Bang by Lisa McMann - OPTIONAL

McMann, Lisa  Bang, 241 pgs. Simon Pulse, 2013.  $16.99  Content: Language: R (62 swears; 19 “F”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence PG-13. 

This is the second book in the Visions series.  Jules is finally with her boyfriend Sawyer, even though they have to sneak around their parents to be together.  But now Sawyer is the one seeing a vision and it’s a grisly school shooting that hasn’t happened yet.  As Jules and Sawyer try to figure out how to stop the shooting and get rid of Sawyer’s visions, they also try to keep their secret from their feuding families.  The book leads to a climatic ending where the vision starts to come true.  

This series is such an intriguing idea.  The characters are easy to relate to and their relationships are endearing.  The mystery of the vision moves the plot along, making it nearly impossible to put down.  I said it with the first book, I’m annoyed with the swearing because it has no context.  Also, the mature content borders on rated R because Jules contemplates how guys can’t hide when they are aroused, going on for a paragraph or more about it.  I wish this book was cleaner because the story and characters are so appealing, it should be advisable, but the content pushes it to optional for me.  

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes- ADVISABLE

Rhodes, Morgan  Falling Kingdoms, 412 pgs.  Razor Bill, 2012. $18.99  Content: Language: PG-13 (20 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13 (war).  

There are three kingdoms in Mytica, each ruled by their own set of leaders and power.  But when one royal crosses over to another kingdom to visit, and that visit goes wrong, unrest begins among all three kingdoms.  Cleo is the princess of Auranos, the wealthiest kingdom, and their kingdom is targeted by the combined kingdoms of Paelsia and Limeros.  Cleo is much more concerned for her sister’s health and is on a quest to find a piece of magic that will heal her sister.  Jonas, another key player in the growing unrest, is a rebel from Paelsia, who believes that aligning with Limeros will help his country find prosperity again.  And finally, Magnus is the prince of Limeros and he is torn about helping his dark and evil father.  These three characters and their kingdoms intertwine in a series of murders, betrayal and magic.  

This is a highly entertaining novel.  The book goes back and forth between the three main characters’ stories and winds towards a shared story.  The familial and romantic relationships are well developed and the world building is smooth and easy to fall into.  The ending resolves the war, but leaves the reader hanging.  I can’t wait until the next book comes out in this series.  Well written and fantastic.  

MS, HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Crown of MIdnight by Sarah J. Maas - ESSENTIAL

Maas, Sarah J.  Crown of Midnight, 417 pgs.  Bloomsbury, 2013.  $17.99  Content: Language: PG-13 (75 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13 (pretty gruesome). 

Celaena is now the king’s champion in this second book in the Throne of Glass series.  She is assigned to assassinate those men in the kingdom who the king believes to be running a rebellion against him, but she doesn’t believe in the king and his fight, so she secretly hides those whom she is supposed to kill.  She knows that the king is a threat and she is trying to find out how he gets his power at the same time that she is trying to discover the rebel group.  Celaena and her relationship with the Captain of the Guard is changing from friends to something more, and Celaena’s best friend keeps trying to get her to join the rebellion, but Celaena is having a hard time controlling her anger and maintaining control of her life. 

The Throne of Glass series is awesome!  I love the world that the author creates and the characters have depth and are well developed.  The first book was my favorite, but this book keeps up the standard with a bit more fantasy thrown in.  Celanea isn’t afraid to kill people though and the book has some bloody parts, but nothing that puts it over the top.  A great read! 

MS, HS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers - ADVISABLE

LaFevers, Robin  Dark Triumph, 385 pgs. Houghton Mifflin, 2013.  $17.99 Content: Language: PG-13 (21 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: R. 

Sybella is a trained assassin who has been returned to her abusive childhood home to spy on her father and brothers.  Sybella suffered greatly at the hands of her heartless father, so as she attempts to gather political and warfare information to help the duchess, she tries to keep her emotions in check.  When given the assignment to free one of her father’s prisoners, she attempts to do so secretly so that she can stay in her father’s household and continue to keep an eye on him with the hope of an assignment to kill her father.  What she doesn’t expect is to have the prisoner overpower her and take her with him in his escape.  What ensues is an adventure full of war, romance and secrets revealed. 

I loved this book because the characters are deep and believable.  The setting is the late 1400’s and I find myself caring about outcome of the political war as well as the individual characters. This is the second book in His Fair Assassin series, but it deals with a different main character’s story.  The violence is frequent and bloody, she is an assassin so it describes things quite detailed.  There is also a baby’s murder described.  Because of the violence it goes from essential to advisable and has to stay at the high school level.  The mature content is high as well because the main character is dealing with the fear of insect from her brother and father.  Regardless of the content, this story pulls you in and is hard to put down. 

HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.