Rating: 
Also not a book to jump into without having read its predecessors, Magic’s Child finds Reason Cansino wondering how her life could have changed so much in the span of two weeks. Her mother’s still locked up, she no longer hates her grandmother, Esmeralda, though she still doesn’t trust her, she has two close friends, a bundle of crazy new magic, and to ice the cake, she’s pregnant.
Of course, she’s just days pregnant, but Esmeralda saw it with her magic. Her friends Jay-Tee and Tom are sure that her creepy ancestor did it to her, while giving her his magic, but Reason and Esmeralda known the truth: the father is Jay-Tee’s brother, Danny, who Reason spent the night with in New York. She figures she needs to tell him, and head through the door to do just that. Only she catches him about ready to head out to catch a plane, on his way to visit them in Australia. And she can’t do it. Which turns out to be good, at least as far as Danny’s concerned, since he tells her that the other night shouldn’t have happened, and while he really likes her, she’s too young.
Back in Australia, a surprise visit from a Social Worker leaves Reason feeling ill at ease, since she’s sure her friends did more harm than good in trying to help her out. She’s also not looking forward to the academic testing she knew nothing about but is scheduled for in mere days.
Things take further turns for the worse as Reason goes to rescue her mother only to find she’s been kidnapped by Jason Blake, aka Alexander, aka her evil grandfather. En route to find them, Jay-Tee nearly dies, throwing one more wrench in the works. And overriding it all is the fact that Reason is changing, and incredibly fast. In a span of days she’s ceased needing to eat, can no longer feel hot or cold, has lost her hair, and to top it all off, glows. Her main struggle becomes that of humanity. To stay in the heavy, dull world she’s known her whole life, or to disappear into the world of magic: all lights and space and nothingness.
Can she save her friends and family before it’s too late? Will she stay in the world with them, and her daughter, or complete the change and become what Raul Cansino had in mind for her. If it is what he had in mind when he chose her over the rest of her family, to be the one to receive his gift.
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March 1st, 2007
5:08 pm
Book Review, Series
adventure, ancient egypt, fantasy, historical, juvenile fiction, scifi, space and time, time travel, ya fiction
Rating: 
The second installment of the Golden Hour series, this is a much heftier story than its predecessor. Beginning with a short summarization for those might have missed the first trip to Owatannauk, Maine, there’s little slowing down once the adventure begins.
Xanthe, home without her twin for once, is busily beating herself up for having done so poorly in the contest that won Xavier the trip he’s currently off on. When her mother suggests studying to take her mind off it, Xanthe heads to the porch to do some math. Not long after she discovers something struggling in their pond. A something who happens to be he dearest friend, Rowan Popplewell.
Coming to visit with exciting news, Rowan miscalculated a bit and landed his alleviator (time machine) in the middle of the pond. The news: Aunts Agatha and Gertrude want their assistance with a special project. Collecting the goods sold in their curio shop. More specifically, obtaining rare manuscripts from Ancient Egypt.
No sooner has Rowan shared the news and headed back in the alleviator, Xanthe’s Nana calls wanting her to come visit.
Arriving to find a very different Nina than she met the previous summer, Xanthe is excited. Not only to go to Egypt, but to go without her brother. In fact, she’s a little too wrapped up in having something he won’t.
When Xavier later shows up in Alexandria to join the rest of them, Xanthe feels personally slighted. Her anger, and the unlikely chance of stepping out of an alleviator right in front of Cleopatra, lead her down a treacherous road, with dire consequences. Uncertain if they pull it off, the four children band together to return to the past, repair history, and restore the natural order of the universe.
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Rating: 
This is definitely a series where you need to read the first book.
We pick up just after Robert has returned to himself–an event which has changed his relationship with his sister, and his best friend.
Live in the cave is a strong memory to him, and he and Emma make regular trips to bring food and supplies to its occupants. While happy to be home, Robert can’t forget about those he left behind. Especially Lorn.
His obsession and change in personality lead Tom, who can’t understand this Robert, to confront him. Which in turn leads Robert to tell him the truth–and then drag him home to Emma for confirmation. Tom can’t get his mind around it regardless.
But when they suddenly think they may have stumbled upon the actual Lorn, reality takes and even stranger turn than what Tom considers Robert’s fantasy.
After a lot of planning and arguing, it’s Tom who comes out with more courage of his convictions and sees to it that Robert doesn’t back down on trying to return Lorn to herself.
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Rating:
When the world learns that the moon is going to be hit by an asteroid, the reaction is excitement. Finally, everyone alive will get to see something that’s happened throughout history but never truly been witnessed. On Miranda’s road, like many others, families come out to the street for a better view of the event. But soon after her brother announces he can see the asteroid coming through the telescope, things go from spectacular to disaster.
After the hit, everyone on the ground is left with a disturbing sight: the moon, asked, more visible, and far too close. Soon after, the flooding begins. Entire coasts are wiped out. Earthquakes follow. And eventually, fires.
When Miranda’s mother shows up at school soaking wet during a storm, she doesn’t know what to think. When they’re racing around the supermarket stocking up on everything they can, she thinks her mother is definitely over reacting. But as life grows less and less normal, she begins to understand that it was her mother’s quick thinking and foresight that’s enabling them to survive.
Unsure why she’s keeping a diary, Miranda nevertheless writes nearly every day, documenting the good times, the exciting days, and the trauma. Everything.
Quite often, while reading, I’d pause, look up, and be quite surprised to see the HDTV playing on, realize the lights were working, and that there was a fridge full of food. While I certainly hope this creative tale never turns into reality, I have to think it’s a possibility, which makes it all the more gripping.
Miranda and her family suffer through what sometimes seems more than their fair share of ups and downs, but through it all they stick together, showing us that love and perseverance can help you through even the most unimaginable times.
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Rating:
This is the story of Orokos–the island in the sea. And as far as most of its inhabitants are concerned, the only place there is. Rail and Moa grew up on Orokos; Rail always certain it is what is seems, Moa sure there’s something more.
As a child, Moa lost her father, who died trying to escape the island. Rail lost his ability to breathe, one of many victims of the Probability storms that have wreaked havoc on the island as long as anyone can remember. The two meet up one day and becomes a fast pair, making their money thieving.
A job gone bad forces them to flee their home. On their way back to the hidden city from which Moa first came, they stumble upon the golem Vago, who helps them on their way, but eventually escapes, seeking to learn the truth of his own identity. A journey that will lead him, and therefore the others, straight into the arms of the Protectorate, the rulers of Orokos, whose chief of Secret Police has a dream of his own. To find and destroy the Chaos Engine, which makes the Probability Storms possible. He dreams of an Orokos filled with only peace. And with Moa and her stolen artifact in hand, the dream seems within reach.
So what will become of this solitary world if these dreams are reached?
Perhaps Wooding’s most original creation yet. A slightly heavier read than some of his other books, but well worth it. Fantasy readers will likely enjoy it–it is an entirely invented world after all, though the nature of the story does lend itself more towards SciFi.
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Rating:
In this sequel to Faerie Wars, we pick up right where we left off. Mr Fogarty has settled into his duties as Gatekeeper of the Realm, Pyrgus is acclimating to his position as Emperor Elect, and Henry is back at home missing the Faerie Realm. So when he finds out he’s been invited to Pyrgus’ Coronation Ceremony, he’s perfectly happy to except. On top of that, he finds out he’ll be receiving some magical help in sneaking away–even better!
But not for long.
In the Realm, Lord Hairstreak has struck a deal with the now resurrected Purple Emperor, putting Comma on the throne, with himself as Regent. Comma then releases his crazy mother from the West Wing, after banishing Pyrgus, Blue and Fogarty. Henry lost his original portal maker and had to make himself a new one, and isn’t at all sure he got it right, though he does eventually realize what’s actually going on.
Much more action in this one, since the plots are thicker and the twists more numerous. Very enjoyable and quick read. Can’t wait for the next one!
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Rating:
Henry Atherton thought he was living a pretty normal life. Sure, working for Mr. Fogarty could be strange, as the man was completely paranoid, but all in all things were good. He even made his cardboard pig fly–and that’s no mean feat. But when he comes down to breakfast to find his Mother acting strangely, and his father turns up acting even stranger, he starts to get the feeling something is amiss.
He mulls it over on the ride to Mr. Fogarty’s with his father, and bites the bullet when he gets let off, and asks his father if he’s having an affair. The answer he receives sends him reeling. So, while cleaning out Mr. Fogarty’s shed and realizing the cat has caught a miniature person with winds, and NOT a butterfly as he first suspected, he captures the thing in a jamjar and takes it to Fogarty, sure things can’t get much weirder.
At home later, he starts to think he must have been crazy to believe in faeries, even if he had been just talking to one. But he knows it was real. When he arrives the next day to find Fogarty with a youth about his own age, things get better and odder all at once.
As promised, Pyrgus has returned to his actual size.
Pyrgus and Henry break into Henry’s school to gather components needed to build a portal to enable Pyrgus to get back home, where he’s certain plots against his father are unfolding. After delivering the parts, Henry’s bit is meant to be done. He’s promised never to see Mr. Fogarty again. But after many days of unanswered calls, he can’t take it anymore, and heads to Fogarty’s to make sure everything is all right.
By this time, Pyrgus has disappeared through the portal and no one’s sure where he is, and his father has come through and gone back with Mr. Fogarty in tow. Henry manages to find the clues left behind and open the portal himself to get through.
After arriving at the Purple Palace, things take one unfortunate turn after another. Only though a stroke of imagination does Henry manage to turn things back around.
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Rating:
In this sequel to Airborn, we pick up about where we left off. Matt’s taken his money and used it to enroll in the Airship Academy, sending some home for his mother and sister’s. Kate has enrolled in the Sorbonne and taken up flying lessons. The adventure begins with Matt’s internship about the Flotsam.
Assistant to the Navigator, he’s learning things he never really took the time to notice board the Aurora. He was always more concerned with the flying than the routes. And while he appreciates his realization of the importance of the Navigator to a ship, he can’t wait to be done with the Flotsam, whose captain is questionable at best. When he flies them straight into a storm, Matt is sure he’s mad. When they get through, he begins to rethink his opinion…until they get caught in an updraft, and having jettisoned their ballast, are all but powerless to stop their ascent.
While floating at dangerous heights, they stumble upon an incredible discovery–an airship that has become myth, declared lost years ago. At 20,000 feet she floats, a ghost ship. The captain means to salvage her, but as the crew one by one all succumb to air sickness, Matt goes against orders, vents the ship’s hydrium, and saves their lives.
Despite the manner of the discovery, the news is still magical. While he feels a deep sadness when he hears of the loss of the navigator, Matt also realizes this makes him the only person to now know the coordinates of the mythical Hyperion. He can’t wait to tell Kate. Only Kate’s already found out. The story, it seems, has been leaked. This makes the idea less appealing.
When a meeting with a supposed member of the family of the deceased owner of the Hyperion turns bad, Matt starts to second-guess everything. Whether finding the ship was a good thing after all, whether Kate’s scheme to go after it is insanity or a worthwhile dream. An attempt on his life and the discovery of another man in Kate’s house make his mind up for him.
And still things don’t go his way. The very ship he and his newfound partner Nadira mean to hire is the same ship Kate has already hired, its owner the very man Matt spied in her house. And yet, the ragtag crew strikes a deal. Hal has the ship, Kate has the funds, Nadira the key, Matt the coordinates.
This adventure is even more fantastic than the last. An excellent read, highly recommended.
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Rating:
Matt Cruse was born for Airship life–quite literally. When his father is killed in an accident, the idea of remaining at home is insufferable to him, and he takes a job aboard the very same ship his father used to frequent. The Aurora. To Matt, the ship is home.
In the air he feels most alive, most comfortable, most himself. At night he dreams of his father, by day he dreams of becoming a captain someday.
Through some rather interesting twists of events, Matt becomes a hero for rescuing a hot air balloon, but the situation leaves him glum, as he feels he disappointed the balloon’s occupant on his deathbed. A year later, he finds himself face to face with the man’s grandaughter, and the mystery starts anew.
Kate has brought along her grandfather’s journal, which she shares with Matt. Inside are detailed drawings of the creatures the man had been speaking of when he died. Matt can scarcely believe his eyes, but it does seem likely that the things actually exist. Though their route won’t take them very close to where the animals were spotted, Matt promises to tell Kate when they come close, so she can try to spot them and prove her grandfather right.
Instead, they ship suffers a run in with pirates; an episode which leaves them battered and broken, lucky to find land to tie-down the ship and make repairs. Aside from the cook, who is overjoyed at the culinary options offered by thei new paradise, not many seem too enchanted with their island. Except for Matt and Kate, who know where they must be.
Many adventures and much trouble ensue.
A fast-paced read, lots of fun. Like me, you’re likely to be off to the sequel when you’re through.
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Rating:
When Cal came to NYC from Texas, he was looking forward to starting college. He never suspected, after wandering into a bar, that his life would take a turn into permanent change. He certainly didn’t intend to start turning any girl he kissed into a “vampire.” But, it happened, and now he spends his time being educated by the Night Watch, hunting down his short list of girlfriends, trying to right the wrongs.
When he finally finds Sarah, his first and only real girlfriend, it hits him hardest. Who she was, what she became, the fact that she remembers his name… She seems different. But no one wants to listen to him.
All his converts caught, Cal turns his attentions back to trying to find his progenitor: a girl he can only recall by first name and face. When fate leads him to her, or to where she once was, Cal begins to question what he’s been learning, and what he’s being told. Things are amiss in the world of Peeps, and Cal intends to get to the bottom of it.
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