Art of the ninja: Earth review

Art of the Ninja: Earth by T.J Perkins

What's it about?

Growing up ninja in a modern world with ancient customs is difficult, but the Japanese government still has need of them. Training in the Chaio village, home of the best ninja, Duncan Kimura dreams of one day being chosen for the elite special forces–the Black Dragon Squad. But his dreams won’t become a reality if he can’t control his destructive rage that threatens everyone around him.

Turmoil threatens to tip Duncan’s balanced world; rivalries, disputes with other teens, competition, and a beautiful kunoichi–a female ninja. The plague of emotions fuels his anger and an entity hidden deep inside him threatens to surface–it wants out.
The Chaio ninja are guardians of secret ancient artifacts that are of great interest to a mysterious foreigner who employs the help of a rival clan, the Shimoshuki, to steal them.
Only one ninja–a kunoichi–takes the mission, and she wants Duncan’s power for her own. She infiltrates the Chaio village alone and secretly threatens everyone close to Duncan. If he tells anyone about her, she vows to kill them. In return she wants his power and the secrets of the Chaio village.
Faced with a foe unlike any other, Duncan must overcome his own fears and the raging anger bursting within him when she kidnaps his girlfriend with plans to kill her. Follow him through his trials and challenges as he will either lose himself to his rage and become a threat to all he knows and loves, or triumph and become the ninja his people expect of him.

My review:
3/5
After reading and enjoying a couple of T.J Perkins children's books I was her new adult book would be like. I wasn't disappointed, since I know nothing about ninjas I was a bit worried about a reading a story about them, I admit there were a few words I didnt understand and had to figure out myself, like gi and sensei but the breezy writing and big air of mystery made it easy to get into and I finished up the book in a day.
I have to say though I didn't quite feel it had the tone of an adult book and at some points felt like I was reading a book for younger readers, not that this is a bad thing, I just think it leans more towards ya and would make a great gift for teenage boys (I'll certainly be holding onto it for mine) but I wouldn't let anyone younger than that read it due to some violent scenes.
I liked the heroic main character of Duncan and felt all the characters were explained really well so I knew who they were and what they were like, his romance with mayumi is sweet, if a little underdeveloped, would be great to see how they become closer in further books and I'm also very interested to see what happens next with Duncan and his abilities.

                                                  

Book blogger hop #3

The book blogger hop is hosted by Crazy-for-books

Follow the link to join in and get hopping.

This weeks question is:

"Who's your all-time favorite book villain?"

Oh, a tough one! I'm gonna go with Kalona from the House of night series by P.C and Kristin Cast (I'm not sure he's my all-time fav but one that comes to mind right now) I've picked him because even though on the surface he's eveil and yeah he does evil things, there are reasons. He has his own personal torments and just wants to go home but cannot because he's been banished. In later books of the series we do see more of Kalonas human side that almost makes you feel sorry for him.

What's yours?
If your stopping by from the hop, leave a link to your post so I can see and I follow back anyone that follows me : )

Guest poster Autumn Kylie Lyndsey

Autumn co-admins Read-a-holics on Facebook.

Hey, I'm Autumn. I'm one of three Admins for the Read-a-holics page and an 8th grader.


I've been reading since I was really little, but I wasn't addicted like I am now. I think I started reading like an addiction in 5th grade. No one liked me, I was the outcast and the only place I could find any friends was the books in the school library. It started with R.L. Stine's "The Step Sister" and has escalated into an obsession.

My obsessive reading even turned into a writing dream. I always thought to myself "This person should've went with this person" or "This person should've done this instead of that" and so on. So in 6th grade, I wrote my first Fan-fiction. It definitely escalated into an obsession as well, allowing me to have enough creativity to write full books I came up with on my own.

Anyway, I finally got two good friends, who are now best friends & sisters. Lana & Leah, the other two Admins of the Read-a-holics book club. And they had reading habits, but theirs wasn't an addiction. Not until I kept telling them about the books I read. Then, they were hooked.

So now, we wanted to spread the greatest books with annoying cliffhangers, dumb guys and silly girls, crazy love affairs, and interesting supernatural things, to the world. So, I created Read-a-holics and poof! We suddenly had a place to rant and rave about our crazy books that are must reads.

We constantly post reviews, talk to our fans, try to make our page better, always tell our fans to post books they're reading and liking on our page, and make sure the books on everyone's shelf, are read and talked about.

That is Read-a-holics. :)

Thankful thursday #4 by Ninfa Sferlazzo

This week I was feeling to poorly to write a post so my good friend Ninfa (who's also admin on the page and my second) stepped in to help me out, here's a book she's thankful for.

So,I was about 8 years old when I first noticed a copy of this book lying on my big cousin's desk in her Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet poster covered bedroom.

I was intrigued. When I asked to borrow it,she told me I was too young. She was about 16 at the time...
But the title stuck in my mind and just would not let go.
Arthurian legends had always fascinated me,and especially the character of Morgan la Fey.
It took me another 6 years before I could get my hands on a copy. I remember it very clearly because it was Xmas morning,1990 and I had,yet again,added the title to the very long list of books I wanted,but that year I struck lucky :)
It was the beginning of a love affair that has lasted until today,and still makes my heart flutter: my passion for Fantasy.
How can I describe the world of possibilities and enjoyement it opened to me?
Only if you have savoured the slow turning of pages,smelled the incredible scent of a new book,waited long and hard to get your hands on that title you just had to had...only if you have fallen in love with the characters,the world,the deepest,darkest meanings and secrets hidden through the lines,only then can you understand my amazement at this discovery.
The prologue is still one of the most thrilling pieces of writing I have ever read.
I still love every page,even though reading it again as an adult so many meanings have changed for me,so many emotions have turned into something different. But then again,that's what makes a great book to me,the fact that it always surprises you,even after the 30th time you've read it...for me,it's around the 34th now,with many more times to come in the future,Goddess willing.
So today,and every day,I am thankful to the talent and skillfull storytelling of Marion Zimmer Bradley,for giving me "The Mists of Avalon",still my favourite book of all time.
Love
Ninfa xxx

Same Difference #3

You might recognise this, it's the cover for Deadly little secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz, the first in the Touch series.

And this is the cover for The first desire by Nancy Reisman.

Notice anything similair? lol

Which one do you prefer?

March Books of the month and new mini challenge of the month

I recently mentioned on the Facebook page that I'm changing how I pick the books of the month. From now on the first will be one I read the previous month and recommend to all. For the second, if there are no suggestions or requests, I will use a random generator to pick a genre and then will pick a book from that genre that I think either looks good or I know is good if I've read it before.
I'm also getting rid of the word of the month becasue I don't think people are bothered about participating lol instead I'm going to start doing a mini challenge every month, you don't have to join in but would be great if you do. You can comment here or on the page to let me know if your participating.
So anyway first Book of the month for March is:

Keep your head down. Don't get noticed. Or else. I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous - the only neck at risk is my own. Until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution...


 
 
 
 
 

Inside out by Maria V. Snyder.
Most people that know me probably won't be to surprised by my choic since she's my favourite author lol
I actually read this months ago when it was released in the US, but I read it again in February before reading the second book Outside in to refresh myself, also it was only released here in the UK last month and the second book is out soon, that's why I choose this and not the sequel for book of the month. They're both brilliant books and I think you all should read them

You can check out my review for both here

 

Alison Wells is no ordinary woman. Born with super-natural powers, she can never make love to a man without putting him in grave danger. But when her special vision reveals a glorious muscled man soaring overhead on mighty wings, she feels an overwhelming attraction she cannot resist - even as he tells her: 'I have come for you. Your blood belongs to me'. Kerrick is a vampire and a warrior who has fought his hunger for a woman's love for the past two hundred years. As a Guardian of Ascension, he is sworn to protect Alison from the death vamp armies who crave her blood and her power. But Kerrick has cravings of his own - a forbidden longing to open his heart and veins to Alison. To share his blood...satisfy his thirst...and seal their fates forever.

The second book is Ascension by Caris Roane.
I couldn't find the random generator I usually use because I'm on a different computer lol So I asked on the page and the first response was from Cindy McCune, who picked paranormal romance. I did a search and have to be honest this cover caught my eye lol It's the first in a new sereis and I think it sounds very interesting.
 
And for the mini challenge, all you have to do is reread and old (or new) favourite. Maybe something you've already read a bunch of times or something you really want to reread but haven't because it wouldn't be fair to all the new books you have lol
Let me know if your joining in any of theses and which books you plan to read. Come back later in the month if your not sure yet because I wanna know. In fact I wanna know what your reading right now! You don't have to be a follower to commet (although it would be nice lol)
Currently I'm reading Intertwined by Gena Showalter, I'm only four chapters in but I like what I've seen so far : )

                                

                                 

Book blogger hop #2

The book blogger hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy for books head on over there to find out how to participate.

"Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?"

Nope! my blog was a page first and this name was voted on by myself and fans from a bunch of choices, I've always been happy with it : )

 If your stopping by from the hop then leave a link for your blog : )

Thankful Thursday #3

That's right, this week I'm actually thankful for a childrens book, not just one either but the whole series!
I first heard of Harry Potter when the first movie came out in 2001, I was 15 at the time and way to cool for a kids movie so I of course avoided it like the plague for many years.
It wasn't until Order of the phoenix was being released on DVD that I became interested because, from the adverts, it looked a lot darker than previous movies. So I bought the box set of the first five movies claiming 'my daughter might like these' and watched them all over five days. And so an obssession began...
Our anniversary was around the corner so I told my husband I wanted the books as my gift, no way was I waiting to find out how it all ended!
I read the last two first, then I read them all from the start... then I read them again. J.K Rowling not only writes a magical set of stories but the plot is so intricate, the characters so lovable and the world so amazing it made the books hard to put down or get off my mind when I wasn't reading them.
I also watched the movies almost daily, forcing my husband and daughter to watch them over and over. I joined websites and mailing lists to find out all the latest movie news and did Harry Potter quizes online, I was completely hooked.
Both the movies that have come out since I've dragged my husband to the very first showings and I've read the books again so many times they're falling apart. It's the series I've reread the most out of any other and I've been sure to start my kids on their Harry Potter 'education' nice and early by showing them the movies over and over and then again lol
I cannot wait until my son is older to pass these down to him, and hope he'll love them like I do.
I'll always be Thankful to J.K Rowling for the magical series that made me realise childrens books aren't always just for children!

What book are you thankful for? Please use the picture and post on your blog, then link to it here so I can read it : )

Inside out and Outside in reviews





Inside out by Maria V. Snyder
Keep your head down. Don't get noticed. Or else. I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous - the only neck at risk is my own. Until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution...

My review:
5/5
Maria v. Snyder has a way with world and character building that just makes you fall in love with her books and everyone in them and this is no exception.
Within in the first few chapters we meet the characters, learn about Inside, the world it's set in and the action starts, yet it doesn't feel to 'full' or confusing.
I found protag Trella to be a very strong character, she's clever and strong and cares a lot about best friend Cogon, although she starts the rebellion by accident she doesn't shy away from her responsibility when she's looked to as the leader and she also owns up to her own mistakes.
Cogon was another great character, he made a great balance for Trella and never once gives up hope when other people would, he's friendly and caring and it's easy to see why other characters in the book all look up to him.
I also loved the innocent romance that blooms throughout the story, it's not dominant and doesn't take over the book yet you can feel it to as it progresses.
All in all an excellent read that sucked me in even on my second read of it and left me gasping for the second book.

Outside in by Maria V. Snyder

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there s more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we re free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again while still touching base with Riley, of course. He s the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there s outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In.

My review:
5/5
Amazing! This book is so amazingly and intricately written that by the end I still wasn't sure who to deem the 'good' and 'bad' guys lol not everything is always quite so black and white so whilst it seems some guys in this are on the wrong side, their reasons for being there are understandable,which all makes for a fascinating read.
I also found it really interesting to see that, just because you've won the rebellion and freedom doesn't mean everything goes smoothly after, which is exampled really well in this sequel.
A lot of characters that played a role in the first book come more into the foreground in this book giving us a chance to get to know them and adding a new depth. Logan was a particular favourite for me, he's so clever but at the same time excitable and kind of a wimp, but it comes off kind of adorable instead of annoying.
I also think Trellas new relationships with Riley and newly found mother are also really well written and again it was great to see that it's not always perfect in paradise, relationships require work and effort to work out.
It's as well written at the first with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes.
For more on Maria V. Snyder visit her website

                           
                           

Wednesdays Worldly covers - week six

This week is the French cover for My soul to take by Rachel Vincent. It's very different to the other covers but still pretty, I think. What do you think?

And in case you haven't seen them, here's the British covers for the series so far.