Cover Description: Lisbeth Salander will have her revenge - against the men who tried to kill her, and against the government institutions that nearly succeeded in deliberately destroying her life. As a traumatized victim of the care system, Salander has learned to trust no-one save herself, but this is on war she cannot wage alone. After sustaining appalling gunshot woulds t her had and her shoulder, sh is in intensive care, and her most dangerous enemy is in the next-door ward.
If she survives, she is set to face murder charges. Officially under police guard, she is allowed contact with only her surgeon or her lawyer. But Mikael Blomkvist, editor at Millennium magazine and Salander's self-appointed guardian angel, will not give up on this sstrangely compelling girl. Blomkvist knows that, as a world-class computer specialist, Slander just needs the right tools to have the world at her fingertips.
With the covert aid of Blomkvist and his journalists at Millennium, Salander must first prove her innocence. only then can she unmask the people behind the corrupt and secret manoeuvres that ruined her childhood and remain the rotten core of the Swedish society. The survivor of institutionalized abuse, and violence, Salander, even in hospital, is spoiling for another fight.
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is the third novel in the Millennium series, and I must say even better than the first two books. This series is original and captivating. I eagerly awaiting the release of this novel and was so happy not to be disappointed. The story is fast paced, quick witted and (SPOILER) has a happy, wrapped up with a little bow ending. It was perfect. I loved the ride and when I grow up I want to be Lisbeth Salander (or Angelina Jolie but that is for entirely different reasons). Loved it, Loved it, Loved it, if it wasn't due back at the library ASAP I would read it again and again. In fact I want to read the entire series again back to back, just to get my Dragon Tattoo fix. Highly recommend.
I am very sad that there will not be any more books by this orginal author.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Dracula part II
I couldn't get into Dracula The Un-Dead
, it was too much like the original but not written was well, not to mention that certain things were changed (like the ending) of the original that made it hard for me to wrap my head around. If you are going to take over someones masterpiece than make it better, do not change the reason it was a masterpiece in the first place.
, it was too much like the original but not written was well, not to mention that certain things were changed (like the ending) of the original that made it hard for me to wrap my head around. If you are going to take over someones masterpiece than make it better, do not change the reason it was a masterpiece in the first place.I had to put it down, which I rarely do with novels, I pride myself if sludging along page after page of horribleness, but not this time, it had to go.
Instead I picked up, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss it is an oldie but looks delicious, the bad news is that it is a series and my library does not have the other two books. At least it will keep me busy until City of Ashes arrives.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
Cover Description: From Dagger Award - winning and internationally bestselling author Alan Bradley comes this utterly beguiling mystery starring one of fiction's most remarkable sleuths: Flavia De Luce, a dangerously brilliant eleven-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murders. This time, Flavia finds herself untangling two deaths-separated by time but linked by the unlikeliest of threads.
Flavia thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop's Lacey are over-and then Rupert Porson has an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. The beloved puppeteer has had his own strings sizzled, but who'd do such a thing, and why? For Flavia, the questions are intriguing enough to make her put aside her chemistry experiments and schemes of vengeance against her insufferable big sisters. Astride Glady's, her trusty bicycle, Flavia sets out from the De Luces' crumbling family mansion in search of Bishop's Lacey's deadliest secrets.
Does the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood know more than she's letting on? What of the vicar's odd ministrations to the catatonic woman in the dovecote? Then there's a German pilot obsessed with the Bronte sisters, a reproachful spinster aunt and even a box of poisoned chocolates. Most troubling of all is Porson's assistant, the charming but erratic Nialla. All clues point towards a suspicious death years earlier and a case the local constables can't solve-without Flavia's help. But in getting so close to who's secretly pulling the strings of this dance of death, has our precocious heroine finally gotten in way over her head?
The WTSTHB is the second novel with Flavia De Luce, who is a brilliant and adorable little girl. She has a natural eye for solving crimes, mainly because her age and reputation makes her trustworthy and like able. In a small town people are more likely to gossip to an 11 year old girl than a policeman. She also knows all the ins and outs of the way her small town works. The novel is a great ride through the eyes of a child, dealing with her absent father, dead mother and two older sisters that torment her tirelessly. Her chemistry lab and scientific experiments keep her going in her odd little world, which aids her in solving crimes and assisting the local police. It is interesting to read a novel from such a young perspective, I do enjoy a YA adult novel but even then you get more teenage angst than true emotions, Flavia is a breathe of fresh air. I enjoyed this novel as much as the first one and will make sure to look out for more installments in the future.
Flavia thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop's Lacey are over-and then Rupert Porson has an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. The beloved puppeteer has had his own strings sizzled, but who'd do such a thing, and why? For Flavia, the questions are intriguing enough to make her put aside her chemistry experiments and schemes of vengeance against her insufferable big sisters. Astride Glady's, her trusty bicycle, Flavia sets out from the De Luces' crumbling family mansion in search of Bishop's Lacey's deadliest secrets.
Does the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood know more than she's letting on? What of the vicar's odd ministrations to the catatonic woman in the dovecote? Then there's a German pilot obsessed with the Bronte sisters, a reproachful spinster aunt and even a box of poisoned chocolates. Most troubling of all is Porson's assistant, the charming but erratic Nialla. All clues point towards a suspicious death years earlier and a case the local constables can't solve-without Flavia's help. But in getting so close to who's secretly pulling the strings of this dance of death, has our precocious heroine finally gotten in way over her head?
The WTSTHB is the second novel with Flavia De Luce, who is a brilliant and adorable little girl. She has a natural eye for solving crimes, mainly because her age and reputation makes her trustworthy and like able. In a small town people are more likely to gossip to an 11 year old girl than a policeman. She also knows all the ins and outs of the way her small town works. The novel is a great ride through the eyes of a child, dealing with her absent father, dead mother and two older sisters that torment her tirelessly. Her chemistry lab and scientific experiments keep her going in her odd little world, which aids her in solving crimes and assisting the local police. It is interesting to read a novel from such a young perspective, I do enjoy a YA adult novel but even then you get more teenage angst than true emotions, Flavia is a breathe of fresh air. I enjoyed this novel as much as the first one and will make sure to look out for more installments in the future.
Monday, June 7, 2010
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Cover Description: When Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder. Much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons, and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It's also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. Withing twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attached by a demon. But why would demons be interested in an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...
City of Bones is the first novel in the Mortal Instruments trilogy written by Cassandra Clare. From the get go the book takes you on a roller coaster ride of adrenaline that doesn't stop when the book does. The fighting is intense, the dialogue is realistic and the characters make you fall in love with them. I just finished the novel and I am practically salivating for the second book in the series, which is not available at my library, yet. I am going to hit up the used book store but more than likely I will have to wait and see what happens with Jace and Clary. The story has everything, vampires, werewolves, young love and a group of teenage demon killers, that are truly bad ass. The "twist" is not that hard to figure out, although I am pretty sure it will resolve itself in the next editions, I won't give anything away but I am pretty sure the truth about Clary's father is someone whose name begins with an "L". Get ready to enter a world of fantasy you can easily imagine and will not want to leave.
Time for me to Library stalk City of Ashes
City of Bones is the first novel in the Mortal Instruments trilogy written by Cassandra Clare. From the get go the book takes you on a roller coaster ride of adrenaline that doesn't stop when the book does. The fighting is intense, the dialogue is realistic and the characters make you fall in love with them. I just finished the novel and I am practically salivating for the second book in the series, which is not available at my library, yet. I am going to hit up the used book store but more than likely I will have to wait and see what happens with Jace and Clary. The story has everything, vampires, werewolves, young love and a group of teenage demon killers, that are truly bad ass. The "twist" is not that hard to figure out, although I am pretty sure it will resolve itself in the next editions, I won't give anything away but I am pretty sure the truth about Clary's father is someone whose name begins with an "L". Get ready to enter a world of fantasy you can easily imagine and will not want to leave.
Time for me to Library stalk City of Ashes
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Cover description: Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand-one who can see faeries. Unexpectedly, Deidre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy named Luke who enters her ordinary life, seemingly out of thin air. But his interest in her might be something darker than summer romance. When a sinister faerie named Aodhan shows up with deadly orders from the Faerie Queen, it forces Dee right into the midst of Faerie. Caught in the crossfire with Deidre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deidre had been wishing her summer weren't so dull, but taking on centuries-old Faerie Queen isn't exactly what she had in mind.
Lament felt a little rushed, especially towards the end. Stiefvater spends a lot of time building characters and detailing the love story between Dee and Luke but falters in the other story lines which makes the book seem not finished. I as expected a little more Faerie and a little less kissing and/or obsessing about kissing. The end left a few things unanswered (especially about her evil aunt Deliah). I thought it could have had a little more depth, but it was a nice, short read. I am not sure if I will read the other book in this series.
Lament felt a little rushed, especially towards the end. Stiefvater spends a lot of time building characters and detailing the love story between Dee and Luke but falters in the other story lines which makes the book seem not finished. I as expected a little more Faerie and a little less kissing and/or obsessing about kissing. The end left a few things unanswered (especially about her evil aunt Deliah). I thought it could have had a little more depth, but it was a nice, short read. I am not sure if I will read the other book in this series.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Cover Description: The Cold, Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf-her wolf- watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.
The Heat, Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is a human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.
The Shiver, For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human-Grace must fight to keep him-even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.
Shiver is cute story about falling in love for the first time, of course it has a bit of a twist that Grace's first love just happens to be a werewolf. A minor technicality to a teenager. I really liked the back and forth between Sam's perspective and Grace's perspective throughout the book, it was nice to see the male character gush for once and it really added a fast pace to the novel, it is about 400 pages and I read the entire thing in 6 hours. I found myself strangely attached to Sam and Grace, cheering for them to beat the odds and while I did not cry at the end I did let a little *sigh*. I won't give the ending away but I will say there is a second book coming out in July which I already have on hold at the Library.
I really like this author and totally by coincidence I picked another book by her, which I am reading right now and enjoying just as much as Shiver
The Heat, Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is a human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.
The Shiver, For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human-Grace must fight to keep him-even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.
Shiver is cute story about falling in love for the first time, of course it has a bit of a twist that Grace's first love just happens to be a werewolf. A minor technicality to a teenager. I really liked the back and forth between Sam's perspective and Grace's perspective throughout the book, it was nice to see the male character gush for once and it really added a fast pace to the novel, it is about 400 pages and I read the entire thing in 6 hours. I found myself strangely attached to Sam and Grace, cheering for them to beat the odds and while I did not cry at the end I did let a little *sigh*. I won't give the ending away but I will say there is a second book coming out in July which I already have on hold at the Library.
I really like this author and totally by coincidence I picked another book by her, which I am reading right now and enjoying just as much as Shiver
Thursday, June 3, 2010
A Murderous Procession
A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin
Cover Description: In 1176, King Henry II sends his ten-year-old daughter, Joanna, to Palermo to marry William II of Sicily. War on the continent and outbreaks of plague make it an especially dangerous journey, so the king selects as his daughter's companion the woman he trusts most: Adelia Aguilar, his mistress of the art of death. As a medical doctor and a native of Sicily, it will be Adelia's job to travel with the princess and safeguard her health until the wedding.
Adelia wants to refuse-accompanying the royal procession means leaving behind her nine-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, Henry has arranged for the girl to live at court, both as a royal ward and as a hostage to ensure that Adelia will return to the king's service. So Adelia sets off for a yearlong royal processions. Accompanying her on the journey are her Arab companion, Mansure, her lover, Rowley, and the unusual newcomer: the Irish sea captain O'Donnell, who may prove more useful to Adelia than Rowley would like.
But another man has joined the procession-a murderer bent on the worst kind of revenge. When people in the princess's household begin to die, Adelia and Rowley suspect the killer is hiding in plain sight. Is his intended victim the princess....or Adelia herself
A Murderous Procession is the fourth book in A Mistress of the Art of Death series, each book outlines a mystery that Adelia must solve for King Henry. I love this series and the character of Adelia, there is a lot of leeway given to the main character and what she is allowed to get away with, but it doesn't really take much away from the story. I am a sucker for a great murder mystery especially a historical murder mystery. Franklin doesn't hold anything back when describing the crimes and situations that Adelia gets herself into which makes the novels a little on the dark side, but the stories are all original, interesting and compelling. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is a historical fiction mystery fan.
Cover Description: In 1176, King Henry II sends his ten-year-old daughter, Joanna, to Palermo to marry William II of Sicily. War on the continent and outbreaks of plague make it an especially dangerous journey, so the king selects as his daughter's companion the woman he trusts most: Adelia Aguilar, his mistress of the art of death. As a medical doctor and a native of Sicily, it will be Adelia's job to travel with the princess and safeguard her health until the wedding.
Adelia wants to refuse-accompanying the royal procession means leaving behind her nine-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, Henry has arranged for the girl to live at court, both as a royal ward and as a hostage to ensure that Adelia will return to the king's service. So Adelia sets off for a yearlong royal processions. Accompanying her on the journey are her Arab companion, Mansure, her lover, Rowley, and the unusual newcomer: the Irish sea captain O'Donnell, who may prove more useful to Adelia than Rowley would like.
But another man has joined the procession-a murderer bent on the worst kind of revenge. When people in the princess's household begin to die, Adelia and Rowley suspect the killer is hiding in plain sight. Is his intended victim the princess....or Adelia herself
A Murderous Procession is the fourth book in A Mistress of the Art of Death series, each book outlines a mystery that Adelia must solve for King Henry. I love this series and the character of Adelia, there is a lot of leeway given to the main character and what she is allowed to get away with, but it doesn't really take much away from the story. I am a sucker for a great murder mystery especially a historical murder mystery. Franklin doesn't hold anything back when describing the crimes and situations that Adelia gets herself into which makes the novels a little on the dark side, but the stories are all original, interesting and compelling. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is a historical fiction mystery fan.
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