Review: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King by Christie Golden

Arthas: Rise of the Lich King by Christie Golden

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Pocket Books (April 1, 2009)
Age Group: Young Adult/Adult
Pages (Paperback): 312
Source: Borrowed
ISBN-13: 9781416550778
Genre: Epic Fantasy

His evil is legend. Lord of the undead Scourge, wielder of the runeblade Frostmourne, and enemy of the free peoples of Azeroth. The Lich King is an entity of incalculable power and unparalleled malice -- his icy soul utterly consumed by his plans to destroy all life on the World of Warcraft.

But it was not always so. Long before his soul was fused with that of the orc shaman Ner'zhul, the Lich King was Arthas Menethil, crown prince of Lordaeron and faithful paladin of the Silver Hand.

When a plague of undeath threatened all that he loved, Arthas was driven to pursue an ill-fated quest for a runeblade powerful enough to save his homeland. Yet the object of his search would exact a heavy price from its new master, beginning a horrifying descent into damnation. Arthas' path would lead him through the arctic northern wastes toward the Frozen Throne, where he would face, at long last, the darkest of destinies.

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Overview:

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the writing style Christie Golden presented in this piece and I squeed over her work with Chris Metzen. I knew a lot of the pieces to this story but it was eloquently put together in a fantastic novel. It was the first book in a long while that I finished in 24 hours.

Review:

As a lore supplement, this book is great. As a book telling a story, this book is amazing! This book offered a unique experience for someone who has played the game, and would be a great story for someone who hasn't.

This book takes us on the full journey of the life of Prince Arthas Menethil. Destined to be the Lich King, the evil ruler of the Undead that plague the world, Arthas was not always so heartless and cold. In fact, the depth of this character is remarkable in his complexity. Arthas was (perhaps is) capable of love; profound and ever present love.

Our story starts with a boy who loves his father. Shortly into our story we see a boy who can develop and harness friendships that could span kingdoms. Beyond that the story grows into a young boy in the throws of his first and eternal love. Then our tale darkens to a young man, nearing the throne and expressing a deep love of his people; deep enough this love will cost him everything. But darker yet, our grown prince continues to twist within himself and develops a love of power, a power he now wields over his valued army of the dead.

In such a short span of a book, Christie Golden has absolutely painted a remarkable image of young Arthas Menethil. Power reading this book is the only way to satisfy your need to know more about this young prince. With her intensive research, her easy writing style, and the attention to detail Christie Golden has won my heart and respect.

I would recommend this to fans of fantasy who can shoulder the burdens of betrayals and tragedy as well as feel the elation of love. Without making this seem like a sappy love story (as it clearly is not) I walk away from my favorite parts of this book with the lesson that love can transcend good and evil; through the taint of power, love can survive.

Rating out of 5:

Waiting on Wednesday: Once by Anna Carey

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine that gives bloggers the chance to express their longing for books before they're released!

Once by Anna Carey

Mark it To-Read: Goodreads

Pre-Order: Amazon

Release Day: July 3, 2012 by HarperCollins

Sixteen years have passed since a deadly virus wiped out most of the Earth’s population. After learning of the terrifying part she and her classmates were fated to play in the rebuilding of New America, eighteen-year-old Eve fled to the wilds and Califia, a haven for women determined to live outside the oppressive rule of the king of New America. However, her freedom came at a price: she was forced to leave Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. Eve quickly learns that Califia may not be as safe as it seems and soon finds herself in the City of Sand and the palace of the king. There she uncovers the real reason he was so intent on her capture, and the unbelievable role he intends her to fill. When she is finally reunited with Caleb, they will enact a plan as daring as it is dangerous. But will Eve once again risk everything—her freedom, her life—for love?

Brimming with danger and star-crossed romance, and featuring a vivid dystopian landscape, this electrifying follow-up to Eve, which bestselling author Lauren Kate called “a gripping, unforgettable adventure—and a fresh look at what it means to love” is sure to appeal to fans who crave the high-stakes adventure of The Hunger Games and the irresistible love story of Romeo and Juliet.

Follow Friday (16)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison.

 

What is the longest book you’ve read? 

What are your favorite 600+ page reads?

Combing through my reading career I would safely assume that the longest book I have ever read would be a Harry Potter book. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix tipping the page length scales at 859 pages.

As for 600+ page reads, I find that I don't actually read that many. My average page length is somewhere between 350-400 if I had to guess. Without a doubt I would strongly recommend the reading of the Harry Potter series if you have not done so. I might also be inclined to suggest that you read Breaking Dawn/The Twilight Saga with Breaking Dawn being over 700 pages.

With that said, I will also share the books that I want to read that serve as paperweights. The first one being A Game of Thrones and its following books. This is followed closely by the mildly intimidating Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and The Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind.

I think that about sums it up! I hope that you have a great weekend, I have been out of commission this weekend creating enough product to sale at my town's first annual comic convention. I can't wait to turn the pages and blog the words when I am done staying up until 3am crafting!

Name of the Wind: Goodreads | Amazon

Wizard's First Rule: Goodreads | Amazon

A Game of Thrones: Goodreads | Amazon

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Simon & Schuester Children's (September 27, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult (Sug. 18+)
Pages (Hardcover):  452
Series: Mara Dyer
Read Next: Evolution of Mara Dyer (Oct. 2012)
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9781442421769
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Suspense

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

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Overview:

This book had me hooked. I thought it was suspensful, horrifying, and full of mystery. What in the world could possibly be happening to Mara? There were times that I was sufficiently creeped out while reading. That is the good stuff; however, this book fell into some of the more cliche pitfalls of YA books and love stories. I couldn't stop the images of Bella and Edward that came forth in the struggled romance, and that was not a good feeling.

Review:

I can't deny that this book was brilliant. It is the plot that pulls you in hook-line-and-sinker. As a debut, Michelle Hodkin has really hit home with a unique plot and a solid suspenseful feel to a haunting story. There were times in this book that I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was happening. During an episode or a flash to what happened in the accident, I felt the chill of the story deep within where the idea of entertainment really hits us.

But there is still a reason that this book gets only three stars. The character development and love facets of this book stumbled into a pitfall. Mara was exceedingly independent, hiding her problems while they were essentially drowning her in herself. She was attracted to the bad-boy-man-whore that had the "Something is wrong with me" mentality. Then these two characters were wrapped up in the weird yet destined idea of love. Essentially it was overdone and cliché in comparison.

I also thought it was disappointing with the build up the trailer and the small introduction that the book had with her lawyers and Mara Dyer not being her real name, etc. This, as far as this first book goes, had no relevance because we don't even essentially know what happened, only that it has left Mara in a fragile mental state, not in the troubles of legalities. I was possible for it to have been a series setup but it resulted in a let down for book one.

I was impressed with the intricacies and the balance that the author maintained when implementing so many subplots. Again, I go back to the idea that the actual story of this book is remarkable. How interwoven is the entire story? Mara is a mystery in and of herself but what about the case her dad is on; why is this case so important? I have to know.

It is always hard to point out of the aspects of the negative aspects of a book but it fell short in my expectations. I would have loved to have experienced strong and unique characters to match such a powerful and fresh plot line. For the sake of the story, I can't wait to continue the unraveling mind and mystery that is Mara Dyer.

Rating out of 5:

Debut Author Interview: Meredith Zeitlin

I am so thrilled to be hosting Meredith Zeitlin on the blog today. Her debut, Freshman Year and Other Natural Disasters, recently released featuring the wonderfully frustrating life of Kelsey Finkelstein. I'd like to thank her for stopping by and being so awesome to answer my questions!

Meredith Zeitlin is a writer and voice-over artist who lives in Brooklyn with two adorable feline roommates. She also writes a column for Ladygunn Magazine, changes her hair color every few months, and has many fancy pairs of spectacles.

In case you're wondering whether any of Kelsey's experiences are based on Meredith's own, the answer is NO WAY. When she was fourteen, Meredith looked and behaved perfectly at all times, was never in a single embarrassing situation, and always rode to school on her very own unicorn.

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1. Can you sum your book up in 5 words or less?  Oooh, that's hard! "Best book ever; buy now?" Okay, okay - lemme try that again. "Kelsey Finkelstein's high school misadventures!"

2. Was your freshman year of high school on the same level of disastrous as Kelsey's? Yes and no. I certainly had my share of missteps - many of the ones in the book, in fact - but since it was real life, there were lots of regular old boring things in between the disasters, whereas the book is much more concentrated. On the other hand, almost everything seemed like the end of the world when I was fourteen, so at the time it felt like it was definitely a non-stop disaster zone. Hm. I have no idea if I actually answered this question. Ah, well - moving on!

3. How does it feel having your debut finally released? It's pretty amazing. The process took so much longer than I had anticipated, so for a while it seemed like the book would never come out. There were times when I was so frustrated that I honestly didn't care anymore if it ever did. But now that it's finally happened, and people seem to really like Kelsey and her story, I feel happy and proud and excited and eager to write something new. All I wanted, really, was to write something that would make a fourteen-year-old girl somewhere laugh and feel like she wasn't the only imperfect person in the world and that that was totally okay. I think maybe I've actually done that, and I'm thrilled about it.

4. Can you share the experience of what it is like to get back into the mindset of a fourteen year old girl? You know, I never tried to do that. I just wrote down the voice I had in my head that I knew was Kelsey. I've had the same inner voice since I was a little girl, and still do - I never want to dumb down a character because kids are "supposed to be" less mature (or more reckless or slangy or whatever) than adults. So I didn't think about writing "younger," but more about what a girl Kelsey's age would be focused on and how it would affect her - what choices she'd make based on her experiences so far.

5. What does your writing space look like? A mess! I don't even have a desk; I usually write from a purple chaise lounge in my living room with my computer on my lap. Next to me is a white lacquer and glass coffee table that most likely has candy on it. There is at least one orange cat sitting on me, probably. My TV (which is a pink flat-screen, and rules) is probably on. Lots of natural light all around, which I love. And plants. I am a big plant-person.

6. What is your favorite book to movie adaptation? Fried Green Tomatoes. Oh - or The Shawshank Redemption... A tie! I'm usually not a big fan of book-to-movie adaptations... at best, they're sort of fun add-ons if you've read the book, and at worst they ruin my entire life by not being true to the book. But those two are truly wonderful examples of nuanced, stand-alone pieces that I think are even better than the originals.

7. What is your favorite movie quote? Oh, man. How to possibly answer that!? Um... the first thing I thought of: “It's not that bad. What? I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely.” (The Princess Bride) Or... anything from Auntie Mame. (BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME.) Example: "Child, how can you see with all that light!?"

Follow Friday (15)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison.

 

What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

What a tough question. I think about some of the books that I have read and a lot of them exist in movies *coughHarryPottercough* or even some that I know would be great are television series like Game of Thrones or The Sword of Truth. I definitely think that Divergent by Veronica Roth could make for a thrilling movie. I don't have a dream cast though. I had a dream cast for Hunger Games and it was cast all wrong from my ideals. I cannot remember who the cast was now but I know Josh Hutcherson would have been Gale.

Now that I have danced around the question and rambled a little, what book would you want to see as an adaptation?

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters Release & Trailer

Releasing today, March 1, is a new contemporary read by debut author Meredith Zeitlin. Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters hits shelves today from Penguin Group imprint, G.P. Putnam's Sons. This book is already popular and sparking interest in contemporary fans everywhere. Be sure to check it out!

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Goodreads | Amazon

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because Kelsey has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…