Heir of Fire - YA Review by Greta H

Reader: Greta H.
Age: 17
Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pub Date: 09/02/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I loved this book, and one big part of that was the huge amount of character development there was for everyone. The protagonist really opens up after two books of being quite closed off, and I ended up liking her a lot more than I did before. She isn't the only one to grow as a character; we get to see this firsthand with the switching perspectives throughout the book. Not every book can successfully pull the switching perspectives off – especially after having a single one for the first two installments of the series – but Heir of Fire does it very well. It makes sense to do so; the reader gets to see Celaena in the new foreign land she's traveled to, but is also able to keep up with things going on with the other characters she left behind. This book is compelling and definitely one I had a hard time putting down, unlike some mid-series books can be. Overall, it is very well written.
Memorable or Forgettable: Heir of Fire was memorable for me because it gave me a new appreciation for the characters of the Throne of Glass series. There were several plot twist points that were very well done and quite powerful. The ending made me extremely excited for the next book to come out!
Cover: I liked the cover. It goes with the first two books. I very much appreciate that it is drawn, and that it depicts the main character fairly well.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal


tags:  fantasy / action / romance / Throne of Glass series / ya lit

Breakfast Served Anytime - YA Review by Greta H

Reader: Greta H.
Age: 16
Title: Breakfast Served Anytime
Author: Sarah Combs
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pub Date: 04/08/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: The book was spectacularly written; I would find myself going back to reread sentences sometimes, not because they were confusing, but because they were just really well crafted. It is chock-full of insight, thought, and realizations. Though it is a "coming of age" book, it was not cliché to me. One thing that stood out in particular was that Combs' characters - from main to minor - all seemed to jump off the page in that they seemed very real and believable.
Memorable or Forgettable: Sarah Combs managed to take the typically cliché baseline theme of a "coming of age" novel and turned it into what I would describe as a "slice of life" book; one that just exists and is wonderful, real, and honest.
Cover: The cover is a reference to several pieces of the book and is quite aesthetically pleasing. I very much appreciate it and believe it is worthy of representing the contents.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: When Gloria Bishop applies for a class simply entitled "Secrets of the Written Word" at a Kentucky "geek camp," she does not expect the ensuing experience it provides. In the weeks at camp, Gloria undergoes what can only be described as coming of age, but in an insightful and honest way that is fresh and real.

tags:  coming of age / gifted and talented / contemporary / realistic fiction / ya lit

The Rithmatist - YA Review by Greta H

Reader: Greta H.
Age: 16
Title: The Rithmatist
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pub Date:  05/14/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: One thing that I believe the book could have benefited from would have been more world building, as there was little to none of it. It is supposed to have a sort of steampunk atmosphere, yet there were not a whole lot of integration of this theme throughout the book, and I would find myself almost surprised when one of the few elements did come up ("Oh, mechanical grass cutter crab, right, this is steampunk. I almost forgot"). I feel like it would have brought another level to this book. There is a lot you can do with a steampunk world, and I do not think it was taken advantage of here.

Regardless, the plot held my interest to the point of finishing the book in a matter of a day or two; I think the aspect of mystery really helped with that. The characters were lovable and for the most part realistic, though not as vibrantly alive as others have been for me. Overall, it is worth a read.
Memorable or Forgettable: It has a unique world and plot that I am really interested in. Though the steampunk aspect was not as strong as I would have liked, it was still there in bits; steampunk universes in books have always been some of my favorite.
Cover: The cover of the book does reflect the contents of the book, and though it was not the original reason I picked up the book, it certainly wouldn't have turned me off from reading it.
Age Range: Under 12 through 17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

tags:  steampunk / fantasy / science fiction / The Rithmatist / ya lit

Mistwalker - YA Review by Greta H

Reader: Greta H
Age: 16
Title: Mistwalker
Author: Saundra Mitchell
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Pub Date: 02/04/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: There were definitely some slower parts in the book, where the writing was a bit flat and bland. Overall, though, Willa's character was believable and by the end of the story had undergone reasonable development. I really loved the ending, and the twist that the author decided to throw in there. It was much different and frankly, much BETTER than what I was expecting, being that for most of the book, I was dreading the idea of it having a typical "romance novel" end. The ending that Mitchell chose to write strengthened Willa in my eyes.
Memorable or Forgettable: Though it is technically a romance novel, which tends to be a genre that I do not delve into very often, I really enjoyed this book. The ending, I think, is what really stuck with me, and the ideas that it left with the reader were strong and meaningful.
Cover: The cover is what drew me to pick it up originally. It accurately reflects the contents of the book.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: Ever since Willa Dixon's brother was murdered, she has been struggling with the way her life and family have changed from the ideal picture she had imagined. In addition, a small-town legend about a ghost trapped in the lighthouse seems to have come to life, and has begun to wiggle its way into her mind. As things become increasingly complicated, Willa must find great strength if she is to save her family and ultimately, herself.

tags:  fantasy / urban fantasy / paranormal / gothic / supernatural / ghosts / magic / ya lit

The Enchanter Heir - YA Review by Greta H.

Reader: Greta H.
Age: 16
Title: The Enchanter Heir
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pub Date: 10/01/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book:  The Enchanter Heir was a compelling read, and I found it hard to put down. The plot keeps moving at a nice pace, and though there is a lot going on, it doesn't seem too crowded or as if the author is trying to cram the action into a short amount of space.

As in her other works, Chima does an excellent job of making her characters come alive. For example, one of the protagonists, Emma, is a skilled guitar maker, and the rich details used to describe her work and the instruments in general support this aspect of the character well. The main characters (Jonah Kinlock and Emma Greenwood) have depth and are not just cookie-cutter people; there were times when I felt like something they did or said was not in-character, but overall I felt like I got to know who both Jonah and Emma were as people. The supporting characters didn't see as much development throughout the story, but they didn't seem completely flat, either.

As a fan of the three predecessors in the Heir Chronicles, I was expecting The Enchanter Heir to have a similar fantasy-in-the-modern-world feel. I was a bit surprised that while the previous books were more heavy on the medieval and magical aspects, this one seemed to move more towards the modern pieces. Even so, Chima did a good job of integrating the magical guilds and other characteristics of the Heir Chronicles world into this continuation of the series.

I would highly recommend reading the first three books before reading The Enchanter Heir. Even apart from the first three, it is definitely not a stand alone book, as the ending leaves off on a cliffhanger that will undoubtedly start off the next installment of the series (next book is confirmed, title to be The Sorcerer Heir). The ending leaves the reader with many questions and definitely makes me eager for the next book to come.

Memorable or Forgettable: It was very exciting to have another installment in the Heir Chronicles series, as the ending of the third book was more or less satisfying; it didn't lend me to think that the series would continue, so it was a nice surprise. Chima did a great job creating new, interesting characters along with new issues that tied into the books before it, but still remained new and exciting. It was well written and included a lot of modern elements that allow the reader to connect to the world.
Cover: The cover of the book seemed a bit more detailed than the first three books of the Heir Chronicles, but it still fits, more or less. I did like it; the colors are beautiful and pull you in, as does the mist and the intricate sword. The sword on the cover I assume was that of Jonah Kinlock (one of two main characters). The sword does not play a large role in the book, but it doesn't make the cover seem out of place.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

tags: fantasy / magic / ya lit