Review: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire in The Hunger Games is now sparking revolutions throughout the 12 Districts in Suzanne Collins’s second installment of The Hunger Games series, Catching Fire.

Having emerged from the Hunger Games victorious, Katniss and her now ‘made for TV boyfriend’ Peeta Mellark return to District 12. Their final act of desperation in the Games makes them both symbols of rebellion and hope to the people of the 12 Districts….but targets for the Capitol.

President Snow smells deception….he knows their love was just an act and feels that they rebellion in the Games will only incite more uprisings in other Districts….while on their victory tour of the other Districts, Snow will be watching Peeta and Katniss closely.

When they fail to perform up to Snow’s standard, Snow and the Capitol threaten to destroy all that Katniss and Peeta hold dear–their family, friends, and themselves. But if he destroys them outright, Snow will lose the favor of the public and perhaps bring about more uprisings and rebellion–he can’t risk it. But and opportunity soon presents itself…the Quarter Quell Hunger Games….the rules have changed and the odds are not in Katniss and Peeta’s favor. Continue reading “Review: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins”

Review: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

Like the gladiators of ancient Rome, the youth of post apocalyptic North America are put face to face in a ‘fight to the death’ game called The Hunger Games. Blood, complicated strategies, alliances, betrayal, and death are expected to play out, all with the nation watching on live television–twenty four children between the ages of 12-18 go into the games but only one will emerge victorious.

The Hunger Games is the first in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. In this post apocalyptic/dystopian society, there are 12 Districts. The 12 Districts are ruled by the The Capitol. The tyrannical Capitol keeps the Districts in check by forcing them to send one boy and one girl to participate in the annual Games. In the upper-class Districts, families pray for the honor of having their child selected for the Games….but in the ghettos of District 12, families know if their child is picked from the lottery, they are sending a lamb to slaughter.

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen lives in the slums of District 12. Her father is dead, killed by a mine blast, and her mother is rendered utterly useless after her father dies. Katniss and her sister Primrose (Prim) are forced to fend for themselves. Prim is too young so Katniss takes up the responsibility of putting food on the table. But in District 12, there is little to no food–people are starving and dying in the streets. Katniss must become a ruthless hunter, forager, and survivor if her family is to last… Continue reading “Review: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins”

Review: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin

Winter is coming.

The Stark family motto rings in the ears of all the people of Winterfell….but it is ringing loudest in the ears Lord Stark himself…..winter is coming.

A Game of Thrones is the first in George R. R. Martin’s epic high fantasy series , A Song of Ice and Fire. Let me just say, epic doesn’t begin to describe this series…..each book is roughly 800+ pages.

The story itself is intricate and tedious….you really need to pay attention to what is going on but once you get use to the prose, flow, and points of view….you are rewarded with a richly designed and beautifully written story.

Personally, I found the different ‘houses’ and genealogy hard to keep straight and I was extremely grateful for the last 25+ pages of the book which are devoted to the house genealogies, colors, sigil, and mottos….and thankfully a map of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms which also helped my picture things more clearly in my mind….and yes I did reference both of these things often so I could keep up with all that was going on. I also highly recommend browsing the Ice and Fire Wiki page…it was extremely helpful to have a guide!! Continue reading “Review: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin”

Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig

Dapper, dark, mysterious, and mature: Lauren Willig’s latest flowery spy novel, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose  was the ‘changeling’ in the series.

Each book follows the usual pattern of ‘romance’ between a dashing international man of mystery (typically of peerage) and a virginal debutant.

The Crimson Rose is principally the same as the other books, but the love story between Lord Vaughn and Mary Alsworthy is more of an intimate, mature, intellectual love not like the previous books that are more of a fairytale romance….Vaughn and Mary for me were more like Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara.

I was actually surprised that the love story was more intellectual in nature….based on the previous books with Vaughn and Mary I suspected their romance would be all passion and elicit romance, so I was surprised that the story lacked ‘compromising’ encounters between the two lovebirds.

Though the story lacked the same dashing, flowery affection that the other books had the lack of overt attraction was one of the reasons I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED Lord Vaughn as a hero. Continue reading “Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig”

Entry: Austen Murder Matchup Contest/Giveaway

An author friend of mine, Lynn Shepherd, is hosting a comparative book review contest on her blog.

I couldn’t resist entering as the goal is to review two of the hottest Austen inspired murder mysteries on the market, Murder at Mansfield Park and Death Comes to Pemberley. Shepherd is putting both books together in a head to head compare and contrast style review contest.

What is the goal of the comparative book review?

  • I’m pitching these two Janeite murder mysteries together, head to head, to see which one you think comes out on top. I’m inviting anyone who’s read both books to write a short review comparing the two, and giving them each a score
  • Reviews/entries will be posted on Lynn Shepherd’s blog 

The #AustenMurderMatch starts on December 26th and runs till Monday 9th January 2012

What do you need to do? Continue reading “Entry: Austen Murder Matchup Contest/Giveaway”