Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Emily Dunlap wasn't quite what I was expecting. It is the story of the duchess Anastasia Romanov told from her perspective. It follows Anastasia from before the start of the world war and Russian Revolution. Anastasia befriends the young guard Sasha that works at the palace. He helps her see that everything in the world isn't as perfect as she thinks it is. This book about Anastasia looks a lot more into reasons behind the revolution that happened in Russia and the causes behind all the trouble for the Romanovs. As Anastasia gets older, her feelings for Sasha get stronger, and she finds that he's her only real friend besides her family. He's also the only one that takes her seriously and the only one that will tell her about what's really going on in Russia. Sasha becomes more and more involved with those heading the revolution as Anastasia gets more worried about what will happen to Sasha and her family.
Since the story is told by Anastasia, it does get a little confusing to know what's going on with the revolution and in Russia in general, since the only things the reader finds out about are the things that Anastasia knows about; and she only knows the things that Sasha tells her, which sometimes he is very vague about as he doesn't want to worry Anastasia any more than he has to.
The story remains engaging throughout, although sometimes it's confusing to the reader how much time has passed between sections of the story. Also, as Anastasia becomes increasingly obsessed with Sasha, the focus of the story changes a lot. The ending of the book is really abrupt. It just ends and then has a note from the author summing up the rest of what happened to Anastasia Romanov and her family and friends.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Flood and Fire - 2012 Book #13
Flood and Fire by Emily Diamand is the sequel to Raider's Ransom. It picks up pretty much right where the first book ends. Lilly Melkum, a fishergirl, is stranded in the middle of the ocean after a major sea battle. Pieces of ships are floating all around her as she tries to get Lexy, the Prime Minister's daughter, safely back to her home. Zeph, the pirate boy, returns home after the battle to find that he won't be able to take over as Boss as easily as he thought he would. His half brother Roba is putting up a fight for the title of Boss. But, to make matters worse, the other pirate clans are mad at the state the Families have been left in after the war that Zeph's father started. They want to make Zeph's entire family into slaves or wipe them out all together. In a moment of desperation, Zeph promises to find Lilly and give her and her computer to the pirates to save his Family. Lilly, meanwhile, is lost on the ocean, struggling to find a way out of the mess left after the sea battle. Her computer, or puter as she calls it, begins to complain of being too wet to work properly. Its battery is also running low, and it threatens to cease working if she is not careful.
In an attempt to reboot her computer, Lilly accidently activates a formerly unknown computer called the National Security Response, a computer that is programmed to restore England to the rightful government in the event of the downfall of the government. It is determined to do this at all costs, even at the cost of human lives. Once the knowledge of this computer is discovered, many people want to find it to use it for their own purposes. Lilly wants to find it to help reboot her computer, the pirates want it to help them win their war against the Pirme Minister, Scotland wants it to study it, and Zeph hopes it can be a way out of his promise to betray his friend. In the search for this computer, friendships are tested, new and old characters make an appearance, and help comes from unexpected places.
Like the first book in the series, the story is told in first person by both Lilly and Zeph. There is still the same confusion at the beginning of each chapter as to who is narrating that section. Also, like the first book, the story is told in present tense, which makes it a little confusing sometimes when they start telling the story at a later point and then tell what happened to get up to that point.
However, despite these points, it is a very engaging read. It has an interesting setting of being in the future but having the feel of being in the past with how people live. There is some advanced technology, but most people don't use and have never seen it. They are certain that it is evil and the cause of all the natural disasters that have happened in the world. It is not super predictable which makes the story interesting to read. Also, it's neat to see how the characters have changed over the course of the story, from the beginning of the first book to the end of the second book. It was a very good read.
In an attempt to reboot her computer, Lilly accidently activates a formerly unknown computer called the National Security Response, a computer that is programmed to restore England to the rightful government in the event of the downfall of the government. It is determined to do this at all costs, even at the cost of human lives. Once the knowledge of this computer is discovered, many people want to find it to use it for their own purposes. Lilly wants to find it to help reboot her computer, the pirates want it to help them win their war against the Pirme Minister, Scotland wants it to study it, and Zeph hopes it can be a way out of his promise to betray his friend. In the search for this computer, friendships are tested, new and old characters make an appearance, and help comes from unexpected places.
Like the first book in the series, the story is told in first person by both Lilly and Zeph. There is still the same confusion at the beginning of each chapter as to who is narrating that section. Also, like the first book, the story is told in present tense, which makes it a little confusing sometimes when they start telling the story at a later point and then tell what happened to get up to that point.
However, despite these points, it is a very engaging read. It has an interesting setting of being in the future but having the feel of being in the past with how people live. There is some advanced technology, but most people don't use and have never seen it. They are certain that it is evil and the cause of all the natural disasters that have happened in the world. It is not super predictable which makes the story interesting to read. Also, it's neat to see how the characters have changed over the course of the story, from the beginning of the first book to the end of the second book. It was a very good read.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion - 2012 Book #12
Seeds of Rebellion is the second book in the Beyonders trilogy written by Brandon Mull. This book continues the story of Jason and Rachel, two thirteen-year old kids from the Beyond, or Earth, as they try to do their part in helping to defeat the wizard Maldor in the land of Lyrian.
Jason is stranded back at home and is struggling to get back to Lyrian. He feels bad about that fact that Rachel is still there, and he's at home. Also, at the end of the first book he discovered a secret that he feels he has to share with the others in Lyrian, especially with Rachel and Galloran. He hasn't been able to just get back to his old life and is continually on the watch for a way he can get back and help his friends. He goes back to the zoo where it all started and finally, finds a way back in to Lyrian.
Meanwhile, Rachel is in Lyrian where she is practicing the Edomic that Drake, who she's been on the run with, has taught her. While she and Drake are trying to lose the mysterious creature that's following them, Rachel can't help but wonder what has happened to Jason. The last she saw him, he was being taken prisoner at Maldor's city, Felrook.
As they struggle in their quest to defeat Maldor, the two kids meet new and old friends and enemies, come across giant monsters, sinister shadow creatures, and the undead. Characters' motives and loyalty are questioned as they try to find out who's on their side and if they have any hope at all of completing their mission.
I really like the way this book is written. It flows nicely, has lots of action, and keeps the reader interested. It also is an original idea and very creative. I also like the characters and how they change and grow throughout the story. Also, I like how Brandon Mull teaches important lessons through his story. There are some good messages in there. Also, the story is not really predictable, so it keeps things interesting.
The ending of the book is a cliff hanger, but not as bad as the end of the first one was. It tied up the mission that they set out to do, tying off some loose ends but also leaving it wide open for the third book and what was coming next. The last book comes out next spring.
Jason is stranded back at home and is struggling to get back to Lyrian. He feels bad about that fact that Rachel is still there, and he's at home. Also, at the end of the first book he discovered a secret that he feels he has to share with the others in Lyrian, especially with Rachel and Galloran. He hasn't been able to just get back to his old life and is continually on the watch for a way he can get back and help his friends. He goes back to the zoo where it all started and finally, finds a way back in to Lyrian.
Meanwhile, Rachel is in Lyrian where she is practicing the Edomic that Drake, who she's been on the run with, has taught her. While she and Drake are trying to lose the mysterious creature that's following them, Rachel can't help but wonder what has happened to Jason. The last she saw him, he was being taken prisoner at Maldor's city, Felrook.
As they struggle in their quest to defeat Maldor, the two kids meet new and old friends and enemies, come across giant monsters, sinister shadow creatures, and the undead. Characters' motives and loyalty are questioned as they try to find out who's on their side and if they have any hope at all of completing their mission.
I really like the way this book is written. It flows nicely, has lots of action, and keeps the reader interested. It also is an original idea and very creative. I also like the characters and how they change and grow throughout the story. Also, I like how Brandon Mull teaches important lessons through his story. There are some good messages in there. Also, the story is not really predictable, so it keeps things interesting.
The ending of the book is a cliff hanger, but not as bad as the end of the first one was. It tied up the mission that they set out to do, tying off some loose ends but also leaving it wide open for the third book and what was coming next. The last book comes out next spring.
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