Book Review: Ballad

A Gathering of Faerie...

In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Ballad is Maggie Stiefvater's follow-up to Lament. And if Lament was amazing then I'm not even sure how to describe Ballad. Out of all five books that I've read, Ballad is my favorite. James and Deirdre have left their homes to live at a school for talented musicians.

James' amazing bagpipe music attracts the attention of Nuala. She is a faery and a muse. While giving inspiration, she also feeds on the creative energies of humans. James' fondness for Deirdre lessens as he becomes more attracted to Nuala.

Nuala has been around for a long time, dying and being reborn. She has often caught the eye of a human, but not until James as the attraction truly gone both ways. Both Dee and Nuala are in danger. Which one will James save? Or can he save them both?

Ballad is my absolute favorite book by Maggie Stiefvater, and the last time I met her, she said this was her favorite as well. (Although, I think that has changed with The Scorpio Races.) There's really nothing I can say to express just how incredible I think it is. And if I tried it would probably come out in an unflattering, fangirly way. I loved James. He was sweet and charming, and I loved reading his romance with Nuala. I liked Nuala from the start, even when I was unsure if she should be trusted.

Both Lament and Ballad were beautifully written, and I can't wait for more faery books from Maggie Stiefvater.

Read More

Book Review: Lament

The Faerie Queen's Deception...

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . .

Lament is a dark faerie fantasy that features authentic Celtic faerie lore, plus cover art and interior illustrations by acclaimed faerie artist Julia Jeffrey.

Maggie Stiefvater's debut, Lament, introduces us to Deirdre Monaghan, an amazingly gifted musician. Her instrument of choice, the harp. The biggest problem Deirdre is facing is her shyness which affects her ability to play in front of others.

Except... well... she only thinks that's her biggest problem. She's a cloverhand. This means that she's gifted with the sight. She can see faeries. Still... that's not her biggest problem. The problem would be the two faery assassins out to get her: Luke, a soulless faery, and the dark faery, Aodhan. Both are ordered to find and kill her. Why? Deirdre's music is starting to attract the attention of the faeries.

I love books about faeries, but I've become quite picky about them. I prefer that they stay true to old faery lore. And this one does, specifically Celtic lore. Maggie's writing is absolutely beautiful. The way she pieces the sentences together is almost lyrical.

Deirdre finds herself drawn to Luke, while her best friend, James, has fallen for Deirdre. Soon she finds herself stuck between both guys. I'm generally not a fan of love triangles. And I've always been able to find a clear frontrunner. But not here. I enjoyed both Luke and James, and I was unsure of who to root for. They were both great.

Her Wolves of Mercy Falls books are very popular. And I've read all three. It's my opinion that the faery books are even more incredible than wolfy ones. So I can only say read them and see for yourselves. Also, if you ever get a chance to meet Maggie at a signing, go!



I met Maggie shortly after Lament's release. This is when it was only available with the grey cover and no one had even heard of Shiver. The signing was in Baltimore, and I was the only one there. A few people stopped by to check out the book, but I was the only one hanging around the table. We talked, she played her harp, and I felt like a creeper. Haha! But she assured me my "stalking" was okay. I've gone to a few signings since, and she is hilarious!

Don't forget to check out her website and her blog. There is some amazing music written and performed by Maggie. And seriously check out her book trailers. She is very multi-talented.

Read More

Book Review: Hush, Hush

A Fallen Angel... A Forbidden Love...

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. 

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Hush, Hush is Becca Fitzpatrick's debut novel, and the first of her fallen angel series. The book starts by introducing the main character, Nora Grey, and her BFF, Vee, who couldn't be more different. Nora isn't interested in the boys at her school... until new kid, Patch, transfers.

But Patch isn't like the other boys. And not just because Nora is drawn to him. He's a fallen angel. He appears to be stalking Nora. And she's not sure if that makes him good or bad. She wants to trust him, but she isn't sure she can.

Nora Grey is about as interesting as her name. I will say that she's kinda like I was in high school. I was always trying to blend in and disappear. But I wasn't the main character in a book. So while I liked her, I was often bored with the storyline.

Enter Patch. If you read my Mortal Instruments reviews you know how I feel about Jace. My opinion of Patch is even lower. I didn't like him. I didn't trust him. His constant sexual innuendos weren't cute or funny. Maybe if there had been less. But several on every page was too much.

I grade my fictional boys like I do real boys. Patch is cocky and arrogant. He enjoys being a "bad boy". Pretty much everything that turns me off. I know disliking Patch is the odd opinion. Sorry guys... I have book two, Crescendo, on my shelf at home. Hush, Hush left me interested enough to pick up the sequel, but I'm not really inspired enough to read it. Maybe one day...

Read More

INKHEART

INKHEART
Inkheart Trilogy 1
By Cornelia Funke.
544 pages. Chicken House. £9.99. (Ages 10 and up)

ISBN
9781906427290

Rating: 4 Stars


This is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read; it is actually one of my favourites.
It is about a girl called Meggie and her father named Mo. Both of them love books and Mo is a bookbinder. Ten years ago when Meggie was only two something
happened. Meggie was reading a picture book and Mo was reading inkheart to her mother Resa when suddenly they found three men in the living room Mo chased them out with a sword but when he came back Resa had disapeared. After that day Mo seemed to always be taking Meggie on trips and she didn't now what for because she didn't remember that day. One day when they were going on a trip to her aunt Elinor Mo got captured by an evil man named Capricorn. Meggie and aunt Elinor went after him and ended up caught in the same trap as him and Meggie without thinking twice gave Capricorn the book he wanted so much. Then after Mo had already read a boy out of the book and some gold their trater as if to say sorry helped them and the boy to escape.

I think people who really like to read like me should read this book because the main character loves to read and because it is 564 pages long. I think ages 8,9,10,11,12, and thirteen should read this book. My favourite part is when Meggie reads the shadow their and it kills everyone who once killed or burned someone else and then died himself. I am definately going to give this book four out of five.

Read More

JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER

JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER
By Megan McDonald.
128 pages. Candlewick Press. $5.99. (Ages 6 and up)

ISBN
9780763653514

Rating: 4 Stars

I like the book because the book have more people in the story. and they make more thing's happened like Zeke is his new friend and stink is judy's little brother is finding big foot and . Judy is all was in a mood like her friend Amy is her name friend and rocky is best friend for ever and they go to Borneo so it is her and frank and stink porr Judy no friend one part is so funny that stink say frank and Judy sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g ...... and this wan to wen aunt Opal is Judy aunt wen she go to the cotes wen they want to go ate and Judy and stink sit on pop

Read More

THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Secret Series: Book 4
By Pseudonymous Bosch.
448 pages. Usborne Publishing Ltd. £5.99. (Ages 10 and up)

ISBN
9781409525882

This is an amazing book actually one of my favourites.

It’s about a girl called Cass and a boy called Max Ernest. Now right after Cass had left she had gotten another of those chocolates that made her mind go back in time. Max Ernest had told her not to but she still had she ate the chocolate. The second she ate the chocolate she fell to the floor completely unconscious. When Cass arrived in the past of her great grandfather, she saw a little boy who was calling to his father to help him down the tree. She thought she would help him down the tree. Without thinking twice went over to help him down the tree when suddenly she could hear him saying “goat.” When she listened harder she realised that he was actually saying “ghost.” Then she went over to have a look at her reflection but she was invisible.

And that’s just the start of the book!

My favourite part is when lord Pharaoh comes in to our world. I think this story has to morals don’t trust someone whose friends with a bad guy and don’t eat chocolate that’s given to you by a bad guy. I think ages 8, 9, and ten should read this book. This book was so good that I could barely put it down. This is a brilliant book and you are missing out on a lot of fun if you are not going to read it.

Read More

ICE PRINCESS

ICE PRINCESS
Skate School: Book 1
By Kay Woodward.
240 pages. Usbourne. £5.99. (Ages 9 and up)

ISBN
9780746099254

This is a really good book, actually one of my second favorites. Its about a young girl named Frankie who loves ice skating. And is once watched by a famous ice skater who thinks that she should try out for the Olympics. When Frankie reaches the place she's going to spend the next few months in she's amazed, and is even more amazed when she sees the beautiful ice rink.

Read More