Review: FIRELIGHT

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Book 1 of the Firelight series
Narrated by Therese Plummer
Genre: urban fantasy YA
Format: audiobook CD

About Firelight:

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away — if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Source: Info in the About Firelight was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6448470-firelight on 30/03/2012.

Review:

Okey so I bought this audiobook because I like listening to Therese Plummer. And the narration, is the most positive thing with this book. This book has so much promise and I really, really like the premise, but the plot and the story itself is so, so disappointing, I regretted having wasted my time and money with it!!

At the start of the first CD I can already see that Jacinda is too stupid to live (TSTL). But I persisted hoping that this TSTL trait would not run so deep, would not be so bad. I was wrong! Two adolescent drakis went on a dangerous escapade and almost got killed. Then Jacinda compounds that by being overconfident and got wounded. And it doesn't stop there. The entire book is peppered with a string of stupidity from cover to cover. I read the synopsis on the subsequent books and it looks like this trend continues through the entire series. The stupidity is so annoying it eclipsed the beauty of the world building, the mesmerizing voice of the narrator and the good story telling quality. That tells you just how TSTL Jacinda is! That there are times I wanted to shake Jacinda fiercely to knock some sense into her. Even I can see it was totally stupid. But our Jacinda, she can't see past her nose. Not only that, she's not only TSTL, but selfish to boot! Safe to say that I found it difficult to connect with this main protagonist. I think I would have cheered if the bad guys would actually catch her because then Jacinda would now actually get what she keeps trying to do! Would I recommend this book? This series? No. Don't waste your reading time. I don't know why the publisher wasted money on this book to begin with! But here is the real kicker, it ends in a cliffhanger...

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 2
Character development = 1.5
Story itself = 1.5
Ending = 2
World building = 3.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (9hrs & 42min)
Plot = 1

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 cherries

Review: SHADOWMAGIC 1 & 2

Review:

I bought Book 1 just because it was dirt cheap and it got magic in it's title. I didn't know then that it got dragons in it yet. Anyway, I started reading and I was pleasantly surprised! I was enjoying it! So much so that I bought Book 2 of the Shadowmagic series, Prince of Hazel And Oak about halfway through reading Book 1.

As I was reading, Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter popped into my head and I thought that Joshua would make a good Conor... they just seem to have that same mischievous streak and grudging acceptance of responsibilities in their personalities.

If I am to rate the pace of these books I would say that it's medium paced at the start but gets quicker halfway through and really fast towards the end. However, I listened to the audibook version of both books, thus deeming the pace irrelevant because I can only listen as fast as the narrator reads.

The thing I like most with this series is the humour and emotions between the pages. It had me bent over laughing out loud and crying in turns. That earned a lot of kudos! It made the story telling quality wonderful indeed! Another thing I like about these books is that even though these books belong in a series, each book has it's own story arc with a coherent structure and satisfying ending which jibes well within the over-arc-ing plot of the series. This is something I find sorely lacking in a lot of serieses. Couldn't wait for the third book to get released!!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = N/A
Narrator = 4

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

Shadowmagic by John Lenahan
Book 1 of the Shadowmagic series
Narrated by the author.
Format: ebook, paperback, audiobook
Genre: Urban Fantasy / YA

About Shadowmagic:

Shadowmagic is a rip roaring fun fantasy adventure novel by John Lenahan very loosely based on Irish mythology where every chapter ends on the edge of a cliff (or at least a high curb.) Join Conor as he grapples with typical teenage problems like, how to deal with a father's high expectations, how to survive in the world on your own and how to woo a beautiful girl - that wants you dead. Shadowmagic a podcast novel for young adults from 12 to 112.

Source: Info in the About Shadowmagic was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3061457-shadowmagic on 29/11/2011.

Prince Of Hazel And Oak by John Lenahan
Book 2 of the Shadowmagic series
Narrated by the author.
Format: paperback, audiobook
Genre: YA / urban fantasy

About Prince Of Hazel And Oak:

The eagerly-awaited sequel to Shadowmagic. Having returned to the real world from Tir Na Nog at the end of the last book, our hero Conor finds himself arrested for the murder of his father. When he explains to the cops that his dad is safe and well and enjoying life as king of a land of elves, imps and banshees they understandably think he is a nutcase. That is until he is rescued by Celtic warriors on horseback and taken back to Tir Na Nog, accidentally bringing a policeman with him. Once safely back in The Land, Conor finds that all is not well. His father is dying, the girl he loves is betrothed to another and a rather confused American cop is wandering around causing havoc. It falls to our young hero, and his band of friends, to find a cure for the king. On their epic journey they encounter one of the most mystical and dangerous races in The Land, the shapeshifting Pooka, and find their fates linked in ways they could never have imagined. The Prince of Hazel and Oak is a stunning fantasy adventure that takes fans of Shadowmagic further in to the land and brings back many of the favourite characters from the first book.

Source: Info in the About Prince Of Hazel And Oak was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9631271-prince-of-hazel-and-oak on 09/01/2012.

Other Book(s) In This Series:

Publication Date: 6th September 2012

Review: ERAGON by Christopher Paolini

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Book 1 of the Inheritance trilogy

Genre: YA, epic fantasy

Book Description:

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands. . . .

Source: Info in the Book Description was taken from the book's website at http://www.alagaesia.com/eragon.htm on 16/10/10.

FTC Declaration: This book was purchased with my personal money.

Review:
I've read this book sometime ago so this is a retrospective review. I was ecstatic when I discovered this book. And it was during those times when YA fantasy was in scarcity. It was a gem of a find! The story telling quality was compelling. Paolini is a born story teller and this shows through the way he string the words together and what comes out is a fantastical tale. The story itself though not exactly original was very interesting to my fantasy reader's imagination. I love Paolini's version of farm-boy-turns-hero spin-off. The world building was woven with convincing authenticity that I could very easily suspend disbelief. Plus it has all the elements of a good read, elves, dwarves, dragons and magic! The plot was twisty enough to keep me guessing about what will happen next right to the end. Then Paolini gives us a satisfying resolution in the ending. Emperically translated, I would rate this book as:
World building = 5
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
Plot = 5

This was a very entertaining read indeed! The movie did not do it any justice at all. The succeeding books did not compare either.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

Review: HATCHING MAGIC

Hatching Magic by Ann Downer

Genre: middlegrade, urban fantasy,

About Hatching Magic:

Poor Theodora Oglethorpe! Her biologist father has gone off to explore the jungles of Laos without her, her two best friends are away on vacation, and a long hot lonely Boston summer is all she has to look forward to.

Poor Gideon! Wycca, his pet wyvern, has disappeared through a magic hole in time in search of a place to lay her egg. Kobold, Gideon's rival wizard, wants nothing more than to capture Wycca and turn her against her master. In a desperate attempt to rescue Wycca from Kobold's evil clutches, Gideon follows her through the magic hole... and finds himself transported from his castle in thirteenth-century England to the terrifyingly modern world of Boston, Massachusetts, in the year 2002.

Little does Gideon know that what he needs most in order to find his wyvern is stuck to the bottom of Theodora's shoe. And little does Theodora know that Gideon is the reason why her summer vacation has begun to seem a whole lot more interesting...

Source: Info in the About Hatching Magic was taken from the book's cover sleeve.

FTC Declaration: This book was purchased with my personal money.

Verdict: A quick and fun read.

Review:
This is a fun and quick read. It is not masterpiece but is enjoyable none the less. However this book uses known mythological elements such as the occult, tarot cards, quija board, etc. I came across a review who was strongly against these issues because of her faith, as I understand it. Therefore, if your belief system are against such things then I guess this is not a good book for you as the use of such things/ideas in the book might cause you distress. However, if you are like me, who thinks that the occult, tarot cards, quija board and the like are so much like Harry Potter's magic wand, and therefore for fun use only and should not be taken seriously, then this book is for you.

I bought this book because it got "magic" and "dragon" in it. I was kinda disappointed with the dragon as it was not as big a character as I would have liked. It was so much like a cat or a dog. So much like a loveable pet. Although I like that too, but for a main character, I want more than a loveable pet. The world building is fantastic! The author made me experience the musty world of a medieval castle and then the sticky sweet smell of chocolate confectionery like when you go into a candy store... I liked that! The "suspension of disbelief" therefore ranks high up there with a score of 4.5 out of 5. I would rate this book further as:

World building = 4.5
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 3.5
Story itself = 3
Ending = 4

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries

I SO WANT TO READ THIS: FIRELIGHT

WISHLIST:

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Book 1 of the Draki series

Genre: urban fantasy, YA

About Firelight:

A HIDDEN TRUTH

MORTAL ENEMIES

DOOMED LOVE

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense.

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt. The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irrestibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away - if it dies she will be left a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and irresistible passion ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide ...

Source: Info in the About Firelight was taken from the author's website at http://www.sophiejordan.net/ya/books.html on 02/10/2010.

HATCHING MAGIC

I So Want To Read This:

Hatching Magic by Ann Downer

About Hatching Magic

Poor Theodora Oglethorpe! Her biologist father has gone off to explore the jungles of Laos without her, her two best friends are away on vacation, and a long hot lonely Boston summer is all she has to look forward to.

Poor Gideon! Wycca, his pet wyvern, has disappeared through a magic hole in time in search of a place to lay her egg. Kobold, Gideon's rival wizard, wants nothing more than to capture Wycca and turn her against her master. In a desperate attempt to rescue Wycca from Kobold's evil clutches, Gideon follows her through the magic hole... and finds himself transported from his castle in thirteenth-century England to the terrifyingly modern world of Boston, Massachusetts, in the year 2002.

Little does Gideon know that what he needs most in order to find his wyvern is stuck to the bottom of Theodora's shoe. And little does Theodora know that Gideon is the reason why her summer vacation has begun to seem a whole lot more interesting...

Source: Info in the About Hatching Magic was taken from the book's cover sleeve.