The Beyonders series by Brandon Mull

Jason and Rachel, middle-school-aged strangers from Washington and Colorado, find themselves in a mysterious new world, Lyrian. They learn that they have been summoned as heroes with the potential to save Lyrian, which has nearly been conquered by ruthless Emperor Maldor. Feeling under-qualified and far from anyone's hero, Jason and Rachel embark on a perilous quest that could either lead to their own destruction or save the world.

I very much enjoyed this adventure. I love Brandon Mull's Fablehaven books; Beyonders is similar in the fantasy and magic but written for a slightly more mature audience, which I liked. Throughout the series I was somewhat skeptical of how Jason, a completely average 13-year old kid, could save Lyrian; it seemed a little far-fetched. However, by the end, I was won over and actually inspired by how a normal, even unremarkable, person can effect change for the better. It doesn't take a powerful person to have a positive impact on the world around them. This should be a lesson for everyone to not sit idly through life; take a stand and change your world for the better! Anywho, I'll get off my soapbox, but I liked how Mull's characters were relatable, everyday people who have the courage to do what's right. Really the only negative I have with these books is about the pace of the story, which seemed to drag at times. Overall, fun, adventurous stories that both kids and adults will enjoy!

4 out of 5 stars

The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

If you've read the Percy Jackson series and enjoyed it, you'll definitely like The Heroes of Olympus. This series picks up not too far after the Percy Jackson series ends; the gods are at war with their two selves, their Greek against their Roman aspects. We are introduced to an entirely new Roman camp of demigods that has been kept secret from the Greek Camp Half-Blood, due to the Greeks' and Romans' inability to get along. The ancient Gaea, aka Mother Earth, is awakening and seeks to control the world. In order to heal the gods and thwart Gaea's rise to power, the Greek and Roman demigods must learn to work together.

Lots of action, humor, and fascinating mythology. I really enjoyed these books and loved the characters. I've always liked Greek mythology and I love how these books help teach old stories to a new generation of readers in such a fun way. I've seen that Rick Riordan has also written a series that goes into Egyptian mythology, which I know hardly anything about but think would be absolutely fascinating to read. They're called the Kane Chronicles, if anyone wants to go look them up. Overall I can definitely recommend this fun series!!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ever After High series by Shannon Hale

 So, my favorite author, Shannon Hale, just keeps coming out with awesome stuff. I'm such a fan of fairy tales so naturally I'm going to like a whole series based off them. This is a series based off a line of Bratz dolls. Ever After High is a school where the children of fairy tale characters come to learn how to embrace their destiny. When students come of age they sign their name in the Book of Legends, which binds them to live the story of their parent. Apple White, Snow White's daughter, is eager to sign the book and fulfill her destiny. She finds comfort in knowing that she will have her happily ever after so long as she does what is expected of her. Raven Queen, the Evil Queen's daughter, on the other hand, doesn't want her destiny. She doesn't want to be evil and wants the freedom to choose her own future. When Raven doesn't sign the book, the whole school is thrown into chaos.

In book 2, Raven's best friend Maddie, daughter of the Mad Hatter, is accused of freeing, albeit accidentally, the Jabberwock from it's prison. Raven and Apple must work together to prove her innocence to keep her from being banished from Ever After.

In book 3, the Jabberwock is free and wrecking havoc on Ever After, turning things mad and trying to make it more like Wonderland. Everyone is changed except the 3 students from Wonderland (Maddie, Lizzie Hearts [Queen of Hearts' daughter], and Kittie Cheshire) and Cedar Wood (Pinnocchio's daughter). It is up to them to defeat the Jabberwock and undo the madness with which he is trying to change Ever After.

These books are like the reading equivalent of cotton candy. Light, sweet, lots of fun, but perhaps not as much content as you might imagine. I definitely enjoyed reading them. The narration is very silly and I love the interpretation of the fairy tales manifested in the characters. Maddie is so enjoyable, and really all of the characters have something interesting about them. If I were in about 6th or 7th grade these would probably be my favorite books ever. I have to admit, it was a little embarrassing reading these books on the elliptical at the gym because each page is fringed in hot pink and purple. People might wonder at my reading abilities if I keep bringing books written for children with me... Ha, stay tuned for my next Shannon Hale book; just finished it this afternoon. Only took me about 20 minutes since it's a young children's chapter book. :)

Good reads! Even for adults. Very light-hearted and fun. Especially enjoyable for fellow fairy tale enthusiasts like myself.

4 stars

(I feel like I'm giving a lot of 4 star ratings lately, but I really think it's because I'm almost exclusively reading stuff that I know I'll like. Who wants to waste time reading books they won't enjoy?? I hope it doesn't diminish the value of my 4 star rating.)

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Every November, on the little island of Thisby, the Scorpio Races are held. On the backs of wild water horses, riders compete in a deadly race. The legendary capaill uisce are bloodthirsty and can never be fully tamed. Each year there are casualties of the race. Kate "Puck" Connolly races to save her home and keep her family together. Sean Kendrick, 4 time race winner, races to win the money to keep his best friend--his horse, a capaill uisce. Together they help each other train for the race, knowing that only one can win. Assuming, of course, that they even survive.

I really enjoyed this book. It was dark and compelling. The story moved a little slowly in the first half, but after awhile I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The legend of the water horses is one I've never heard before. They are violent and dangerous, fast and wild and free. I was simultaneously intrigued and revolted by them. I loved the two main characters, Puck and Sean, and enjoyed both of their stories, particularly when they joined. Definitely would recommend this one!!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

This was an interesting little story about 2 misfit high schoolers who find love. Eleanor comes from a broken home; her mother is in an abusive marriage, she's the oldest of several siblings, and they are extremely poor. She's overweight, her clothes are tattered and made for boys, and lacks the very basic essentials to maintain proper hygiene.

Park is the oldest of 2 children, his parents are together and his home life is stable. He is passionate about comics and music and tries to keep his head down at school so he doesn't get made fun of.

They meet on the school bus on Eleanor's first day. Park was the only kid on the bus who would let her sit with him, and he wasn't happy about it. They slowly become friends through their shared interest in the comic books Park brings to read on the way to and from school.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. It's a sweet story about first love, but I kept waiting for something to happen. There's not much of a conflict for the characters to work out, so it was a little slow and predictable for me. I liked Park a lot. Eleanor was kind of hard for me to read about, but that's probably because she had some of the same insecurities that I had when I was young, so it was like getting in my own head during my most vulnerable years (aka middle school, which pretty much sucks for everyone).

Overall, sweet little love story. Not much action, which is fine as long as you know that's what you're in for.

3 out of 5 stars

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Wowza! This was a roller coaster of a book! I've been meaning to read "Gone Girl" for awhile but it's always been checked out since they announced there would be a movie. Just watched the trailer, by the way, and it looks good. I love Rosamund Pike; I've always wished she was in more movies and I think she'll be a perfect Amy.

On the morning of their 5th wedding anniversary, Nick comes home to the front door hanging open, signs of a struggle in their living room, and his wife Amy missing. The police investigation goes south and all evidence suggests the husband is a killer, while Nick insists he is innocent.

There are so many plot twists that it's hard to write much of a review without giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say that I was hooked and kept guessing throughout the story. There's quite a bit of language, so much that I had to seriously monitor my normally clean speech because I constantly had the book's tone in my head. In general, I found the story a touch disturbing, but this could be because I read it mostly in the middle of the night while nursing my newborn. I would probably recommend reading this during daylight hours. :)

Overall a very good read!

4 out of 5 stars

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

It's been a few weeks since I read this delightful book so some of the details may be sketchy. This was recommended by my good friend, a recommendation for which I am grateful because otherwise I probably would never have found this story. I love getting good suggestions from people so if any of you readers have a book you loved I want to hear about it!

Bernadette is an eccentric, middle-aged woman living in Seattle with her husband and daughter, Bee. Her husband is a big shot working at Microsoft and their daughter attends a small private school. Bernadette is a famous architect, though she hasn't worked in years, since before they moved to Seattle. She hates Seattle, all the parents of the kids at Bee's school, and her neighbors, and pretty much everything about life at the moment, except for her family. One day, after a confrontation with her husband and a shrink, Bernadette goes missing. This book is a compilation of letter, emails, observations, and journal entries, all put together by Bee in an effort to find her mother.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was different; the characters were all interesting, Bernadette is especially endearing, and the method with which the story is told was refreshing. There were parts that rambled on a bit long and lost my attention, but for the most part this was a very fun read!

4 out of 5 stars

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

This was a very cool book. My husband is obsessed with Brandon Sanderson's work but I've always been a little intimidated by them, mostly because the books are all absolutely gigantic and teeny tiny print. I couldn't imagine really getting into them. But my sister in law recommended this one and she and I have pretty similar tastes in literature so I thought I'd give it a try. Boy am I glad I did because Steelheart is fantastic!!

Sadly, it's the first of (I believe) a trilogy so there are plenty of loose ends at the finish. Typically I won't start a series that isn't already finished because there's nothing worse than cliffhangers when you don't have the next book handy. Thankfully, this one wraps things up enough so you're not out-of-your-mind-crazy for the next one, but still want more.

Brief synopsis: People have been gifted with powers that turn them evil and they become the rulers of the world; they're called Epics. One particularly powerful and evil Epic is Steelheart, who has turned the area previously known as Chicago into his domain. Steelheart is supposed to be impossible to hurt, let alone kill, but David, an 18 year old, is the lone witness in the destruction of a bank where he was wounded. David, convinced he can discover how to kill Steelheart and get revenge for his father's death, seeks out the Reckoners, a group of rebels who kill Epics whenever they can. Together he knows they can fight to end Steelheart's grip on the city.

This was certainly a page-turner, jam packed with action with a healthy dose of humor. Can't wait for the sequel!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Dangerous by Shannon Hale

I am currently experiencing an extremely rare moment when my newborn and my toddler are asleep at the same time. Highly unusual because my toddler doesn't nap anymore (man, grocery shopping really wiped her out today!) and my newborn rarely sleeps anywhere but my arms, so this post will be quick.

Just finished this new book by Shannon Hale, my favorite author, this morning. Quite different from anything else she's done but as usual it was very entertaining. Dangerous stars a girl named Maisey Danger Brown, an intelligent home-schooled girl with only one arm who wins a trip to an astronaut camp from a contest off the back of a cereal box. Camp turns out to be something more than the standard, and she and 4 others are gifted with supernatural powers, intended for them to save the world from an alien invasion.

Yes, very different from Hale's typical fairy tale, happily ever after stories. Lots of action and plot twists. I was engaged for the entire ride. Definitely recommend!

4 out of 5 stars

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Well this was an interesting book. The summary on the back describes it as a a love story between two dueling magicians, but I don't think that is an accurate description at all.

There are two timeless magicians, both male, who have enjoyed over the centuries taking on an apprentice each, then having them duel to see who is the greater teacher. They find Celia and Marco while they are children and train them individually to be the best magicians possible. True magicians, not the tricks and illusions usually found in circuses. The Night Circus is the venue in which Celia and Marco are to perform their magic.

It's kind of hard to write a description of this book because it's very artsy and magical and isn't really about any one thing. Celia and Marco do fall in love, but this isn't a love story. There is a diverse array of interesting characters, so it doesn't even feel right to say this is their story. It's more the circus's story than anyone else. The circus is constantly on the move, staying only in one city for a couple of days before moving on, and changes those who encounter it. By the time I was finished reading I wished I could go to the circus. I've never been before; the closest I've come is a carnival or fair, which isn't the same thing.

Overall I definitely liked this book. It was different from anything else I've read and it truly was magical and dreamlike. It was a little slow moving, and I was confused for awhile because it didn't seem to be following what I expected based off the summary I read, but I eventually decided to just go with the flow and try to enjoy wherever the circus took me.

4 out of 5 stars

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

I think I read Blackmoore back in January or so, and details are definitely fuzzy! I have got to stay on top of these book reviews!! I have read exactly one other book by Julianne Donaldson, Edenbrooke, which is spectacular. One of the few books (ever) that I have read back-to-back just because I wanted to savor it a little more. Blackmoore, while definitely a good read, wasn't quite as good.

Our star is Kate, a young Regency woman who knows she will never marry and dreams of escaping to India with her aunt. Her mother, however, has other plans. They strike a bargain in which Kate will be allowed to go to India only after she has received and declined 3 marriage proposals. To help her in this achievement, Kate gets the help of her long-time best friend Henry. However, problems come up when she realizes she just might be in love with him... Now how will she ever get to India??

Blackmoore is a real page-turner; I couldn't put it down and finished within a day or so. I really grew to care about Kate. She has the misfortune of being stuck with a truly horrible family, particularly her mother. She's desperate to go to India and avoid marriage because the only examples of marriage she's seen are from her mother (who is completely unrespectable in every way) and her older sister (who scandalously ran off with some guy). When she realizes she might have feelings for her friend, instead of acting on them, she does what she thinks is best for him and his situation and locks her heart away. I respect her for making hard choices and trying to do what she thinks is right. She was dealt some significant difficulties and, in my opinion, rose to the occasion. She gets a really great happy ending, though it was a little different from what I had expected.

Definitely a great read. Fast, enjoyable, and feel-good. You might need tissues handy as well, if I remember correctly... :)

4 out of 5 stars

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

I read this one back in January so a lot of the details are kind of fuzzy. I heard about Labor Day from a list of books that were being made into movies in 2014. From the synopsis, I thought this sounded like my kind of book: lonely single mom meets a handsome escaped criminal, a bit of romance, add a splash of danger, mix it up with a mother-son family relationship, and you have a potentially great story. Sadly, things didn't play out like I hoped they would.

First off, the whole book is told from the perspective of the 13-year old son, which immediately eliminates any possibility of experiencing the falling-in-love aspect that drew me to the story in the first place. It's not like I'm looking for steamy romance or anything (I'd read cheap romance novels if that's what I was hoping for), but I like to be inside the head of the person falling in love. Hear their thoughts and feel their emotions. Without that, what's the point??

So, given the fact that the entirety of the story is viewed through the male 13-year-old lenses, it wasn't a bad book. The characters were decent; you quickly grow to care for the escaped convict and hope for the happiest of endings for him and the mother, and the son is fairly relatable. I mostly was just disappointed because I had high hopes for a really juicy and satisfying love story and it certainly wasn't that. Ah well...maybe the movie version will spice things up a bit. After all, it does star Kate Winslet and she's amazing.

3 out of 5 stars

Natural Childbirth After Cesarean by Karis Crawford

I am so far behind on blogging! My 2-year old doesn't nap anymore and I'm having a hard time getting any uninterrupted laptop time without that special quiet part of the day. I've read a few others before this book but I want to get this one out of the way first.

I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and trying to get ready for baby #2 to join our family. My first was delivered by c-section and I'm really wanting to avoid doing that again. My sister-in-law recommended this book she read while trying for a VBAC and I must admit I devoured it. No libraries in the area had it so I got it through interlibrary loan from a library in Missouri. Unfortunately that meant I couldn't renew it or anything, and I kind of wanted to read through some parts again. 

I really liked the general ideology of the authors. They weren't too "crunchy" for my tastes and had a pretty reasonable view of doctors, hospitals, and medications. And by reasonable I mean they weren't super pushy about any one way, acknowledging that every pregnancy and birth is different and different methods work for different people. Overall I loved reading all the stories of women who have had c-sections and worked to make their second (or third) birth a better experience. My c-section was totally unavoidable and I have no guilt or angry feelings toward what happened. In fact, I am incredibly thankful for the technology that is available because without it my daughter (and possibly myself) most likely would have died had we tried to birth naturally. But everything looks normal and healthy this time around and I really want to try and have this baby non-surgically. I'm not totally opposed to an epidural, though the authors of this book encourage other methods of pain relief because epidurals can slow down the birthing process, which can sometimes lead to repeat c-sections; but mostly I want to try and have this baby with the least amount of intervention possible. I've never been in labor before so I can't predict how I might handle it, so when I get there and if I want an epidural, I'll get an epidural and not feel bad about it. I'm not making any rules for myself that I might not be able to keep. 

My whole life I've had this general fear of childbirth. In the movies and on tv, it's shown as this absolutely agonizing ordeal, with the woman screaming and cursing her husband. When I got pregnant with my daughter I thought for sure I'd have to face my fear of childbirth, but then I had a c-section... I'm still somewhat apprehensive, but the more I read books like this one the more empowered I feel. Women have been having babies since the beginning of the human race and we haven't died out as a species, so it can't really be all that bad. If the millions of women before me can do it, I can do it too. It's not going to be easy, but I know I can do hard things. I did a triathlon just before getting pregnant and I've stayed active this whole pregnancy, and I believe that those things will help with my mental and physical endurance. 

I think my very favorite part of this book is in one of the last chapters. After telling story after story of women who successfully had a VBAC and spending chapters going over the best methods to avoid repeat cesareans, they close the book by stressing that no matter what preparation you put into your labor experience, you can't control everything. Sometimes the unexpected happens and there's nothing you can do about it. Maybe you'll end up with another c-section. And that's ok. You have not failed as a woman or mother because things didn't end up just the way you wanted. It is so important to accept your experience as it is, without attaching blame or holding onto regret or anger or guilt. You are amazing for doing everything you could to bring life into this world, no matter how it happened. 

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has experienced a c-section and wants to try for a VBAC. Definitely an empowering book.

5 out of 5 stars

Divergent series by Veronica Roth

I've been rereading a lot of my favorites lately, hence the lack of blogging. I actually finished the first two parts of the Divergent trilogy months ago but there was a wicked-long wait for Allegiant at the library. Now that I've finished, I can't say I'm all that impressed with the series as a whole. It has a few redeeming qualities, but overall I don't think Veronica Roth distinguishes her novels to stand out among the vast collection of other dystopian trilogies out there.

Definitely my favorite book of the three is Divergent, where we are introduced to Beatrice "Tris" Prior and the world in which she lives. Each year, all 16-year-olds take an aptitude test that will tell which faction he or she is best suited for. The brave go to Dauntless, the honest to Candor, the peaceful to Amity, the smart to Erudite, and the selfless to Abnegation. Tris's results are inconclusive, revealing an aptitude for 3 different factions. Unfortunately, it's not safe to be different and Tris must hide who she is if she wants to survive. She joins Dauntless, meets Tobias and other friends who help her realize her strength and desire for justice in the world.

Insurgent is all about revolution; the people rise up against their oppressors and strive to make their city better for everyone.

Allegiant continues after the revolution reveals that nothing has truly changed because the problems run deeper than they realized. Tris and co. learn what's outside their city and continue to fight the good fight for freedom.

My primary problems with the series are mostly in book 3, Allegiant, though Insurgent isn't too fantastic either. I felt the overall story (in book 3) was really weak. Its basically book 2 plot but on a larger scale. The main characters are running around the whole book but not accomplishing anything. Their end-all solution to the "bad guys" in charge who are about to do horrible things is just as unethical and wrong as what the bad guys are doing. If I'm going to root for the underdogs, they better have the moral high ground. It's inconsistent because, in the previous books, Tris and her friends do honor ethics, so it's weird that they all of the sudden abandon right and wrong in the name of the greater good.

I also don't enjoy what Roth does to the main character in the end. I don't want to give any obvious spoilers, but I'm an advocate for happy endings and I can't think of a single character who truly got a happy ending. That's depressing. I also always liked Tris's brother, Caleb. While their relationship is rightfully strained, it annoys me how Tris never takes an opportunity to make amends with him until it's too late. What a waste.

I think the first book is probably the best because it feels new and different with lots of mysteries still to uncover. In book 3 all your questions are suddenly answered in the first several chapters, leaving no more intrigue and a weak story line. I'm disappointed in the series as a whole; it showed so much potential but lost momentum and became a trilogy that I will forget about in no time.

Divergent: 4 out of 5 stars
Insurgent: 3 out of 5 stars
Allegiant: 2 out of 5 stars