Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: JK Rowling
Series/Standalone: Harry Potter Series (Book #3)
Genre: Classic, Fantasy
Pages: 317
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year Published: 1999
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways."
"On the morning of his thirteenth birthday, Harry Potter learns that mass-murderer Sirius Black has escaped the iron grasp of Azkaban fortress. harry has barely survived his first two years at Hogwarts; now it looks as though Sirius Black is determined to make sure Harry doesn't finish his third.
With Ron and Hermione at his side, Harry is forced to confront his new enemy- while the sinister Dementors of Azkaban Patrol the school ground threatening to suck the very soul from those who they encounter with a deadly kiss..."
My Rating: 5/5
This is by far my favourite Harry Potter book (As far as I remember) I love the growth in the world and getting to see how criminals are dealt with. i also appreciate seeing other magical creatures that we hadn't been introduced to before. Overall this book introduces my favourite characters and some of the best elements of the series (in my opinion). I'm so excited to rewatch the movies after we finish the series.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Out of Time
Author: Noelle Stevenson & Shannon Watters
Illustrators: Brooke Allen
Series/Standalone: Lumberjanes (Book #4)
Genre: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 112
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Year Published: 2016
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
"The mystery of history!
Jen just wants a normal lesson with her cabin, teaching Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley the basic survival skills needed without any supernatural intervention. But when a blizzard hits camp, Jen finds herself separated from the girls and in more trouble than ever... until a mysterious taxidermist swoops in to save the day. Who is she and what is her relationship to Rosie? Join Jen as she finds a way back to her girls, and a way to save the day!
This New York Times Bestseller and Eisner Award- Nominated series is written by Noelle Stevenson (Nimona, ADVENTURE TIME), and Lumberjanes co-creator Shanon Watters and illustrated by Brooke Allen (A Home for Mr. Easter)."
My Rating: 5/5
This might be my favourite instalment in the whole series so far. It just really jumped the plot and the storyline ahead to make us wonder what is going on in the forest with time and monsters. Also, where did the Lumberjanes come from and when did they start. I'm so excited to see where the characters go and to learn more about their lives and relationships with each other. Also, an introduction to the newer characters makes me so excited.
Thank you for reading,
Sidny
Title: A Terrible Plan
Author: Noelle Stevenson & Shannon Watters
Illustrator: Carolyn Nowak
Series/Standalone: Lumberjanes Vol. 3
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, YA
Pages: 112
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Year Published: 2016
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
"IF YOU GOT IT, HAUNT IT!
Trying to take advantage of the first quiet day at camp in a while, Mal and Molly's date takes a bizarre turn with the appearance of the Bear Woman! Back at camp, Jo, April, and Ripley must stay on their toes as they try and earn every badge possible, which ends up being a lot harder than any of them ever planned.
This New York Times bestselling series continues with Lumberjanes #9, "If You Got It, Haunt It Badge," #10, "Abscence Make the Heart Grow Fondant Badge," #11 "Go Ball-istic Badge," and #12 "Oldie but Goodie Badge."'
My Rating: 4.75/5
This is another one of my favourite graphic novel series. I'm kind of new to the whole graphic novel situation. I really love the kick-ass attitude of the women in this series and the idea of inclusion. It was amazing to see how the characters progress and to learn a little about their lives outside of the camp. I can't wait to continue the series and see where the storyline will go.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Half Lost
Author: Sally Green
Series/Standalone: The Half Bad Trilogy (Book #3)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT
Pages: 340
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardcover (Library Edition)
First Line: "'We should agree on some passwords."
"This is the final battle.
The Alliance is losing the war, and their most critical weapon, seven-year-old witch Nathan Byrn, is losing his mind. Nathan's tally of kills is rising, and yet he's no closer to ending the tyrannical rule of the Council of White Witches in England. Nor is Nathan any closer to his personal goal: getting revenge on Annalise, the girl he once loved before she committed an unthinkable crime. An amulet protected by the extremely powerful witch Ledger could be the tool Nathan needs to save himself and the Alliance, but this amulet is not as easily acquired. And lately, Nathan has started to suffer from visions: a vision of a golden moment when he dies, and of an endless line of Hunter, impossible to overcome. Gabriel, his closest companion, urges Nathan to run away with him, to start a peaceful life together. But even Gabriel's love may not be enough to save Nathan from this war, or from the person he has become.
Set in modern-day Europe, the final book in the Half Bad trilogy is more than a story about witches. It's a heart-achingly visceral look at survival and exploitation, the nature of good and evil, and the risks we take for love."
My Rating: 3.5/5
I really wanted to love this book series and overall it was good. I would say that this is a book series that is different and has interesting power elements in it. I would also say if you love revolution based young adult reads you should pick this one up. But that being said, the storyline has so many elements to it that I had trouble remembering all the things that would happen in each book and why they mattered so much. Not to mention the number of deaths, that after a while I wasn't shocked by any of them. I would say that this series was just ok for me. I do wonder about the author's works and will keep my eyes out if any of her other work interests me. That being said, I wouldn't pick up anything she'd written just because she'd written it. Overall a decent series, just not for me.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So I really wanted to read this series and just love it as much as other's had. But unfortunately, it just was ok for me and let me explain why. This series is interesting, it has an interesting magic system and makes me wonder about the idea of witches among us (somewhat like Harry Potter), but it was just too much crammed into the books. We met so many characters and lost so many along the way that I can't even begin to name them all. I also began to not really care who died if we're honest. I was just so lost from time to time figuring out why I should care about certain people.
Characters:
Nathan: I wonder about his life for the three years after the battle, but at the same point I wondered about his psychy after everything that he saw and his encounter with the Blue. His life was overall just sad.
Gabriel: I did love him. He was my favorite character and he loved more than any other character I ever read. He was an amazing friend, fighter and romantic interest.
Soul: Classic evil guy who has henchmen. What can I say?
Nesbitt: I hope he lives a happy life.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Saga Volume 5
Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Illustrator: Fiona Staples
Series/Standalone: Saga Series
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 152
Publisher: Image Comics
Year Published: 2015
Format: Physical Copy (Own It)
"Multiple storylines collide in this cosmos-spanning new volume. While Gwendolyn and Lying Cat risk everything to find a cure for The Will, Marko makes an uneasy alliance with Prince Robot IV to find their missing children, who are trapped on a strange world with terrifying new enemies."
My Rating: 5/5
So let's be honest, I try to keep these once a month so I don't just blow through the storyline but I am so eager that I want to blow through the whole storyline at once. This one was no exception it was the total package. Amazing art, great plot line, still our fantastic characters and of course the cliffhangers. I can't wait to pick up the next instalment in the new year.
Thank you for reading,
Sidny
Title: Transcendent
Author: Katelyn Detweiler
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism, Fiction
Pages: 448
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Physical Copy (Hardcover)
First Line: "Where were you the day Disney World was bombed?"
"What would you do if the world was crumbling to pieces... and everyone believed you were the only person who could put it back together?
Terrorists have just bombed Disney World. A thousand miles away, a stranger shows up on Iris Spero's stoop in Brooklyn. He brings with him a shocking secret about Iris's birth, throwing her entire identity into question.
Suddenly, the press is confronting Iris with the wild notion that she might be the miracle the world now so desperately needs. Families all across the grieving nation are pinning their hopes on her as if she is some kind of saint or saviour. She's no longer sure whom she can trust- except for Zane, a homeless boy who long ago abandoned any kind of hope
When no one knows her but everyone wants a piece of her, who is Iris Spero now? And how can she- one teenage girl- possibly heal a broken world?"
My Rating: 2.5/5
So this wasn't at all what I expected. Not even a little bit. I was going to DNF it but I always worry if I do that, by the end of the story I would have liked it. But this book was just ok for me. I think that the storyline was interesting but very drawn out. Also the characters were fleshed out but not in an important way. I think this story is something you should read if you're needing a pick me up and someone to believe in. I would also recommend for younger readers.
Thank you for reading,
Sidny
Ok, so I'm going to start this by saying that this wasn't what I wanted it to be at all. I thought that this book was going to be like a kick ass action movie, but the more I read the more I disliked it. It was just kind of ok for me. It just wasn't my thing. The plot seemed to go on forever and the characters were strange to me. I just don't think that I will be reading more works by the author anytime soon.
Characters:
Iris: I don't know what we expected from her. If she was a miracle baby, that doesn't mean she was able to cure anything. I just thought it was bull shit the whole time. I was hoping that she was going to have bigger powers than distilling hope.
Zane: Bad boy whose not a bad boy, heart of gold. Sad past.
Zoey: I think she was my favorite character. I loved her and her hope in the world. She was so strong for her age.
Mikki: Who the hell are you? God is a woman?
Mina: Why would you tell everyone and go public in the first place? Didn't you think anything through?
Jesse: I felt for him, when he was telling her that biologically he wasn't her dad.
Friends: Yes I am grouping them together because we had to many details about their past that didn't matter and were the weird quirky kids, but too quirky. Over the top.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
