Eon Review

By: Allison Goodman

Publisher: Viking Juvenile December 26, 2008

Pages: 536

From: Library

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: Eon has been studying the ancient art of Dragon Magic for four years, hoping he'll be able to apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But he also has a dark secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living a dangerous lie for the chance to become a Dragon-eye, the human link to an energy dragon's power. It is forbidden for females to practice the Dragon Magic and, if discovered, Eon faces a terrible death. After a dazzling sword ceremony, Eon's affinity with the twelve dragons catapults him into the treacherous world of the Imperial court, where he makes a powerful enemy, Lord Ido. As tension builds and Eon's desperate lie comes to light, readers won't be able to stop turning the pages...  From Goodreads.com

Character:  Eon herself was, that just about says it right there.  Eona was posing as a guy so that she could become a dragoneye.  Anyone could have come up with that, but when I think of that I want to know what sort of conflicts Eona would have with herself, and with Eon.  I’d want to know who was inside of the go for the dragon attitude.  Not many authors are talented enough to pull that off, but this author did it so wonderfully there were things I wouldn’t have known I wanted if she hadn’t put them in the book.  Her characters were master pieces.  Each one was just as developed as the next.  Even the walk-ons had attitude.  I believe that that is the sign of a good author.  Ido was a very interesting character, and he was the bad guy!  I thought he was so cool, and believable.  Throughout the book we figure out what he is all about. 

Plot:  I loved the culture from China.  Of course the Chinese calendar is a major allusion, but there was a lot in here some buried under the story, but still there.  It showed through the character’s actions, and it really was a big part of the story.  The story flowed well there was some lull.  It would have been even better if the suspense had been more developed, but there was plenty to keep me coming back.  Once the book got good it was hard to put it down.  The last couple of scenes are about as action-packed as they come.  I think that these two elements made this book something worthwhile for both genders, all ages.  It’s something I could see in the hands of a teenage boy and a twenty-something college woman.  My dad might even enjoy it. 

Cross-dressing is obviously a big part of this book, except it’s not something usually thought of.  When I picked up the book it’s like, yeah, okay this is a girl dressed as a guy, but there’s so much more into that that I hadn’t even thought of.  What would it be like for a girl having to deny she is a girl?  She wouldn’t be able to get into fashion or cooking or any of the other things that culture considers only for girls.  How many guys do you see picking out there outfits and getting into fashion?  How many of those guys aren’t gay?  That’s what I thought.  Culture especially the stricter Chinese culture puts anything like this below guys, only woman can do that it there “job”.  One of the major characters that helps Eona is a cross dresser.  Her name is Lady Dela, and she is a man, but inside she is a woman.  It is her that really brings out these issues and the Eona out of Eon. 

Dragoneyes are like powerful monks.  They go through combat training similar to karate, and they have a sort of duty to the people and the government.  Each dragoneye represents an animal on the Chinese calendar; they have special powers through their dragons.  The dragons are actually sort of like physical spirits (I know weird) that have power over life forces.  Kind of like Gods and the dragoneyes are able to wield their power.   If that doesn’t make sense, read the book.

Characters- 9

Plot- 9

Suspense- 8

POV-9

Theme- 9

Style- 9

Details- 10

Cover- 9

Overall- 9

P.S. there were lots of loose ends for the second book to pick up.  I’m very interested to see where the story leads In Eona. 

Sequel:

Top Ten Tuesday (20)

This is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  I love today's topic it's... The Top Ten Books You LOVED but never Wrote a Review for.

1. Diary Queen- I read this before I made my blog, but I absolutely loved this book because DJ is such a great, likable character.
2. A Time for Dancing by Davida Hurwin- I really like this book, but it was two sad to write a review on I could have never put those feelings in a critique.
3. 68 Knots- a really great summer read, or for just the person who loves travel and sailing.  I read this before I had a blog.
4. Geektastic- this book is awesome, but before I had a blog.
5. City of Bones- I've written review for the third and fourth book, but this one was a while ago.
6. the Outsiders- one of the best books I've ever read.  For some reason I didn't write a review for this one.  It was about the time I started this blog.
7. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie- I didn't want to write a review on this one.  It was amazing, but it didn't work out.
8. Tenth Circle- before blog
9. Just One Wish- before blog
10. Hunger Games- before blog

These are in no particular order.

In My Mailbox (5)

This is hosted at The Story Siren.

True to my word from last week I have two new books from the library, and I made a trip to Barnes and Noble yesterday.

Library:

This one I've been planning to get for awhile, and now that I have it I really like it.   Eon is full of culture and diversity that really adds to the plot.  It's not like the author was like, "hmm... I'm going to make this person...black.  Okay.  Yeah, now I'm representing another race."  No, she has really thought out each character.

I'm am so excited for this one!  I love this author, but this will be the first novel I've read of hers.  After reading Zombies vs. Unicorns I'm am still team zombie, but her story was just as awesome as any brain-blasting zombie story.

This is a nonfiction book I picked up because I'm trying to improve my writing skills.  This is the third one I've read, and this one so far is the funniest.  Only on chapter two.

Barnes and Noble:

This is what I bought!  My word choice has never been that good so I bought this to help when I do start writing that story.  It might be today it might be in a few years either way I'll be prepared.

Guess what I saw at Barnes and Noble that I didn't buy! 

I know I'm disappointed in myself too.

Book Blogger Hop Friday (10)

This is hosted by http://crazy-for-books.com/2011/08/book-blogger-hop-819-822.html. 

This week's question: “What’s the LONGEST book you’ve ever read?”

My answer: Some of my text books were pretty long, but I never actually read those cover to cover.  The fifth Harry Potter book is 840 pages long.  Eldest is 704 pages.  I don't think I've ever read a book bigger than that, but I heard that one of the paperback editions of Gone with the Wind was about 1200 pages long.  I've never read it, but I thought that was impressive.

Paranormalcy Review

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Publisher: Harper Teen, August 31, 2010

Pages: 335

Genre: Paranormal Romance

From: Library

Synopsis: Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal. From Goodreads.com

This came out around the time I started my blog.  Now it's almost the one year anniversary.  I remember really looking forward to this book among others around the time I became addicted to the HarperTeen Facebook page which led me to the blogosphere.  Now that I've finally gotten around to reading it, I'm disappointed.

          Paranormalcy started out fast.  The suspense and action came rolling in and the characters followed fast.  It took me only one day to finish it.  Then it did an odd thing it slowed down where it should have sped up.  An entire scene was repeated; I'm not sure how an editor would allow that.  We all know that gripping feeling you get at towards the end of the book where everything is finally coming together and to put the book down now would be a sin.  It's my favorite part of the book.  For some reason the action stopped.  This did ruined the book because now that the author had lost my attention I was able to find lots of flaws.  I know that many people liked this book and I did like it, but this was the author's first book so naturally there were some flaws.  As readers we only have her editor (and the sales manager) to blame. 

         In this loll of action many of the characters became very annoying to me.  I had noticed before that the walk on characters were very underdeveloped.  This is the mark of an author whose books are enjoyable to read but will never be more than that.  I'm sure many young adult reads don't mind that.  I do.  Evie could be described perfectly by her prized Tasey, the pink-studded taser she carries around with her.  She has a very kick butt attitude, and she's an enjoyable character that made me laugh.  In my opinion she was too nice.  Her flawlessness was not believable.  Lend was really cool.  He had these awesome powers and the scenes between him and Evie where so cute, but he was too perfect.  I would have loved him even more if he were a bit more human.  All of the characters were this way, even the villain.  I felt no sympathy for her even though her childhood was tragic.  The author had a great idea with the villain's queer motivation, but it was not played out enough to touch the emotions of the reader.  I don't want to be able to instantly tell who I can and can't trust.  I want the characters to speak for themselves making me question their motivations.  I don't want to be told who is good or bad.  I want to figure it out myself.

        Despite all of these little annoyances I enjoyed the book.  The author had a strong imagination and a true love for her story.  I could see why many people gave it good review.  Kiersten White has a promising future.

Characters-5
Plot-6
Suspense-7
Pace-7
POV-6
Style-6
Cover-8 (gorgeous)
Overall- 6.5

In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.  Go to the link to see more IMMs.

This week I've been reading a lot, some have just been from my bookself but I have a couple of new ones I've started to read from my local library!

Paranormalcy by Kristen White.  This book has been out for awhile but I finally got it yestereday and I finished it this morning.  The review is already written.  I'll have it up tomorrow.

The first book in this series is called Once a Witch.  I've been waiting for this one for awhile too since Once a Witch ended with a cliff hanger.  I excited to start this one today!  It just came out this month so I was very surprised when my library had it.



That's it for this week but I have a few on request at the library and they should be here in time for next weeks IMM.

Book Blogger Hop Friday (9)

Hello blogger hoppers!  As you know this is hosted by crazy-for-books.com , but you may not know what this weeks question is (you probably do).

“What is the one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?”

My Answer:  Shut Out by Kody Kelinger.

Synopsis: Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Why: This author wrote Duff, and I really liked it. The story went by quickly and included characters that weren't all good but not all bad either. It ended with a very good message. I'm excited for this one it comes out September 5th.

Death Cloud Review

Death Cloud by Anderw Lane

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Pages: 306

Genre: Mystery

From: Library

Synopsis: It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.  From Goodreads.com

  Everyone knows about Sherlock Holmes, but what was he like as a teenager?  How did he become a detective? Andrew Lane has decided to find out.
       This book is written in third person following Sherlock to the home of his uncle's for the summer where he meets the mysterious, suspicous Mrs. Eglantine, and the street smart Matty.  Then the action starts picking up.  Before the story was slow and the characters, especially Sherlock's brother Mycroft, like to talk in long speeches that really slow the pace.  The book itself is a pretty moderatley paced novel, and there wasn't really anything to keep reading except the awesome teenage Sherlock Holmes.
       The characters were good.  I really loved Matty!  He was funny and a good change of pace from the richer folk.  Sherlock did act like a teenager, this is good because I was afraid he wouldn't be protrayed like a kid.  I haven't read any of the Doyle novels but I see how Sherlock was growing into the famous detective.
       The plot was exciting and action-packed.  The story was very realisticly protrayed and offered random facts and England geography/ history.

Characters- 8
Plot- 7
Suspense- 6.75
Theme- Knowledge of any kind is power- 8
POV- 6
Pace- 6.5
Cover- 8
Overall-  7.2

P.S.- Good writing style.  I'm excited for the sequel.