Randi

I loved the “Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn” trilogy. I read it a long time ago, but that's how strong the impression was. Definitely high fantasy, so if you're not into dragons, magic, quests, and destiny - don't read.

I was really interested in this book, at first because of the premise which I found fascinating, but then also because I have friends from Bixby. I read this book and was very entertained, but something bothered me about it. I couldn't put my finger on it until I started the second book and actually googled Bixby and talked over the landscape setting with my friends. If anyone bothers to read this and then google it, you can understand why I'm offended by the irresponsible writing exhibited by the author. I suppose I took it for granted that an author who chooses to use an actual place would research it and possibly some of the history. Just a thought.

That was a fabulous book. Cringingly real angst over a crush that took me right back to Middle and High School. I love that it's based on an opera. That makes me want to watch it now, and I hope it'll do that for all the young adults who read it and bother to read the end pages.

Celaena is an assassin imprisoned in the salt mines for her crimes. After a year she's approached by the Crown Prince with an opportunity to win back her freedom. Compete with 24 others for the chance to become the King's official Champion and thereby earn a 4 year contract leading to her complete freedom upon completion. Along the way, emotional walls are broken down, misconceptions, etc. But there's a problem: people are dying. Contestants, to be specific. Only Celaena can stop the grisly deaths, but can she to that AND win the competition?

It was enjoyable, though I found that I'm in a different headspace while reading. The whole “exceptional youths” thing is wearing on me a bit, so I can tell I'm in a more realistic-fiction/non-fiction mood. It was entertaining, enough that I'm interested in continuing the series, but probably not until I've had a good palate cleanser first.

I did enjoy this book. It was well written and artfully handled tragedy in a way that was heart-wrenching without being oppressive. For most of the book, the author's grasp of what it is to be a scared and lonely 10 year old boy. At other times he just seems a bit too mature. But then again, tragedy forces many people to grow up and there ARE people in the world that are naturally loving and forgiving.
Anywho, the conflict is what got me. Call me a wuss (or a “victim” of DODDS education), but I hate conflict centered on race. It just makes me all squirmy inside and I vacillate between wanting to put the book down or jump to the defense of the characters (which is ridiculous, because it's a story). At one point I had put it down and saw on the back cover that it'd been given a rave review by David Tennant (of Doctor Who fame), and then discovered he'd narrated it for the audiobook. So, of course I had to see what he thought was so amazing about it.
Like I said, it was an enjoyable book treating real-life tragedy and conflict in a touching way that wraps itself up in a neat little bow at the end. Perhaps not as neat a package as Jamie would like, but that's life.