Monday, April 30, 2012

Sela by Jackie Gamber

Sela

Author: Jackie Gamber

Publisher: Seventh Star Press

5 out of 5 stars

Note: This review assumes that you  have already read the first book in this series, Redheart.  If you have not yet read Redheart then you may not want to read this review, as it will reveal key points from the first book.  You can find my review of Redheart here.

The wind swirls around you, as you soar through the sky.  Your scaly wings glint in the sunlight as you twirl in the air, enjoying your freedom.  Suddenly, you start to fall towards the earth, sinking like a stone.  The calm air now cuts through you, and your body feels as if it is compressing, getting smaller by the second.  When you finally hit the ground with a thud, you open your clenched eyes, and look around.  Everything seems fine.  But as you try to get up on your paws, you look down and see fingers and toes instead of claws.  Skin instead of scales.  Two arms and two legs.  An overwhelming fear envelops you, and you feel as if you are caged in, unable to escape.  You’ve locked yourself in, but you don’t know the key to breaking free.

Monday, April 16, 2012

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Author: Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Delacorte Press

4 out of 5 stars

The rattling and moans never stop.  Coming from all sides, the Unconsecrated slowly push their way in.  You run from them through the rain, slipping in the mud.  Your foot catches on a root and you go sprawling to the ground, cutting your knees.  As you scramble to get up they close in around you, and you can feel the fear bubbling up inside of you.  It works its way up as a scream, that you let loose like a wild animal.  You swing at the mass of bodies engulfing you, and you manage to clear an opening and push your way back onto the narrow path, escaping them.  Ahead of you is a fork in the path, and you randomly take one, hoping it will lead you to a place without the constant questions and fear that you experience every day now.  Maybe that place doesn’t exist, and you’re better off right back where you started.  There’s only one way to find out…

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

Publisher: Delacorte Press

4 out of 5 stars

Grimy faces shout at you from all directions.  They’re jeering at you, and snickering at what’s to come.  You look around for help, but all you see is a dirty crowd, riled up for the killings.  You’re to be beheaded for your crimes.  You’re slowly led up to the guillotine, and you turn your head away, unable to take in the brutal death of those ahead of you in line.  When you turn back around it’s your turn.  Your head is lowered into the opening, and the crowd goes crazy.  They know your blood is about to spill.  The blade comes whooshing down and… you wake up.  But part of you wishes you were still back in eighteenth century France, because you don’t fit in very well in the present.