I was recently given a review copy by the publisher of Swamped by Andrea Hertach. It tells the story of young Marley Aaron who, along with local wildlife, campaigns to save a swamp along with its delicate ecosystem from destruction by urban developers. Like The Monster Mob, which I reviewed recently, Swamped is very much aimed at a younger readership, probably around the 8-11 year range. What I liked Concept. Swamped is clearly intended to increase environmental awareness in young people and it does that very well. It explains about the delicate ecosystem in the swamp and the damage that humans could do. I’m not certain though that the developer and mayor would be as sympathetic to Marley’s concerns in real life as they are in the book! Entertaining style. I enjoyed that interaction amongst the local creature inhabitants of the swamp and also their working together with Marley and her pet dogs. What I didn’t like As with The Monster Mob, it is clearly aimed at a younger audience and more mature readers may find it rather simplistic and too easily tied off. All in all I think Swamped sets out what it intends to – increase environmental awareness…
I was recently given a review copy by the publisher of Swamped by Andrea Hertach. It tells the story of young Marley Aaron who, along with local wildlife, campaigns to save a swamp along with its delicate ecosystem from destruction by urban developers. Like The Monster Mob, which I reviewed recently, Swamped is very much aimed at a younger readership, probably around the 8-11 year range. What I liked Concept. Swamped is clearly intended to increase environmental awareness in young people and it does that very well. It explains about the delicate ecosystem in the swamp and the damage that humans could do. I’m not certain though that the developer and mayor would be as sympathetic to Marley’s concerns in real life as they are in the book! Entertaining style. I enjoyed that interaction amongst the local creature inhabitants of the swamp and also their working together with Marley and her pet dogs. What I didn’t like As with The Monster Mob, it is clearly aimed at a younger audience and more mature readers may find it rather simplistic and too easily tied off. All in all I think Swamped sets out what it intends to – increase environmental awareness…
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak is a historical fiction novel based on the early life of Russian Empress Catherine the Great. Through the eyes of bookbinder’s daughter turned lady-in-waiting Varvara it tells the story of Catherine’s arrival at court and of her navigation through Court politics to the Imperial Throne itself. Now, historical fiction is not a genre of which I read a lot; however I was intrigued by this one and it turned out to be the perfect antidote to my waiting-for-Dorothy-Must-Die reading slump. I don’t know a great deal about Russian history and I found myself checking Wikipedia from time to time to learn more and to help me separate fact from fiction. What I liked Engaging protagonist. Although the novel is about the rise to power of Catherine the Great, we follow her story through Varvara’s eyes as Varvara herself goes through her own journey. Varvara is intelligent, resourceful and has a keen eye for observation. Although she starts off relatively powerless, by the end of the book, she has amassed considerable wealth and influence, making hard choices along the way. In that respect her journey mirrors Catherine’s. The vivid picture Stachniak paints of court glamour…
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak is a historical fiction novel based on the early life of Russian Empress Catherine the Great. Through the eyes of bookbinder’s daughter turned lady-in-waiting Varvara it tells the story of Catherine’s arrival at court and of her navigation through Court politics to the Imperial Throne itself. Now, historical fiction is not a genre of which I read a lot; however I was intrigued by this one and it turned out to be the perfect antidote to my waiting-for-Dorothy-Must-Die reading slump. I don’t know a great deal about Russian history and I found myself checking Wikipedia from time to time to learn more and to help me separate fact from fiction. What I liked Engaging protagonist. Although the novel is about the rise to power of Catherine the Great, we follow her story through Varvara’s eyes as Varvara herself goes through her own journey. Varvara is intelligent, resourceful and has a keen eye for observation. Although she starts off relatively powerless, by the end of the book, she has amassed considerable wealth and influence, making hard choices along the way. In that respect her journey mirrors Catherine’s. The vivid picture Stachniak paints of court glamour…
Alienated by Melissa Landers tells the story of Cara Sweeney, teenage high school student and Aelyx a young L’eihr visiting Earth. The concept is pretty straightforward. Some years prior to the story, the people of Earth had made contact with an alien civilisation the L’eihr. The two peoples have an amicable if distant relationship and in order to foster a greater understanding of their respective cultures a student exchange program has been initiated. Cara and Aelyx are chosen as two of the six young ambassadors for the program. I have to say I really loved this book and thought it was beautifully written. What I liked Character development. Both Cara and Aelyx undergo a great deal of character development throughout the book. Interestingly, Cara’s arc is almost the opposite of many young adult protagonists. She starts the book confident and sure of her path but as she goes through the challenges of the exchange, her self assurance is given quite a beating. However she still remains true to her word despite significant pressure. Aelyx’s journey is more of overcoming prejudice – he starts off determined to hate his human hosts and has an ulterior motive for joining the program. As…
Alienated by Melissa Landers tells the story of Cara Sweeney, teenage high school student and Aelyx a young L’eihr visiting Earth. The concept is pretty straightforward. Some years prior to the story, the people of Earth had made contact with an alien civilisation the L’eihr. The two peoples have an amicable if distant relationship and in order to foster a greater understanding of their respective cultures a student exchange program has been initiated. Cara and Aelyx are chosen as two of the six young ambassadors for the program. I have to say I really loved this book and thought it was beautifully written. What I liked Character development. Both Cara and Aelyx undergo a great deal of character development throughout the book. Interestingly, Cara’s arc is almost the opposite of many young adult protagonists. She starts the book confident and sure of her path but as she goes through the challenges of the exchange, her self assurance is given quite a beating. However she still remains true to her word despite significant pressure. Aelyx’s journey is more of overcoming prejudice – he starts off determined to hate his human hosts and has an ulterior motive for joining the program. As…
[book-info title=”Words of Radiance” author=”brandon-sanderson-2″] First of all my apologies about the incomplete Alienated review that went – briefly – live this morning. I have been so engrossed in Words of Radiance I didn’t get around to writing the Alienated review in time. It will be written after Words of Radiance. So, Words of Radiance. I am approximately 40% of the way through the 48-hour long audiobook version of Words of Radiance. Here are my initial thoughts on this first half. A full review will come later. There are some spoilers ahead so I’ll add a cut to be sure.
[book-info title=”Words of Radiance” author=”brandon-sanderson-2″] First of all my apologies about the incomplete Alienated review that went – briefly – live this morning. I have been so engrossed in Words of Radiance I didn’t get around to writing the Alienated review in time. It will be written after Words of Radiance. So, Words of Radiance. I am approximately 40% of the way through the 48-hour long audiobook version of Words of Radiance. Here are my initial thoughts on this first half. A full review will come later. There are some spoilers ahead so I’ll add a cut to be sure.
Through Netgalley I was offered an advanced reader’s copy of YA time travel novel The Here and Now by Ann Brashares. It tells the story of Prenna James, a time traveller and refugee in our time from a future in which global warming and plagues have left the world devastated. She and her community of fellow refugees must live by strict rules for their protection and that of those native to their adopted time. One of these includes refraining from an intimate relationship with a local. Naturally Prenna meets a boy… In general, I found The Here and Now to be a very fun, if light, read. The time travel refugee concept was interesting but so much more could have been done with it. The whole concept of time paradoxes (you know, the old chestnut, you can’t travel back in time and kill your own grandfather) was ignored and the issue of Prenna’s adaptation to the new society was glossed over. What I liked The concept. The idea of refugees escaping back in time from a devastated future was very interesting. The list of rules by which they must live is very interesting, too – I did struggle to understand…
Through Netgalley I was offered an advanced reader’s copy of YA time travel novel The Here and Now by Ann Brashares. It tells the story of Prenna James, a time traveller and refugee in our time from a future in which global warming and plagues have left the world devastated. She and her community of fellow refugees must live by strict rules for their protection and that of those native to their adopted time. One of these includes refraining from an intimate relationship with a local. Naturally Prenna meets a boy… In general, I found The Here and Now to be a very fun, if light, read. The time travel refugee concept was interesting but so much more could have been done with it. The whole concept of time paradoxes (you know, the old chestnut, you can’t travel back in time and kill your own grandfather) was ignored and the issue of Prenna’s adaptation to the new society was glossed over. What I liked The concept. The idea of refugees escaping back in time from a devastated future was very interesting. The list of rules by which they must live is very interesting, too – I did struggle to understand…