Sword Art Online: Aincrad vol. 1 by Reki Kawahara

Today's review will be about:

THE SUMMARY

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON!
In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online - a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other - debuts, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all of its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG - a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "Game Over" means certain death - both virtual and real...

MY REVIEW

Since I was a little girl. I've always been into MMORPGs like Runescape, Star Trek Online, and Star Wars: The Old Republic, among many others. When I was in middle school, I suddenly got into a new (to me) genre of TV: anime. And it was only a couple of months ago that I stumbled upon a show that melded my two favorite things into one beautifully told story. That was Sword Art Online.

Now, I know what you're thinking: that sounds just like Spy Kids 3, and that was one of the worst things that was part of my childhood/life. No way I'm checking this out! Well, dear reader, I am very (I repeat; VERY) happy that it is nothing like that mashup of actors and bad scenes that was Spy Kids 3. It's very easy to like the introverted, awkward character that is Kirito, and the determined, powerful girl that is Asuna.

"It's just a video game, right?"

When we're playing video games, whether it is on XBox, Playstation, Wii (okay, maybe not Wii...), or PC, it is impossible sometimes to count the amount of times that you've died. But in this world, there are no second chances, which is SO terrifying! If I played Tomb Raider like this, I would be dead in no time! (Though playing it with NerveGear would be the coolest!) And since everyone's real faces and body are downloaded into the game, you know what people really look like in the real world. No dudes playing as girls, no more super hot babes everywhere you look (let's admit it, we all do it...), everyone simply looks, well, normal.

Why would I want to look like myself if I could look like Lara Croft? -sips tea- or a super badass chick?

In all seriousness, this book really made me think about video games, and whether or not the relationships we have in them with random strangers are real or not. I think that, in reality, they are real. I might not have ever met that person in real life, and maybe we will never talk to each other irl (in real life), but that doesn't mean that they're meaningless either. When you finish a series and almost feel like you lost a good friend in finishing it, the feelings that you have are real, even if the characters themselves aren't. And, in a way, you grow with the characters as well. You go where they go, you feel what they feel, that sort of thing.

Whoa, sorry, I sort of got really deep there...

"Hey, say something... Are you lagging?"

In conclusion, if you've watched the anime or not, this book is definitely something that you should have on your bookshelf. It's funny, it's sad, and it's characters will have you question a lot, and that makes one good story.

Let's do it! :D

A LITTLE EXCERPT

"An impossibly huge castle of rock and iron, floating in an endless expanse of sky.
That is the entirety of this world.
A tireless, month-long survey by a team of fanatical experts found that the base floor of the fortress was more than six miles in diameter, just large enough to fit the entire Setagay ward of Tokyo inside. And considering the one hundred floors stacked one on top of the other, the sheer vastness of the structure beggared the imagination. It was impossible to estimate the total amount of data it all represented.
Inside the castle were several bustling cities, countless smaller towns and villages, forests, plains, and lakes. Only one staircase connected each floor to those adjacent it, and these staircases were located within dangerous mazes filled with monsters. It was difficult just finding them, much less reaching them, but once someone had cleared the stairs and arrived at a major city the next floor up, a teleport gate linking the two floors would open in every city below, allowing all players instantaneous travel among the various levels of the castle.
It was thus that, over two long years, its inhabitants slowly but steadily conquered this giant fortress. The current human frontier is the seventy-seventh floor.
The castle's name is Aincrad, a floating world of blade and battle with about six thousand human beings trapped within. Otherwise known as -
Sword Art Online."

Well, that's all for now!

See you next time!

~Sea-Solo

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Watch a trailer for the anime!:

Look at the page for a video game that is currently being developed;
Age of Aincrad!

The Coming of the Dragon by Rebecca Barnhouse

Today's review will be about:

THE SUMMARY

When he was a baby, Rune washed up onshore in a boat. Some people thought he was a sacrifice to the gods and wanted to send him right back to the sea. Luckily for Rune, King Beowulf disagreed. He gave the boy to Amma, a wisewoman living on a farm, to raise as she saw fit.
Sixteen years later, Rune spends his summers laboring on the farm. He goes to the king's hall each winter for weapon's training. Many people still fear he will bring a curse on the kingdom. Then a terrible thing happens. On a lonely crag on the giants' mountain, someone awakens a dragon. It is time for Rune to find the warrior inside himself and prove to the doubters once and for all that he is a true hero.

MY REVIEW

I first got introduced to this series through my Medieval Literature class at school, and I've got to say, this series is a diamond in the rough. Not a lot of people know about it, and that makes me super sad. It's too good not to share!

For those of you who didn't read my review on Peaceweaver (which can be found here), the companion to this book, let me assure you that you do not have to read the long tale that is Beowulf before reading this one (I mean, you can... That would give you special bragging rights and such), and you don't have to know much about Norse mythology before either. Like I said in my Peaceweaver review, if you watched the movies Thor and Thor: The Dark World, you'll be fine.

Plus, you get to see this handsome devil. Oh Loki, how we love you.

On the surface, the main character, Rune, is just a normal farmhand who lives with his adoptive mother, Amma. From the get-go, however, you get to see what is not so "normal" about him. For one, he was found on the shore in a basket, sort of like Moses from the Bible. In the basket with him was an amulet with runes carved on it (hence the name), and a sword that we believe was his fathers'. In the winter he is set apart from the other boys in training, and instead is taught to use the sword and shield by Beowulf's finest instructor. So clearly there is something different about Rune, and in this book we get to figure out exactly what it is that sets him apart from the rest.

I really grew to love Rune as a character. He has a natural curiosity and courage that I just adore, along with some awkwardness because of who he is: Rune, the boy who showed up in a basket. He also has a lot of wisdom for a teen his age. He would surprise me by going against tradition and actually thinking about the situation, no matter what someone else said, to keep people safe. He's one of those people that you wish was a leader because they certainly have the brains and wisdom to do so, but the crown always goes to the town idiot.

Yeah, I'm talking about you, Joffrey.

All in all, if you're a fantasy nerd like me, you need to read this book. It's got action, it's got adventure, it's got wisdom, it's got mythology, and most importantly, it's got heart.

A LITTLE EXCERPT

"Above a farm, a black shape rent the sky. Like a dark ribbon blowing in a breeze, it undulated through the air, then straightened and shot toward the farmhouse. Fire streaked from it. The thatched roof blazed in sudden flames, and two tiny figures raced from the door. The thing wheeled and turned, beating heavy wings and retching forth more fire. Both figures fell.
Rune's body turned to ice. It was the worst thing he could imagine. A dragon.
Someone had awoken a dragon."

Well, that's all for now!

See you next time!

~Sea-Solo

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Find out more about Rebecca Barnhouse and The Legacy of Beowulf series!:
http://www.rebeccabarnhouse.com/index.html

{A Blast from the Past} Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

Today's review is about:

THE SUMMARY

FIRE ALONE CAN SAVE OUR CLAN...
For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their warrior ancestors. But the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger, and the sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying - and some deaths are more mysterious than others.
In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary house cat named Rusty... who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

MY REVIEW

I got introduced to this series from my silly Dad who wanted to bring me back a present from a recent work trip. So he stumbled into the airport book store (they had those back then), told a nearby employee my interests, and asked if they had a book that I would like. Luckily enough, this lady was awesome, and decided to recommend the Warriors series to him, and he bought the first one. When he brought it home, I devoured every word and hungered for more. Since then, I have devoured around 20 of these books, but this one (Warriors: Into the Wild) is the most loved book that I own other than Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell (and by loved, I mean that the spine of the book has evidence of being bent many times from reading).
But enough about my obsession, let's get to the meat and potatoes.
This book is about a kittypet (house cat) named Rusty who has to choose between the comfort and care under his twolegs (owners), or to become a warrior cat and hunt in the forest, maybe even become leader of the nearby Clan. This choice is what I think is what I love most about this book. On the one paw (See what I did there? ;) ), you've got comfort and laziness, on the other adventure and the great unknown.
The fact that Rusty (obviously) chooses the adventure is what I love most about him. True, he chooses it at first for selfish reasons, but over the book you get to see him grow to love and fiercely protect the Clan that he chose as home. That, and he's feisty and doesn't take crap from any cat. He's got a sharp tongue that one...
Not only that, but time and time again he proves in the forest that no matter where a cat came from, be it from a Clan, a house, or a nearby street, they deserve respect and care as much as his Clanmates. He's willing to go into unknown territory to protect any cat that deserves it.
All that I'm going to say about the plot in this book is watch out. There are a small group of cats that you can't trust.
All in all, this book is a must read for cat lovers and adventurers alike of pretty much every age (obviously you have to be able to read XD). :) You will not regret delving into the world of the warrior cats.

A LITTLE EXCERPT

""But kittypets can't be warriors!" Graypaw blurted out. "They don't have warrior blood!"
"Warrior blood," Bluestar echoed with a sigh. "Too much of that has been spilled lately."
She fell silent and Lionheart meowed, "Bluestar is only offering you training, young kit. There is no guarantee you would become a full warrior. It might prove too difficult for you. After all, you are used to a comfortable life."
Rusty was stung by Lionheart's words. "Why offer me the chance, then?"
It was Bluestar who answered. "The fact is, ThunderClan needs more warriors."
"Understand that Bluestar does not make this offer lightly," warned Lionheart. "If you wish to train with us, we will have to take you into our Clan. You must either live with us and respect our ways, or return to your Twolegplace and never come back. You cannot live with a paw in each world.""

Well, that's all for now!

See you next time!

~Sea-Solo

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Visit the Warriors website to look at the cats, clans, and videos!:
http://www.warriorcats.com

Peaceweaver by Rebecca Barnhouse

Today's review will be about:

THE SUMMARY

Sixteen-year-old Hild has always been a favorite of her uncle, the king of the Shylfings. So when she protects her cousin the crown prince from a murderous traitor, she expects the king to be grateful. Instead, she is unjustly accused of treachery herself.
As punishment, her uncle sends Hild far away to the heir of the enemy king, Beowulf, to try to weave peace between the two kingdoms. She must leave her home and everyone she loves. On the long and perilous journey, Hild soon discovers that fatigue and rough terrain are the least of her worries. Something is following her and her small group of guards - some kind of foul creature that tales say lurks in the fens. Will Hild have to face the monster? Or does it offer her the perfect chance to escape the destiny she never chose?

MY REVIEW

If you were looking at the cover of this book and thinking: "This book looks like fun", well then you would be absolutely right! Believe me when I say that the cover isn't the most exciting thing about this book, but rather it is the extremely believable story that lives within it!
When reading, you form theories on how the book is going to end, and one by one they are all disproved until you get to the end, and even then nothing is for sure. That is one of the things that I loved about this book, it keeps you guessing until the very end, and then you have to somehow suck yourself out of the story so that you can go on to other books.
The cover is what really drew me in at first, and I'm happy to say that this IS a book that you can judge from the cover. The cover art depicts very realistically the horror that you encounter later in the book, a fight between Hilde and whatever that is, so take comfort in the fact that it won't catch you completely by surprise (even though it will surprise you still).
Hild's blackouts are intense and unpredictable and make you wonder what in the heck is going on, which makes it really fun to read. Still, this book is very violent, so we (my class) were thinking that this would be appropriate for ages 12+.
Another thing that is wonderful about this book is the fact that it looks at the sort of aftershock after King Beowulf (yeah, that's right, THAT guy) died while defeating the dragon. Even if you haven't seen or read Beowulf, the story is explained very well, so you don't have to force yourself to read it if you don't want to (though I would recommend it, just so that you have read it and have said bragging rights). The tie-in with another Medievalist novel was a good move and really sets you into the time-frame.
With all of that comes another plus: Norse mythology. Once again, if you don't know anything about Norse mythology, don't sweat it, because that is explained as well, and although it is a major part of the book, you don't need to know much to dive-in, feet first. (Pretty much if you watched Thor or Thor: The Dark World, you'll be fine.)
And the rest? Well, you'll just have to read it for yourself, won't you? ;)

A LITTLE EXCERPT

Within Hild, something snapped. White-hot fury filled her, and without realizing what she was doing, she grabbed her skirt in one hand, her sword in the other, and ran blindly toward her cousin. In less time than it takes a hawk to plummet from the sky after its prey, she was across the practice area, shouldering Arinbjörn aside and pushing with her sword. Her arm jolted as the weapon met resistance, but she shoved back against something she couldn't see, then shoved again, pushing her blade in front of her as it buried itself in something solid.
Everything stopped. Insects in the grass quit their chirring mid-note, the breeze in the birches held its breath, the bright autumn sky blanked into white -
-and then a weight was on her sword as the man standing in front of Arinbjörn staggered.
Now her own lips were parted and she stepped back, taking her blood-spattered hand from the sword, which was still embedded in the man's guts, and looked over his shoulder at Arinbjörn. A tuft of her cousin's hair was sticking up on one side, she noted incongruously. It gave him a comical appearance.
A raven cawed, unlocking the stillness, shocking the world back to life.

(pages 56-57)

Well, that's all for now!

See you next time!

~Sea-Solo

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Visit Rebecca Barnhouse's website!:
http://www.rebeccabarnhouse.com/index.html

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray

Today's review will be about:

THE SUMMARY

"A road's a kind of holy thing...
it brings all kinds of people and
all parts of England together."
Eleven-year-old Adam loved to travel throughout thirteenth-century England with his father, a wandering minstrel, and his dog, Nick. But when Nick is stolen and his father disappears, Adam suddenly finds himself alone. He searches the same roads he traveled with his father, meeting farmers, pilgrims, minstrels, priests, and thieves along the way. Through these encounters, Adam discovers that somewhere in the crowds of people are his father and his dog. But will Adam be able to find them and end his desperate search?

MY REVIEW

I was assigned this book for my Medieval Lit class, and loved it so much that I had to share it with you guys!
The adventures that you go on with Adam are fun and hold your mind until the last page. All the while, you are wondering if everything will turn out all right in the end. The music and minstrel's tales held the book together and really transported you back into the middle ages.
Adam is a very lovable character, with a big head sometimes, but is always out to make people happy, no matter what he himself is feeling at the time. As a reader, you watch him grow up, following him in his quest to find his dog and his father.
The most important thing that this book did for me was it reminded me of what it was like to be a kid. Many times in our lives we want something that we don't have; adulthood and childhood being one of the things we want throughout our long lives. We forget, however, about what it is to be a child, and this book brings us back. We feel the same sort of mystery and adventure as with any book, but rather than making us long for said adventure, it reminds us of the children we once were. And that, my friends, is the greatest gift of all. :)

A LITTLE EXCERPT

"Nick!" shouted Adam. "Nick!"
There he was. There was Nick in that boat, and every minute the strip of water between them was widening. "That's my dog!" he cried. "He took my dog!"
The people on the dock at once gathered around him with exclamations and questions.
"When the ferry comes back, dearie," said a pleasant-faced woman, "you can have my place and I'll wait for the next one."
When the ferry came back! By that time Jankin would be gone, and Nick with him. They were nearly to the other shore now.
Adam took his harp from his shoulder and his bundle; he unfastened his belt and wallet and took off his shoes, and piled them all together. "Watch them for me," he said to the friendly woman.
Then he dived.

Well, that's all for now!

See you in the next one!

~Sea-Solo

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Listen to Sumer is Icumen In, a medieval song mentioned in the book!

Warriors Super Edition: Tallstar's Revenge by Erin Hunter

Today's review is about:

THE SUMMARY

THERE WILL BE A WARRIOR WHO MUST SEEK FAR BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CLAN TO DISCOVER WHERE HIS HEART BELONGS...

As a young apprentice, Tallpaw's life is marred by a tragedy that fills his heart with bitterness, and he sets off on a dangerous path in search of revenge.

A map of the territories.

A LITTLE CONTEXT

The books in the Warriors series by Erin Hunter follow the clans that live in the wild and the cats that live in them. Each clan has different abilities; Riverclan's cats are adept swimmers, Windclan's cats blend in with their flat surroundings and are fast, lean, and swift, Thunderclan's cats are excellent stalkers, and Shadowclan's cats are skilled at skulking unseen though the undergrowth. They are guided by Starclan, their ancestors and past warriors. When a cat dies, a person they knew who previously passed visits them and guides them to Starclan. Apprentices become warriors, medicine cats, and leaders only with their blessing.

The cats start first as a 'kit, then a 'paw, and then a warrior or medicine cat (ex: Flamekit, Flamepaw, and then Flamepelt). Leaders are given nine lives and have the name 'star (ex: Flamepelt to Flamestar). They appoint deputies (vice presidents, if you will) and manage the ceremonies that change a cat into an apprentice and warrior, along with keeping the clan together and leading them into battle if necessary.

You can learn more about the clans and the cats by visiting http://www.warriorcats.com/.

Before reading Tallstar's Revenge, I would recommend reading Into the Wild, the first book in the series (shown below) and the rest of that series.

THE REVIEW

I'm going to be honest with you: despite my Erin Hunter and Warriors obsession, I hadn't read one of these books in a long time. I know, I know. The third series really shook me up, and I wasn't sure if I liked the stories anymore.
That was all changed with this book. I was transported back into the clans, this time as a cat named Talltail with a wicked past. Just like in real life, sometimes when it rains, it pours. I'm not going to say what happened to him because you need to experience it for yourself, but it will make you gasp and feel sorry for our black-and-white hero. You understand his bitterness, and share his pain. This is what I liked most; that fact that kept me reading long into the night and it kept my thoughts throughout the day. This book takes you through so many twists and turns, it's hard to put down!
I was introduced to death and revenge, something typical to the Warriors story, but with a new look. Instead of seeing the destruction left in it's wake, we are blind to how far revenge takes him until Talltail realizes it himself.

I loved immersing myself into the world of the Warrior cats again. I had forgotten how beautiful the world was. Definitely read this one. :)

Talltail racing across the moor.

JUST A LITTLE EXCERPT
Shrewpaw sprang into the air. Tallpaw froze for a moment, then, seeing daylight beneath the young tom's belly, he ducked beneath it and bucked like a rabbit. He felt Shrewpaw's weight on his back, and pushed his spine into his denmate's belly. Shrewpaw yelped as Tallpaw tossed him backward. Tallpaw turned on his hind paws. Shrewpaw was writhing on the grass. Tallpaw reared over him and Shrewpaw stared up, his eyes wide with shock.

Well, that's all for now!
See you next Saturday!
~Sea-Solo out!

EXTRA! EXTRA!

To learn more about Erin Hunter, Survivors, and Seekers, go here:
http://www.warriorcats.com/

Other Warriors Super Editions:

 

{A Blast from the Past} The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Today's review is on:

THE SUMMARY

Vladimir Tod

NORMAL EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENT?

OR POWERFUL VAMPIRE?

Junior high really stinks for thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod. Bullies harass him, the principal is dogging him, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. Oh, and Vlad has a secret: His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers and no one to teach him, Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and his enlarged fangs.When a strange substitute teacher begins to question him a little too closely, Vlad worries that his cover is about to be blown. But then he realizes he has a much bigger problem: He's being hunted by a vampire killer who is closing in - fast! This first book in this ghoulishly funny series leads readers on a nail-biting adventure that is filled with dark characters and mystical glyphs, secret identities and hidden agendas, unearthly powers and teenage angst.

MY REVIEW
I started these books when I was in middle school myself, so reading this one was truly a blast from the past. I loved coming back to the world of Vladimir Tod, a character that I understand now more than 5 years ago. The constant vampire jokes and references made me laugh, and the serious moments filled me with dread.
The characters Otis Otis scared me once again as I was swept into the mind of a young male vampire. Unlike the Twilight saga, love isn't the focus. He has a crush on a girl named Meredith, yes, but Vlad focuses more on the vampire world and his parents. Just like Vlad, you learn things about his parents, their pasts, and also about vampires and how they are.
I am also sympathetic toward Vlad because of the bullying that he receives in the book. I'm sure that many of us know how it is to be in that situation.
Basically, this book is a rollercoaster ride of emotion that I would recommend to anyone. I've really loved re-reading this book. :)

A LITTLE EXCERPT
He was spooning a big, sweet glob of half-frozen blood into his mouth when the doorbell rang. With a hurried swallow, he dropped the empty container into the biohazard box beneath the sink and popped the plastic fangs over his shrinking canines. With careful steps, he snuck over to the wall just to the right of the archway and peeked over at the front door, where his aunt was greeting Henry with a hug.
Vlad jumped out from behind the separating wall and held his cheap cape out with both arms. "I vant to suck your blood!"
Henry doubled over, roaring with laughter. When he straightened he slapped Vlad on the shoulder. "That's a sweet costume. Check me out. You'll just die." Henry placed his fists on his hips in a pseudo-Superman pose, and when he turned his head, Vlad's jaw dropped at the sight of two small holes on Henry's neck.
"No way." He stepped closer to inspect Henry's bite marks. They were flawless. Vlad had only seen one actual vampire bite on a human before, and Henry's handiwork was very close to the real thing. "What did you use?"
"Silly Putty and raspberry jam."
"Seedless?"
"Well, duh. Can't have seeds in my wound. Might get infected."

See you next Saturday!
~Sea-Solo out! :)

To learn more about Vladimir Tod, go here:
http://www.vladtod.com/

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Today's review is on:

The back reads:

Ever since their mother's death, siblings Carter and Sadie have been near-strangers. While Sadie's lived with their grandparents in London, Carter has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane.

Then one night they are reunited when their father takes them to the British Museum, hoping at last to set things right. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Carter and Sadie discover that the gods of Ancient Egypt are waking, and the worst of them - Set - is after the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings must embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and its link to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs...

If you like the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, you need to pick this one up! It has all the witty humor of Rick Riordan along with Egyptian gods and goddesses and it's respectable monsters. Just like Percy Jackson, these siblings have powers that they never could've dreamed of, and an amazing amount of royalty in their blood to boot. Along with the siblings, you discover their abilities, their strengths, their weaknesses. All wrapped up in one hell of a story line.

What I liked most about this book is that it was dictation from a taping that the author found (or so we're told). That just makes it even easier to believe that what is happening really happened. It skips between Carter and Sadie telling their story so far, which really makes it a fun book to read. Carter speaks in an American accent, and Sadie in an English accent, so you can pretty easily tell by the spelling of certain words who is talking into the mic. (Mum, for example, is used by Sadie and Mom by Carter.)

My favorite part:

"You're forgetting something, Horus told me.

A little busy here! I thought back.

You might think it's easy steering a magic boat through the sky. You'd be wrong. I didn't have Amos's animated coat, so I stood in the back trying to shift the tiller myself, which was like stirring cement. I couldn't see where I was going. We kept tilting back and forth while Sadie did her best to keep an unconscious Zia from flopping over the side.

It's my birthday, Horus insisted. Wish me happy birthday!

"Happy birthday!" I yelled. "Now, shut up!" "

Well, that's all for now, folks!

See you in the next one!

~Sea-Solo out!

Currently reading:

 

More Egyptian stuff:



Learn more about the Kane Chronicles!:

http://www.kanechronicles.co.uk/site/author.php

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Today's review is on:

The back reads:

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive of his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

I'm going to be perfectly honest here: I tried reading The Hobbit during 8th grade and hated it! I think I got up to the part where Bilbo finds the ring, and then I put it down, vowing to never pick it up again. That being said...

I loved it the second time around!

I don't know if it was because I've gotten older, or if I'd seen the movie and wanted to see how it ended (who can wait three years for the ending?!), but I was really drawn into the story, and actually cheering for the heroes! (Well, at least in my head...)\

The only part that I absolutely hated was when Bilbo and the dwarves (Fili, Kili, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Ori, Nori, Dori, Oin, Gloin, and Thorin Oakenshield) were captured by some HUGE spiders!

Explanation: I'm arachnaphobic!

(^Even this creeps me out!)

Reccomendation:

Read this book after you watch the movie! It is so cool to be able to see the characters as they were in the movie as you're reading epic battles against Trolls, spiders, and the mighty Smaug!

In conclusion, this is one of the books that you need to read before you die, at least once. It's the sort of book you put on your New Year's resolutions for reading, something you put down on your bucketlist. IT IS A MUST-READ!

My favorite part:

" "Good Morning!" said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.

"What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?" "

Well, that's all for this book! I'll see you in the next one!

~Sea-Solo out!

Other Hobbit things:

 

Books currently reading:

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An introduction and Earthsea: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Hello, readers! :)

My name is Sea-Solo (a pen name, obviously), and I hope to review books that I've read on this blog, and also do book-related things.

Today's book review is on:

The back reads:

Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea. But he was once called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.

This book is about a wizard of Earthsea named Sparrowhawk. I'm sure those of you who have seen the movie created by studio Ghibli will be squealing, I expect, because the movie is so good, but you didn't really get that much into Sparrowhawk's story of how he became a wizard, how he got his legendary scars, and how he got to be who he was in Tales From Earthsea (which just so happens to be the 5th book in this series).

What I find funny is when you read the afterword in the back, you will see that Ursula K. Le Guin didn't want to write a teenage book when the publisher asked her to. She says that it was the idea of writing with a specific audience in mind that scared her. The only well-known fantasy books that were out when she started to write the Earthsea series was J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. A Wizard of Earthsea was the first of its kind.

I would reccomend this book to high school readers and adults, because even though it is short, it is as well worded as The Hobbit or any other adult fantasy novel.

Well, that's all for today! Catch you in the next one!

~Sea-Solo out!

Currently reading:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

and

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson