Tag Archives: Maya V. ’17

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor (review by Maya V. ’17)

May 1, 2014 mspelmanlibrarian 1 Comment

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last book in its trilogy, Dreams of Gods and Monsters is a warming, heart wrenching, and fulfilling finale. After years of the chimaera and seraphim warring brutally against each other, the two races are devastated. The few chimaera monsters left are being resurrected regularly after losing battles. The seraphim race has split into two armies: one led by the new king, Jael, who plans to invade Earth, and another called the Misbegotten. In this sequel, Karou of the chimaera, the main character of this trilogy, and her love interest Akiva of the Misbegotten unite their races to defeat Jael. With their shared dream of uniting their people forever, they fight to bring harmony to the land of Eretz. This novel completes the epic trilogy with no questions unanswered. Every detail of the characters’ lives, the history behind the land of Eretz, and the mystery of the seraphim’s magical powers are explained magnificently. The interesting look into the side characters’ personalities makes the novel even richer with side stories and backgrounds. However, to thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this novel, it is vital to read the preceding two books. This title is a must-read for young adults! – Maya V. ’17

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Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes (review by Maya V. ’17)

March 23, 2014 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The sequel to Falling Kingdoms, Rebel Spring is extraordinary. The first novel, following the stories of young adults from different kingdoms of Mytica, ended at the point in which all of the characters met. Now, the teenagers live in a time of greater turmoil than they had lived in before. Whether controlled by murderous parents or harassed by brutal soldiers of other kingdoms, they must constantly watch their backs to avoid death. In such circumstances, the characters have to find a way to not only bring back peace to their land, but also manage their personal issues. If you expect a typical continuation of the story in which the teens team up and fight resistance as best friends forever, you are most definitely mistaken. You will be stunned at the turn of events that occur instead. Incorporating the side characters from the previous novel as main characters in the sequel, one can develop a broader view of the situation, given the several new perspectives. Containing even more gut-gripping moments, horrific murders, mystery, romance, and excellent writing, Rebel Spring is a must read! – Maya V. ‘17

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Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes (review by Maya V. ’17)

January 22, 2014 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The three kingdoms of Auranos, Paelsia, and Limeros are divided by power struggles, wealth, and conflicting ideas. In this time of peril, four young people from these kingdoms are fighting to protect their homelands: Cleo, the princess of Auranos; Jonas, a rebel fighting for the rights of the Paelsian people; Magnus, the Limerian prince and successor to the King of Blood; and Lucia, the sister of Magnus, princess, and sorceress of Limeros. As they fight each other’s lands to protect their own, they soon find their lives intertwined with one another. An adventure and fantasy novel with a sufficient amount of drama, this book will appeal to many young readers. The characters’ thoughts are written in great depth and honesty, which allows the reader to truly connect with the young adults of the story. The recurring theme of independence and how one can still reach his or her goals without the support from adults provides motivation to those in similar situations. The setting and plot development are gripping, and you will not be able to put the book down. With several perspectives, detail, adventure, and violence, Falling Kingdoms is an extremely enjoyable read! – Maya V. ‘17

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Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman Jurman (review by Maya V. ’17)

October 6, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian 1 Comment

Alicia by Alicia Appleman-Jurman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman is a World War II memoir of the author’s experience as a young Jewish girl during the holocaust. After her brothers are brutally murdered by the Nazis, Alicia begins to realize the gravity of the situation around her. She and her remaining family members flee to ghettos, hide from the gestapo in underground barracks, and trek across the country, but still cannot find refuge. Alicia’s entire family is soon gone, and she is left to fend for herself. Appleman-Jurman is a true master of detail and description as displayed throughout the novel. The heart wrenching details of her emotional and physical pain are agonizing. Her description of the rage and cruelty the Nazis showed towards her and others makes you question if people with such dark hearts could have ever existed. Every aspect of this novel is written with clarity, honesty, and depth, which allows you to feel like you are in the position of the main character. Alicia: My Story is a must-read for young-adults. While the story is very tragic and may not suit every reader, it forces you to appreciate even the smallest luxuries of life. If you are a fan of historical non-fiction and gorgeous descriptions, this book is definitely for you. – Maya V ’17

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Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor (review by Maya V. ’17)

October 2, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Days of Blood and Starlight does not disappoint. Karou is now in the Middle East, living with the only chimaera left in the land of Eretz. After finding out about her past life and true identity as a part of the chimaera race, she feels that she must take action and save her people in the war against the angels. After her forbidden romance with the enemy, she is completely focused on helping the chimaera army grow stronger. However, she struggles to prove herself worthy to the others, who do not believe she can handle being a leader. She does not know which path to take: Should she continue to fight for power and lead the chimaera army to victory, or should she return to her mundane life as an average teenager? Should she seek help from the enemy, who she once trusted? This novel is a wonderful continuation of the first book in the series. The storyline grows more intense, nerve racking, and addictive after only the first few pages. Having read the second book with the same passion as the first, I can barely wait until the third is released in spring! – Maya V. ‘17

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (review by Maya V. ’17)

October 1, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Daughter of Smoke and Bone tells the story of a teen on a journey to discover her true identity. Karou, a young art student, knocks on a door that can only be opened from the inside. It leads to a house in the middle of an unknown realm; she is not allowed outside this house. Her only family is four chimaera that collect all sorts of teeth. Suddenly, strange handprints start appearing on doors, and before she knows it, she is left alone. Where did her family go? How was she born into that alternate world? Is she even human? Even though the novel is quite lengthy, I can assure you that you will finish the book wishing that it was even longer. Taylor does such an excellent job of foreshadowing events that you will not be able to sleep before finishing the book. If you are a fan of plot twists, fantasy, romance, and violence, this book is definitely for you. – Maya V. ‘17

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