Book Review - Prospero's Children

Prospero's Children
by Jan Siegel
Why I picked it up: I don't remember why...I read it ages ago back when I was in high school. This year I realized there were two sequels out so I brought all the books back with me to Scotland and have begun rereading them!
My rating: 7.5/10

This book is about a sixteen year old girl named Fern Capel. When a distant relative of the family dies, he leaves his old country house to Fern and her family (Dad and younger brother Will). The family goes to the house to see what they need to do to sell it when the dad decides they should stay there over the summer and fix it up and eventually sell it. As soon as they move in for the summer, things start getting weird. Fern and Will meet old, powerful beings (both good (?) and evil) who urge them to find an old magical key that is thought to open a door somewhere. While Fern discovers her Gift, she and her brother struggle through their search racing to find it before their father's new girlfriend, Alison, does. Little do Fern and the others know that opening the door will bring them an ocean full of trouble.

When I look at this book for the second time when I was home for winter break, I couldn't remember whether I liked it or not. I was pretty sure I did but I did remember that it freaked me out a bit. I certainly remembered that correctly! There are a couple scenes in the beginning of the book that left me being like ooohhh I'm glad I'm not home alone tonight! As I read, I remembered quite a few things from the first part of the book but I forgot a lot of the major details which allowed me to enjoy it again. This book is thrilling and suspenseful. It is minutely darker than what I usually read but not that much. I should also mention that this book has to do with Atlantis. I didn't know where to fit that into the description. :) I definitely recommend it and can't wait to see what happens next...

Next book - The Dragon Charmer (sequel to Prospero's Children)

Book Review - The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
by Katherine Howe
Why I picked it up: It was on one of those recommended books tables at Borders. I was attracted to the cover so I picked it up (I completely judge books by their covers!).
My rating: 8/10

This book is about a Harvard graduate student named Connie who has just been nominated for PhD candidancy in Colonial American History and is advised by her professor to find an original source. But right after, her mother, Grace, contacts her and asks her to straighten out her grandmother's house over in Marblehead, Massachusetts to ready it for sale. The house has been sitting untouched for over twenty years since her grandmother died and to Connie's dismay, it's falling apart. While juggling the nagging of her mother to finish the house and the nagging of her professor to find a topic/source, Connie finds a mysterious key inside an old Bible in the house and inside that key is a slip of paper with the words 'Deliverance Dane' written on it. Connie begins research to find out who Deliverance Dane was and eventually to find the mysterious book attached to her name.

I really enjoyed this book. I read it quite quickly (about a week or so which is quick considering the reading I'm also doing for my classes) and I only picked it up at night. It caused me to stay up until 2-3 in the morning because I didn't want to put it down! At first I wasn't sure I was going to like it but once Connie headed to Marblehead I found myself liking it more and more. The book also had flashbacks to the 1690s and 1700s following Deliverance Dane and a few generations of her family. It was extremely well written - Howe had obviously done her research on colonial America and all the traditions associated with it. There was one thing that bothered me. Whenever I read historical novels (they're becoming an increasing favorite of mine and I hope to write one myself one day - including one associated with the Salem Witch Trials just like this) I always am tempted to look up the person in Wikipedia just to see whether they are being accurately portrayed. I looked up Deliverance Dane and as I read the book, I already knew her fate. But Howe completely changed the ending of Deliverance's life (I won't say how if you want to be surprised). She could have chosen any of the Salem Witch Trials women but she chose Dane and changed her. When I write historical novels, I try to keep the big parts as accurate as possible (you know - birth, death, marriage, children, well known facts, etc). But it only miffed me a little bit and I would read another of her books for sure!

Next book to read - Prospero's Children (already read once years ago - rereading for the sequels).

Book Review - Percy Jackson and the Olympians

I've been snowed in since Friday the 5th as the east coast around DC is pummeled with wind and snow. Friday - Saturday we got about 30 inches of snow and today we got another foot. Work is closed tomorrow as well so I'm starting to go crazy after a week inside the house! I've decided to do some minor book reviews on some of the novels I've read lately since I have nothing to write about my own writing other than the fact the I'm occasionally writing. I'm going to be a bit strict with my ratings because otherwise I would probably give almost everything I read a 9/10.

After seeing the new movie trailer for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief over Christmas, I decided to read the series. Now I know I will automatically be disappointed with the movie but here it goes.

Please note, there may be minor spoilers but I will try to restrain myself!

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Book 1/5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
by Rick Riordan
Why I picked it up: Saw commercial for the movie trailer.
My rating: 7/10

In summary, the book is about Percy Jackson, a 12 year old boy who is a demi-god (half human, half god). The Olympians are real and they're located on top of the Empire State Building. His own father is Poseidon and he gets some pretty awesome powers to go along with it. Percy is found by Grover, a satyr who searches for half-bloods and brings them to Camp Half-Blood where they train to defend themselves because monsters LOVE to eat demi-gods. The main plot is that Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen and he thinks Percy's to blame. Percy has to travel, literally, to Hades and back to find the bolt and prove his innocence all the while uncovering something much more horrible.

Riordan started this series off with a bang. I loved the characters and voice (in first person) he created for Percy. It's cute, fun, and even made me giggle out loud at times. I think it's a great original storyline. The main problem I had with the story is how Percy could do so much when he was only 12. I, personally, like my main characters a little older but I'm sure Riordan just wanted to identify with his primary audience. It's just my personal peeve when children save the world (i.e. The Golden Compass). At least make them teenagers. The only series this hasn't bothered me in was Harry Potter (and I think if you liked Harry Potter and The Golden Compass books, you'll like this series as well).

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
Book 2/5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians
by Rick Riordan
Why I picked it up: Liked book 1
My rating: 6.5/10

In summary, this book returns to Percy Jackson as he's entering the seventh grade. At his new school, he makes a new friend named Tyson who ends up being a Cyclops (and therefore his half-brother since Poseidon is the father of many Cyclops) and nearly blows it up during a monster attack. Percy is taken back to Camp Half-Blood where the campers are constantly under attack from monsters because someone has poisoned the mystical borders that protect the camp. Also, Grover's gone missing in his search for the lost god Pan and Percy has to find him. Percy and his friends go on a quest to travel through the Sea of Monsters (aka the Bermuda Triangle) to find Grover, save him from marrying a Cyclops, and bring the Golden Fleece back to Camp Half-Blood.

Of the five books, I would say this is my least favorite (not saying I didn't like it though!). I didn't think the plot was as good as the others but it does have a very nice twist at the end that I totally didn't expect. Percy, however, begins to get a bit on my nerves in this book. Really, the boy can be quite dense when it comes to mythological creatures. You'd think if you were a demi-god and monsters (who never quite die) were constantly after you, you'd read up on them a bit. I do have to admit, this book did continue to make me laugh, though. Grover was pretty funny!

Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse
Book 3/5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
by Rick Riordan
Why I picked it up: Book 2
My rating: 7/10

Percy is 13 when the goddess Artemis goes missing during her hunt for a legendary old monster. With Tyson working in the Cyclops forges at the bottom of the ocean in Poseidon's palace preparing for war, it's up to Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, Grover, and two of the Hunters of Artemis to find her before the Winter Solstice where she has to make an appearance to convince the other gods to take the threat of the Titans returning seriously. Otherwise, they'll all be doomed.

I liked this book because I thought it had an interesting plot and you began to see more into what the gods are like, which I enjoyed (although it kind of creeped me out that they had Artemis as a little girl). However, at this point I am beginning to get a bit tired of how Riordan portrays Percy's voice. Many times he goes "And little did I know I wouldn't be back there for a long time..." That just bugged me some because I'd rather the author SHOW it rather than TELL me ahead of time.


Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth
Book 4/5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
by Rick Riordan
Why I picked it up: Book 3
My rating: 6.5/10

In this book, Percy (now entering his freshman year), Annabeth, Tyson, and Grover explore the underground Labyrinth created by the inventor, Daedalus. The time is ticking down on Percy's birthday clock as the gods wait for him to turn 16 and decide their fate. Kronos is going stronger by the minute and even Camp Half-Blood, under the protection of the Golden Fleece, isn't very safe anymore.

Again, I enjoyed this book like the others. I don't have anything particular to say about it that I didn't say about the others. It had a good voice, great humor, and nice originality but the minor things that bothered me before have not changed.

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
Book 5/5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
by Rick Riordan
Why I picked it up: Book 4
My rating: 7/10

In the last book of the series, Percy and his friends must defend Olympus, and all of New York City, from Kronos and his army while the gods are distracted fighting Typhon, an extremely powerful Titan. All the main characters are reunited and, sadly, many perish in the battle (although in very PG ways suitable for children). The Great Prophecy comes to a close as Percy turns 16 and decides the fate of the Olympian gods.

I liked this book as a nice ending to the series. I thought it had the charm of the others and primarily good battle scenes. The only thing that disappointed me was how easily they defeated Kronos in the end (really, did you think they wouldn't?). It was very anticlimactic and quick. I would rather have that scene be dragged out than the numerous battle scenes around NYC.


Overall, I really enjoyed Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It was a fun and easy read. To make a point, I read all five books in about a week! Most were accomplished in about a day or two. I think this is a great series for children and those young at heart looking for a good book to curl up and immerse yourself with. According to a note at the end of book five, it definitely appears Riordan will be writing more Percy Jackson books and I plan on reading them.