Artemis Fowl- Eoin Colfer

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Summary: When you pit a boy genius with seemingly unlimited resources against an underground, high-tech civilization of fairies, who is going to win? Who even should win? Artemis Fowl may be 12, he may be brilliant, he may be Irish, but he's a criminal. His only interest in the People is for their gold. And hotshot Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police) is determined to prevent this from happening... despite the fact that she's the first female officer and the tough commander Root pushes her for any reason at all, no matter how insignificant. 

Artemis, after acquiring a Book begins his onslaught on the fairies. It's easier to get away with toppling civilizations when your father is missing and your mother is bedridden, of course. Your life-long, expertly trained Butler can also be of use.

But will he be able to separate the advanced society from their money, or will this be Aretmis's undoing?

Opinion: I love this book. I just finished reading it for the 7th time (I kid you not) and I still love this book, despite the fact that the main character is younger than I and I originally read this book back in 6th grade. Eoin Colfer is brilliant. He laces in background details while keeping the action going, he is excellent at setting the mood and is wonderful with the 'show, don't tell' rule. His characters are witty, charming, and fascinating. I absolutely love Colfer's sense of humor.

Artemis is dark, creative, cunning and deviant. These traits are highlighted very well in the book. Holly is refreshing, impulsive, witty, and strong. It's a bit difficult to decide who's side to be on. This story is told in the alternating POVs. Sometimes Holly, sometimes Artemis. It makes it hard to decide whose side to be rooting for. I'm still not sure if I find this annoying or if it just adds more to the story.

I may not read it again, but that's only because I can recite the plot (and even some specific lines) from memory. This is a book you should definitely go out and buy; not just borrow from the library.

Recommendation: For those who enjoy supernatural crime, Irish boy genii, and hotshot fairy police. There's relatively little violence/gore, the poor language is mostly disguised in fairy tongue, and there's no romance. Quite a 'family friendly' book, you might say. Grades 5-9 (or maybe even older than that)

Title: Not very original, but hey. It'll work.

Cover: Pretty plain and simple, not very attracting, but hey, it caught my attention when I was a 6th grader.

Series: If you liked book 1, you should definitely, absolutely, without a doubt read the next in the series. There are currently 6 (soon to be 7) Artemis and Holly (and others, even) develop greatly as characters. A very excellent series.

Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Summary: Shiver is a book about a girl and her dog. Well, more like a wolf than dog, really. He saved her from an attack when she was younger and ever since then has been watching her from a distance in the woods that are his home. Grace, now 17, sits in her backyard during the long winter months and watches her yellow-eyed wolf. Then one day a boy is killed by the wolves and a hunting party goes out to eradicate the wolf population. Grace, fearing for her wolf, tries to stop them. In doing so she ends up back at her house, staring at the bleeding boy on her porch.

So begins the tale of Grace and Sam. Together they must deal with the disease Sam is plagued with and the consequences of the others like him. They have a limited amount of time and a lot to deal with.

Opinion: Shiver, while initially appealing, lost me a little as the story went on. I found the plot to be vague and scattered. There were some events that I wasn't sure tied into the main plot at all, or what their relevance was. I wasn't sure what the end goal of the story was supposed to be. Despite my confusion over this, I found that I quite enjoyed this story. Unlike certain romance novels that are currently out (*cough*Twilight*cough*) I could sese the chemistry between Sam and Grace. Stiefvater did a stunning job of describing how the wolf senses work and incorporating those into the story. The plot and action are come-and-go, but the moments between Sam and Grace are cute and meaningful. I liked the characters, I liked the backstory, I liked the concept of the wolves. I liked reading something that was supernatural and not slathered in 'vampire'. I probably won't read it again, but I had fun reading it the first time through.

Recommendation: For those looking for a supernatural romance novel and don't mind a bit of gore. I'd say Grades 9+ 

Title: Creative and hooking

Cover: Original and appropriate for the story. The cover was always a source of fascination for me even before I knew anything about the book itself. I love the use of colors and how the wolf is just hidden behind the branches.

Has anyone else read it? Anyone planning to? Thoughts, opinions?

Sunday Afternoons

Greetings to y'all!

I guess I should start off by saying this is a blog for book reviews. I read to what other consider an excessive degree. Apparently some people think reading hinders my social life. (*cough*myfriends*cough*) I however, disagree. You can never read enough books! I've been in love with stories for as long as I can remember. Before I could read books myself my father read to me. But enough about that.

In honor of my obsession I have decided to start a blog! Well, my obsession along with the fact that a fellow writer (M. S. Steed) began a blog and inspired me to start my own. I suppose this could be used as a platform for my writing career, but at the moment I just think it would be fun to share my love for books with others.

The sort of books I'll review will include: The Night Angel Trilogy, Valiant, the Chronicles of Vladimir Todd, Wake/Fade/Gone, Trickster's Choice/Queen, Hunger Games/Catching Fire/Mockingjay, Incarceron, and others. I'm a fan of fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal. I read YA fiction stretching from grades 7-12, although will throw in the occasional adult book. (Such as the Night Angel Trilogy) If anyone has a book they'd like me to read/review just say so now.

Here's my current reading list (These are in no particular order):

Shadow's Edge

Beyond the Shadows

Trickster's Choice/Queen (even though I've already read them twice)

Blue is for Nightmares (series: 5 books)

Abhorsen Trilogy

Lord Sunday

Resurrection of Magic Trilogy

Incarceron

Shiver & Linger

Fade & Gone

Carbon Diaries 2015 & 2017

Spindle's End

Mockingjay

I hope you all enjoy the blog! Leave a comment; I love hearing opinions about as much as I love giving my own.

Thanks!

-M.J.