Saturday, December 28, 2013

Review of Changeling


Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.

Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.

Despite their vows, despite themselves, love grows between Luca and Isolde as they travel across Europe with their faithful companions, Freize and Ishraq. The four young people encounter werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers as they head toward a real-life historical figure who holds the boundaries of Christendom and the secrets of the Order of the Dragon. (Goodreads)


First of all, I'm admitting I have not finished this novel. It was a library book that was due back and I just wasn't that captivated with the story to extend the due date. It started out good, very well documented but as I started reading it, it just didn't do anything for me.

I'm not going to tell a lot about this story, because I believe it has its own potential for younger readers. A wonderful trip into historical fiction which may later turn into a love for writers as Ken Follet and others like him. It was just a bit too YA for me.

Personal rating: 2 stars

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Fallen


Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce – he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her. (www.goodreads.com)



Oh, this was bad. In so many ways.
I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this novel, since I feel I've wasted enough time on it already.
It's a horrible story about a girl whose got in a bit of trouble and is being shipped of towards a reform school. There, instead of dealing with the issues, she's constantly longing for a guy who also attends the school, while she's going along with someone else who shows a bit interest in her.
Life or death depends on whether the guy is paying attention to her.
Such depth (rolling my eyes). All the while I kept reading this, waiting for that inevitable cliff hanger which was so disappointing. Oh yeah, I'm an angel, but if I tell you more you're going to die because you just can't handle the truth. Sorry, but that's just plain lazy.

I realise it's written for a younger audience than myself, but the writing style makes it seem like its written for children under the age of 10 which I don't think are the target audience either.

I had borrowed the next installment (Torment) also, but I don't think I'm going to read it. Only the contents on the back is giving me goosebumps in a very unpleasant manner.

For all those 'Fallen' fans out there. This is my opinion, and only mine. If you don't agree, so be it. I didn't like it, and I'm not going to beat around the bush about it.

Personal rating: 1 star

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Review of Coldheart Canyon

Film's most popular action hero needs a place to heal after surgery that has gone terribly wrong. His fiercely loyal agent finds him just such a place in a luxurious, forgotten mansion high in the Hollywood Hills. But the original owner of the mansion was a beautiful woman devoted to pleasure at any cost, and the terrible legacy of her deed has not yet died. There are ghosts and monsters haunting Coldheart Canyon, where nothing is forbidden.(Goodreads)


I finished this novel a week ago, but haven't gotten the time to write my review until now. Of course I'm already immersed in the next novel, so I'm hoping I'm doing my opinion on this novel justice.

Before I began reading this, I've only read one novel by Clive Barker, which was Damnation Game. I didn't like it that much, but you have to take into account that it was one of his first full length novels. This one was standing on my bookshelf for quite some time, but eventually about a month ago, I decided to give it a go. Luckily for me, Clive Barker grew a lot and I liked this novel very much.

The story revolves around an actor on his way down from stardom and not liking his diminished reputation he decides to alter his image, which goes wrong. Afraid that his peers and fans find out what happened he goes on hiding in a mansion deep in the Hollywood canyons. What he hadn't counted on was what lurked in that mansion, and it would transcend everything he ever thought possible.

I liked the way this novel was building up towards the climax, and left me breathless after some unsuspecting plot twists. Clive Barker kept me on the edge of my seat which is very important in a novel reaching over 800 pages. He's got an uncanny ability to grip your attention and doesn't let go until you're so tired your eyes fall shut by themselves.
I'm a huge fan of Stephen King and while I'm not making comparisons between these two authors, it would be like comparing apples and pears. Both fruit, but oh so different. Clive Barker did set a stage to play out his story very well. You get a sense of this side of Hollywood and showbizz, we common people don't think about. We see only the glitter and glamour, but this is a down to earth real novel, except of course for its trips into the supernatural.

The characters were very well developed. Each and every one. From Todd, the fallen star, to Tammy, his greatest fan, to Katya, the devilish woman inhabitating the canyon. Every one got their own story, their own strength and weaknesses which get portrayed in a lifelike manner.

Before reading this novel, I dared to read a few spoiler free reviews and the one I still remember is the remark that it was a good novel but too lengthy. My opinion on this is, that it's necessary for it to be so long. You've got to have a decent back story for it to be even remotely believable. Clive Barker did this very well and I'm very much inclined to read more of his recent works.

Personal score: 4 stars

Check out these other reviews!!!