Hero

Today’s post is on Hero by Alethea Kontis. It is a companion to Enchanted her first book. It is 282 pages long and is published by Harcourt. The cover has the main character Saturday looking up at the reader with a sword in her and in a dress but I will get to that in my review. The intended reader is young adult but if you like fairy tales retold or read the first one then you should like this. It is told from third person close of the two main characters moving from one to the other at varying points in the story. There is no sex, no language, and all violence is fantasy like. 12 and up should be fine. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the book jacket- “You got a sword and a destiny. That’s more than most people get.” For rough-and-tumble Saturday, it’s no fun being the only one in the family without any magical talent. Too tall, too strong, too normal, that’s her lot in life- until the day she accidentally creates an ocean in the backyard.
Suddenly things are looking up. With her sword in tow, Saturday sets sail on the sudden sea, only to find herself kidnapped and whisked off to the mountain at the top of the world. Held captive by a blind witch who gives her a series of impossible tasks, Saturday is aided by a very appealing young man who knows all the witch’s tricks. But he turns out to be under a spell that only Saturday can break- and that will only happen when this seemingly normal girl digs deep enough to find her own hidden talents.

Review- I really enjoyed Enchanted but this one was not as good. I think that because Kontis is gearing up for a series or at least another book. So that made this book feel for me undone. Now about the cover Saturday never wears a dress with one exception in this book and it is not blue or pretty. Saturday would not be caught dead in a dress. That said I liked the book. All the characters are fun and believable and I am looking forward to the next one in the series. I do not know what sister will the main character but I cannot wait to find out. Great and fun magic with humor and some romance but not too much in this one. The main point of the story is about Saturday getting to see herself in a new way. In Enchanted Saturday does not think that she is special in a very special family. But by the end of this novel she knows that she is and that she has a great destiny before her. Expect a fun time with good writing, fun characters, and an interesting world.

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

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

Today’s nonfiction post is on Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger. It is 200 pages long including notes and is published by Simon & Schuster. The cover is orange with a light bulb base and a dandelion flower in the center. The intended reader is someone who is interested in business or brain science. There is no sex, no language, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- What makes things popular?If you said advertising, think again. People don't listen to advertisements, they listen to their peers. But why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are some stories and rumors more infectious? And what makes online content go viral?
Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger has spent the last decade answering these questions. He's studied why New York Times articles make the paper's own Most E-mailed List, why products get word of mouth, and how social influence shapes everything from the cars we buy to the clothes we wear to the names we give our children. In this book, Berger reveals the secret science behind word-of-mouth and social transmission. Discover how six basic principles drive all sorts of things to become contagious, from consumer products and policy initiatives to workplace rumors and YouTube videos.
Contagious combines groundbreaking research with powerful stories. Learn how a luxury steakhouse found popularity through the lowly cheese-steak, why anti-drug commercials might have actually increased drug use, and why more than 200 million consumers shared a video about one of the seemingly most boring products there is: a blender. If you've wondered why certain stories get shared, e-mails get forwarded, or videos go viral, Contagious explains why, and shows how to leverage these concepts to craft contagious content. This book provides a set of specific, actionable techniques for helping information spread: for designing messages, advertisements, and information that people will share. Whether you're a manager at a big company, a small business owner trying to boost awareness, a politician running for office, or a health official trying to get the word out, Contagious will show you how to make your product or idea catch on.

Review- This was a fascinating read. Berger makes business sense into something that can be used by just about anyone for anything. He has what he calls ‘STEPPS’ which is an acronym for Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical Value, and Stories. Berger uses his STEPPS to break up the book by chapters. One chapter per letter and he gives many ways to use the letter. He talks about nonprofits uses to selling a $100 cheese steak sandwich. Berger helps you take what he is talking about in small doses so that you do not get overwhelmed by all the great ideas. He does this within chapters by chapter breaks. From one chapter break to the next he will start with on story then move to a new one and at the end of the chapter Berger will wrap everything up. I really enjoyed this book.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I won this book from a giveaway on Goodreads.

Vampire Empire- Book One: The Greyfriar

Today’s post is on Vampire Empire- Book One: The Greyfriar by Clay and Susan Griffith. It is the first in the Vampire Empire trilogy. It is 308 pages long and is published by PYR. The cover has the two main characters looking cool and intense. The intended reader is someone who likes Steampunk, vampires, and action with a little romance. There is language, lots of violence but no sex. So 16 and up just to be safe. The story is told from various points of view of the main characters changing from scene to scene. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world. Millions of humans were killed outright. Millions more died of disease and famine due to the havoc that followed. Within two years, once-great cities were shrouded by the gray empire of the vampire clans. Human refugees fled south to the tropics because vampires could not tolerate the constant heat there. They brought technology and a feverish drive to reestablish their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya.
It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming.
Princess Adele is heir to the Empire Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire. She is quick with her wit as well as with a sword or gun. She is eager for an adventure before she settles into a life of duty and political marriage to man she does not know. But her quest turns black she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan, Her only protector is the Greyfriar, a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans.
The Greyfriar is the first book in a trilogy of huge adventure and alternate history. Combining rousing pulp action with Steampunk style, the Vampire Empire brings epic political themes to life with a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

Review- This is a fun book if you looking for a Steampunk vampire political book. I liked it. The setting was interesting, the characters were well drawn, and the action was good. The only thing that I wish was better was the dialog. It is not bad dialog but it was not groundbreaking. Still that is really my only complaint about the book. One strange that I liked about this book was that the chapters were not very long. I think that it is because I was reading a nonfiction book with 100+ page chapters so this was a wonderful relief from that. If you are into Steampunk then read this, if you looking at Steampunk and want to give it a try, try this. If you are neither of those then read of my other reviews and find something to read. I feel a little bad about one thing and that is how long this book was on my TBR shelf. I was given this book before it was released back in 2010. But I have read it now and I will be reading the others in this series.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this book as an ARC from DragonCon years ago.

The World Above

Today’s post is on The World Above by Cameron Dokey. It is part of the “Once Upon A Time” series and is 175 pages long. It is published by Simon Pulse. The cover has a pretty young woman standing by and looking at a beanstalk. The intended reader is young adult or someone who likes fairy tales. The story is told from Gen’s point of view. There is no sex, no violence, and no language in this book but it is written for a young adult reader in mind. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Gen and her twin brother, Jack, were raised with their mother’s tales of life in the World Above. Gen is skeptical, but adventurous Jack believes the stories- and trades the family cow doe magical beans. Their mother rejoices, knowing they can finally return to their royal home.
When Jack plants the beans and climbs the enchanted stalk, he is captured bu the tyrant who now rules the land. Gen sets off to rescue her brother, but danger awaits her in the World Above. For finding Jack may mean losing her heart…

Review- This book is a lite, fun read and just what I needed after finishing the Mistborn trilogy. It is a combination of Jack and the Beanstalk and Robin Hood. I liked Gen and her world a lot. I cannot think of anything that I did not enjoy about this book. It was not reinventing the genre of retelling but it a solid and fun retelling. I normally find Jack to be very annoying but he is not in this book. That could be because he is not the main character and not really on camera too much. The setting is what makes this book really fun. Dokey can describe a world. She makes it very vivid, real, and interesting. But I keep comes back to the word fun when I think about how to talk about this book. It is fun. If you are looking for in-depth character study then this is not the book for you. But you want a fun read that you can just enjoy then pick up this or any of the series.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this book as a gift.

Abominable Science! The Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and other famous Cryptids

Today’s nonfiction post is on Abominable Science! The Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and other famous Cryptids by Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero. It is 411 pages long including notes and an index. The cover has a yeti on it looking very fierce. The intended reader is someone who wants to know more about cryptids or about cryptozoology. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The information about the cryptids is given in interviews and papers by both believers and skeptics. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Throughout our history, humans have been captivated by mythic beasts and legendary creatures. Tales of Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness monster are part of our collective experience. Now comes a book from two dedicated investigators that explores and elucidates the fascinating world of cryptozoology.
Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero have written an entertaining, educational, and definitive text on cryptids, presenting the arguments both for and against their existence and systematically challenging the pseudoscience that perpetuates their myths. After examining the nature of science and pseudoscience and their relation to cryptozoology, Loxton and Prothero take on Bigfoot; the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, and its cross-cultural incarnations; the Loch Ness monster and its highly publicized sightings; the evolution of the Great Sea Serpent; and Mokele Mbembe, or the Congo dinosaur. They conclude with an analysis of the psychology behind the persistent belief in paranormal phenomena, identifying the major players in cryptozoology, discussing the character of its subculture and considering the challenge it poses to clear and critical thinking in our increasingly complex world.

Review- If you are a skeptic but still like crytids and cryptozoology then you should read this. Loxton loves cryptozoology and started out as a believer who now is a skeptic. Prothero is a hard-core skeptic but he does not let that stop him from hearing people in cryptozoology culture. The book overall is about the most famous crytids. The book discusses the evidence from videos to pictures and makes them stand up to true scientific study. Now that I have this book I can watch some of the Bigfoot shows and I can see where the flaws are. The writing can get a little stale at time but considering that this is a hard core science book that is not surprising. If you are having trouble with it this is what I did- I would one section then do or read something else. However if you are a believer then read this book with knowledge that the authors are not. They take every piece of evidence of crytids and they work with it to the end of disproving the crytid.

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 5th Wave

Today’s post is on The 5^th Wave by Rick Yancey. It is the first in a new series and is 457 pages long. It is published by Putnam. The cover has one of the main characters on the cover with golden light making the trees and her be in shadow. The intended reader is older young adult and adults and I think that is for the best. There is strong language, hinting at sex, and very graphic violence; so be warned. The story is told in both chapters and sections. Sections change the point of view from one of the four main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- After the 1^st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2^nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3^rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4^th Wave, just one rule applies: trust no one.
Now it’s the dawn of the 5^th Wace, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother- or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
From award-winning author Rick Yancey comes a gripping epic of catastrophic loss, unthinkable odds, and unflinching courage.

Review- I am a pretty big Yancey fan and I do not think that he disappoints with this new series. The story is fast-paced and goes places that I was not expecting for a YA novel. There are some very strong language and child soldiers in this novel. The scenes are intense and very emotional because of what Yancey is talking about. I do not think that he is making a statement about the use of child soldiers but he does not color code it. He shows a very brutal world with little compassion and less trust. Cassie is tough and I liked her. I like how normal she is in spite of everything going on around her. One of the other main characters Ben I did not really care for. I cannot put my finger on why but I just did not connect with him and I really did not care that he survived the story. I look forward to seeing where Yancey is going with this series and I hope that his new publisher treats him and his series better than his old one did.

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

The Hero of Ages

Today’s post is on The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. It is the final volume in the Mistborn trilogy. It is 748 pages long including a list names and terms list at the end. It is published by TOR. The cover has Vin and Elend, two of the main characters, standing with a ruined city behind them. There is no language, no sex but a lot of violence in this novel but the violence is not very graphic and very fantasy-like. The story is told from varying points of view moving from one of the main characters to another as the story moves. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Killing the Lord Ruler to end the Final Empire was obviously the right thing to do, wasn’t it? With the return of the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists, increasingly heavy ashfalls, and ever more powerful earthquakes, Vin and Elend are no longer so sure. Long ago, Ruin- one of the primal beings who created the world- was promised the eventual right to destroy all things. Now that Vin has been tricked into releasing him from the Well of Ascension, Ruin apparently intends to collect.
The conclusion of the Mistborn trilogy fulfills all the promise of the first two books. Revelations abound, connections rooted in early chapters of the series click into place, and surprises, as satisfying as they are stunning, blossom like fireworks to dazzle and delight. It all leads up to a finale unmatched for originality and audacity that will you rubbing your eyes in wonder, as if awaking from an amazing dream.

Review- This has to be one of the best final novels and best trilogies that I have ever read. When I finished the book I had tears in my eyes because the ending was just so beautiful. Only once before has a finale moved me so much and that was for The Darkangel trilogy’s final volume. Sanderson does so much right in this novel and series that I hardly know where to begin. The screws of the plot just get tighter and tighter as the story goes on. When I would stop reading I would say that. I love Vin so much. She is a real person, Sanderson makes her so awesome and real. She has thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Vin is the heart of this story but she is not the Hero of Ages. When the Hero comes to realize who he is; that is one of the most beautiful moments in the story. The ending to this series is perfect. I cannot think of anything that I would change about it. Sanderson has made a lifelong fan out of me.

I give this book and series Five out of Five stars. I bought with my own money, I proudly own it, and I will recommend this series to anyone who like high fantasy.