The Conquest of the Ocean: An Illustrated History of Seafaring

Today's nonfiction post is on The Conquest of the Ocean: An Illustrated History of Seafaring by Brian Lavery. It is 400 pages long including a bibliography, index, and acknowledgments. It is published by DK. The cover is white with a golden sextant on it. The intended reader is someone who wants to know more about seafaring and the ocean. There is no sex, no language, and some descriptions of violence on this book. The story is told from third person with dairies, letters, and other first person narratives added in. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- For many years, the oceans that cover most of our planet were considered unimportant- even as late as the 19^th century the naturalist Charles Darwin dismissed them as 'a tedious waste, a desert of water.'

Yet the oceans have had a huge influence on our history, whether offering the possibility of migration or exploration, providing a livelihood and sustenance, enabling trade and transportation, hosting some of the most strategically important battles ever fought, or sparking a new generation of science and technology.
The Conquest of the Ocean explores the agonies, achievements, and adventures of sailors and their ships. What impact did the invention of the sea clock have on the life of a sailor? How did a man breaking his leg in Ohio lead to the birth of oceanography? Which naval leader dismissed the idea of a submarine as foolish?
Drawing on his expertise as one of the world's leading naval historians, Brain Lavery weaves together eyewitness accounts and illustrations to bring these stories of the sea vividly to life. Using paintings, photographs, maps, and objects alongside anecdotes and firsthand reports, he picks out key episodes in the history of seafaring and celebrates the experiences that have defined how our relationship with the sea has evolved.

Review- As someone who loves the ocean and was raised by a marine biologist, the history of the sea is interesting to me. Lavery does a good job with this broad topic. He takes the reader from the beginnings of seafaring all the way to present day. With the full maps, pictures, and art the images just become more defined. Using his sources wisely, Lavery helps the reader understand how important the ocean has been and will continue to be to humanity. Watching the evolution of sailing was interesting too. To go from ships that could only partly sail and partly be rowed to most advanced yachts of today over the course of the book. This book could have been overwhelming in its information, going from the beginnings of seafaring all the way to modern day, but Lavery keeps that under control. He gives the reader an overview of the topic but not every little detail. Still at times the chapters were very long with lots of names, places, and dates. Very interesting and good read.

 

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

MARS volume 2

Today's post is on MARS volume 2 by Fuyumi Soryo. It is the second in the MARS series and was published by Tokyopop. The cover has Kira one of the main character's on it. The intended reader is teen age girls but adult women would like this series too. There is no sex, mild language, and some intense situations. The story is told from the third person close of Kira. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Stolen Hearts
Rei promised Kira that he would protect her from anything and everything, but he never knew how soon his chance would come. When a conniving classmate steals Kira's original painting Rei quickly stands up for her, but his efforts are hardly rewarded. He gets kicked out of school, and now it looks like he might become a permanent dropout. Suddenly, “good girl” Kira finds herself in the middle of a bad situation. She'll need more than a little luck if she ever wants to rescue Rei and salvage her hopes for a future romance.

Review- The drama is in full swing. Kira's painting that she promised Rei is stolen and instead of going to someone like a teacher, Rei instead goes and beats the guy up in the middle of class. Then the upper classmen decide they cannot let that stand and try to beat Rei up back. Instead we get some insight into Rei's character. Rei just shuts down and scares the seniors into never touching him again. I think that Kira's reaction to this is very interesting. She does not really react at all. She is not shocked or afraid of Rei. She is just worried about him. Because of all the drama Kira learns more about Rei and that is what makes her afraid. She is afraid to ask him more about himself and afraid to not know. Very dramatic. I am enjoying the drama. Soryo art's is so good. It is interesting to read about an artist drawing as you watch her draw. It ends with Rei trying to deal with his brother's sucide and the student who stole from Kira jumping off the roof of their school. So much teenage angst.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Body & Soul

Today’s post is on Body & Soul by Stacey Kade. It is the last book in her Ghost and the Goth trilogy; as such you need to have read the first two in order to understand the story. It is 316 pages long and is published by Hyperion. The cover has the two main characters on it walking hand in hand towards a light. The intended reader is young adult, likes ghost stories, and love stories. There is mild language, no sex, and some violence in this novel. The story is told from the first person perspective of the two main character’s moving from one to the other by chapter. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The Ghost: I’ve been trapped in the body of Lily ‘Ally’ Turner for a month now. Talk about a fashion crisis on an epic scale. What worries more, though, is sometimes I catch Will looking at me as is he thinks I’m Lily… or wishes I were. Without the good looks of my former self, I don’t know who I am, or if who that is, is good enough. I need out of this mess. Now.
Will and I have been looking for a solution, one that would separate me from Lily without killing her. But it’s not going well. Then, when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, we run into Misty, my former best friend and boyfriend-stealer extraordinaire, who claims that she’s being haunted… by me. Seriously?
I’m determined to get to the bottom of who’s pretending to be the spirit of Alona Dare (While I’m pretending to be someone else), and then get the heck out of this body. Or die trying…

The Goth: I’ll admit it. It’s really weird to look at Alona but see Lily. I do know the difference,, contrary to what Alona might be saying. And Alona is more than a pretty face to me, not that she would believe that. Our one lead for some help in this messed-up situation might be a page torn from the yellow pages- the “Psychics” section- that I found in my dad’s old stuff. One of the fakes seems a bit more real- and odd- than the others. Before I can investigate further, though, Alona is off and chasing a ghost that’s probably nothing more than a figment of Misty’s guilty imagination.
Now Lily’s family is freaking out because she didn’t come home, my mom is ordering me to stay out of it, and something is definitely wrong with the person formerly known as Lily “Ally” Turner.

Review- This series started out so funny with a sharp plot. But it ended with a sigh. Kade did not tie up any of the loose ends in this series. We still do not know anything about the world at large, about the Order, why Will’s dad killed himself. The only thing that was ended was Alona being a ghost. At the end she is still in Lily Turner’s body and now she can see ghosts herself. Everything about this book was just not what I was hoping for. I am fine with Alona and Will ending up together but I wanted more. I think that maybe Kade was going to write more books in this series but it just did not pan out. And the readers are the ones who lose. All that good setting, dialog, and tension are just done. This makes me wonder about reading more by Kade. Because what if this is the way that she wanted to finish the series. Read the first book and enjoy it but skip the others.

I give this book a Two out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist's Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults

Today's Nonfiction post is on The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist's Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults by Frances E. Jensen and Amy Ellis Nutt. It is 384 pages long including notes, index, bibliography, and is published by HarperCollins. The cover is red with a pair of earbuds on either side of the title. The intended readers are parents, teachers, librarians, and maybe even teenagers themselves. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The book is written from the first person voice of Jensen with third person added in with information, stories, and other voices for more knowledge. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Driven by the assumption that brain growth was pretty much complete by the time a child began kindergarten, scientists believed for years that the adolescent brain was essentially an adult one- only with fewer miles on it. Over the last decade, however, the scientific community has learned that the teen years encompass vitally important stages of brain development.

Motivated by her experience of parenting two teenage boys, neurologist Frances E. Jensen, M.D., gathers what we've discovered about adolescent brain functioning, wiring, and capacity and, in this groundbreaking book, explains how these eye-opening findings not only dispel myths about the teenage years, but also yield practical suggestions.
Interweaving clear summary and analysis of research data with anecdotes drawn from her years as a parent, clinician, and public speaker, Dr. Jensen explores adolescent brain functioning and development in the contexts of learning and multitasking, stress and memory, sleep, addiction, and decision making.
Rigorous yet accessible, warm yet direct, The Teenage Brain sheds new light on the brains of adolescents and young adults, and analyzes this knowledge to share specific ways in which parents and educators can help them navigate their way more smoothly into adulthood.

Review- This was a very interesting and easy to read book. I love brain stuff because it is just so interesting but if you have never read anything about the human brain this a great book to start with. Jensen and Nutt make this so accessible, interesting, and informative. They explain terms, tests, and give picture with the information so that the reader can see and understand what they are writing about. This could have been a very difficult read but I think that Nutt helped make it very readable. Jensen has decades of working with children and adolescents to backup her data. Nutt is a writer for  Scientific American. The chapters are broken up by the things that teens and young adults could get into that would affect their brains. Reading about what growing up in an environment with smoking or drinking or abuse does to the brain was both interesting and frightening. Seeing the brains of people who had that versus the ones that did not was very eye-opening. If you know anything about brain science you will enjoy this book like I did. The author's also include some history about how children, adolescents, and young adults have been seen by society.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

MARS volume 1

Today's post is on MARS volume 1 by Fuyumi Soryo. It was published by Tokyopop. The cover has one of the main character's Rei on it. The intended reader is teenage girls but both sexes can read it and enjoy. There is some mild language, talk and the start of a sexual assault, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from third person god perspective with character's thoughts added for plot and character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Star-Crossed Lovers

Kira and Rei might as well be from different planets. She's a shy art student, afraid of boys and hated by her classmates. He's a rebellious motorcycle racer with girls dropped left and right just to talk to him. Their lives become intertwined when Kira asks Rei to model for her and, to everyone's surprise, he agrees. As these two battle their personal demons and the pressures of their classmates, they learn to not only love each other, but themselves.

Review- This was one of the first manga I ever read. It has all the teen drama. We have opposites, jealously, bullying, twins, abusive homes, teen sex, you name it MARS has it. I loved it when I was 19 to 20. So I am hoping that I will love it now. The first volume of MARS introduces some of those themes I just listed. Kira is very shy so people think that they can take advantage of her. I know why but seeing her being assaulted by the teacher is still as shocking today as it was when I first read it. I like Rei better than from what I remember the first time. I see a broken kid without the love that he needs to handle his problems. Kira is not as much of a doormat as the blurb makes her to be. I think that because if she really wants something she speaks up. Like about getting Rei to model for her. She loves her art more than her fear. And that is what makes this story move forward. Kira being willing to risk for her art. I look forward to all the drama I know it coming.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought with manga with my own money.

In The After Light

Today's review is on In The After Light by Alexandra Bracken. It is the last book in her The Darkest Minds trilogy. It is 535 pages long and is published by Hyperion. The cover is purple-black with a yellow crescent moon in the center. The intended reader is someone who has read the first two volumes, likes dystopian stories, and teens with powers. There is some language, talk of sex, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character Ruby. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Ruby can't look back. Fractured by unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. Only Ruby can keep their highly dangerous prisoner in check. But with Clancy Gray, there's no guarantee you're fully in control, and everything comes with a price.

When the Children's League disbands, Ruby rises up as a leader and forms an unlikely allegiance with Liam's brother, Cole, who has a volatile secret of his won. There are still thousands of other Psi kids suffering in government “rehabilitation camps” all over the country. Freeing them- revealing the government's unspeakable abuses in the process- is the mission Ruby has claimed since her her own escape from Thurmond, the worst camp in the country.
But not everyone is supportive of the plan Ruby and Cole craft to free the camps. As tensions rise, competing ideals threaten the mission to uncover the cause of IAAN, the disease that killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others with powers the government will kill to keep contained. With the fate of a generation in their hands, there is no room for error. One wrong move could be the spark that sets the world on fire.

Review- This was a good ending to a good trilogy. Bracken ties up most of the loose ends. If she wants to come back and write more in this world she can. I hope that she does. Where IAAN comes from was unsurprising to me but I do think that was a good choice. I was really annoyed with Liam in this book. I wanted to be easier on him but I just could not be. I really wanted Ruby to not be with him at the end of the book but I understand that is part of this. One thing that did surprise me was the low death toll. Only one major character dies in this book and only two overall. In this post Hunger Games world, that was nice and unexpected. I still really enjoyed the story. The narration is strong, the writing is solid, and the dialog is believable. I like how Bracken handles Clancy in the end. I think that Ruby did a lot of growing over the course of the trilogy. But if Bracken comes back to this world I would want it to be after about 20 to 40 years. I want to see what the kids who have the powers now are dealing with a parents. I want to know if their children will be like them. If Bracken comes back I will read it and I look forward to reading whatever she puts out next. I also love that the titles make a full sentence- The darkest minds never fade in the after light. I really liked that.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime

Today’s post is on The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime by Miles Harvey. It is 405 pages long including notes and it published by Random House. The cover has the title and author’s name in a frame like a map legend. The intended reader is someone who is interested in cartography, true crime, and history. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of the author. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The Island of Lost Maps is the story of a curious crime spree: the theft of scores of valuable centuries-old maps from some of the most prominent research libraries in the United States and Canada. The perpetrator was the Al Capone of cartography, a man with the unlikely name of Gilbert Bland, Jr., an enigmatic antiques dealer from south Florida whose cross-country slash-and-dash operation went virtually undetected until he was caught in December 1995.
This is also the spellbinding story of author Miles Harvey’s quest to understand America’s greatest map thief, a chameleon who changed careers and families without ever looking back. Gilbert Bland was a cipher, a blank slate- for Harvey, journalistic terra incognita. Filling in Bland’s life was like filling in a map, and grew from an investigation into an intellectual adventure.
Harvey listens to the fury of the librarian from whom Bland stole. He introduces us to America’s foremost map mogul, a millionaire maverick who predicted the boom in map collecting. He retraces Bland’s life, from his run-ins with the law to his troubled service in Vietnam. And finally, with the aid of an FBI agent, Harvey discovers the Island of Lost Maps. The deeper Miles Harvey investigates, the more we are drawn into this fascinating subculture of collectors, experts, and enthusiasts, all of them gripped by an obsession both surreal and sublime. Capturing that passion in perfect pitch, The Island of Lost Maps is an intriguing story of exploration, craftsmanship, villains, and the lure of the unknown.

Review- I found this book fascinating. I love history, true crime, and maps myself. I live near the ocean so I understand that siren call of the sea. I am a librarian so I understand the outrage about what Bland did. And I like well written books, this was one. Harvey takes the reader on a strange journey through time from the beginning of map making to the most modern methods to mapping the sea floor. The thief Gilbert Bland is not really important to the story. He is why it was started, he did steal from students, researches, and the tax payers, but he is not really important. I felt that was just like his life. Bland was there but not really important. That has caused pain to his family but Bland does not really care about that either. Harvey is much more interesting than Bland. Bland hid from everyone, Harvey goes to meet new people to learn more about maps from. Bland did not care about the maps or map making. Harvey finds insiders who are willing to give him some of their time so that he can understand. Bland is very boring. Harvey is moving, learning, and all in all much more interesting. Read this book for Harvey, the maps, and history because just like in his life Gilbert Bland is just not there.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Mars: Horse with No Name

Today's review is on MARS: Horse with No Name by Fuyumi Soryo. It is a prequel to the series MARS and it is published by Tokyopop. The cover has the main character Rei on it looking at the reader. The intended reader is someone who loves MARS, teen romance manga, and good art. There in no language, talk of sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from third person with character's thoughts added in for plot and character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- We know how the story ended... but how did it begin? In this special edition of MARS, we explore what happens when Kira meets Rei for the very first time. Longtime friends Tatsuya and Rei are acting more like enemies these days as they battle it out for Kira's affections. Will they be able to mend their friendship and settle their tense conflict once and for all?
As a special bonus acclaimed manga-ka Fuyumi Soryu also includes two additional stories for your reading pleasure. Long love MARS.

Review- Once again I have a problem with a blurb. Kira is in like two scenes and that is it. It is about Rei coming back to Japan and making friends with Tatsuya. It is a good introduction to the series which I will be reading next. The art is great, all three stories are interesting, and I remember why I liked Soryu's art. The other two stories are just one shots. But they all deal with teens having problems as they grow into adulthood. Parents being bad, kids trying to be adults, and all the problems that comes with. But as Soyru is a shojo manga artist the stories have happy endings. She is able to make interesting and vivid characters very quickly. I am looking forward to rereading MARS. I hope that I still like it as much as I did so many years ago.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for this review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Spellweaver

Today's post is on Spellweaver by Lynn Kurland. It is the second novel in her second Nine Kingdoms trilogy and as such you need to have read the first books to understand what is going on. It is 385 and is published by Berkley Sensation. The cover has the main character on it looking determined. The intended reader is someone who like epic fantasy, thick plots, and just a little romance. There is no language, no sex, and some violence in this book. The story is told from the third person close perspective of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Sarah of Doire is finished mages and the mayhem they cause. Her quest to find her brother and stop his foul spells has failed, her trust in Ruith is shattered, and her future lies in ruins. All she wanted was a peaceful place to weave- instead she's hunted by black mages, trapped by her sense of obligation, and imperiled by a past she knows nothing about... yet.

Hiding in the mountains, Ruithneadh of Ceangail had long managed to ignore the magic in his veins, until aiding Sarah with her ill-fated quest forced him into places where his heritage was impossible to deny. Now, faced with an ever-increasing number of enemies who've discovered he's alive and want his power his choice is to accept his birthright and gather his father's spells together so he can destroy them, or turn away and allow his father's evil to overcome the Nine Kingdoms.

Review- So much happens in this book. Pasts revealed, more world building, and more character development. I just love this series so much. The writing, the characters, the plot, everything is just so good. The last revelation that Gair may still be alive was not too much of a surprise to me because of the black mage in the last book. The mystery of who Sarah is has been solved but what dreamweaving is we still do not know. There is more action in this one and more romance. In addition we get see more of the world than the first trilogy and first book. We travel to the dwarven kingdom and they are very different from others that I have read about. They can use magic but they have a particular brand of it. Ruith gets more okay with who and what he is and now everyone but Morgain knows that he is alive. But that is a problem for another day. I cannot wait to see how this is going to end.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.

Unrequited: Women and Romantic Obsession

Today's post is on Unrequited: Women and Romantic Obsession by Lisa. A. Phillips. It is 304 pages long including notes and is published by Harper. The cover is white with a red heart and an arrow missing it. The intended reader is someone who is interested in relationships, gender studies, and stalking. There is some mild language, talk of sex and sexuality, and talk of violence in this book. This book is told from the first person perspective of Phillips with third person interviews. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The summer Lisa A. Phillip turned thirty, she fell in love with someone who didn't return her feelings. She soon became obsessed. She followed him around, called him compulsively, and talked about him endlessly. One desperate morning, after she snuck into his apartment building, he picked up a baseball bat to protect himself and began to dial 911. Her unrequited love had changed her from a sane, conscientious college teacher and radio reporter into someone she barely recognized- someone who was taking her yearning much too far.

In Unrequited, Phillips explores the tremendous force of obsessive love in women's lives. She argues that it needs to be understood, respected, and channeled for personal growth- yes it also has the potential to go terribly awry. Interweaving her own story with frank interviews and in-depth research in science, psychology, cultural history, and literature, Phillips describes how romantic obsession takes root, grows, and strongly influences our thoughts and behaviors.
Going beyond images of creepy, fatally attracted psychos, male fantasies of unbridled female desire, and the platitudes of self-help books, Phillips reveals a powerful, troubling, and surprisingly common phenomenon. As she illuminates this mysterious psychological experience, placing it in a rich and nuanced context, she offers compelling insights to help any woman who has experienced unrequited obsessive love and been mystified and troubled by its grip.

Review- As someone who is interested in gender studies, I found this to be a very interesting book. Phillips does not pull any punches. She talks about how male victims of stalking are treated, how female stalkers are not helped either, and how obsession can change a person's life. At times this book is a little scary with what some of the women do. Phillips helps reinforce this by saying think if, the man who was being stalked was a woman instead, is the behavior still okay? And every time the answer was no. Phillips also does not try to make her obsession any less scary. She does not try to be the victim in her own story. Instead she owns her actions, she calls them what they were, and I think, she gives hope for other people going through the same thing. Phillips gives historical and literary perspectives about female passion. About how women have always been seen as crazy, untrustworthy, and foolish when it comes to matters of the heart. When men are the pursuers it is natural but a woman going after someone she wants is unnatural and scary. Phillips also gives information about where to get help if you are in this situation both for men and women.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I was given this by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest book review.

Samurai Deeper Kyo volumes 37/38

Today's post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo volumes 37/38 by Akimine Kamijyo. It is published by Del Rey. As it is the last two volumes in a very long series you need to have read the first 36 to understand the story. The cover has Kyo in the center in black, looking cool, with others of the cast around him. The intended reader is someone who likes samurai manga, lots of swords, and surprising romance. There is mild language, implied sexuality, and lots of violence. The story is told in third person god perspective with character's thoughts added in for plot and character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- All paths lead home. The mad former Crimson King threatens to destroy all creation- and only Kyoshiro stands between Demon Eyes Kyo and his ultimate foe. Beliefs are on the line as the two friends and rivals cross blades for the final time. All secrets are revealed, all scores are settled, and all life hangs in the balance. At long last, the epic conclusion of Samurai Deep Kyo is here!

Review- I love this series. The ending was so great. Kyo and Yuya work it out. Kyoshiro gets to be with Sakuya and all roads led home. This series has been with me for so long. I have read it since it first came out here in the states over ten years ago. I have loved Kyo, I have hated him, but most of all I have traveled with him. As I was reading this series from beginning to end I was also thinking about myself. I would remember things from when I was first reading it. I remembered some friends who have passed away. I wish that we could have finished reading this series together. One of my dearest friends was the one who got me to read. I did not like the first volume but she convinced to me try the next. By the sixth volume I was as in love with Kyo as Yuya is. I recommend this series and I dedicate this last review of it to my friend Adrienne.

I give this manga series a Five out of Five. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.

The Fall

Today's post is on The Fall by Bethany Griffin. It is 420 pages long and is published by GreenWillow Press. The cover has the main character walking in a foggy and gloomy setting. The intended reader is someone is young adult, who like retellings of Poe, and horror. There is no language, no violence, and only hints of sex. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character Madeline. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Madeline Usher is doomed.
The House of Usher lives and breathes around her. For generations, it has send every Usher spiraling into madness. It claimed her mother and her father. Now it wants Madeline and her twin brother.
No one can help them. But no one, no other Usher in the generation of the haunted family, has known the house the way Madeline does.
She may finally be the one who can destroy it all.
Until she wakes up in a coffin.

Review- I did enjoy book but it was not really creepy. I wanted something scarier but that said it was a good read. The Fall of the House of Usher is my favorite Poe story. I think that Griffin added something interesting to the story. We see so little of Madeline in the original story that we do not even know if she is alive or undead when she gets out of her coffin. But Griffin gives the reader an interesting view of the events. Madeline is special to the House and so she sees it clearer. I did find the incest as horrifying as Madeline and Roderick do. Griffin did sell me on the madness. I really believed that the House was driving people to it and I felt sorry for them. There's an odd thing that I liked about this book- the short chapters. Normally the books I read have really long chapters so it was nice change of pace. The narration that Griffin uses is good. She tells the story of Madeline and the House from different points as Madeline ages. In one chapter Madeline will be sixteen then the next she will be seven. I liked that. It was disjointing but I think that helped the madness feeling in the character's. If you like Poe I think that you would enjoy this book too.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

The Queen of the Dead

Today's post is on The Queen of the Dead by Stacy Kade. It is the second in her The Ghost and The Goth series. It is 266 pages long and is published by Hyperion. The cover has Alona and Will on it looking happy and bored respectively. The intended reader is someone who likes funny young adult stories, ghost stories, and teen drama. There is no sex, mild language, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from the first person close perspective of the two main character's moving from one to another chapter to chapter. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The Ghost

Okay I admit it. I'm not perfect, no matter what you've heard. First off, I'm dead. Second, I got sent back from the Great Beyond. I mean, seriously, who is running things up there? Now I have to spend the summer after my senior year working- and on behalf of a bunch of whiny spirits, no less. But a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.
It's a good thing Will Killian is still around. Even through he drives me crazy, and he could seriously do with a tan- Hello! It's summer!- I'm glad he's here to help me. Correction: was here to help me. Now he's all distracted y this frizzy-haired girl who can- big deal- communicate with the dead, too. Whatever. I don't need Will. But there are some things- like saving my parents from a couple horrible mistakes- that would be easier with his assistance. Still, I will get what I want... with or without him

The Goth

I'm still totally amazed that Alona Dare is my spirit guide and that it works. . Yes, I've had crush on her since sixth grade, but I also kind of hated her. And sure, she had to die before she'd talk to me- but I don't know, I kind of like having her around.
Things get confusing when I meet Mina, who's the first ghost-talker I've ever encountered (other than my dad). I always thought Alona and I were doing the right thing helping those other ghosts, but Mina has me thinking otherwise. Plus, she might know stuff about my dad that even my mom doesn't. But if there's one thing I should have learned by now, it's no to ignore Alona. That's never a good idea.

Review- This one is not as funny as the first book but it a very solid second book. Kade is getting more into the world. We learn that there is a society that handles things dealing with ghosts and that Will's dad was one of them. Then he left. Will has a lot going on in this book on the one hand Alona and all her problems and on the other the other ghost-talkers. I can see some plot threads for the last book being put into place. Kade has a very good voice that I think is very real. I knew an Alona Dare in high school and I was Will Killain, without the ghost-talking part sadly, so I think that she had something good here. Alona is still selfish but she is 17 and she died before she really deal with her problems. Her parents are not helping her move on either. But what she does in this book is not okay and I feel sorry for Will. What Will needs is someone who is not afraid to him the truth, other than Alona, but the people who have that are not going to because they want him. I can see a big show-down coming for the third book. The only thing I wanted more of in this book was humor because the first book was just so funny.

I give this book a Four our of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.