The Alchemyst, Michael Scott

Name: The Alchemyst.

Author: Michael Scott.

Series: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Book 1.

Publisher:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Format: Kindle.

Pages: 375 pàges.

Website: http://www.dillonscott.com/

About the author:

Irish-born Michael Scott began writing over twenty-five years ago, and is one of Ireland's most successful and prolific authors, with over one hundred titles to his credit, spanning a
variety of genres, including Fantasy, Science Fiction and Folklore.
He writes for both adults and young adults and is published in thirty-seven countries, in over twenty languages.
Praised for his “unparalleled contribution to children’s literature,” by the Guide to Children’s
Books, Michael Scott was the Writer in Residence during Dublin’s tenure as European City of Culture in 1991, and was featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who in Ireland as one of the 1000
most “significant Irish.”

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What goodreads says:

He holds the secret that can end the world.
The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.
The records show that he died in 1418.
But his tomb is empty.
The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.
Sometimes legends are true.
And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.

My opinion:

I read this book as BNC of January. And I have to say they have yet to choose a book I didn't like good work girls :) And James's bookmarks are awsome!!!

 

I loved this book it was really interesting. I always liked the legend surrounding Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle, and this story is great putting them both in modern times with Nick as the owner of a bookstore.

Josh Newman works at this store, while his twin sister Sophie works in the coffee shop across the street. 

Until one day Nick's store is attacked by Doctor John Dee a horrible magician working for the Dark Elders who want the book containing the secrets of the Alchemy.

So Josh, Sophie and Nick have to run and on the way the twins will find out things about themselves they never new.

What I most liked about this book is all the ancient gods Michael includes here: Hecate, Morrigan, Baset... personally Heacte was my favorite :)

I also loved Scathach and Sophie although I found Josh a bit annoying, probably because he complained alot, then again if I was in his situation I would probably complain to, poor thing.

This book is fast paced full of magic adventure and old legends coming to life.

If you like fantasy books you'll enjoy this one.

I give it 4 stars.

Nathiel

Iron Knight, Julie Kagawa

Name: Iron Knight.

Author: Julie Kagawa.

Series: The Iron Fey Book 4.

Publisher: Harlequin

Format: Kindle.

Pages: 361 pages.

Website: http://www.juliekagawa.com

About the author:

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.

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What goodreads says:

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My opinion:

Okay I hated this book, actually wait only joking I loved it, the only problem with it is that's it's the last one so no more Ash, Puck, Meghan, Grim... I'm going to miss them soo much *cries*

Anyway on to the review.

After the third book Meghan is now the Iron Queen and in order to be able to be with her, former Prince Ash of the winter court must earn a soul, and that is not an easy quest (believe me...) acompanied by his friend/enemy Robin Goodfellow (otherwise known as Puck), Grim and other "friends" from Ash's past, they will embarck on a journey towards the end of the world (literally) And pass some really hard tests.

This book was heartbreaking I was in tears by the end of it, I felt really sorry for Ash at some points, Grim as usual put the humor in every situation (where can I get a cat like that??) and seems unconcerned by anything happening around him and Puck is the best friend we all want to have (Cross that I'd rather have him as something else^^) and a thorn in the fey's side.

So yes I highly reccomend this book and this series :)
Some of my favorite quotes from this book:

"He bared his fangs at me. “Be careful, boy. In some tales, the hero gets eaten by the monster after all .”

"Stairs.” He grimaced. “I swear there must be like some secret code. All mysterious ancient temples must have a minimum of at least seven thousand steps to the front door."

I give it 5 stars.

Nathiel

Daughter of smoke and bone, Laini Taylor

Name: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Author: Laini Taylor

Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Book 1.

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Format: Kindle.

Pages: 432 pages.

Website: http://www.lainitaylor.com

About the author:

Laini is a writer of fantasy books for young people, but her books can be enjoyed by adults as well. Her 'Dreamdark' books, Blackbringer (2007) and Silksinger (2009) are about faeries -- not dainty little flowery things, but warrior-faeries who battle devils. And her first young adult book, Lips Touch, is a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award! It's creepy, sensual supernatural romance. . . about kissing. She is also an artist with a licensed gift product line called "Laini's Ladies."

Where can you buy it:

Amazon

Book Depository

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What goodreads says:

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My opinion:

I read this book as BNC of December, yes I know I'm late but I was having some problems with posting on Blogger for some reason, hopefully their all sorted. As always excellent choice in book this one was amazing ;)

 Daughter of Smoke and Bone follows Kaoru's story a young girl who grew up running errands (collecting teeth for wishes) for Brimstone, a chimaera (part animal, part human) and is happy although she could do without meeting the lowest people of society.
In her free time she draws, for her human friends she draws the chimaera (of course humans believe their just her imagination) and for her chimaera family she draws humans.
Until one day she meets Akiva, an angel who tries to kill her, and everything changes.
Suddenly the portals to Elsewhere are gone and Kaoru is stranded in the human world, alone, but not for long.
I loved this story Kaoru is awsome, she's brave, loyal, caring and she knows martian arts :) She's got blue hair (I had blue hair once...) speaks 8 languages and is an amazing artist.
I loved her story with Akiva. Akiva is like an avenging angel, all you know warriorlike, cold, no mercy, no pity, no hope. Until he meets Kaoru that is, and something about her makes him hesitate (thankfully)
I loved the secondary characters. My favorite is: Zuzana, Kaoru's best human friend. I loved her theatre of marionettes it would be amazing to see, and heartbreaking I bet.
The main storyline is centered around Prague, and if the city is anything like it's described in all the books I've read about it I will have to visit it sometime, somehow. But Laini also transports you to diferent parts of the world: Paris, Morrocco....
Laini is a great storyteller and I can't wait to read the next one, because with the ending of this one she left me heartbroken!!

I give it 4 stars.

Nathiel