Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings (Book 2) by George R. R. Martin

Book two picks up right where Game of Thrones left off–Arya is on the run with the Night’s Watch, Sansa is held captive by child king Joffrey, Robb leads an army against the Lannisters, Bran holds down the fort at home, Jon has gone beyond the wall, Theon has returned home to take his rightful place as heir, Stannis and Renley are gathering their respective armies in order to claim the throne of the Seven Kingdoms for themselves, and Danny prepares her Dothraki forces. The book is as complicated as it sounds. Not that it is a bad thing. Part of the draw for this book is the utterly complex political situation set in the backdrop of a fantastical world where magic exists but is not in abundance (a rarity in fantasy).

One of the things that Martin does best with his characters and stories is the complexity of the story. Right and wrong is not nearly as obvious as other books tend to make it. Sure the Lannisters (minus Tyrion) are pretty awful, but for the most part, everyone has understandable if not honorable motives. In book one we saw Ned Stark struggle with honor and by remaining so rigid he end up losing his life and putting his children in trouble. Was that the right idea or should he have bent, at least a little, until he could better plan? Similar issues are grappled with in this book: Should Robb bend to the Lannisters to save his sisters? Should Theon be more loyal to the Starks who raised him despite being held essentially captive or should he attempt to reclaim his place with his true family? Should you stay aligned to a lord or a family member when you don’t believe in the methods they employ?

Arya is still one of my favorites, for her strength and ingenuity. Even Sansa is growing on me, though despite all that’s going on she somehow clings to her romantic ideals which gets a little frustrating. It felt like we could have gone deeper into Theon’s internal struggle, which is more complex than perhaps any other character’s in the book. The one character I really cared nothing for was Davos who seemed like a random character used more for plot device than because we were supposed to connect or care about him in any way.

Though it felt like some of the plot was rushed (dealing with Renly in particular seemed to come and go so quickly it was hardly worth having him involved in the first place), it was generally full of well-paced action. Not quite as many shocks as book one, but still an enjoyable read.

Uglies (Book 2): Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

In the follow up to Uglies, Tally has become a pretty. We all know why, but Tally doesn’t remember much about her last few days as an ugly or why she ended up pretty. There are a lot of things she isn’t sure of, thanks to a procedure that affects the brain. But events conspire to help Tally remember why she became pretty and how she can regain the clarity and understanding that was taken away from her in the operation.

The story remains imaginative and interesting. Westerfeld has delved into his world and let us see the inner workings of pretty town (which were as mysterious to us as to the uglies in book one). Seeing this helps fill in the details that were missing before.

Like in the first book, there are long stretches of time where Tally is alone or stuck in her head. Sometimes it gets a little slow because of this, but it does help portray just how different the operation makes a person.

Shay’s storyline is a bit shocking and I am not sure I truly believe her character would take the turn she does. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to ruin it. (Perhaps if the change was a bit more gradual it would be a bit more believable, but it seems fairly sudden and very extreme considering who she was before.) In a way, it almost feels like it was done for shock value over anything else. It was a good twist, but not the most realistic one.

One of the more interesting elements of the book was the love triangle involved. Since Tally does not remember David much, it makes sense that she would fall for someone else in New Pretty Town. This is one storyline that I would have liked to see more of and it felt like when the issue could finally be confronted, so many other things were happening and we didn’t get a chance to really go into it. If I could change one thing about book two, it would have been that. Even one more day would have been nice.

The series remains exciting and I can’t wait to see where book three takes it. (As interesting as it would be on screen, it would probably be a nightmare to shoot with all the surgeries and physical changes each character must undergo. I suppose a really good makeup team might suffice.)

Gregor and the Prophecy of the Bane (The Underland Series Book 2) by Suzanne Collins

When the first book ended, I wondered how Collins would bring Gregor back to the Underland. After all, he left with no intention of ever returning. I needn’t have worried, as Collins had this issue well under control with a plausible reason for him to return and stay there.

Gregor was needed back to fulfill a second prophecy, known as The Prophecy of the Bane, about a legendary, large white rat known as the Bane that would plunge the Underworld into chaos. Gregor’s job is too stop the Bane.

The strength of this book is how it picks up where the second book left off–there is no happily ever after. Ares, despite not being exiled, is alone and despised. Gregor’s father is sick and weak, so now his mother has an extra person to take care of. A nosy neighbor keeps asking questions. Gregor has scars that he needs to disguise. These details are so clever. Collins has clearly thought out her world carefully.

Book two in the series is just as strong, exciting, and surprising as the first one. We get to learn a little more about the Underworld creatures–Shiners in particular, which are gluttonous, enormous fireflies.

Hunger by Michael Grant (Gone, Book 2)

Thanks to Sam, people are no longer disappearing from the FAYZ when they turn 15. Caine has been defeated and sent away, as has Pack Leader. But things aren’t smooth sailing. Three months have passed and food is running out. Sam is overwhelmed by the role of leader. More kids are developing abilities and the “normals” feel threatened by them (X-men anyone?). Lana is being pulled by the darkness to go back to the scary cave that the wolves dragged her to. And kids aren’t the only ones mutating. Animals are too, so we now have talking wolves, flying snakes, swimming bats, and man-eating worms, to name a few. Oh, and Caine is planning to retake the town but is perhaps not as in control as he’d like to think.

I would be lying if I didn’t say I wish there was one less element to the story. Specifically, I wish there was no darkness aka gaiaphage. It’s not that the story line is a bad one, it’s just that the others are so much better. So many fascinating issues are already happening within the town and with Caine, that the darkness seems like more of a distraction than anything else. (Plus it comes across as so much less scary than it is meant to be.)

The religious element was thankfully toned down this book while the other elements were ratcheted up. People stuck together in dire situations is always fascinating. It reveals a lot about human nature and Grant does a good job of exploring the different ways people can react.

To my surprise, I found main character Sam to be one of the least likable characters this time around. while I sympathize with the difficult position he is in, it does seem like if he took a few minutes to think about it, he could make things much easier for himself if he stopped insisting “I’m just a kid.” How many fifteen year olds ever think “I’m jut a kid”?

I’m also surprised that as smart and religious as Astrid is, she doesn’t think of one of the most obvious and biblical solutions to easing Sam’s burden. Specifically, to appoint judges to work under him (much Moses appointed judges in a hierarchy over the people: over thousands, hundreds, and tens, or like the country itself works with local, state, high state, and supreme courts).

There is a lot of poor communication that only makes matters worse as characters don’t explain themselves well, don’t explain themselves at all, or fail to pay attention to one another enough to see what is really going on. This I find sad but believable. It’s the sort of thing where you want to reach in and just shake someone, but in a way where you want to give up on the characters and book. It’s a difficult balance to keep but Grant does a good job.

With dozens more questions to be answered and more issues to come, I anxiously look forward to book three, Lies, which I have to pick up asap.

Seven Realms: The Exiled Queen (book 2) by Cinda William’s Chima

The Exiled Queen follows Han Allistair and Princess Raisa as they spend the year in the academy in Oden’s Ford. Han Allistair, together with his friend Dances With Fire, goes to learn how to use his magic. They are joined by Han’s old friend Cat, who swears fealty to Han and goes to the music school there. Things aren’t easy for Han because the Bayars want to get back at him for stealing their amulet, the principal wants him to be party to overthrowing the Wizard’s Guild, and a mysterious man named Crow wants to teach him magic with a more sinister plan in mind. Meanwhile, Raisa, along with her personal guard and childhood friend Amon, attends the soldier school where she intends to get an education that will prepare her to rule. She must keep her identity and presence secret, which would be easier if the Bayars and Han weren’t in the area too.

Sometimes Raisa’s boy-crazy behavior makes her a little hard for me to relate too. Not that I doubt it is a real representation of a teenage girl, but it’s just not how any of my friends and I were at that age. Mostly, I found her inability to settle on just one person and her inability to control herself mostly annoying.

Han was not above some terrible decisions of his own, though he seemed to have a little bit less of a choice in the matter since everyone else was desperate to control him. He got caught between so many different people that it was hard to tell how much of his life he had control over. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of his struggles were the Bayar twins themselves, as it seems that Fiona, despite being part of the same family, does not share the same goal. Or at least, not quite. She’s as power hungry as the rest, but she doesn’t see why her brother should be the one to rule instead of herself.

There is so much scheming going on that you can’t help but wonder how the kingdom hasn’t collapsed already. There is hope though. As bad as Raisa’s decisions sometimes seem to be, it is clear that she intends to be and will be a strong queen. If she can avoid getting herself taken by Micah. I can’t help but wonder what her mother is thinking in all this, if she has been bewitched or just beguiled. How much of this is her conscious involvement and how much of it is magic? Can Raisa trust her mother? (And until she’s sure she can, why would she go to the queen?)

Spy High: Chaos Rising, The Serpent Scenario, and the Paranoia Plot (Books 2-4) by AJ Butcher

Book 2: The Bond team is gearing up for the prestigious Sherlock Shield competition. Ben, leader of Bond, is determined to beat his rival on the Solo team. But there might be a spy on Bond team. But there may be bigger things to worry about, as CHAOS, the evil organization bent on crippling the world, has declared war. Can Bond team stop them in time?

Book 3: Jennifer (with Jake for company) has returned home to deal with her personal demons–specifically, to get revenge on the person who killed her family. Meanwhile the rest of the team is sent to investigate a new drug that is being sold on the street that turns people into vampire-like addicts. Can they figure out who is behind the drug and stop him before it is too late?

Book 4: With the arrival of a new team member, Rebecca Dee, comes questions and suspicions as Bond team is suddenly hit with mysterious accidents. Not only that, but she seems to be keeping secrets from them about her past. Bond team must deal with these and other issues–especially the unexpected return of a friend.

Once again with the large number of main characters, some of the characters get more attention than others. We get a lot more of Callie and Jennifer here and although we technically get to hear from Eddie more, he didn’t really get any deeper. He remained the goofy guy who did care about being a spy and was particularly, overly interested in getting a girlfriend.

I think the weakest point of this series (aside from the entire idea that they would send early trainees into the field without telling them) is how basic the characters are. They don’t really get more complex (besides Jennifer, of course). Callie has the potential to be interesting but we never really go in depth into her past the way we should.

Overall, they were easy, quick reads, but had I not found the books on sale for pretty cheap, I wouldn’t have bothered reading beyond a book or two. Unless I find the other ones for cheap too, I probably won’t be reading any more of the books.

The Healing Wars: Blue Fire (Book 2) by Janice Hardy

Whereas the Warrior Heir might not fall into my top ten list, the Healing Wars just might. Shifter, the first book in the series, was one of the first children’s books I read last year and I liked it immediately. I’ve always been a sucker for the scrappy, raised from humble beginnings type story (loved the Hunger Games!) so this one had a lot going for it right from the start and it did not disappoint.

In book 2, Nya is on the run after blowing up the healer’s quarters where healers were being abused and experimented on. She, along with her sister and some friends, have taken to helping their fellow healers escape capture. There are bigger things to worry about though, as Nya’s unique abilities make her particularly valuable for a much bigger plot that she doesn’t understand.

There is a lot of solid writing in this book. The description is right on and the characters are easy to relate to. Hardy does an excellent job of creating a fully realized world, where she deals with the complexities of greed, power, and hatred.

The best of the book comes out in the relationship between Tali and Nya. Much like Katniss and Prim in the Hunger Games trilogy, their relationship is what drives much of the book. It is what usually spurs Nya to action, the need to protect her sister. What I like about Tali versus Prim, is that we get to see Tali grow into her own. Yes, Prim isn’t a complete pushover by the end of the series, but she never quite gets to step out of her sister’s shadow. Tali, on the other hand is as much hero as victim. While Nya may see her sister and someone who needs to be protected, Tali is not satisfied in this role and others see that about her as well.

Best of all, by the end of the book, it feels like we have only just begun. There are clearly more mysteries and horrors to be revealed. Though I know it won’t be for a while, I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane (book 2) by Joseph Delaney

I’m not sure what it is about this book that makes it so appealing. It’s fairly simple, not particularly surprising, not even especially unique. And yet, there is something oddly compelling about this series.

In book two, the Spook and Tom get called back to Priestown for the Spook’s estranged brother’s funeral. There are two particularly big problems with this: 1) there is a spirit called the Bane that is growing in strength and controls the town and nearly killed the spook in the past, and 2) there is a man called the Quisitor who likes to burn people who worship the devil and he considers the Spook to be one such person. To make matters worse, Alice shows up and you can never know how things will turn up when Alice is around.

At the opening of the book, I remember thinking, “well, this is an okay series but I don’t know that I will buy the next book” but for some reason, as I got further in, I found myself more interested (and ultimately I did go out and buy the third book). Maybe Delaney is simply slow at opening his novels or maybe I was just looking for series to stop reading because I have so many other books to read at this point, but either way, the book wound up being compelling.

There is a lost of strange history; how Tom’s parents met and the Spook’s past both have odd stories. In some ways it forms a strange mythology and it’s clear that there’s more coming. I’ve always been a fan of a bigger mythology, so here’s to hoping it pans out well.

The most compelling aspect of this book remains the dynamic between Alice and Tom. It is hard to tell whether the Spook thinks Alice is dangerous because she’s a girl or because she’s a witch, but you would think that considering how he spends a life being misunderstood, he would learn not to make assumptions and judge people so quickly without getting to know them. Whatever his issues, Alice remains the most complex character, calling into question what it means to be good and evil and if doing the “wrong thing” for the “right reason” makes you good or evil. And is it even wrong if it is a temporary solution?

Oracles of Delphi Keep: The Curse of Deadman’s Forest by Victoria Laurie

I’ve been waiting for this book to come out for almost a year now (the first book was one of the first ones I read when I started reading children’s/YA books). Finally it’s here and I’m a little torn. It isn’t as awesome as I had hoped for and makes me think that perhaps the first one wasn’t as awesome as I initially thought. Not to say I don’t like it, but just that now I have read a lot more books in the same category so I have a better comparison base.

Theo and Ian discovered a silver treasure box that reveals a prophecy made by the last great oracle: they must find six gifted children (in addition to Theo) in order to fight a great evil that is coming. Ian is meant to be Theo’s guardian throughout this journey, but what if it means his death? The prophecy certainly seems to indicate that he will die if he goes to Morocco to help them find a child with the ability to heal. What good is a guardian who cannot be there to protect his charge? Nonetheless, no one wants to risk it, but circumstances leave them no choice. Can they find this child before disaster strikes and can Ian escape his doom?

My two biggest issues with this series are the slightly awkward dialogue (maybe that’s just how British people speak?) and the overwhelming number of characters. There’s Ian, Theo, Carl, Jaaved, the Earl, Professor Nutley, Thatcher and Perry Goodwin, Demagorgon and his four children, the other children with abilities, plus a list of allies and enemies along the way. It’s hard to keep track of everyone and really get to know them. It feels like just as we’re getting to know something about the people, they are left behind in favor of introducing new characters. I think that in some ways, Laurie has simply tried to do too much.

Even with these issues, the story remains intricate and exciting. You never quite know what will happen next and I for one am looking forward to the next book in the series, whenever it comes out.

Beka Cooper: Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce

Now that I have figured out where Beka fits into the Tortall world’s history, I am much happier. Taking place sometime before Song of the Lioness, when Lady Knights were still allowed, Beka is the ancestor of George Cooper, Alanna’s husband.

We’ve learned about Beka’s first adventures while training to become a Dog (police officer) in the Lower City. Now we rejoin her, once she’s become a full Dog but has yet to find her permanent partner. She rescues and abused scent hound and is sent, together with Clary Goodwin (her former Dog trainer and now sometime partner) up to Port Caynn to uncover a plot of counterfeit coins that threatens to destroy the economy.

It’s hard to really see the relation between this book and the other Tortall series, besides some common places and terms.The magic seems different and odd and the king and knights are more a side note than part of the story, but still the world is engrossing. Beka is a character who will never give up, no matter the danger or the hopelessness. She still struggles with her family, intimacy, and shyness, but she must learn to navigate a new city and dig to figure out just how deep the scam–and corruption–runs.

The thing I love most about these books is that they are more fleshed out than her other books. As Pierce said herself “Publishers discovered with Harry [Potter] that kids will read a lot of fantasy, and they’ll read big books.” I’m glad about that. What I always felt her other books were missing were the space they needed to fully develop. They always felt a little too rushed for me, but the Beka Cooper books are longer and seem to envelop the world more completely.

My only regret is that we didn’t get to see more of Beka’s time as a Puppy, but there are certainly worse things to be sorry about. There are also some characters from Book 1 that I would have liked to see more of (Aniki and Kora and the Rogue), but I think we can expect their return in Book 3. I missed Pounce a great deal (and wonder if he is related to Alanna’s kitten, Faithful).

What surprises me most about Pierce’s different books is that I enjoy them so much despite not building up to one big finale. I usually prefer a series to have an overarching story, in the way that Harry Potter did, but Pierce makes her books about the main character and brings them to life.