Book Review Update: University Student + Final Exams

Hello Bookish Friends!

Until the end of April I will only be posting a book review once per week (plus quote-of-the-week/other features). Why? Well, mostly to retain what sanity I still have. I'm a university student, and it is Final Exam time. I didn't want to just mysteriously disappear on you!

So, all my fellow students, I wish you luck with end-of-the-year stress. It's almost over. And then you will be able to read what you want!

TL;DR: Because of final exams I will only be reviewing books once a week until the end of April. 

What's the first book you're going to pick up this summer? Mine is "1984" by George Orwell.

Also, you can now follow YLFE's book reviews with Bloglovin, if that's your style.

Quote of the Week: Markus Zuzak

"The Book Thief" - Markus Zuzak

In honor of my most recently reviewed book comes this veiled quotation. Do you see?

[image from Google]

Book Review: "Book Thief" by Markus Zuzak

My Rating: 

Why? While this is certainly not a classic 'fantasy' book, Zuzak tells an incredibly touching story from a very unique character perspective. It's a great mix of the fantastic and history.
Cost: New $4.17/Used $1.49 (Available on Kindle and Nook.)

Buy The Book Thief at Amazon.com

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Plot Tease

It's just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery...

Set during World War II in Germany, this book is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist—books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

Full Book Review

While "The Book Thief" is not your typical 'fantasy' book, I think it can still fall into the genre. Zuzak takes an incredibly unique narrative perspective: the point-of-view of Death in Nazi Germany. Think about that for a second.

Quote of the Week: George R. R. Martin

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." - George R. R. Martin

Yet another reason to pick up a fantasy book! True words.

[image from pinterest.com]

Book Review: "Assassin's Quest" by Robin Hobb

(Farseer #3)
My Rating: 
Why? Robin Hobb writes deep, realistic characters that go on a classic fantasy fiction quest anyone can enjoy. Her writing style and themes set her apart from most other fantasy fiction authors.
Cost: New $7.19/Used $0.01 (Available on Kindle and Nook.)

Buy Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb on Amazon.

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Plot Tease

FitzChivalry confronts his destiny as the catalyst who holds the fate of the kingdom of the Six Duchies...and the world itself. King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz—or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin. Only Verity's return—or the heir his princess carries—can save the Six Duchies.

But Fitz will not wait. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him—currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was before.

Full Book Review

You guys. Robin Hobb. She is my favorite fantasy fiction author by far at this point, followed closely only by Martin and Tolkien. The last half of this book totally blew me away. All that aside, I still have a bone to pick about Assassin's Quest in this book review. 

Book Review: "City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare

(Mortal Instruments #1)
My Rating: 
Why? City of Bones is full of tropes and flat characters that simply don't work for me in fantasy fiction.

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Plot Tease

When Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons.

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors who  rid the earth of demons. Clary is pulled into Jace’s world when her mother disappears. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? Exotic and gritty, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Full Book Review

Sorry for the long summary, but I had to include that last sentence in this book review. Exotic and gritty? Ferociously entertaining? Not hardly. If we're calling average fan fiction exotic and gritty, City of Bones does not fit the bill. Clare's prose is overly simple, clumsy and just plain uninspiring. Clary's story often becomes an infodump on Shadowhunters and their mystical world of fantastic hot guys and mythical creatures. Well.

Cassandra Clare has got a nice secret I'd like to tell you, also.

Book Review: "A Storm of Swords" by George R. R. Martin

(A Song of Ice and Fire #3)
My Rating: 
Why? As far as fantasy books are concerned, Martin writes one of the largest, most in-depth casts of characters I've ever seen. It's really impressive.

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Plot Tease

Of five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne. Lord Stannis stands defeated, the victim of a sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. Young Robb Stark still rules the North, plotting against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage. 

Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, with the only three dragons still left in the world...But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. No one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords...

Full Book Review
If the last two fantasy books in this series were rife with drama and intrigue, A Storm of Swords compounds it all. Essentially, the entire kingdom is in utter turmoil at this point. No one has solid footing, and certainly there is no plain frontrunner for the position of king. All that said, Martin works his magic once again and there are some really fantastic plot points that come into play. 

Every character is at risk - no one is safe - and that really increases the dramatic tension and suspense. This book review is going to be a little different, because I'm only going to talk about one character: Jaime Lannister, quite possibly one of the biggest tools in the series.