Review: Post Human - David Simpson

Genre: Futuristic, sci-fi
Pages: 188
Published: 188

The future should have been perfect. Microscopic robots known as nans could repair any damage to your body, keep you young by resetting your cellular ...more The future should have been perfect. Microscopic robots known as nans could repair any damage to your body, keep you young by resetting your cellular clocks, and allow you to download upgrades like intelligence, muscle strength, and eyesight. You were supposed to be able to have anything you wanted with a simple thought, to be able to fly without the aid of a machine, to be able to live forever. But when a small group of five terraformers working on Venus return to Earth, they discover that every other human in the solar system has been gruesomely murdered. Now, James Keats and his four companions must discover what happened to the rest of humanity and fight back if they wish to avoid the same, horrifying fate. Welcome to the post-human era.

Little unsure about one thing, sometimes it had the feel of YA and sometimes not. But YA readers could definitely read this book, and especially boys.

This is the future and everyone is used to having everything served on a silver platter. They are all smart and getting smarter with each upgrade. They can fly (well not really but thanks to technology), wounds are healed, they live and live, and everything is just perfect.

But some resist, a group called the Purists, and they are us, we who live now that is. I got pretty irritated when the group came across purists and went all "gross, they eat things from the ground, and meat, and they operate on people to save them." I felt the post humans were pretty ungrateful, if people in the past hadn't invented things they would not be where they are now. So they annoyed me then. I wanted to shake the person and say, hey, your world is not perfect.

Cos that brings us to the story, a group is away on Venus terraforming and when they get back everyone is dead, yes everyone. Then they have to find who did it and they have to save themselves.

It had this futuristic matrix kind of feel to it. AI, robots and technology for everyone. I did wonder though, if everyone is so smart, then who has the more crappy jobs. I mean everyone on the planet has an IQ of 147 and wouldn't they all want good jobs? Their world seem to perfect but at the same time it was scary. It was too perfect, living forever, being smart, and I will not say what, but obviously it all went to hell.

A sci-fi thriller for those who enjoy these kind of books.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Nah, not for me.

Reason for reading: Got asked  and since the file was in the email I accepted.

Final thoughts: This is gonna sound crazy but the ending was too happy! I would have liked another ending. Now where is this coming from?

You can check out his website here

Review: Nefertiti - Michelle Moran

Genre: Historical fiction
Pages: 528
Published: 2007

Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped that her strong personality will temper the young ruler’s heretical desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods.

From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people but fails to see that powerful priests are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person brave enough to warn the queen is her younger sister, yet remaining loyal to Nefertiti will force Mutnodjmet into a dangerous political game; one that could cost her everything she holds dear.

I read my first Michelle Moran book last year and enjoyed it, she has this way of bringing history to life. Ever since that I wanted to read her previous novels and now I finally got to read the first one.

This book is about a famous time in the history of Egypt. But it is not told through the eyes of the big players. No the main character here is Mutnodjmet who was the sister to the famous Nefertiti who married Amunhotep who would start a new religion and build a new capital. 

Mut was the younger sister and when Nefertiti got married she came with her. First there are court intrigues with Amunhoteps first wife Kiya, then there is the intrigues surrounding him wanting a new religion and by doing that getting all the money from the Amun priests. Mut watches her sister ensnare the pharao and trying to keep his attention, and giving him the son he needs. But Mut has a mind of her own and there comes a time when she wants to break free from her sisters hold.

I liked how Mut was portrayed. First as a young girl thrown in to the political game, then as a young woman falling in love. Her whole story is not told here, and the book ends before a new rule sets in. So yes, what did I do, of course I googled. By now you can see I am rather obsessed with that. I sat and read about Egyptian history and what happened later to Mut. And even if we can't know everything, Moran has followed what might be true. This is a great historical novel about a woman who stood near the throne at a turbulent time, and who isn't as well known as her famous beautiful sister. But that is what I liked, to get to know a lesser known historical figure who still stood at the centre of things then and afterwards.

Moran truly brings history come to life. I am there in ancient Egypt and everything feels so near. One thing that this book made me want is to read The Heretic Queen, the book that follows Ramsesses II who became Pharaoh near this period of time, a couple of Pharaohs down since much happened in a short period of time. Because she truly is a great historical author and I want more. Not to mention read her new book that is coming out.

If you are interested in Egypt then this is a book for you, or if you are a historical fan, or if you just want a good book.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Love it

Reason for reading: My awesome library loot, missing that city now.

Final thoughts: I do want more.

Review: Painting Mona Lisa - Jeanne Kalogridis

Also published as: I, Mona Lisa

Genre: Historical fiction
Pages: 526
Published. 2006

My name is Lisa di Antonio Gherardini Giocondo, though to acquaintances, I am known simply as Madonna Lisa. My story begins not with my birth but a murder, committed the year before I was born…”

Florence, April 1478: The handsome Giuliano de’ Medici is brutally assassinated in Florence’s magnificent Duomo. The shock of the murder ripples throughout the great city, from the most renowned artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to a wealthy wool merchant and his extraordinarily beautiful daughter, Madonna Lisa. More than a decade later, Florence falls under the dark spell of the preacher Savonarola, a fanatic who burns paintings and books as easily as he sends men to their deaths. Lisa, now grown into an alluring woman, captures the heart of Giuliano’s nephew and namesake. But when Guiliano, her love, meets a tragic end, Lisa must gather all her courage and cunning to untangle a sinister web of illicit love, treachery, and dangerous secrets that threatens her life. 

I picked up this book thinking to learn something more, and then I googled after having read for a little while and realized the story is total fiction. The people existed but she has re-invented history and put together this fictional story.

Young Lisa grows up in Florence where de Medici rule. Her father is a wool merchant and her mother is sickly. The de Medici family rules everyhting, even marriages and she is sent to be inspected so they can find her a husband. But she meets Giuliano de Medici and falls in love, when 12 or 13. But a preacher is preaching about hell fire and soon all of Florence will be turned into darkness. But Lisa has her love, and friendship in a painter known as da Vinci. She also has a thirst for revenge.

Yes, my biggest concern is how historically incorrect this book was. I mean she did a great job, really followed what happened but then she made some people disappear and re-shaped Lisa's life. It makes a good story but I would rather have seen more accuracy. I never really got the love story either, they met briefly, she gets a letter and then she is suddenly in love. Must I preach about lust again. I just never felt it. Later yes, but not then.

But I did enjoy Florence, how the de Medici worked, the city and later Savonarola. He was one scary guy and Florence really turned into a hell hole after he has preached for a while. No one was safe, well perhaps except for the pious sad ones. It was certainly an interesting time.

In the end an ok book, I guess I might have liked it better before I went to google.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: lovely

Reason for reading: Library loot, yes my final one! Last review up tomorrow

Final thoughts; Ok.

Review: On the way to the wedding - Julia Quinn

 Bridgertons, book 8

Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 320
Published: 2006

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED...
Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except...

She wasn’t the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except...

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar..

I am gonna make this short, I have been reading like crazy and getting the reviews out of the way too ;)

Plot: 

The last of the Bridgerton siblings is looking for love, too bad he finds it in the wrong girl, and never sees his true love before him, before it's too late and she is walking to the altar with another man.

Characters:

Gregory, what should I say, I was rather annoyed that he believed to be madly in love with Hermione, and relentlessly pursued her. Even though she was on love with someone else.Then he was hit by lightning again, and didn't see who it was. Am I cynic when I say that is lust and nothing more. But to his defence, I loved how he believed in true love and wanted to find it, and when he finally understood what love was he was not letting her get away, even if she was to marry someone else.

Lucy, she was rather grey at times, and I am not sure I liked how she didn't want her friend to be with the man she loved, just cos he wasn't noble.

Love:

Gregory sure loves, and falls in love in this one. Lucy is more sensible so do I feel it? Dunno. There is some smexin too, I didn't expect that, the book looked so sweet.

Bad things:

How he fell for a pretty face and that was it.

Good things:

How much he believed in love and wanted it.

Final thoughts:

This was much first Bridgerton book, how funny I should read about the last sibling. Not a series one have to read in order. It was sweet and easy.

Cover thoughts: Cute

Reason for reading: Library

Review: Fallen - Lauren Kate

 Book 1

Genre: Paranormal romance YA
Pages: 452
Published: 2009

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she ...more There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

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

This was the other book that I heard so much about last year and how so many loved it, again I wondered, and this time it proved right. This book was not that good.

Luce was in a fire and her boyfriend mysteriously died, now she is at a new school filled with troubled kids and those that has done really bad things. Here she meets Daniel, this strange boy she feels like she has met before, and then there is the other guy who also likes here and so it goes on.

Now why didn't I like it? Well it was really hard to get in to, I wanted to skim, but read on and hoped it would pick up..it didn't. Finally when I had read half the book something started to happening and I thought yes! Fallen angels and paranormal stuff! Sadly I was mistaken, it was this climax that ended in nothing. So I started reading again hoping for some paranormal stuff. Nope. Instead there was Luce stalking Daniel, hanging out with friends and meeting this other guy. Then finally, finally at the end some paranormal stuff happened and I hoped to get some answers, short answer..no. I learnt that there are fallen angels, well yeah, I read the back cover. And that there is reincarnation, yes I kind of guessed that in the beginning too. So in the end nothing at all was explained and it left me really frustrated. I had wanted some more paranormal action and explanations.

Now to my other objection that I have seen around. This is a school where some kids are dangerous and wears tracking bracelets. But everyone sneaks around, Luce goes swimming with Daniel who she doesn't know. They seem to do what ever they want. There is no security, well ok those cameras, but it's doesn't feel like anyone is actually watching the tape. It's just like any other boarding school.

This one felt too drama and teen for me in the end. I wanted explanations, I wanted something to happen, but there was nothing. People can like this one even if I didn't. It does have star crossed lovers and the eternal love triangle so some will go for that. But for me it was lacking. And it could have been awesome. Perhaps the next one has something more in it.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: I do love it, but in the book she has short hair cos of the fire.

Reason for reading: From that awesome library loot

Final thoughts: Some will love it, some might feel like I did.

Review: Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick + being interviewed today

Genre: Paranormal romance, YA
Pages:
Published: 2009

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

I had heard great things about this book and was a bit, scared really, so many times all this buzz is really nothing, and the book is utter crap. Well I am happy to say that I liked this book. It had me reading and reading.

Nora is a normal teenage girl who suddenly finds herself sitting next to a mysterious boy in class. Ok I do have to cut in here, come on! Roswell, Twilight, come up with something new. Aaanyway, she is fascinated by him even though he is rude and cold. She is also feeling that someone is stalking her, and she has met this other boy who may be hiding something too. Darkness is closing up on her.

You know, sometimes when I complain I do really like the book. So to my second complain, there is a part of the book where a certain older woman seems to be lusting and in love with a younger guy..perhaps it's just that angels are no age, but it was strange. And, are angels made to when they are young so they can grow up? Well I do get that she wanted a 16 or whatever old angel. Oh, shouldn't he fall for someone his own "age" then. There I go again.

Great, another complain coming up. She "feels" that he is a different and then he sees that he has a scar on his back...so what is the first thing she do. Well google fallen angels and realize he must be one..wow, wait what? Yes always when I feel a guy is different and has a scar he must be an fallen angel. There wasn't nothing leading up to that, nothing that made her think he should be one.

Back to business, this book one me over. All this angel talk, I did always like fallen ones, and who doesn't like doomed love. Danger and a good story going on.

It may not look that way when I over analysed it but I truly did enjoy this book, and I want to know what happens in book 2. I hope she keep her style and doesn't go all teen or drama. Instead keeping it a bit fresh. So in the end it must be a good book if I complained this much and still really liked it.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: I do like it, I liked it the first time I saw it

Reason for reading: One of my amazing library loot books, I am happy to have such an understanding friend ;)

Final thoughts: Makes me wanna read the next one.


Being interviewed over at Stacy's Place on Earth today, come over and say hi :D

Review: Mr Darcy presents his bride - Helen Halstead

Genre: Historical romance, regency
Pages: 320
Published: 2007

When Elizabeth Bennett marries the brooding, passionate Mr. Darcy, she is thrown into the exciting world of London society. She makes a powerful friend in the Marchioness of Englebury but the jealousy among her ladyship's circle threatens to destroy Elizabeth's happiness. Elizabeth is drawn into a powerful clique for whom intrigue is the stuff of life and rivalry the motive, and her success, it seems, can only come at the expense of good relations with her husband. This novel also continues the stories of other favorite Pride and Prejudice characters including Georgiana Darcy and Kitty Bennett, each of whom have amusing adventures of their own.

I truly can't get enough of these it seems. This book takes place after the wedding, Lizzy is to be introduced to society, Lady Catherine is furious, Kitty wants a man, Georgiana is to be presented, and all the rest are there too.

First I must mention that this book had some sadness, and that was sure unexpected, but it was a part of the story. Still made me sad.

Lizzy and Darcy is as loving as always, but I must confess that this book showed a side of him that I didn't like. He was jealous, got all grumpy, and I even thought he was a bit whiny. She still loved him, but this was not the Mr Darcy one meets at the end of the book. Sure the book showed an epilogue of 12 years later, but if it was like thsi in the beginning so how did they suddenly got really happy and content?

To the rest, oh my, this book wanted matches for all, I shall not say who actually married but in play were: Kitty Bennet, Georgiana Darcy, Anne de Burgh, Colonel Fitzilliam and Caroline Bingley. I must confess I enjoyed that, I wanted a HEA for all of them (ok not all, but it worked out ok.) I am sure if she had continued Mary had gotten a man too, but yes, Mary, she was rude and really unpleasant in this book.

An ok Austen sequel, but I just feel now afterwards that I didn't love Darcy as I should have.

For fans this could be a book to read, since I liked the fact that she went all matchmaker on the whole bunch. But I would have liked a happier Darcy and not that sadness part.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Fitting

Reason for reading: Ok, you see I went to visit a friend and I went to her library and omg, omg! Big city library, in awe! I wish I could have stayed for 2 weeks and read and read. But I still managed to grab a few books,and will continue to read like crazy. Some cool books coming up this weekend. 

Final thoughts: An ok sequel.