by Cassandra Clare
Summary:
When Clary went to Pandemonium that night, she expected to have a fun night out with her friend Simon. Instead, she sees two Shadowhunters destroy a demon. Not that she knows what a Shadowhunter is. When her mother is kidnapped by unknown forces, Clary finds herself thrust into a world she knows nothing about. A world where demons and vampires, werewolves and fairies exist. As do Shadowhunters, people who have sworn to keep humans safe from these creatures. With Simon at her side, and the incredibly handsome Shadowhunter Jace always there when she needs her, she's about to learn that nothing she grew up knowing about her family was true.
Review:
While I had a hard time liking the love story between Jace and Clary (the possibly brother/sister plot line is a bit hard to digest), overall the first book in the Mortal Instruments was well written and interesting. By the end of the book I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second. Clary is a pretty strong character who doesn't simply rely on the men in her life to do everything for her. In the romance department her character is fairly predictable (flipping back and forth between the 2 boys), but that's not the be all and end all to the story. Definitely a good book for teens who like paranormal romances.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Series: City of Bones (Book 1), City of Ashes (Book 2), City of Glass (Book 3), City of Fallen Angels (Book 4), City of Lost Souls (Book 5), City of Heavenly Fire (Book 6, comes out April 2014)
Prequel (Infernal Devices Series): Clockwork Angel (Book 1), Clockwork Prince (Book 2), Clockwork Princess (Book 3, comes out March 2013)
Showing posts with label Fairies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fairies. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2013
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Once Upon a Marigold
By Jean Ferris
Summary:
Christian was raised by a troll in a cave, literally by a troll in a cave. But he can't help but think that one day, maybe, he could meet the beautiful princess he sees every day across the river. Maybe if she knew he existed he could be the thing that makes her happy, since he can't help but notice her immeasurable sadness every time he sees her. With a little help from his stepfather the troll, and a lot of ingenuity, Christian finds a way to finally meet her, but will everything turn out ok?
Review:
Once Upon a Marigold is a charmingly witty fairy tale about an inventive boy with a heart of gold, who wins himself a princess. The book has a few fun twists in it which keep the reader guessing about Christian's true roots and the real motives of the queen. It isn't overly complicated making it ideal for tweens who like princess stories.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 5-6th Grade
Summary:
Christian was raised by a troll in a cave, literally by a troll in a cave. But he can't help but think that one day, maybe, he could meet the beautiful princess he sees every day across the river. Maybe if she knew he existed he could be the thing that makes her happy, since he can't help but notice her immeasurable sadness every time he sees her. With a little help from his stepfather the troll, and a lot of ingenuity, Christian finds a way to finally meet her, but will everything turn out ok?
Review:
Once Upon a Marigold is a charmingly witty fairy tale about an inventive boy with a heart of gold, who wins himself a princess. The book has a few fun twists in it which keep the reader guessing about Christian's true roots and the real motives of the queen. It isn't overly complicated making it ideal for tweens who like princess stories.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 5-6th Grade
The Two Princesses of Bamarre
by Gail Carson Levine
Summary:
Meryl has always been the more adventurous sister. The one who is anxious for adventures, loves sword fighting, and above all is always there to protect her sister Addie from trouble of any sort. But when Meryl falls sick with the plague, it is up to Addie to find the cure that could save her sister. But can Addie, who has never even had to get rid of a spider, face ogres or dragons or worse? Will she succeed in saving her sister, or will she end up dead too?
Review:
Gail Carson Levine is well known for her entertaining and feel good princess stories, and The Two Princesses of Bamarre does not disappoint. The story is well written, though predictable, with characters which will draw in girl tweens with their determination to be better than they are. The book even has a love story in it, making it a great choice for any princess tale loving girl.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age: 6-7th Grade
Summary:
Meryl has always been the more adventurous sister. The one who is anxious for adventures, loves sword fighting, and above all is always there to protect her sister Addie from trouble of any sort. But when Meryl falls sick with the plague, it is up to Addie to find the cure that could save her sister. But can Addie, who has never even had to get rid of a spider, face ogres or dragons or worse? Will she succeed in saving her sister, or will she end up dead too?
Review:
Gail Carson Levine is well known for her entertaining and feel good princess stories, and The Two Princesses of Bamarre does not disappoint. The story is well written, though predictable, with characters which will draw in girl tweens with their determination to be better than they are. The book even has a love story in it, making it a great choice for any princess tale loving girl.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age: 6-7th Grade
Thursday, January 19, 2012
A Kiss in Time
by Alex Flinn
Summary:
We've all heard the story about Sleeping Beauty, right? But maybe we haven't heard the real story. Maybe it is less of a fairy tale and more the real thing. Maybe the entire kingdom is still sleeping, waiting for the princess to get true love's kiss. At first Jack though he had stumbled upon some sort of weird theme park, one where everyone is sleeping, but when he can't resist kissing one girl, he comes to find out that maybe fairy tale's are more real than we think.
Review:
A Kiss in Time is a fluffy, fun fairy tale. The book takes a lot of leaps which are hard to identify with-beyond the typical fantasy stuff, like the fact that Jack knows where to get a fake passport and that the Princess has no problems adjusting to 21st century life. But overall the theme of the book is love, and it adequately addresses it. Definitely a great read for girls who liked Ella Enchanted or similar.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 7th-8th Grade
Summary:
We've all heard the story about Sleeping Beauty, right? But maybe we haven't heard the real story. Maybe it is less of a fairy tale and more the real thing. Maybe the entire kingdom is still sleeping, waiting for the princess to get true love's kiss. At first Jack though he had stumbled upon some sort of weird theme park, one where everyone is sleeping, but when he can't resist kissing one girl, he comes to find out that maybe fairy tale's are more real than we think.
Review:
A Kiss in Time is a fluffy, fun fairy tale. The book takes a lot of leaps which are hard to identify with-beyond the typical fantasy stuff, like the fact that Jack knows where to get a fake passport and that the Princess has no problems adjusting to 21st century life. But overall the theme of the book is love, and it adequately addresses it. Definitely a great read for girls who liked Ella Enchanted or similar.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 7th-8th Grade
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl
Author: Erin Colfer
Publisher: New York
Plot Description:
Artemis Fowl is determined to get his family fortune back. He might only be 12, but he is a genius. A genius who knows about the fairy world and has a plan to capture their gold to restore his family. The magic world of fairies, trolls, dwarfs, and goblins might not know about Artemis, but he is more than ready for them.
Review:
I began reading Artemis Fowl with little knowledge about the book, though I thought the plot of a 12 year old mastermind to be a bit silly. What I found was a book that is both well written and engaging, full of action and adventure that often makes you forget the age of the protagonist. It creates an entire fantasy world beneath the earth, and does so in a way that leaves you thinking that it just could happen. The book is definitely appealing to tweens of both genders who are interested in fantasy fiction, especially when they like when things blow up!
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Reading Level: 4-5th Grade
Similar Titles: Inkheart
Reader’s Advisory:
Personal Thoughts: Very fun
Subjects/Themes: Fantasy, Fairies, Adventure, Action
Awards: 2004 Young Reader’s Choice Award
Character Names:
Artemis Fowl; 12 year old genius out to restore the family fortune after his father
disappears
Captain Holly Short: the fairy Artemis captures for ransom
Commander Julius Root: Holly’s superior officer who goes to save her
Foaly: LEP’s gadget centaur
Annotation: It might be dangerous, but getting fairy gold is always worth it.
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