Winter: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Character List:
Cinder: Princess and Heir to Luna, part cyborg
Winter: Princess on Luna, step-daughter to Levana
Cress: a gadget wiz, part of Cinder's crew
Scarlet: a human who lived in France, in love with Wolf, captured by Levana, part of Cinder's crew
Wolf: Solider that escaped from Levana's special pack, in love with Scarlet, part of Cinder's crew
Thorne: Captain and part of Cinder's crew
Kai: emperor on Earth
Levana: Queen of Luna, Aunt to Cinder
Iko: cyborg, part of Cinder's crew
Aimery: Solider on Luna, servant to Levana,
Jacin Clay: Solider on Luna, servant to Levana, in love with Winter
Torin: adviser to Kai

Review & Summary:
This is the last book in the series, and the lead up to this book is well worth it and finally paying off.   The crew that has been gathering and agreeing to help Cinder overthrow Levana to help the humans on Earth get rid of the disease she created and to help make conditions better for those on Luna have arrived on Luna.  Right away things go wrong and the team is scattered and changing the plans that they thought would work.  Winter is now learning about what Cinder has planned and trying to help.
Halfway through the book and part of you will wish there is a resolution and the other part of you is sad that the series will end soon and are hoping that Winter or Cinder come out on top.  With things having gone wrong and the plan in chaos the reader is left with bits and pieces of clues that have been woven in the stories since the start.
As the chaos of overthrowing Levana occurs several characters risk their lives and their futures are unknown.  Each character is becoming more independent, brave, and their reasons for doing this become personal as well as for the greater good.  Each of Cinder's crew is risking their lives to help her, and you want to cheer for them at their small victories, feel heartbroken at defeats, and keep your hopes up for a happy ending for all of these characters (even if it seems unlikely to happen at times).  While I do not want to spoil the ending, I am thankful that Marissa Meyer was writing the series instead of George R.R. Martin.  The ending tied up all of the story lines, at least all the ones I thought there were.  Do you find out every detail, no, but you get an idea of what the characters will be doing and what their lives will be like.  After three books and some novellas I really appreciated how the story lines came together and came to a conclusion.

Book Rating:
5 books out of 5

Suggested Reading:

       

The Invisible Hook by Peter T. Leeson

Book Review & Summary:

This book takes an interesting look at how piracy existed and thrived due to economic need, and that the pirates were not a reckless crew roaming the oceans aimlessly.  The economic principles that make companies and people successful is what was also used, on a different scale and for illegal purposes, to create successful pirate crews.  

This is a good read when thinking about economics or when heading to the beach and want to read something that looks impressive, but is really a fun read.
For me, the ideas and concepts of modern corporate management, marketing, and business being applied to history is appealing to read about.  Do you know things like "market branding" happened before it became a business buzzword and common term, yes probably, but seeing how it was being done in the 1720's by pirates is kind of interesting.
The book took me a while to get around to finishing, because even though it is an interesting read while reading, you can put the book down for several days or a week and not feel the burning desire to know what happens next.  This is because there are interesting concepts, but it is not a story to follow.  Overall I think it is an interesting read and recommend the book to those interested in Freakanomics, economics, and pirates, because it is all three rolled into one.

Rating:

4 out of 5 books - while interesting the author did repeat or overwrite some chapters.

Suggested Reading:

  Y
 

The Whispering Skull (Lockwood & Co. book 2) by Jonathan Stroud

Character List:

A.J Lockwood = owner of Lockwood & Co. Investigators (can see the Problems)

Lucy = investigator at Lockwood & Co. (can hear the Problems)

George = investigator at Lockwood & Co. (does most of the research on the Problems)

Quill Kipps = Adult supervisor at Fittes
Ned Shaw = a bully and an agent that works in Kipps's crew

Mr. Saunders = hires Lockwood & Co.

Mr. Joplin = works for Mr. Saunders and provides some research to the team

Dr. Edmund Bickerstaff = One of the "problems"
Marissa Fittes = the only person to have been able to speak to a level three "visitor"
Flo Bones = Relic woman who is friends (sort of) with Lockwood
Julius Winkman = antique dealer, owner of Bloomsbury Antiques Emporium, sells relics on the side
Jack Carver = relic man
Neddles = relic man, worked with Carver

Simon Wliberforce = friend of Dr. Bickerstaff
Mary Dulac = friend of Dr. Bickerstaff

Review/Summary:

Geared towards the young adult audience this is a fun read, when you want something silly and not serious.  The Problem is that ghosts and wraiths are coming back from the dead and bother the living of all ages, but only teenagers and children can see them or hear them specifically.  The team consists of Lockwood, Lucy, and George who live and reside in Lockwood's childhood home, and suspiciously his parents are not around.  The stories are told from Lucy's point of view.  This independent team is often competing with the bigger investigator houses The Fittes Agency and The Rotwell Agency.

The introductory section does a nice job reminding the readers what happened in book 1 SCREAMING STAIRCASE and what the relationship of the characters is and what the "Problem" as the book calls them are.  Starting off with conflict between Lockwood and Kipps sets the stage for a challenge and hints at problems and motivation between the two of them and their crews.  Lockwood & Co. are hired by Mr. Saunders who is cleaning up a cemetery in London when he and his investigator, Mr. Joplin, find the grave of Dr. Bickerstaff and the main case for the book is set.  A parallel plot is the skull in the jar that only Lucy can hear talk, but that George, in his quest to understand why the problem started, conducts experiments on to try and get it to talk to all three of the crew.
As the Lockwood crew starts to search for answers to Dr. Bickerstaff's stolen body and missing artifact the mystery really beings.  The challenge with Kipps is based around this mystery, as it is the main story in the book.  Lucy is talking to the head in the jar, who claims to have known Dr. Bickerstaff, but also whispers doubts into Lucy's mind.  The head in the jar tells where a clue to the mirror's power's might be found, and the crew decides to see if the head is telling the truth.  Lockwood leads his crew into questionable situations and conflict arises between him and Lucy.  As Lockwood & Co. go about trying to solve the mysteries they wind up in trouble.  The ending of the book provides a nice closure to this book and potential mystery or connections to the next book.

Also in the series:

     

Book rating:
4 books out of 5 books

Spirit of Steamboat (A Longmire Story) by Craig Johnson

Character List:

Walter "Walt" Longmire= Sheriff, widower
Martha = Walt's wife, who died several years ago
Victoria "Vic" Moretti = Under-Sheriff, from Philadelphia
Henry Standing Bear = Walt's best friend, Native american
Lucian Connally = former Sheriff, friend of Walt's often times provides help and guidance
Ferg = deputy that works for Walt
Ruby = dispatcher for Absaroka County Sheriff's Office
"Double Tough" = Deputy that works for Walt, ex-oil rig jockey
Santiago "Sacho" Saizarbitoria = Deputy that works for Walt (wife = Marie, son = Antonio)
Cady = Walt's daughter, married to Michael, lives in Philadelphia
Michael Moretti = Cady's husband, Vic's younger brother
Julie Luehrman = co-pilot & mechanic
Isaac Bloomfield = doctor in Durant
Rick = Durant Airport Manager
Ms. Oda = grandmother of injured child
Amaterasu = young girl injured, name means shining over heaven

Review and Summary:

A Christmas short story, that involves memories from Walt and Lucian.  Cady has not yet given birth to her daughter at the start of the book, but is due soon.  The short story is a great read, and does not seem like it is required to understand other books in the series.  However, I enjoy any book that helps you know more about characters that you love.
A young child is the only survivor of an accident that killed everyone in her family on Christmas Eve.  She is seriously injured and needs to be flow to a hospital in Denver that specializes in her injuries.  Her grandmother meets Walt at Durant Airport.  The life-flight helicopter barely arrived at the airport, and cannot take the young girl to Denver due to a storm that is ground flights and cannot be flown around.  The highway patrol has shut down the roads and it would take too long to drive the young girl anyway.  The only plane that can make the flight is so old that Lucian Connally has to be brought back into service by Walt.  The stage is set for a risky flight and scary adventure to get the girl there and the crew back home before Christmas.  By the middle of the book the doctor is improvising medical equipment in an aircraft that might barely get there before running out of fuel, and Walt wishing for just one thing to go right.  Of course things are not going right, and the quirks of each character shine in these situations.  A Christmas story always has a happy ending, and this one just warms your heart.

Suggested Reading and Viewing:
                 

Book Rating:
5 out of 5 books.

A Serpent's Tooth (A Longmire Myster) by Craig Johnson

The Longmire series is a favorite of mine, and I enjoy the author's writing.  I am going to try and keep an bias out of this review, but it will be hard.

Character List:
Walter "Walt" Longmire= Sheriff, widower
Martha = Walt's wife, who died several years ago
Victoria "Vic" Moretti = Under-Sheriff, from Philadelphia
Henry Standing Bear = Walt's best friend, Native american
Lucian Connally = former Sheriff, friend of Walt's often times provides help and guidance
Ruby = dispatcher for Absaroka County Sheriff's Office
"Double Tough" = Deputy that works for Walt, ex-oil rig jockey
Santiago "Sacho" Saizarbitoria = Deputy that works for Walt (wife = Marie, son = Antonio)
Frymire = Deputy that works for Walt
Cady = Walt's daughter, married to Michael, lives in Philadelphia
Michael Moretti = Cady's husband, Vic's younger brother
Dorothy = owner of the Busy Bee Cafe
Cord Lynear = boy who was found
Roy Lynear = owner/operator of East Spring Ranch
George Joseph Lynear = one of Roy's sons
Barbara Thomas = tells Walt about "angels" helping her
Mike Thomas = Barbara's nephew
Nancy Griffith = works for Health Services
Orrin = name in the Book of Mormon
Drew Goodman = Bishop for Church of Latter-day Saints
Tim Berg = Sheriff of City of Belle Fourche, places pencils in his beard
Eleanor Tisdale = owner of Short Drop Mercantile & runs Short Drop Library
Sarah Tisdale = Eleanor's daughter, claims to be Cord's mother


Review:
I love that there is character history from previous stories, but if you read them out of order or start with this one first there is enough detail to fill you in while not boring readers faithful to the series.  The mystery starts out with Barbara telling Walt about "angels" who help her at her house, only to find out it is a missing teenage boy.  At the start of the book there is no murder, but the mystery of who the missing boy belongs to and who he really is.  New characters are introduced and familiar characters are still there.
It looks like Walt and his crew might have to work with another Sheriff, Tim, and with the foundation of an oil pipeline being mentioned early in the book by a few people it is safe to say that it sounds like the federal government will get involved (or try to) at some point.
As more characters are introduced the mystery of who the young man is, turns into more than a missing child.  Walt visits or contacts several other sheriffs and this story ventures into federal jurisdiction without ever actually bringing the federal government into play.
The cast of characters that show up for this mystery are unique and cast help the plot twists.  The mainstay characters have their own developments and reading the Epilogue is a must.  Around the main mystery of figuring out who Orrin is and where Cord came from stems other subplots and twists in the main plot.  The family of Absaroka county is only slightly expanded.  The plot of oil was strongly hinted out from early on and the end result with that is not all that surprising for those that followed along the clues and hints (most of which are laid out for you, but some are vague).
If you have read this author and series before you will love this book, if not it is not a bad one to start at, but starting at the beginning would be my recommendation.  I am eager to start reading the next book in the series, Any Other Name: A Longmire Mystery .

Previous Books in the series:
               

Book Rating:

4 books out of 5 - a good book, but there are better in the series

Suggested - check out the TV show

   

Swords and Scoundrels (book 1 of The Duelists Trilogy) by Julia Knight

Character List:
Vocho = brother, former member of the Guild
Kacha "Kass" = sister, former member of the Guild
Dom = claims to be rich and from a farm near where Vocho and Kacha were staying
Petri "Eggy"Egimont = former flame of Kacha, former member of the Guild, working for Bakar,
Duke of Elona = king's right hand and Petri's father
Bakar/Prelate = leader of the revolution/new ruler or Reyes
Eneko = Mater of the Guild
Cospel = valet for Vocho and Kacha
Licio = King
Sabates = magician "helping" Licio

Review:
The book got off to an awkward start, and was a bit confusing.  Sticking with the story it got better and within the eight chapters there was many paths this story could go and plot lines being laid.  The main characters are brother and sister and they have gotten in trouble with the Duelist Guild, which is a mystery of the exact reason why but what was done is told.  Vocho and Kacha are trying to survive and come across an unknown object that is when the main plot begins.
Halfway through the book, you start to see all the subplots starting to merge together and the backstories are really starting to make sense in the present.  It is hard to predict how things will be resolved or what plot twists might be.  Guesses and predictions can be made based on the information that is revealed about Eggy, Kacha, and other characters.  Still not sure who, other than Vocho and Kacha, are going to be major players (and how so).  The mystery is what keeps me reading and the clues being dispersed through current and "interludes" that happened as far back at 18 years ago is interesting.  At first the Interludes were confusing and seemed oddly timed, but by chapter twelve the pattern is starting to make sense and adds to the character development.  I like that the Interludes are titled and time frame is clearly given at the start of the chapter.  While I don't enjoy this method in every book I read it is beneficial and has become enjoyable as it gives character development and background on the subplots and motives.  By the end of the book it seems like everyone's motives have been made clear and what their original plan is.  There seems to be several with people similar goals, but different ways to do it and reasons for achieving those goals.  New teams appear to be forming and alliances seem shaky for a few.  One thing seems certain, by the end of the trilogy the Prelate will be overthrown and the Guild will have to make changes.
The ending of the books just kind of stopped.  There wasn't a cliffhanger just plot lines left unresolved and the characters have just learned new information about other characters.  I am thankful I have ordered the second book in the series, Legends and Liars (The Duelists) , because it really does just seems like the decision to end the book was made based on size of the book.

The series seems interesting and I may read other books by the author, because I liked how real the characters are.
 

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 books.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase book 1)

Rick Riordan is one of my favorite authors, so I know there is some bias to this review.  I will try and be fair, but honestly I do enjoy his humor and writing style, please keep that in mind when reading my review.

Character List: (not all inclusive)
Magnus Chase: main character son of Frey
Randolph: Magnus's Uncle
Blitzem "Blitz": friend and protector of Magnus (dwarf)
Hearthstone "Hearth": friend and protector of Magnus, deaf, uses sign langauge (elf)
T.J: Civil War Solider & hallmate to Magnus, son of Tyr (God of courage)
X: a half-troll & hallmate to Magnus
Mallory Keen: hallmate to Magnus
Halfborn Gunderson: hallmate to Magnus
Samirah "Sam" al-Abba's: Valkyrie that selected Magnus
Gunilla: head of Valkyries
Surt: Fire God
Mimir: adviser to Odin
Fenris: the wolf

Review:
The story is typical to Rick Riordan's modern day world mixed with mythological gods.  This series is about Norse Gods & Mythology.  Magnus is the main character who is new to this world, because his mortal mother tried to keep it a secret and protect him.  Then something happens that changes this and Magnus becomes aware of the different worlds.  Typical pattern to start a Rick Riordan book, characters are introduced and more is revealed about each character including how they are integrated into this world.  This story is based in the mortal world of Boston with the mythical world of Norse Gods & Legends easily accessing other worlds through doors hidden in Boston.
The quest is cryptic, but makes sense as the story progresses.  Mimir and other characters give Magnus clear tasks that will somehow help the cryptic prophecy came about.  Midway through the book the smaller steps are made semi-clear, you know the goal but not the outcome that will result.  The group that will be needed to complete the quest has been assembled and they are off to start their first task.  Some motives are fully known, others are hinted at, and other motives are guesses.  If you have read other books by this author you will see a pattern and may be more successful at guessing motives.
As the quest progresses the team builds rapport, learns each other's secrets, protects each other, and as the reader you come to embrace all of the characters.  The team seems mismatched and up against daunting tasks, but through teamwork they learn they can conquer anything they are tasked with along the way to complete the quest.  As a team the tasks and quest is completed, with some unfortunate results for some characters.  The core of the team is rewarded at the end, and it looks like they may separate for a brief time, but more quests are hinted and and plans to see each other again are made.

This being the first book in the series there are hints and clues about what will come (and hopefully be resolved) in future books.  The books does end with finality for this quest and could be a stand alone as no other quests are directly indicated.  There is a direct hint at why one task was not completed in the Epilogue. The hints of what is to come thrill me, because there is at least one other series that looks like Magnus and his crew might have a cross-over with.  The hints of what is to come in this series left me on a high note and glad a I preordered the second book in this series, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2 The Hammer of Thor .

I can't fault the author for sticking with his pattern, it has clearly worked and resulted in massive success for him.  However, you hope that something is different, something is not going to follow the script.
As a bonus there is a small cameo from another character in another series.  It is small, and almost screamed at you when mentioned in a few sentences here and there and confirmed in chapter twenty-six.  There are also jokes aimed at some of his other series, I enjoy an author that can poke fun at himself and his other characters without being disrespectful to fans of that series.
 

Overall rating:
5 books out of 5 books