Pendragon 9: Raven Rise

(Book 10 release date below)

PHEW! In this penultimate book in the Pendragon series, things are really starting to move along. The pacing of this book is brisk- more so than any of the others. For those expecting a lot of answers about Travellers and who or what they really are, you won't find them in this book, unfortunately. In fact, it ends with a huge, massive cliffhanger that will leaving you either going "HOLY CRAP, that was awesome" or throwing your book in frustration. I hope it's the first, because it's really a terrific ending and I can't believe we'll probably have to wait another stinkin' year for the next book.

Anyhow- the end of Bobby's struggle with Saint Dane is almost over. In fact, Bobby thinks he's stopped him by trapping both of them on Ibara by burying the Flume underground (remember, if you will, that he exploded the area around the Flume with Tak, and the other Flume is buried in Veelox City). Bobby is loving life on the island. Even though there is much work to do, he has become a respected citizen and is enjoying the respite from all of the fighting of the past five years.

But, back on First Earth, Mark and Courtney are seemingly trapped there, struggling to prevent Mark's technology from changing the course of human history. Their fight is far from over, and they're worried about Bobby as when they try to use the traveller's ring to contact him, nothing happens. It becomes quickly apparent that they will be unable to stop the Forge technology from being "created" in the past, leaving them unsure what to do next.

I don't want to give too much away of the plot, but needless to say, Saint Dane discovers a way off Ibara, Bobby discovers not every one is who they appear to be, and Mark and Courtney find themselves playing even bigger parts in the fight for Halla. There are also some very interesting connections between the territories to watch out for.

I've read some reviews over at Amazon who think this book was a waste (a filler book), or that not much happened. I look at it in the same way as I did Harry Potter book six. It is a lot of set-up for the final novel, but necessary as we need to see how exactly Saint Dane thinks he's going to bring all of Halla down and rebuild it in the way he sees fit. I don't think this could have been the final novel. There were may be somethings that could have been edited down, but I found the novel to be pretty tightly written.

Enjoy "Raven Rise" and read it slowly. I read on the Pendragon forum, in a message from DJ MacHale that the last book is scheduled for release next May right now (I think it said the 5th, but it's likely to change). There are also three books coming out sometime soon that highlights stories of the other travellers we've met, including those who've gone down fighting. From DJ MacHale: "The first book will be about Kasha, Gunny and Spader. Followed by Alder, Elli and Aja. We then finish up with Patrick, Siry and Loor."

So off you go- read, enjoy- come back and leave your review for others.


Buy this book shop at our Amazon.com "Great Reads" bookstore.


Books Book Teens Reading

"Wicked Lovely" and "Ink Exchange" by Melissa Marr

"Wicked Lovely" was another one of those books that I'd seen in the store, and always put off for buying something else- why, I don't know. It's a great book as is its sequel.

"Wicked Lovely" is the story of Aislinn, who is a rare mortal that can see and hear faeries, but must keep it a secret from everyone (including the faeries). These aren't the pretty "fairies" found in Disney tales, but mischevious and often nasty beings who delight in tripping, pinching and tormenting unsuspecting humans.

But one afternoon, things start to change. Aislinn realizes that there's a couple of faeries following her- a gorgeous young man and a young woman who don't seem fazed by the steel of the city that normally make other faeries sick. The young man, who introduces himself as Keenan (and is prince of the Summer court), sets his sites on Aislinn- he believes she is to be the next Summer Queen. The young woman who accompanies him is Donia, who Keenan once believed would be the Summer Queen, but instead became a Winter Girl when she was put through a faery test. They are both pawns in a much bigger game for control over the faery courts by the Winter Queen (Keenan's mother), who set up this game when she bound and limited Keenan's powers as a baby. They can only be restored when he finds the one girl who can become the Summer Queen- those that fail the test become the Winter Girl, who then must persuade the next possible Summer Queen from taking the test. Those who choose not to take the test become Summer Girls, humans who are now immortal, but must always remain near Keenan. Aislinn doesn't want either life, but once chosen, there is no way to escape it, except for death.

Aislinn, though attracted to Keenan (he is the embodiment of Summer), is also terrified. Her relationship with her friend Seth is changing into something more, and she really doesn't want anything to do with the faeries. But she doesn't have much of a choice as Keenan's pursuit is unrelentless and her secret is on the verge of being discovered.

"Ink Exchange", while based in Aislinn's world, isn't so much about her but her friend Leslie, who has attracted the attention of Irial, King of the Dark Court (faeries who feed off darker human emotions) and Niall, one of Keenan's closest advisors. Leslie's life has been terribly hard (her brother openly smokes crack and has left her defenseless against his stoner friends) and Irial is attracted to the fear and anger she constantly battles. When Leslie decides to get a tattoo to symbolize taking control over her life and starting fresh, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a design that she doesn't know will link her to Irial in a faery Ink Exchange. It will allow him to pull her negative emotions from her, and magically "feed" his court. But Irial finds himself drawn to Leslie in ways he didn't expect, and while Leslie finds herself with feelings for him, she has also been pining for Niall, who, as it turns out, can no longer take mortal lovers because he is addictive to humans.

"Ink" is a much darker novel than "Wicked" and I would definitely recommend it for older readers. It touches on rape, drug abuse, alcoholism and the darker side of human (and faery) existence. But the characters are compelling and surprising. While you expect Irial to be one thing, he is multi-faceted and surprising. Where some girls would crumble under the horrors that Leslie has faced, she instead is determined not to let it crush her.

Fans of Holly Blacks "Tithe" series will enjoy these stories that tell much different stories of the faery world. I recommend them for older readers because of some of the subject matters. I've given more plot away than probably the first half of the books- Marr tends to not give it all away, you have to pay attention and keep reading to find it all out, which is a refreshing change of pace.

Enjoy!




Books Book Teens Reading

The Strand Prophecy: J.B.B. Winner

'>

"The Strand Prophecy" is a terrific first novel from Jeff, Brianna and Bethany Winner (a dad and his identical twin 12-year-old daughters). Strand is a superhero without superhuman powers. His power comes from his genius intellect and a unique computer connection that has allowed him to expand his mind's potential and access nearly any computer anywhere and command it.

After a car wreck kills his brother and sister-in-law and nearly kills his niece, Anna, Steve Cutter vows never again to ignore those that need his help. When he realizes that evolution is taking sudden jumps in humans and creatures all over the world, he creates the Strand persona and tries to warn first the president of the US, and then the world, as to what's going to happen and how humanity can protect itself. Of course, to most in power, they ignore Steve's scientific proof and hide the strange things happening around the world. But people soon realize that Strand's prophecies are true and what follows is a whirlwind of action and adventure as Steve, his niece, and a couple of other scientists with special talents of their own race to get the truth out to the world.

"The Strand Prophecy" reads like you're watching a movie. The pace is constant and exciting. The characters are engaging and interesting. The chapters are storter, which will help keep younger readers engaged, and it's peppered with fantastic sketches of the characters and creatures. It's a Benjamin Franklin Award winner and the first in a series of 5 novels, graphic novels and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a movie at some point. You can delve into the world of "The Strand Prophecy" at this web site or just go buy this book and find out how great it is for yourself.

Obert Skye & Leven Thumps News

Coming soon from Obert Skye, "Pillage", which has a release date of July 30th. From Amazon: When fifteen-year-old Beck Phillips travels by train to the secluded village of Kingsplot to live with his wealthy but estranged uncle, Beck discovers some dark family secrets. A buried basement, a forbidden wall, an old book of family history with odd references to... dragons? Beck's life is about to be changed forever in this suspenseful tale about the destructive nature of greed and the courage to make things right. Pillage is filled wtih Mr. Skye's signature humor as well as some very intense moments. including a surprising ending, that will keep readers young and old engrossed and entertained.

According to Amazon.com, the next Leven Thumps novel, "Leven Thumps and the Wrath of Ezra has a release date of Sept. 30th.
Here's the product description from amazon.com: "The dreams of mankind are in grave danger as the Dearth, the true evil beneath the soil, rises about ground and slowly gains the strength he needs to defeat Leven Thumps. Leven, now the Want, is also gaining strength. Will he discover his new power before the Dearth finds him? Sycophant Run is on the brink of war. The secret of how to kill sycophants is now more a threat than ever. Can Clover and the sycophants protect the only gateway to Reality now that they're so vulnerable? And speaking of Reality, Terry and Addy are about to join forces with a one-time janitor and the angriest, most confused toothpick alive-Ezra. What kind of power is raging inside that sliver of wood? Get ready to ride a Wave, release a Longing, find the Invisible Village, travel by rope, wrestle in chocolate, and, of course, dream the impossible! Join Leven, Winter, Geth, and Clover on the most unFoogettable adventure yet! "

Buy this book and more at our shop: "Great Reads" Bookstore.

Books Book Teens Reading

Great Reads Reviews:"The Host" by Stephenie Meyer

Even invading aliens have feelings too...

Just kidding- well, in my sarcasm anyway. I seriously loved "The Host." Here's the crux of the plot: Wanderer, a "soul" from another world (or worlds as we later learn) is inserted into the body of Melanie Stryder, a human who nearly committed suicide rather than let herself be taken over by an alien being. But, Melanie's body is saved by an alien Healer, and Wanderer takes over to gain access to Melanie's memories and figure out where there are other humans who need "souls" as well. Melanie's consciousness is supposed to fade into oblivion, but to Wanderer's chagrin, it does not. Instead, Wanderer finds herself in constant inner turmoil as she fights to surpress Mel and take over her body. Wanderer sounds insidious- but in fact, this race of beings feels that what they are doing is saving the human race from themselves. The "souls" are gentle beings who rarely feel strong emotions, never really get angry, or lie, or get violent, and are all sort of connected on subconscious level. By taking over Earth, they've put a stop to all the things that were leading to our self-destruction (but of course, have also destroyed what makes us uniquely human in the process). They honestly (yes- because remember they don't lie) feel that they are helping humanity and don't realize they are destroying what makes us so unique.

As Wanderer and Mel struggle for control, they slowly begin to come to an understanding of each other- mostly through Mel's memories of the man that she loves, Jared, and her brother Jamie that she'd do anything to protect. Wanderer finds herself suddenly and deeply in love for the first time and struggles with other strange new emotions that she's not used to feeling. Mel uses Wanderers new confusion to convince her that she needs to seek out the one place where Jared and Jamie might be hiding- her Uncle Jeb's ranch. Mel's not entirely sure of the way, but they are both willing to try. Wanderer soon finds herself in the midst of the strangest love triangle ever.

Without giving too much away, what's great about this book is that everyone goes through some sort of character change. Wanderer becomes more "human", Mel finds sympathy for creatures that she hates, as do many other non-changed humans. Wanderer (who later becomes Wanda) perhaps changes the most, literally and figuratively, and it's her transformation that's the most interesting. I'll admit that I got a little nervous toward the end, but Meyer didn't disappoint (she hasn't yet!). It's a beautiful book about the pervasiveness of the human spirit and how we can find hope and tolerance even when all looks lost. While this novel is Meyer's first "Adult" novel, I didn't really see any reason why it couldn't be read by most teens. There's no bad language that I recall and no "adult" scenes. In the end, it's really a beautiful story about the power of love to transform just about any one, human or otherwise.

I HIGHLY recommend this as a great read. If you've loved the "Twilight" series, you are sure to enjoy "The Host." You don't need to be a sci-fi fan- as with any great sci-fi story, it's really about being human in a crazy, maybe impossible, situation and how we react to it.


Buy this book shop at our Amazon.com "Great Reads" bookstore.


Books Book Teens Reading

Quick Reviews:

So I've been reading tons, but terrible about posting reviews. So here are some Great Reads that I've finished lately and recommend:

"Tithe", "Valiant" and "Ironside", by Holly Black. This trilogy is the story of a changling who thinks she's human, learns the truth and fall in love for a fallen Faerie. "Valiant" is a story set in the same world, but doesn't have any of the characters from "Tithe", but some of them do show up in "Ironside." So it's not a direct sequel, but connected. The books aren't typical "fairy tales" they're set in modern times with modern language (re: swearing) and adult situations. But they're really great books with engaging characters that do change and grow.

"Earthly Pleasures" by Karen Neches. "Earthly Pleasures" is the hottest new show in Heaven and Skye Sebring is addicted. Particularly after the greeter (her "job" is to greet the new arrivals) meets Ryan Blaine after his brush with death following a motorcycle accident. Their time together is brief, but Skye feels immediately connected with him and starts watching his life on TV. It's a love story that transcends time and space and is full of great twists and turns that will surprise you. I loved the book, but would've liked a little more at the end.

"From Dead to Worse" by Charlaine Harris- the latest in the Southern Vampire chronicles. Poor Sookie can't escape her connections with the vampires and weres, and things only get worse. Between a vampire coop, a were war and learning about some interesting family connections, Sookie's life just gets increasingly complicated. The good: She dumps Quinn, the bad: still no decision concerning Eric and Bill, but those relationships also get more complicated (as if them being vamps isn't bad enough). Definitely a good read, though these novels are more for older teens and adults.

"Witch Season: Winter and Spring" by Jeff Mariotte. This combo book, available from Barnes and Noble, finishes the chronicles of Kerry and her remaining friends as they hunt for the witch named Season who has killed the love of Kerry's life, Daniel, and two of their friends. But all is not as appears, and the lines between good and evil blur the closer Kerry gets to Season. The two books to end the series were very good, fast moving and surprising. Not everyone makes it out alive, but the series ends on a hopeful note. Read "Summer and Fall" first- but I definitely recommend the series.

Coming soon: "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer. I'm not really far into it, but so far so good! I'm curious how it's going to end- but I don't see a super happy ending on the horizon. But I've been wrong before.

If you've read these books- feel free to leave your reviews in our comments section!


Buy this book shop at our Amazon.com "Great Reads" bookstore.


Books Book Teens Reading

Book News

So if you're frothing at the bit, so to speak, about the December release of the movie "Twilight" here's a little something to make you wish the warm weather away and for December to hurry up and get here: "We Killin' Some People Here."

I know I've been a little slow about posting reviews lately, but there are more coming soon! Promise :)


Buy this book shop at our Amazon.com "Great Reads" bookstore.


Books Book Teens Reading