Book Review: A Game of Thrones

Book: A Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire #1)
Author: George R.R. Martin
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Page Count:
Favorite Character: Uh, erm, uh... Tyrion, we're going with- Oh or Daenerys.

Plot: (From Goodreads)

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes of the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Review:
It took me a while to get through this book just because of the sheer amount of information you get while reading it. So much happens in this book and it's told perfectly, there is just so much plot all of time, it never gets lost because of a subplot, they're all main plots. And I loved that. George R.R. Martin doesn't give you any detail you don't need or want to know. He doesn't have this beautiful writing style, by any means, but his writing is perfect for a story of this size.

I think the reason I loved it so much is because of the different perspective we get. There are so many of them and the story really doesn't truly have one main character, just because they all get equal time, really.  I loved all of these characters, too, you can't help it. I think it's because they just seem so real. Anyway, to the point, characters were amazing and were more real then I expected.

The world building. Just, the world building. This doesn't feel like a world that starts when you open the book, I feel like it just keeps going even when you're not there. It's a very lived in world, I feel like is the best way to say it. It feels like these characters just could be off living in Winterfell or Kings Landing. So, to sum it up, I was extremely impressed with the world building and how lived in that world felt, I don't feel like I've ever experienced anything really like it.

Also, not everything in this book is black and white, it's very grey. It's not just good verse evil, it's much more then that, and sometimes you don't really know who is good and who is evil. And I love that. I love not really knowing if I should love this character or that character as much as I do, but still loving them anyway. It's a place that not a lot of book go, that grey area of good and evil. I think because it's grey and unknown, but it truly is a wonderful way to read about these characters.

Anyway, though, I really did enjoy this book and I can't wait to read the next one. To sum up what I thought: the plot was amazing and intricate, characters were amazing, and the world felt very lived in. I feel like this is a series that is just crazy, really, some of the plot lines that it follows are just creepy or amazing or both. However, I'd recommend this to anyone, unless you don't like fantasy, and don't be daunted too much by the sheer mass of this book, it's worth it.

Book Review: The Iron Duke

Book:  The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1)
Author: Meljean Brook
Genre: Romance, Historical, Fantasy, Steampunk
Rating: 3/5
Page count: 308 (Paperback)
Favorite character: Mina, definitely. (Of course, loves Yasmeen is also awesome and kick-ass).

Plot: (from Goodreads)

First in an all-new series where seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas.

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.


Review:
Overall, this book was okay. Entertaining with some characters that I really like, but I did have some problems with it. I felt like the backstory of the world just didn't feel right to me, the way it was shown to us. It kind of felt like you just got this info dump really early, first few chapters, and then that was pretty much that. And it was just weird, it didn't feel right.

And then, of course, is the Iron Duke. I had some problems with him in general that I'm not going to get into since I'm not going to say anything even a little spoiler-y here. But he was just a little bit too much in every way and I just wasn't that fond of him, especially for about the first 40-50% of the book.

(This is, obviously, not a YA book, but I feel like I should tell you anyway, just in case).

You can find the author through her website, that's a link directly to her series page for this series, as well as guides to this world (which I wish I'd known about while reading). Also, at the top of the page in that link, there's a link to a Steampunk guide, if you are unsure about what exactly that entails.

Book Review: The Throne of Fire

Book: The Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles #2)
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy (Myth), Adventure (MG)
Rating: 4/5
Page Count: 452 (Hardcover)
Favorite Character: Besides Sadie and Carter, who I love, I'd have to say, book specific, it had to be Bes. He was... interesting.

Plot: (From Goodreads)

Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians.

And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.

To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished.

First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?

Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.


Review:
It took me forever to get around to reading this one, even though I was dying to as soon as I finished the first one. I love this series and I love Rick Riordan's series in general, pretty much just all of them, so I may be a bit biased but I really just like the writing in these books and they way it's done. Anyway, though, this book picks up a little bit after the first one and it's just this epic adventure, as is the case when you are magicians and the gods are trying to end the world.

I really love the characters in this series, especially Sally and Carter. They're just so smart and snarky and it's just so funny, sometimes, to read things from their pespective where as, if it wasn't, it might not of been as funny. This isn't exactly a light hearted series, with the gods and all of the stuff that comes with that, but it's definitely funny and just smart.

If you like mythology or middle-grade adventures, then this is definitely the one for you. Here's a link to the authors series page for this one, and from there you can investigate his other series (because they are amazing).  The third book in this series came out a little while ago and I hope to read it soon, but it's also the final book in the series and that makes me a little sad.

WWW Wednesday (6)

I haven't done one of these in a while! This is weird but I like it. The reason I haven't done one of these in a while is because (1) i was away with no internet and (2) I wasn't reading. But now here is everything I am currently reading, want to read, and might read next since my last WWW Wednesday. Warning: will be a long post.
(You should all know by now that WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, as you can see in that little picture over there).


Currently-Reading:
I'm about 50% through Enders Game and Fahrenheit 451 and hope to finish both soon, this month at the very least.

Read:

Soulless, The Manga Vol. 1 by Gail Carriger (author) (5/5)
This is, obviously, the Manga version of the first book in the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger and is amazing, I really enjoyed seeing this book in a different media. I love this series and think that Alexia is kick-ass and one of my favorite heroins for sure. I'd recommend reading the books first, because I feel like you get more from them. (Maybe 16+, because this is not a YA book, but I'm sure you all know your limits).

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Well (The Land of Stories #1) by Chris Colfer (3/5)
This is the fabulous Chris Colfer's debut middle grade book that continues the fairy tale stories that we all know and love, or hate, through these two twins who make their way into the fairy tale world. I really liked this book, the writing felt a little weird at times, but it is a debut and I still really liked where he took it, so I'd recommend it. My full review here.

A Mutiny in Time (The Infinity Ring #1) by James Dashner (5/5)
This is a book about two best friends who somehow stumble upon a device that, with some help, can travel in time and, of course, shenanigans and adventure go from there. I'm really excited about this series and can't wait to see what happens next. This is a middle-grade, also, and an extremely well written one for that. Full review for this one will be posted closer to the release date.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor (5/5)
Why did no one force me to read this sooner? I'm sure you all heard the buzz about this one when it first came out last year and it definitely lived up to it, an amazing read and anyone who hasn't read this one should, though I imagine most of you have, I'm probably the last person to. This is YA and was a debut last year. My review can be found here.

God Save the Queen (The Immortal Empire #1) by Kate Locke (5/5)
I raved about this one already on twitter and in my review, but I'll do it here, too. I adored this book, loved it to pieces. It's so different from other books I've read, definitely different then other Steampunk. I'm not going to tell you anything about it, just go ahead and jump in. The history that's incorporated is one of my favorite parts about this series. This one isn't YA or middle-grade either, so keep that in mind.

Grim by Anna Waggener (4/5)
This is a debut about a women, Erika, who dies and then ends up kind of trapped in limbo. She has three kids and she doesn't want to leave them and this book is amazing and tragic and a beautifully written YA debut. I hope to post my full review very soon, probably this week or next.

Desperate Duchesses (Desperate Duchesses #1) by Eloisa James (3/5)
This is NOT my normal book, as I'm sure you've noticed, but it was for a book club I'm part of and I did end up really enjoying it. Sometimes it's nice to read something that doesn't have a dark undertone and is just fluff, like brain candy. This was my first historical romance, and I think the reason I enjoyed it as much as I did, is because Eloisa James' writing is just so very good, I enjoyed it at least. (Definitely not YA, also).

The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1) by Meljean Brook (3/5)
This was an interesting book. This one was also Steampunk, but completely different then God Save the Queen. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed the second one, but I'll probably post a full review on this one to explain why.

Heart of Steel (Iron Seas #2) by Meljean Brook (4/5)
It says this on and Iron Duke are part of the same series, but they are about two different couples. They're in the same world and know each other and everything, but completely different perspectives. I enjoyed this one so very much, maybe because the main guy of the story was so much... better. Both of these, by the way, aren't YA but they are good Steampunk (and romance) books

Kushiel's Dark by Jacqueline Carey (5/5)
I adored this book. It was long and filled with intricate politics, but it also had an amazing plot and amazing (and heartbreaking) characters. This is definitely not a book everyone will enjoy, I have no doubts of that, but it's beautifully written and I really did enjoy it.






Might Read Next:
Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
I really need to start this one. It's for a book club and it's gigantic. It looks really good, though. It just may take me a while to get through.

July TBR

Now, I don't normally do TBR posts, but I do make lists and try to stick to them. Sometimes I really well and sometimes I fail miserably. However, I'd like to get into the swing of posting them up so that you may tease me when I fail, because that's just how that works. Now, normally this would be posted right after the wrap-up, but I just thought of doing this 'officially' so here it is now. Obviously, I've already read a lot of these books, and I'll label them if I have.

For July:

• Desperate Duchesses (Desperate Duchesses #1) by Eloisa James (finished)
• God Save the Queen (The Immortal Empire #1) by Kate Locke (finished)
• Grim by Anna Waggener (finished)
• The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1) by Meljean Brooke (finished)
• Heart of Steel (Iron Seas #2) by Meljean Brooke (finished)
• Nine Rules to Break When Romances a Rake by Sarah MacLean
• Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey (About 60% done)
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (about 50% done)
• Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

I've already read so many books this month catching up on my 100 book challenge after being away for BEA and then VidCon. And I want to read many more. I've been reading Kushiel's Dart for what feels like a very long time, but it is 900 pages so I guess that shouldn't be surprising. There are a lot of books listed up there, but I might end up adding/subtracting some. It all depends on my mood, normally.

The romance books you see above are not my normal cup of tea, but they're for an online book club I'm part of (check out my post about online book clubs if you're curious.) And so far, I'm liking them. I haven't started the Sarah MacLean, but Eloisa James' writing was surprisingly very good. (Also, did you know romance is the number 1 best selling fiction genre? So why are people so embarrassed that they read it? Maybe because of how awful the covers are, because some are just truly awful. I'm sorry, but they are). 

Book Review: Grim

Book: Grim
Author: Anna Waggener
Genre: Fantasy (Paranormal, Mythology) (YA)
Rating: 4/5
Page Count: 320 (Hardcover)
Favorite Character: Probably Jeremiah, I'm a sucker for angels. (I also really enjoyed most of the brothers)

Plot: (From Goodreads)

A fantastic debut from the winner of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards novel contest.

When Erika wakes up after a horrific car crash, she finds herself somewhere between earth and heaven, between life and death. She doesn't want to accept help from Jeremiah, who she's not sure she can trust, even as she finds herself drawn to him, following him into a grim city of souls. She's not sure who wants to help her and who wants to hurt her. And she's desperate to get back to her children.

Shawn's never thought about having to shoulder the responsibility of caring for his young sister Megan and his reckless older sister. And he never imagined that the three of them would find themselves in a haunted wood, sometimes chased, sometimes assisted, never sure where they're headed.

With Grim, the terrifically talented Anna Waggener delves into the place where myth becomes reality, where family can distort you as easily as it cares for you, where death and eternity meet.



Review:
I speed through this book faster then I expected. I didn't know much about it when I picked it up besides the fact that it was about angels, a debut, and the cover was gorgeous (and it actually ended up being relevant to the story, which I love when that happens). But I ended up really enjoying this one.

This is a book that was just so intriguing in the way it was written. It wasn't just focused on one person and it wasn't focused on just the 'main' time period either. There were pages in the middle of chapters that were black with white writing and they were flashbacks, so it speak, and so very interesting. So the writing, the way it was written, was one reason this book got such a good rating for me.

Also, I enjoyed the characters and the plot, the idea of the whole world and how it worked, and the underlying darkness of it all. This isn't a lighthearted read but I don't think it really could of been. I'm not going to say anymore as to not give anything away. It really good, though, even if it had me tearing up a bit in places. You should check this one out, though, because this is Anna's first book and it's quite a stunning first book at that.

Online Book Clubs and some other things

I've never been part of a 'real life' book club or group before, but I've learned I really kind of enjoy the two online ones I've kind of been taking part in. I joined them both a couple months ago, but I haven't really gotten into reading the books until this month (time always seems to be an issue). Now, the two groups I'm part of are Sword and Laser and Vaginal Fantasy (I'll explain that name in a paragraph). Also, any links to anything will be at the bottom and if I miss something just tell me in comments.

First, Sword and Laser. This is a SciFi and Fantasy group that has been going now for quite a long time, I'm a bit late to the game, so to speak. But I really like the two people who run it, Veronica and Tom, and they're just so intelligent in talking about the books and it's just a really awesome group. And who doesn't love some SciFi and Fantasy, right?

Now, Vaginal Fantasy. This is a group recently started by Felicia Day and it's basically reading romance, or books with romance (and smut) but with plot. And I've surprisingly liked quite a few of the books they've done. They did, for example, Soulless by Gail Carriger which I read late last year and loved. This group, obviously, gets quite a lot of backlash for the name, but I find it fitting and a bit hilarious. (If you want to know why she picked it, you can check out the first G+ hangout, she talks about it in the beginning. Basically, she's been using the phrase for years).

Now, to the blog. I feel like I write a lot of posts about this blog, but I just haven't found my rhythm yet. Or I do and then it gets all jumbled from some time away at conventions, the only real time I travel. Now, this week, to get me back into thing, I'm going to be posting at least 1 post everyday this week, Monday to Sunday, and they won't all be reviews, but I love to write those other posts just as much, so I hope you like them to. (Tell me below what you'd like to see more of, less of, see at all. Go for it).

And then, after this week of crazy, I will hopefully go to the normal schedule I had, which was a little lenient to begin with. Reviews on Monday, maybe nothing Tuesday, every other Wednesday a WWW Wednesday post, probably nothing thursday, review Friday, nothing Saturday, and a book haul or something Sunday. I might end up posting on the 'nothing' days if I there are a lot of books coming out I read and want to tell you about so you can check them out, too. For instance, this week I was playing catch-up with my 100 book challenge and I've read a lot of books this past week or so.

Now I'm going to end this fairly long post with a goodbye and best wishes. And that I hope you will enjoy my week of posts and my plans for the future. Any comments, suggestions, random facts, please leave in the comment sections.


Link:
Sword and Laser
Goodreads
Website
First video episode (I think this is the first one, at least).

Vaginal Fantasy
Goodreads
Website 
Felicia's YouTube (where the G+ hangouts are posted)