The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

To read my reviews of the other books in this series, click here: The Lost Hero, The Son of Neptune, and The  Mark of Athena,

 



Title:  The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus #4)
Author: Rick Riordan
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: Fabulous
Alerts/Warnings:  None
Premise:  "Greek and Roman demigods from the Prophecy of Seven must work together to seal the Doors of Death--and help Percy and Annabeth escape the Underworld in the process"-- Provided by publisher.
Opinions: My husband and I are reading the series aloud together, because we are so addicted to it. I was glad to see each of the heroes of the Prophecy of Seven develop into more in-depth characters with new strengths bringing greater dimension to already intriguing people. I especially loved seeing Annabeth and Percy's trip through Tartarus and the monsters that they encounter that they had previously killed. Most of all I loved "Bob", but you'll just have to read the story to find out why.  Leo Valdez also received more face time and an intriguing twist to his story. Other than the feeling that Rick Riordan is trying to provide a cameo for every God in the Greek & Roman pantheons, this was an amazing book.  I can't wait until the Fall when book five, Blood of Olympus, is released.

Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George

To read my reviews of the other books in this series, click here: Princess of the Midnight Ball and Princess of Glass.






Title:  Princess of the Silver Woods  (Princess #3)
Author: Jessica Day George
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: Fabulous
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "When Petunia, youngest of the dancing princesses, is ambushed by bandits in wolf masks on her way to visit an elderly neighbor, the line between enemies and friends becomes blurred as she and her sisters get a chance to end their family's curse once and for all" (King County Library System).
Opinions: This is a magnificent cross between a continuation of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Robin Hood, and Red Riding Hood. Jessica Day George does a brilliant job of interweaving those stories into a beautiful new creation.   I was fascinated by both Oliver and his internal battle between doing what he knows is wrong in order to take care of people who were wronged by others. I also loved getting to see Petunia again and to travel with her as she finds her own personal strength.   I also enjoyed getting to see other characters we've seen before and see how their lives have changed for better or for worse, and the consequences they now face.  In the end, I cried. . .in a good way.  So yes, this is a book (in fact an entire series) worth reading.

Matched by Ally Condie

For my reviews of other Ally Condie books, click here: Being Sixteen.







Title: Matched (Matched #1)
Author: Ally Condie
Reviewer:  Karen
Genre: YA Dystopian
Rating:  Fabulous
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, who to marry. When she is Matched with her best friend Xander, things couldn't be more perfect. But why did her neighbor Ky's face show up on her match disk as well?"
Opinions:This book was fascinating because the Society was based upon statistics and the laws of probability. Everything is based upon that--including what you eat, what you where, and what you are allowed and not allowed to do. Anyone who strays from what is acceptable, based upon what is expected according to probability is then censured as needed. Because of this you wonder if the characters are doing what they are doing, because they truly want to or only because they are taught that this is what probability allows. 

The characters were intriguing as well. I loved Xander--the boy every girl wants, and no one can think they are allowed. He's introspective, smart, good looking, and more than even Cassia realizes. As for Ky, this jury is still out. I feel there is a lot more to his story to learn before I really discover what I think of him.  And I adore Cassia. She wants to do what is right for her, for her family, for those around her, but she has to determine what "right really means". It makes her an interesting read. I love her strength most of all.

Overall, this was a really great read and I look forward to reading what's next in the sequel, Crossed.