Book 172: Hidden Wives

Hidden Wives, by Claire Avery

“Hidden Wives” is the story of Sara and Rachel, two sisters living in a polygamist cult called the Blood of the Lamb. At the start of the book, their father takes the sisters to the prophet to receive their marriage confirmation – at 16 and 15, the sisters are practically spinsters. Most girls in the Blood of the Lamb are married by 13.

Sara doesn’t fully believe the cult’s practices, especially when she learns the prophet has received 16 marriage proposals for her prettier sister, but only one for Sara herself. Sara is also troubled by her father’s abusive behavior, while Rachel starts to doubt when she sees a deformed baby abandoned, and when she meets Luke, with whom she falls in love.

“Hidden Wives” reminds me a lot of nonfiction accounts such as “Escape” by Carolyn Jessop, and “Stolen Innocence” by Elissa Wall. The Blood of the Lamb polygamist cult could easily be compared to the real Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, as I found many parallels between the fiction book and nonfiction memoirs. The author (two sisters writing under a pseudonym) doesn’t shy away from sexual abuse, incest, rape, violence, or racism, or the struggles that Sara and Rachel face as they try to escape and thrive away from the cult. I’ve also watched a few documentaries on the FLDS, and “Hidden Wives” feels very accurate. I was easily caught up in the story of Sara and Rachel – they are compelling, interesting, sympathetic characters, and the ending came too soon for me.

I would have liked an epilogue though, to finish their stories. I also felt the ending was a little rushed, compared to the large amounts of detail concentrated on the early part of the book. I wish similar time had been given to the ending. But otherwise, “Hidden Wives” was an excellent read.

4/5.

Book 165: James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl

As is common in many of Roald Dahl’s books, James is a child stuck in a horrible situation. Orphaned, he’s living with two nasty aunts who use him as manual labor and don’t ever let him have fun.

But someone is looking out for James, and a mysterious little man gives him a bag of green magic crystals…only…he drops them. But his chance at happiness isn’t lost, because the crystals are dropped beneath a peach tree. The tree, formerly barren, suddenly produces a peach that grows larger by the minute, until it’s the size of a house. Inside the peach are a variety of common garden insects, such as a centipede and a grasshopper, each as large as a human because they too ingested some of the magic crystals.

James and his new friends take a magical journey on the gigantic peach, as journey only the imagination of Roald Dahl could produce. I’ll never look at rainbows or hail the same way again, or seagulls!

4/5.

Book 162: Brightly Woven

Brightly Woven, by Alexandra Bracken

I read all of “Brightly Woven” in one sitting – the author grabbed my attention at the start and kept it with a story full of fantasy, magic, adventure, world-building, and memorable characters.

Sydelle is taken from her home by a mysterious wizard; he claims he needs her help, and because his magic ends the 10-year drought the village has suffered through, Sydelle’s father gives her to Wayland North. North and Sydelle form a rocky partnership, as they make their way towards the wizard’s goal. They don’t really get along, but North is appreciative of his companion’s ability to repair his magical cloaks. In “Brightly Woven,” wizards use talismans to perform their magic; Sydelle is able to repair North’s cloaks without losing any of the magic – it’s a rare skill.

Their arduous journey is beset by an evil magician, North’s mysterious illnesses, and the weather. Bad weather seems to follow them wherever they go, be it storms or blizzards. At some point, the two become friends, and North’s mission becomes Sydelle’s as well. But in time, Sydelle’s belief in North is threatened when she suspects he may have other motives for her besides being a traveling companion….

I find it hard to summarize “Brightly Woven,” as there’s just so much happening! But that’s a lot in a good way, because I couldn’t predict a lot of what was going to happen. At a few points the story did drag a little for me. While reading, I was often reminded of Maria V. Snyder’s “Poison Study,” so I’d recommend that if you enjoyed “Brightly Woven,” or vice versa.

I’m a little jealous, honestly, because the author wrote this book while still in college! While “Brightly Woven” is marketed as a young adult novel, I think it would greatly appeal to adult readers of fantasy literature. I personally hope that Sydelle and North’s story is continued, and can’t wait to read a sequel.

4/5.

Book 161: Mapping the World of Harry Potter

Mapping the World of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Exploration of the Bestselling Fantasy Series of All Time, edited by Mercedes Lackey

Complete through book six, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” this collection of essays takes a look at why and how the Harry Potter series appeals or angers people. There are essays on religion, education, politics, feminism, and more.

“Mapping the World of Harry Potter” mostly added to my enjoyment of J. K. Rowling’s series; some of the essays gave me a lot to think about for the next time I reread the series.

Here is a list of the essays:
-Harry Potter and the Young Man’s Mistake, by Daniel P. Moloney
-The Dursleys as Social Commentary, by Roberta Gellis
-To Sir, With Love, by Joyce Millman
-Harry Potter and the End of Religion, by Marguerite Krause
-It’s All About God, by Elisabeth DeVos
-Hermione Granger and the Charge of Sexism, by Sarah Zettel
-Neville Longbottom: The Hero with a Thousand Faces, by Martha Wells
-Why Dumbledore Had to Die, by Lawrence Watt-Evans
-From Azkaban to Abu Ghraib, by Adam-Troy Castro
-Ich Bin Ein Hufflepuff, by Susan R. Matthews
-Harry Potter as Schooldays Novel, by James Gunn
-Harry Potter and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Counselor, by Mercedes Lackey
-The Proper Wizard’s Guide to Good Manners, by Roxanne Longstreet Conrad
-Why Killing Harry Is the Worst Outcome for Voldemort, by Richard Garfinkle

While “Mapping Harry Potter” was written before the publication of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the essays are still worthwhile reading. All are authored by writers of science fiction and fantasy novels, and I plan to check out the work of several of the contributors.

I think my favorite was “To Sir, With Love,” an essay on fanfiction and Professor Snape. I appreciated Joyce Millman’s wit and humor, and I think I’ll look up a few of the stories mentioned. I also enjoyed “Harry Potter as Schooldays Novel,” which gave history on the tradition of British schooldays novels. I had heard Harry Potter referred to as that, but had no clue what it meant. Now I do, and it’s a subgenre I plan to learn more about. I found “Why Killing Harry is the Worst Outcome for Voldemort” particularly clever, and something only the mind of a science fiction writer could create.

“The Proper Wizard’s Guide to Good Manners” was my least favorite; I don’t really see it as an essay but more fiction, and was a bit baffled while reading it.

I would recommend this for adult readers looking to expand their knowledge or thoughts on Harry, as some of the subject matter and language levels are above young fans.

4/5.

Book 160: War

War, by Sebastian Junger

“War” is a very hard book for me to summarize.

The author, Sebastian Junger, is a journalist who embedded himself for a year to write about the war in Afghanistan, specifically in the Korengal valley.

“War” is divided into three parts: “Fear,” “Killing,” and “Love.” I read the book from start to finish in one sitting; Junger’s writing immersed me in the brutality of war, of the emotions, of the dangers, of the feelings.

This is a book about what war is really like. I think I was most amazed by the author being in the middle of ambushes, shots flying at the bases, and he was an unarmed viewer.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a real view of the war in Afghanistan.

4/5.

Book 158: Percy Jackson: The Demigod Files

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Demigod Files, by Rick Riordan

“The Demigod Files” is a cute little book, perfect for younger fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. There are three short stories, interviews with a few campers, color pictures of the main characters, and a crossword and word search.

I say this is perfect for younger readers mainly because it is short, and the content beside the short stories didn’t really catch my attention. The three short stories are gems, though.

The first, “Percy Jackson and the Stolen Chariot,” features Percy and Clarisse, as he helps the daughter of Ares retrieve the war god’s hijacked chariot. The second, “Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon,” is about a very dangerous game of capture the flag, complete with gigantic ants. And the third, “Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades,” reunites Percy, Thalia, and Nico for an Underworld adventure. The stories all have that “Percy” feel, and I really enjoyed each one. They reminded me of my love for the series – I want to read all the Percy books again now!

My only complaint about “The Demigod Files” is that it’s far too short, but it was intended to fill in the gap between “The Battle for the Labyrinth” and “The Last Olympian.” I also would have liked the illustration of Annabeth’s trunk to be in color, as I found it hard to see all the details in black and white.

4/5.

Book 157: Harry Potter 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (again)

Harry Potter #3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J. K. Rowling (again!)

First review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Although this book in the HP series is one of my least favorites, I do enjoy rereading it. Sirius Black is one of the characters I’m fond of, and I like so much how he’s introduced – first as a bad bad guy, then shown to be a good good guy.

Professor Lupin is another of the characters I like, and I always delight in reading passages with him. It’s ironic that the first good Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Hogwarts has had is a werewolf. I like how Rowling’s trying to show tolerance with Lupin and his “little furry problem” – or at least, I think she is. That’s one of the reasons I love HP so much – you can read it on different levels, and make your own interpretations.

4/5, again.

Book 146: Harry Potter 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (again)

Harry Potter #2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling (again!)

First review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Well, after finishing “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” for the second time this month, it’s no surprise I went right to the next book in the series. As I’ve said before, I can finish a book in this series and pick it right back up a minute later, and enjoy it just the same as if months had gone by since my last reading.

Not much to say that I haven’t already covered in my first review…I did end up watching the film version of the book, and wanted to slap Lockhart through the TV screen! Such a great character to love to hate.

And the first introduction to Tom Riddle…

4/5, again.

Book 154: Wings

Wings, by Aprilynne Pike

“Wings” starts quite slowly, and for a good while I was wondering if it was worth my time to continue reading. But Laurel slowly caught my attention, with all the ways she is different, from her model-type looks to strict vegan diet. A sophomore, Laurel is attending public school for the first time; previously she had been homeschooled. While she at first hates it, when Laurel meets David, she likes school a little more, and is soon spending a lot of time with him.

And it’s lucky Laurel has David when she starts sprouting flowers from a bump on her back. He’s a calming presence in her life, and an almost-but-not-quite boyfriend. When Laurel meets Tamini, a guy who claims to be a faery – and tells Laurel she’s one too – David helps Laurel come to terms with her new wings and life, even performing several science experiments. Soon the plot moves into high-gear, as Laurel and David are thrown into a fight to protect her family’s ancestral land from a gang of trolls.

Laurel, David, and Tamini form the classic love triangle that’s in so many young adult books; I’m personally not a fan, but the romance isn’t super blunt. David’s more of a comforting presence for a lot of “Wings,” but I couldn’t believe how readily he accepted Laurel’s flower blossom. I found Tamini much more interesting; you know there’s a lot he didn’t tell Laurel, and I was rather curious. Laurel herself was so-so until about the middle for me. I did eventually get pretty into the book, and liked Pike’s mix of faerie and real-life.

I don’t want to spoil the book, but I liked the author’s twists, and would read the sequel, “Spells.” The ending of “Wings” isn’t a cliff-hanger, but there is a lot of room to expand the story and I’m curious to see where Pike will take Laurel, David, and Tamini.

4/5.

Book 153: Alex Van Helsing 1: Vampire Rising

Alex Van Helsing #1: Vampire Rising, by Jason Henderson

Readers first meet Alex when he’s running through the woods, having heard a scream in the night air. Seconds later he’s fighting a vampire, guided by both the instincts of his heritage (yes, his name does mean what you think it does!) and his survival/rescue training. In “Vampire Rising,” the action is fast from the start, and never lets up.

Fourteen year old Alex is a newcomer at Glenarvon Academy; he was sent there after an incident at his last boarding school. There are a few interesting people at Glenarvon, my favorite being Mr. Sangster – a no nonsense literature teacher who loves Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” But before he has a chance to settle in at his new school, Alex is embroiled in a deadly mess of secret organizations, vampires, demons, and life-or-death situations.

There’s a lot to like about “Vampire Rising.” It’s a book aimed at teenage boys, and one I think is good for fans of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” or “Harry Potter.” And while intended for boys, girls will like this too, especially the strong female character Minhi. As I said before, the author keeps the action very thick and fast, with Alex rushing from one perilous situation to the next. There are a few things I found unrealistic, but then I’m above the intended age for the book.

However, there were enough things I really liked that kept me glued to the pages, from the vampire school Scholomance, to Mr. Sangster, to the inclusion of “Frankenstein.” I enjoyed how Henderson used history and literature as an integral part of the story; hopefully this will encourage readers to try some classics. I personally plan on doing some research into the Haunted Summer that led to the writing of “Frankenstein.” The Polidorium (vampire hunting organization) was well thought out, and I’m eager to learn more about it and the Van Helsing Foundation. I laughed when I thought of vampires looking for non-smoking roommates; I would have liked to see more of Scholomance – hopefully it will show up in later books?

I’m between 3 and 4 stars for “Vampire Rising,” but I’ll go with 4 since I have thought about it a few times since reading. I’ll be looking for more adventures of Alex Van Helsing.

4/5.