A Game of Thrones

Title: A Game of Thrones 
Author: George R.R. Martin
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire # 1
Published: March 22, 2011 by Bantam (1st published 1996)
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 835
Genre: Adult High Fantasy


My rating: 
    

Summary:
Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: thegame of thrones.

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner


My rating: 2 of 5 stars




I am expecting a lot from this book and sadly I was disappointed with it. I heard so many raving reviews about this one but I am one of those few who didn’t find The Maze Runner amazing and it is just so sad…


First as much as I wanted to I didn’t enjoy reading this book. The story pace is so slow that I get bored just reading 5 chapters of it. I can’t connect with the characters, Thomas is freaking annoying, and honestly all of them are annoying. They are so cocky and trying to act so tough but I really don’t see the point of being rude to each other. I hate the suspense, clueless thing. I read almost 200 pages and still the information are withheld like crazy and I don’t think it is necessary. I mean come on, can you at least give us a little info to hold on. I actually dropped the book to read a different one because I can’t take it anymore. But I gave it another go hoping that somehow I will like it but nah, total failure.


The characters are supposed to be “smart” but honestly I don’t see any smart things that they’ve done. And they are living in that freaking maze for two years. And all they need is the presence of Thomas and Teresa to figure it all out? And the Grievers didn’t really make an impact to the story. They don’t feel dangerous or scary even. Actually the story plot is good but the way it was delivered is not really great.


So in the end, although I finished it, my views didn’t change. It was ok but I don’t freaking like it. I can tolerate it more if only the characters showed some great traits or substance.







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WWW Wednesdays

W..W..W Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Should be Reading

To play along, just answer the three questions..

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you plan to read next?

What are you currently reading: 

 I am currently reading The Lying Game by Sara Shepard. Just started it and currently on page 27. I'm liking it so far.

What did you recently finish reading?

XVI by Julia Karr. 

It is a 2011 Debut Novel. A dystopian story set in the future wherein at the age of 16 girls get a tattoo XVI indicating that they are ready to lose their innocence. I have mixed feelings about this book, just finished it an hour ago, so I need to contemplate more before I do a review about it.

What do you plan to read next?

The Maze Runner by James Dashner.  

I had this book since August of 2010 so I really need to read this one. Plus I heard good things about it too. I am excited to read it last year so I am not sure why I haven’t read it yet. So now I will. 

This is my first time joining this meme, hope I can continue doing it every week =)

Forsaken

Forsaken by Jana Oliver


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wow! Definitely this is one of my favorite 2011 debut novel. Forsaken ( aka The Demon Trapper’s Daughter ) surprises me a lot, in a good way. I never thought that I am going to love another YA urban fantasy novel as much as I love Cassandra Clare’s “The Mortal Instruments series”. But boy! I was so wrong. They may be some similarities in the story, fighting demons and stuff, but they are very different, Big Time!


Riley is a demon trapper, same as her father. And in the trapper’s guild she is the first and only female apprentice. I love her character, kick-ass lass. She is weak and she doesn’t know a lot of stuff but she acknowledges it. She has a very strong will power to stand-up and fight. And she is very relatable, though she is different from the rest; she is just a normal girl. Now let’s talk about the boys. There is Simon, Beck and Ori. Simon, I really don’t like him at all, found him too good to be true. Beck is the one that I really adore. Love his sarcasm and the way he treated and took care of Riley. And then there’s Ori, which I’ve been waiting for so long to show up in the story. And when he was finally introduced (after reading 300+ pages), I don’t think he made an impression. Yes, he is definitely a mysterious one but I really don’t get his role in the story. Is he really a big part of it???


Anyway, if you are looking for a good love interest in the story you might be disappointed. Yes there is definitely a love part in it but it wasn’t explored and emphasized well. I think that the love aspect of the story was a little bit rushed and awkward. But it doesn’t hurt the story plot at all because it is so amazing enough without Riley getting into a relationship. Like I said the plot is great, I love the demon trapper thing and their world that Jana Oliver created. I wanted to learn more about it.


All in all, Forsaken is an action-packed, breathtaking ride that you want to immerse yourself with. You will not be disappointed.






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In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ www.thestorysiren.com

PURCHASED:

• Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer (book 2 of Nightshade Series, so excited to read it. Of course, I do love Nightshade. Hope that Ren will be a part of this book)
• A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (love the HBO series adaptation, so I need to read this one so I can relate to the story more)
• Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson (one of the books that I heard nothing but great reviews)
• The Lying Game and Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard (book 1 and 2 of The Lying Game series, love Pretty Little Liars and I love Sara Shepard writing style so this book is a must-read for me)

Gone (Wake 3)

Gone by Lisa McMann


My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I didn’t do any reviews on the first two books in the series, Wake and Fade, because I don’t know how to. I mean, those books are really good but the complexity of Janie’s world made it harder for me to express my thoughts. Let’s just say that words are not enough.


Gone is very very different compared to Wake and Fade. Wake gave us a glimpsed of Janie’s life while Fade showed us the uses, advantages and disadvantages of Janie’s unique ability. Wake is an ok book but I really love Fade so I am expecting a lot from Gone. And sadly, it failed to impress me.


Janie’s attitude here bothered me a lot. She became selfish and self-centered. I know that her world and life is so complicated and I tried to understand her but I simply can’t. Her situation is getting worse and the burden of her ability is just too much, but did she need to act like that? I feel bad for Cabel who always tried to make her happy and understand her, but what did he get in return from Janie? Oh well…


The story about her father surprised me but I kind of predicted the revelations already before Janie did. Sad that they weren’t able to meet and talk personally, I preferred it rather than having conversations in a “dream”.


I’m still not sure of how I feel about this book, all I know is that the ending may not be the one that I’m expecting but I think it is the perfect way to end it. A very realistic one.










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The Iron Thorn

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


ratings: 3.5 stars



I am really having a hard time rating this book. Not sure if I should rate it 3 or 4 stars. So in the end, I settled for 3.5 stars.


Now, what can I say about The Iron Thorn? My reaction is that I love the first 100+ pages or so, got bored in the middle of the story. Then it became weird, lost interest on reading it. Then amazingly, it bounces back, found myself liking the remaining 100 pages of the book. The reason why? Too many freaking details! Which of course I know needed for the story. But some are just unnecessary that it overwhelmed me. Also I found it weird that folk/fairy stuff was mixed in with steampunk. Some readers may love the idea but for me it is just too much.


The writing style I admit is really good. Though it is not an easy read, the way the story was told is just fantastic. I love she how describes Lovecraft and the Graystone manor. The characters are quite good too. I definitely love Aoife though I hate her name. I had a hard time pronouncing it and until now I’m not sure how to pronounce it. Anyway, Aoife is really a strong girl, courageous and determined. Somehow her mistakes and stubbornness irritated me but I like it because it makes her more real. Dean is really an amazing character, though I know that he is young, he sound and act like an old guy. Now Cal, I’m not sure how I feel about him because I really don’t like him at the beginning of the story. Well, I think I never really like him at all despite the reasons why he acted like that.


The Iron Thorn is my 2nd steampunk novel and now I can finally say that it is not my favored genre. Or maybe I just haven’t found the steampunk novel that will blow my mind.





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