Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness book #1 of 4) by Tamora Pierce
Paperback, 274 pages
Read: Oct. 27
Rating 4/5
Genres: Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Magic, Young Adult
Summery: From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight.
And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page.
But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies.
Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins - one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.
Review: This story starts out with Lord Alan of Trebond giving final word to his children, Alanna and Thom, that Thom is to be sent to train as a page to later become a squire, then become a knight, while Alanna is to be sent to the convent to become a lady. I enjoyed this book, although I couldn't really get into it until half-way through the second chapter. The first chapter and the first half of the second chapter were slow for me, and the seventh (last) chapter of the book was kind of anti-climatic for me. I found Alanna a little annoying to me for the first two chapters but I did end up really liking her from chapter three onward, I also really liked when she became friends with, Jonathan, Gary, Alex, and Raoul, as well as the training master, Gareth, and Alana's manservant, Coram, but my favorite characters were King of the Thieves, George, and the page's teacher of history and law, Myles. This book seemed to be more of a introduction of the characters, and Alanna than adventure, meaning at least for me it was more of a slow paced book, it seemed that there wasn't really a main or big plot but that it was setting up for the plots of the other three books. So I don't really have much to say, or really that I can say about the plot. That said I'm am excited to read the other three books in the series.
Epic Tales from Adventure Time: The Untamed Scoundrel by T. T. MacDangereuse
Paperback, 144 pages
Read: Oct. 17
Rating: 3.5/5
Genres: Adventure, Fan-fiction
Summery: The dashingly handsome Sir Jacobus Gooddog and his loyal manservant Mr. Finnish Biped, set forth on a heroic quest to rescue the fair Lady Rainicorn in this epically adventurous tale from the most celebrated author in all of Ooo, T. T. MacDangereuse.
Review: This tale starts off with Lady and Lord Gooddog giving their son, Jacobus, an ultimatum to find a wife at their ball tonight or be disowned. I enjoyed the story. The beginning was slow, the middle is when I started to get into the story, and the ending was my favorite part of the story and reminded me of the show. There are quite a few characters from the show in the book, such as Jake, Finn, and Lady Rainicorn obviously, as well as Marceline, LSP, Princess Bubblegum, and Susan Strong. Since this is a fan-fiction of sorts the characters meet each other in different ways than from the show. I liked the story and the characters, but it took me a little past half-way into the book, as well as the characters to get into and enjoy the story.
Epic Tales from Adventure Time: Queen of Rogues by T. T. MacDangereuse
Paperback, 144 pages
Read: Oct. 17
Rating: 4.50/5
Genres: Adventure, Fan-fiction
Summery: Set sail with the elusive millionaire P. Gumball, dashing Fionna and Cake, and notorious rapscallion Marshall Lee as they take to the high seas in this awesomely epic adventure from the greatest writer in all of Ooo, T. T. MacDangereuse.
Review: This tale starts with Fionna and LSP arriving at a party on a yacht thrown by Prince Bubblegum. I liked this story much better than The Untamed Scoundrel, the story was easier to get into and enjoy as well as the characters, this one is a gender switch like the Ice King's fan-fiction on the show, so all of the characters featured in this story are the opposite gender then originally. This story has Fionna (Finn), Cake (Jake), Prince Bubblegum (Princess Bubblegum), Marshall Lee (Marceline), Lumpy Space Prince (Lumpy Space Princess), and the Ice Queen (Ice King). The way the plot was executed was done better with this book than with The Untamed Scoundrel book. Also i like the fact that Tree Trunks is T. T. MacDangereuse, the author, that was a cute little detail.
Seeds by Jade Frampton
Kindle Edition, 11 pages
Read: Oct. 17
Rating: 5/5
Genres: Short Story, Tennis, Young Adult
Summery: Sport parents are notorious for taking it too far when it comes to their own super-star children. “Seeds” is told through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old tennis player struggling to understand what is and isn't allowed on the tennis courts.
Review: The story starts with a girl playing a match against a seed on her thirteenth birthday. I really liked this story, it gave a little bit of insight to tennis as well as parents going to extremes with their children winning and losing. I felt really bad for "Janice Beals" as well as the girl you read the story's P.O.V. from.
The Kill Order (The Maze Runner book #4 of 4) by James Dashner
Paperback, 327 pages
Read: Oct. 13 - 16
Rating: 4.5/5
Genres: Young Adult, Action, Adventure, Dystopia, Post-apocalyptic
Summery: They thought the end came in a flash.
Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth, killing most of the population.
The worst is yet to come.
Mark and Trina were there when it happened. They survived. But now a virus is spreading. A virus that fills humans with murderous rage.
There is no cure. No escape.
They’re convinced that there’s a way to save those who are left—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some you’re worth more dead than alive.
The end is only the beginning.
Review: The prologue starts from Teresa's P.O.V. right before Thomas is put into the maze. Chapter 1 starts thirteen years earlier from Mark's P.O.V., and it's been 1 year since the sun flares have hit the earth. I really liked this book. I liked reading about how the Flare virus stared as well as how it progressed and mutated. There's also some explanation as to how the idea for releasing the Flare came about. I liked going through how the sun flares hit and how people survived and how they reacted (a big part of was not surprised with people actions after). I also really liked the dynamic/relationships the main characters (Mark, Trina, Lana,and Alec) had with each other, although a couple you don't see for a good portion of the middle of the book. I liked Mark, but my favorite character was Alec. The most interesting part of the book, as well as my favorite part of the book was reading how the virus spread, and how the symptoms changed people into the people we know as Cranks. According to good reads there is going to be another prequel (whether it's going to be a short story or a good sized book I don't know yet), it's going to be about how they built the maze as well as how they trained the Gladers apparently, which sounds good (it'd expected to be released in 2016). There's also a short story that's between The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure that's about Thomas's first memory of the Flare which I read and enjoyed as well.
The Death Cure (The Maze Runner book #3 of 4) by James Dashner
Paperback, 325 pages
Read: Oct. 10 - 12
Rating: 4/5
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Action, Adventure, Post-apocalyptic
Summery: It’s the end of the line.
WICKED has taken everything from Thomas: his life, his memories, and now his only friends—the Gladers. But it’s finally over. The trials are complete, after one final test.
Will anyone survive?
What WICKED doesn't know is that Thomas remembers far more than they think. And it’s enough to prove that he can’t believe a word of what they say.
The truth will be terrifying.
Thomas beat the Maze. He survived the Scorch. He’ll risk anything to save his friends. But the truth might be what ends it all.
The time for lies is over.
Review: The story starts off a little over three weeks from when The Scorch Trials ended. I liked this book better then The Scorch Trials, the plot was a better paced. I liked most of the characters. Although I had a really good idea about Brenda and Jorge about halfway through reading The Scorch Trials. I really enjoyed the plot to the book although it started to get stretched thin in the middle of the book, also there were places where they could have explained things a bit more/a bit better. Even though I knew what was going to happen with certain events and characters I was still sad when they happened. Though most people didn't like the ending of the book I actually was fine with it and enjoyed it, while it was pretty open-ended I still liked it. I want to read the prequel to find out more about the world before The Maze Runner started, then I will give my rating and thoughts on the series as a whole. But so far I've enjoyed the series and would most likely give it a good solid rating.
The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner book #2 of 4) by James Dashner
Paperback, 361 pages
Read: Sept. 21-22 and Oct. 2
Rating: 4/5
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Action, Adventure, Post-apocalyptic
Summery: Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.
Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn't done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.
There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.
The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.
There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.
Review: This starts off right where the first one left off, with Thomas and the rest of the Gladers being lead into a false sense of safety. I really enjoyed the first third and the last third of the book, parts of the middle were good but quite a bit was kind of silly, especially chapter 36 and 37, those chapters took me out of the story a little bit. I was also annoyed with the first 2/3's of the book when it came to Thomas' thought process about Teresa. I liked the little bit I got of Group B. Parts of it were kind of predictable, especially with this being WICKED, you know certain things are going to happen, such as Teresa and Aris (that one was a little obvious, and had me frustrated with Thomas), the ending was kind of anti-climatic, and kind of obvious as well (of course it's not over), there were also times that I had felt really frustrated with Thomas because it was obvious what was going to happen, yet he still did them then seemed surprised at what happened after the fact. I liked Jorge, certain moments with Brenda bothered me (the involvement with them was also obvious). I still really like Minho and Newt, I also wish we could have gotten a little bit more with them, as well as with Group B. I also accidentally found out a little bit about what was going to happen in the third book (with Newt) thanks to reading some comments for/about the movie, I'm still trying to prepare for some of what I found out about that. I still really liked the book, it was a good sequel and I'm excited to read the 3rd sequel, as well as the prequel.
I was hoping to finish The Scorch Trials in September but the day after (Sept. 23rd) I ended up with the flu, along with some food poisoning,so I'm hoping to finish, and have a review up tomorrow. I still have a little bit of a flu, I tried reading some today but sadly I have very little concentration right now. I tend not to be able to read much on Tues. and Wed. anyway. I'm going to go back to having a set number of books, along with specific titles. So let's get on with the list.
#1
2nd 1/2 of The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner book #2 of 4) by James Dashner
While I did read the first half in Sept. I still have to read the second half, so I'm including this on my Oct. T.B.R. list. I'm sad that I got the flu half-way in because it was what I had read so far was really good, so I really hope that I'll be able to finish it tomorrow.
#2
The Death Cure (The Maze Runner book #3 of 4) by James Dashner
#3
The Kill Order (The Maze Runner book #4 of 4) by James Dashner
When I finish with the 2nd book I'm most likely going to want to read and finish the 3rd, last sequel in the series as well as the 4th book, the prequel to the series.
#4
Epic Tales from Adventure Time: The Untamed Scoundrel by T. T. MacDangereuse
#5
Epic Tales from Adventure Time: Queen of Rogues by T. T. MacDangereuse
I seen these in Walmart, and since I love the show I decided to buy them. They sound like they'll be fun, and they're not big so they should be a quick read.
#6
Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle book #1 of 3) by Diana Wynne Jones
I had seen Hayo Miyazaki's film before finding out that it was based off/inspired by this book so when I found that out I had to buy the book and read it. I love the film, so I definitely think I'll like the book, and if I do I will buy the other two book. The second book sounds like it will be either with smaller characters in the first book, and the third book sound like it might be with a granddaughter of the two mane characters of the first book, I'm not sure though so I might be wrong about what both the other books are about.
#7
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness book #1 of 4) by Tamora Pierce
I seen this book on I think PeruseProject's youtube channel, so I decide to check it out. It sounds like a real good book, and it seems like you get to follow the character for years (similar to Harry Potter and a few others that way) which I tend to like with series.
I have spelled so many words wrong trying to type this (thank you for spell check), I've also had to go back and check and noticed I also put letters instead of numbers for a few before I corrected it, so obviously I am not over my flu yet, and still can't concentrate that well.
Right as I got in the mood to read again I didn't have time to read until Saturday(Sept. 13th). I decided to read The Maze Runner first out of the other books on my To Be Read shelf since the movie comes out tomorrow. Now onto the review.
The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner book #1 of 4) by James Dashner
Paperback, 375 pages
Read: Sept. 13 - Sept. 18
Rating: 4.5/5
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Action, Adventure
Summery: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Review: The book starts out with Thomas in the box(lift) to enter the glade, he has faint inklings to what things are, but no memories of people, faces or his age. I know there are people who did not like the book, or the series, but I really enjoyed this book and am excited to read the others. I liked all of the characters, even Gally. I liked the way Thomas as well as the others processed things. I think my favorite things about the book though were the way that the information was given in little spurts enough to keep me interested, and have my mind going to several different places, but not enough to overwhelm me. I also liked that the action/spots that were paced faster were placed through out the book not just the ending, I know some people don't enjoy that type of almost inconsistent pace, but I actually tend to like when action/adventure books are like that. Another thing I liked were the descriptions given, they were detailed enough for me to get a really good picture of what places, as well, as what the monsters looked like.
While reading comments for the movie I did run into some spoilers for the 2 sequels for the series, so I do know a little bit about what's going to happen/what did happen, I'm still excited to read the sequels, plus the prequel though. But if you're wanting to read the series and don't want to be spoiled I would suggest steering clear of things for the movie. Also once I see the movie either tomorrow or Monday, depending on who all is going with me, I will edit this post with a book-to-movie comparison.
Edited 9/23 12:22am
Book-to-Movie Rating: 4/5
Thoughts on the Book to Movie Adaptation: The movie was better than quite a few book to movie adaptations. My favorite things were the visuals the maze looked extremely similar to the cover of the book, I also liked that the cast was diverse (which is something you don't really get with regular movies, let alone YA book to movie adaptations). While the Grievers were not what I imagined/or what was described in the book they were scary/nasty looking things. There are a few things I wish they would have added, for the changes, now if you have read the book and are going to see the movie, obviously there are going to be differences, I think we all know that by now. if you have not read the book, but have seen the movie you might be confused about some of these things, hopefully I don't spoil anything for you, but just in case here's the warning if you don't want to be spoiled you might not want to read this part.
For the things I wish they would have added more to.
I wish they would have added to Alby and Newt's relationship (while it was a small part of the book they were some of my favorite parts), I also wish they would have added to Thomas and Chuck's relationship, Because while the last part of the movie had an emotional pull I think it would have had more of one if they expanded on there relationship a little more.
So now onto the changes.
Gally never goes through the Changing, The Changing also happens a different way, the cure arrives a different way as well. Thomas gets some memories in a different way, as well as how he gets stung. The relationship between Thomas and Teresa (which I think makes Tom and Teresa's relationship work much better in the movie), how Teresa wakes up. How Thomas and Minho find the Hole, the Cliff is not there as well. The map clues, and the code. Alby revealing what he knows after the cure, how they exit through the hole, and where they end up right after. Newt also doesn't have a limp. The weather is different there as well (it rained for one part of the movie. How they kill the Griever (it's only one), the one boy each night.
That's most of what they changed (there are a few other small things). I tried my best to not spoil things, so hopefully I didn't, or if I did I hopefully didn't spoil much or anything important. While they did change quite a few things they changed it was still a really good book-to-movie adaptation, the cast worked very well, the changes didn't detract or take away from the movie for me, and at the last scene of the movie you get a look at what the Scorch Trials will look like which was exciting for me, so I hope they will film and release the sequel, which I am on Chapter 31/page 180 of.
Hope everybody had/has a great day : )
How to Train Your Dragon (How to Train Your Dragon book #1 of 14) by Cressida Cowell
Paperback, 224 pages
Read: June 13
Rating: 3.5/5
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Humor,
Summery: Chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third as he tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon...
Review: This story starts with Hiccup catching his own dragon. I enjoyed the book, Hiccup was my favorite character, the rest weren't really in it long or detailed enough for me to connect with/enjoy them. I had seen the movie before reading the book and I have to say that the movie was actually better then the book, there were not only more characters, as well as character development, the way that Hiccup caught his dragon was better in my opinion, as well as the relationship between not only Hiccup and Toothless but Hiccup and a few other characters, including his father, were much better/more developed than in the book. Although the I enjoyed the movie more, and was slightly disappointed upon finishing the book I do want to read the other books in the series.
After reading the book I decided to read the rest of the series before watching both the movies as well as the TV show, and after doing that I will write my thoughts on the Book to movie/TV show comparisons. Also while I did get a book with two extra stories in it:
I want to read the series in order so since the two stories in it are the newest in the series I will be reading those ones last after reading the 11 other book/short stories.
