing growth in characters that I already knew. The point of view is done masterfully. My problem with putting down the book each night was that if I just read an Elder chapter, I would want to see what Amy was up to. 


The mystery hunt for Orion's clues was captivating. Even though he was cryogenicly frozen, he was ever present in the novel. Just as the Luthor scene in the first novel gave me goosebumps, the character continued to unnerve me. Victria's character was also very interesting. She was very complex and involved with so many different characters. 


I did predict that the were already at the planet, but the reveal was done very well. I also had my suspicions about Doc leaving the "Follow the Leader" deaths.


I am so stoked for the sequel! It seems like all three of these books will be unique and different. I am looking forward to see what the monsters are. I also am anxious to meet Amy's parents, as well as all the other Frozens. Will they take over the leadership completely? How does a group of people colonize a planet? I also am intrigued by those left behind on Godspeed. I hope we learn their fate. Maybe Bartie will be a narrator in a future book. If not, maybe a novella?


I give this book a 4/5. If you enjoyed Across the Universe, you will definitely not be disappointed!


-PAUL

"You can build a future out of anything."

My Pre-Reading

OHMYGODTHISBOOK. 


Seriously, that's all I thought the entire way through it. Pandemonium did not disappoint in any way, and I am so glad about that. The whole time, I found myself still wishing that Alex was alive by some miracle. Even when you can start to see Lena beginning to fall in love again, it still feels wrong because you know that she is still crazy in love with Alex. And every time she mentions that she thinks she catches a glimpse of him, I want her to be able to turn her head and see him there next to her. Their romance was one of the best I've ever read in a YA novel, or in any novel for that matter, and I was so distraught at the end of Delirium when he's just left for dead. And when everything seems to confirm his death in so many ways. 


I apologize for any spoilers, and I'll try my best not to give too much away because Paul hasn't read this and I could give away THE WHOLE THING with just one sentence.


And then, she becomes Alex in a way. Just like Alex rescued her from the dystopian society she believed in, Lena rescues Julien from the same society. She is the Invalid that makes her way into his life, destroying all of his previous ideals and beliefs. She's the one who causes him to see that love is actually not as bad as it sounds. That love can do all kinds of good that the DFA wants everyone to ignore. And in the midst of all the heartbreak, hatred and apathy, Lena still manages to find love in places she didn't even know she could. She begins to love Raven, and Julien (of course), and all of the others at the homestead. 


And then, finally, as soon as you think she might be getting over the heartbreak of losing her mother and Alex and Hana, and everyone else she's lost, Lauren Oliver comes up and slaps her (and you) in the face. And then, because once isn't enough, she does it again! And then a third time. And it's fantastic. I honestly don't know how Oliver created such a strong character in Lena, because if I were Lena I would just quit life. 


I also really love that the book goes between "then" and "now." It gives a great picture of how much Lena grew during her time in the Wilds, and how she now uses her past experiences to get through difficult circumstances. Because living and surviving in the Wilds wasn't enough. She has to be kidnapped by a group of crazy people who shouldn't be organized enough to even pull off a kidnapping. And then made to rescue some kid she can't even stand at first, who represents everything she fights against. 


I could honestly go on about this book for forever, but you should really just go pick it up and read it yourself. Read Delirium first though, because otherwise this book won't break your heart and impact you in the way it should. If these books were ever made into movies, I would probably be crying the entire time. 


Definitely a strong 5/5, and I would totally give it more if I could. One of my favorite books, and so far series, that I've ever read. I can't wait for Requiem to come out, and I'm so sad that it won't be out until at least February 2013. If I can get my hands on an ARC, I will for sure be doing so. 


--Ashley

Paul's March Pick: A Million Suns

I finished Jane Lynch's biography, loved it, and am now ready to go on to my March pick. This novel is a sequel to one of the earlier books we read for this blog, Across the Universe. I am excited to see what the Godspeed is up to now.

Title: A Million Suns
Author: Beth Revis
Year Published: 2012
Synopsis: "Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies. But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship." (Amazon)

Why?: Revis created a unique world in Across the Universe. I am excited to rejoin that world aboard a ship tumbling through space. I am excited to see where the characters will develop from here.

Expectations:I have high expectations, but I think they will be matched. I am looking for more character growth and interesting twists about the ship and its history.

 

Judging a book by its cover:The cover shows the two leads looking out of the ship into the vastness of space. I expect the world both inside and out of the ship will be a big part of this novel.

-PAUL

Everneath

I finished this book last week, maybe a wee bit into March. But, I'm at least two behind on Ashley's picks, so the month thing is just going by for me. Thankfully I heard that I will be working again and may be on a boat for three weeks, sleeping there and all. This will give me plenty of time to read and potentially catch up all the way. A Million Suns should arrive in the mail today and that will be my March pick. I started Jane Lynch's biography Happy Accidents this weekend. It may be put aside for now when A Million Suns arrives. 

Now onto Everneath!

My Pre Reading

Ashley's Review

I enjoyed this book. I started it directly after Cinder, so my reading expectations were still pretty high. Although I enjoyed Cinder more, this was also a nice story. It took me a bit of time to get into it. I liked the way Ashton played with revealing the past and present at the same time. I thought there was too much of a build-up on the reason the two leads were no longer together. The mythos of the book was intriguing. I like the idea of all "Underworld" myths centering around this place that is not the Afterworld, but has many aspects of it. It is interesting how the Everliving live for 100 years at a time between feedings. I hope they play with their pasts in the sequels.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I'm sure I will read the sequel when Ashley gets it. I give this book a 3.5/5.

-PAUL