What's Going On?

Today’s post is typed up while driving from Dallas to La Monte, MO.

The big question in Storm, by Evan Angler, is “What is really going on?” Mr. Arbitor volunteers to help DOME search for Erin, but it’s really to rescue his daughter. Lily continues to “revise” Eddie, but really she needs/wants him fighting the system. Arianna “captures” Logan, Peck, Hailey, and Erin, but really she’s protecting them from DOME and the IMPS. Connor’s parents sabotage the plant that makes it rain, but really they are protecting people from Trumpet. Logan follows Lily’s orders, saves the weather mill, but unleashes a plague. And all of it went according to Cylis’s plan.

Overall Impression: I thought the second book in the series was a vast improvement over the first, so I was looking for the third to be even better. I’m not sure it quite hit the mark. Where the first book felt like a lot of exposition, the second was really good with rising action and a climax. I felt like the third slipped back into a bit too much exposition, although it did pick up toward the end.

Also, with the second book, the jumps between characters were done at high-drama moments, so they helped build anticipation. Just when a character was figuring something out or about to reveal something big, it would jump to a different point of view, building suspense. Those transitions did not work quite as well with this book.

There were some surprise twists – I am still not sure how I feel about the author writing himself into the book. I thought the “Notes from the Author” at the beginnings and ends of the books were a neat touch, but it was strange to be reading about the characters reading about themselves in Swipe. Also, the Ultranet at the very end of the book is somewhat intriguing.

Overall, the book kept me interested and reading, but was obviously one of a series rather than a good stand alone novel.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. 

See other reviews here:

Julie Bihn Beckie Burnham Keanan Brand Pauline Creeden Emma or Audrey Engel Sarah Faulkner Victor Gentile Ryan Heart Jason Joyner Carol Keen Shannon McDermott Meagan @ Blooming with Books Rebecca LuElla Miller Joan Nienhuis Writer Rani Chawna Schroeder Jacque Stengl Jojo Sutis Jessica Thomas Steve Trower Phyllis Wheeler

'Swipe' by Evan Angler

Swipe, by Evan Angler, was a little difficult to get into. I never felt like I really connected with the main characters, Logan and Erin. A lot of the interactions between characters seemed awkward. Maybe this was done on purpose since they are all 12 or 13 years old, but it made it difficult to relate to the characters.

I think my favorite character was Peck, who you really only meet in the last few chapters. I knew as soon as he was talked about that he wasn’t the terrible menace that the government, or Logan and Erin for that matter, thought that he was. Again, not sure if this was intentional or not by the author, but it was another reason it was difficult to get into the novel. I knew that Logan would discover that Peck wasn’t actually bad, but it took the whole novel to get there, when I just wanted to get on with the story.

One thing that was done well was the setting / world-building. While it wasn’t extensive, I felt like it fit the story, and was unique for an “end of times” Christian novel. Having “the Mark” be something that is already established and a right of passage into adulthood gives the story a good Dystopian /post-apocalyptic feel. It is similar to the trials in Marie Lu’s Legend, the aptitude tests in Veronica Roth’s Divergent, or even the lottery in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games. It was an interesting approach, and it worked well.

I also felt like Angler did a good job of describing the different cities without getting bogged down into long sections of description, although I felt like the writing was better when he was simply writing the internal dialogue of the characters rather than having the characters interact with one another.

The novel picked up the pace in the last few chapters when Logan goes to get his Mark, determined to find out what really happened to his sister. Erin’s betrayal was not unexpected, but was still disappointing. Logan finally turns into a character that I can like, and I am interested to see how the story continues in Sneak.

Divergent; Insurgent

 Spoilers below.....

I really enjoyed both of these books. At least until the final pages of Insurgent. I just didn't quite like the idea of the whole society being an experiment. It reminded me too much of M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village."

Other than that, I love the story. The plot moves at a good pace. The reader is very quickly introduced to the world that Tris lives in. I especially like the bowls full of the different materials that symbolize the different factions.

Tris's internal conflict is well-written and believable. Everyone can understand being taught something their whole lives and having to decide whether or not they believe it themselves. Her struggle to decide who she really is - Abnegation or Dauntless - is a coming-of-age story that most people can relate to. Also, who doesn't want a test that just tells you exactly what you are good at and where you would fit in?

As far as the other conflict - the war between the factions, I'm not quite sure I understand it now that the underlying reasons were revealed. To me, a leader of Erudite who only wanted more knowledge wouldn't be afraid of an outside world. She would want to know more. (I did read that part pretty late at night, so I may have missed something with her motivations.)

Jeanine does make a pretty good villain, with her willingness to torture teenagers to get what she wants. Also, her ability to turn Caleb against his own sister makes her especially formidable. However, I would still say that Eric is the bigger bad guy of the story. Jeanine is ruthless because she wants something that Tris has. Eric is evil because that is how he likes to be.

I would say that the characters are the best part of the stories. All of the main characters, and even some of the minor ones, are complex and very rounded. Take, for instance, Peter, who is viciously ambitious. You would never expect anything good out of him, but he saves Tris's life. Of course, the motivation for this was that he wanted to pay back what he felt he owed, but even that is an interesting aspect to his character.

And, of course, I really like Four / Tobias. Roth does a good job of writing the romance between him and Tris. My favorite thing about it is that they both see each other as strong, and they treat each other that way. No pity from either towards the other, no coddling.

One of the best scenes is when Four takes Tris with him through his fear landscape. He makes himself completely vulnerable to her, and she accepts him and helps him without it changing her high opinion of him.

I also like that Tris follows her own instincts and does what she thinks is right, even when Tobias disagrees with her. She is completely her own person.

Overall, a great story and a fun read.

Clockwork Prince

I just started the second Infernal Devices book - The Clockwork Prince yesterday night at Barnes and Noble. I got about 120 pages in. I think the thing that stands out to me most at this point is just how similar it is to The Mortal Instruments books. Really, I feel like it is the same story with different characters - girl who doesn't know anything about Shadowhunters thrown into the Shadowhunter world. Boy who is irresistible, but mean. Another boy, another girl. Even the whole I-can't-love-her-because-it-will-destroy-her theme is present.

Oh well, I'm still sucked in.

Day 2: Corus the Champion

Corus the Champion is the story of second sons. While the story continues the tale of all the Barlow brothers, it focuses on Ewan and Corus himself. Their stories highlight the difference between surrendering something that is not yours to give in order to get something that you want, and sacrificing something precious of your own in order to save others.

Corus was a mighty warrior. It was his duty to help protect the Hidden Lands. It was his fate to search for the sleeping king. Then he was seduced by Nemesia and would have given her the secret of the Pillar Map. To keep him from this Sorge tricked him, gave him to the Fey, who later gave him to the evil Kr'Nunos. Corus was kept prisoner, tortured and taunted, kept from his duty and his fate. He prayed and wished for freedom, but when at last it is given to him, he can't bring himself to take it because of the shame of what he did. His shame strips him of his ability to do what he was meant to do. His past failures keep him from doing what he was meant to do.

In contrast to his actions are the actions of so many others who sacrifice themselves to save him. There is Barsonici who truly understands "Light brings freedom. Hope is vision. Vision is light." He sacrifices himself to allow Sorge to escape from Hel with Corus. There are the Bird Men who sacrifice themselves to fly Corus to safety.

And there is Ewan, who sacrifices his gift of Song in order to save his friends and discover what happened to Corus. Ewan gives his gift to the Queen of the Fey, leaving him empty, stripped of his ability to play music. But it is this sacrifice that allows him to fulfill the destiny that Corus should have had, to find Artorius and wake him up.

While Corus rouses himself by the end of the story, it is still unclear what his intentions are regarding the king. On the other hand, while Ewan is still suffering because of the loss of his gift, he is the true champion of the story.

Corus the Champion

Corus the Champion is a great second book. D. Barkley Briggs continues the story effortlessly from the first book, and it grows deeper and more complex with each chapter.

The two younger Barlows join their older brothers and begin to play their parts in the saving of the Hidden Lands. This allows the reader to experience events in four different locations, as the point of view switches between the different brothers.

One of the best parts of this story is its use of Arthurian legend. Garrett Barlow journeys with Merlin himself (who happens to be from the Hidden Lands), moving between worlds and times, meeting Gwenhwyfar, and watching Tal Yssen send Artorius to the queen of the fairies in the Hidden Lands in order to save him.

While the story follows all four of the brothers, this book seems to focus mostly on Ewan, who is a second son, just as Corus is. One of the most poignant moments in the book is when Ewan sacrifices his gift of Song to save his friends.

This story was a fantastic read that kept me intrigued and wanting to know more.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

To read more reviews, visit these sites:

Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Carol Bruce Collett
Theresa Dunlap
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Marzabeth
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White

The Bone House

Reading The Bone House reminded me why I love the writings of Stephen Lawhead. He always makes me believe that the fantastic is possible. Reading this book made me want to research ley lines and go out and find one, just to see if anything would happen.

While The Skin Map seemed to spend a lot of time setting up the story, The Bone House does a great job of moving the story forward as the characters continue the search for the skin map. Although the story skips around between different characters who are in different time periods and on different worlds, the action is easy to follow, and each chapter is a piece of a puzzle that is coming together to create a complete picture.

The characters we met in The Skin Map continue to grow and learn, and new characters join the ranks of those searching for the treasure that Arthur Flinders-Petrie found. We find out early on in the story what exactly that treasure is, and in the final pages, Kit also gets a glimpse of the place everyone is searching for. With time-travel and multiple universes, with Archelaeus Buleigh and his men continuing to hunt down the other ley travelers, there are both endless dangers and endless possibilities for the characters.

While there is the feeling that anything at all can happen, a big theme throughout the story is the idea of Providence, that nothing happens by chance. While the story of the skin map is pieced together, so too is the bigger picture of a divine Being who is infinitely interested in every person and guides their smallest steps. In a story where there are an infinite number of choices to be made and an infinite number of ways things can go wrong, the idea that nothing is left to chance is a powerful one.

With a strong message, rising action, and ever-developing characters, The Bone House will keep your attention from beginning to end and foster the mindset the our world is a bigger and stranger place than could ever be imagined. 

(In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.)

See other reviews of The Bone House:

Noah Arsenault Red Bissell Thomas Clayton Booher Beckie Burnham Morgan L. Busse CSFF Blog Tour Carol Bruce Collett Karri Compton D. G. D. Davidson Theresa Dunlap April Erwin Victor Gentile Tori Greene Ryan Heart Bruce Hennigan Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Janeen Ippolito Becca Johnson

Jason Joyner Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Marzabeth Katie McCurdy Shannon McDermott Rebecca LuElla Miller Joan Nienhuis Chawna Schroeder Kathleen Smith Donna Swanson Rachel Starr Thomson Robert Treskillard Steve Trower Fred Warren Phyllis Wheeler Nicole White