NEW MAIN BLOG DOMAIN!!

There was a messup on my Thoughts of a Shieldmaiden blog and I changed the domain – go here http://shieldmaidenthoughts.wordpress.com for my new one!!

Inkdeath

Title: Inkdeath

Author: Cornelia Funke

Series: The last in the Inkworld trilogy

Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult/Romance

Back Cover: “Go back and rid the world of that book. Fill it with words before spring comes, or winter will never end for you. And I will take not only your life for the Adderhead’s, but your daughter’s, too, because she helped you bind the book. Do you understand, Bluejay?”  “Why two?” Moe asked hoarsely. “How can you ask two lives in return for one?”

My Review: *bursts into sobs* THE END!! This was the LAST BOOK!! The Inkworld is NO MORE!! Aside from the fact that I’m devastated, though, THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!! Dustfinger came back and was BETTER THAN EVER!! He and the Black Prince are my favorite characters out of the series, and the glass men as they are rather comical. This book was WONDERFUL! I did not despise Farid, as many said I would. I didn’t particularly like him, but I never hated him. Or Meggie. But they paled in comparison to the amazing Dustfinger and Black Prince, and the amazing storyline and writing style. This book was STUNNING, just like the review on the back of the book said. I can’t wait to own it!! Aside from the language and Orpheus’ handling of his maids, there was nothing I didn’t like about this book.

Age: 16+

Rating: 100 out of 5 stars!!

The Victor Giveaway!

 

My fairy godmother, Marlayne Giron, has offered to give away a copy of her novel, The Victor, to one person who comments on this post! But to get word out, I have added a few new rules.

Here they are -

You must comment on this post

You have to post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a link here for me to see it

This is to get the word out about Marlayne’s book. Whoever wins – it would be great if you could review it on your blog and email Marlayne with the link at this email -  thevictorbook@sbcglobal.net

Thank you so much, and enjoy the giveaway! Her book is well worth the read.

The Victor

 

Title: The Victor 

Author: Marlayne Giron 

Back Cover:  ”A benevolent King; …his sword of power; …a ruthless traitor bent on revenge; …and the faithful son who stands in his way with the woman destined to share his throne. Who shall emerge as the victor in this epic struggle between good and evil to govern the lives of hapless men?” 

My Review: “Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge.  Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. .  Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.” This book has it all. Once I started it, it only took me about two hours to read. Marlayne gave me this book for my birthday on the condition that I review it on my blog and spread the word about it, if I liked it. Well, I’m reviewing it and spreading the word – because I really, really liked it. While not perfect, this book had pretty much everything to make a timeless tale of true love. I was really impressed with how well done the many allegorical strains in the book were. The romance was good and not too mushy, nor inappropriate, the violence was good (you hate Lucius. I mean, really, truly hate. Eewww. Nasty) and the characters were good as well. (Goodness, I’ll be Llyonesse’s age in a few days! *grin*) If you want a good book that is a fairly quick read but is well worth its price, buy this book. I really, really enjoyed it. Marlayne, you made me mad, though, I have to tell you. Honestly!! My favorite character Penlorian and you had the SHEER AFFRONTERY to -  to – I won’t say it and spoil it for the readers, but honestly, couldn’t you have done it to someone else!??

 

Age: 15+

 

5 out 5 stars!!

Wild at Heart

Title: Wild at Heart

Author: John Eldredge

Genre: Religion/Spirituality/General

Back Cover: “Every man was once a boy. And every little boy has dreams. Big dreams, dreams of being the hero, of beating the gad guys, of doing daring feats and rescuing the damsel in distress. Every little girl has dreams, too: of being rescued by her prince and swept up into a great adventure, knowing that she is the beauty. But what happens to those dreams when we grow up? Walk into most churches, have a look around, and ask yourself: What is a Christian man? Without listening to what is said, look at what you find there. Most Christian men are… bored. In Wild at Heart, John Eldredge invites men to recover their masculine heart, defined in the image of a passionate God. And he invites women to discover the secret of a man’s soul and to delight in the strength and wildness men were created to offer.”

My Review: This was a really good book. I got it from Booksneeze because I thought that it would help me with writing my male characters, which do tend to outweigh my female characters. It did help with that, and I got inspired – but it was also a great look into the heart of every male I’ve ever known, my father, my brother, my friends from church. Guys, read this book! Girls, read this book to understand the males in your life – and read this so you can help them be real men. Because real men are Wild at Heart.

Age: 16+ (because there are some sexual references and a few violent stories)

4.5 out of 5 stars

Inkspell

 

Author: Cornelia Funke 

Title: Inkspell 

Series: The Inkworld Trilogy 

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/Young Adult 

Back Cover: “A year has passed, but not a day goes by without Meggie thinking Inkheart, the book whose characters came to life. For the fire-eater Dustfinger, the need to return to his tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller to read him back, he abandones his apprentice Farid and plunges into the pages.  Before long, Farid and Meggie are caught inside the book, too. But the story is much changed – and threatening to change tragically.” 

My Review: OH. MY. GOODNESS. I didn’t think it could get any better than Inkheart - I was wrong. Inkspell was TWICE as good as Inkheart, which is absolutely amazing because Inkheart was my favorite book!! I LOVE this book!! (If you were looking at me, I would be SCREAMING this!!) Dustfinger (I LOVE Dustfinger - my favorite character. The best ever created!!!) is absolutely, heart-wrenchingly WONDERFUL in this next installment of the Inkworld trilogy!! In it he grows, sheds his selfishness, overcomes his fear of death, and gives the ultimate sacrifice to save someone he loves dearly. The end is a cliffhanger, so I warn you – when I finished the book, I screamed, threw it across the room, punched my pillows, and tore downstairs to order Inkdeath from the Library. If you haven’t read this – YOU HAVE GOT TO!! If you haven’t experienced the thrill of the Inkworld, YOU ARE MISSING OUT!! There was nothing negative about this book aside from the language - there is a romance between Farid and Meggie, which is a little silly seeing as how she’s not even fourteen and he’s 15-16. But I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the lack of gods, goddesses, witches, wizards, etc. the Inkworld contains. Plunge into the pages – I dare you. 

Ages: 13+ 

My Rating: ONE HUNDRED out of five stars!!!

Blink

 

Title: Blink 

Author: Ted Dekker 

Genre: Suspense/Christian/Adult/Fiction 

Back Cover:  “The future changes in the BLINK of an eye…or does it? 

Seth Borders isn’t your average graduate student. For starters, he has one of the world’s highest IQs. Now he’s suddenly struck by an incredible power–the ability to see multiple potential futures. 

Still reeling from this inexplicable gift, Seth stumbles upon a beautiful woman named Miriam. Unknown to Seth, Miriam is a Saudi Arabian princess who has fled her veiled existence to escape a forced marriage of unimaginable consequences. Cultures collide as they’re thrown together and forced to run from an unstoppable force determined to kidnap or kill Miriam. 

Seth’s mysterious ability helps them avoid capture once, then twice. But with no sleep, a fugitive princess by his side, hit men a heartbeat away, and a massive manhunt steadily closing in, evasion becomes impossible. 

An intoxicating tale set amidst the shifting sands of the Middle East and the back roads of America, Blink engages issues as ancient as the earth itself…and as current as today’s headlines.” 

My Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from beginning to end. It really makes you think about how what you do can affect the future – and about the power of prayer. The readers are well-written, the humor is good, and the story original and exciting. It’s not my favorite book, but it was engaging and entertaining. Mind you, it had some adult themes running throughout it and some suggestive remarks and comments – but it was a good book which I liked reading. 

Ages: 16+ 

My Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5

Lonestar Homecoming

Title: Lonestar Homecoming

Author: Colleen Coble

Genre: Western/Romance/Adult

Back Cover: Unavailable

My Review: This book was a pleasant book, but not very attention-catching. It was pretty well written (The style reminded me of Frank Peretti – not the storyline or anything, but the way she put things.) Unfortunately, it wasn’t nearly as good as any of Peretti’s stuff. I didn’t dislike the book, but it wasn’t very easy to stay into the book. It was a romance, but it was Christian so it wasn’t innapropriate, and it wasn’t ‘lust’ oriented like secular Romance books. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone looking for a really good book.

Age Rating: 16+

My rating: Two out of Five Stars

North of Beautiful

Title: North of Beautiful

Author: Justina Headley

Genre: Fiction/Young Adult/Romance

Back Cover: “I drew the black ballpoint pen back and forth, harder and harder, until the nib bit through the thick material of my jeans. I didn’t care if it hurt. I worked on my compass until it bloomed, with thirty-two petal-like arms, each pointing in a different direction. There was no end to the places I wanted to visit. Kashgar or California, it didn’t matter so long as it took me someplace other than here.”

My Review: Great title. Not a bad idea for a book – a girl born with a port-wine ‘stain’ birthmark on her cheek who is in all other respects gorgeous and perfect. But the writing was mediocre, and it only took me a few pages of reading until it got innapropriate. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Age: 16+

Zero out of five stars.

Close Kin and In The Coils of the Snake by Clare B. Dunkle

 

Author: Clare B. Dunkle 

Book Title: The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy Book Two: Close Kin 

Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Young Adult

Back Cover: “Goblins are just a tale to frighten children.”

Emily might have believed this once, but she knows better now. For years she has been living happily in the underground goblin kingdom. Now Emily is old enough to marry, but when her childhood friend Seylin proposes, she doesn’t take him seriously.

Devastated, Seylin leaves the kingdom, intent on finding his own people: the elves. Too late, Emily realizes what Seylin means to her and sets out in search of him. But her quest, like Seylin’s own journey, is really a plot devised by the cunning goblin King, who has his own reason to hunt for elves. As Emily and Seylin come closer to their goals, they bring two worlds onto a collision course, awakening hatreds and prejudices that have slumbered for hundreds of years.My Review: *squeal* IT WAS AS GOOD AS THE FIRST!!! This is my new favorite series – yes, even over the Lord of the Rings. Read this book!! I read it during the first day of the car trip we just took =) 

Age Rating: 15+ 

Five out of Five Stars!!!! 

 

Author: Clare B. Dunkle 

Book Title: The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy Book Three: In The Coils of the Snake 

Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult/Romance

Back Cover: Miranda has waited her whole life to come to the goblin kingdom. Now she’s finally underground where she has always wanted to be, but she never imagined she would feel so lost. Her beloved Marak, the center of her world since childhood, has reached the end of his reign.. 

But Marak didn’t raise a coward. He taught Miranda to be brave, intelligent, and proud—the ideal woman to take her place beside Catspaw, the new goblin King.

Then a mysterious and highly magical elf lord brings his people back to their homeland, reigniting the age-old battle between goblins and elves. Miranda finds herself a prisoner. Caught between the two hostile rulers, she becomes their greatest reason for war—and possibly their only hope for a future

My Review: A STUNNING CONCLUSION to a STUNNING trilogy!! Beautiful, captivating, absolutely wonderful – I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t like this book!!! A MUST-read for tears, laughs, and breath-stealing!! I can’t believe the trilogy is over!! She must write more books!!! 

Age Rating: 15+ 

FIVE out of FIVE STARS!!!!!