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amelianicholebooks's reviews
442 reviews
Renegade Skyfarer by R.J. Metcalf
5.0
Few books truly capture my imagination and leave me daydreaming about the book and the characters in between reading sessions. I wanted to live in this world, have lunch with the crew and even fight dragons. This book follows amnesiac Ben as he learns about the world of Terrene, fights dragons, regains his memories, helps save the world and learns secrets kept for almost a decade and Jade, a mechanic and daughter of the airship captain as she tries to find her place in the world. I just love the characters, the beautiful, beautiful world, the sweet romance (ZADE FOREVER), the thrilling plot, and the dramatic twists and turns. Steampunk airships and dragons (invisible dinosaur-like dragons!!) are right up my alley and this book delivers in spades. I got the next book the moment I finished this novel. WOW!
The Tethered World by Heather L.L. FitzGerald
4.0
This would be a great book to read out loud to middle grade or younger readers. I can imagine the fun that would be had with the voices of each of the characters. A great adventure!
Nyssa Glass and the Juliet Dilemma by H.L. Burke
4.0
Another fun adventure in the Nyssa Glass story. I liked the developing relationship between Nyssa and Elias.
Ancient Fire by Mark London Williams
4.0
The first Danger Boy book in the series got me hooked right away. I found them (or my mom found them) at the Mount Vernon library when I was about 14 years old. The foil hardback covers instantly intrigued me so I made sure to check out the second book just in case I wanted it that week.
Ancient Fire brings our time traveling heroes Eli, Thea and Thea and Clyne together for the first time. The historical set is the burning of the library of Alexandria, a moment in history abhorred by book lovers everywhere. It deals with the real life reactions of youth and adults to fantastically situations. It is a one of a kind children's time travel adventure novel. The read level makes it suitable for beginning chapter book readers and the plot makes it suitable for all ages. It makes you laugh and is a real page turner. My youngest sister read it and loved it just as much as I did!
Eli loses his mother in an explosion and his father swears to never research time travel again. Eli and his father flee across the country to dodge the government department which was funding the research. Eli learns more about the accident that cost him his mother only to have the "DARPA" agents show up a few months later. This leads to Eli getting "untangled in time".
Switch perspectives and you have Clyne, a Saurian or humaniod dinosaur from another dimension. For his culminating school project, Clyne has to travel to an alternate dimension and write a report. He is the funny sidekick character who doesn't let his role as sidekick keep him from doing big things.
In comes Thea, daughter of the head librarian of Alexandria. Thea and her mother get into all kinds of trouble with the local newly empowered religious populous because they have knowledge of science which far exceeds any male scientist. They are condemned, but in come Clyne and Eli. Then the adventure really begins.
Ancient Fire brings our time traveling heroes Eli, Thea and Thea and Clyne together for the first time. The historical set is the burning of the library of Alexandria, a moment in history abhorred by book lovers everywhere. It deals with the real life reactions of youth and adults to fantastically situations. It is a one of a kind children's time travel adventure novel. The read level makes it suitable for beginning chapter book readers and the plot makes it suitable for all ages. It makes you laugh and is a real page turner. My youngest sister read it and loved it just as much as I did!
Spoiler
Eli loses his mother in an explosion and his father swears to never research time travel again. Eli and his father flee across the country to dodge the government department which was funding the research. Eli learns more about the accident that cost him his mother only to have the "DARPA" agents show up a few months later. This leads to Eli getting "untangled in time".
Switch perspectives and you have Clyne, a Saurian or humaniod dinosaur from another dimension. For his culminating school project, Clyne has to travel to an alternate dimension and write a report. He is the funny sidekick character who doesn't let his role as sidekick keep him from doing big things.
In comes Thea, daughter of the head librarian of Alexandria. Thea and her mother get into all kinds of trouble with the local newly empowered religious populous because they have knowledge of science which far exceeds any male scientist. They are condemned, but in come Clyne and Eli. Then the adventure really begins.
Vendetta by Peter David
1.0
This book had so many things going for it, written by Peter David, about the Borg, interesting premise, but it just fell short in so many ways. I can even forgive the fact that this has misinformation about the Borg because it was written before we learned more about them.
First problem, I expected it to be scifi horror and almost to much for me with PTSD flashbacks to being assimilated by the Borg. No Picard is rather ambivalent in this. Troi even asked him about it two times, why are you so ambivalent about the Borg?
Second problem, the blurb spoils the main plot and the one piece of information it leaves up to the imagination is revealed in the prologue so there are no surprises until about halfway through. But the novel acts like the reader isn't smart enough to have realized the connection between the prologue and everything that is happening.
Third problem, the only characters who don't act out of character are Worf and Troi. And that is only because they are turned into one dimensional versions of their characters.
I really do love Peter David's other books, this one just didn't work for me.
First problem, I expected it to be scifi horror and almost to much for me with PTSD flashbacks to being assimilated by the Borg. No Picard is rather ambivalent in this. Troi even asked him about it two times, why are you so ambivalent about the Borg?
Second problem, the blurb spoils the main plot and the one piece of information it leaves up to the imagination is revealed in the prologue so there are no surprises until about halfway through. But the novel acts like the reader isn't smart enough to have realized the connection between the prologue and everything that is happening.
Third problem, the only characters who don't act out of character are Worf and Troi. And that is only because they are turned into one dimensional versions of their characters.
I really do love Peter David's other books, this one just didn't work for me.
The Ugly Little Boy by Isaac Asimov
5.0
Right from the beginning I knew this was going to be a book I was going to read more than once. It takes on intense subjects such as the morality of time travel and the awareness that one is growing old, with a light airy tone, and I dare say beautiful tact. Robert Silverberg has done a wonderful job of creating a wonderfully refreshing strong, yet feminine woman. No one is right and no one is wrong, but depending on who the POV character is and how they are feeling, you get to see the good and bad side of everyone. This makes it feel so much more real.
There are few books that end in such a satisfying way that you just have to smile for a few moments after you read it (and it isn't the way you think it will end!!). This will be my new go to book when I am feeling down or sick.
There are few books that end in such a satisfying way that you just have to smile for a few moments after you read it (and it isn't the way you think it will end!!). This will be my new go to book when I am feeling down or sick.
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
5.0
I read this book once before as a tween and had a lasting effect on my imagination. I was worried it wouldn't hold up now, but oh my, oh my. It does. It glows like htun. It is just as magical as I remembered.
Edit: Read it again in 2018 because I saw a scathing review and wanted to see how it held up to the critique. I love the singing in this, I wish it could be made into a movie.
Edit: Read it again in 2018 because I saw a scathing review and wanted to see how it held up to the critique. I love the singing in this, I wish it could be made into a movie.
The Desert Wall by Raf Morgan
5.0
This is the best book I've read in a long time. First, the cover is absolutely gorgeous and was the first thing that caught my eye. I love stories set near deserts and this delivers in spades. The magic system felt fresh and interesting. I loved how the main character had to build bridges between all of the characters, and in light of her upbringing the occasional piece of wisdom made sense.
I love each of the characters fiercely and would adopt all of them in a heartbeat! I actually had a moment (you'll know when), where I thought, well, crap, now I have to adopt this grown man too. They tug on my heartstrings. <3 <3 <3
I loved the strong female friendships formed in this book, it is rare that I read about women forming such close friendships and bonds in a way that it realistic. I really enjoyed the three vicious girls in this book.
This didn't feel like a NA, YA or MG book to me, just a fantasy book with protags who were younger and that is refreshing. Highly recommend!
I love each of the characters fiercely and would adopt all of them in a heartbeat! I actually had a moment (you'll know when), where I thought, well, crap, now I have to adopt this grown man too. They tug on my heartstrings. <3 <3 <3
I loved the strong female friendships formed in this book, it is rare that I read about women forming such close friendships and bonds in a way that it realistic. I really enjoyed the three vicious girls in this book.
This didn't feel like a NA, YA or MG book to me, just a fantasy book with protags who were younger and that is refreshing. Highly recommend!