December 2018 – notabooktuber

Daughter of the Siren Queen (#2) – Tricia Levenseller

RATING: ✖✖✖

The sequel to the entertaining first installment in the ‘Daughter of-‘ series, Levenseller’s second book remains just as fun to read despite its few minor faults. Anyone looking for an exciting twist on pirates and adventure should look no further within the YA genre – this is it.

SYNOPSIS: Alosa’s mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he’s under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father’s justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

I told you I would read the sequel, and I did, so here I am. I breezed through the book within a day once I got down to reading it, testament to its readability, but I’ll get into the places in the book I struggled a bit more with as I write the review.

The book’s protagonist is still Alosa Kalligan – Daughter of the Pirate King (as we learned in the first book.) – who by now has escaped the ship on which she ‘pretended’ to be captured. Having defeated (ish) her enemies, she’s back to commanding her own ship and her own all-female crew – the Ava-lee is her pride and joy, and she longs to get back on the sea and sail as the true Captain she really is. However, there are a few setbacks to her plan:

1) The enormous secret mentioned in the synopsis which kind of disrupts her entire life.

2) The uNfAiRlY attractive Riden who apparently keeps her distracted with his breathing (?)

3) The enormous treasure on Isla de Canta, guarded by sirens, which Alosa needs, apparently.

Continue reading “Daughter of the Siren Queen (#2) – Tricia Levenseller”

The Red Labyrinth – Meredith Tate

RATING: ✖✖✖

A swift YA read with a fast-moving plot and intriguing storyline. A worthwhile read for fans of ‘The Maze Runner’, ‘Red Queen’ and ‘The Hunger Games’.

SYNOPSIS: The massive labyrinth was built to protect Zadie Kalvers’ isolated desert town. Unfortunately, living in the maze’s shadow makes her feel anything but safe. Even without its enchanted deathtraps and illusions, a mysterious killer named Dex lurks in its corridors, terrorizing anyone in his path … But when Zadie’s best friend vanishes into the labyrinth-and everyone mysteriously forgets he exists- completing the maze becomes her only hope of saving him.

In desperation, Zadie bribes the only person who knows the safe path through-Dex-into forming a tenuous alliance. Navigating a deadly garden, a lethal blood-filled hourglass, and other traps-with an untrustworthy murderer for her guide-Zadie’s one wrong step from certain death. But with time running out before her friend (and secret crush) is lost forever, Zadie must reach the exit and find him. If Dex and the labyrinth don’t kill her first.

A free ARC copy was provided to me by NetGalley (thank you, NetGalley!) – the book will be officially published in 2019 (04 Jun). Setting that aside for now – let’s get into the review!

The Red Labyrinth promised to be filled with wonder, danger and excitement – and the cover speaks volumes for itself (yes, I fell for the cover trap. I always do.) but instead, the reader is faced with a slightly different reality.

Continue reading “The Red Labyrinth – Meredith Tate”

Ready Player One – Ernest Cline

RATING. ✖✖✖✖

A breezy, thrilling YA sci-fi read whose 80s nostalgia is enough to make anyone weep for a pair of leg warmers. I’m not kidding.

SYNPOSIS: In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

Well. It’s only fair I get into the review! I devoured this book over a weekend when I really should’ve been studying, so saying it kept me interest piqued during each and every page is an understatement, to say the least.

Ready Player One is the perfect mix of Ender’s Game sci-fi, a tribute to 80s memorabilia and a homage to gaming culture in general. As someone who’s spent her fair share of her childhood on the internet, all of the above makes me positively giddy with excitement. Since the book was a fairly quick read (clocking in at ca 390 pages.) it was a no-brainer for me to enjoy it!

Continue reading “Ready Player One – Ernest Cline”

Reincarnation Blues – Michael Poore

RATING: ✖✖✖✖

The kind of book you need to read to cleanse your palate from generic YA but also to actually read something that makes you think.

SYNPOSIS: What if you could live forever—but without your one true love? Reincarnation Blues is the story of a man who has been reincarnated nearly 10,000 times, in search of the secret to immortality so that he can be with his beloved, the incarnation of Death. Neil Gaiman meets Kurt Vonnegut in this darkly whimsical, hilariously profound, and wildly imaginative comedy of the secrets of life and love. Transporting us from ancient India to outer space to Renaissance Italy to the present day, is a journey through time, space, and the human heart.

Continue reading “Reincarnation Blues – Michael Poore”