Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My Teaser:



“The time had come for me to thumb. All I could see was traffic, concrete, and smog. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles whooshing by.”

Thumb Flagging by Jerome Peterson – Page 117

Review: The Circle of Magic: Tris's Book

Warning: For once I have written a completely random review. Filled with random and spastic humor. Hope you enjoy, if not feel free to let me know. I am sure I will be less hyper by the time I write my next review.



Novel: Circle of Magic #2 (Tris’s Book)
Author: Tamora Pierce
Pages: 272
Genre: YA (Fantasy)



Tris and her three fellow mages-in-training have barely survived an earthquake that hit Winding Circle Temple. Now pirates are threatening to destroy the only real home the young sorcerers have ever known. As in Sandry's Book (Scholastic, 1997), the first installment in the series, the companions realize they can save themselves and their community only by combining powers and becoming one force greater than the sum of its parts. Reminiscent of Virginia Hamilton's Justice and Her Brothers (Harcourt, 1989), but without the rivalry and menace within the four-person "unit," Tris's Book focuses instead on the growing friendship among the young mages and their realization that their magical connections are beginning to seep into other facets of their lives. Individually, the mages are also struggling to control their powers, which come on in overwhelming surges when their possessors feel strong emotions. Readers on the brink of adolescence, struggling with new feelings and abilities, will appreciate the young sorcerers' efforts. Pierce has created another gripping adventure that's sure to please her many fans.
(By School Library Journal’s Beth Wright)


(I will not be posting any spoilers! Only opinion for the sake of those of us who love to have our first look at a book be untainted by foreknowledge.)

Tris’s book is my favorite out of the series. Mostly because I find her to be the easiest character for me personally, to be able to relate to. She is also the mage out of the four with the most raw energy and many times the least control because of how overpowering her abilities are. But hey, if you could control the weather, one of the most temperamental and powerful elements there is you might be a little over whelmed to. Naturally, her control over whether is not why I relate to her but instead the way she acts and well, the obvious red hair and pale skin and glasses bit, with coming from a poor background.

Tris when I was younger and first read this novel became my favorite character quickly, she is quick witted but normally very silent and I think part of what I loved most was that she learned to control her surrounding even when the world was becoming hectic around her. In this novel the bond between the four mages grows and your get to see a part of Tris you weren’t able to reach in the first novel. Did I mention pirates… yup, that’s right pirates! Argg!





Would I suggest you read it:

Yes! Tris is a wonderful character and this story will sweep you away into its magical world!

Other Covers:

Teaser Tuesday

I know it has been a while since my last teaser but I figured what better time to star back up than now!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:



Due to there being five wonderful stories compiled in this one novel you get five teasers!

Laurie Faria Stolarz's, Sleeping with the Spirit:

"Mom... is that you?"
No one answers.
I let out a sigh and get up and move towards the door. I try the knob, but it doesn't budge, like I've been locked inside.

Scott Westerfeld's, Stupid Perfect World:

"You've read Hamlet?" I said, perplexed. Could Kieran Black possess hidden depths? Sure, he'd just called the greatest character in literature "this psycho prince guy," but still.

Justine Larbalestier's, Thinner Than Water:

"I don't like it," I said, because it was as mild as I could be. Not the bakery, not this village, not this life. I wanted to be elsewhere. Learning, living, growing. Not covered in flour and making quaint to tourists.

Gabrielle Zevin's, Fan Fictions:

Many moons later, when she is replaying this conversation for the millionth or so time in her head, she will wonder how he knew her name without even asking. But right now, what she thinks is, It can be lonely being any kid in school.

and last but not least Malissa Marr's, Love Struck:

When she walked far enough away that the bonfire was a glow in the distance and the roll of waves was all she could hear, the knot of tension in her neck loosened. She had gone the opposite direction of danger. and she stood in one of the spots where she felt safest, mast at peace- the exposed reef.

Hope you enjoy!

Sincerely,
Emma Michaels

Review: Circle of Magic, Sandry's Book

Novel: Circle of Magic #1 (Sandry’s Book)
Author: Tamora Pierce
Pages: 272
Genre: YA (Fantasy)



Sandry wants desperately to learn to spin and weave despite her noble birth; she finds that she can spin light into her threads. Tris comes from a family of merchants but has an uncanny feel for weather and hears voices on the winds. Briar, a former street urchin and thief, communicates with plants. Daja is a Trader, but metalworking calls her now. Sandry's Book focuses equally on these four children, all abandoned or orphaned and all equally unaware of being mageborn?gifted with a particular talent and magical abilities. The four meet at Discipline Cottage, part of Winding Circle Temple, where the powerful mage Niko has brought them to heal the wounds of their past and to learn to channel and control their abilities. Although the four have some conflicts with their new surroundings and with one another, they are united when misuse of magic at another temple puts everyone in mortal danger. A bit unfocused, the story features too many main characters with individual stories to tell and borrows too much from our own world to be surprising. The youngsters are appealing and the conflicts between them are logical and believable. However, while Daja's affinity for metals and Briar's for plants are well defined, it is harder to tell how Sandry will use her magical talent, or what Tris's abilities have to do with the crafts that are predominant throughout the book. In spite of its faults, this is an enjoyable fantasy for middle-grade readers, who will look forward to the next book in the series.

(By School Library Journal’s Susan L. Rogers)


(I will not be posting any spoilers! Only opinion for the sake of those of us who love to have our first look at a book be untainted by foreknowledge.)

I enjoy novels with magic and love when a novel has a message of hope. This novel is about four child/teens who all have unfortunate backgrounds or past life style and they are taught that their differences don’t make them worse than other, they make them better. That sometimes, knowing what it is like to be poor or unloved or feared can help you be kind to others, can help you be more than anyone ever would have expected of you, because you understand the feeling yourself and you can learn to be better than the people who made you feel that way.

This story has magic, learning of friendship and so much more. It has some of my favorite characters and if you don’t like one of the main characters, don’t worry there are four and all of them are given their fair attention. This specific novel is the start of these four individual’s journey. The primary of the four in each of the novels is in the title. This is Sandry’s novel and for my next post I will be reviewing the second book in the series, Tris’s Book.





Would I suggest you read it:

Yes! If you already love Tamora Pierce then this can open an entirely new world to you. If you are not already a Tamora Pierce fan then this novel may be able to change your mind.

Other Covers:

Review: Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce

Novel: Bloodhound
Author: Tamora Pierce
Pages: 560
Genre: YA (Fantasy)



Fans of Pierce's medieval fantasy police-procedural series will love this book as much as Terrier (Random, 2006). Beka, 17, is serving her first year as a Dog (police officer) in the Provost's Guard. She and her mentor and old partner, Goodwin, are sent from Corus to Port Caynn to try to discover the source of the counterfeit silver coins that are flooding the region, causing soaring grain prices and riots in Corus. Beka is accompanied by Achoo, the scent hound she rescued from its abusive handler. While in Port Caynn, she and Goodwin tangle with Pearl, Queen of the Thieves, and her crew. Beka falls for Dale, a handsome and charming gambler and bank courier who may be in league with Pearl. The action drags a bit in the middle to focus on the romance but makes up for it in the end. Pierce vividly imagines this world in which police procedures are different, yet similar to those of today. Ponce, Beka's wise cat, who is also a God, is mostly absent but Beka's other unusual magical sources of information-pigeons inhabited by talking ghosts of the dead and spirits in spinning dust funnels—continue to add to the series' appeal. Beka is as headstrong and feisty as ever and frequently makes errors in judgment but is willing to learn from her mistakes. She truly earns the nickname Bloodhound as she faithfully narrates her story through journal entries.
(By School Library Journal’s Sharon Rawlins)


(I will not be posting any spoilers! Only opinion for the sake of those of us who love to have our first look at a book be untainted by foreknowledge.)

This book manages to accomplish everything a great book should. It makes you laugh, cry and through a large portion of the book you might find yourself on the edge of your seat ready to jump up at any second. I was not able to put it down, literally, I had to be reminded that food is a necessity. This book much like the first in this series takes you to the slums of Tortall only you also get to go beyond the Tortall borders and explore new areas of the realms around it. You meet wonderful new characters and one of my favorite characters ever invented, Okha Soyan! Did I mention that Okha is Amber by night?

This novel also has many differences related to Tortall’s history. In Alanna’s books there is no slavery in Tortall because it has already been outlawed but in Beka’s world there is slavery and because of it a lot that she has to do to help people who could end up being sold into it where they wanted to be or not. There are also the rogues as there are in Alanna’s time and so much more. It is absolutely amazing !





Would I suggest you read it:

YES!!!! With nearly a thousand more exclamation marks!

New Poll!

Hey everyone,
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in my last poll! I have posted another and hope to get some feedback because I am thinking of adding a new feature to my blog. Thank you again!!! If you have any opinions feel free to voice them here in the comments.

Sincerely,
Emma

Review: Terrier

Novel: Terrier
Author: Tamora Pierce
Pages: 608
Genre: YA (Fantasy)



Orphaned Beka Cooper, 16, is a trainee-a "Puppy"-in the Provost's Guard. Having spent the first half of her life in Tortall's slums, she is driven by the need to do what is right and see justice done. Paired with two of the best Guards, or "Dogs," in the organization and aided by her own gifts of magic, Beka learns her job, makes friends with two mages and a thief, and uncovers two serial killers who prey on the poor and unnoticed. With Terrier, Pierce tries out a new style of storytelling and succeeds admirably. Beka, the ancestor of George Cooper from the "Song of the Lioness" series (S & S), tells her story through journal entries, making for a thoroughly engaging read. The characters are recognizable types, but all have their own personalities. Readers will enjoy meeting the Lady Knight Sabine of Macayhill, Alanna's precursor in profession and temperament; Rosto the Piper; and Beka's friends. The level of violence is comparable to that found in "The Circle Opens" series (Scholastic) but isn't as gratuitous. This seems mostly to be due to the journal format, which gives readers only Beka's thoughts and feelings as opposed to those of the killers as well. With its rollicking adventure, appealing characters, and inclusion of Tortall's history, Terrier will be in strong demand by Pierce's fans. It will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
(By School Library Journal’s Lisa Prolman)


(I will not be posting any spoilers! Only opinion for the sake of those of us who love to have our first look at a book be untainted by foreknowledge.)

This book has spoiled me rotten. I need to wait a bit before reviewing anything else because most everything fails in comparison to this novel and its sequel which will be featured in my next review. Many of you are probably familiar with the world Tamora Pierce has created that surrounds the realm of Tortall. This novel shines an entirely new light on the realm, making it more realistic and something you can feel more passionately about.

You get taken down into the slums of Tortall and introduced to a completely different type of life from the other Tortall novels. Beka is one of George Cooper’s ancestors and honestly there are a few points in the book where you want to go forward to the times of Alanna and slap George right across the face for being a thief after everything Beka has gone through to try and keep the people of Tortall safe from people just like what he ended up being. Beka’s story for me was relatable and a wonderful read, it had a wonderful pace and when you read it, if you are anything like me and tend to not be able to put down a book once you pick it up if it is a keeper, then you are sure to have this done fast and be stuck wishing you had more… which luckily you do with the next novel I will be reviewing, BloodHound.





Would I suggest you read it:

Yes! In my opinion it is one of Tamora Pierces best works yet and a story you can’t help but love!

Complete Re-vamp!

As many of you know I posted a poll a few days ago and the answer was nearly unanimous, in favor of my changing my background and layout. Per your suggestion I did a complete re-vamp! Please let me know what you think and thank you for all your feedback!

Sincerely,
Emma Michaels

P.S.- Don't worry more reviews will be posted soon!