Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sadie Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world inDespite their best efforts, Carter and Sadie Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos. The Kanes' only hope is an ancient spell that might turn the serpent's own shadow into a weapon, but the magic has been lost for a millennia. To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent's shadow… or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld. Nothing less than the mortal world is at stake when the Kane family fulfills its destiny in this thrilling conclusion to the Kane Chronicles. I loved this, it was a great end to a great trilogy, but I can hardly think about anything besides how hard it was hinted at the end that one day we may see the different mythologies clash, I know they’ve always existed in the same universe, and there are a few Kane/Percy Jackson short stories, but things are clearly not finished for the Kanes, and now all I can think about is how awesome a Kane Chronicles/Percy Jackson/Magnus Chase series would be, or even just a Kane Chronicles/Percy Jackson series. Back to reviewing this particular book, I’m not sure how I feel about the resolution of the Walt/Sadie/Anubis love triangle, it seemed just a little too finely engineered, but I don’t hate it. I really hope this truly isn’t the last we see of the Kanes. As much as I loved this book trilogy, I acknowledge that the ending didn’t grip me as much as The Last Olympian did....more
As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command; but the devious gods haven't given them time to master their skills As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command; but the devious gods haven't given them time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, a training ground for young magicians. And now their most threatening enemy yet--the Chaos snake, Apophis--is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family. To have any chance of battling the forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god, Ra. But that would be a feat more difficult than any magician has ever accomplished. I loved this second book in Riordan’s Egyptian mythology trilogy. It was an awesome plot full of twist and turns and evil magicians all along the way, with the only part that dissapointed me being the lack of evolution towards the siblings relationship that had already been made at the end of the previous book and was completely forgotten. This series isn't my favourite in terms of Riordan books, but it is still really good. I love all the new characters in this installment; there are plenty of new magicians, gods and baddies that we meet in The Throne of Fire. Sadie and Carter continue to be amazing and I love their relationship and narration style. This book is best read by younger readers, but is accessible to anyone who loves Rick Riordan’s books and world-building....more
Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has travelSince their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a “research experiment” at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them–Set–has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe–a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs. Not knowing much Egyptian mythology, it was a bit hard to understand the beginning of this book, but it was easier to understand all the history of as the story progressed which I really liked. The characters were fun and witty and sarcastic and everything you could hope for in a middle grade book series. This book does a good job at exploring Egyptian mythology while telling its own story full of colorful character much like how Percy Jackson explored Greek mythology while doing the same. It was very cool finding out that this takes place in the same world as Percy Jackson, and the small references were very cool. I highly recommend this book for fans of Percy Jackson and Egyptian mythology....more
Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth motherThough the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them, and they’re stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake. Being the final book in the sequel series to Percy Jackson, I expected a lot from this book. It juggled many characters and storylines, all culminating in this final battle. Now that I have read the final book in the series, I can formulate an opinion on the series as a whole. This opinion hurts me to say, but I'll say it anyway: Percy Jackson and the Olympians is far better than Heroes of Olympus. I really didn't want to feel this way, because I wanted this to be one of my top-tier favorites, but it's true. The weight and potential of this sequel series was just never fully reached in my opinion. The individual stories were all very good, I just didn’t feel the overwhelmingly epic scale that I should have felt in the final book. There were still many interesting concepts and ideas explored throughout this sequel series. One of the most interesting things in the last two books in the series is Nico and Percy's powers' darker aspects. In the previous book, Percy uses his powers to poison vapor against an enemy. Nico uses his ability to turn a living person into a ghost. Even Piper using her charmspeak against powerful enemies. I would have loved to see more of this and delve deeper into the darker side of the demigods. This book, as well as the whole series, was amazing. It was really sad to finish this book because it’s hard to cope with it all being over, but it was totally worth it to have had the experience of reading these stories. This book was fast-paced and thrilling, but still managed to be light and humorous. It tackled a dark and trying plot, but was able to turn it into a story of strength and cooperation. It was really cool to get some different perspectives in this book as well. I loved getting to read chapters from the POVs of Reyna and Nico, I loved the split storylines, and I loved the adventure. I would have liked a resolution that allowed all of the seven to be together to celebrate and reminisce about their time together. The final thing that bothered me is that there was no final Percy chapter. Percy is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time, and I really wanted the closure and roundness that would have allowed us to finish everything the way it started: with him. I know that I will be able to revisit some of these characters in the Trials of Apollo series, but I will really miss the different POVs that this series offered. Nonetheless, I look forward to reading it, and I can only hope that that series will bring me a fraction of the amount of joy that was brought to me by the Heroes of Olympus....more
**spoiler alert** This is my favorite book out of all the books set within this beautiful world. Despite the terrible odds, Hazel, Annabeth, Percy, an**spoiler alert** This is my favorite book out of all the books set within this beautiful world. Despite the terrible odds, Hazel, Annabeth, Percy, and the other demigods of the prophecy know that there is only one choice: to attempt the impossible. Not just for themselves, but for everyone they love. Even though love can be the riskiest choice of all. In one aspect, this book is a delightful yet stressful one, which resulted in most of my reading time spent trying not to freak out at the possibility that one of the seven might die. With Annabeth and Percy in Tartarus, the remaining group is attacked left and right. This book did not have a peaceful moment until the end, but even the ending doesn’t reduce the stress. Each of the characters learns more about themselves and their paths as demigods, with Jason realizing that his heart isn’t with the Roman camp. Piper recognizes she has been underestimating herself. Frank comes into his power as a shifter and his improving battle skills. Leo falling in love with Calypso and leaving wasn’t surprising, but his swearing on the River of Styx was shocking. It will be interesting to see how that will come back to bite him. My all-time favorite, Nico, is the same as always being dark and broody. In this book, we find out Nico’s sexuality, and it was not surprising that his crush was on Percy. Nico didn’t change as the others did, instead, he is forced to confront his love of Percy and is still pissed off. I love him for it. Jason tells Nico that his sexuality will not change how others view him. But, it’s not apparent if Nico believes Jason since Jason is the ‘golden boy.’ I loved every character in this book but I respect this book even more for deepening Nico’s character and letting us inside his head, something that I’ve wanted since his first introduction....more
Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving command: “Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me.” Annabeth already feels weighed doAnnabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving command: “Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me.” Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her? Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader—but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side. Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. This book finally gave me a story from Annabeth’s perspective and it was so welcomed. Percy and Annabeth are finally reunited. They try their hardest to unite the two parts of the group. Somehow, they succeed and everyone slowly becomes friends. They learn how to trust each other's skills and they learn how to work together. I loved each character’s relationship to the other characters and the dynamic each pairing brought to the story. I read this book within a week. I admire Riordan for being able to create this world full of different casts of characters and his skill in combining these characters all into one story. My heart ached for Nico and I loved that the demigods rallied to save him. The cliffhanger at the end of this book made the wait for the next book in the series feel dreadfully long....more
**spoiler alert** Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment**spoiler alert** Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophecy of Seven. This book was an immediate improvement over the last book simply because it featured the return of Percy Jackson. I loved seeing Percy interacting with the Roman camp, and seeing Nico di Angelo go undercover to find him was interesting and satisfying. The introduction of the new characters was done well, and I fell in love with Hazel Levesque. This book's crew, Percy, Hazel and Frank stole my heart from page one and made me love them unconditionally. They are all so selfless and so beautifully flawed, it's almost impossible not to love them. Reyna’s character was very intriguing to me, and I knew instantly that I wanted more backstory on her. I was initially confused with some of the Roman and Greek gods and how they corresponded with each other, but I felt like that confusion really lends itself to the story as the gods themselves are also confused. The ending made me so excited for the two camps to finally meet, and I distinctly remember the wait for this book being agonizing. Overall, this book was a fun adventure and welcome addition to the Percy Jackson world and mythology....more
This series begins after Percy Jackson and the Olympians. We’re introduced to Jason waking up on a bus surrounded by unfamiliar people. Along with JasThis series begins after Percy Jackson and the Olympians. We’re introduced to Jason waking up on a bus surrounded by unfamiliar people. Along with Jason are his friends, Piper and Leo, who are also demigods. Typical of being a demigod, Jason, and his friends are attack. The attack results in the group of three meeting Annabeth. Annabeth is on a quest to find a missing Percy Jackson. As Jason makes his way to Camp Half-Blood, he is given a missing Goddess quest. At first I was so frustrated because I was so profusely confused and didn't know what was going on, but as the story progressed, I caught myself loving each and every character, getting to know them bit by bit, and the story kept getting more interesting by each page and chapter. I initially wanted more Percy Jackson in this book, but the ending made me understand that this was the foundations to a sequel series rather than the sixth book of the Percy Jackson book series. Highly recommend this book for fans of the first Percy Jackson series, as this book expands the world even more and introduces us to a colorful cast of characters that interact with the our old cast from the previous series....more
The novel opens by showing Thomas, who is stuck in a padded room and consumed with anger. Not only is he disgusted with WICKED, but he also cannot recThe novel opens by showing Thomas, who is stuck in a padded room and consumed with anger. Not only is he disgusted with WICKED, but he also cannot reconcile the betrayal he feels Teresa has committed back in the Scorch. He can no longer speak to either her or Aris telepathically. Each day, he watches the door, waiting and willing for it to open. On the 26th day, the door opens. I found that this book was a decent conclusion to this trilogy. I wouldn’t have enjoyed this story as much if I had read it at an older age, and this book is written for a younger audience. I found the character arcs to be wrapped up nicely and I think that the twisty ending fits well with the world that has been established in previous books....more
Transported to a remote fortified outpost, Thomas and his fellow teenage Gladers find themselves in trouble after uncovering a diabolical plot from thTransported to a remote fortified outpost, Thomas and his fellow teenage Gladers find themselves in trouble after uncovering a diabolical plot from the mysterious and powerful organization WICKED. With help from a new ally, the Gladers stage a daring escape into the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with dangerous obstacles and crawling with the virus-infected Cranks. The Gladers’ only hope is to find a group of resistance fighters who can help them battle WICKED. This book had some cool horror moments, and it expanded on the lore and world-building set-up in the first book. This book is almost entirely travelling across the Scorch, which is a trope I usually don’t care for, but I think that it is done well here and the writer does a good job at keeping the reader engaged. Not much to say about this book other than it is an enjoyable dystopian book for teenagers....more
Thomas wakes up in a metal elevator that brings him to the Glade. He has no memory of who he is or how he got there. He gradually discovers that the GThomas wakes up in a metal elevator that brings him to the Glade. He has no memory of who he is or how he got there. He gradually discovers that the Glade is run by two boys: Alby, the leader, and Newt, the second-in-charge, who both maintain order by enforcing simple but effective rules. The elevator box surfaces from under the ground once every month and supplies new food, tools, medicine, and sometimes weapons. Every month, a new boy with no memory of anything but his first name finds himself in that elevator box. The Glade is surrounded by a square of four-mile-high walls made of concrete. The walls have openings in them, which slide shut like doors every night. Outside the walls is the Maze, a labyrinth of high concrete walls covered in ivy that changes every day. The Maze houses strange, lethal creatures known as Grievers. Not much is known about them. The Gladers are trying to stay alive as well as "solve" the Maze by appointing "runners" to run through it as fast as they can while they track movements of the walls and try to find an exit to escape.
One day after Thomas's arrival, a girl, Teresa, is delivered through the elevator into the Glade. She was the first ever girl to arrive into the Glade. She had a note saying "She's the last one. Ever." The girl later lapses into a long coma. When Thomas comes to visit her, he recognizes her but cannot remember her name until he hears her voice in his mind, telling him her name. Teresa then wakes up and tells Thomas that they knew each other before they were sent into the Glade, revealing their ability to communicate telepathically.
Very intriguing read for teenage readers. I enjoyed it and wanted to know more of the details and answers to questions and waiting for all that to unfold, although there are still unanswered questions left at the end of the book. I did pick up on what WICKED stood for as soon as Thomas reads it, although it takes until the very end of the book for him to figure that out. It was obvious to me right away, so it was unbelievable to me that a smart teenager like himself couldn't figure it out. I was very bothered by the word "shuck" used in the book. I understand the author was trying to create a lingo specific to these kids who'd been stuck in the maze for years, but I really thought something that didn't rhyme with such a bad word when it was obviously used in so many instances to replace that word would have been much more appropriate, and it just grated me every single time I read it. After having read the whole trilogy, there are definitely plot holes, but I consider this book a gateway book for newer readers to get a taste of dystopian stories and continue reading better books in that genre. I recommend this book for younger readers....more
**spoiler alert** Sutton Mercer had the perfect life, great friends, and a gorgeous boyfriend, until she was murdered. Then the killer forced Sutton's**spoiler alert** Sutton Mercer had the perfect life, great friends, and a gorgeous boyfriend, until she was murdered. Then the killer forced Sutton's long-lost twin sister, Emma, to pretend to be her. Emma has been living Sutton's life for weeks now, frantically trying to figure out who killed her sister and why. When Sutton's body is discovered, Emma suddenly becomes the number-one suspect in her twin's murder. Now she needs to find the killer before she ends up behind bars, or worse. I like the way things slowly unraveled in this book and gave time for the characters to react to all of the reveals. It was interesting seeing Laurel react to Becky being her sister. I liked the way Emma felt guilty for lying to Thayer by pretending to be Sutton, I wish the series had explored the ramifications of the switch more. Emma gaslighting Thayer about the switch “for his own good” was interesting, and I loved how Thayer called Emma’s name to see if she would react to it. It was interesting seeing Emma continuing to act as Sutton when Sutton’s body was found and misidentified as Emma’s. I’m glad that Alex’s character was used effectively in this book because I felt like her character wasn’t explored properly in previous books. I liked how the twin switch storyline ended and how the truth came out. I liked that Emma’s character felt fleshed out more now that she wasn’t pretending to be Sutton. Learning that Travis sold out Emma to Sutton’s killer was messed up. I liked how they fleshed out Garrett’s character in this final book, despite not liking him in any of the previous books. I was a little disappointed that Ethan ended up being the killer. Not only did it feel like an easy and obvious road for this story to go down, I felt like it was a little melodramatic, especially the clichéd “if I can’t have you, no one can” line. I do admit that Ethan being Sutton’s killer does line up with the small foreshadowing moments in previous books, but I still felt like I wanted more out of this reveal. Despite my problems with this book, it does stand out as the most exciting book in the series as it is the conclusion and features all the reveals for the end of the series. I do think that the first eight Pretty Little Liars books are stronger than The Lying Game books, but I think I enjoyed the premise of The Lying Game more, and ultimately enjoyed the reveals of Pretty Little Liars better. I liked how Sutton “helped” Emma fight off Ethan in the end but I still feel like the concept of Sutton’s ghost narration was ultimately underutilized and wasn’t as effective as it should have been. I liked the aftermath of the climax and seeing how Emma fit into this new world without Sutton. I think the final scene at Christmas with the newly formed Mercer family was touching, and I liked that Sutton found peace knowing that Emma got her justice and fit back into her family. I like how this six book series all takes place during a small time period of a few weeks. I feel like this series deserves an updated television or limited series adaptation. I’m glad that I read all six books directly after one another because I feel like that was the proper way to experience this story. I definitely recommend this book for fans of Pretty Little Liars and for readers who love mystery thrillers with a chick-lit flair. I was a big fan of the show and the choices and changes they made in the adaptation, but I appreciate the book series and I’m glad that I read all the books....more
When Sutton died two months ago, her killer told her twin sister to become Sutton, or else. Now Emma has it down near perfectly. She tosses her hair wWhen Sutton died two months ago, her killer told her twin sister to become Sutton, or else. Now Emma has it down near perfectly. She tosses her hair with the signature Sutton Mercer flip and can lead a Lying Game prank with the best of them. She's even repairing Sutton’s relationship with her adoptive family. The only thing she hasn't done is solve Sutton’s murder. Then their birth mother, the woman who abandoned them, showed up in Tucson. Emma hasn't seen Becky in twelve years, but Becky recognizes Emma immediately, as Emma. Is it mother's intuition, or does Becky know Sutton is already gone? This is the second to last book in the series, and probably my favorite book in the series (so far). I love the premise and the return of Emma and Sutton’s birth mother, Becky Mercer. I loved the revelation of the twins’ true family tree and how that shakes up all the character dynamics going into this book. While I understand the characters’ less than knowledgeable understanding of mental illness, I do still think that Sara Shepard has a bad habit of depicting mental illness poorly. Even if the author likes to explore the idea of dangerous neurodivergent people, it often never feels nuanced or complex enough to be justified and ultimately boils down to “they’re just crazy!” as a cheap plot point. I did like how Nisha tries to explain to Emma that people have all kinds of problems that land them in the psych ward and that calling them crazy isn’t something she would say, but the moment is briefer than it should be. There are more quasi-supernatural elements in this book in the form of a tarot card reading from Celeste (a new age girl with a strong intuition), but Celeste’s scenes feel half-baked, much like many other quasi-supernatural elements in Sara Shepard’s books. I understand wanting to make this series have the tiniest pinch of pseudo supernatural flavor to have some spooky ambiguous moments, but it just never feels like it’s done right. This also applies to Sutton’s perspective as a narrative tool. I expected this series to have many unique moments through Sutton’s ghost’s perspective, but by the fifth book in a six book series, there aren’t as many as I’d like. It makes the choice to see things through Sutton’s eyes feel like a cheap gimmick. There were many moments that I wanted Sutton’s thoughts and feelings on what Emma was feeling or doing but it is never explored further or if it is, it’s very briefly. I was also confused at how the reader knows Emma’s inner thoughts if Sutton’s ghost POV hasn’t shown that Sutton could hear Emma’s thoughts. I feel like if Sara Shepard wanted to include Sutton’s ghost, she should have leaned into it just a little bit more while trying not to go too far with it. I may feel differently by the end of the series though, if it’s used effectively at the end and the story is wrapped up well. I loved Becky’s inclusion in this book, but I would have loved if it had explored her a bit more. The death at the end of this book felt random but it definitely raised the stakes going into the final book in the series....more
**spoiler alert** Separated at birth, twin sisters Emma Paxton and Sutton Mercer never had a chance to meet, and now they never will. Someone murdered**spoiler alert** Separated at birth, twin sisters Emma Paxton and Sutton Mercer never had a chance to meet, and now they never will. Someone murdered Sutton and forced Emma into taking her place. Sutton can only watch from beyond the grave as Emma tries to figure out who killed her, and why. As Emma digs deeper, the girls discover that the truth may be far more terrible than they'd ever imagined, and the killer may be a lot closer to home. Being the fourth book in a six book mystery series, I wanted this book to advance the overall plot as we are going into the second half of the series. Unfortunately, the first 50% of this book didn’t engage me or move the story forward in any significant way, but the ending definitely made up for it and advanced the overall plot. This may be a small gripe, but I was surprised to learn that Alex, Emma’s friend from Las Vegas who knew about the twins, didn’t know about the switch and Sutton being dead. The previous book made me think that Alex was aware of Emma living Sutton’s life, but I may be remembering wrong. I feel like Sara Shepard could have made more details (like Alex and Emma’s relationship) more clear and defined, even if they are considered smaller details in the grand scheme of things. I feel like the “Devious Four” should have been fleshed out and utilized more. I liked that this book fleshed out some of the other secondary characters and evolved them beyond their base archetypes. This book made the secondary characters feel more human and less like caricatures. I liked the introduction of Sutton’s “grandmother” and I found her character interesting despite not much being done with her (initially). Laurel being the first prime suspect in this book was interesting, but I felt like it wasn’t written as effectively as it could have been. I didn’t like Mr. Mercer being a suspect until it unraveled into the reveal that Becky is his daughter, the twins are Becky’s biological children, and that Sutton and Emma are technically Ted and Kristen’s grandchildren. This would also make Becky and Laurel biological sisters, and that would make Sutton and Emma Laurel’s biological nieces. I loved how this shook up the family tree and relationship dynamics. I loved how this book fleshed out Ted and Becky as characters and connected everything, revealing the true family tree to the reader. I’m very excited to see how the rest of the story unravels in the final two books....more
Foster child Emma Paxton is finally starting to get the hang of walking in her dead twin sister's shoes, even as she tries to track down Sutton's murdFoster child Emma Paxton is finally starting to get the hang of walking in her dead twin sister's shoes, even as she tries to track down Sutton's murderer. Sutton was no angel, and the pranks she and her friends pulled leave Emma with a long list of suspects. The most mysterious of them is Thayer Vega, who's currently missing, a fact which many of Sutton's friends blame on her. Emma has no idea what Sutton did that could have driven Thayer away. Until Thayer himself shows up on her doorstep. Emma begins to wonder, is Thayer back to get his revenge, or is it possible he already has? This story was much more interesting than the previous book. I liked the introduction of Thayer’s character and how it shakes up the character dynamics and storyline. Hearing about Alex, Emma’s friend from Las Vegas who knew about the twin switch, was a little jarring for me because she was only mentioned briefly in the first book and not at all in the second. This book’s storyline was much more intriguing than the second book’s, and I liked how this book deepened the mystery of Sutton’s killer. This book does depict the idea of mental illness and neurodivergence poorly (much like the Pretty Little Liars franchise), but as most teenagers aren’t educated on neurodivergence and seeing how the media and society depicts the mentally ill, certain reactions to mental illness are not surprising or unrealistic. One of Sutton’s friends makes an amnesia joke when Emma asks certain questions, and it made me think, Emma should have orchestrated an accident and faked amnesia if she wanted to ask questions about Sutton’s life so openly. I’m sure that that plan would have caused some problems of its own, and people in Sutton’s life could have just lied to Emma or taken advantage of her amnesia, but I think that if Emma had faked amnesia after pretending to be Sutton for awhile, she could have compared how people acted towards her before and after the fake accident and narrowed down her list of murder suspects. Regardless, I liked this book much better than the previous book, which felt like filler. This book made me realize how often Emma briefly notices someone watching her before they hide behind something. This also happened in the Pretty Little Liars books, but it felt more effective there. Had I been Emma in those situations, I would have chased down whoever she thought was watching her and confronted them. I’m still not sold on the Emma and Ethan romance. Emma is a moderately interesting character, but I’m not interested in Ethan as a person. I liked how this book explored the ramifications of the twin switch on Emma’s personality and character. The exploration of assuming your twin’s identity and “becoming the mask” is something that I wish this book series explored more. It’s hard to believe any of the motives for the suspects in any of the first few books because the true identity of the killer will most likely be revealed in the second to last or the final book in the series, however this book’s prime suspect was much more interesting than the suspects in the second book. Even though I feel as though the second and third books did little to advance the overall main plot, I am still interested and curious enough about the mystery to continue reading almost immediately after finishing the previous book....more
Sutton Mercer is dead, but only a few people know it. Her long-lost twin, Emma, has stepped into her shoes, doing her best to flirt with Sutton's boyfSutton Mercer is dead, but only a few people know it. Her long-lost twin, Emma, has stepped into her shoes, doing her best to flirt with Sutton's boyfriend, hang with her friends, and live with her family all while tracking down Sutton's murderer. The killer wants Emma to keep playing the part of Sutton, after all, no missing person means no investigation. I still love this premise, but this second book didn’t keep me engaged or interested for 50% of the story. This book continued with the unconventional narration. There was a third person narrator, but Sutton’s first person, ghostly perspective would pop in for a paragraph here and there. This sometimes bothered me in the first book, but I’m getting used to it now. Sutton’s perspective was in the story more this time, so it wasn’t as jarring when the narration style switched from third person to first person. One thing I liked is when Sutton’s ghost suddenly gets a memory of something from before she died and the next chapter tells that story. It gives us a glimpse of the real Sutton. It also builds some tension for the reader, because although Sutton has remembered what happened, she has no way of telling Emma about it. I enjoy Emma as a protagonist, but the secondary characters feel very one-note. It is still early on in this series, so the reader is still learning about the secondary characters at the same time as Emma is, so some of that surface level characterization for certain characters feels justified and intentional. I didn’t like the main storyline for this book, but I did like how it deepened the reader’s understanding of certain characters and introduced some new ones. I’m not a huge fan of the romance aspect. I suspect that I already know who the killer is, but I hope that I’m wrong, or that it is at least written and executed well if I am right. Despite the fact that this book felt like a filler book, I will be continuing on to the third book in the series....more
As a fan of the first eight Pretty Little Liars books, I wanted to read this series as I knew it dealt with a “twin switch” storyline (a trope that I As a fan of the first eight Pretty Little Liars books, I wanted to read this series as I knew it dealt with a “twin switch” storyline (a trope that I love) as the central focus. I had also watched the television adaptation of this series and loved it despite that it was cancelled after two seasons and was reportedly very different from the books. The author, Sara Shepard, does a great job at combining a mystery thriller story with chick lit elements. Shortly before her seventeenth birthday, Emma discovers she has a long-lost twin named Sutton Mercer. She contacts Sutton, who agrees to a rendezvous but never shows up. Curious at first, Emma slips into Sutton's ultra-glamorous life, assuming her identity. When it becomes clear that Sutton is not coming back, that someone made sure she never could, Emma begins to investigate who could have wanted her sister gone. I admire Sara Shepard for her ability to write for a teen girl audience in a way that seems genuine and appeals to that audience. I love that the author’s books are helping young girls get into the mystery thriller genre. The writing style and storytelling format is very similar to the Pretty Little Liars books but with a quasi-supernatural twist. I was interested in the premise from the beginning, but it was also hard for me to let go of the storylines and depictions that I loved from the television show adaptation. Seeing things from Sutton’s perspective was an interesting storytelling choice, but I think the amnesia and flashes of memories was a good way to add to the mystery. This book did a good job at introducing the central characters, the main storyline and setting up the foundation for the rest of the series. This book felt like the pilot episode to a teen mystery series. I recommend this book for fans of the Pretty Little Liars books and television show. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series....more
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safeAgainst all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. I didn't like how Suzanne Collins decided to end this amazing trilogy but I respect it. It must have been hard wrapping up this amazing story, especially after the devastatingly good second book, the best in the series. I loved the way that survivors of war and great trauma were depicted in the end, it felt very realistic. I loved the exploration of Coin’s character and how Katniss chose to kill her to stop the cycle of violence. This is a story about war and what it means to be a volunteer and yet still a pawn. At the end of the day, when the personal war is over for each of them, each is left alone to pick up the pieces as best he/she can. Eventually, Collins leaves us with the best possible ending. I have read several reviews in which people feel that Katniss is left as an empty shell of herself and she keeps Peeta in her life for convenience. I understand but disagree. Collins uses the simple exchange between Katniss and Peeta at the end of the final chapter to confirm their love. This is where I think Collins wanted us to think back on the good times and use those moments to imagine Katniss' life with Peeta. "What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again." To have good days and bad days, Katniss could not be a shell. She had regained the pieces of her life and was living it to the best of her abilities. Fighting the PTSD when it returned and focusing on the pleasures in-between. This book series was never a fairytale or dystopian power fantasy. In war things don't end with sunshine and butterflies. They end with broken people trying to pick up the pieces of their life and put them back together the best way they can. That is the most heroic effort of all. Not killing President Snow, not defeating an entire army all by yourself. A hero is just someone who has been through hell and decides to still try to move forward despite the pain and difficulty of each day. Kudos to Suzanne Collins for giving a generation of people far detached from real war, the chance to realize that it isn't ever glorious or rewarding. It's heartbreaking and leaves the survivors as pieces of their former selves....more
This is my favorite book in The Hunger Games trilogy and it is also my favorite book from the young-adult dystopian genre boom. Against all odds, KatnThis is my favorite book in The Hunger Games trilogy and it is also my favorite book from the young-adult dystopian genre boom. Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Builds on both the political and romantic threads already established in The Hunger Games; more than lives up to the promise of its prequel. Halfway through this book, I couldn't help but smile at the realization that Suzanne Collins is shooting for something truly epic with this series. The machinations of the Capitol and those who dare to defy it rise above the stuff of the usual teen 'girl' series. I was able to predict many of the cliffhangers and plot twists, but that still didn't spoil my experience of reading. In fact, it made it better. I loved the exploration of previous victors and I loved the premise of a death game involving previous winners of the games. Like the first book, once the games begin, there is no putting down this book until it is all finished....more
Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used to be the United StKatniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used to be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place. Without really meaning to, Katniss becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. This book is the best book to come out of the young-adult dystopian genre. I read this trilogy was completely immersed by the world and Katniss and her story. This first book is a perfect introduction for younger readers who want to get into the dystopian genre. What's interesting is the concept behind this book - a successful empire/city/dynasty from a civil war charges each of the losing district two children every year for a gladiator style showdown. 24 children between the ages of 12-18 are chosen, one survives and takes home honor, a life of luxury for themselves and their family, and food for their entire district for a year. You leave a nobody, and you come back a champion. If you come back at all. The writing style isn’t particularly captivating but the story and concept itself are enough to engage readers until the end. Once the games begin, there’s no putting down this book until it is over....more
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