YA Books and Reviews

The Abhorsen Trilogy (Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen) by Garth Nix

Within the world there are actually two. One world, Ancelstierre, is a place of technology and science; the other, the Old Kingdom, a world of magic and many things unnatural, things both wonderful and horrific.

Most people in Ancelstierre are not even aware that the Old Kingdom exists, many think it a myth, and those that know the truth wish they didn’t. For within the Old Kingdom technology does not function, but the dead do, and all that separates the dead from Ancelstierre is the Wall. And the Abhorsen.

So I know that the last review that I gave for Garth Nix was not full of praise, and I haven’t changed my opinions about The Ragwitch in the slightest, but The Abhorsen Trilogy completely makes up for it. Nix has created two completely new worlds, given them mythology, even a type of religion and then thrown it all together with fantastical results. I have no doubt that Nix spent a lot of time and effort developing all of the elements of this series.

There are two main tales within the trilogy, the first is within Sabriel, and the second story spans across the last two books. So I guess a person could be fine just reading the first book, but a lot of questions are answered if all three books are read. Plus, Nix’s writing improves with each book.

There a few different protagonists in the series, all of which are connected, and they are all very well written characters. By the end of the series you will find yourself wishing to know more about what happens to these people who were once strangers to you but are now intimate acquaintances.

Really the Abhorsen trilogy has something for everyone. There is fantasy, action, humor, horror, and history. I have met many people that have read the trilogy and all of them have loved it. The story was so compelling for me that I stayed up way too late, skipped lunch at my job, and skimped my homework just to finish the books.

I am not going to say much more about it because that would spoil the adventure for all of you. Just go read the books.

 

There is violence in the books and some disturbing descriptions. I can’t recall any profanity and there are some very very light sexual suggestions. I give the series 4.5 stars out of five (an average of the three books since I think that Lirael is a little too long).

Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor

 

A strange light hangs in the horizon, dampening the day and illuminating the night. Ships and whole towns are swallowed by the raging ocean, claiming hundreds of lives, innocent and not. Strange creatures hunt human prey in the dark. A strange foreigner offers salvation while a priest seeks world domination at any cost, even his soul. The very forces of Heaven and Hell are preparing for battle. The world will never be the same. Will a young boy and simple commoner named Thomas have the courage to face these horrors, will he have the faith to bring about miracles?

In G.P. Taylor’s Shadowmancer not only is the very fabric of the earth at stake but Heaven as well. Set in Victorian England, or someplace very like it, this story has a lot of biblical references and elements, as well as a little Celtic mythology.

All I can really say is that this book left me wanting. I didn’t feel like it followed through with its implied promises. The title Shadowmancer has loose relevance to anything within the book and the cover has nothing to do with the story. I know that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but if you put a picture of a ruined cathedral being struck by lightning on the cover of a book shouldn’t there be something to do with a ruined cathedral being struck by lightning within the story? I don’t know, maybe I am just being picky.

The only characters that I remotely liked in the story were the Boggart Family, but they are only in a couple chapters and then never seen again, which is really annoying because I wanted to know who and what they were. In fact, there are a lot of questions about different characters and creatures left unanswered. It is almost like Taylor threw in a lot of “cool” stuff just for kicks and with no relevance to the rest of the story.

The rest of the characters were flat and stereotypical. Thomas, the main character is a whiney little punk and his friend Kate and her melodrama could easily fit into the cast of a teenage soap opera. There are drunks, smugglers, a few old hags, and a general assortment of awful people. The majority of the characters are miraculously changed by Heavenly sources and then sadly lose most of what made them interesting. I am not saying that becoming “good” makes someone boring, but in this book it just makes the people sort of lifeless.

The final climax in the book is more like a hill than the mountain that it should be. It ends very quickly and is frankly quite cliché. The book wouldn’t even make a decent B-movie.

I would have to say Shadowmancer is appropriate for ages 12 and up, but I would strongly advise parents to preview the book first. While there may not be issues for some people, I know that I found the use of demonic possession (and preludes to demonic rape) and other odd interpretations of biblical topics to be disturbing. There is also a lot of needless death, abuse of alcohol, and mild language.

Supposedly this book is a big hit in England, there is even a graphic novel version, but I really did not enjoy Shadowmancer at all. I give it 1 star out of 5.

The Belgariad: a five book series of epic fantasy adventure.

Follow the young boy, Garion, a farm boy of Sendaria raised by his aunt, in a battle to save his world. Witness his coming of age, and learn alongside him as he discovers he is much more than anyone expected.

Author, David Eddings, takes us on a wonderful exploratory adventure of a fantasy world so alive with culture and history and true-to-life characters, one cannot help but get lost in the tale. His characters are completely believable, and pull the reader along with their quirks, their yearnings, their fears, and with a humor and truth in dialogue that will make you laugh out loud.

Although I was bored at times with certain branchings in the story, I never wanted to put these books down. The Belgariad is a high quality series of fantasy fiction novels. The content is clean, aside from a very few mild—and period—curse words (maybe 10 in the entire series). There are no sexual references, and no sex; though there are a few mildly sensual scenes, scenes where we understand that there is some kind of sexual intent, but never actually see it come into being. These novels do contain moments of medieval combat, which, at times, get a little detailed and bloody. However, Eddings manages to keep these moments oddly lighthearted, even jovial at times—a fact I found slightly disturbing when I thought about it—but nothing that would scar a mature young mind.

I recommend The Belgariad to mature youth, 12 and up, and to any adult who appreciates high quality fantasy literature. David Eddings is certainly one of the finest Literary Fantasy authors on the shelf. I rate The Belgariad 4 out of 5 stars. 

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

We've all heard of wildlife refuges. The purpose of such refuges is to protect the creatures that dwell within their boundaries, protect them from humans, from us. But what if there was a refuge for creatures straight out of fairy tales and out of nightmare?

Kendra and Seth have to stay with their grandparents for a few weeks and they don't know what to expect. One thing is for sure, they didn't expect that their grandfather is the caretaker of a magical creature refuge, Fablehaven.

Kendra and Seth learn quickly that Fablehaven is a secret and amazing place full of beautiful fairies, mischievous satyrs, and hidden dark and evil creatures, a place with ancient rules and laws. When those rules are broken, Kendra and Seth realize that Fablehaven isn't only a refuge to protect its magical inhabitants from humans, but a place that protects humans from its inhabitants and the dark and evil creatures of Fablehaven aren't hiding anymore.

Fablehaven is an extremely entertaining book. The humor is witty but can be understood by all (and is usually at the expense of Seth.) The action is suspenseful and really brings a sense of urgency to the story that moves the reading right along. There are not many moments in the book where something important is happening, in fact I can't think of a single one.

The rich relationship between Kendra and Seth is very realistic.  You can tell that Brandon Mull has developed these two main characters well and has portrayed them perfectly. At a conference, where he was doing a reading, Brandon had said something to the effect that he wrote Kendra and Seth with his own siblings in mind and that Kendra and Seth talk and behave toward one another just like Brandon and his siblings did at that age. By the time you finish the book, those two kids will seem like your own brother and sister.

All of the other characters involved at Fablehaven are dynamic and seem very real. Each character has a detailed history that is explained and is interesting, especially Lena's. Coupled with a lot of mythological creatures and a vast amount of crazy details, these characters create a new world within our own. In fact you will even forget there is another world out there while you go through this adventure with Kendra and Seth.

I recommend this book for middle readers and up. There are some intense scenes of action, but nothing gratuitous. There are no issues with sexual themes or profanity. It is a clean and fun book. I have shared this book with people from 8 to 50 years old and they have all loved it. Even though Fablehaven is considered Juvenile or Young Adult fiction, there is truly something for everyone in the book, including a handful of fun illustrations.

This is one of the best books that I have read in the last four years, if not longer. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I hope that when the movie comes out it will do the book justice.

For more info on Brandon Mull, check out the interview I had with him here.

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

Alchemy: the mix of science, metallurgy, and magic.

Summer vacations are supposed to be fun, even somewhat adventurous. Josh Newman was just fine working in a book store, with his sister Sophie working in a coffee shop across the street. That is until the owners of the bookstore, Nick and Perry, turn out to be hundreds of years old and magicians.

Nicholas Flamel is known as one of the greatest alchemysts ever. He lived in the 1300’s. According to record, he died in 1418. However, the tomb of Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel is empty and no one knows why; except for Josh and Sophie Newman. Now they know why all too well. 

Now Dr. John Dee has stolen the key to Nicholas Flamel’s immortality, the Book of Abraham. The Book of Abraham holds the world’s most amazing secrets, and the most dangerous. Josh, Sophie, Nicholas, and Perenelle have to stop Dee before he unlocks those secrets and changes the world and not for better.

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is a treasure trove of fun and knowledge. Michael Scott has crafted a masterful story full of history, magic, and mythology from all over the world. Still, if a person doesn’t know the difference between Osiris and Odin, that won’t matter; this book is great for anyone that loves adventure.

There is a point in the beginning of the book where Josh uses Wikipedia to learn more about Nicholas Flamel. I thought this a bit absurd, but then I looked Nicholas Flamel up on Wikipedia… Yep, he really existed. The fact that Michael Scott uses historical figures as some of his main characters makes this book even more fun. Seriously, read the book and have fun looking up the names in this book on the Internet, most of the names will have a lot of results. There is a wealth of knowledge in this book, and reading it is probably the most fun way to learn that knowledge.

While there isn’t any profanity or sex, there is violence and a lot of it, but not graphic violence. Still, the violence is enough to make The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is appropriate for Young Adult readers (ages 12 and up). There are battles, people die, and even a god dies, in my opinion these are issues not appropriate for Middle Readers (8 to 11 year olds). This book would and can be fun for younger children, but I strongly recommend that parents preview the book before letting any children read it.

I found the book to be compelling the whole way through and I never once was bored while reading it. The characters are unique and very realistic (well, besides all of the magic). I give the book 5 out of 5 stars.

There are three books in this series, with the fourth set to release May 25, 2010. I have only read this one book, but can't wait to get my hands on more.

According to IMDb there is a movie in the works.

The Ragwitch by Garth Nix

Are there such things as evil, demonic dolls that consume your essence, your very soul? (And no, this is not about Furbies. And for those of you that had previously forgotten about those, you are welcome.) But what if there were such toys, or at least just one? Well, in the mind of Garth Nix there exists such a creature of pure evil. The Ragwitch.

Paul and Julia are on holiday and are strolling along the Australian shore when Julia finds a rag doll. She 
loves it. Paul thinks it is evil and he is right. Julia is already under the control of the Ragwitch. Even though Paul tells Julia to throw the doll away, it does no good. Julia, completely consumed by the Ragwitch, enters into a new world, the Ragwitch’s world, and Paul follows her. He must save Julia.

I really liked the other novels that I read by Garth Nix and I thought that this would be the same quality of writing. I was wrong. While not horrible, The Ragwitch was not great. Nix does do a great job of creating a new world and using a mix of traditional and new mythology to enrich that world.

However, I didn’t buy the characters. These two children are forced into new worlds, Julia is in the mind of the Ragwitch, and Paul is in her old kingdom, and they don’t freak out one bit. I am 26 years old and if I suddenly found myself trapped in someone’s mind or surrounded by strange people and weird creatures, I would not be all calm and collected and think things like “Oh, what a strange forest, I must explore it.” No, I would start screaming or crawl up into a ball and suck my thumb. So why don’t these two young kids at least get scared? They don’t and that is not realistic.

Also, Paul barely thinks about his sister after he enters this new world, in fact he goes fishing and relaxes for three days. The kid has no urgency until people start dying.

Another thing that made the story sub-par was the use of time-lapse or “ellipses”. I don’t think I wanted to know every single detail of what was going on in the story at all times, but there really seemed to be some holes. I don’t like it when in mid chapter there is a sentence like “Three days later and after a lot of sleeping…” That doesn’t make for smooth reading.

I found this in the horror section of the library, but it wasn't really scary, even for ten year olds. There is violence and war scenes, but there are hardly any graphic details. So, this book would be fine for 10 +.

Nix is an excellent writer, but this isn’t his best work. I still strongly recommend his Abhorsen trilogy.

I give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars.

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

We’ve all had candy that fizzes, or candy that turns our mouths color, or even candy that makes our mouths feel like they’re on fire, but what about candy that allows you to defy gravity or blow fire from your mouth? That would be some amazing candy. Still, there is one piece of advice that is always true: Never take candy from strangers. You never know, those strangers might just turn out to be evil, maniacal magicians who want to take over your town.

Nate Sutter just has just moved from California to a small town called Colson. Right away he makes friend with some local kids, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon.

However, Nate isn’t the only newcomer in town.  Mrs. White, a sweet little old lady, has opened up a candy shop named The Sweet Tooth. When Mrs. White gives Nate and his friends some magic candies in exchange for their help with some “unusual” tasks, the kids start to wonder just how much of a sweet ol’ lady Mrs. White really is.

To top it off, Mr. Stott, the ice cream man, turns out to have some of his special goodies of his own, and he doesn’t like what Mrs. White is doing. And then there is a mysterious stranger that doesn’t seem to like anyone at all.

Nate and his friends have to figure out real quick whose side is the good side, or if anyone can be trusted at all. They have to make up their minds quickly, before someone gets hurt, or worse.

From the same author that wrote the Fablehaven series, The Candy Shop War is a book for middle readers
and up. It is imaginative and full of crazy plot twists that keep the action rolling along at a quick pace.

Brandon Mull has packed this book with dangerous adventures that most kids wouldn’t even dare try to be part of. On one hand that is very good, it makes the book fun. On the other hand, I don’t think there are many kids that are crazy enough to do what Nate and his friends do. Then again if I had the candy they had-- I probably would have done crazy things too when I was a kid. Still, the kids in The Candy Shop War seem a little more mature than they should be.

The book is completely clean, with mild violence and lots of action. Like I said before, it is great for middle readers (8 yrs +).

I give it 4 out 5 stars.

*Brandon says that there will be a sequel! Plus there is a movie in the works.

Flyte, book two of Septimus Heap, by Angie Sage

DomDaniel the Necromancer has been thwarted. Septimus Heap is now apprentice to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard and Jenna, The Princess Jenna, is back in the palace life should be a little calmer. It should be, but it isn’t.

Someone in the Heap family is a traitor, a traitor that is helping DomDaniel the Necromancer, helping to bring him back to the living, and only Septimus and Jenna believe it. That is until the traitor kidnaps the Princess.

Now with his limited knowledge of magic, Septimus must rescue the Princess, but there are a lot of challenges ahead of him that won’t make it easy!

Compared to the first book Magyk, this next chapter of the Septimus Heap series is flying leaps better (and I liked the first book). Flyte (Septimus Heap, Book 2) takes an already imaginative world and enriches that world with history, new fantastical creatures, and peril.

After reading this book, it is apparent that Angie Sage has only started to show us the Heap’s world. I only hope that each additional book is better than the last! In my review of Magyk I said that the characters were overly silly, but in Flyte that isn’t an issue at all. This time we get to know the characters better, more intimately, and this adds more depth to the characters. It makes them more real, in my opinion.

I did mention peril and yes, Flyte is full of it. Yes, it is fun peril and that means: dangerous fun! And if your mom was like mine and didn’t let you do all of the “dangerously fun stuff” and you could only experience it through books; really, what is better than dangerously fun stuff in a book? (by the way, I do still have all of my toes and fingers, so “thanks and love ya, Mom.”)

Flyte is a quick read, despite its page count of 500+. The action, characters, and humor move the story along and you will have finished the book before you know it.

I give Flyte 4.5 stars out of 5.