Hoping For More

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Harry Potter Book #5

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #5
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 768 Pages (Paperback 960 pages)
Pub. Date: Hardcover, published in 2003 by Bloomsbury.
Rating: 5/5

Harry is furious that he has been abandoned at the Dursleys' house for the summer, for he suspects that Voldemort is gathering an army, that he himself could be attacked, and that his so-called friends are keeping him in the dark. Finally being rescued by wizard bodyguards, he discovers that Dumbledore is regrouping the Order of the Phoenix - a secret society first formed years ago to fight Voldemort. But the Ministry of Magic is against the Order, lies are being spread by the wizards' tabloid, the Daily Prophet, and Harry fears that he may have to take on this epic battle against evil alone.

~My Review~

Well this giant of a book took me waaay too long to read, but I am glad I did. I think that the Harry Potter series is getting progressively better with each book. I spent a great deal of this book irritated with Umbridge but I was completely hooked in by the story.

Harry is finally growing up in The Order of the Phoenix, making his decisions slightly more mature. I found it quite entertaining how clueless he was about girls, and the lectures from Hermione were excellent. I think that she should write a book too.

Harry had to face the challenge of following the rules, even when the one making them is out to get you, and you have less and less people around who you can trust. The grown-ups are keeping the students “sheltered” once again, only achieving in getting everyone into even more trouble when Harry and his friends have to find things out themselves, or get in a whole lot of trouble trying.

Overall I think that this one was my favourite so far, and I am going to try my hardest to at least read the sixth book before the final movie comes out this week!

My Rating: 5/5

~ Other books in this series ~

#1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
#2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
#3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
#4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
#5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
#6 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
#7 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, or Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

~Links 4 More~

Author Website: here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

Thursday, July 7, 2011

YA Cover Colour Wheel

Kate Heart made this colour wheel of YA covers to prove that YA isn't to dark and I just had to share. She may have been taking things a little too literally :)

See the full size here

Friday, July 1, 2011

Harry Potter Book #4

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #4
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 800 Pages
Pub. Date: Paperback, published in 2004 by Raincoast Books, originally published in June 2000 by Bloomsbury in London.
Rating: 4.5/5

When the Quidditch World Cup is disrupted by Voldemort's rampaging supporters and the terrifying Dark Mark is resurrected, it is obvious to Harry that, far from failing, Voldemort is getting stronger. The ultimate symbol to the magic world of the evil Lord's return would be if the one and only survivor of his death curse, Harry Potter, could finally be beaten. So when Harry is entered for the Triwizard Tournament - a competition between three wizarding schools to find the ultimate magician - he knows that rather than win it, he just has to get through the trials alive.

~My Review~

I liked the Goblet of Fire a lot, it kept me riveted, and I was guessing until the end. My issue is the way that the ending played out. I feel like I would have prefered to "see" the why's and who's of the villains in this one, instead of having them laid out in a monologue at the end. I think it would have been better if Harry had figured it out instead of "surprise it was actually me, mwahaha, and this is exactly how I did it!"

I liked the layout of the plot in the Goblet of Fire. The challenges were spread apart nicely throughout the book leaving enough time between them for the subplots to thicken. I feel like it was a bit odd that the Quiddich games would just stop and that the champions wouldn't have exams - just seemed a strange that none of them could multitask. I think that I was having flashbacks of when the teachers went on strike my freshman year - the lack of sports for one year FUBARed the teams for a good three years, and we were known for our athletics dept. before the strike. When I read that they were canceling Quiddich for the year I was thinking "No, you will loose your momentum, and you're wasting a whole year for training the new recruits!"

All that aside, the creepiness was chilling, the humor was engaging, and the adventure was captivating. Another great book in the series.

My Rating: 4.5/5

~ Other books in this series ~
#1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
#2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
#3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
#4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
#5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
#6 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
#7 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, or Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

~Links 4 More~
Author Website: here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Monday, June 27, 2011

Harry Potter Book #3

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #3
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 480 Pages
Pub. Date: Paperback, 10 July 2004, originally published in January 1999 by Bloomsbury in London.
Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has survived the murderous attacks of the feared Dark Wizard Voldemort three times. But his hopes for a quiet term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison. It's assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be. But is it a coincidence that he can feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney's ghoulish predictions seriously?

~My Review~

Now this one I loved! Just wasted a whole Saturday reading it and it didn't even feel like a waste. My love for Mr. Potter has been officially established. Better late than never right?

All of the character came alive for me in Prisoner of Azkaban. The mystery was riveting and the relationships are feeling more real and substantial. I don't think there is one thing about this book that I didn't love.

My Rating: 5/5

~ Other books in this series ~

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, or Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

~Links 4 More~

Author Website: here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Prom Dates From Hell - Anthology Review

Title: Prom Nights from Hell
Author: Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe, Stephenie Meyer, Lauren Myracle
Genre: Young Adult
Page Count: 320 Pages
Pub. Date: May 1st 2007 by HarperTeen (first published April 1st 2007)

Rating: 4/5

In this exciting collection, bestselling authors Meg Cabot (How to Be Popular), Kim Harrison (A Fistful of Charms), Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), and Lauren Myracle (ttyl) take bad prom nights to a whole new level—a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper—and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.

From angels fighting demons to a creepy take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, scary fun.

~ My Review ~

I admit I bought this for the Stephenie Meyer story - eager to eat up anything she writes - but it was a pleasantly fun read. I love it when anthologies expose me to new authors I wouldn't have found otherwise and there were definitely a couple of those in this one. Not a mind blowing read, but fast and enjoyable.

My Rating: 4/5

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~

Immortal: Love Stories with Bite by P.C. Cast (Editor), Zombies Vs. Unicorns

by Holly Black (Editor)

~Links 4 More~
Read more about this anthology here : here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Harry Potter Book #2

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #2
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 256 Pages
Pub. Date: Hardcover, published in 2004 by Raincoast Books, originally published in June 1998 by Bloomsbury in London.
Rating: 4/5

Harry can't wait for his holidays with the dire Dursleys to end. But a small, self-punishing house-elf warns Harry of mortal danger awaiting him at Hogwarts School. Returning to the castle nevertheless, Harry hears a rumour about a chamber of secrets, holding unknown horrors to magicians of Muggle parentage. Now someone is casting spells that turn people to stone, and a terrible warning is found painted on the wall. The chief suspect - who's always in the wrong place - is Harry. But something much darker has yet to be unleashed.

~My Review~

This series is reminding me of magical Nancy Drew (which I loved as a child BTW). Harry finds himself right in the middle of another mystery at Hogwarts. I was happy that, again, I was kept guessing throughout the whole book, and I loved how it all unfolded.

Rowling does a great job of character development, it was easy to grow attached to the good characters and hate the bad ones. I particularly liked the suspense of Dobby the house elf. There was an air of mystery throughout the story that kept me reading.

I must say that I liked this one a lot better than the first, but I am still waiting to be blown away.

My Rating: 4/5

~ Other books in this series ~

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, or Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

~Links 4 More~

Author Website: here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Goddess Test - 4/5 Great Story

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Series: Goddess Test #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mythology
Page Count: 304 Pages (ARC)
Pub. Date: Published April 26th, 2011 by HarlequinTEEN
Rating: 4/5

EVERY GIRL who has taken the test has DIED.

Now it's KATE'S TURN.

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

~My Review~

Kate has a choice; to keep someone alive she must trade the rest of her winters to live with a stranger in a mysterious mansion. She doesn't want any more death around her, but there is much more to this bargain than she knows.

Something different and innovative in the YA genre. Aimee's take on the mythology of Hades and Persephone was both lighthearted and heartbreaking at the same time. I didn't want to stop reading, and although I was ok with the ending, I feel like it could have been better. I am hoping that with more to the story I will get a more satisfying conclusion to Kate's story.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarlequinTEEN for the ARC