The Last Unicorn

Level: Adult

Genre: Fantasy > High Fantasy

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

In the Lilac Wood lives a unicorn but not just any unicorn. She is the last of her kind, and this news urges her to seek the others out. Along her journey, she encounters many hardships and terrors such as Mommy Fortuna and the Red Bull. However, she also makes many allies such as Molly Grue and Schmendrick, a bumbling magician. The three of them eventually find themselves at the castle of King Haggard, where they hope to find the other unicorns.

Rating: 8/10

After seeing the animated film countless times, I had decided it was finally time to read the novel and fill in those missing or changed details. I didn't miss much. In fact, story wise, the movie is very much on par to the book, which might have been why I didn't like it as much as I thought I would have. I heavily enjoyed getting to learn more about Schmendrick however. In the film, I really could have cared less about him, but upon finding out about his past, he became more real to me. I still cannot say I ended up caring for him perse, but he made out to be more interesting.

The writing style also wasn't entirely to my liking, but I do believe it worked well for the story by embracing its spirit. Of course, it was told in a way similar to that of a fairy tale (though less repetitive). It had many features that are held in your typical fairy tale as well: an evil king, a wandering wizard, a young hero, and even a cursed kingdom with a prophecy.

I ended up liking The Last Unicorn well enough, but it is never going to be a favourite of mine. There was nothing particularly wrong with the book. It's simply personal tastes on this one more than anything, but I'd recommend it to anyone who has a liking for fantasy. Beagle managed to create a classic and original piece while still keeping some well known factors, and that isn't always an easy thing to do.

What I'm Reading Next:

     

The Scarlet Pimpernel

 

Level: Adult

Genre:General Fiction > Classic

Obtained: Purchased on AceBooks

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

It is 1792 and the French Revolution is at its height. Hundreds of French aristocrats face the guillotine. However, many are saved by an elusive man known as the scarlet pimpernel. Using wit and disguise, the scarlet pimpernel and his band smuggle French aristos to English shores. Because of this elusive man, Chauvelin, a French republican, travels over to England to gather information. There he runs into Marguerite, a woman who was known for being a French actress and now is the top of England's fashion society. Chauvelin ends up threatening Marguerite with a fearsome either-or. She must gather information for him on the scarlet pimpernel or he will send her brother to the guillotine.

Rating: 8/10

Upon hearing Douglas Sills sing int the 1997 Broadway musical, I was instantly in love and knew that I would have to read the book one day. Although I still adore the book, the musical still holds my heart. For one thing, we get to follow our hero more. Now, I completely understand why Orczy didn't follow him so much. It was meant to keep the mystery of the scarlet pimpernel a prolonged secret. Now, I knew who it was going to be from page one, but I have to agree with other reviewers that it was demmed obvious who it was early on.

Another complaint I noticed a lot of reviewers made was that the book was very repetitive. Again, I would have to agree. Although it didn't bother me personally, I could see many people having trouble getting through it. Now, I can hear a good portion of you arguing that this was written in the 19th century so it is bound to be more wordy. Yes and I expected this and even a decent amount of repetition. However, I felt that half of this book could have been cut away.

The only other issue I had with this book was the characters. The first example I would like to look at is Chauvelin. Now, I first came to know the character through the musical and the 1985 film. In both of these, he seems to show feelings for Marguerite. This did not occur in the book. Perhaps it is shown in one of the many sequels written by Baroness Orczy, but it is not shown in the initial novel. Now, this particular trait did not really bug me. I am fine with or without this love interest. What did bug me about Chauvelin's character was the the fact that he was little more than the villain in the story. He was much more endearing in the musical version where he is more well rounded and you can feel where he is coming from. Again, perhaps we see more of his character in the sequels, but in The Scarlet Pimpernel, he is hardly more than a bloodthirsty fiend.

The other character I found myself disliking in the novel was actually Marguerite. I liked her well enough in the other medias I mentioned, and I also liked her early on in the book. However, for being the "cleverest woman in all of Europe," she seems quite thick. Also, by the halfway point of the book, I was utterly sick of her for it seemed that she did little more than whine. 

Now, I can hear you asking, "It seems there was a lot you disliked so why the high rating?" Well, I usually find there is plenty of good to go with the bad, and even though The Scarlet Pimpernel had its faults, I still found myself enjoying it immensely. Granted, I am a tad bias. Anyone who knows me knows I have a fondness for 18th century fops, but even without that fondness, I found the story compelling and original (especially for its time). I also found a great liking in the fact that the scarlet pimpernel used wit and disguises rather than force and violence. Now, I am not one of those people who are strictly anti-violence, but I have always found my heroes more intriguing when they try to use their mind first.

The other factor I was intrigued by was the mixture of both adventure and romance. I would not recommend this classic for a reader looking for mostly adventure however. Yes, the pimpernel's escapades are riveting and influenced heroes such as Zorro, but I'd say that 65-70%  of the book related more to the romantic portion of the story. I, myself, was intrigued by it, but it may not be to everyone's liking and thus thought it would be worthy to note. Granted, my favourite parts of the book involved the pimpernel and the adventures that surrounded him, especially near the end when Chauvelin is hot on his trail. I don't want to give away the ending for it was most excellent (even if I did manage to figure the twist out). Even with that factor in play, I was reveled in joy and suspense to see how he would save himself, Marguerite, and the others.

So all together, I found The Scarlet Pimpernel to be an excellent read. I may have disliked how some of the characters were portrayed; it could have been less repetitious, and it may be too slow of pace for some, but its story, wit, and adventure made it a wonderful classic that was well loved by this reader.

What I'm Reading Next:

 

Cirque du Freak: Sons of Destiny

 

Level: Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

The final book finally pits Darren against Steve in an all out battle. It is during their final stand that Mr. Tiny reveals his initial plan surrounding the two boys, along with another startling secret. Now, the second half of the book (and the rest of the summary) contains major

After Darren kills Steve, he kills himself to avoid becoming the Lord of the Shadows. Due to his guilt, Darren's soul is placed in the Lake of Souls, which is later fished out so that he can be turned into a Little Person. Upon returning to a present day Earth, Darren is able to change the destiny of his past self. Afterwards, he gives his diary to Mr. Tall to be published and then dies once more with his soul reaching paradise.

Rating: 10/10

This was quite a thrilling and, at times, emotional piece. I found myself constantly turning the pages to find out what happened next. Shan put out another fantastic book with just as many twists as before. We are shown those twists and turns of time along with the many paths of destiny.

Evanna also takes a step away from her neutrality, and it is interesting to see how she goes about tricking her own father and helping Darren out. Steve is also brought into a new light, and you cannot help but feel sorry for him. Shan also manages to put a fabulous spin on why he and the main character share the same name.

Shan ended up telling a wonderful story in this series. It was a bit shaky at first, but it found its ground and ended up making a phenomenal read. I'd recommend this for teens and even adults who are looking for a light but entertaining read. A great book and a pretty good series. Shan can expect me to pick up more of his work in the future.

What I'm Reading Next:   

 

Cirque du FreaK: Lord of the Shadows

 

Level: Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

Warning! The summary for this book contains spoilers for those who have not read its prior counterparts. In other words, there are no spoilers for this particular book, just the ones before it. The review itself is, for the most part, spoiler free, however.

About the Book:

Darren returns to his home town, ready for the ultimate showdown with Steve Leonard, the Vampaneze Lord. Meanwhile, Darren is worrying about the prediction Evanna told him. In The Lake of Souls, Darren and Harkat find out that the world they traveled to was actually the Earth's future, created by the Lord of the Shadows. The catch is that the Lord of the Shadows will be one of two people: Steve Leonard or Darren Shan. In other words, if Steve is killed, Darren is the one destined to become the evil tyrant and send the world into chaos.

Rating: 9/10

This series just keeps getting better and better. I did not want to put it down. It was interesting to see how Darren dealt with coming face to face with his human life and how he dealt with it. Of course, there is also plenty of action between Steve and Darren, along with the lead ups to their encounters.

Darren also runs into Debbie and Alice once more, and they have succeeded in putting together a human army to battle the vampets. Although it is nice to see Debbie doing something useful, I personally still cannot stand her. She just seems to cling to Darren too much.

Overall though I think the most thrilling aspects Shan brought to this piece was all the shocking twists and torments. It was quite shocking to see what sort of murders and violence went on in this book. I can easily think of three major points that occured and left me thinking, "I can't believe that just happened!" Lord of the Shadows was a fabulous read, and I don't think you will be disappointed. 

What I'm Reading Next:

  

Cirque du Freak: The Lake of Souls

 

Level: Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

Shan takes a step back from the War of Scars and focuses on a character that we all have come to know and love: Harkat Mulds.  Harkat's nightmares have returned, and Mr. Tiny shows up to transport Darren and the Little Person to another world so that the latter can figure out who he was in his past life.

Rating: 9/10

Well, this book has definitely taken a different path from the rest of the series, and I must admit I very much enjoyed it. It was like a nice vacation, only not so relaxing. Darren and Harkat must come across a series of trials so that they may reach the lake of souls. Shan did a wonderful job at creating action in this book. It was definitely a page turner. His monstrous creatures were extremely vivid as well, such as the giant (and I mean GIANT) toad. I especially liked the Grotesque. It was completely unique and revolting. In this book, we are also introduced to the Kulashkas, which seem to be kinsfolk of the Guardians of Blood that we witnessed in the Vampire Mountain trilogy. I still wish we could have learned more about the Kulashkas/Guardians of Blood and their culture. Why do they milk the Grotesque? Why do they eat the dead? Hell, how did the Grotesque even come into being?

Then, once more, Shan continues to drop surprises and twists. I was especially shocked when I found out where they were and who Harkat was. Now, with the hint Mr. Tiny leaves, you may be able to figure it out on your own though it seems to have surprised a good chunk of people. This was definitely my favourite of the series so far, and I cannot wait to read the final two.

What I'm Reading Next:

 

Cirque du Freak: Killers of the Dawn

 

Level: Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

When we last left Darren and the others, they were being arrested for the murders the vampaneze had committed. Now, they need to figure a way out and stop the Vampaneze Lord. 

Rating:  8/10

Maybe it's just me, but this particular trilogy felt more drawn out than the others. It was still an enoyable read however. It was especially interesting to see how our heroes dealt with the human police force. Now, even though Killers of the Dawn kept a fast and intriguing pace, I still had issues with some of the characters. Steve's path continued to be obvious (to me, at least), and Debbie continued to be a victim. We are also reintroduced to Chief Inspector Alice Burgess who, like Debbie, seems to take the whole vampires are real thing too well. Besides the characters, the only thing I had a problem with was when Shan was describing the pit the vampires had to cross. My only issue with this was that it was confusing. I was completely unable to envision it my mind's eye.

On the other hand, Shan continued to create remarkable surprises. Yes, I figured out one or two, but another completely caught me off guard. I could go into it more, but that would unnecessary spoilers. I must say Shan continues to write an interesting story. After all, I still wanted to continue even though I clearly had issues with this trilogy.

What I'm Reading Next:

Cirque du Freak: Allies of the Night

 

Level: Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

One opportunity has passed for Darren, Crepsley, and Vancha to be rid of the Vampaneze Lord. After this, Vancha has returned to Vampire Mountain to relay the news while Darren and Mr. Crepsley return to Crepsley's birth town. The murders have returned once more, and both Crepsley and Darren are determined to stop it, but someone seems to know about them and their prior encounter with the mad vampaneze, Murlough, and this mysterious stranger is also forcing Darren to attend school, where he runs into his old girlfriend, Debbie. Meanwhile, a man with hooks for hands is running around, along with another old friend: Steve Leonard!

Rating: 8/10

The series and trilogy continue with another interesting tale. Although this trilogy seems to be a bit drawn out, I did not find it overly so. I was quite interested in who the hook man was (and when I found out, I was amazed). Yes, you could probably easily figure it out who it was of you put your mind to it, but if you're mainly along for the ride, like me, you will be astounded. Now, while Hooky's reveal was a surprise for me, Steve's path was not. Maybe it is because I have seen the movie (though that is very loosely based), but I still believe that it would be fairly obvious, which kind of lessened the suspense for me. 

Now, even though I saw where Steve's character was heading, Shan was still able to keep a good amount of suspense and action throughout the book. Actually, the only thing I really disliked was Debbie. It seemed as if the only reason she was placed in this book (so far. I hope she will very useful later in the series) was to be a victim. She also seemed to believe in vampires way too easily, and then she forces herself upon Darren and company, where she ends up being more of a liability than a help, which anyone ought to have seen coming. Honestly, I think I would have liked her more if she had stayed out of the tunnels. Even with these annoyances though, Shan still manages to pen an interesting tale that I cannot wait to finish.

What I'm Reading Next:   

 

Cirque du Freak: Hunters of the Dusk

 

Level: Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

It has been another six years since we last saw Darren, and the war between the vampires and vampaneze is still going strong. The Vampaneze Lord has not only risen, but is now a half vampire. However, a visit from Mr. Tiny reveals several factors. One: the vampires can still win the war if the Vampaneze Lord is stopped before he is fully blooded. Two: there will only be four chances to do this. Three: this will only occur if three vampires (and only three) try to stop it, and those three are the other vampire prince, Vancha Marsh, Mr. Crepsley, and Darren himself.

Rating: 7/10

 Shan starts off another trilogy in the series, and much like the rest, it is slower paced. However, if you keep in mind that is basically the beginning of a novel, it makes it seem less terrible. Although it will not be my favourite of the series, it was still fairly enjoyable. I especially liked when Mr. Crepsley and Darren returned to the Cirque du Freak. The books always seemed more enjoyable when they take place at the Cirque. Plus, it is nice to see old faces and see how they have progressed through the years. Evanna was also interesting. Although the witch type lady living in the middle of the woods/swamp is overdone, I found myself easily overlooking this dislike because of Evanna's origins. Shrouded in mystery and myth, it is believed Evanna is part wolf and part vampire, something that could have been laughable or worthy of a disheartening sigh. Shan managed to write her story off quite well though.

On the other hand, the one character I really could not stand was Vancha Marsh. Like many other vampires we met, he stupidly runs into danger to defeat his enemies. He even goes so far as to fight the sun. Perhaps Shan was trying to portray him as strong willed, but I simply found him to be a crass and stubborn fool. Besides Vancha, the only other thing I strongly disliked in this book was the purge. This is where the vampire blood tries to take over the human blood in a half vampire. Now, the basic concept I have no qualms with. It was the change that transitioned. In this story, Darren partly goes through the purge, which causes his hair to grow back and an extreme growth spurt to occur so that he looks like an older teen when it's complete. . I really felt like this was just an excuse to age Darren. Although he is still a lot older than he looks after the purge, according to the years based and the rules placed in Shan's world, Darren should only look two years older than when he was initially changed, but thanks to the purge, he know looks another five years older. I'm sorry, but that feels like cheating to me.

Overall though, I still found the book enjoyable, holding familiar faces and new characters, both interesting and irksome, but I felt like it was a book worth reading.

What I'm Reading Next: 

 

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire Prince

 

Level: Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

At the end of Trials of Death, Darren was left zooming down a raging stream to almost certain death. Obviously, he survives. Now he must return to Vampire Mountain again, where he has a sentence to be driven upon a pit of stakes, but he must face them anyway so that he can reveal to them that there is a traitor in their midst who is about to let a good chunk of vampaneze take over.

Rating: 9/10

Wow! Just wow! I seriously could not put this book down and ended up finishing it in four hours. Now that the ball is rolling, Shan has me hooked. Even though I knew Darren was going to survive, I kept turning the page to see how. Plus, Darren still needs to get into Vampire Mountain and tell the Princes what is going on before he is killed. It was a thrilling suspense throughout. Shan also manages to keep up the surprises. I know I was in complete shock at the ending.

I also think Shan did an excellent job at portraying how someone can do a bad thing but still be a good person. The way he puts it out there has many of the vampires (and the reader) wondering whether the traitor is really a hero or a villain. Shan also portrayed killing quite well. I noticed that in a lot of youth and teen books I read, I feel like the protagonist is simply sparing the bad guy's life (or feeling guilty about killing him/her) simply because he/she is the good guy and that is what the good guy is supposed to do/feel. In this story however, I felt that Darren came across this on his own through his trying and emotional journey. It was believable to me that Darren felt guilty about killing a vampaneze and not just because he is the acclaimed good guy.

What I'm Reading Next:   

 

Cirque du Freak: Trials of Death

 

Level: Youth to Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

When we last left Darren, he was told that he would have to complete five deadly trials to prove himself a worthy vampire. Not only are the trials themselves deadly, but if Darren fails in any way besides death, he will be executed. It is actually after one of these trials that Darren learns about a treacherous plot that involves the vampaneze.

Rating: 9/10

This book was filled with action and kept me turning the page (especially near the end). Darren's trials were interesting and even though you knew he wouldn't die (he is the main character and there is seven more books after all), Shan still managed to throw some curve balls at you. Although there were parts I didn't enjoy immensely (such as the Festival of the Undead), I still didn't really hate any part of the book this time. Besides, I appreciated getting to see Darren in more than his role as a half-vampire. It is always a plus when the author lets the every day and little affairs pop through into a book as well. It always makes it seem more real, and I didn't feel like I was bogged down with these kind of details either.

My favourite part was definitely the climax of this book, and I found myself unable to put it down and wondering how Darren would put a stop to it. Not only is he in a fix with the vampaneze at this point, but he is also in a bit of a pickle with the vampires, which may also limit his options.

I do wish that Shan went into more details about the Guardians of the Blood and their beliefs more. Although they may not be the most imaginative creature, they are still quite striking to the imagination and Shan could have introduced another culture more thoroughly into his world. All in all though, I really enjoyed this book and started the next one right away (the cliff hanger is a suspense like no other). It may have taken a while, but this series is definitely starting to take off.

What I'm Reading Next: 

 

Cirque du Freak : Vampire Mountain

 

Level: Youth to Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book: 

Six years later (eight years since the initial change), we return to Darren Shan's adventure. This time Crepsley plans on bringing Darren before the Council to see what verdict will be placed due to a child being blooded. Before that though, they have to worry about making their way up the snowy mountain with no help but their own skin (and barefoot). Along the way will prove dangerous, of course, as they run into rabid bears, wolves, and even vampenze!

Rating: 7/10

Research! As a writer, you need to do research! Shan has been notorious for having flaws in this series so far (for example, in The Vampire's Assistant, Shan describes Evra's snake as slimy). Although this bothered me before, it was always simply a sentence here or there. Yes, it was jarring and brought me out of the story. It caused my suspension of disbelief to snap, and I found it so much worse in this book because it was staring me in the face for a good quarter of it. It was because of this that I actually rated this book a seven instead of an eight. The issue I have with Shan's lack  of research was that a simple Google search could have provided the answer. So what bugged me so much in this book? While trekking to Vampire Mountain, Darren  a pack of wolves. First off, they tended to act more like dogs than wolves, such as the male rolling on his back to get his belly rubbed. Granted, wolves and vampires are supposed to get along extremely well in this world. Even though this bugged me, if it was the only issue, I might have been able to ignore it. However, Shan was also constantly calling the wolf pup a cub, and at one point the pup actually manages to climb a tree, but the attacking bear cannot. I'm sorry, but even children know it's a wolf pup and that wolves don't climb trees. I can understand not getting everything right, but these are facts that even kids know.

Other than the obvious lack of research, I found myself enjoying the book. Even though some of the things seemed odd to me (like bat broth), I really appreciated that Shan's vampires are not your typical vampires. We learned early in the series that Shan's vampires actually age, but in Vampire Mountain, we learn more about them as a group. Instead of your typical aristocratic type, Shan's vampires are more "masculine." They are constantly having physical challenges, and their highest leaders are apt to be quite brawny. Shan's vampires actually reminds me of barbarians of sorts, and even though their ways had a familiar feel about them, it was interesting to view their traditions (even if I didn't always agree with them).

Shan also managed to hit me with a good amount of surprises throughout this tale, such as when one of the Little People started talking or when you learn what they are. Shan also continues to let Darren make mistakes and be flawed, which I always appreciate, and Shan's fast paced writing and story telling keeps me more (especially with the cliff hanger he leaves us on). Cirque du Freak is definitely getting more interesting as the story unfolds. It really is a tale of its own caliber, an original piece. I just hope that the rest of the series isn't so poor in its facts so that it can be even more enjoyable and more believable.

What I'm Reading Next:    

 

Cirque du Freak: Tunnels of Blood

 

Level: Youth to Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

About a year and a half has passed since Darren's last adventure. This time a Vampire General has made contact with Mr. Crepsley. After the meeting, Crepsley, Darren, and Evra leave the Cirque. In the city they inhabit, Crepsley ends up going off by himself at night without explanation. Evra and Darren think nothing of this until they see the news: six bodies have been found drained of their blood. So the two boys start to follow Crepsley to whether he is the villain.

Rating: 7/10

I honestly wasn't all to thrilled with this installment. Granted, I didn't dislike it either. The plot itself wasn't terrible, and the villain was nice and grotesque, which ought to appeal to young boys. The main issue I had with this particular book was when they were following Crepsley. It just seemed way to drawn out when it was obvious that

SPOILERS!

Crepsley was not the one killing the humans. I had no problem with this obvious deterrent being placed in the story. My issue was that it dragged on for chapters. Maybe it would be less obvious to a twelve year old (or they would have at least found it more interesting), but for me it was a draaaaaaaaaaaaag.

END SPOILERS     

Beside that major issue, I felt about the same with this book as with the others in the series thus far. It is an original idea and a fast paced read, which I think the youth will enjoy. So far however, I would not suggest this as an all ages type book. Still, it is an interesting and fairly entertaining series, and I still plan on reading the rest.

What I'm Reading Next:

 

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

 

Level: Youth to Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

After witnessing a freak show, Darren Shan meets Mr. Crepsley, a vampire, and Madam Octa, Crepsley's performing spider. Shan ends up stealing Madam Octa, but when something goes wrong, he has to return to Crepsley for help. However, there is a condition and now Darren is Mr. Crepsley's half-vampire assistant. Of course, becoming a half-vampire has its disadvantages. Darren has to leave behind his family and friends, it's impossible for him to make new ones, and there is also the fact that he will die if he refuses to drink human blood. Now, there is nothing that can be done with the first problem, but Crepsley decides to help with the second by taking him back to the Cirque so that he can make some new friends that will prove tougher than humans. Unfortunately, other problems are still bound to arise...

Rating: 8/10

This book was much more enjoyable to me than its prior counterpart. Although I am still unable to decipher Darren's age (I'm guessing twelve) and the dialogue is still flimsy, I found myself easily overlooking these faults and enjoying the story and adventure. It was really nice to see Darren interacting with more people his age, and his new friend, Evra Von, the snake boy, seems like he could be a pretty interesting guy. We are also introduced to Mr. Tiny in this book, who manages to be almost too weird to be frightening yet at the same time manages it quite well and has you wondering what sort of part he will play in the series. Granted, some of the characters are stereotypical, something that I have always disliked in a good portion of youth books. For example, Darren and his friends meet R.V., who is a vegetarian fighting against roads being built to help save the environment. Of course, he is an extremest, does drugs, smells bad, and says "man" a lot. I find it really disheartening when cliches like this are written, especially in books geared toward a younger audience. After all, shouldn't we be showing them that people aren't always the cliche? That aside though, I found this book an enjoyable read and have already opened up the next one. It's fast paced with a good macabre twists and originality.

What I'm Reading Next:   

 

Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare

 

Level: Youth to Teen

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

Darren Shan had a normal life until a fateful night. He and his friend, Steve, end up visiting a freak show that has come to town, but the truly freaky things happen after the show. First, Steve confronts one of the performers, a man known as Mr. Crepsley. However, Crepsley is not a man at all, but a vampire, and Steve wants Crepsley to turn him into a vampire. Much to his dismay, Steve is refused due to having "bad blood." Later, Darren returns to the theatre and ends up stealing something of Mr. Crepsley's: a highly venomous, performing spider. Eventually, he shows Steve the stolen spider, and they end up playing with her. Of course, something goes wrong and Steve gets bitten. Darren returns to Mr. Crepsley for help, but there will be a price. Crepsley will only give up the antidote if Darren becomes his half-human,half-vampire assistant and leave the world he knows behind.

Rating: 7/10

I originally came across this series after watching the movie, The Vampire's Assistant. I had also heard that a good portion of my friends had really liked these books. So far though, I have no been so impressed. Granted, it is only the first book, and there have been many great series that didn't have the best opening. The writing for this book hadn't sucked me in and wish Shan had written in a little more details. Now, we are not supposed to know where the story is taken place since it is supposed to be a true tale. I had no problem with that. The problem I had was that I had such trouble envisioning what was happening, because none of the characters were ever really described (except the freaks and the spider). I didn't even know what age they were supposed to be, and the dialogue didn't help me to decipher it either. In fact, the dialogue wasn't all together great, but I wasn't expecting something fabulous either. However, half the time it seemed like they were really young kids (twelve at the oldest) while other times I thought maybe he was supposed to be fourteen

The writing aside, I did find the plot to be quite interesting. Being the first book, there was a lot of introductory elements so that did slow the book down tremendously. In fact, a good chunk of the action didn't start picking up until the end of the tale. However, it was a take I hadn't read before, and the freak show was really interesting to read about. It also looks like the next book ought to have a lot more meat to it. I'll definitely keep reading ahead to see where this goes. So far, though, I would say that it is just mediocre for anyone over fourteen. However, I think children (especially boys) between the ages of nine to twelve would find it quite enjoyable, and I would easily recommend it to them. I know I may see if my cousin would be interested.

What I'm Reading Next:   

 

Of Saints and Shadows

 

Level: Explicit

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires

Obtained: Borrowed from a friend

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

The Church is not what it seems. Lying within its folds is a sect of sorcerers and priests whose sole purpose is to rid the world of The Defiant Ones, or what would be commonly seen as vampires.  Peter Octavian is one of these vampires, but unlike the others of his kind, he is able to walk in sunlight and touch religious items. The reason for this isn't because he was born to be special or anything like that. No, he simply disbelieves that crosses and sunlight will not hurt him therefore they don't. Granted, the only reason it hurts the other Defiant Ones is because the Church brainwashed them into thinking it would. Peter needs to convince the other Defiant Ones otherwise however, or the Church will come and wipe them out.

Rating: 2/10 Stars

Christopher Golden has come up with an original and intriguing plot. Evil runs amok in both the Church and the vampires, but one seems much more so. He brings forth elements that I hadn't seen before such as brainwashed vampires, but even with this fabulous idea, this book was a wreck. I enjoyed Twilight better than this. The writing was so horrible that I debated putting it down for good several times a day (I have only not finished two books thus far). His writing style was very similar to what you may find in a Dungeons and Dragons type novel. If that is your preference, go ahead and read this. As for me, I could not stand the stagnant and repetitive writing style that constantly told me things instead of showing me. The latter also lessened the characters immensely, making them seem flat so that I could care less what happened to them. 

Speaking of the characters, my god, they nearly all seemed like Mary Sues and Gary Stus. Peter, the main character,  certainly was one. He's supposedly handsome and good with the ladies. Check. He has special abilities that others of his type don't have. Check. He is connected to royalty (bastard son of the last emperor of the Byzantine Empire) . Check. Then, there is his love interest, Meaghan. It seems everyone is intrigued with her, and when she is

turned into a vampire, she is able to shift into anything and has instant control over her powers.

END SPOILERS

 Plus, Meaghan, well, I wanted to smack her. Where Golden was trying to make her assertive, I found her to be something of an idiot when she just starts going off with her temper, but of course, it's "sexy." Ugh. I seriously cannot see how anyone can stand these characters. The only one I could stand was Liam, the main priest, and that was when he was out murdering people. He still remains and two dimensional character.

Golden also seemed to have this notion that since he was writing a book for adults that he should add as much gore and sex as possible. Now, I did enjoy some of the grotesque scenes; they were disturbing in a good way and Golden sure had a knack for coming up with some unsettling creatures, even if they got old after a while. As for the sex, it just seemed put in there most of the time because it could be. While that is bad enough, the sex scenes weren't even arousing. No, it's not the worst I have ever read, but it was still boring. Then, of course, since a man wrote this, there had to be a fair amount of random lesbian scenes for extra sexiness.

Finally, the dialogue seemed forced and unrealistic such as "Girl, get in the gondola and we will leave the trouble behind. Your tears and those things you fear." or my personal favourite, "My name is Robert Montesi. For the murder of my father, I must kill you." Yes, Golden tried to pull a Princess Bride and failed miserably.

So why did this book got so many good reviews? I could not tell you. To me, it only had one thing going for it: originality, but that simply doesn't cut it. You still need a good storyteller to really make the story come alive, and Christopher Golden missed that mark completely. Maybe one day they will make it into a movie. I think it would make an excellent movie. However, as a book, this one would go straight to the bin for me. If you do want a vampire book that has more monster type vampires and originality, I would suggest Brian Lumley's Necroscope series instead. A much better read.

What I'm Reading Next:

End of Days

 

Level: Older Teen

Genre: Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

Obtained: Purchased on Amazon

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

After Verchiel's departure and the Fallen's forgiveness, Aaron and the other Nephilim are the new force that is trying to rid the world of its darkness and monsters, which have been steadily increasing in numbers, While this is happening, a small group of remaining Powers are tracking down the horn of Gabriel that, when played, will summon Wormwood, an angel created to bring about the end of the world.

Rating: 8/10

Sniegoski brings forth another entertaining plot that kept me riveted. Well, the main plot, at least. Luckily, most of the book pertained to the end of days in some form. However, Sniegoski also places a subplot into the mix that involves Aaron and Vilma. Sniegoski introduces Jeremy Fox, another Nephilim whose main purpose is to provide romantic conflict and be a pain in Aaron's backside. This little subplot seemed to drag on and provided little to the actual storyline. Nor was there even any tension since it is obvious that Vilma is going to stay with Aaron.

Other than the romantic side trip, I found the book quite enjoyable and zoomed right through it. Sniegoski did a wonderful job creating a multitude of grotesque creatures, and I especially found myself intrigued with the child and the plan he unfolds in the tale. It left me wanting more, left me wanting to know what was going to happen. The ending of the book was especially phenomenal. To part of my dislike, it was left on a cliff hanger so now I am forced to wait for the next installment. RAGE!

Another thing I disliked was that I wish I had gotten a better sense of the other Nephilim. All of the newbies, except Jeremy, seemed to blend into the woodwork. Sniegoski gave them enough difference that we knew they were their own person, but I never got an actual sense of that character. Overall though, I really enjoyed the book and can't wait for the next one. I only hope he steers clear of any more majorly romantic subplots.

What I'm Reading Next:

Reckoning

 

First off, please note that the cover above actually contains two novels: Aerie and Reckoning.  For my book reviews, I use the cover I held in my hands while reading it, which is why I posted this cover instead of the single Reckoning cover. Just so you are aware, this review is on the one novel only: Reckoning. 
 

Level: Older Teen

Genre: Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

Obtained: Purchased on Amazon

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

 In the fourth (and what was once the final) installment of The Fallen series, Aaron starts accepting his destiny more when he demands that the citizens stand their ground instead of running once again. Meanwhile, Vilma's angelic force is threatening to overpower her and seize control, and Aaron must find a way to stop it or the others may be forced to kill her. Then in other parts of the world, Verichiel is carrying out his mad plans as he tries to change the word of God and release Hell on Earth.

Rating: 9/10

Wow! What a fantastic read! This was a book I did not want to put down. Yes, the dialogue still isn't superb, and the writing remains clunky and repetitive, but it remained excellent. Sniegoski did a wonderful job at creating a thrilling and at times gruesome novel/series. I was especially enamored with Verchiel in Reckoning to see what he was going to do next and whether and when Lucifer would be forgiven of his sins. Sniegoski also created a vivid and disturbing image as Verchiel endures more punishment as he treads down his path. His writing may not be the best, but he excels are portraying a picture in the mind's eye. 

I really could have done without the entire Vilma/Aaron romance subplot however. Wheras Sniegoski writes a swell play by play action scene, his romance skills are on par with George Lucas. The entire things was so contrived from point one that it seemed false. Sadly, it only seems to get worse each book. Don't make me mention the dreadful epilogue. Overall, however, it was a fantastic book and series, which I would highly recommend to teens and anyone with an interest in angels. 

What I'm Reading Next:

Aerie

 

First off, please note that the cover above actually contains two novels: Aerie and Reckoning.  For my book reviews, I use the cover I held in my hands while reading it, which is why I posted this cover instead of the single Aerie cover. Just so you are aware, this review is on the one novel only: Aerie. 

Level: Older Teen

Genre: Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

Obtained: Purchased on Amazon

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

In the third installment of The Fallen series, Aaron continues his journey to find his step-brother, Stevie. Along this journey, Aaron and his companions end up at Aerie, a safe haven for nephilim and the fallen. Meanwhile, Verchiel, the Powers' commander, is still determined to put an end to Aaron by any means.

Rating: 7/10

I, honestly, felt that Aerie had a bit of a rough start as it was more character based, which is not Sniegoski's string suit. However, once the action started picking up again, it was a faster and more enjoyable read. It was well detailed without being overtly so. I did feel. however, that a good chunk of the book was recycled, in several areas, in fact. Although the action scenes were interesting, it seemed as if they had been written in his The Fallen novel. Now, I understand that things are bound to be repeated at some point in a series, but when you feel that way throughout most of the book, you have a problem. Also, the action scenes were not the only repetitive thing produced. Again, we have Verchiel threatening people Aaron cares for. Again, we have fallen angel deaths and forgiveness. Again, there is a fight with Verchiel. And again there is lightning used as a weapon. Hell, we are even getting the same jokes. I like Gabriel, but the hunger and food jokes have gone stale.

Again, this is another plot driven book, which is fine and dandy, but can make it hard for the reader to care for the characters. However, even with this fault, I, personally, felt a sadness when Aaron comes across Stevie and realises what has been done to him. Yes, a well written emotional level could have brought out more, but I believe anyone with a little imagination could draw up a cord deep within. 

Overall, however, I enjoyed the book and felt it was worth both my times and money. Yes, it seemed recycled and the dialogue had me rolling my eyes, but I was able to fall into it. It kept me up at night since I did not want to put the book down, and I think that speaks for itself.

What I'm Reading Next:

 Part Two: Reckoning