The Black Reckoning ★★★★ by John Stephens

The final book in the trilogy of the Books of Beginning finds Emma traveling to the Land of the Dead alone because as the keeper of the Black Reckoning she is the only living being allowed.   She must reach and retrieve the Reckoning before the Dire Magnus so that together with her siblings they can defeat him and save the world from destruction.

This book was a great finish to the series and all the issues/characters were tied up nicely.  A fun series and well-written.


Series/ Progress: Books of Beginning 3/3
DATE READ: June 13 - June 22
NO. OF PAGES: 424
Type of Book audiobook
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile

The Viper's Nest ★★★ by Peter Lerangis

As Amy and Dan Cahill are leaving, they are informed that the police are after them.  Realizing that Alistair is the fugitive, the kids head to Pretoria to continue their search.

Their adventure in Africa leads them to some disturbing realizations after their discovery of the clue left by Winston Churchill in the Tomas stronghold.

This is a fun series of children exploring the world with puzzles to solve.  Great descriptions of exotic locations as well as historical facts all mixed in with a treasure hunt.

Series/ Progress: 39 Clues 7/39
DATE READ: April 19 - April 21
NO. OF PAGES: 192
Type of Book audiobook
SOURCE: audio stockpile

In Too Deep ★★★ by Jude Watson

Amy and Dan continue to search for the next clue but are beginning to become suspicious of Nellie Gomez, their au pair, after discovering that she has skills that don't seem to go with being a nanny.  Strange relatives  are still popping up all over but Amy and Dan's smarts are still outwitting the nasty adults.  This time they encounter cave spiders and murderous surfers.


Series/ Progress: 39 Clues 6/39
DATE READ: March 10 - March 10
NO. OF PAGES: 198
Type of Book Audiobook
SOURCE: Public Library

The Black Circle ★★★ by Patrick Carman

Amy and Dan Cahill are off on their next adventures this time sans Nellie.  Receiving a note including tickets to Russia, the twins head off for their quest to find the next clue.  They team up with Holts because this quest is time sensitive and they know that they can't do it alone.

Another fun installment of youth vs. evil.  Looking forward to the next one!

Series/ Progress: 39 Clues 5/11
DATE READ: February 13 - February 15
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Type of Book audiobook
SOURCE: Public Library

Rivals in the City by Y. S. Lee

305 pages on Nook

Mary Quinn and James Eastman have opened their own detective agency but circumstances draw them back to the past and threaten their lives as well as their relationship.

The story was great in drawing on characters from the past.  Hope the next one will be out soon.

Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

There's no more time!  The battle to prevent Gaea awakening is now!  But the questing demigods have to first prevent all out war between the Greeks and Romans and unite to prevent the monsters and Titans from destroying the Earth as they know it.

The gods themselves can be no help (they're all suffering from Multiple personality disorder - both their Greek and Roman sides are warring) so the demigods each must complete their mission to prevent the catastrophe.  Nico and Reyna are tasked with return the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood which should stop the infighting between Greek and Roman.  

The rest on the Argo II must rescue Percy and Annabeth (they always seem to be in trouble) and prevent the spilling of their blood on Olympus.

This was an action finale to a fun and enjoyable series!  My only disappointment was the ending seemed unsettled - not a cliffhanger - as if the author was leaving an opening for another? 

★★★½

GENRE: Young Adult
CHARACTERS: Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Jason Grace, Nico DiAngelo, Leo Valdez, Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang
Series/ Progress: Heroes of Olympus 5/5
DATE READ: September 29 - October 3
NO. OF PAGES: 516
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Library Overdrive

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

At the end of the last installment, Percy and Annabeth get caught in a giant web which pulls them through an opening and they fall into Tartarus, used as a dungeon of torment and suffering and prison for numerous monsters.  To survive, Annabeth and Percy must make their way through the abyss to the Doors of Death where hopefully their friends will be waiting to free them.

Percy and Annabeth's encounters in the abyss are filled with danger frequently offset by amusing interactions with monsters that aren't all bad.

Meanwhile, above, the remaining quest members are encountering their own monster problems trying to reach the Doors of Death on their side (first they have to figure where that would be.) 

The story was fun and full of action - will definitely have to read the last SOON!

★★★★

GENRE: Young Adult
CHARACTERS: Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Leo Valdez, Hazel Levesque, Nico Di Angelo, Frank Zhang, Jason Grace
Series/ Progress: Heroes of Olympus 4/5
DATE READ: September 19 - September 28
NO. OF PAGES: 597
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , ALPHAKIT
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile

Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

This third book in the Heroes of Olympus series sees two quests undertaken -  Annabeth's to search and find the cause and resolve the animosity between the Greeks and the Romans and the assembled demigods efforts to prevent GIA from taking over the world.

The writing was a bit different from previous installments but the story still moved along and captured this reader's imagination.

★★★

GENRE: Young Adult
CHARACTERS: Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Leo Valdez, Piper McLean, Jason Grace, Frank Zhang
Series/ Progress: Heroes of Olympus 3/5
DATE READ: August 2 - August 7
NO. OF PAGES: 586
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , AlphaKit
SOURCE: Audio stockpile

Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan

This was the last in the Kane Chronicle Trilogy and brought a happy conclusion to the efforts of Carter and Sadie Kane in their battle against the evil god Apophis.  Seeing the interaction between this brother and sister was extremely entertaining.  Maybe the author could return them to us in the future.

★★★

GENRE: Young Adult
CHARACTERS: Sadie Kane, Carter Kane, Walt Stone, Anubis, Zia Rashid, Setna
Series/ Progress: Kane Chronicles  3/3
DATE READ: July 30 - August 1
NO. OF PAGES: 406
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Audio stockpile

Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson

The Cahills - Amy and Dan - continue their quest to collect all the clues to the inheritance that their grandmother left them.  In this installment, their other relatives (Kabras, Holts, Madrigals) don't play as large a role, and we are introduced to Grandmother Grace's friend who is also looking for the treasure.

★★★

GENRE: Young Adult
CHARACTERS: Amy Cahill, Dan Cahill, Nellie Gomez, Theo Cotter, Hilary Vale, Alistar Oh
Series/ Progress: 39 Clues  4/39
DATE READ: July 4 - July 4
NO. OF PAGES: 190
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Audio stockpile

One False Note by Gordon Korman

The Cahill siblings Amy and Dan are on their own trying to find the 39 clues that their grandmother described in her will.  The scavenger hunt is dangerous enough, but fighting with their extended family as well as the international flavor, makes these fun.

 ★★★

GENRE: Young Adult
CHARACTERS: Amy Cahill, Dan Cahill, Nellie Gomez, Jonah Wizard
Series/ Progress: 39 Clues/ #2
DATE READ: January 2 - January 3
NO. OF PAGES: 174
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

 ★★★¾

GENRE: Fantasy YA
SUBJECT: shyness, insecurity, magic
Setting: Midnight Gulch, TN
CHARACTERS: Felicity Pickle, Frannie Jo Pickle, Holly Harness Pickle, Boone Harness, Cleopatra Harness, Jonah Pickett, Threadbare Brothers, Iasbelle Thistle, Oliver Weatherly
DATE READ: March 27 - March 30
NO. OF PAGES: 311
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Publisher for Review

PLOT:....................................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.00
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................4.50
Average..............................................................................................3.81

This is an entertaining story of a young girl who finally thinks that she has found home - a place with family and a friend but also magical. Felicity Pickle arrives in Midnight Gulch with her little sister and her mother. Felicity is a word gatherer - she sees words everywhere but she is so shy is unable to articulate them.  

Felicity feels a connection with Midnight Gulch and sets out to find out why her mother is a wanderer and works to free her from the family curse.

I really enjoyed the story - each character has their own kind of magic and the solution to the curse is simply magical!

The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

 ★★★½
AUTHOR:
GENRE: Children's, Young Adult
SUBJECT: good vs. evil, family secrets, codes, inheritance
Setting: Boston, MA; Paris France
CHARACTERS: Dan Cahill, Amy Cahill, Allister Oh, Jonah Wizard, Holt Family, Irina Spasky
DATE READ: March 6 - March 7
NO. OF PAGES: 220
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, RandomCAT, MysteryCAT 
SOURCE: audio from library

PLOT:....................................................................3.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.00
STYLE:..................................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.00
Average..............................................................................................3.00 

Dan and Amy Cahill are saddened when their grandmother dies, but when her will is read, they along with other members of their extended family are presented with an option - $1Million dollars each or a quest that could garner them a power beyond imagining. Seeking the adventure they start on the quest of 39 clues endangering themselves while trying to make their grandmother proud.

Interesting that this series is written by multiple authors. I'm curious to see how the story progresses over time with the different writers.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

 ★★★½

GENRE: Children's, Young Adult
SUBJECT: good vs. evil
Setting: the city
CHARACTERS: Ophelia Jane Worthington Whittand, Marvelous Boy, Alice Worthington Whittand, Miss Kaminski (Snow Queen), Malcolm Whittand
DATE READ: March 1 - March 4
NO. OF PAGES: 220
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: ARC from publisher

PLOT:....................................................................3.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.00
Average..............................................................................................3.33  

Ophelia is in the museum while her father works on a special exhibit.  Bored, she starts to explore and discovers a boy who is locked in a room.  He tells her his story and she works to free him and find the sword he needs.

The adventures that Ophelia encounters are entertaining and seem to be exactly what an 11 yr old would want to do.

Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

 ★★★¼
SUBJECT: Roman mythology
GENRE: Fantasy
Setting: California, Alaska
CHARACTERS: Percy Jackson, Frank Zhang, Hazel Levesque, Juno, Orion
DATE READ: November 11 - November 18
NO. OF PAGES: 521
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:   yes, audio stockpile

yes, audio stockpile

 PLOT:....................................................................3.50CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.00
STYLE:..................................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.00
Average..............................................................................................3.25

Percy Jackson reappears minus his memory and is directed by an elderly lady, who turns out to be Juno, to Camp Jupiter were Percy is befriended by a pair of misfits (demigods of Hades and Ares).  They are sent on a quest to free Thantos and save the world from Gaea. 

The special powers of both Hazel and Frank added to Percy's, aid the trio in the travels and combats.

What fun!

The Warlock by Michael Scott

★★★★

Genre: Fantasy

Subject: monsters, evil, magic

Setting: San Francisco, Shadow Realms

Main Characters: Josh and Sophie Newman, Nicholas and Perenel Flamel, Dr. Dee

Series: yes, #5 immortal Nicholas Flamel

Dates Read: April 28 - April 29

Number of pages: 385

Off the Shelf (pre-2012)? Source?: yes, audio stockpile

Category for 12 in 12 challenge: Math class

The 5th book of the Flamel series shows the true danger that threatens Josh and Sophie as well as the humani world. All the mythological creatures of yesteryear have been imprisoned on the Island of Alcatraz and Dr Dee with Virginia Dare are gaining help from Josh to loose them on the city. When it is revealed the reason why Josh is acting the way he is, the immortals are drawn to trying to warn him but are unsuccessful, they must defend the city and the humani instead.

As Nicholas and Perenel's auras start to die as they age, the reader wonders if they will survive long enough to complete their destinies and help the twins to save the world?

Many twists and turns await the reader as the characters themselves change and evolve.

I was so caught up in the story that I had to start the next one immediately after finishing the 4th installment. A tremendously fun series!

The Necromancer by Michael Scott

Challenge Book #45

★★★½

Genre: Fantasy

Subject: monsters, evil, magic

Setting: San Francisco, Shadow Realms

Main Characters: Josh and Sophie Newman, Nicholas and Perenel Flamel, Dr. Dee

Series: yes, #4 immortal Nicholas Flamel

Dates Read: April 19 - April 28

Number of pages: 403

Off the Shelf (pre-2012)? Source?: yes, audio stockpile

Category for 12 in 12 challenge: Speech class

This 4th book of the Flamel series picks up immediately after book 3 with the twins arrival in San Francisco and the official introduction of Aunt Agnes.

Sophie and Josh are at odds as to who they should support Dr. Dee or the Flamels. We are also introduced to a few new immortals - Aoife (Scathatch's twin sister), Billy the Kid, Prometheus, Virginia Dare, and Niten.

The immortals are having their own problems - Scatty and Joan are trapped in a pre-historic shadow Realm, Saint Germaine, Palamades, and Shakespeare are running from the Dark Elders while trying to free Joan and Scatty, and Dee and Machiavelli are in deep trouble with the bosses because they haven't gotten the twins. So since all immortals are looking after themselves, who is there to keep Josh and Sophie safe?

This book supplies a great deal of background for the mythological creatures/immortals and their masters, the Elders. The tension builds as the life in the Flamels begins to drain to desperate levels and the twins are put at odds

Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee

 ★★★★

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Setting: London, England Buckingham Palace
Main Characters: Mary Quinn, James Easton, Queen Victoria, Prince Edward,Lady Dalrymple, Amy Tramer, Octavius Jones
Series: yes, #3 The Agency series
Dates Read:  April 7 - April 11
Number of pages: 380
Off the Shelf (pre-2012)? Source?:  yes, Netgalley Stockpile
Category for 12 in 12 challenge:  English Lit

Mary Quinn, in the third Agency mystery by Y.S.Lee, has grown and matured to the point where she is set in as a domestic at Buckingham Palace to find a petty thief. What she finds because of her position, is romance and friendship from an unexpected source.  Her abilities to uncover items that others wouldn't have found, give her an advantage which definitely is essential for the climax in the book.

The series is fun and engaging.  The characters, especially in this book,  are extremely entertaining and heartrending all at the same time.  What will happen in the future, we will have to wait to see but at least we know that the Agency will be there to back Mary if that's what she wants.

Love the series, want more!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

★★★★½

Genre: Fantasy

Subject: government control, manipulation

Setting: Panem

Main Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, Cinna, Haymitch Abernathy

Series: yes, #1 Hunger Games

Dates Read: April 5 - April 6

Number of pages: 485

Off the Shelf (pre-2012)? Source?: yes, Audio stockpile

Category for 12 in 12 challenge: Speech class

There have been so many reviews telling the plot/story of the Hunger Games, I'll forego that and just give my impressions.

I was reluctant to read this book because there seem to be so much hype that I couldn't believe that it could live up to it. So when I "read" this book I was extremely surprised. The story is told in the first person character of Katniss Everdeen. I listened to an audio version narrated by Carolyn McCormick and felt that I was really experiencing the events through her eyes. I felt the horror of hearing her little sister's name called, the disgust at the behavior of Haymitch Abernathy, but most of all I really felt her aloneness when she was fighting for her life.

The writing was superb, the characters well-defined, story engaging - all in all, a truly excellent book, IMO. Glad I've got the next one already in my hot little hands because I loved this one!

Lord Sunday by Garth Nix

Genre: Fantasy

Setting: the House, Imcomparable Gardens

Main Characters: Arthur Penhaligan, Suzie Turquoise Blue, Lord Sunday

Series: yes, #7 Keys to the Kingdom

Dates Read: April 3 - April 4

Number of pages: 320

Off the Shelf (pre-2012)? Source?: yes, Audio Stockpile

Category for 12 in 12 challenge: Leftover

Arthur Penhaligan is nearing the end of his quest. He has conquered all the immortal trustees except for Lord Sunday and has in his possession the first six keys to the kingdom. Arthur is still struggling with his transformation from human to denizen.

The story which completes the adventures of Lord Arthur, the rightful heir of the Architect, has numerous twists and turns not just for Arthur but his friends as well.

The interesting conclusion definitely brings the finale of the series to an unexpected but satisfactory end. Loved the series.