2015 - This is the second time I've read The Iron Trial. I needed to reread it before I got The Copper Gauntlet from the library.
I'm going to get all2015 - This is the second time I've read The Iron Trial. I needed to reread it before I got The Copper Gauntlet from the library.
I'm going to get all my comparisons to Harry Potter out of the way before I get to anything else. I think they need to be acknowledged because there are a few.
So the mages of the Magisterium have an enemy called The Enemy of Death, which is the stupidest name for an evil magician ever. The Enemy wanted to live forever, like Voldemort, and conquer death. Instead of Horcruxes The Enemy used chaos magic to corrupt both humans and animals in his experiments to bring his brother back from the dead.
There's also a trio, two boys and a girl, and an all-knowing Dumbledore-like teacher and a "rich" bully who thinks he's better than everyone and expects to get things his way all the time, like Draco.
Lastly, there's a boy who was raised in foster families, ignored and mistreated, who's thrust into the limelight as the one person that has the power to save them all from The Enemy. Kind of like Harry.
Apart from that the book was good. The magic is so different to most books I've read with magic in them. I like that they use the elements.
I completely forgot the twist at the end of the book. I don't know how that slipped my mind because it was so huge. Well, I pretty much forgot the whole book so it's not really surprising that I forgot that part too.
I really liked this book. When you get past all the comparisons to Harry it's a good story. That's if you can get passed them. I don't know how many books are going to be in this series but I'm guessing that every year Call, Aaron and Tamara are at the Magisterium will be a different book. But that's just a guess from the titles. First year is Iron, second is Copper. So it makes sense with The Iron Trial and The Copper Gauntlet.
I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Call, Aaron and Tamara in The Copper Gauntlet but I don't know when it'll arrive at the library.
2014 - I was recommend this by a woman in my local bookstore. She said if I loved Harry Potter that I'd love this.
There are so many similarities between this and Harry Potter it isn't even funny. The trio (two boys and a girl), an enemy (called The Enemy, seriously that's the best they could come up with?) that has something against dying and wants to live forever, just like Voldemort, an orphan that's thrust into the spotlight because of what he is... it's just never ending.
Aside from all that I actually liked it. The magic and school is completely different. There are no wands.
There's a twist to the story. One that I'm really looking forward to reading about in the next book. The ending was predictable.
I hope there's no more similarities to Harry. I get being inspired by a series or an author but geez there are a lot of things this book has in common with Harry. I don't think anyone can beat what JK Rowling did. Her magic was perfection....more
I wish I could give this 3.5 stars. I can't give it a full 4. I liked it. There was just something holding me back from 4 stars.
Anyway, I'm looking fI wish I could give this 3.5 stars. I can't give it a full 4. I liked it. There was just something holding me back from 4 stars.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next book. I liked Lily, Rowan, Tristan (in Lillian's world, the other one was a douche), Caleb and both Juliets.
By the end of the book I understood what Lillian was trying to do, with the scientists, teachers and doctors, but she really went the wrong way about it.
And haha I can't wait to see what Lily and Rowan get up to in the next book....more
I'd give this 3.5 stars. I liked it but not enough for four.
Panic, the game, sounds ridiculous. In what universe would anyone put themselves through I'd give this 3.5 stars. I liked it but not enough for four.
Panic, the game, sounds ridiculous. In what universe would anyone put themselves through that, risking what happened to Dayna or even death. No amount of money is worth any of that for me.
I'm glad I've finished this trilogy. I'm not really liking these so I won't be buying them. The stories were alright but not as good as his other bookI'm glad I've finished this trilogy. I'm not really liking these so I won't be buying them. The stories were alright but not as good as his other books. I don't know why I didn't click with these books the way I have with his others but all three of them took me a lot longer to get into. ...more
Percy is hilarious in this book. The way he describes them and what they got up to, the best.
The things they got up to however were disturbing. My libPercy is hilarious in this book. The way he describes them and what they got up to, the best.
The things they got up to however were disturbing. My library has this in the junior section, which I think is inappropriate. He talks about both Zeus and Poseidon 'getting cuddly' with Demeter by tricking her and raping her. Not only is this beyond wrong but Demeter is also their sister. Percy explains the incest away by saying gods don't think of relationships the way we do, whatever, still disgusting. He can't explain away rape, which is why I think its 'getting cuddly.'
There's also abduction (Hades and Persephone, thanks Zeus) and cannibalism through both the Titan and Greeks.
The book is funny if a bit disturbing. Percy/Rick do at least mention rape once when a mortal was being attacked by a half-blood I think but not with the goddesses. Also, there's feminism throughout the book which I loved. Percy points out that the goddesses get overlooked a lot by Zeus, Poseidon and Hades when they were dividing the world and in other examples, like not marrying your stalker Persephone.
Anyway, aside from the gross stuff its a good read but really shouldn't be in the junior section in the library....more
I've seen this book online and a lit of people seem to love it. So because of that I found it in my local library and read it. Normally I like the booI've seen this book online and a lit of people seem to love it. So because of that I found it in my local library and read it. Normally I like the books I see recommended online.
I did read it in a day, which is good, because I don't think I could've put up with it for one more day.
It's just a really stupid story. Okay, the story had potential but the main character, Greg, is just so dumb and annoying. The way he told the story drove me nuts. The only reason I kept reading is the fact I hate not finishing a book once I've started reading it.
I can't even see how this got published. It's one of the worst books I've read this year....more
I wasn't sure if I'd like this because it's all emails, texts, letters etc but it was so easy to read and the charI'd give this 3.5 stars if I could.
I wasn't sure if I'd like this because it's all emails, texts, letters etc but it was so easy to read and the characters were great.
I read this because it was recommended by someone online and then I found out it was a movie. I might watch it one day but the book is set over 45 years and the movie is set over 12 years. Big difference already.
I really liked this. I think this might be my favourite so far of Sarah's but I haven't read that many.I really liked this. I think this might be my favourite so far of Sarah's but I haven't read that many....more
I've read this book one story at a time. Went faster than I thought it would. I'm going to give my thoughts on each story. I didn't know what to expecI've read this book one story at a time. Went faster than I thought it would. I'm going to give my thoughts on each story. I didn't know what to expect with any of the stories when I started them.
Midnights by Rainbow Rowell - Short and sweet. I'm glad this was only a short story because as much as I love Rainbow Rowell's books I'm not sure I would've liked this as one.
The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link - Random. I wasn't sure what to think of this story after I finished it and now I'm sure it's one of the stories in the book I didn't like.
Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Pena - I liked this story. There's not really much else I can say about it other than I liked it.
Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han - What a stupid ending! I turned the page expecting more and nothing. I really hate when stories end like this. I think it would've been a good story had it had an actual ending.
It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins - Another good story. I really liked North. I haven't actually read a book by Stephanie Perkins yet. I own three of them but I will be starting them soon.
Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan - This story was cute. What he did for his boyfriends little sister was really sweet. I would've liked to know what happened to their father though.
What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman - I've read four of Gayle Forman's books and one novella. I was looking forward to this story. It did not let me down. It was too short if anything.
Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire - This story reminded me a little of 'A Walk to Remember' by Nicholas Sparks. Obviously there are differences but I think I couldn't get into it as much because I kept making comparisans to Nicholas's book. I liked it, but it pales in comparison to A Walk to Remember and Jaime and Landon.
Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White - I liked this story. It was really good. I've never read a book by Kiersten before but I may have to look into some of her books now.
Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter - Highly unlikely but I liked it. I don't even know why but I'm going to leave it at that.
The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - Weird story. I wasn't sure if I liked it while I was reading it but at some point I started to want to know what happened at the end. I ended up liking it....more
It was okay. It wasn't the worst book I've read this year, that goes to another book.
I'm not sure what I was expecting but I don't know. It's differeIt was okay. It wasn't the worst book I've read this year, that goes to another book.
I'm not sure what I was expecting but I don't know. It's different. Annoying in places. It's not a book I'd go out and buy. I liked her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books which is why I read this....more
This has to be one of the only books where I did not see the ending coming. So, that's a plus for the book.
On the other hand Cadence, who is 17 in theThis has to be one of the only books where I did not see the ending coming. So, that's a plus for the book.
On the other hand Cadence, who is 17 in the book, forever calling her mother 'Mummy' was driving me nuts. She's a little too old for that IMO.
So I would've given the book more stars but I just couldn't get past it. I had no problem with the style of writing (which I've seen people found annoying).
It was a good book with a great twist but I just hated the mummy thing....more