Ender's Shadow

Hola, I know I'm really behind. Okay, Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card, is a companion book to Ender's Game. Living on the street is dangerous for a kid any age with the brutal hierarchy of bullies and kids too small to get food. But when Bean turns up, the whole system changes. This transformation doesn't go unnoticed, however. Battle School is still recruiting and Bean is a promising candidate. With the severe physical disadvantages Bean has, he faces difficulties that even his machine-like mind might not be able to comprehend. I just re-read my Ender's Game review and I seem to have put a negative spin on it. Let me correct you, these books are brilliant. What I failed to express before was the depth that every character has, and the plot that doesn't fail to stun even when reading a parallel story where you already know what happens. The only thing I will say though, is that these books made me like Ender more. Bean is so mechanical that even Ender's aloofness is appealing. I don't want to change my original post but I have to say, looking back on the book, four and a half stars to both Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow.

The Key to Rondo

Hola! The Key to Rondo is by Emily Rodda. When steady, reliable Leo Langlander is willed an ancient music box, he intends to keep if safe. Even if the rules seem a bit strange he will follow them; only wind the box three times, don't wind it while the music is playing, and don't move the while the tune plays. However, Leo's stable life is set tumbling when his outcast cousin comes to visit. Mimi Langlander brings a new view to Leo's life, but also many more dangers. After I started reading this I realized it was targeted at younger children. The writing is that fake-descriptive that makes the story as straight-forward as possible. Rondo was also very odd. It seems to be a version of fairyland that had some not-very-original twists thrown in. The one thing that I liked was that Leo did think along the lines of a rational person. Mimi also revealed some depth by the end of this tale. Overall, completely mediocre. Two stars.

The Agency, A Spy in the House

Hola...The Agency, A Spy in the House is by Y. S. Lee. After being saved from the gallows, Mary Quinn leads a fairly ordinary life being educated at Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. But when Mary's schooling can no longer continue, she is offered a position more suited to her original occupation. On her first mission as a spy for the Agency, a top secret women's company, she must uncover what happened to a merchant's ships. The mystery shouldn't be too hard to solve, but can Mary keep herself from going in too far? From this book I remembered that I really enjoy action-y historical fiction. Mary is clever without being obnoxious and the fact that she has her own secrets makes her even more intriguing. This book is very entertaining, earning it three stars.

Goliath

Hola, I am so sorry it has been so long but I have been sidetracked by school and being really lazy. So today I try to make it up with Goliath, the third book of the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld. With the war still going strong, Deryn and Alek have to be even more careful aboard the famous airship Leviathan than ever before. But when a slightly mad new passenger comes aboard, Prince Alek's place in the outcome of the conflict between the Darwinists and Clankers becomes even more apparent. With secrets tangling through every part of this story, Deryn and Alek must discover and confront who they are really meant to be. I thought that this was a great ending to the trilogy. And if you are confused because you haven't read Leviathan I have a previous blog on it. This book allows Deryn and Alek to grow as characters but still hold their original charm. I would highly recommend this series. Unless you like to know what happens before you read the book, don't read any of the summaries, they give everything away. Anyway, great finale, four stars.

Born Wicked

Hola! I hope everyone had a good holiday season? So, Born Wicked is by Jessica Spotswood. Cate Cahill and her sisters live in a world of danger for any girl, the witch hunts. But it is even more perilous when you are the Cahills, real witches. Cate struggles to take care of her sisters, quell the rumors circulating about their isolated family, and decipher her rather tangled love life. With a deadline threatening to destroy her whole life, Cate must choose between herself or the so-called "greater good." This was actually a pretty good book. The characters had depth and the plot had enough twits to keep it interesting without making knots in the story. I particularly liked Finn, although I disliked the fact that she had to turn to the popular girls for guidance. The ending, as usual, was complete torture. The story could have continued quite well into other books if given a bit more of an "and they lived happily ever after ending." Born Wicked was surprisingly good, but be ready for thorough disappointment at the finish. Three stars.

Foundling

Hola! Finals, nooooo! Well, Foundling is by D. M. Cornish. Living in an orphanage is no easy feat for Rosamund Bookchild, and his name part of the hardship. Teased for having a girl's name and wanting to read rather than join in the fights that often occur between students, Rosamund dreams of leaving to be a vinegaroon (Sailor) on the Vinegar Seas. But when the time for students to be apprenticed for various occupations, Rosamund is overlooked. His future plans dashed, he almost despairs before a mysterious man comes to employ him as a Lamplighter. Worried that his life outside the orphanage will be dull but still set on leaving, Rosamund departs, however his journey will be anything but boring. This book was mediocre. I think that the story was good and the characters where fine, nothing special, but how it was written made it a bit of a chore to read. And the fact that, because the author made up half the words in the book, the glossary takes up a third of the novel. I was very surprised when I read the final page. I will say that the ending was quite good, a first! It didn't tie up all of the loose ends, but that was to be expected as I am now reading the sequel. It was not amazing, but not a waste of time, two and a half stars.

Ender's Game

Hola. This was recommended to me by many people, and they were right. Ender's Game is by Orson Scott Card. In the future, the world will be on the brink of chaos and the military will be recruiting kindergartners. Ender is one such six-year-old, harassed by his pugnacious (Vocab word, ha!) brother and the bullies at school, he is not a happy child. But when Colonel Graff comes to collect Ender, more than just his safety is at risk. Humans are fighting a war against the buggers, insect-like aliens, and if we don't win soon, we never will. And the winning is up to Ender. This book is so complicated! Here is some advice: read the introduction last, it made me very confused. The author said the book had been ridiculed for being simple, straight forward. I had a hard time just figuring out if I liked Ender or not! Let alone if the rest of the people are good or bad. I really enjoyed this book, but I was disturbed by the fact that I was so confused. And there are some parts that are horrible, they add much to the story, but are still awful. And the ending was just odd. I really liked this book, but if you read it, be ready for a ride. Four stars!