Review of "Eragon"

"He quenched the fires in his path but left the rest to burn."

     Christopher Paolini's Eragon is a dragon story like no other. When fifteen-year-old Eragon Garrowson discovers a large gemstone in the woods, he thinks luck has finally struck his family--but when that stone hatches a dragon whose skin brands his palm, this farm boy is thrown into an ancient feud that may cost him everything he holds dear. With the help of a wizened storyteller and his new winged companion, Eragon crosses Alagaësia on a mission that starts out as vengeance but morphs into something more: a desire for justice, and a confrontation with destiny that will leave his world forever altered.

     Paolini's writing is enthralling. From the first sentence, which describes a haunting wind, we are swept up in a world of magic and mystery, beautifully detailed with loving care that soaks every page, though the style is rather old-fashioned and formal. By the end of the prologue, every aspect of this world seems real, and the plot is already underway. Eragon's journey flows naturally and is full of high stakes, battling conflicts, and relatable characters. Everyone, from the mysterious Brom to the childish Eragon to the ever-wise Saphira, is painted from a wide variety of angles that portray every facet of their personality, lending them a firm sense of realism and roundness.

     Though it starts out as a traditional "seeking revenge" plot, Eragon quickly proves to be more than meets the eye. The Dragon Riders have long been extinct, a belief the king is determined to enforce. Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, pose a threat to the old king that has never been faced before. Together, they must decide where to cast their loyalties: to themselves, the Empire, or the rebellion stewing to the south. First, however, they must learn to work as a team, else they will never get anything done.

     Wherever he goes, Eragon learns more about the world than he thought possible, and every new piece of knowledge shapes his personality and his character in miniscule ways that eventually add up. On top of that, he learns new skills--swordfighting, for instance, and the use of magic. As a Dragon Rider, he has access to forces regular mortals can only dream of, but as a beginner it takes plenty of frustrated practice to succeed at even the simplest task. This, more than anything, influences Eragon's future and crafts who he is destined to become.

     For those worried that a fantasy tale of epic proportions may be unsuitable for children, fear not! Readers from the sixth grade onward will be perfectly safe in the hands of clean-mouthed characters, crush-only romance, and incredible battles. The book does contain some mild gore and a couple of chilling scenes that involve savage creatures who pillage quite violently (though always off-screen), however, so parents would do well to keep that in mind when considering Eragon for their children.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an action-packed adventure with strong characters, cult-free magic, and dragons that leap right off the page. The plot is thick and dynamic, the protagonist flawed but relatable, and the worldbuilding beautiful. Any reader comfortable with a fantasy-formal writing style will be right at home with Eragon, the first title in a series of four. It fully deserves a full five stars.

Review of "Into the Land of the Unicorns"

"Leaning forward, Cara threw herself from the tower."

     Bruce Coville's Into the Land of the Unicorns is a short novel full of magic, friendship, and beauty. Cara Diana has lived with her grandmother most of her life, but she has a few dim memories of the parents who abandoned her when she was very young. Grandmother Morris is a kind old woman who tells stories of unicorns, magical creatures whose horns can heal the wounded. Cara hasn't believed those stories in years, of course. They're fairy tales, bedtime stories. Then, on the way home from the library, a man chases Cara and her grandmother through a church and to the roof, where she is forced to carry out Grandmother Morris' insane command to jump at the bell's twelfth toll. Suddenly she is in Luster, a magical forest full of extraordinary creatures, and she has a mission: to save the unicorns from complete extinction.

     Coville's book starts at a quick pace and continues at that clip for the rest of the book. Although there isn't a lot of violence, tensions are constantly high and action is common as Cara races to find the queen of the unicorns and deliver a vital message. The plot is straightforward and simple, but it's also filled with small subplots woven into the worldbuilding and dialogue. Everything is important, from the smallest details to the dragon on the mountain, yet this is presented in a manner that is easy to follow. That said, there are a few plot twists that bring everything together while still managing to surprise readers, which is quite refreshing.

     The writing style in this story suits the book perfectly. Not too formal, not too modern, the prose matches Cara's personality: a girl from the modern world who is thrown into a fantasy story she never imagined was real. The worldbuilding is fantastic, as well, perfectly balanced with plot and dialogue. Magic is presented in such a way as to be completely realistic. Sadly, though, the story is quite short, so we only get to see a small portion of Luster. However, this is the first book in a series, so it seems likely that more of the land is explored in the next installments. The author neatly weaves in uplifting themes as he explores the idea of family, empowerment, and independence, as well, which fits well with the plot and is extremely subtle. Humans are painted as the bad guys, though, despite the author's attempt to clarify that the unicorn hunters are an exception rather than the rule.

     Characters in Into the Land of the Unicorns are simultaneously the book's strongest and weakest link. On the one hand, each is a complex being full of conflict and realistic emotion. It's also pretty cool that, aside from Cara, only two other humans show up in Luster. The rest of the characters are unicorns, a Squijim, a Dimblethum, and other such fantasy creatures, some of them traditional while a great deal of the rest are unique to Coville's world--a trait that makes the first book in The Unicorn Chronicles stand out among others in its genre. On the other hand, the thinness of the volume leaves little room for backstory expansion and deep subplots.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun children's tale about a girl whose quest to help others teaches her more about herself and her family than she could have expected. Despite the role of the "evil humans", the characters are great to read and very complex. The whole thing could have been expanded, especially since it is already so thin--though, as the start of a series, plenty of room has been left for the author to play with. For a great plot, fun characters, a good theme, and believable magic, I give Into the Land of the Unicorns four stars.

Review of "Cinder"

"Tossing the screwdriver onto the table, Cinder gripped her heel and yanked the foot from its socket."

     Marissa Meyer's Cinder will make readers rethink everything they thought they knew about "Cinderella". It's over a hundred years T.E., and New Beijing citizen Linh Cinder is fed up with her life. After all, things can be rough when you're adopted, the only parent who loved you is dead, your mother works you like a slave, and you're only partially human. Cinder has been contemplating a runaway attempt for years, but now that she's unearthed the wreckage of a salvageable car, her plans may actually work. Then her sister falls victim to a terrible plague, everyone blames her, and what little stability she had in life is shattered. Take into account her growing feelings for the crown prince of the Eastern Commonwealth, and the Lunar queen's plot to establish a foothold on Earth, and Cinder has the makings of a very bad day. She'll have to fight, unearth secrets, and reconsider everything she thought she knew about herself if she wants to survive--and even then, the odds are not in her favor.

     When it comes to retelling classic fairy tales, Meyer's novel takes "Cinderella" to a whole new level. Cinder is a teenage cyborg who also happens to be the best mechanic in New Beijing. Her best friend is Iko, a bubbly android who only wants to be human, though she's also developed a tentative relationship with the kinder of her two stepsisters, Peony. And to top it off, her mother isn't trying to keep her away from the castle--when Peony falls ill and Cinder's body appears to hold answers, she practically throws her at the officials. This isn't the Disney princess we all know and love; she's a hardcore, freethinking teen with a head full of technology, and she's the perfect protagonist for this story.

     The plot of this book starts out simple: Cinder is minding her own business--literally--when Kai, the crown prince, drops an ancient android on her workbench and requests a repair. Pages later, she's running from the epicenter of a plague breakout, and from then on nothing is predictable. Betrayals, revelations, and startling discoveries are around each corner, lurking in innocent and sinister scenes alike. Meyer easily balances action, hard truths, political intrigue, a moon queen with superpowers, and shy romance with a dedicated sense of pacing, playing tension like a flute with every page. She knows her story well, and it's obvious from the characters' roundness, stunning worldbuilding, and easy-to-follow yet complex plot. Some of the characters are a little shallow, though, which is sad because they are so loveable.

     Readers don't need to worry about whether this book is age-appropriate. Profanity-wise, characters are clean, and the romance is very simple. Violence, when it happens, is not gory and parceled out neatly, lending the tale a clear sense of pacing. The most potentially-questionable scene involves a nightmare about fire, which is resolved quickly and serves a purpose. The villain of this piece is realistic and chillingly real, utilizing charm, political power, and brute force to achieve her goals.

     I would recommend this book to teens and young adults looking for a sci-fi take on "Cinderella". Linh Cinder is a strong, capable protagonist with plenty of depth and a lot of development, and her tale is almost addicting. This Cinderella is different from the rest--not only must she find true love and grow into her own, but she has to save the planet along the way. As an individual book and as the start of a series, Marissa Meyer has truly crafted a five-star story in Cinder.

Review of "A Dark Inheritance"

"Deep down, I was hoping it would just go away."

     Chris d'Lacey's A Dark Inheritance, the first title in his "UNICORNE Files" series, is all about the impossible. Michael Malone and his sister, Josie, are on their way to school when they are forced to a stop by a police cordon. The problem? A runaway dog is resisting capture. While Josie tries to sweet-talk an officer into letting them through with a made-up story about flute exams, Michael is focused on the dog and a certainty it emits like an aura: it is about to jump off the cliff. Suddenly, he's at the dog's side, his mother is screaming, and Josie, whose musical talent is exactly zero, has a flute on her lap and an upcoming test. All Michael wants to do is stay out of the spotlight, but when he is approached by a mysterious organization, he is presented with a mission and a chance for a life he never thought he'd have--because his ability to alter reality may just be the key to finding his missing father.

     The writing style in this piece is very well done. Although it's recorded in past tense, readers get the honest, in-the-moment experience of Michael himself. Not a whole lot is explained about UNICORNE, the secret organization that recruits our hero, which makes sense--it is secret, after all--but which can also be rather frustrating. There is just enough worldbuilding to fulfill the requirements of the story without going overboard, and characters are shaped with simple details that leave much to the reader's imagination. They are, however, a little two-dimensional, which is a real shame because they are so likeable.

     A Dark Inheritance's plot may not be character-driven, but it's incredibly strong. Michael's ability to shape the world around him draws the attention of a paranormal-activity-investigating team that promises a chance to find his father, who disappeared three years ago, in exchange for answers about the suicidal dog's owner. As Michael digs ever deeper into the dog's past, he gets to know some troubled characters and realizes that the only adjective befitting the case is "paranormal". With its twists, shocking turns, and confident approach to the impossible, d'Lacey's plot is intriguing and surprisingly believable.

     Although teh characters in this book are primarily middle-schoolers, the story is dark enough to fit in the YA spectrum as well. Readers should note that reality-shifting and telepathy are not the only superpowers presented--seeing ghosts and other things along that line are present in the novel and are sure to crop up in the following books. It's not very action-packed, but the violence that does happen is well-placed and shocking.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a children's/YA book about alternate realities and paranormal mysteries. Although the characters are rather flat and the plot is low on action, the premise is great and the plot believable. It's easy to feel for Michael and sympathize with his mission, two attributes that make reading a lot easier. Because of this, Chris d'Lacey's A Dark Inheritance deserves four stars.

Review of "Sam the Cat: Detective"

"That part aside, we get along pretty well: I stay out of his hair; he stays out of my fur."

     Linda Stewart's Sam the Cat: Detective is for everyone who is convinced their cat has a secret life they never see. Sam lives with his roommate, a bookseller who specializes in mystery novels, in a New York apartment complex. He's been in the PI business for three and a half years, and he's good at it. Enter Sugary, a pretty blonde with a big problem: her family has been robbed, and the cat-loving building janitor, Max, is the primary suspect. Determined to help his client and clear Max's name, Sam heads to the street in search of a lead. But with little more to go on than a description of the stolen item and an unusual scent, this may very well be a case even a cat can't solve.

     From the first page, it's obvious that Stewart understands cats. Not just their habits and sleep cycles, but also their distinct personalities and inborn mystique. Sam and his neighbor, Spike, deal with cats of all shapes, sizes, and dispositions. From grumpy Angie to obliging Sue, the cats they encounter are unique and decidedly feline. Sam himself is an interesting character to read, with his sense of duty, determination to do right by his friends and clients, and talent for haggling. Although the characters are a little flat, they have just enough roundness to them to be interesting and believable.

     The plot in this book is very well written. Sam is constantly going from contact to contact, asking questions and searching for patterns where none seem to exist. Every plot twist is a surprise, every decision realistic. Readers may find themselves running right alongside this four-legged hero as he pokes at theories in the hope that something will bite. Although he doesn't like getting into fights, Sam has to claw his way through more than one scrap before the story is over, each one written with great pacing and action. Even the low-tension scenes carry a sense of anxiety, thanks to the stakes. This is balanced out neatly by smart humor and witty logic that works quite well with the overall sense of noir.

      Since the story's principal characters are cats, it follows that many of their crime-solving tactics are unique to their species. Sam and his various companions leap across penthouse railings, battle a yapping schnauzer, and make deals with some less-than-pleasant cats. It's refreshing to note that the good guys and bad guys are clearly separate figures. The book doesn't contain foul language, and is suitable for all ages.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a smart, fun read about a cat detective who knows his stuff. With its dynamic cast, firm sense of realism, and easy humor, the novel has its own distinct writing style that perfectly fits the story it tells. Stewart knows cats, so cat-lovers can trust her to get the facts right. For strong writing, witty dialogue, and a fundamental understanding of its feline cast, I give Linda Stewart's Sam the Cat: Detective five stars.

Review of "The Hunger Games"

"It's not really fair to present us as a team and then lock us into the arena to kill each other."

     In Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, we follow the life of a girl whose second nature is survival. Katniss Everdeen has provided for her family for years. She's taken the tesserae (extra food provided by the government), hunted illegally when food ran low, and made every conceivable sacrifice to ensure her sister was safe. Now that Prim is twelve, there is a new danger: she has been entered into the reaping for the Hunger Games, a free-for-all where the only winner is the last man standing. Katniss isn't worried; after all, Prim's name is only in the ball once, while she, at sixteen, has twenty entries just waiting to be picked. Then, at the reaping, the unthinkable happens: Prim's name is pulled, and before she knows it Katniss has volunteered to take her place. She's prettied up, interviewed, then thrown into a competition where "living" is a relative term and friendship can be a weakness--or her greatest strength, if only she learns how to trust.

     The writing style Collins employs in her novel is really what makes the story work. Through the lens of Katniss' thoughts, we experience everything as if we were really there. Battles, alliances, and deaths are all portrayed with the same harsh, down-in-the-dirt sense of realism, and it's easy to sink into her way of thinking. The use of the first person point of view and present-tense prose brings about an in-the-moment angle that would be absent otherwise. Katniss, the arena, and the Games themselves are detailed with a balanced blend of adjectives and action, giving the book a regular sense of pacing.

     Another upside is the cast. Everyone, from Prim to Katniss' hunting partner, Gale, and fellow tribute, Peeta, is crafted with the utmost care and precision. Their traits are all unique enough to be distinct but similar enough to interact well, a feat that can be rather difficult to pull off. Even the less pleasant characters, be it the misunderstood Ms. Everdeen, sullen mentor Haymitch Abernathy, or Katniss herself, are complex people with their own shifting desires and fears. Not a whole lot of development takes place in any of these characters, although Katniss does learn a bit about making friends and dealing with tragedy.

     It has been mentioned in previous posts that cursing and such sits on one end of the YA spectrum. For an example of the other end, read The Hunger Games. Although the gore is kept to a minimum, terrible things happen to the teens in the arena: death by impaling, hallucinations, blood poisoning, and mauling all happen at least once. Participants in the Games, known as "tributes", are all between the ages of twelve and eighteen, and their battles are treated as a reality show that is aired on live TV across the nation. Romance is involved, which mainly consists of talking about feelings and opening up about the characters' pasts, as well as a little kissing.

     I would recommend this book to older teens interested in dystopian societies, fast-paced action, and a protagonist who must face moral dilemmas in order to survive. The prose is strong, the characters well-written, and the worldbuilding dynamic. However, it is rather violent--some scenes may cause squeamish readers a spot of difficulty--and the protagonist isn't necessarily likeable. Therefore, I give it four stars.

Review of "Inhuman"

"Now that I was actually on the roof of the skyscraper, I was having second thoughts."

     In Kat Falls' Inhuman, we get a glimpse into a world where humanity is subjective. West of the Mississippi River and the Titan wall, the term refers to the people who live and breathe cleanliness; to the east, it refers to those who have yet to succumb to their inner animal. Delaney Park McEvoy and her father live a comfortable, clean life right by the wall, careful to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in their back pockets and their hands to themselves. Lane grew up on stories about the manimals and chimpacabras that supposedly live across the wall, but she never believed the creatures actually existed--until her father disappears, and she is tasked with the retrieval of an artifact from the Feral Zone. With the help of two people she isn't sure she can trust, Lane must complete her task as quickly as possible, or risk losing her father forever.

     If there's one thing Inhuman has going for it, it's the premise. Striking and original, Falls' world opens with a splash and promises to deliver an action-packed story about family, love, and what it means to be human. And, in a sense, it does. Throughout the novel, Lane makes allies and friends, uncovers secrets, and grows from a cautious, clean-palmed girl to one willing to take dangerous chances to save the ones she loves. However, although her world is well-developed, Lane is severely lacking in the backstory department, which lends her a two-dimensional angle that is not exactly flattering.

     One of the YA genre's most common tropes is the missing father. He's a major figure in the protagonist's life, he holds the key to overthrowing the government or otherwise saving the main character from death or ruin, and otherwise acts as a great plot device with which to motivate the characters. Written well, this can be a good thing. In this case, it isn't. Mr. McEvoy is a faceless name when Lane sets out on her quest, and continues in this line throughout most of the story. He isn't so much a person as a cardboard cutout, which is extremely disappointing. And when he is, at last, introduced, Falls wastes few words to describe him, so that his appearance is a bit of a letdown.

     However, don't think this is merely a train wreck with a cover. Falls builds her characters, and her worlds, with a writing style that leaves you begging for more. From the passage of time to sneaking Lane into a military camp, the author does a great job of painting her story for her readers--people, places, animals, manimals. Everything is written with raw emotion, making it easy to connect with Lane and her companions as they set out to save her father.

     The protagonist develops a good deal over the course of the book, and not just in her views on cleanliness. Delaney Park starts out as a blank sheet with only the barest details filled in, and winds up battling for survival in a brutal wilderness, her personality shaped by the monsters she fights and the hard choices she is forced to make. Although Lane's journey is one of science fiction, it classifies as more of a "mutated enemies" book than an "evil robots" one. While it's mostly about the manimals and their place in society, plenty of the action is bloody and chilling. There is a romantic subplot that is quite sweet, but the love triangle feels a little forced. Characters are, in general, clean-mouthed.

     I would recommend this book to teenagers and young adults looking for a spot of adventure. While the background of the protagonist and her friends is rather shallow, the storytelling is solid and the action believable. Sadly, the novel is rather short and contains a love triangle that isn't exactly realistic. For a good, well-written book with simple characters, a plot device with too little presence, and a beautiful premise, I give Kat Falls' Inhuman three stars.