Book Review: Chosen by Ted Dekker

Title: Chosen
Author: Ted Dekker
Series: The Lost Books (Book #1)
Pages: 260
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Year Published: 2007

"Think with your heart and prepare to die... for you have been chose."
"Thomas Hunter, supreeme commander of the Forest Guard, has seen a great evil decimate much of his beautiful world .
Witha  dwindling army and an epic threat, Thoams is forced to supplement his fighters  with new recruits aged 16 and 17. From thousands, four will be chosen to lead a special mission.
Unknown to Thomas, the chosen four are redirected to a different endgame. They must find the seven lost Books of History before the Dark One. For these seven books have immense power over the past, present and future, controlling not only the destiny of their world... but that of ours as well."

My Rating: 8/10

I have heard a lot of good things about Ted Dekker, the author of this book. For the most part I wasn't let down. Dekker has created a new world which is well thought through and imagined. I can only imagine how much work he put into it. From the setting to the characters and creatures that inhabit these places, Dekker's is fun and easy to follow. I didn't enjoy how long it took before I understood the story, but maybe if I had read some other books that relate to this story it might have clicked. If I have time this upcoming summer, I plan on continuing to read these amazing books.
THANK YOU TED DEKKER FOR GOOD AND EVIL IN A SURPSING FORM.

Smile :D

Love,
Sidny ♥♫♪

Spoiler: Chosen by Ted Dekker

I didn't mind this book, but I don't think that I'll read the second one. I loved the aspect of good vs. evil, but with the Horde being crusty and disgusting it made it more interesting, and gross but mainly interesting. The bats were an interesting touch, I'm guessing that they are in the other circle books that Ted Dekker has written otherwise... they wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. Excellent use of symbolism. The village is a different setting than I expected, I guess to be honest I thought it would be more like in the Hunger Games, not that I want to compare the two. THe game to choose the leaders seems kind of stupid considering when fighting each other they should be going a little easy, because they might be fighting beside these others.

Characters:
Johnis: He's kind of a chicken in comparison to the others. He doesn't really want to be on this mission, he'd much rather stay at home and hear about the battles from there, but he is a tremendous in the real battle which shocked me. No kidding that he wasn't going to die. There are multiple books after this!

Darsal: A confident woman makes me smile. She doesn't act so confident though after Billos is taken, which was shocking to me. I thought that he drew strength from her but perhaps it is the other way around.

Silvie: I'm shocked that she's attracted to Johnis, but she's smart so she must have her reason. She seems like someone I would be friends with.

Billos: I was so mad when I read that he didn't want to go back for Johnis, that's just plain rude! But in the end he turns out to want what is right. I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the books he is the reason that Johnis dies.

Thomas: A veryy interesting leader isn't he? He thinks with his heart, which is the way I should start thinking. He is a different leader, because of the way he treats his men. He doesn't seem to walk around acting like he's better than them but rather treats them like he's equal, and grateful to be their leader.

Teeleh: Oh my goodness. I imagined this guys as frightening as possible, and that's pretty freaking scary. I loved the way that Ted Dekker described him being an old bat, who wants his beauty back.

Gabil: What a hilarious bat? I love him :)

Horde: They are just plan old scary. A disease that takes over and deludes you into thinking that trees are bad... hmmm does half the earth have this disease :P


Moments to Remember:
♥ Pg. 108
" 'I don't care whether or not you're enjoying this. The question is whether or not you've lost the few peanuts contained in that container above your shoulders.' "

♥Pg. 124
" 'You'll want a kind woman with spirit,' his father had often advised him. 'Beauty is in a woman's words as much as in her skin.' "

♥Pg. 152
"Darsal blinked. 'You're a ghost?'
'Do I look like a ghost to you?' Gabil demanded.
'No. Well, you are as white as a ghost.'
'But ghosts don't know karate.' "

♥Pg. 249
"Four stallions were in the center of the group, and on these horses sat Johnis, Billos, Darsal and Silvie. But he saw something else now. Two long poles were strapped to their saddles, making a stretcher.
Only this stretcher didn't carry the wounded. It carried four large catalina cacti."

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Book Review: Tilt by Alan Cumyn

Title: Tilt

Author: Alan Cumyn

Pages: 269

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Year Published: 2011

“A funny, sexy novel about a teenaged boy’s obsessions as he lives through an impossibly absurd time of life.”

“Finally they found Feldon semi-snoring in the kitchen cupboard… His chin leaned against the edge of a pot and Stan tried to extricate him gently, but he was not moving.

‘Do you think he can just stay in there?’ Janine asked. They were both on their knees looking in the cupboard. Her mouth was so close to his that he had to pull back to miss it.

Her hand was on his thigh. For balance.

‘Can’t be very comfortable,’ he said. If she pushed slightly she could knock him flat on his back.

‘I’d love to see your room,’ she whispered.”

My Rating: 8/10

This book is really unusual. It doesn’t have a set purpose other than to show how one boy’s life is, but that is purpose enough. I enjoyed this book because it was light and fun to read. I loved the way that the main character related so many things to his passion, basketball. I think all of us do this with something we are passionate about. In my case, books.

At times, the novel is difficult to follow. The author uses a different thought process for the main character that at time makes scenarios difficult to follow. It’s hard to decipher what is a dream to Stan and what is reality. For the most part, this book is enjoyable.

THANK YOU ALAN CUMYN FOR LETTING ME INTO THE MALE MIND!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Tilt by Alan Cumyn

This book is kind of weird. It’s not something I’d usually read and so I had trouble rating it. This book mainly follows Stan’ journey to finding out who he is. We see that he is, like most 16 year old boys, interested in sex. His family situation is insane and ever since his dad left he has trouble coping with who he is.

CHARACTERS:

Stan: I love the fact that he’s not a hidden male character. He thinks about sex, and that’s normal. Alan Cumyn doesn’t try and hide that, he just puts it out in the open. I love that he is so passionate about basketball, but I’m sad that he doesn’t follow his dream. He is crazy passionate about his family, although he doesn’t know how to deal with his mom, he is an amazing brother. I don’t like him and Janine together, but that’s a personal thing.

Lily: I have this idea that she’s not actually imaginative, that she’s schizophrenic. And how would we know? There must be a fine line between gifted and crazy. I kinda think she’s crossed that line. She’s a cute little girl though and I can’t help but wonder how old she is.

Stan’s Mom: She is a weird woman. She seems to blame her children for Ron’s leaving which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Stan says repeatedly that they fought, and so I don’t think that they were really in love, not a true love. I think she can do better than Gary though. 

Ron (Stan’s Dad): What a jerk? He blames everyone else for everything when in reality it is usually his fault. He runs out on both of his women and he doesn’t deserve to have such wonderful children or two women at all. Hate him!

Gary: I thought he was a sleaze at first, leading on Stan’s mom, but he turns out to be a decent guy.

Feldon: So cute, I feel sorry that this kid gets taken from his mother, he doesn’t deserve it.

Janine: I don’t understand her character. She’s bisexual, and sneaks around on Stan at the dance, still she has sex with him. I wonder if that was just an experiment or if it was because she actually likes him. I don’t agree with what they did, but it seems like the normal high school thing now. She’s such a big thing to Stan, but really I don’t think that if it were reality that they’d last at all. They just don’t make sense together.

Moments to Remember:

♥Pg. 111

 “ ‘What was his name?’ Stan felt like he was learning more about his mother in just a few minutes on this freezing back porch than in his whole life so far.

‘I think it was Pete.’

‘You think?’”

♥Pg. 149

“ ‘Contractors rip you off,’ Joe said. ‘No offense to your father, Stan. But if it’s at all possible to do the work yourself…’

Gillian snorted. ‘Two words, dear. The bathroom. And three more. Lest we forget.’”

Hope you enjoyed,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Title: Blue Bloods

Author: Melissa De La Cruz

Series: Blue Bloods (Book #1)

Pages: 302

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Year Published: 2006

“Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.

 Once an outcast, Schuyler is thrust into Manhattan’s most exclusive social circle. It’s members are the powerful, the wealthy, and – as Schuyler soon discovers- the unhuman. They are Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, and for centuries they’ve been invincible. Now something is preying on this elite group, and Schuyler wants to find out the truth. But is she the most vulnerable of them all?”

My Rating: 9/10

I was starting to avoid vampire books at all cost, because I was tired of the same old story over and over. This book was a surprising change! It’s not quite like anything I’ve read before. I enjoyed the fact the narrative was from a vampire perspective, instead of a human one. The author also did a tremendous job with the point of view; the reader can easily pick many characters minds (in the best way possible).  The only part that I didn’t enjoy was that it took a bit before the story got rolling. That said, when it was rolling I could hardly put it down.

THANK YOU MELISSA DE LA CRUZ FOR A THRILLING MODERN VAMPIRE TALE!

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

This book is truly tremendous! Just when I was losing faith in vampire fiction I picked up this book to be pleasantly surprised. I love the idea of the Committee. It just made the mystery far more interesting. The fact that they know which are Blue Bloods and are able to explain what’s happening to them is amazing. I loved this aspect.

 This book isn’t only about vampires though, it also includes the mysterious theory of reincarnation. The collaboration of the two interested me and pulled me through this book. A great page turner.

CHARACTERS:

Schuyler: I suppose she is the real main character and an interesting one at that. Half human, half vampire in a different way. Not like most of the others I’ve read about. I love the fact that she’s not a plastic. She wears what she likes, not what’s popular. I really liked her and Jack together, but I can also see her and Oliver together later on in this series.

Mimi: A popular snot. Can you guess how much I like her? I don’t like the fact that she doesn’t follow any of the Committee’s rules. She doesn’t take care of her familiars. It’s also disgusting that she is interested in her twin brother. It’s just not right! EWW

Bliss: I love that she adds a little bit of country to the big apple. She is a fun character to see in this story. The fact that she’s friends with Mimi ticked me off at the beginning but then she was with Dylan J so I was impressed for a tiny bit.

Jack: I love Jack. He seems like the perfect boy, but really he can’t end up with Mimi because that’s just wrong. They’re freaking twins! He belongs with Schuyler damn it!

Oliver: This guy looks like he’s in the friend zone, but maybe he’ll find someone other than Schuyler. I know for a fact that best friends are really hard to date, so I really don’t think they’ll end up together… at least not well.

Dylan: All I know is that he must be a Silver Blood. I don’t think that he’s actually dead though. He has to be alive, at least I hope he is in the second book.

Cordelia: What an interesting lady? She isn’t truly Schuyler’s grandmother, but I was so sad to see her die. It was like leaving poor Schuyler all alone in the world. I love that she knew so many secrets though, she was almost a messenger. I hope we get to “meet” her husband in the next book.

Allegra (Schuyler’s mom): I was happy to find out what put her in a coma, now if only she’d come out and tell her story!

Charles Force: This man is just plain old suspicious. I don’t like the looks of him and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in with the Silver Bloods. He just seems like a scumbag.

 Moment to Remember:

♥Pg. 151

“Schuyler shook her head. No. She wasn’t going to fall for this. They might all be drinking laced Kool-Aid in there, but she had a good head on her shoulders.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Shelter by Harlan Coben

Title: Shleter

Author: Harlan Coben

Series: Mickey Bolitar (Book 1)

Pages: 304

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Year Published: 2011

“Mickey Bolitar’s year can’t get much worse. After witnessing his father’s death and sending his mom to rehab, he’s forced to live with his estranged Uncle Myron and switch high schools.

A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey’s train wreck of a life is improving- until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley’s trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn’t who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey’s father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury- and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.”

My Rating: 9/10

This is the first book I’ve ever read by Harlan Coben and I loved it! This book is not only written with suspense but also it made me feel as though I was experiencing everything with Mickey as he went through it. This book is made for people who love twists and turns that don’t want a nice calm novel. I really enjoyed the sense of humor that is used in this book and how Harlan seemed to get down to a high school level of writing. I could picture my high school as he wrote it. The janitor closet, the office and of course the cafeteria are all locked in my mind. I can’t wait to read the next book in this gripping series.

THANK YOU HARLAN COBEN FOR PROVING YOU CAN’T KNOW SOMEONE JUST BY APPEARANCE!           

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Shelter by Harlan Coben

This book was one of the best I’ve read. The fact that it was a mystery and a thriller kept me reading until late hours of the night… especially last night. I loved that way that Harlan Coben combined humor and mystery into one stunning piece of writing. The fact that this book is branched on from another series scared me at first, when most authors do that they forget that you don’t know what’s going on if you haven’t read the first series, which sucks! But Harlan Coben didn’t make me feel lost at all.

Characters:

Mickey: An excellent main character who has already gone through so much in his young life, but this only makes for a better story. There are twists and turns that happen to Mickey that you don’t see coming. I did see that his mom would have to go back to rehab, that she was lying. People don’t just become instantly better after addictions, it doesn’t work that way. I love that Mickey fought so hard to find Ashley and the way he teamed up with unlikely people.

Ema: I felt for this girl. It’s not easy looking different or being different… especially in a small town where you went to the same middle school and usually the same elementary school as everyone in your high school class. Really it’s horrible because people already think they know you. I do think that maybe Ema lives on the street as we never see her house.

Spoon: What a hilarious guy? This character kept the story light for me with his random facts and his swooning. I loved that he wasn’t afraid to stick up to Chief Tayler.

Rachel: Who would think a pretty, popular girl would join this daring rescue? I sure didn’t.

The Bat Lady: I loved the twist at the end of this book, although we don’t see the Bat Lady often we do get to see that she plays a huge part in this mystery.

Ashley: It’s really to bad that her and Mickey wouldn’t work out but it’s better that she be safe.

Favorite Lines/Moments:

♥Pg. 10

“I approached tentatively. When I got close enough, I gave a half wave and said, ‘Hi.’

I always open with super-smooth lines like this.”

♥Pg. 116

“Grandma sprinted toward Myron and me, arms wide open, hugging us as though we were innocent men just released from serving an unjust prison term, which is to say, like a grandmother should.”

♥Pg. 122

“I don’t want to exaggerate, but the SnowCap Melter was the greatest thing anyone has ever eaten in the history of the world.”

♥Pg. 137

“’The future ex-Mrs. Spoon,’ Spoon said. Then, thinking about it, ‘Or would she be Fork? I must work on that.’”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo