Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study is about Yelena, a woman about to be excuted for murder, who is offered an alternative: become the food taster. Its not an easy job, learning to distinguish poisons and certainly not safe, since at any moment her life could end from a poison meant for the Commander, the ruler of Ixia, for whom she tastes food each day. Valek, the chief of secruity and accomplished assassin, is constantly testing her strength and loyalty, despite the fact that she can't run away since he already poisoned her and she needs a daily dose of antidote to survive. On top of all that there's the rebellion plot threatening to overturn their stable nation, the dangerous General that wants Yelena dead and her deleveloping magical powers that if manifested, could mean a death sentence anyway.

This book was recommended to me by a several friends who said it was amazing. Though i wouldn't classify it as a favorite, i have to say that it's a very good read. It's written in the same way that i think, almost as if i had written it myself, but its entertaining and clever enough to keep me on my toes. I love the character of Yelena more than most heroine's i read about because of her spirit and her past. Her motives for the decisions that she makes are REAL, if not always the right or easy ones. I love the relationships that she fosters and the fact that she does not dimiss the past while living in the present or planing for the future. You can feel the changes that she goes through as you would changes in yourself. Very well written and surprising professional for such an amateur author. It makes you wonder why all first-timers are arn't written this way *coughstepheniemeyercough*

Chalice by Robin McKinley

Chalice is the story of Mirasol, a homely beekeeper, who one day, out of the blue, is taken into the higher Circle of the demesne where she lives to be Chalice: the women responsible for tying the Master to the land. But her Chalicehood will be like no other, for the last Master left no Heir, and the only blood relative is a second level Priest of Fire, a being who's very touch can burn the skin off human bones. Together the unlikely pair most soothe the land and people to ensure the safety of their people's future.

Though the plot line was interesting and unique i felt that McKinley really let me down in this book. It was flat, boring and confusing. Mirasol, who had the potential to be an amazing main character reminded a lot of Bella of Twilight fame: repetitive to the extreme. Its a hard book to reccommend, only becasue the plot line is so interesting but the book itself is written so poorly.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Stardust is the beautiful tale of Tristran Thorn (yes--TristRan. They adapted it for the movie), a young boy who convinces himself that he is in love with the stunning Victoria, the most gorgeous girl in his hometown. Hoping to win her heart, he promises to go over the mysterious Wall that is situated at the side of their village and bring back a fallen star to her in exchange for her hand in marriage. Laughing, she accepts. What she doesn't expect is for Tristran to journey into the forbidden realm of Faerie to acquire the star. And what Tristran doesn't expect is the journey that follows: one of true love, adventure and magic.


With out a doubt, one of the best fairy tales i've ever read, it's enough like the movie to connect the plot lines and even though they are exactly the same, both have their merits. I loved the characters of Yvaine and Tristran, even with faults they were lovely to follow. i felt like i was hovering right above their heads the entire time. Once again, Gaiman out does himself.

Mythology by Edith Hamilton

I didn't have to read it, but i'm glad i did. It was informative but interesting at the same time, which i enjoyed. I love hearing about the myths. They're like real fairytales. its amazing to think that at one time and place the people really believed that these things happened, that the people that the stories were based on were alive and true. I love that.
My favorite part of the book was role that gods always seemed to play: the mischevious, yet respected, villian. I love the way they're protrayed in the greek myths, like they're majestic yet also flawed. They really seem like humans with supernatural ablities, don't you think? i have to say that my favorites are Hermes and Athena, but only by a little. its incredibly hard to choose.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

By FAR one of the best books ever written. Well, more like, one of the best books i've ever read. it's absolutely amazing in the sense of curiousity and- for lack of a better word- hunger that Ms Rice inspires. Interview With the Vampire quite frankly left me breathless and longing for more. It puts the "vampiric" Twilight series to shame. There is nothing else that i could want in the beautiful if depressing Louis de Pointe du Lac, the mysterious Armand, or even the threatening Lestat de Lioncourt. The only character that i had "difficulties" with is Claudia, whose incesant whinings left me nauseated and annoyed.

The story starts with the introduction of Louis, a mysterious man that a "boy" interviewer has met at a bar. They are seated in a hotel room when Louis reveals that he is a vampire, and insists that he tell the boy his story. The entire book is a history of Louis: New Orlean plantation owner, mourning brother, drunkard and after a seemingly random encounter, vampie. After Lestat changes him, Louis becomes a phantom of the night but loathes his existence; he become a dreamy-philosopher, much to the annoyance of his new partner, Lestat, bent on the musings of humanity and what it means to be evil.

Eventually, Lestat recognizes Louis' distractions and loneliness. Meaning to bring Louis back to the present, Lestat creates another vampire, a five year-old girl named Claudia. Claudia becomes the light in Louis' eyes; his only love, Claudia is a living porclein doll. But the Louis and Lestat's daughter, 40 years and hundreds of deaths later, developes asperations and obsessions of her own, and it is her thrist for knowledge that will bring Louis on the journey of his lifetime.

Once again, Interview is outstanding. I could write forever of its praise. It's popular, but deep enough that i doubt that it will ever develope a fanbase like Twilight. To read Interview With the Vampire, the reader can not just sit there and drool over vampire "Hawt"-ness. It requires that you truly believe in evil, and good, and that you can comprehend the true nature of the human spirit: that is, you question and understand what you are questioning. For that reason, this book will always be a personal classic.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

Can you believe that i'm STILL reading Jane Eyre? *sigh* i read a few pages but then i get distracted and put it down. One of these days i'm just have to force myself to read it because i really want to get on to forcing myself to read the sequel to this book.

I read the Amulet of Samarkand in the middle of the winter last year, right after the holidays when i was spazzed out with all the gifts i got. The Amulet caught my eye because it wasn't something that i had seen before: i was unique and, as i learned, uniquiely written. I like that it told a story of magicians and didn't call them 'wizards' and that there 'magic' was all based on demons, dangerous creatures they enslaved for their own selfish means. I liked that it sounded more realistic than the Harry Potter universe and in my opinion is better. it may not have as many details or as complicated a plot, but in many ways it is certainly a better adventure than any of the Potter books.

Jonathan Stroud weaves a brillant tapestry of character in the voice of Bartimaeus, an ancient djinni tricked into the service of a young apprentice magician, Nathaniel. Bartimaeus is witty, sarcastic and infinetly amusing, so much that i found myself rooting for him instead of the main character, the boy Nathaniel, known to the world of magicians as John Mandrake. The story revolves around the ambitions and revenge inspired plots of Nathaniels, where he desperately uses Bartimaeus to prove his extraordinary worth to the magicing world. But with a companion like Bartimaeus things envitably go wrong and Nathaniel "finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espinage, murder, and rebellion."

Honestly, this book was amazing. i dare you find a funnier "wizard" book. Bartimaeus is BRILLANT!

Washington Post Review of Breaking Dawn

Absolutely amazing review. This author points out alot of things that i have to, as student of quality literature, agree with. Even she goes overboard, at times to the point of ranting, she makes such a good point about the overall quality of the Twilight books.

*BEWARE OF SPOILERS!!!*

Washington Post Review of Breaking Dawn: Read here.