As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

As You Wish is an wonderful book. It brings together a fantasy world matched with reality in a way that isn't to out there, but not too subtle. The characters are very detailed, and each chapter is from two characters point of view, Viola, and a jinn or Jinn. I can be a sucker for romance novels on occasion, and this one had me in tears near the end. Which is incredibly rare, so props for that. I'd love to see a squeal to this book. I do admit, the basic story has been used before, but the magic brought into it gives it a fresh new point of view for the reader. Props to Jackson on her first novel. Can't wait to see more work from her!

-ChooChoo

ORANGE by Benjamin

"Her name is Orange. She's a young girl in high school. Coming of age in the heart on the city. And she has decided she has nothing to live for..." This is only a few sentences from the back cover, and the only things I can say about the storyline without giving anything away.

Just follow Orange through her telling of her life so far and how it's changed forever with a moral everyone should remember.

Now, moving forward to the main reason I picked up the book before I read the back .... Just looking at the vibrant colored front cover, the art sucks you in. The co-existing color shades on each page really set the mood for the storyline. I definitely like how you don't really see the faces of anyone other than Orange herself.

Like I stated before, I can't say anymore without giving most of it away. However, the moral you find at the end is really... Well, I don't know how it'll relate to you who read it, but to me, it changed the way I looked at a couple of things.

-- Chances vs Pills

The Knife Of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go is a brilliant, dark, sci-fi adventure story. It is both powerful and relatable, despite it's distance from the recognizable. In fact, you have to REALLY immerse yourself in the world to enjoy this novel, as it takes some getting used to. Give it a chance, and make sure you're at least a couple dozen pages in before you consider putting it down. But, if you're like me, you won't be able to :). Enjoy your reading!

Final Verdict: Dark, mysterious, sci fantasy. Read it!

Read My Lips by Teri Brown

This book is possibly the most cheesy thing I've read in months. The plot line is rather flat, the typical "lolhotguy@school" deal... though it was very weird in some points. I'm not giving anything away when I say it's almost incest. But not really. The girl's cousin who is adopted is some hot skater guy from school, and she doesn't know he's her adopted cousin until she goes to help her aunt on their farm. The whole cousin thing is just weird. Even if he is adopted. It made it hard for me to finish the book. Oh, I should mention the girl is deaf... thats the focal point of the book. I'd say it's a mix between mean girls and gossip girls. It's just... kljasdg. To put it lightly.


-ChooChoo

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I am a little afraid to be posting this review, as it is on a book that is not only not out yet, but the envy of every other person who knows what it is and hasn't read it. Catching Fire, due to be released sometime in September, is the Sequel to Collin's equally brilliant Hunger Games. Hunger Games is a wonderful novel about a controlling government that makes it citizens compete in a gladatorial arena called the Hunger Games annually. Catching Fire picks up right where Hunger Games leaves off, so I won't divulge any plot to give you a chance to read the first book. Nevertheless, suffice to say, the book will fulfill any desperate need you have for a sequel. It answers most of the questions from the first book, AND (of course) leaves room for a third novel. A large amount of room. A cliff, you might say. In fact, expect it in about a year, because it's coming. PLEASE, quickly, author! The characters are deep, the action intense, and there are cliffhangers that will blow your mind. Literally, your mind will explode. So pick it up, and love it. NOW.

PROS:
Engaging story
Action
Characters

CONS:
Youre going to have to read hunger games first.
Too short
Cliffhangers :(

~Abyss

Serendipity Market by Penny Blubaugh

The premise of Serendipity Market has the potential to be a beautiful book-a group of people come together to tell stories because the earth has gone off its tilt and must be put to rights. Each story has its own chapter. However the execution of the book is somewhat awry. The writing is awkward, especially as its in the present tense except when the storytellers are speaking. Even in the middle of the story, there are interjections of the storyteller's actions, which I felt detracted from the flow of each story.

Many of the stories are retellings of traditional fairy tales, and although its fun to try and guess which character matches what fairy tale, I feel that the author could have expressed her range much better in original stories. There was a lot of creativity in what she did write, and I feel that that was her biggest strength. Her writing wasn't as poetic as it could have been in a story this free-flowing, and she didn't get very in-depth with her characters, especially as a short story is not a format ideal for character developement.

In general, the book was interesting, but not amazing.

-Mistress Fu

Good Omens by Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett

There is a reason that Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett are two of the most popular men in fantasy lit today. This book will tell you that reason. Quickly and efficiently. It takes the best of each author (Gaimen's sarcasm, tight plotlines, and message driven stories and Pratchett's immense range of knowledge, wonderful characters and epic nature) and mashes them together into the Apocalypse. It is well-written, entertaining, amusing, meaningful and generally just fun.

Thoroughly recommended for all who are willing to forget about reality and read about people.
-Mistress Fu

The Compound

The compound is the very first novel of S.A. Bodeen. It’s a great book if you’re into thriller/suspense. The book is about a boy named Eli and his family that have been living in a compound for six years. His rich father built the compound to protect them from any nuclear attacks. During his time here, Eli has built a huge shell around his emotions and his family ever since Eddy, his twin brother never made it inside with them. As Eli unmasks secrets that his father has hidden, he comes closer in finding the truth about the compound and the outside world. It’s really a good book with a suspenseful plot and great characters. It’s excitement that keeps you wondering what’s going to happen in the next chapter. I highly recommend it with anyone with a pulse.

By: Abdiasis I.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen

The second book to be published by the anonymous writer, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has to be by far the most popular of Jane Austen's novels. The idea of the story deals with the misjudgments that often occur at the beginning of an acquaintance, and how those misjudgments can change as individuals learn more about each other.

The storyline seems simple enough. Elizabeth Bennet is the second oldest of five daughters. And so, without a male heir to the Bennet family, all Mrs. Bennet can possibly think of is having her daughters married off before Mr. Bennet meets his end and her daughters become destitute. It's kind of depressing in a way, but that's how things worked then. Moving on, things begin to look up as two very wealthy single gentlemen come to the shire. During their visit, a romance starts to form and a wrongly assessed relationship based on first impressions begins between Elizabeth and a Mr. Darcy.

Af this point, I can't say anymore or I'll spoil the whole thing. Anyway, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is an amazing classic novel of the early 1800s. Of course, reading Old English is kind of hard and can be confusing. Or maybe you might get so wrapped up in the Old English that you'll begin to think in Old English and maybe even speak in Old English at times. I know sometimes I do.

Or... You if you're not so into reading Victorian novels, you can watch one of the two movies. If you want to watch one of the movies, I suggest the one from 2005 with actress Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and actor Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy. This film is also really good and is quite elegant in a way. I'll say it was an awesome film and is still saved on my DVR.

Watching the movie may spoil the actual book. Many things you'd want to know will have been left out, however, it stays true to the main storyline of the original novel. You could do what I did, and watch the movie first than read the book. By doing this, it was easier to understand the Old English in the novel because it was simplified in the film.

Anyway, Jane Austen is an amazing writer and has a total of six novels, which I plan on reading a reviewing here. Those who prefer newer books should venture out of their comfort zone and try at least one of Austen's novels. You never know, maybe you'll love Austen's work just as I love her work.

-- Chances vs Pills