The Eternal City by Paula Morris

This review was written by: C

Received: Library

Publication Date of Book: May 2015

Pages: 304
Stars: 2/5

Official Summary:

From master of suspense Paula Morris comes a tale of gods and goddesses, thrilling romance, and mystery set in present-day Rome.

Laura Martin is visiting Rome on a class trip, and she's entranced by the majestic Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon. . . . Everything in this city seems magical.

That is, until the magic seems to turn very dark.

Suddenly, statues of Cupid and ancient works of art come to life before her eyes. Earthquakes rumble and a cloud of ash forms in the sky. A dark-eyed boy with wings on his heels appears and gives her a message. Laura soon realizes she is at the center of a brewing battle -- a battle between the gods and goddesses, one that will shake modern-day Rome to its core.

Only she and her group of friends can truly unravel the mystery behind what is happening. As tensions mount and secret identities are revealed, Laura must rely on her own inner strength to face up to what may be a fight for her life.

Acclaimed author Paula Morris brings the ancient world to vivid life in this unstoppable tale of friendship, love, and the power of the past.

My Thoughts:

This is one review that I have been struggling with, especially because I have mixed feelings about The Eternal City. I had such high expectations for this book, and I really wanted to love it. However, it just wasn't what I was expecting. By the number of stars that I've given this particular book, I don't want anyone to think that the story is absolutely terrible--it just didn't suit my tastes. Consequently, I am positive that there are readers out there that would enjoy The Eternal City. Sadly, I am just not one of them.

There are exactly three things that drew me to this book: it's cover, it's summary, and the short excerpt of the story located on the very back of the book itself. Personally, I think that every reader is guilty of judging a book based upon its cover art, and I am no exception. The cover is the very first thing that I saw, and my immediate thought was that it was absolutely gorgeous! It looked as if the art was depicting a book filled with mystery and magic, and I had to pick it up. Then, I read the short summary on the jacket, and I thought that the story was a brilliant concept. I love books that are similar to Percy Jackson and anything that focuses on fantasy, myths, legends, and ancient gods. Plus, the excerpt featured Mercury (the Roman messenger god) and he sounded pretty cute. As a result, I thought I held in my hands a female driven story similar to Percy Jackson that featured some very gorgeous Roman deities.

The first letdown was that the characters in this book didn't feel relatable or likeable in any way. This is a YA novel, and all of the main characters are in high school. However, they all seemed extremely immature and unrealistic, and I didn't feel a connection with any of them. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the main character was female.  In my experience, books with female protagonists are not extremely easy to enjoy. I have come across many female leads that usually possess some sort of annoying trait such as helplessness, a terrible attitude, or some flaw that makes it very difficult to get through the story. Laura, the lead of The Eternal City, was not a character that I enjoyed. It's hard for me to place my finger on why I feel this way, but she just seemed somewhat bland and of absolutely no use to anyone. She's supposed to be the character which an entire war is centered around. As a result, you kind of expect her to be remarkable or special in some way. But in The Eternal City, this wasn't the case.

This leads into my next letdown; too many weird and unrealistic events occurred. While Laura was on her class trip to Rome, almost everyone in the city came down with some weird sickness. However, the teachers in charge of all of the children saw no reason why the healthy kids couldn't go out into a foreign city and go site-seeing. Wouldn't you be concerned that they could potentially get sick? Wouldn't you quarantine everyone in their rooms? And when all of the teachers become sick, they allow the healthy students to venture out into the city alone. I'm pretty sure that goes against all common sense that faculty members should possess. Have they not seen Taken? Are they not afraid that someone could get hurt, mugged, or have something even worse happen to them? Anything could occur to a small group of teenagers that have been given free rein and no adult supervision in an unfamiliar and foreign city. Not to mention, they don't all speak fluent Italian.

Lastly, absolutely no gods--aside from Mercury--appeared. I thought there would be gods and goddesses fighting in the streets of Rome--at least that was the impression that I received from the book's summary. Instead, all I got were moving statues and fighting birds. And the big showdown didn't even occur until the last fifty pages of the story. The characters basically spent 250 pages running around the city not doing anything majorly productive.

I can't give the book a single star, because the author did do a superb job including many amazing sites and historical aspects of Rome. Morris possesses extensive knowledge on the city and sincerely tried to incorporate as much realism in terms of setting as she could. And this kind of accuracy is something that I really appreciate.

In the end, the idea of Roman gods fighting in the streets of modern day Rome in  order to reclaim the eyes of Minerva seems like a really awesome concept. However, its execution did not meet my expectations. 

5 WORLDS GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES BY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR MARK SIEGEL, Announcement from Random House Children's Books

Knightingale Reviews recently received this exciting press release from Random House Children's Books, so we decided to share it with you!

RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOKS ACQUIRES BESTSELLING AUTHOR MARK SIEGEL’S 5 WORLDS GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES

5 Worlds Book 1: The Sand Warrior to release May 2017

New York, NY (July 21, 2016)—Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, has acquired the 5 WORLDS graphic novel series by bestselling and award-winning author Mark Siegel, it was announced today by Mallory Loehr, Senior Vice President, Publisher of the Random House/Golden Books, Doubleday, and Crown Books for Young Readers Group. The three-book deal for world rights (excluding France) was negotiated by Michelle H. Nagler, Associate Publishing Director, Random House Children’s Books.

In addition to his author credits, which include the bestselling Sailor Twain, or the Mermaid in the Hudson, Siegel is the founder and editorial director of the graphic novel imprint First Second Books, and he pens the new 5 WORLDS series with his brother, Alexis Siegel, and an up-and-coming team of illustrators: Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, and Boya Sun.

The lushly illustrated middle-grade series tells the sci-fi/fantasy adventure of a defiant young girl and the five worlds facing extinction unless five ancient and mysterious beacons are lit. When war erupts on her home planet, she meets two unlikely companions and discovers there’s more to herself—and to her world’s history—than meets the eye.

“Like so many other children, I grew up gazing at the stars and dreaming of making friends in far-flung parts of our universe,” says Siegel. “Here I am years later working with four fellow dreamers—Alexis, Matt, Xanthe, and Boya—on a five-part story of friendship that defies galactic boundaries. On behalf of our team, I am so excited to invite you to join us to discover new worlds together. We hope you’ll like what you see.”

“Mark Siegel’s talent and expertise in the graphic novel genre are unprecedented, so it isn’t surprising that he and his extraordinary creative team are breaking new ground with 5 WORLDS,” says Nagler. “This is a series that readers will devour and return to over and over again.”

5 Worlds Book 1: The Sand Warrior will release on May 2, 2017, followed by the next two books in the series in 2018 and 2019. Chelsea Eberly, Editor, Random House Books for Young Readers, will edit.

Get news updates about the series on Twitter at @5WorldsTeam.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS

MARK SIEGEL has written and illustrated several award-winning picture books and graphic novels, including the New York Times bestseller Sailor Twain, or the Mermaid in the Hudson. He is also the founder and editorial director of First Second Books. He lives with his family in New York. Follow Mark and the 5 Worlds team on Twitter at @5WorldsTeam.

ALEXIS SIEGEL is a writer and translator based in London. He has translated a number of bestselling graphic novels, including Joann Sfar’s The Rabbi’s Cat, Pénélope Bagleu’s Exquisite Corpse, and Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese (into French).

XANTHE BOUMA is an illustrator based in Southern California. When not working on picture books, fashion illustration, and comics, Xanthe enjoys soaking up the beachside sun. Follow Xanthe on Tumblr at @yumbles and on Twitter at @xoxobouma.

MATT ROCKEFELLER is an illustrator and comic book artist from Tucson, Arizona. His work has appeared in a variety of formats, including book covers, picture books, and animation. Matt lives in New York City. Follow him on Tumblr at @mrockefeller and on Twitter at @mcrockefeller.

BOYA SUN is an illustrator and coauthor of the graphic novel Chasma Knights. Originally from China, Boya traveled from Canada to the United States and now resides in the charming city of Baltimore. Follow Boya on Tumblr at @boyasun and on Twitter at @boyaboyasun.

Random House Books for Young Readers is an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR 5 WORLDS

“A magical journey, as fun as it is beautiful!”

—Kazu Kibuishi, #1 New York Times bestselling creator of Amulet

“Epic action, adventure, and mystery will draw you in, but the heartfelt characters and their seemingly impossible journey will keep you turning the pages.”

—Lisa Yee, author of the DC Super Hero Girls™ series

“This stellar team has created a gorgeous and entrancing world like no other!”

—Noelle Stevenson, New York Times bestselling author of Nimona

The Blue Girl (Newford #15) by Charles de Lint

This review was written by: B

Received: Library 

Publication Date of Book: October 2004

Stars: 4/5

Official Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Imogene's tough, rebellious nature has caused her more harm than good -- so when her family moves to Newford, she decides to reinvent herself.  She won't lose her punk/thrift-shop look, but she'll try to avoid the gangs, work a little harder at school, and maybe even stay out of trouble for a change.

Maxine is Imogene's exact opposite.  Everyone considers Maxine a straight-A loser, but as Imogene soon learns, it's Maxine's overprotective mother whose rules about clothes and curfews make it impossible for her to speak up for her true self.  Oddly, the friendship works.  Imogene helps Maxine loosen up, and in turn, Maxine keeps Imogene in line.

But trouble shows up anyway.  Imogene quickly catches the eye of Redding's A-list bullies, as well as the school's resident teen ghost.  Then she gets on the wrong side of a gang of malicious fairies.  When her imaginary childhood friend Pelly shows up, Imogene realizes that the impossible is all too real -- and all too dangerous.  If she wants to survive high school -- not to mention stay alive -- she has to fall back on the skills she picked up in her hometown.  Even with Maxine and some unexpected allies by her side, will she be able to make it?

My Thoughts:

"The thing to remember when you're writing," he said, "is, it's not whether or not what you put on paper is true.  It's whether or not it wakes a truth in your reader. I don't care what literary devices you might use, or belief systems you tap into -- if you can make a story true for a reader, if you can give them a glimpse into another way of seeing the world, or another way that they can cope with their problems, then that story is a success."

-Mr. Riddell

The Blue Girl

Previous to my picking up this novel, I had no idea who Charles de Lint was, let alone that he was a winner of the World Fantasy Award.  In fact, he is something of an urban fantasy/mythic fiction legend!  The Blue Girl is part of an extensive series with quite a few loosely collected standalone novels set in the same North American city called Newford.  While I didn't read any of them previously to The Blue Girl, I found myself perfectly in sync with the story and easily able to understand everything that was thrown at me!

YA fantasies are hands down my all time favorite genre to read.  However, it's rare the I actually ever find myself reading one, which I find more than weird.  (I'm just a weird person, though!)  As a result, de Lint's novel was a welcoming breath of fresh air.  For one, The Blue Girl had a strong female friendship element that I feel I've never encountered before.  Imogene and Maxine were complete opposites, yet they fit together perfectly.  Maxine was the nerdy girl, unwillingly living on the outside of the social hierarchy, forced to always be looked over and shunned.  Imogene was the willingly outrageous one who made a statement everywhere she went and by everything she did, including her sudden words, bold actions, and even out-there fashion sense.  She was certainly a one of a kind.  This dynamic duo, though, was able to bring out the best in each other and appreciate their unique individuality.  Just like the mistake that many of us make, their peers judged them by their basic sense of sight.  However, Maxine and Imogene understood that differences are nothing but just that, and they realized that they shouldn't judge one another by them.  Outward appearances can be quite deceiving and are hardly part of a person's entire story.

The author was able to establish a sincere, quirky friendship that was utterly phenomenal and almost impossible to describe!  I loved how Imogene decided to approach Maxine for the first time because of Maxine's undesirable pariah status. I also loved how they didn't try to pry into each others' lives (especially because Maxine knows so little about Imogene's past struggles and "bad girl" reputation), but instead realized that they needed to trust each other and have patience.  They both knew that sometimes people need time to open up about themselves and their pasts, a significant point that strongly stood out to me, because truly trusting and waiting for someone does not happen often.  (On a quick note, The Blue Girl also had amazing family dynamics (one hippie and loose, one staunch and strict), which the reader is able to see grow, especially for one particular character!)  The friendship and familial bonds in this book were downright phenomenal! 

When first meeting Imogene, I was intrigued by her.  She's one of those people who naturally carries an aura of awe and mystery.  Her more hardcore past was something she wanted to put behind her.  She wasn't going to let anything define who she was.  That's why moving to Newford was so significant for her.  It was a fresh start, a way to reinvent parts of herself.  However, she was never going to forget what happened before because she knew it was an essential part to her life story.  Nothing was going to hold her back, however, even if it was her own reputation.  I loved how this was her own decision and not something that another person forced her to do.  This brings me back to Maxine, who played a significant part in opening Imogene's eyes and shaping her view in a subtle, barely noticeable way, which was heartwarming to see unfold.  Despite this being a fantasy novel with mischievous fairies, suddenly all too real imaginary friends, lonely ghosts, and an impending darkness, de Lint took great care in shaping his characters when he could have focused his full attention on the fantastical elements themselves.

Before I go any further into my review, I just want you to know that I thoroughly enjoyed this book but had several issues with it that I'm going to bring up.  However, these points didn't break the novel for me but left me thinking about them for awhile after I had put it down.  As a result, I feel a strong need to elaborate on them.  You should definitely still read his books, though, because this one was fabulous!

Charles de Lint has this strange ability to draw you into his story with fairly simple, quick writing and stunning characterization.  He doesn't waste time on useless descriptions or unnecessary plot points.  He gets down to it, and does it well. There were these creepy scenes in which eerie, grotesque fairies marched out of a closet in the middle of the night to a disturbing symphony of music, which immediately gave me goosebumps.  At the end, though, when the murderous antagonists were confronted, I believed that this would have been the most terrifying high point for the girls, but it felt much less alarming than the previously described scene.  (I can't help but feel as if this shouldn't have been the case, and it was almost as if the scenes' tones were reversed.  As a result, the climax felt a little wrong, too.)  I also felt like it was too easy for the antagonists to be defeated, and even though there was so much suspense leading up to it, the entire event fell flat. When we finally got there, all of the tension quickly fizzled out.  It was almost like it was never even there to begin with.  Unfortunately, I considered it all very anticlimactic and abrupt.

I also would have loved to see Imogene's relationship with her boyfriend fleshed out further.  For me, it was a sudden, "BLAM! Here's another character!"  It all felt very quick, especially because he was such a small character in regards to the whole scheme of things.  On the other hand, I loved how de Lint delved into Maxine's romantic life.  This felt much more realistic.  (I really liked the pairing!  It was so cute!)

All in all, The Blue Girl was a heartwarming story with amazing themes and strong relationships that I have rarely encountered before.  Spunky characters run rampant and more than a little mischief goes on within the pages.  Sure, I had a couple of issues with it, but I have found a new series and an author that I will gladly explore in the future!  Now, onward to the rest of the series!

If you liked this book, you may also enjoy:

          

City of Blades (The Divine Cities #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett

This review was written by: B

Received: Blogging for Books

Publication Date of Book: January 2016 

Pages: 484 (2016 Paperback Edition)

Stars: 5/5

Official Summary:

A century ago, the city of Voortyashtan was the stronghold of the god of war and death, the birthplace of supernatural sentinels who killed and enslaved millions.

Now the city's god is dead.  The city itself lies in ruins.  And to its new military occupiers, the once-powerful capital is a wasteland of sectarian violence and bloody uprisings.

So it makes perfect sense that General Turyin Mulaghesh -- foul-mouthed hero of the battle of Bulikov, rumored war criminal, ally of an embattled prime minister -- has been exiled there to count down the days until she can retire and be forgotten.

At least, it makes the perfect cover story.

The truth is that the general has been pressed into service one last time, dispatched to investigate a terrifying discovery.  For while the city's god is most certainly dead, something is awakening in Voortyashtan.  And someone is determined to make the world tremble at the city's awful power again.

My Thoughts:

Five years after the ending of City of Stairs, General Mulagesh is laying low and slowly biding her time until she can retire.  She wants nothing more to do with the brutal bloodshed and death she's dealt with since her youth.  In fact, being positioned at a desk job or living in the middle of nowhere is just fine with her.  However, no amount of planning on her part could ever stop the cunning Prime Minister Shara from wanting talented Mulagesh back on the battlefield, though, only this time as an undercover operative.  And so begins Turyin's spiraling descent into further mysteries of the Divine and a heck of a way to wait out the end of her career.  

When I first heard that there would be a follow-up novel to City of Stairs, I was beyond ecstatic.  However, after I found out that Shara would take a backseat role, I began to have my doubts.  She was an undoubtedly brilliant character to follow, and I was crushed that I would not be seeing a great deal more of her sharp-witted, perceptive character.  Mulagesh was an interesting enough side character in City of Stairs, but I didn't think of her as someone I wanted to pursue for four hundred and fifty plus pages.  Robert Jackson Bennett proved me wrong, though, and demonstrated just how capable and versatile of an author he truly is!  While Mulagesh is no spring chicken, that doesn't mean that she can't be a complete badass.  I like to think that her age allowed for the story to have more depth to it because of her accountability, past experiences, and knowledge in warfare.  Mulagesh also refused to let her crippled arm be a nuisance to her, pushing herself to continue to do everything she had before it was taken from her at the Battle of Bulikov.  Her resourcefulness and brilliant perspective threw me for a loop and made me retract all of the qualms that I had beforehand. I also began to appreciate how RJB could bring even more diversity and possibilities to the story using Mulagesh instead of Shara, evolving the sequel into something phenomenal and deeper on the most basic human level.

What truly impressed me was how far the author delved into what it means to be a soldier.  Yes, it is wonderful to be victorious, and yes, who would not want to win the war?  However, RJB covered how winning may come at a greater price than what one might have originally bargained for.  With Mulagesh, he was able to tell a realistic tale that delved into what I believe to be the full spectrum of a true warrior, touching base on such subjects as post-traumatic stress disorder and loss.  On a more positive note, we were able to see further, absolutely flawless world building and some returning characters.  (When Sigrud came on scene, I may have squealed!)

The Divine Cities series contains a world that'll attract you like a moth to a flame (or like a bibliophile to a Barnes & Noble!).There is never a dull moment.  Either you're falling deeper into the back stories or you're holding on to the action with all you've got.  Robert Jackson Bennett weaves twisting mysteries and fantastical stories together in the most intriguing of ways, creating a perfect blend that any fantasy reader will suddenly want to devour!  I know that I can count on this man to hold back none of his brilliance, but instead wow me time and time again.

Please note that I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Further Information:

More Book Info: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/246707/city-of-blades-by-robert-jackson-bennett/

Author Info: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/177470/robert-jackson-bennett/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blades-Divine-Cities-Jackson-Bennett/dp/0553419714/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1468114665&sr=1-1

The Boy Who Knew Everything (Book #2) by Victoria Forester

This review was written by: C

Received: Library

Publication Date of Book: October 2015

Pages: 416

Stars: 3.5/5

Official Summary:

Here is the long-awaited companion to The Girl Who Could Fly.

There is a prophecy.

It speaks of a girl who can fly and a boy who knows everything. The prophecy says that they have the power to bring about great change...

The boy is Conrad Harrington III. The girl is Piper McCloud. They need their talents now, more than ever, if they are to save the world—and themselves.

My Thoughts:

I have waited so long for this book to come out! I fell in love with The Girl Who Could Fly when it was first published way back in 2008. It is by far one of my absolute favorite Middle Grade novels. Piper was such an enchanting character, and Forester knew exactly how to create a fantastical tale that utterly drew you in. 

I was actually starting to lose hope that a second book would even be written. The Girl Who Could Fly had such a cliffhanger of an ending, and there was no second book in sight. All-in-all, I can't believe it took seven years for the second book to finally become a reality! I know that there are a lot of mixed opinions about the story. Some say that it was absolutely terrible compared to the first, but there are quite a few people who thought it was still as magical as its predecessor. I do have quite a bit to say, but I want to give you guys a bit more of an overview of what the story is about, mostly due to the fact that the official GoodReads summary really doesn't tell you much.

The Boy Who Knew Everything picks up where The Girl Who Could Fly left off. All of the kids are where they belong, and Conrad is living with Piper and her family. As time goes on, Piper attempts to gain Conrad's support in gathering all of the children in order to use their powers for good. Conrad doesn't really want anything to do with such an idea, and he's devastated and put into a permanent funk when  his parents pronounce him dead. 

Eventually a terrifying event helps Conrad regain his senses, and he agrees to become the great leader that Piper and the kids desperately need. He orchestrates their heroic activities and makes sure that the world is none the wiser that they exist. However, nothing can ever be simple, and the children may be in grave danger.

With the disappearance of Conrad's little sister, Piper and Conrad embark on a journey to save his family. Their adventures will lead them to a secret world where people with special powers exist in peace and harmony...or at least that's how this supposedly miraculous place appears on the surface. And little do they know that absolutely no one will be safe once Conrad's family's secrets are brought to light.

------------

With a better description of the story out of the way, let's get to my thoughts on the book. We all know that The Girl Who Could Fly ended on a cliffhanger with the invisible man, also known as J., explaining to Piper that all of the kid's from I.N.S.A.N.E. aren't safe and that they all belong somewhere with people that are special like them. However, you don't really know where or what this place is. As a result, I am happy to announce that you won't be disappointed to find out that you get to learn a lot more about J., his family, and the hidden place that he mentioned in the first book. However, there's still quite a bit of mystery surrounding him, and I do have to add that I find it strange that Piper utterly trusts him. Maybe it's the fact that he's a grown adult who often watches on her and the rest of the kids while he's invisible. I feel as if he gives off a creepy stalker vibe; however, his intentions are pure.

Dr. Hellion is also still in the picture, but she really isn't much use due to the fact that she's mentally insane and locked away. I really wasn't planning to see any redemption plot weaved in for her, but Forester did include a little subplot of this.

I was most excited to read about Piper again. Her southern charm and simple upbringing were a joy to read about in the first book. As Stephenie Meyer said, The Girl Who Could Fly really is a mix of X-men and Little House on the Prairie. However, it did take awhile for me to get back into the swing of her writing. It may be that I'm older and don't really read any Middle Grade novels anymore, but her writing didn't seem to possess the exact same pizzazz and style that I remember in The Girl Who Could Fly. However, I didn't let this prevent me from finishing the story, and about a forth of the way into the book, I got into the swing of things.

I do feel that the first book was the best, but stories have to evolve with each new installment. As a result, I  think that this is where some readers felt disappointed. (At least, by looking at some of the reviews for this book, this is probably what some readers got hung up on.) The first book was so exciting because you got to experience all of the joy, exhilaration, and danger that Piper felt while discovering her powers for the first time. Piper is a character like no other, and it was thrilling to share in her experiences.

The first book then progressed by introducing an organization that takes people like Piper and tries to destroy their uniqueness. That plot followed a classic formula with a unique twist to it that readers love, and it was also the book in which the reader discovered Piper's world for the first time. Everything felt so fresh and new, and I have to say that it's probably difficult to construct a story that's capable of bringing forth the exact same feelings that the reader experienced with the first installment.

With the second book, Forester had to build on everything that the readers fell in love with prior and weave a new scenario and villain that would capture her original audience. She also had to tie up loose ends that existed in the first book. I know that she was trying to progress the story in a way that she hoped readers would find interesting and thrilling. However, the new direction wasn't what I was hoping for. The story felt a little vague at times and some aspects were a little out there and rushed. I was also a little disappointed that Piper wasn't the main character. Forester chose to center the second book around Conrad. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Conrad in the first book, but I love Piper even more. She's a character that I fell in love with as a kid, and I was hoping that she would be the main protagonist in the continuation.

I am glad that Forester continued the story, because then I would never have known what would have happened to Piper and the rest of the cast. Forester also probably wanted to change things up, and she was able to create a new plot by focusing on Conrad rather than Piper. It does make sense that she would switch to another character if the plot is supposed to revolve around a prophecy that involves both Piper and Conrad. Although, I did find it a little strange that there wasn't a direct prophecy written. All you are told is that there is one and it involves two people that fit Piper and Conrad's description. Maybe it's my love of Percy Jackson that created the need to have a solid, fleshed-out prophecy that I can follow and anticipate what will be happening next.

I also want to mention the covers. I don't really like the revamp that was done on the series:

Original:

Revamp:

     

Maybe it's just that the original cover looks more realistic (which I think is better), but I don't really like the covers with the cartoonish depictions of the characters that the publisher decided to go with.

In the end, I feel that The Boy Who Knew Everything did still have some of the magic that the first book possessed. There was also quite a bit of suspense built up for the ending, and I hope that this book will definitely open the door for a third installment! However, I hope that it comes out in less than 8 years!

If you enjoyed this book you may also like:

          

A Hundred Thousand Worlds by Bob Proehl

This review was written by: B

Received: Viking (imprint of Penguin Random House)

Publication Date of Book: 6/28/16

Pages: 368

Stars: 4.5/5 

Official Summary:

"A Kavalier & Clay for the Comic-Con Age, this is a bighearted, inventive, exuberant debut." - Eleanor Henderson, author of Ten Thousand Saints

Valerie Torrey took her son Alex and fled Los Angeles six years ago -- leaving both her role on a cult sci-fi TV show and her costar husband after a tragedy blew their small family apart.  Now Val must reunite nine-year-old Alex with his estranged father, so they set out on a road trip from New York, Val making appearances at comic book conventions along the way.

As they travel west, encountering superheroes, monsters, time travelers, and robots, Val and Alex are drawn into the orbit of the comic-con regulars, from a hapless twenty something illustrator to a lesbian comics writer to a group of cosplay women who provide a chorus of knowing commentary.  For Alex, this world is a magical place where fiction becomes reality, but as they get closer to their destination, he begins to realize that the story his mother is telling him about their journey might have a very different ending than he imagined.

A literary-meets-genre pleasure from an exciting new writer, A Hundred Thousand Worlds is a tribute to the fierce and complicated love between a mother and son -- and to the way the stories we create come to shape us.

My Thoughts:

A Hundred Thousand Worlds was not a book that I was prepared for.  All that I knew when I first heard of it and saw its gorgeous cover was that I needed to get my desperate hands on it ASAP!  I'm a huge fan of the comic book medium and all that its creation entails.  Plus, going to a con has been on my bucket list for ages.  So, reading a book that included comic book writers and artists, cosplayers, convention goers, cons themselves, panels, fandoms, and all the nerdy feels, centered around a story of familial love and sacrifice, was paradise for my little beating heart!

Looking back on it, I'm extremely surprised that I haven't really come across a novel revolving around people going to and from conventions before.  As a result, I didn't initially have too many expectations or standards heading into this book.  With no idea what to hope for except a story that would keep my mind interested and my imagination engaged, all that I could ask for was what every other reader would ask for.  You can imagine my surprise, then, when Proehl threw me for a loop with his enthralling, sincere debut that captivated my every waking moment with its exclusive quirkiness, deep rooted themes, and more than beautiful story telling.  A Hundred Thousand Worlds literally took my breath away.  It was such a gracefully sculpted story that I was left speechless by the end (and slightly close to tears).  It's true that A Hundred Thousand Worlds is full of crazy ideas and even crazier characters, but at the core of it all, there is a touching story about the bonds that hold us all together, some by a thread and others by glue.  Yes, there are brave superheroes, popular actors, eccentric writers, and awkward artists, but at the same time, this is a story where at the core of it all is heart, and there is so much more to this book than can possibly be explained with words.  It needs to be experienced firsthand or you'll be missing out on something huge.  If you're into comics, consider yourself a "geek", and/or are an extreme fangirl or fanboy, you need to pick this book up and take in all of its epic glory!  And, even if you don't fit any of these descriptions whatsoever, this book should be read regardless, because it holds something special and rich inside of it that's equally incommunicable and untouchable except by Proehl.

For some, this may seem like an intimidating book.  I know that when I first saw A Hundred Thousand Worlds in person it appeared daunting (but that could just be because I read a lot of YA . . . and I mean A LOT of YA).  It may also take awhile to get into the story.  I was about on page 70 before I became totally engrossed.  On top of that, there are quite a few story lines continually being introduced throughout the book, so keeping names straight took a little bit of getting used to.  However, I loved how so many characters crossed paths with one another in unexpected ways, overflowing into the later chapters, the entirety of their hopes and dreams and despairs spilling into different people's lives.  To be honest, I first pictured A Hundred Thousand Worlds as a wacky comedy, but what I got was a debut with weight and honesty.  Sure, I was more than a little surprised that my initial prediction was wrong, but I got something better, thought-provoking even.  I was left with a permanent impression that I will never forget.  Proehl made a huge impact on me, and I'm ecstatic to see what he comes up with next.  He's one of those authors whose every word I will gladly hang on to when it comes to his future works.

The bond between a mother and son is inexpressible; of course, any bond between a parent and child is.  However, Proehl managed to pull off an undefinable phenomenon as if it was nothing harder than a flick of the wrist, creating an impressive, stunning intensity that is inconceivable or unreachable in most other novels.  I fell deeply in love with Proehl's story.  The heartbreak and the strife, the triumphs and the failures, A Hundred Thousand Worlds battled it all.  It's hard to sometimes picture, but we live in a world within worlds, which Proehl understood and covered in depth.  Each and every single one of us has countless facets to ourselves that fit into different places and in different phases of our lives.  Alex struggled with trying to figure out his own life and story, so he decided to create a fictional one in an attempt to unravel his own.  Alex's innocence allowed the author to relay a message to his readers in the simplest yet most profound way possible.  Sometimes the connection between reality and fantasy is closer than we think, and we just have to look hard enough to see the connections.  It may even be that the stories we hear along the way or create on our own are bigger than ourselves.

There are many other aspects to this novel that I loved, as well.  For example, there were all of the side characters that were able to enrich the story and allow the author to dig deeper into the comic book world.  The diversity of this aspect made me a happy camper, especially because one of these characters was a lesbian.  I also had no idea how cut-throat the comic industry could actually be.  Proehl obviously knows a great deal about this area and used this to his advantage while crafting his debut.  He made an excellent point that there are not a great deal of females in the world of comic book making.  Of  course, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to look back at all of my old reads after finishing A Hundred Thousand Worlds, only to discover how true this actually was!  So many comic writers and artists are males.  Proehl also brought up the point of how heroines are continuously oversexed with their costumes so that their serializations will attract more readers, which is absolutely true.  Unfortunately, this is the reality of today, but hopefully the future will prove helpful in changing this fact!  Another point that I want to make is that dispersed throughout the novel were little origin stories based on random heroes who we never hear about again.  I know that for some, they may disrupt the flow of the story, but I gravitated towards them.  They were fantastical and addicting.  I can only imagine how amazing the origin stories would be if they were further fleshed out!

A Hundred Thousand Worlds is an unexpected gem, which I can never truly define, no matter how many words I try to use.  Stories are a huge part of our lives, and how we allow them to shape us and how we allow ourselves to shape them is all up to us!

Cover Reveal: Life Sentence (Paranormal Detectives Book Three) by Lily Luchesi

Life Sentence (Paranormal Detectives Book Three)

By Lily Luchesi

Genre: Paranormal, horror, mystery

Release Date: August 2nd, 2016

Publisher: Vamptasy Publishing

She can fight evil, but can she fight the darkness in her own blood?

After the disastrous events with Miranda have subsided, Danny and Angelica have to adjust to a new kind of life at the Paranormal Investigative Division.

Fiona is still on the loose, and she has all of Hell on her side. Danny begins to enhance his psychic abilities with the help of a soul just like his. Angelica is caught between a rock and a very dark place.

Can their love survive these new trials, or will the past tear them apart?

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