Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor (review)

 

The Looking Glass Wars: Seeing Redd (2)

by Frank Beddor

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale retellings, young adult, adventure

Published: Aug 2007

Pages: 371

Published by Dial Books

Summary: "Alyss of Wonderland's rules has only just begun, and already those who prefer chaos to peace are threatening to destroy everything worth imagining. Trailed by newly appointed royal bodyguard Homburg Molly, Alyss is doing her best to keep pace with the non-stop demands of being queen while attempting to evade Molly for a few private moments with Dodge.

Alyss' life is a challenging mix of duty, love and tough decisions, and then a series of phantom sightings set fire to an urban myth of Her Imperial Viciousness' return and have everyone...Seeing Redd.

Has Redd somehow freed herself and her chief assassin, The Cat, from the confides of the Heart Crystal? If not, then who has resurrected Redd's brutal foot soldiers the Glass Eyes and set them loose to attack Wonderland on all sides?

Battles rage, looking glasses explode, and the Alyssians once again unite to defend White Imagination in this fast-paced follow-up to the New York Times bestselling The Looking Glass Wars."

Review:  This is the sequel to The Looking Glass Wars.

Redd has been banished from Wonderland. She is determined to find her way back to her world by any means necessary. Alyss is the new queen who has much to learn about ruling. And a new enemy is making his move. King Arch of Borderlands is determined to have wonderland for himself. He reeks havoc and even kidnaps Molly.

Happy Marriage Vol 2 by Maki Enjoji (review)

 

Happy Marriage Volume 2

By Maki Enjoji

Genre: Manga, Graphic Novel
Published Oct 2013

 Pages: 192

Publisher: Viz Media

Buy Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 2 

Summary:  "A working-girl romance

In order to help her father, Chiwa Takanashi agrees to an arranged marriage with the company president, Hokuto Mamiya—a man she doesn’t know—at the request of Hokuto’s grandfather. Chiwa believes the arrangement isn’t binding, but her new partner seems to think otherwise. Can two strangers living together find their way to a happy marriage?!

Chiwa Takanashi has married a total stranger—company president Hokuto Mamiya—to get her father out of debt. Hokuto has pledged fidelity to her, but then the tabloids break the news of him dating a famous actress. Though Hokuto has denied having an affair, Chiwa starts confiding her worries to Yu Yagami, a handsome new company recruit. Is the contract they signed the only thing holding their marriage together?"

Review:  This volume picks up right where the first volume leaves off. Chiwa and Hokuto in a new, unknown marriage of circumstance. While the first volume introduces us to the story and characters, this volume goes much more into personality and lifestyle specifics of the newlyweds.

Stone Soldiers: Mythical (Book 1) by C.E. Martin (review)

 

 Stone Soldiers:

Mythical (1)

By C.E. Martin 

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy

 Published June 2012
Pages: 282 
Buy Mythical (Stone Soldiers #1)







Summary:  "Mark Kenslir is the last of the Cold War super soldiers- and he's just come back from the dead. With no memory of who, or what killed him, he sets out to piece together his past with the help of two teens that find him wandering the Arizona desert. After returning to a modern world he doesn't remember, Kenslir starts to remember his final mission: stop a prehistoric shapeshifter that steals the lifeforce, form and memories of its victims- by tearing out and eating their hearts." 
 


Review:  Like Fantasy? Like superheroes? Then I recommend you take a lot into this book!

It starts off with a group of young adults finding a burned boat, with what appears to be a body, in the middle of the desert. Th body turns out to just be a statue wearing pants, with a hole in its chest, or so it seems. A few hours later said statue is found drinking their water supply and appeared as flesh and blood as anyone else with no wound. The group quickly learns this mad is bullet proof and super strong and most take off. Josie and Jimmy stick around and learn that the man's name is Mark remembers dying in 1962. Josie decides to keep him around, to help him out and learn what happened. Meanwhile agents are hot on their trail, desperate to bring Mark in.

This story covers Medusa, dragons, shapeshifters, etc with superheroes. Normally I would not like the combination but C.E. Martin really pulls it off well. A great blend of the two. Mark's character is more in depth than what he shares with Josie and Jimmy and I believe, deeper that what we got to see thus far in this first book. Jimmy is a great character whom I wish I was able to get a better feel of. I wanted more from him.

One discrepancy I noticed was how Mark uses money. Now, this is going off the fact that Mark has no memory from 1962 to today 2013 (the year they say the story takes place). When the find Mark he has about $4000 in his pocket dated 2000-something, which is how they know there must be a memory lapse. Yet when one of the boys gets hurt he gives enough money to cover a basic doctor visit based on current cost. When they stop for food and gas he pulls out several $20s. Now, how does he know how much to pull. $4000 should have seemed like a WHOLE lot of money to him from the early 1960's. $20 should have easily covered food and gas. How does he know cost and why doesn't Josie comment or notice that he has some memory? Just a question that I came across.

This takes nothing away from the book however and I loved the adventure!  Completely worth the read! 4 (almost 4.5) worthy dragons!

**Special Note:  C.E. Martin actually saw this review about my "awesome nitpick" andhow he does the same thing!   Very cool message to get, especially when he sent me a free copy offer for the second book!  Happy times!**

World of Ash by Shauna Granger Review and Interview

World of Ash

By Shauna Granger

Genre: Dystopian
Published Dec 2013
Pages: 263

Buy a copy of  World of Ash 

  Summary:  "There are two inherent truths in the world: life as we know it is over, and monsters are real.

The Pestas came in the night, spreading their pox, a deadly plague that decimated the population. Kat, one of the unlucky few who survived, is determined to get to her last living relative and find shelter from the pox that continues to devastate the world. When it mutates and becomes airborne, Kat is desperate to avoid people because staying alone might be her only chance to stay alive.

That is, until she meets Dylan. Dylan, with his easy smile and dark, curly hair, has nowhere to go and no one to live for. He convinces Kat there can be safety in numbers, that they can watch out for each other. So the unlikely couple set off together through the barren wasteland to find a new life – if they can survive the roaming Pestas, bands of wild, gun-toting children, and piles of burning, pox-ridden bodies."


Review:  I really enjoyed this book. World of Ash can really make you wonder what life would be like after an apocalyptic plague wipes out a large portion of the population. And what the plague/pox doesn't kill, the military certainly will in order to 'protect' and control the situation.

Season's Greetings by Kira Snyder- Review and Giveaway!

 

Parish Mail: Season's Greetings (#2.5)

By Kira Snyder

Genre(s):  Mystery, Young Adult, Paranormal, Novella
Published Nov 2013
Pages: 242

Publisher:  Coliliquy

View on Goodreads

  

Summary:  "Celia Macarty is eager to enjoy her first New Orleans Christmas, but school has barely let out for the holidays when she learns that mystery never takes a vacation. Using the clues on a Christmas card from 1933, Celia must unravel a supernatural riddle that takes her all over festive New Orleans—and deeper into her family’s past. As Christmas Eve draws closer, shady community secrets come to light, and Celia enlists an unlikely ally to set things right.

With the help of her witchy best friend Tilly and a trio of to-die-for suitors, Celia navigates a mystery and, in the process, her heart. Because in the Crescent City, Christmas is a time of enchantment and surprises, and a little romance might be Celia’s best present of all.

Celia’s latest Parish Mail adventure is an active fiction title from Coliloquy. Your reading choices will help Celia solve the crime!"

Review:   WARNING!  Potential spoilers ahead if you have not read at least the first book of the Parish Mail series!

This was a great addition to the Parish Mail series. The book appears to take place after book 2 (which I still need to read) and they days are creeping closer to Christmas!