The Lightning Thief

Title: The Lightening Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book 1)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



Wow - two posts, one day. I really enjoyed the book I finished today, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. It is the first book in the Percy and the Olympians series. This series is for late elementary/early middle school readers.

In this installment Percy learns that he is a demi-god. His father is Poseidon and he enrolls in a Half Blood Summer Camp. Here he meets other demi-gods and starts to hone (only a bit) his abilities. We learn that there is a War about to be had between the Big 3 - Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. Zeus had a main thunderbolt that was the inspiration for all other thunderbolts, and it has been stolen. This is the story of Percy's quest to find the thunderbolt, bring it back and stop the war. Of course it doesn't happen nearly as easily as that.

I wish that I knew more about Greek Mythology, and while I know enough, it would be easier to see connections and follow things if I was well versed. The book does explain things well, though for those who are not.

There will only be 5 books in the series and the final one comes out May 2009.

I have a younger brother in fifth grade, and I am definitely going to recommend this series to him. I think it had a very action packed story line and was a quick and easy read (for me). I want to dive right into the next book and am heading off to the library ASAP to pick it up.

This is also going to be a movie (hurray!). Current release date is Feb 12, 2010 according to IMDB.

Industrial Magic

Title: Industrial Magic
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 4)
Genre: Paranormal



After Dime Store Magic comes the next Women of the Otherworld story, Industrial Magic.

Again, this follows the story of Paige, Savannah and now Lucas on their latest crazy chase. This time we are led further into the Cabal and learn that someone is killing their children. And not just one Cabal, but all four of them. Paige and Lucas are called in to help find the killer. We again see Elena, Clay and even Cassandra.

Overall I enjoyed the book, but I thought it could have been better. Since they basically were on the same clueless chase for the whole book, and I'm not much of one for Mysteries, I got a bit bored. Closer to the end (as usual) it picked up and ended on a positive note.

Haunted is next, which interestingly enough is narrated by Savannah's dead mother Eve. That should be interesting.

Dime Store Magic

Title: Dime Store Magic
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 3)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



As the third novel in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Underworld, Dime Store Magic was an interesting read. Initially I was worried. Bitten and Stolen followed the same main character, where Dime Store Magic turned the focus to another character who was of a different "race."

It followed Paige and Savannah (who we both meet in Stolen) and their working through the new relationship between them. In addition to this Leah makes another appearance and wants to take Savannah away to live with her father, who belongs to a version of the Mafia.

This was on of those books that I sat down with and finished in a day. I didn't need to worry about the switch of characters, because I enjoyed this book just as much as the first two, especially the growing romance. Next on the list is Industrial Magic which also follows Paige, I can't wait to read it.

Love the One You're With

Title: Love the One You're With
Author: Emily Giffin
Series: None
Genre: Chick Lit



I have read each of the other 3 books that Emily Giffin has written, something borrowed, something blue and baby proof, and recently I read her newest book, Love the One You're With.

I am starting to wonder why I read her books, so far each one of them has dealt with cheating or thinking about cheating on someone else, this new one included.

It told the story of Ellen and her perfect (in some ways) husband, Andy. She has a chance encounter with an old ex, one that dumped her, and it changes her. She starts to think that she has to see her ex and eventually we learn that he still has feelings with her. Basically the novel deals with her wondering if/when she is going to cheat on him and how she is going to make her life with her husband better.

Oddly enough, I enjoyed the story. It was a quick and easy read, although just as easily forgotten.

Stolen

Title: Stolen
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Way back in the beginning of November I read the first book in a series - Bitten, by Kelley Armstrong. Stolen is the second of that series and follows the same main character, werewolf Elena, in a whole new and exciting story line.

Since Bitten Elena has decided that she is again going to live with the Pack and reestablish her relationship with Clay. She's back to her job of watching out for people who are giving out true werewolf information, or are werewolves making a mess.

Because of this she follows a lead to Pittsburgh to meet with a young lady, Paige, to hear what she has to say. But things don't go quite according to plan, for either of them. Elena learns about a group of people who are kidnapping "other races" such as werewolves, vampires, shaman, witches and half-demons. They are being observed and eventually hunted down in a version of the Most Dangerous Game and killed.

Representatives from the races are getting together to see what they can do to stop it, and they want to werewolves to join. Needless to say they do and we meet the group of characters that the following stories in the series are about. Then Elena becomes one that gets kidnapped.

What follows is a very eventful "stay" at the compound.

Next two books in the series are about Paige, the apprentice witch.

Sign of Seven Trilogy

My favorite thing about Nora Roberts is that she often writes in series or trilogies. Her latest one has been the Sign of Seven trilogy. The trilogy is about three men, Fox, Cal and Gage, who were all born on the same day (7/7) and are the best of friends. On their tenth birthday they go camping in the woods and become blood brothers. In doing so they accidentally unleash a demon. This demon comes back every seven years and reeks havoc on their home town during the time of 7/7. People become crazed and kill each other, themselves and create lots of problems.

They have tried to kill/vanquish the demon several times, but have never been successful. They eventually learn that this year is the most important year. If they don't vanquish the demon this year he will come into all of his powers and it will be many times over as bad as it is now.

Three women eventually make their way to this town, Layla, Quinn and Cybil. Each book is about a couple coming together and the group learning more information about how they are going to vanquish the demon.

Blood Brothers tells the story of Cal and Quinn, who can see the past, as well as most of the background information needed to get into the basic story. The girls arrive in town in this story and it is the furthest away from the Seven. This means that the nuisances that the demon creates are the most tame and easy to deal with.

The Hollow follows Fox and Layla, who can see the present. Fox has some serious issues to overcome in this story. His past love died as a result of the Seven. This of course being a romance novel, he needs to learn to deal with it so that he can be with Layla.

The Pagan Stone, the most recent story, tells of Gage and Cybil, who see the future, as well as the time leading up to and including the Seven. I really enjoyed being able to learn things through Gage and Cybil's visions and them later coming true or being proven wrong. I think it added a nice touch.

Overall another great series from Nora Roberts, she doesn't often fail (see Tribute). I now anxiously await her next series/trilogy.