Winter by Marissa Meyer

from goodreads

4 stars

So, this post was supposed to be done on Christmas Eve and totally wasn't. It seemed to be a pretty crammed day and I didn't even touch a computer until today. Our weekend didn't go as planned to do an unforeseen family circumstance, so it changed our Christmas plans slightly.

While I didn't get as much reading done as I would have liked I had a great Christmas and I am looking forward to a great New Year of reading and other fun things. The next big project is renovating part of our basement to become our new office and then our old office will become a bedroom for Miss G. We'll see how that goes.

I will do my best to do my regular Thursday post tomorrow. It might be a bit tight as we are going to watch Star Wars tomorrow morning! Very excited. But, if for some reason I don't get around to it, have a very Happy New Year!

Synopsis

This is the conclusion of the Lunar Chronicles Cinder and her friends infiltrate Luna in the hopes of bringing down the evil Queen Levana. This chapter of the Lunar Chronicles is loosely based off of Snow White.

My Thoughts

When it comes to an end of a series, especially one as fun and awesome as the Lunar Chronicles, either you will feel satisfied or you won't. There have been many endings where you are left feeling a bit jipped really and you feel a bit disappointed, or a lot disappointed. This was not the case at all with Winter. While it was not my favourite book of the series, I felt satisfied with how it ended. Everything got wrapped up in a way that made sense and stayed true to the series. It had romance, adventure, battles, deception, humour, the perfect blend of sci-fi and fairy tales. It was great!

The book is long. It is double the length of previous installments. The length came in part because of multiple/simultaneous story lines that caused some repetitiveness. It was helpful to help keep everything straight, but it did add to the length of the book. And we get it. Princess Winter is beautiful...you don't need to beat us over the head with it!

I found the last battle a bit drawn out and melodramatic. And, the fight was really intense and then just seemed to end which felt a bit anti-climatic.

I appreciated how well thought out the society of Luna was. It was interesting to learn of the different sectors and how things are labeled and what people do. This helped the characters become memorable and real.

My one other beef has nothing to do with the story it is more of the construction of the book. I get that 800+ pages is a lot of pages and that using normal paper would cause it to be super thick, but, the pages were almost too flimsy and I found it quite difficult sometimes to turn the pages as the paper would sometimes stick/turn together. I am not sure what they could do differently, but it was bit frustrating.

All in all, if you liked the rest of the series you will like Winter. While it is a bit more serious in tone there is still a playfulness that sets this series apart from all other dystopians. While it won't leave you in breathless awe it will not leave you disappointed. Now I think I will have to find the time and reread the series... I think I have my summer planned out!

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

from goodreads

5 stars

Summer is over and autumn has definitely settled in. I think autumn is one of my favourite seasons to read in. I obviously enjoy reading anytime of year, but there is something about autumn where you can curl up in your favourite chair with a cup of herbal tea and cozy socks that makes reading a pure joy.

My favourite place to read is in my love seat that is in front our big bay window. I get a lovely view of the tree lined street I live on and in the fall it is beautiful with brilliant oranges and yellows. So beautiful.

Synopsis

(I am stealing the synopsis from goodreads because it is just so good.)

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair's department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villains to justice...

My Thoughts

This book was simply a delight. I was drawn to it because of its gorgeous cover. And this book had everything great heroes, horribly mean villains, deception, street urchins, kidnapping, treason and more.

The backdrop which is almost a character to itself is the Sinclair department store that is about to open. The store is the biggest and fanciest store in all of London. It is full of dark stair cases, opulent show rooms and more. I would love to go there and walk around.

I love the characters. Sophie, who is an orphan, who is used to living more comfortably but is determined to make it. Lilian, who is from a well off family but wants to be an actress. And then a great cast of supporting characters. While the characters were young, young teens, there actions were appropriate. Sometimes books or t.v. shows who have young characters are not realistic in what they have them do (I'm speaking to you Arthur). This book was completely believable, especially given the time the book was set in (pre world war one).

While there were times in the mystery that seemed rather obvious it was still a fun and I would say sophisticated mystery and story. For those who are a bit sensitive there is a drugging, a shooting and an intentional murder. Though it is not gory and doesn't go into detail, it still happens.

I think this is the perfect book for your budding detective. I would recommend it for 11 and up. This is the first book in what is to be a series. I am really looking forward to the next installment.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

3 stars

I seem to be the type of reader that once I start a series I want to see it through to completion even if some of the books are sub par. There is a feeling of being incomplete that just irks me. I need to know what happens. The worst is when you have to wait for the next to be published. Sometimes it is nicer discovering a series once most of the books are already out. Then you can go through the series at your own pace without having to wait for the next ones.

Right now there are a few books that I'm waiting to be published. Since I have such a long list of other books I want to get through I don't feel the impatience I might ordinarily feel while waiting. Now I just need to make sure I remember the plot line once they are finally out!

Synopsis

This is a continuation of The Selection series. Fast forward 20 years in the future and it is now Maxim's and America's daughter Eadlyn's turn to be part of the selection.

My Thoughts

This was okay. While this series is in no way high brow and adventure packed there was something about the original series that sucked me in. I definitely considered it to be my guilty pleasure read. This addition to the series did not suck me in at all.

I found it really hard to like the main character, Eadlyn. I found her whiney and rather clueless. You would think with parents like America and Maxim she would be way more down to earth, but nope. She seemed to use her "power" to threaten people instead of help. I also didn't like how America seemed to change into being more in line with royal thinking instead of being her usual rebellious self. I know that as you grow older you tend not to rebel as much but I would still expect some boundaries to be pushed.

I also found it weird that America and Maxim's kids didn't know more about their parents story and their selection experience. You would have thought it was common knowledge.

I think it would have been nice if there was a book that bridged the two series. I would have liked to know more about how they dealt with the rebels and made change in their kingdom.

So this book was definitely not as fun to read as the others but it hasn't prevented me from wanting to read the next one when it comes out.

Ooh La La Polka-Dot Boots by Ellen Olson-Brown Illustrated by Christiane Engel

from goodreads

3 stars

March Break is here! Yay!!! While that means that all three children are home all day. I really don't mind. The older two play so nicely together I rarely see them except when they surface for some food. As for Miss P. well she does her own thing really. The only difference is there are more cries of horror from the older two when Miss P. touches some of their stuff.

I love March Break because it means no morning rush. People can get dressed when they want, brush their hair when they want and I can make lunch when I want. Which is at lunch time, not three hours before.

While we didn't have anything major planned for this week it is sure filling up. On the last day of school the girls spouted off lists of friends they wanted play dates with. And I mostly fulfilled their requests which means I'm super mom.

What do you like to do when the kids have a break from school?

Synopsis

This books shows how there are lots of different styles of dress and they are all good and how all styles get an extra humph from wearing polka-dot boots.

My Thoughts

Well, this book was rather mediocre. The illustrations are what really make it at all memorable. They are colourful and cute. Miss P. liked flipping the half page that showed the polka-dot boots.

As for the actual "story" well, it was fine. I just found the rhythm changed a lot so it was hard to get into a nice groove. It started off with a nice beat, but by the time you go to the part that was about the polka-dot boots it changed, and it changed differently every time. There was no continuity. While that is not a horrible thing, it bothered me as a reader.

I still recommend this book for younger readers as the illustrations are just so great.