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Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective by Christine Amsden

26 Apr

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Cassie Scot Series

Book Review

Book Review of Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective: 3 Treasure Boxes
Book 1 of the Cassie Scot Series
Publisher: Twilight Times Books; First edition (April 4, 2013,) Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc., File Size: 484 KB, ASIN: B00C7VR69I

Cassie Scot, a “normal” young woman, is a misfit both within her family and within the community. She is the sole ungifted person among a family of powerful sorcerers. She has become a private investigator and although she advertises that she will only work on normal cases, she gets pulled into solving a paranormal mystery. While she is struggling to find her way, and her independence, she becomes entangled with a handsome, but mysterious sorcerer.

Christine Amsden has written both science fiction and fantasy. Recently she released a science fiction book, The Immortality Virus.  Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective is the first book of four expected books in The Cassie Scot Series and is a contemporary fantasy. The story is told in a first person narrative from the main protagonist, Cassie Scot. Books two to four, have been written and are expected to be released over the next few months. The expected titles are: Secrets and Lies, Mind Games, and Dreamer.

Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective is a twist on the contemporary fantasy genre. The main protagonist, Cassie, has no magical abilities, but she fully understands how the paranormal world operates. She is doing her best to find acceptance in the magical world and within her own family, while at the same time, protecting herself against magical attacks.  Cassie is a likeable person and her character is well developed. One of the themes in this book is family relationships. The story was interesting and I found it hard to put down.

This is not a standalone story, but is an intriguing beginning. I recommend Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective as a very good read and it is a great start to what proffers to be an interesting series. The book captured my attention from the first page and the story included several surprising twists and turns. I am looking forward to the next book, Secrets and Lies, because I am curious to see how Cassie is going to deal with the situation she now finds herself.

To Purchase: “Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

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Posted in 3 Treasure Boxes, Book Review, Contemporary Fantasy, Goodreads, Kindle, New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

 

Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix

18 Sep

This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series Keys to the Kingdom

Book Review

Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
Keys to the Kingdom, Book Two
Publisher: Listening Library, Audible Audio Edition, Release Date: March 31, 2004, Listening Length: 6 hours and 52 minutes (336 pages), ASIN: B0001ZZ054

Grim Tuesday, the keeper of the Second Key is threatening Arthur’s family and the only way Arthur can protect them, and himself,  is to return to the House. The House is the center of the universe and the source of all creation. Arthur has only been home a few hours, but once again he must leave earth, and with Susie’s help, he must defeat Grim Tuesday in order to save his family and stop the universe from unraveling.  In Mister Monday, Arthur defeated the holder of the First Key, became the Lord of the Lower House, and has started to repair the damage that has occurred to the House and the denizens. He left some capable and trustworthy people in charge for several years so he could return to Earth and have some time to grow up.  However, Grim Tuesday has his own plans, which include retrieving the Key and Lordship of the the Lower House.

Garth Nix has written numerous young adult books and series including: The Old Kingdom series, The Seventh Tower series, and The Keys to the Kingdom. Grim Tuesday is the second of seven books in The Keys to the Kingdom series and it is a fantasy story that is told in the third person narrative primarily from the point of view of the main protagonist, a 12 year old boy named Arthur Penhaligon. This book is good for grades 5 to 8, can be considered a Young Adult fantasy, but it can also be enjoyed by adults.

I enjoyed this story, but I did not think it was as good as the first book because it followed the same format. There were some engaging characters, like Tom Shelvocke the Mariner, who is the second son of the Architect, and Suzy Turquoise Blue. Overall, the story was interesting and kept me wondering how it was all going to end. The beginning started with plenty of action and then the story progressed with steady momentum until the final conclusion. There were plenty of obstacles along the way and the ending was quite exciting. I was intrigued with the concept of nothing, where globuals of nothing floated around and destroyed whatever they touched. This nothing is also at the basis of  creation, with the concept that first there is nothing and then it turns into matter, creating whatever is required.

The story has a good and satisfying ending, but it is clearly just part of a bigger story. The end introduces Drowned Wednesday, the next book in the series as well as the holder of the Third Key.  I recommend Grim Tuesday as a good read, and I am looking forward to see where this story is going. I am planning to read the next book in the series.

To Purchase: “Grim Tuesday” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

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Posted in 2 Treasure Boxes, Book Review, Children's, Fantasy, Goodreads, Public Library, Young Adult

 

The Tower by Jade Varden

13 Aug

This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series Deck of Lies

Book Review: 2 Treasure Box Rating
Deck of Lies, Book 2
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 28, 2012), Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc., File Size: 361 KB, Print Length: 162 pages, ASIN: B007RTX4V4

While Rain is figuring out who she and her family really are, she is also trying to find Laurel Riordan’s killer. Rain knows that the answer to these questions will either lead her out from under the craziness her life has become or will send her further down the spiral into doom.

Jade Varden is the author of the Deck of Lies series, currently there are 3 books in the series with book 4 coming soon. The books are YA fiction and are told in a first person narrative from the point of view of the main protagonist.

The story continues in this installment and it becomes more interesting and convoluted as it unfolds. While Rain is working through the lies that created her life, she remains relatively unchanged. Her name may have grown and changed but she is still the same person.. Once again there were many surprising and shocking events, with an interlocking connection appearing between the characters.

This is not a standalone novel, and in fact it ended with a cliff-hanger. I am curious to find out what happens next and where this story is going to end. I recommend this book as a good read.

 

To Purchase: “The Tower” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

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Posted in 2 Treasure Boxes, Book Review, Drama, Goodreads, Kindle, Young Adult

 

Justice by Jade Varden

12 Aug

This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series Deck of Lies

Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
Deck of Lies, book #1
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 23, 2012), Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc., File Size: 364 KB, Print Length: 154 pages, ASIN: B006PW51F6

Rain Ramey received a scholarship to the Sloane Academy, but when she arrived the other students made it very clear, that she didn’t belong. Rain’s whole life falls apart after the Queen Bee of the school plays a dirty trick on her.

Jade Varden is the author of the Deck of Lies series, currently there are 3 books in the series with book 4 coming soon. The books are YA fiction and are told in a first person narrative from the point of view of the main protagonist.

Justice is captivating, but at times it was surreal, and had a soap opera feel. Rain is a likeable teenager who faces numerous challenges after it is revealed that her whole life has been a lie. There were numerous moments when I was shocked at the outcome. The story has several twists and turns, some expected, but others were totally unforeseen.

This is not a standalone book, but it is an intriguing start to an entertaining series. As soon as I completed this book, I quickly picked up the second book in the series, The Tower. I recommend this book as a good read.

To Purchase: “Justice” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

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Posted in 2 Treasure Boxes, Book Review, Drama, Kindle, Young Adult

 

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

05 Aug

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Daniel X Series

Book Review: 0 Treasure Box/0 Trash Cans

First Book in the Daniel X Series

Publisher: Hachette Audio, Listening Length: 4 hours and 30 minutes (272 pages), ASIN: B001D066JU

Daniel X, a young man, is on his own and he has super powers. A praying mantis-type alien (The Prayer) murdered Daniel’s parents when he was just a child. Now Daniel is slowly and methodically seeking out and eliminating aliens, while he searches for The Prayer.

There are currently four books in this series with book five expected to be released sometime in 2012. Each book was co-written with Mr. Patterson with a different co-author. These books are science fiction and they are told in a first person narrative by the main protagonist, the young man Daniel. His last name is unknown, hence the “X”. Mr. Patterson has written numerous books in the young adult, fantasy and science fiction realms. Most of these have been co-authorized by various individuals, which explains the profusion of books that he is able to crank out. Note some of the books are better than others.

The story was initially interesting, but as the plot unfolded, there were numerous plot holes. I liked the overall premise of this book, but I found that the execution was really weak.

I did not think the story was well told, but it did have some redeeming qualities. I was curious to see where it was going, and this kept me engaged, but I was disappointed with the ending. I would not recommend this book or series.

To Purchase: “The Dangerous Days of Daniel X” from Amazon, click here or on picture above.

 

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Posted in 0 Treasure Box, 0 Trash Can, Book Review, Goodreads, Public Library, Science Fiction, Young Adult

 

Gregor and the Code of Claw by Suzanne Collins

04 Mar

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series The Underland Chronicles

Book Review: 3 Treasure Boxes
Fifth Book in the Underland Chronicles
Publisher: Listening Library, Listening Length: 9 hours and 3 minutes (412 pages), ASIN: B001PI829W

Gregor learns that the Prophecy of Time requires the death of the Warrior, and since he is the Warrior he needs to prepare himself for what is to come.  Meanwhile, the Rats are invading the Underland and with Gregor’s mom being held hostage he has no choice but to join in the war.

This is the fifth and final book in The Underland Chronicles. It is a fantasy book aimed at 9 to 12 year olds, but can also be classified as Young Adult. The story primarily takes place on earth in the Underland, far below New York City. The story is told in the third person narrative from the point of view of the main protagonist, Gregor, a 12 year old boy. Suzanne Collins has also written The Hunger Games plus a couple of other books written for youths.

The story is skillfully wrapped up in this final volume.  I loved how Ms. Collins examines the whole idea of prophecy and shows how preconceived ideas can impact the decisions people and the influence it has on their reactions. It also looks at society and shows us that just because something was always done a certain way, doesn’t mean that it can’t be changed. The story examines how different people with different values react to each other and it shows that if we change how we consider each other we can change how we react to each other.

The story is sad and haunting. It takes a good hard look at war and the useless damage it causes, including the impact the loss of good people has on those who remain. The subject manner is definitely not for children but the story was very well written. It has a satisfying and thought provoking conclusion. I recommend this series.

To Purchase: “Gregor and the Code of Claw” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

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Posted in 3 Treasure Boxes, Book Review, Fantasy, Goodreads, Public Library, Young Adult

 

Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins

28 Feb

This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series The Underland Chronicles

Book Review: 3 Treasure Boxes
The Forth Book in The Underland Chronicles
Publisher: Listening Library, Listening Length: 7 hours and 20 minutes (343 pages), ASIN: B001FVJHWU

What is the mysterious Prophesy of Time and how does it concern Gregor? Gregor’s mother is recuperating in the Underland and Gregor and Boots go often to visit her, while there, Gregor trains with Ripred to improve his rager skills. Soon Gregor and Luxa receive word that the mice are in trouble and sneak off to help with the aid of a few friends.

This is the fourth of five books in The Underland Chronicles. It is a fantasy book aimed at 9 to 12 year olds, but can also be classified as Young Adult. The story primarily takes place on earth in the Underland, far below New York City. The story is told in the third person narrative from the point of view of the main protagonist, 12 year old Gregor. Suzanne Collins has also written The Hunger Games plus a couple of other books written for youths.

This series follows a great story line. It continues in this book which was interesting and captivating from the first page. Gregor and Luxa’s relationship deepens and solidifies. Gregor faces and has to deal with his own fallibility. Once again Ms. Collins explores discrimination and she even deals with the idea of genocide. There was plenty of action, some of it pretty gruesome.  The material is pretty mature even though the story is aimed towards children.

Gregor and the Marks of Secret is not a standalone story, it was more like the end of a part.  In order to see what happens next, we will need to read the final book in the series, Gregor and the Code of Claw.  I will  be quickly picking it up to read as I am quite anxious to see how everything unfolds.  I highly recommend this series and I really enjoyed this fourth installment.  Hopefully, the series will have a great ending.

To Purchase: “Gregor And The Marks Of Secret” from Amazon, click here or on picture above.

 

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Posted in 3 Treasure Boxes, Book Review, Fantasy, Goodreads, Public Library, Young Adult

 

The Dragonfly Prophecy by Jacquelyn Castle

22 Nov

Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
Publisher: Class Act Books (July 19, 2011), Format: Kindle Edition, File Size: 432 KB (290 pages), ASIN: B005DJA6QG

Lexi is an average teenage girl, with the dream life until she discovers that in fact she is very different and things are not what they appear.  First she wonders what is wrong with her, why does she keep fainting?   Then things soon start coming apart. Before long she realizes she has super powers and she needs to come to turn with what is happening to and around her.

The Dragonfly Prophecy is Jacquelyn Castle’s debut novel.  It is a contemporary fantasy, but instead of the usual vampires, etc, the heroine has super-powers. The setting is on today’s earth but it also includes an alternate universe and the story alternates back and forth.  The story is told in the first person narrative with the voice and thoughts of the main protagonist, Lexi, a 17 year old girl.

The story was interesting and kept me guessing right up until the end. The story centers around her conflicting love between two boys, each in a different universe. As the story unfolds, we get a feeling that one of them is not who he says.  The story is a good effort by a new author, but I felt that some of the writing was forced. I would have liked to see more adjectives used to describe Lexi and her friend’s communications other than shrieking and yelling. I found that the ending seemed to be cut a bit short and the whole episode revolving around Evangeline seemed forced. This book is a good Young Adult fiction with an original concept in contemporary fantasy.

I was engaged right up until the final conclusion with what was going happen and how Lexi was going to resolve her conflict. There was plenty of action and the plot line was well executed. If you are looking for something different in this genre, then I recommend you try out this new author.

To Purchase: “The Dragonfly Prophecy” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

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Posted in 2 Treasure Boxes, Book Review, Contemporary Fantasy, Goodreads, Kindle, Young Adult

 

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins

19 Nov

This entry is part 3 of 5 in the series The Underland Chronicles

Book Review: 3 Treasure Boxes
Third Book in the Underland Chronicles
Publisher: Listening Library, Listening Length: 7 hours and 47 minutes (368 pages), ASIN: B000DN5UQI

The plague is killing people in the Underland in a very gruesome and horrific manner. When Gregor and Boots where called to the Underland, Gregor’s mother insisted on accompanying them, but she became ill with the plague while visiting. It is up to 12 year old Gregor, as the warrior, to find the cure and save his mother and friends from death.

This is the third of five books in The Underland Chronicles. It is a fantasy book aimed at 9 to 12 year olds, but can also be classified as Young Adult. The story primarily takes place on earth in the Underland, far below New York City. The story is told in the third person narrative from the point of view of the main protagonist, Gregor. Suzanne Collins has also written The Hunger Games plus a couple of other books written for youths.

This book examines discrimination and it shows the evil that can come about when people are influenced by the terrible belief that others are inferior. Gregor is given hints that the cure for the plague may not be quite what it seems and as the story unfolds we are able to see that this is true. The characters are endearing, especially Gregor and Boots. The story is well told and grabs our attention from the first page and keeps us engaged right up to the last page.

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods is a standalone story, but it also left a few loose ends.  I will be reading the next book in the series to see how these all tie together.  I recommend this series, but it is quite graphic and at times sad, so I do not recommend it for young children.

To purchase: “Gregor And The Curse Of The Warmbloods” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

5 Comments

Posted in 3 Treasure Boxes, Book Review, Fantasy, Goodreads, Public Library, Young Adult

 

Blood’s Voice by Áine P Massie

15 Nov

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series House Millar

Book Review: 0 treasure box/trash can
First book in House Millar
Publisher: Geas Publishing; 1 edition (June 1, 2011), Format: Kindle Edition, File Size: 491 KB (400 pages), ASIN: B005405MYK

Anya Millar has been a vampire for several hundreds of years, but she has amnesia and cannot remember her past, all she knows for certain is that she will not feed off humans. One of her special gifts is her voice, and not because she can carry a beautiful tune, but because it is a weapon that can be used to control or even kill people, including other vampires.

Blood’s voice is the first book written by a new author and it is the first book in a proposed series. It is a contemporary fantasy told in the first person narrative by the main protagonist, Anya Millar.

I think it is admirable that Ms. Massie is trying to portray the vampires of House Millar as nice, considerate creatures, albeit still showing how dangerous they can be. I find it hard to believe that vampires who have been around for hundreds of years would talk and act like teenagers. The book was really slow to get anywhere. Everyone calls everyone silly; it was used at least 49 times. The editing and grammar were unpolished which I found distracting. At times, I thought the story was derivative of Twilight, but it did have a few original and interesting ideas.

I thought there were some redeeming qualities about this book, but I also found a few problems which is why I gave it a zero rating. If you are a big Twilight fan, then you might enjoy this book, since it is similar in numerous ways. Both are kind of slow moving and aimed at young adolescents, in both the vampires can walk around in the daytime and the vampire protagonists do not feed on humans. I will not be reading the next book in the series.

To purchase: “Blood’s Voice” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

 

 

 

To purchase: “Blood’s Voice” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

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Posted in 0 Treasure Box, 0 Trash Can, Book Review, Contemporary Fantasy, Goodreads, Kindle, Young Adult

 

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