The Queen of Swords by Nina Mason #BlogTour

Check out my review for today over at Parajunkee's View: The Queen of Swords by Nina Mason #BlogTour http://ift.tt/1rP8GqS

Feature & Follow – #190 #FF

Feature&Follow Fridays are a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read.  Each week a different question is posted by the hosts & the followers post their answer!  This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. 

This week’s question –

Change the Plot. If you could, what book would you change the ending or a plot thread? Go ahead and do it...change it.

This is something I think about a lot actually. Pretty much every time I finish a book I stop and think about how I would have done it if I were the author. If I could change any ending of any book though, I would change the end of Mockingjay I know why Suzanne Collins did what she did with Prim and I know it's not supposed to sit well with the reader but I don't care, I would change it in a heartbeat. At that point, with everything else that Katniss had dealt with, to do that to her too was just absolutely needless, it really makes it feel like the sacrifice that started the entire revolution was a little bit in vain.

Following me: Use whichever method you prefer! The sidebar has options for email, GFC, G+, and RSS!

- Ren

Reviewing at Parajunkee's View

So I mentioned in my last post, very briefly, that I am now an e-Book Reviewer over at Parajunkee's View. I've written 2 reviews there so far, the second one went live today. Going forward, each time one goes live I will share a link here on the blog. For now I am sharing the first two here together: 

#Review of Netherworld by Lisa Morton

#Review of Queen of Hearts: Volume 1 - The Crown by Colleen Oakes

Enjoy!

- Ren

The Goodreads Tag #goodreadstag @goodreads

My best friend Angie told me that she was recording a video and that it was for something that I should include on my blog, so of course I asked what it was, and I was promptly linked to Sarah at A Little Bit of Literature's The Goodreads Tag post which is of course right up my alley. 

1. What was the last book you marked as 'read'?

Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes so that I could write a review of it for Parajunkee's View, where I am the new e-Book Reviewer. My review goes live early next week and I will be linking to it here when it does :)


2. What are you currently reading?

I have a couple of e-Books, and one print on the go that I started awhile back and that have been sitting stagnant because I got distracted by other books. I'll get them all finished at some point. The book that is currently my active book is probably J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy which has been sitting on my to-be-read shelf since it came out, I figured now was a good time to actually pick it up and start it, so I picked it up the other day and I've read the first few chapters. 


3. What was the last book you marked as 'TBR'?

I have a huge TBR list, both virtual and physical, and I am constantly adding to it. The most recent book added to my virtual TBR list on Goodreads is A.G. Howard's Ensnared which is the 3rd book in her Alice in Wonderland adaptation series and will come out in 2015. The book most recently added to my physical TBR shelf is Bedlam's Bard by Mercedes Lackey which I borrowed from a friend after asking her which Mercedes Lackey book I should start with if I wanted to get into her stuff.

4. What book do you plan to read next?

I try not to pick books ahead of time because usually when I do this I end up feeling forced to read that book even if it's not at all what I am in the mood for. So I let my mood dictate what I am going to read next, which is probably why my TBR list is so long but oh well. That all being said the next book I know for sure I will be reading is the next book I'll be reviewing for Parajunkee's View, and it will be one of:  The Queen of Swords, The Casquette Girls or Gift of the Phoenix. 

5. Do you use the star rating system?

Short answer yes. Long answer, my way of setting a rating doesn't have any fast or hard rules, it's very fluid. There are different reasons I could give a book a 5 star rating, for example all the Harry Potter books get 5 stars because I love absolutely everything about them, but I also rated TFIOS at 5 stars, am I as obsessed with it as HP? No. But it wrecked me emotionally so it deserved 5 stars. And then there's the low end of the scale where even if I absolutely laughed my self silly enjoying the book if it is badly written it will get no more than 2 stars.

6. Are you doing a 2014 Reading Challenge?

Yes I am! two! I am doing the Goodreads 2014 Reading Challenge, my goal is 52 I am already at 12. I am also doing the Random House Reading Bingo cards, I know you only need to get a line to win but I am so totally aiming to fill the entire card for both adult and YA.

7. Do you have a wishlist?

I have multiple wishlists. Seriously. I have the "books I want eventually list" the "books I want ASAP" list and the "if you want to buy me a gift buy me these books" list.


8. What book do you plan to buy next?

Champion by Marie Lu because I need to know how that series ends!! I keep forgetting that it's actually out so I haven't bought it yet! I was going to buy it when I went to the World's Biggest Bookstore last month but I also had Dangerous Women and Rising Red in my hands and we still had a few more hours of walking ahead of us so two heavy hardcovers was enough!

9. Do you have any favourite quotes, would you like to share a few?

Most definitely, I think everyone who reads probably has at least one quote that they love; there's Snape's infamous, "Always." from Deathly Hallows of course, but that's not the only one from Harry Potter, JKR is just a fount of favourite quotes for me. There are also a few C.S. Lewis quotes that I am especially fond of such as: “What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are". And Douglas Adams, I can't forget him, the man who gave us the beautiful wisdom of "I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." and "Don't Panic".

10. Who are your favourite authors?

I have many: J.K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, Douglas Adams, Patricia C. Wrede, Garth Nix, Eoin Colfer, Kelley Armstrong, C.S. Lewis, and Rick Riodran. 


11. Have you joined any groups?

Yes but I don't actively follow any of them...

12. Are there any questions you would like to add?  

What upcoming 2014 new book are you most looking forward to? My answer would have to be, so far, of the books that I actually remember are coming out this year is A.G Howard's Unhinged which is already sitting on my shelf waiting for me to get around to it.

If you do either a video of blog post of your own please comment with a link! I would love to read your answers!

- Ren

#Review: The Fault in Our Stars by @realjohngreen

     Title: The Fault in Our Stars
     Author: John Green
     Publisher: Dutton Books
     Published: January 1, 2012
     Number of Pages: 313
     Genre(s): YA, Realistic Fiction
     Date Read: February 9, 2014
     Acquired: Waterloo Public Library

Summary: 
Hazel Grace Lancaster is dying. This is not a secret. This is not new. Hazel has been dying since she was born, as have we all been. Because dying is a side effect of living. But if you really want to get technical, Hazel is actively dying whereas the rest of us are passively dying, and she has been actively dying since they found the cancer in her body. Her cancer has always been terminal, she's never had an X chance of surviving, there's never been a surgery to take the cancer out, because it's not that kind of cancer. She has accepted all of this with a grace befitting a girl whose middle name is Grace, she has accepted that she will cease to be sooner rather than later, and she just wants to get out with as little bit of a mess as possible. She doesn't want to be a grenade in the lives of the people who she loves and who love her.

She thinks she has a choice. Right up until the moment that Augustus Waters walks into her life, she is right. But Gus changes everything. They suddenly find themselves together on a whirlwind journey that only leads to one inevitable ending. Absolute and complete heartbreak.

Review:
Oh. My. Gods. John Green what have you done to me!? Oh but does this book ever live up to all of the hype about it. Mr. Green you are as spectacular an author as you are an entertainer sir, and you are an exceptional entertainer in my eyes so draw your conclusions on how I feel about your writing from that statement.

I had seen John Green's book in the Library, while shelving them, but I had never bothered to pick one up and read the dust jacket. And then I came across the YouTube Mental_Floss list show. Well that show is right up my alley, educational and entertaining, and hosted by John Green. As I worked my way through the playlist I said to myself, before he ever mentioned his books in the videos, "Gee I wonder if this is the same John Green who wrote those YA novels everyone is talking about." Well of course he's the same John Green. Still didn't make me pick up his books, but it did drive me to his other videos (CrashCourse is AMAZING and I watched all of the humanities videos in under a month, omg.). It was as I was working my way through CrashCourse US history, with all the hype building for the TFiOS movie, that I decided that I should check out his books. So I put The Fault in Our Stars on hold at the WPL, and while I was waiting I went out and bought Looking for Alaska (which is now on the to-be-read shelf of course, because my hold came in).

TFiOS arrived this past Thursday at the library, and obviously, since I am now writing this review I have finished reading it. I started it Friday night and I devoured it in three dedicated sittings in between bouts of watching Olympic Slopestyle (YES THAT IS ONE WORD, AND A REAL WORD GOOGLE, NO I WILL NOT HYPHENATE IT!) Snowboarding and Luge; and working on job applications, with a little smattering of John Green on the side because the last video for Crash Course US History was posted. I knew a little of what I was getting myself into having been watching John Green videos lately and having watched the trailer for the movie, and being brutally honest, I didn't think I was going to like it, like at all. I am not usually a Realistic Fiction fan. I am all about the escapism of literature, but at the same time, one of my favourite things about literature is well written, intelligent, sharp witted, and insightful characters. This book is chock full of those types of characters. Hazel and Augustus, even the names, especially his, conjure to mind images of old scholars in tweed jackets with leather patches on the elbows. They are not that image, they are young and they are funny, and they are dying. They are fully aware of the tragedy of their circumstances and they both have a deliciously black sense of humour. Which I can fully appreciate. My own family, myself included, is known for our wickedly dark sense of humour. 

This is not a happy book, there is no happy ending, there is tragedy and there is death, but as I said throughout it all there is humour. I think it is a truly special thing when a book that is essentially all about dying, death and the tragedy of lost love can still have a current of humour running from cover to cover. More than once I found myself moved to near tears (that is not to say your book could not induce tears in someone else Mr. Green, but I am one of those silly over emotional people that has an easier time crying over tiny things rather than big things, and your book is a very big thing indeed Sir.), but for every one of those moments there were two where I was laughing loudly, smiling, or snorting to keep myself from laughing at something that was probably meant to be serious.

This book resonated with me, I am not a cancer kid, but I have been affected by cancer many times over. We lost my father directly after a cancer operation four days before Christmas in 2002. Before that there was my Grandmother, before that my Uncle Jim, and even before that there was my Mother's sister, for whom I am named, but who I have never met, because she was a cancer kid, she died when she was 9. Since I am being honest, all of that was why I didn't want to read this book initially, because I didn't want to read about a young girl who had to face the awfulness that is cancer. But that is in the end what makes this book so good, Hazel handles the awfulness with a complete and devastating honesty. And I am emotionally devastated having finished this book. Because every page makes you think, and every page makes you thankful for the people and the things in your life that you love and that love you. 

So maybe it's the combination of the sheer emotionality of this book, combined with the feeling I always get about the Olympics, but I am sitting here bereft feeling both simultaneously like an insignificant speck upon the Universe, but also a complete and utter triumph because I am here, and I am living, and I am able to sit here and contemplate the way a fictional book has impacted my worldview, and that's not something that everyone can do. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that in order to remember that some of the things we take for granted every day are actually a BFD.

What am I trying to get at then? GO AND READ THIS BOOK. That is what I am trying to get at. It is just so well written, and moving, and powerful. And you need to read it. Now. Or you know not, really in the end it's up to you, but I think you should read it and I think everyone should read it. It should become required reading in high schools.

Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to try and decide what book to read next, and watch some more Luge! Well after I write the summary anyway, because I wrote the review first...

--Ren

Random House Reading Bingo 2014 - My Game Boards

So it's the start of a new year and that means the start of a new yearly reading challenge. In 2013 my original goal was 52, but in June I realised that I was too far behind pace due to several things, but no excuses. Realising I was so off pace I scaled my goal back to 35, come December I was still running behind, and then I discovered some really interesting paranormal fantasy series' AND the joy's of the Download Library (The Waterloo Public Library's e-book collection). With those two things I ended up passing my goal, and if I hadn't had to keep waiting for holds to come in, I would have made my original goal. I ended up at 50/35.

This year I decided to set the same goal, 52, or a book a week. As of today, I am 2 books ahead of the game, that's right I've already read 3 books this year :D (and I've got a 4th and a 5th on the go!). I've also decided to track my books (or at least some of them) a second way. Random House posted their annual Reading Bingo cards early this week, and as I was reading through them I noticed that all 3 of the books I've read so far could fit onto the card, so I'm playing! Here are the original cards for reference: 

General Reading Bingo - YA Reading Bingo

My Cards (as of Jan. 11, 2014)

Because I'm playing this game, it's part of my goal of reading 52 books, to make sure that I fit a book for each of these squares into that 52. I'm strategically leaving the free space for a book that DOESN'T fit any of the other criteria! I'll post updated cards once a month until I've completed them.

How many book are you hoping to read this year? Are you doing any other secondary challenges?

-- Ren

The 10 Books I Want to Read the Most Right Now

You all remember how big my to be read pile is I'm sure? No? Oh I'm sure you do...anyway, I thought tonight I would share the 10 books from that pile that I am the most excited about reading. So without further ado, the list:

1. Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead by Chris Pauls & Matt Solomon

Why I'm excited to read it: I'm absolutely fascinated by the concept of taking historical events and adding a taste of the Supernatural, the Titanic disaster is something we all know a lot about so I'm really interested to see how they've incorporated the zombies.

Why I haven't read it yet:I won my autographed copy through GoodReads at a very inopportune tune; I've been insanely busy. I've read books still and I keep wanting to pick this one up but I want to be able to really focus on it.

2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Why I'm excited to read it: I've heard nothing but good things about it! Everyone I know who has read it loved it and told me I would too so I am eager to sink my teeth into it.

Why I haven't read it yet:I was convinced it was going to be the first book in a series and I REALLY didn't want to start ANOTHER series only to be waiting months and months for the next book and then not reading it because it's been sooooo long since I read the first and I don't have time for a re-read. But then the author confirmed that this book is most definitely a stand-alone so now I really want to get to it!

3. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Why I'm excited to read it: It's the conclusion of the Inheritance cycle. That right there should say everything. I need closure, I need to know what happens to all the characters and the world. But most importantly I need to know if my theory about the final Rider is true!

Why I haven't read it yet: This book suffers from that problem I mentioned just above; it's been SO LONG since I read any of the previous books that I just can't motivate myself to re-read them so that I can read this. But I want to read it so bad so I may cave soon and re-read the first three.

4. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Why I'm excited to read it: I read the first book in the series after about six months of waffling. Once I read it I was hooked, it was so good, I was so excited for the next one. She left it with a good cliffhanger that left me hungering for more.

Why I haven't read it yet: And then I had to wait, and wait, and wait for book two. And it finally came out, and I bought it right away! And it's been sitting on the pile ever since for the same reason as Inheritance.

5. Serpent's Kiss by Melissa de la Cruz

Why I'm excited to read it: Are you sensing a theme here? This one is yet another continuation of a wonderful series. I reviewed the first book in this series back in January. I'm definitely eager to see what's happening to all the characters in this world.

Why I haven't read it yet: It's part of a pattern I have. I'm excited about the sequel so I buy it the day it comes out and then I can't be bothered re-reading the first book so it just sits...

6. Tiger's Voyage, Tiger's Destiny, and Tiger's Dream by Colleen Houck

Why I'm excited to read them: Because I loved the first two books in the series and I must finish it!

Why I haven't read it yet: This time it's gotten so bad I'm three books behind! I need to break this pattern! This is my curse apparently! Must be something about folks named Ren and curses...

7. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Why I'm excited to read it: I'm a big Rick Riordan fan. I think he's an amazing writer and I just adore what he can do with mythology. I think I've read everything in mythological series except for this book at the moment. Also: OWL on the cover, I love owls.

Why I haven't read it yet: I received this for Christmas and honestly it just got plopped in the pile and I kind of forgot it was there oops. And then I remembered and figured I probably need to re-read Lost Hero and Son of Neptune first. 

8. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Why I'm excited to read it: Similarly to Midnight Circus I've heard mostly amazing things about this novel. And as with Deck Z it melds historical fiction with paranormal fantasy both of which I love. Plus I've always been fascinated by Lincoln AND vampires independent of one another so I imagine mixing them will be good. Especially if the movie is any indication because I quite enjoyed the movie.

Why I haven't read it yet: I will be completely honest; there have been more books that have been more compelling to me, but I do really want to get to this one, soon. 

9. Prodigy by Marie Lu

Why I'm excited to read it: If you've been following this blog you've likely surmised my love of dystopian fiction, and given that I wrote a review on the book this one follows (Legend) it's logical that this one would be here. It only recently came out and I really want to read it.

Why I haven't read it yet: I am actually hoping to start this one this weekend; I broke out of my pattern! I figured I was a book ahead in my book challenge count I had time for a fast re-read so I've been skim reading Legend before bed every night this week so that I can start Prodigy ASAP and hopefully still not lose my lead on my challenge counter.

10. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Why I'm excited to read it: Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge Potterphile, and a really big fan of J.K. Rowling's writing ability. Since the minute this book was announced I have been waiting for it. I bought it the day it came out. I look at it frequently. It's actually THE book I am MOST excited to read so...

Why I haven't read it yet: Because I am nervous and scared. As a fan of J.K. Rowling and a Potterphile I fear reading this book. I've built it up so much in my head that I'm going to love it and it's going to be amazing so I'm terrified of reading it because what if it's not? Is it allowed to not like a single book by an author you otherwise adore? I need reassurance that just in case I don't like this book it doesn't make me less of a fan. I don't want to psych myself out but I am! I just want to read and enjoy this book!

What books are on your to read list that you're most excited for?

-- Ren

Bookmarks - Epic Fantasy

It's almost the end of March! I can't believe how fast this year has gone already. It's true what they say I suppose, the busier you are the faster time goes, and boy have I been busy these last few months! I'm just trying to keep on top of everything! So along that line I have for you tonight another set of readers' advisory bookmarks. This time Epic Fantasy Series, along the same lines as the list in 5 epic fantasy series you may have missed.

Oh look three of the series on these bookmarks also appeared on my 5 epic fantasy series list, clearly you can tell that I definitely like those series and I think fantasy fans should read them! They're targeted at A Song of Fire and Ice fans because they were created just before the last book came out, or was it just after? I haven't read that series yet myself (It's on the pile I swear!) so I haven't kept track of the release dates of the books. Either way it's still appropriate because they're still waiting on the next book now, and it will also work just as well for fans of any fantasy series. 

Enjoy! 

-- Ren

Companion Books

You bet I bought the Collector's Edition of
The Tales of Beedle the Bard

I absolutely adore the companion books that accompany many book series; I have a sizeable collection of them, mostly Star Wars and Harry Potter companion books. I especially love the companion books that are created by the author of the respective series, the fact that they're willing to make that much effort and share that much detail never fails to prove to me how committed they are not only to their worlds' but also to all of their fans. 

Whether its maps, family trees or timelines; or simply encyclopaedic  entries that expand on information about the characters, subjects, themes and locations; I want to know everything about my favourites series and that's why I love companion books.

My top 5 favourite companion books are:

1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 
You really can't go wrong with a companion book written for a charity that uses comedy to help people. This book is not only informative about a wide number of the creatures you'll encounter in the Harry Potter series, it's absolutely hilarious. Any Harry Potter fan knows that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the title of one of the in-world school textbooks that Harry and company use and JK Rowling ran with that with this companion book she presents it to us as being Harry's copy of the book. It's filled with humours hand scrawled annotations and commentary by not only Harry, but also Ron, such as the ever so mature circling of the word bum in Glumbumble. Madame Pince would've had their hides if she'd seen the way they defaced this book! 

2. Star Wards the Essential Atlas
This is THE official guide to the galaxy far, far away. One of the best parts is the extremely detailed map of the entire galaxy that even maps the major trade routes. The map shows every world that has ever appeared in any of the films and any of the expanded universe novels. There's an overall history of the universe, and then a history of each region in Part I. Part II is devoted to the profiles on each planet, which includes a full colour illustration, complete physical stats and a brief (half page) description/history. Part III includes historical maps of the galaxy, for example there's a map that tracks the origins of the Jedi from approx. 25,000 years before the battle at Yavin. I love the scale of this particular book, it must have been a HUGE undertaking. The level of detail is so impressive and I like to imagine how much science must've gone on the create accurate planets.

3. Star Wars the New Essential Chronology
I love this one for similar reasons to the previous Star Wars companion book. The level of detail makes me so happy. It's a 230 page time line of every single event that has ever happened in a  Star Wars plot. It's basically a history textbook for Star Wars fans. It's also a cheat sheet for those who haven't gotten around to reading every single book in the Expanded Universe. You can find out about all of the major plot events in this one companion book, and they're not long entries, you get max. about 3 pages per event. Because of it's nature as a complete chronology and the fact that you can cheat with it, if you don't like spoilers STAY CLEAR of this book. I personally don't mind spoilers with a series on the scale of Star Wars so that could explain why I enjoy this book. Although it's still one of my major reading goals to eventually read the entire collection of Expanded Universe novels...in the correct chronological order. Why does that task sound like it would be on par with me declaring that I intended to read War & Peace in Russian with no knowledge of Russian? (I actually know someone who attempted that, I'm not sure if she ever did succeed)

4. the Pocket Companion to Narnia

Spoilers galore in this one! A definite steer clear if you haven't read all 7 books and don't want the end spoiled! I love this book because a) maps! I love maps! but more importantly b) encyclopaedic entries that expand on EVERYTHING. And I do mean everything. Themes, characters, locations, and things! It even includes spoiler alerts which is lovely! It's so nice that the author respected the readers enough to mark where he might be spoiling things for us! There are a lot of interesting things in this little book. There's a list of all the biblical allusions in the series and where to find them. Also the meaning of the name Cair Paravel which according to the book means "city in the valley" which is hilarious when you remember that Cair Paravel is located on a cliff overlooking an ocean, high ABOVE the valley. Another handy tidbit in this book is the list of comparative ages of all of the main characters throughout the series. And this is just the pocket version, apparently the full sized version has even more information.


5. Princess Alyss of Wonderland
Last but certainly not least is the companion book to Frank Beddor's Looking Glass Wars trilogy. This book was insanely hard to get my hands on, not easy to find at all, but I am SO happy I did and very pleased to have it in my collection. Beddor's series is one of my absolute favourites, it's an amazing re-vision of Alice in Wonderland which as you all know is one of my all time favourites. This is one of those fantastic companion books that doesn't only contain facts and information about the series, it also contains Artifacts! Artifact books are the best books because no matter how old you are they make you feel like a little kid. They let you discover the series in a whole new way.The entire book is a diary of Alyss's account of her time on earth. There's a handwritten letter from Alyss to her best friend Dodge on the very first page. It's heartbreaking to see RETURN TO SENDER stamped on the envelopes of all of the letter Artifacts. Midway through there's even a recipe for tarty tarts and at the end there's a hand made deck of Wonderland cards and instructions for playing looking glass wars.

BONUS "BOOK"

I have to confess though, my favourite companion "book" isn't actually a book. It's Pottermore. Hello? It's the ultimate testament to an author's respect and appreciation for her fans. It's interactive, what fan doesn't love that? And the information it delivers! OH! Be still my beating heart! I was part of the early beta, and I still adore it. I was especially excited to actually get sorted (I am a Slytherin! This was only somewhat of a surprise, turns out I'm more driven by ambition than I thought I was!), and to read the description about the Hufflepuff Common Room (which I was able to see thanks to all of my friends who got sorted into Hufflepuff) because it was the only Common Room Harry didn't visit during the series. And I have to say from her description of it, I kind of wish I'd been sorted into Hufflepuff because their common room sounds awesome, except for the entrance, I don't even like tube slides so I can't imagine how I would've handled climbing through a tunnel to get in and out of my House multiple times a day...

So those are my favourite companion books, what are some of yours? Which ones should I check out?

--Ren

If you liked: The Maze of Bones

If you liked...

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones

Then chances are you'll probably like this...

Have you ever felt like the people around you were hiding things from you? Carter and Sadie Kane have been feeling that way a lot lately. Ever since their mother died they've been living separate and very different lives. Carter has been living out of a single suitcase travelling all over the globe with their archaeologist Dad Dr. Julius Kane who specializes in Ancient Egypt. They visit museums, dig sites and universities, but they never stay anywhere very long, only long enough for the local kids to make fun of Carter because Julius makes him dress like a miniature professor; sometimes they arrive at a place only to leave again right away with no explanation from Julius, which makes Carter wonder if someone is following them. Compared to Carter’s life with their dad, Sadie’s life with their maternal grandparents in London England is like living the high life, she gets to go to a normal school and do normal things, like have friends, plus she gets her very own room, privacy and even a pet! Carter has always been jealous of Sadie’s normalcy, and Sadie has always been jealous that Carter gets to spend more than two days a year with their dad; they both wish things could change; but when they get their wish they realize it’s not all they hoped for. It starts when Carter and Julius arrive in London to visit Sadie, their dad is presumed dead after he blows up the British Museum, and then they get whisked away to New York by an uncle they didn't even know they had! It’s in New York that their Uncle Amos reveals the truth to them, their mother didn't die the way they were told, she was killed in a magical accident at Cleopatra’s Needle, their father isn't dead, he’s just been trapped in the Underworld after another failed magical accident. All this talk of magic mind boggles the kids, but they need to get used to it because they’re wizards, the descendants of powerful Ancient Egyptian families, and they can commune with the Egyptian gods, who really do exist. Oh, and they've started hearing voices and having out of body experiences, but that’s not their biggest problem. The big problem in The Kane Chronicles Book 1: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan is that their dad’s experiment released five powerful Egyptian gods, including one of the most evil of them, Set, into the world. Now Carter, Sadie and their new friends and allies are in a race against time to master their powers, find some way to save their dad AND defeat Set before he can destroy them and the world…will they make it?

And at least some of these...

1. Airman by Eoin Colfer

2. The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

3. The Keys to the Kingdom Book1: Mister Monday by Garth Nix
4. Larklight by Phillip Reeve

5. The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

6. The Edge Chronicles: The Curse of the Gloamglozer by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

7. The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

8. Legend by Marie Lu

9. Ergaon by Christopher Paolini

10. The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost