What We’re Reading

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3: The Titan’s Curse | Rick Riordan

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The action is non-stop in this installment of the series, right from the get-go. Percy, Annabeth and Thalia are on their way to Maine to answer Grover’s call for help. Unsure of what they’re walking into, they don’t have much of a plan, which leaves them without much to go on when the first people they encounter are a couple of the school administrators.

After managing to squeak by that sticky situation, the kids are undone again as the monster-in-residence at the school makes off with the half-breeds Grover found. Percy goes after them alone, unable to find any of his friends, and lands himself in yet another bad spot. The gang arrives to help him out just in time to realize it’s all a trap. Only some completely unforeseen assistance gets them out of the jam, but not without losses.

The group arrives back at camp only to prepare to leave again on a mission, ultimately, to save the world. Their friend-turned enemy Luke has gotten himself in with the wrong crowd, and a plot to overthrow the Olympians is under way. Three Hunters and two campers are chosen to go after the goddess Artemis, who needs to be at the meeting on the solstice or all hell will break loose. Percy, unwilling to be left behind, follows along unbeknown to the rest, unwilling to sit idle while he has a friend in trouble.

As foretold by as prophecy before the group departed, they suffer loss along the way, and obstacles at every turn. Will they succeed in their quest, or will Kronos awake and the Titans be restored?

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Ironside | Holly Black

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When I started reading, I immediately regretted having read Tithe and Valiant so long ago. Although it’s probably more all the stories I read in between that filled my head up so that I forgot some of the important pieces to this one. But once the story starts to pick up, you get past what you might not remember.

After a brief prologue explaining Roiben’s beginnings at the Unseelie Court, we jump to his present, where he’s about to be crowned its King. Immediately after his coronation, things take a turn for the worse. Kaye, egged on by some ill-wishing faeries, makes a declaration–something she doesn’t fully understand–and Roiben sets her an impossible task, which she takes to mean he doesn’t love her. Of course he means it in an entirely different way, but since they can’t talk until she completes her task, there’s no great way to discover that fact. Shortly after this, the court is attacked and must flee.

Back in the human side of things, Corny has gotten himself cursed, and Kaye has informed her mother that she’s a changeling and is really a pixie, not a human girl. The result is not quite what she had hoped, which leads she and Corny to take off in search of the Fixer, who’s said to be able to lead them to Silarial, who has requested an audience with Kaye.

Upon arriving at the Bright Court, Kaye quickly realizes that what Silarial wants is her help in controlling Roiben, which Kaye could provide, as the one living being to know his true name. She has absolutely no intention of using it against him that way, of course.

After a lot of unwanted adventure, and a few further mishaps, the gang figures out a few key answers, and stumbles upon some good luck. Will it be enough to save the day?

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Masquerade | Melissa De La Cruz

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Sequel to Blue Bloods, this is a title I’d been waiting for awhile. And in no way did it disappoint.

Schuyler, off in Italy searching for her grandfather with best friend Ollie, is missing school, and all the preparations for the Four Hundred Ball. And the even more exclusive party Mimi Force has decided to throw afterwards. With Cordelia dead, Schuyler is pretty much alone in the world, and growing desperate that her search has led her nowhere. Even worse…when she does finally find what she’s looking for, it leaves her only more disappointed.

Back in NYC, rumors of the Silver Bloods still abound, and still the Committee claims there’s no need to worry. Only when they lose one of their own do they sit up and take notice.

Schuyler’s grandfather, ashamed at the words she’d left him with in Venice, has come home. He alone believed in the Silver Bloods, and took steps to train Schuyler against an attack. When the attack comes, he moves for a vote of new leadership of the Committee. In the meantime, he’s embroiled in a personal battle–the battle for custody of Schuyler. With Cordelia gone, Charles Force has petitioned the court for custody of Schuyler. Schuyler wants none of it.

There’s no lack of tension in this story, between the mystery, the danger, the love triangle, and the subplots. Blue Bloods fans will be well pleased, and left hanging, looking forward to what’s next.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | J.K. Rowling

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Having started this whole series all over again in the end of May (my apologies for the reviews I didn’t write…it turned into this frenzied race against time), I feel like this book may have been even harder for me than it will be for most. Here was the end of a world I had just spent 2 months immersed in. And what an end!

This isn’t a review I really know how to write, because just like I didn’t want to have anything spoiled for me, I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone else, and I’m not sure how to review the story while leaving the whole thing out. Suffice it to say….while everyone will likely be upset, they should also be pleased. This was a great finale to a great series. Lots of action, tons of plot twists, this is a fast-paced story that never really slows down, even when it seems to. Like a true cliche, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry. But overall, I imagine you’ll be satisfied.

In a year or so maybe I can come back and write the real review!

Pirate School #2: Ahoy! Ghost Ship Ahead | Brian James

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In the second installment of their series, Pete, Inna, Vicky, Aaron and Gary are finally getting their hands dirty with some real pirating work. Being lookout in the midst of a storm isn’t a whole lot of fun, but they consider it the most important job on the ship. Rotten Teeth might not…but the Captain repays him for his doubts by sticking him up in the crow’s nest til morning, which makes it all worth it.

Early the next morning, Pete wakes up and spies a surprising sight through his spyglass–a Ghost Ship! Rotten Tooth just sets to laughing at them again when they tell him about it, so they go to Clegg instead, because Clegg knows everything. He tells them Ghost Ships are very important and its their job to find out what it wants.

With special permission from the captain to sleep on deck, the kids set about to do just that, trying to save the day yet again. Even when it seems no one believes them, these kids stick to their guns and do what they know is right. Which is lucky for their crew mates, since as of yet, this little crew hasn’t been wrong!

Pirate School #1: The Curse of Snake Island | Brian James

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As the series starts off, pirate-hopefuls Pete, Inna, Vicky, Aaron and Gary all left their respective ships behind to come crew the Sea Rat, whose Captain—Stinky Beard—wanted to start a Pirate School. Rotten Tooth, the best pirate on the ship, was given the job of being their teacher. He didn’t much appreciate the job, so his students had yet to learn anything much more than how to clean and stay out of his way. But they were determined to find a way to make him see that they were ready to be real pirates.

After a number of backfired plans, the group strikes gold: the crew is set to take off on a Treasure Hunt on Snake Island. The kids seek out Clegg, the pirate who knows all, to ask him about the curse of the snake of Snake Island. They also copy themselves the treasure map. Then, with permission from the captain to camp on the beach for the night, they’re set to try and save the day. The plan? Get that treasure first! And prove they’re ready to be pirates.