The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Original Title: The Hobbit

Year Published: 2001 (my edition. Originally Published in 1937)

Published by: Pan Reprint (my edition)

Number of Pages: 305

First Sentence: "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Bilbo Baggins is a reasonably typical hobbit: fond of sleeping, eating, drinking, parties and presents. However, it is his destiny to travel to the dwarflands in the east, to help slay the dragon Smaug. His quest takes him through enchanted forests, spiders' lairs, and under the Misty Mountains, where he comes across the vile Gollum, and tricks him out of his 'Precious' - a ring that makes its bearer invisible, and wields a terrible power of its own.

My thoughts:

I made the mistake of watching the movies before reading the book. That meant that I found the book quite boring since I kept comparing it to the movies. Don't do that. It will only make you sad.

I originally gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, but after sitting down and properly thinking about it I realised that it was worth one more star. It is a good book and a great story. 

Sure the characters are quite shallow in their depiction, and the only one who actually has any kind of character development is Bilbo. However, it is worth remembering that this book was written as a children's book originally. Within those frames, it is a book with great depth and detail. Tolkien is a fantastic author which he showcases even in this book. 

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I do, although if you've seen the movies you might find it quite dreary and slow. It is still a great story well worth reading.

Generation Kill by Evan Wright

Original Title: Generation Kill

Year Published: 2008

Published by: Berkley

Number of Pages: 370

First Sentence: "It's another Iraqi town, nameless to the Marines racing down the main drag in Humvees, blowing it to pieces."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

They were called a generation without heroes. Then they were called upon to be heroes. Within hours of 9/11, America’s war on terrorism fell to those like the twenty-three Marines of the First Recon Battalion, the first generation dispatched into open-ended combat since Vietnam. They were a new pop-culture breed of American warrior unrecognizable to their forebears—soldiers raised on hip hop, video games and The Real World. Cocky, brave, headstrong, wary and mostly unprepared for the physical, emotional and moral horrors ahead, the “First Suicide Battalion” would spearhead the blitzkrieg on Iraq, and fight against the hardest resistance Saddam had to offer.Now a major HBO event, Generation Kill is the national bestselling book based on the National Magazine Award-winning story in Rolling Stone. It is the funny, frightening, and profane firsthand account of these remarkable men, of the personal toll of victory, and of the randomness, brutality and camaraderie of a new American War.

My thoughts:

This is such an important book and ought to be a requirement in schools when discussing the Iraqi war. I'm well aware of the fact that war is not pretty, but this really opened my eyes to how awful it really is and why we should not put the blame on the individual soldier. Nobody wins in a war, nobody comes out of it truly victorious. 

This book is not trying to glamorise war nor justify it. It is a thorough documentation of the realities of war. Sure, we only get to read the American side of it, but that side is not pretty either. Commanders that have no idea how war works in reality, only on paper, horrible conditions, insufficient gear and then the realisation that killing people is not noble nor heroic. We get to see it all. It will floor you. 

It was hard to read though since my brain kept on trying to tell me that it was fiction, that I was reading about made up characters. However, when the logical part won over my brain and the realisation that this story is real, it actually happened, hit me I had to put the book down and take a breather. We want to think of soldiers as inhuman, superheroes, men who aren't wired the way that the rest of us are. This book shows us that this isn't the case. The Iceman has emotions, all men in the American military have emotions and what they do is not easy. Can it always be justified? No. But that does not mean that it is easy for them, nor that they are monsters. They are human beings, doing something they believe in. 

In the First Recon Battalion, we meet a group of people that are a mix of endearing and borderline psychotic. There are some that you will relate to and some that will terrify you. Wright mixes his observations with his personal thoughts and feelings. It is a great account of the initial invasion of Operation Iraqi Freedom (a name that the boys in Bravo scoffs at) and should be read by all. 

Do I recommend it?

God yes. Go read. Or watch the HBO mini-series.

#Hyllvärmare2015 Update

I'm done! I was actually done on Saturday, but a busy weekend has meant no blog updates. I've finished all five of the books I picked for the February reading challenge I joined, which feels absolutely great!

The books are:

1. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
2. The Elder Gods by David and Leigh Eddings
3. The Treasured One by David and Leigh Eddings
4. Generation Kill by Evan Wright
5. Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

All have been reviewed on the blog apart from The Hobbit and Generation Kill. 

I'm so happy that I managed to finish this challenge. I had moments when I lost interest, not in the challenge, but in the books and I thought that I wouldn't manage to finish. But hey, I finished with almost a week to spare! 

Happy reading to you!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Book #1 of Percy Jackson and The Olympians)

Original Title: The Lightning Thief

Year Published: 2006

Published by: Disney Hyperion Books

Number of Pages: 377

First Sentence: "Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot: 

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

My thoughts:

I loved this book! It felt fresh and new (yes, I do know it was published quite a while ago but sometimes I'm slow), and I quickly got sucked into the story. The idea of writing a YA series about demi-gods and the Greek Gods is a brilliant one and I really loved how the Greek Gods were portrayed. 

Percy is a good main character that you really care for. It was really nice reading a book with a male lead for once since a lot of YA books have females as the main character (not that there is anything wrong with that). I love the fact that he isn't overly cocky and self-confident, but instead have insecurities and knows that he isn't invincible. What makes him a hero is that he does the things he is scared of. That is the mark of a true hero. 

Annabeth is a mystery for a long time, and it's hard to see if she is one of the good guys or just indifferent to the whole thing. She is driven and proud, but then shows great sides of herself. Without her, Percy would not make it far. 

Grover, on the other hand, is a bit of a clown and mostly serves as a comic relief (at least that is how I perceived him). He has moments of greatness as well, and the trio slowly melds together during this book to make up a well-functioning team of three. 

I was also positively surprised about this book. I had seen the film first (what a mistake) and had never really fallen in love with the story. I didn't have high hopes when I started the book, but oh boy was I surprised. It is just great and I suggest that you just don't watch the films. They have botched the books terribly and are not good representatives of the books. 

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I do. It is a really entertaining story and I'm really glad that I bought the whole set at the same time. Looking forward to reading the rest.

The Elder Gods and The Treasured One by David & Leigh Eddings (The Dreamers Books 1 and 2)

Original Titles: The Elder Gods (Book 1) and The Treasured One (Book 2)

Year Published: 2003 and 2005

Published by: Vision

Number of Pages: Both are 480 pages long.

First Sentence: 

Goodreads ratings:  I rated both as 3/5

Plot:

Somewhere beyond the farthest pole of the world, the land of Dhrall lies anchored by the will of four powerful Gods. Able to bend reality to their whims and influence the lives of mortal men, these deities are still bound by the laws of nature and cannot take lives. Yet the Gods are not the only power. For in the center of Dhrall lives a voracious horror known as the Vlagh. A nightmare made flesh, the Vlagh has bred a massive army of hideous monsters to overrun the world. In the coming battles the people of Dhrall will be aided by a ragtag force of foreign mercenaries and pirates, but the true champions of the war will be four enigmatic children known as the Dreamers. Raised by the Gods themselves, these children can alter the fabric of reality. But, unlike the Elder Gods, the Dreamers do not hesitate to kill...

My thoughts:

I wanted to love these books, I really did. Sadly enough, they were only ok. They were entertaining enough that I did not die with boredom reading them, but I was hit with a feeling of "Is that all?" when I finished. There are four books in the series and I have to be honest and say that I will not read the last two, at least not in the near future. I have no interest and no urge to know what happens to all the characters.

However, there are elements in the book that are more than good. There are characters that you get invested in and start to care for such as Longbow and Rabbit. The plot is not much to brag about, to be honest. There is a war with creatures that resemble insects and a kingdom that faces destruction. In theory, the book could be great with this plot, but in practice it falls like a house of cards in a light breeze. 

On the whole, the book feels uninspired. I loved Eddings books about Polgara, Belgarath and Belgarion, and these books just seem like a washed out version of those books. 

Do I recommend it?

No. 

Update nr 2 for #hyllvärmare2015

Just a quick update on the little challenge I'm doing. I've so far read 3 out of 5 books. It's been a little slower than I would have wanted, but I have had a hard time focusing on the books I had picked out to read. But hey, I still have a week and half to go :D The two books left to read are Generation Kill and The Elders (Book 2).

So you can soon expect reviews on The Hobbit and The Elders (Book 1)!

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking (#2 in the Watersong Quartet)

Original Title: Lullaby

Year Published: 2012

Published by: St Martins Press

Number of Pages: 200

First Sentence: "Harper woke up when the sun was just beginning to set, and squinted at the dim orange light streaming in through her curtains."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers. 

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life.  Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world.  It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs.  Just as she's drifting far away from her old life,  Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed.  All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

My thoughts:

The book picks up just where the first one left off. Gemma has left to be with the sirens and Harper is devastated. She does everything in her power to try and find her sister. She gets help from both Alex and Daniel, and then from a somewhat unexpected source. Harper also struggles with her feelings for Daniel, who just keeps surprising her. 

Gemma on the other hand struggles with being a siren. She refuses to enjoy her enhanced abilities which have led to her being quite ill.  She is afraid that she will lose her humanity if she gives in to her siren urges. 

It also turns out that one of the sirens isn't as bad as she first seemed and the other two are even worse than they first seemed. We also get to know a little bit more about the myth around sirens as Hocking sees them. I really like the way she has written the sirens and developed the idea around them. 

I really liked this book. It was a great continuation of the first book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

Do I recommend it?

Yes I do!

Bound to Remember by Lola James (Book 1 of the Spellbound Series)

Original Title: Bound to Remember, A Paranormal Romance

Year Published: 2011

Published by: Self-published

Number of Pages: 116

First Sentence: "Another meeting, I thought as I sat down in the conference room of the ER."

Goodreads rating: 1/5

Plot:

Vampires and Witches and Myths, oh my!

Toni is a young doctor with a past she can't remember and a deadly reason for forgetting it. 

Ben is a nurse who has his own tragic past and transfers hospitals after an act of heroism forces his secluded life public. 

Ben can’t believe his eyes when he meets Toni, she has an uncanny resemblance to an old friend of his, and Toni can’t help but find Ben irresistible. 

Enter Kevin, Toni’s sexy but arrogant Ex. Kevin’s jealousy of Ben blinds him from his main objective, Toni. 

A dangerous secret is revealed and a magic spell seems to be a quick remedy, but the witch that helps has a little more than magic up her sleeve…

My thoughts:

This book was horrible! I liked the basic idea of it and reading the summary made it seem somewhat interesting. I was so wrong. This book is just one cliche after another. 

Toni is supposed to be an ER doctor but behaves like a 14-year-old girl. I'm not saying that a doctor can't let loose and have fun, but any adult behaving like a child is just embarrassing. The fact that she also "falls in love" and wouldn't be against actually marrying a guy after only knowing him for two days is just so awkward and people who actually behave like this in real life should be locked up (no I do believe in love at first sight, but this isn't it). 

The plot is another disaster. I've read fanfics that are a thousand times better. In fact, think of the worst fanfiction you've ever read. This will be worse. Trust me. I'm not even going to say anything more.

Do I recommend it?

NO!

Epic Reads Booktag

I am so sorry for the lack of updates lately, but I have been down with the cold. I'm much better now and therefore updates will once more be posted at least once a week.

Today I'm doing the Epic Reads book tag. I was tagged by Bella over at Bella's Bokblogg. I have to start off by saying that I'm absolutely horrible when you point a camera at me, but I made do. Hopefully, you will enjoy. As you might also notice, my editing skills are zero to none, so it is a very basic video. 

Question 1: If you could invite one author and one of their fictional characters to tea, who would you invite and what would you serve them?

Question 2: What book do you wish the author would write a prequel for? 

Question 3: Which two characters (NOT from the same book) do you think would make a good couple?

Question 4: If you ran in to your favorite author on the subway and only could say one sentence to them who is it and what would it be? 

Question 5: What book made you a reader and why?

Question 6: Your bookshelf just caught on fire. Show us the one book you save. 

Question 7: Which dystopian world would you want to live in if you had to choose one? Why?

Question 8: What is your most epic read of all time?

When you are done with the questions, tag some people and then do the book shimmy. (Cat's are optional)

I hope you enjoyed!

Update nr 1 for #hyllvärmare2015

I've finished my first book for the Take control of your bookshelf challenge I'm doing. It's Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins (review). So that's one down, four to go. I'm making way with both Generation Kill and The Hobbit so I'm not worried about finishing those. The two books by David Eddings though... ah we'll see.

But hey, at least there is some success!

Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins (#3 of the Sweet Trilogy)

Original TItle: Sweet Reckoning

Year Published: 2014

Published by: HarperCollins Publishers

Number of Pages: 379

First Sentence: "Not a soul in the Vegas cocktail lounge had any idea demons were in their midst,"

Goodreads rating: 5/5

Plot (taken from Goodreads):

It’s time. 

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

My thoughts:

I loved it! I had been looking forward to reading this book for so long, but for some reason never got around to it. I picked it up two days ago and binge read it. I love it so so much. It's amazing and such a good ending to the story. I even cried, and I rarely cry when reading books these days.

Oh Anna. She has come so far since the first book and I love her. She is a proper badass with a good heart. 

Kaidan is my guy. He is just so... so fantastical. This guy who tries to come of as a proper bad buy but is as soft as a marshmallow on the inside. My kind of guy. And the ending... oh you will cry. We all sigh for Kai.

Marna and Jay. Oh my. Higgins be breaking my heart. It's sad and beautiful. I will say no more. Ginger? She gets her redemption. Blake? You gotta love Blake. Kope and Zania? Oh man, they are both so amazing. Patti? Oh man, I love Patti so much.

This whole book is just so... I can't really put words to it. It probably has many flaws and plotholes but I don't care. I loved it and the way the story ended. It will make you laugh, cry and then sigh with content when you finally close it after reading the last page. At least that's what I did.

Do I recommend it?

YES! I recommend all of the Sweet books. Go read! Now!

Wake by Amanda Hocking (#1 of the Watersong series)

Original Title: Wake

Year Published: 2012

Published by: St Martin's Press

Number of Pages: 309

First Sentences: "Even over the sea, Thea could smell the blood on her."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot (taken from goodreads): 

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

My thoughts:

I loved this book. I'd started reading it once before, but couldn't get into it then. This time, I devoured it in just a few hours. The writing was great, the story as well and the characters were well thought through. It is one mighty build-up for the rest of the series, but it is still a great story. 

So the sleeve is a little misleading when it comes to the narrator. It seems like its only Gemma, but it actually switches between her and her older sister, Harper. However, Gemma is the one who gets turned into this mermaid like creature. Gemma is an avid swimmer and loves the ocean. It is the reason why the three mysterious girls are attracted to her in the first place. I liked Gemma, because athough she can seem slightly selfish, she is very aware of her flaws and how her behaviour affect others. She also cares very much for the people around her and will go out of her way to protect them. 

Harper is the quieter older sister who loves reading books and is working at the towns library. After their mother was in a car accident, Harper has taken over the responsibilities of the home as well as looking out for her sister. She is much more responsible and logical then her sister, and a lot less adventurous. Harper is also very easy to like, although her overprotectiveness can be a little too much sometimes. At the same time tht makes her endearing.

Alex is the boy next door and a very likable guy. He and Gemma develops feeling for each other during the course of the novel although they both know that Alex is moving away to college soon, and then Gemma's secret puts  a strain on the relationship. 

Speaking of love interests, we have Daniel. He is slighly older than Harper, lives on a boat, seemingly very unresponsible and Harper can't stand him. He however turns out to not be as bad as she first thinks and she has to readjust to this nicer side of him. He is also he only one who isn't impressed or affected by the three mysterious girls who have moved to the island. Daniel is amazing and a proper good guy. You will love him. 

And let's not forget the fact that young men are disappearing from the town. Nobody knows where they go or why they have disappeared. Could they be connected to the three mysterious girls?

Do I recommend it?

Yes I do. It's a really good book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. 

Finish That Series Challenge 2015 Update

Hiya!

Just wanted to update you on the FTSC2015 thingy. By finishing Mockingjay I have now officially finished two series on my list. Go me! Only 12 more to go!

My series (if you are curious):

The Syrena Legacy by Anna Banks

• Of Poseidon
• Of Triton
• Of Neptune

The Maze Runner series by James Dashner

• The Maze Runner
• The Scorch Trials
• The Death Cure

The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins

• Sweet Evil
• Sweet Peril
• Sweet Temptation

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• The Hunger Games
• Catching Fire
• Mockingjay

Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan

• The Lightning Thief
• The Sea of Monsters
• The Titan's Curse
• The Battle of the Labyrinth
• The Last Olympian

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

• A Game of Thrones
• A Clash of Kings
• A Storm of Swords
• A Feast for Crows
• A Dance with Dragons

The Abandon Trilogy by Meg Cabot

• Abandon
• Underworld
• Awaken

Heather Wells series by Meg Cabot

• Size 12 is Not Fat
• Size 14 is Not Fat Either
• Big Boned
• Size 12 and Ready to Rock
• The Bride Wore Size 12

Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward

• Dark Lover
• Lover Eternal
• Lover Awakened
• Lover Revealed
• Lover Unbound
• Lover Enshrined
• Lover Avenged
• Lover Mine
• Lover Unleashed
• Lover Reborn
• Lover at Last
• The King

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

• Clockwork Angel
• Clockwork Prince
• Clockwork Princess

The Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking

•  Switched
• Torn
• Ascend

Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

• Divergent
• Insurgent
• Allegiant
• (possibly Four)

Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J.Maas

• Throne of Glass
• Crown of Midnight
• Heir of Fire

Ruby Red Trilogy by Kirstin Geir

• Ruby Red
• Sapphire Blue
• Emerald Green

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (#3 of the Hunger Games Trilogy)

Original Title: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay

Year Published: 2010

Published by: Scholastic Inc

Number of Pages: 438

First Sentence: "I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But she's still not safe. A revolution is unfolding, and everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - everyone except Katniss.

And yet she must play the most vital part in the final battle. Katniss must become their Mockingjay - the symbol of the rebellion - no matter what the personal cost.

My thoughts:

I loved this book so so much. It was hard to get through, not because it's difficult or boring, but because it kept playing with my heartstrings. I literally had to put it down and take a break just to collect myself.

Katniss is traumatised and there is no glamourising it (thank god). We get to see a 17-year-old girl trying to keep her head above water although the current is trying to drag her down. It's amazingly well written and I love the fact that Collins alllowed Katniss to be traumatised. Taking a life, justified or not, is one of the hardest thing a person can do (not that I've ever done it). 

The plot? There is no arena in this one, of course, but instead we find ourselves underground in District 13. The District has not been as abandoned as the other Districs have thought. Instead they have slowly gathered their strength and rallied forces to stage a rebellion against the Capitol. They are led by President Coin, a middle aged woman who is hard as nails. 

Gale and Peeta? Oh they will at times break your heart and then make you want to punch them in their pretty faces. Gale is by Katniss side throughout most of the book, struggling with his feelings for her and his sense of duty. Peeta is in the clutches of the Capitol, and he will break your heart.

The rest of the characters are a mix of people you can't help but love and some that you instantly dislike. It's really difficult to go into more detail without spoiling the book so I won't (I don't care that many have probably already seen the movie). 

The plot is good, but it moves a little bit slower than the first two books. However, that doesn't really matter. Everything is really detailed and worked through without being too much. Instead of following the games we get to take part of a rebellion, which is different but Collins does a great job with this story. 

Do I recommend it?

YES! I recommend the whole trilogy, they are amazing. If you haven't read them yet, go get them and start reading!