Review: The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia #7) by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis:
Many Narnian years have passed since Eustace and Jill helped ensure the Royal line. But when they are jerked back violently into this strangest of lands they find the present King in danger and Narnia facing its darkest hour. With Eustace and Jill at his side, the King, the noble unicorn Jewel and a few remaining loyal subjects must stand fast against the powers of evil and darkness and fight the Last Battle to decide the future of this once glorious kingdom.

Review:
The Last Battle is an amazing ending to a wonderful series. Yes, it was sad at times, but I thought it was the perfect way to finish it up. It starts off with an ape named Shift along with his donkey "friend" named Puzzle finding a lion skin. Shift then starts formulating a plan that involves Puzzle wearing the lion skin and pretending to be Aslan. I really did not like Shift, but that was the point. He was a horrible ape who was extremely annoying and arrogant. He ends up helping the Calormenes take over Narnia, which is horrible!

King Tirian is captured, so he ends up getting help from Eustace and Jill. I like Eustace and Jill in this book the most probably because they are a bit older and more mature. There are many deaths in this book from the battle. Unfortunately or fortunately (depends how you look at it) Narnia comes to its end, but the good news is the characters get to go to Aslan's Country AKA Heaven.

What I loved about this book was that all of my favorite characters from the previous books make an appearance. I did not realize how much I missed them until they reappeared. There are a few new characters that I ended up loving. One of them being Jewel the unicorn. Jewel is such a devoted friend to King Tirian and a great addition to the world of Narnia. The saddest part of this book for me was finding out that Susan does not believe in Narnia any more. Still, this is probably one of favorites of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Like I said, The Last Battle is the perfect book to end the Chronicles of Narnia. If you have not read this series, you must! It does have a few sad parts, but I liked the way it ended. I am so glad I took the time to read this series. It was definitely worth it because it is so beautiful! Narnia is a world that everyone should explore at least once. It is such a beautiful place, and I kind of wish I could live there.

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: The Silver Chair (Chronicles of Narnia #6) by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis:
King Caspian has grown old and sad in the ten years since the disappearance of his only son. With time running out, Jill and Eustace embark on a perilous quest to find the Prince and bring back tranquility to the magical land of Narnia.

THE SILVER CHAIR
The Chronicles of Narnia

Journeying to the wild lands of the north, the friends and their companion Puddleglum battle mighty storms and encounter a race of giants who like nothing better than a tasty snack—of human children! Searching deep underground in the grim land of the Earthmen, they encounter the wicked Green Lady who has evil plans to overthrow King Caspian and become Queen of Narnia.

Review:
In this adventure, Eustace returns with a school friend named Jill. A big part of this book is that the children must learn to trust Aslan no matter what. He gave them specific signs to look for, but they failed to follow them at first. I did enjoy this book, but I would have to say it is the most predictable one of the series. Some things were so clear to me right away, but the characters took forever to realize it.

One thing I really liked about this book was that Eustace is not as annoying as he was in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. His last adventure in Narnia really has changed him for the better. He is an all around better person.

Besides being predictable, The Silver Chair, is a fun and exciting read. I enjoyed following Eustace and Jill throughout Narnia. It was kind of sad to see Caspian as an old man, though, but it turns out great for him in the end. The adventure to find the lost Prince was fun and exciting. I love the fantasy aspect of these series, and I am definitely looking forward to reading these books again in the future.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia #5) by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis:
Lucy and Edmund, with their dreadful cousin Eustace, get magically pulled into a painting of a ship at sea. That ship is the Dawn Treader, and on board is Caspian, King of Narnia. He and his companions, including Reepicheep, the valiant warrior mouse, are searching for seven lost lords of Narnia, and their voyage will take them to the edge of the world. Their adventures include being captured by slave traders, a much-too-close encounter with a dragon, and visits to many enchanted islands, including the place where dreams come true.

Review:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was one of the most adventurous stories in the Chronicles of Narnia. Edmund and Lucy are once again the main characters along with their cousin, Eustace. This is Edmund and Lucy's last adventure in Narnia, so they will not return again like their other siblings Peter and Susan.

I definitely liked this book more than Prince Caspian. Caspian is now king, there is peace in all of Narnia, so he decides to go searching for the seven lost lords of Narnia. They were sent away during his evil uncle's reign, but they never returned. Caspian is determined to find out what happened to them. Along the way, they encounter many adventures from being captured by slave traders to finding a pool of water that turns anything that touches it to gold. Caspian even finds a wife! This book was so exciting. Every time the Dawn Treader cam across a new land, a new adventure awaited the characters, but it was not always for the best.

Eustace was my least favorite part about this book. He was just so annoying and a jerk! He thought he knew better than everyone else around him probably because he has been spoiled all of his life. I definitely liked when he was turned into a dragon because he could not talk for a little while. Eustace turning into a dragon was probably the best part because it changed him for the better. He learned to be a kinder person because of it.

Reepicheep is my favorite character because he is awesome. I love how brave he is even though he is only a Narnian mouse. Plus, he provided some humor at times.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a wonderful classic that I think everyone should read at one point. I have also seen the movie version of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and many things were changed for the movie. I enjoyed the movie, but it was definitely different.

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #4) by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis:
Narnia has been at peace since Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund helped rid the kingdom of the evil White Witch. But the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve have returned to their own world and a dark presence now rules this once harmonious land...

Wicked King Miraz has imposed a pernicious new order of persecution and imprisonment, but the King's nephew and rightful heir, young Prince Caspian, realizing the evil of his uncle's regime, vows to revive Narnia's glorious past. Fearing for his life, he is forced to flee and calls on the four children, the magic of the mighty lion Aslan, and an army of fauns, dwarfs and woodland spirits to help him in his seemingly impossible task.

Review:
Prince Caspian is another great installment in the Chronicles of Narnia. C.S. Lewis is an amazing writer and story teller, and this book proves to be no exception. I really like that Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are back in this book as the main characters. I enjoyed reading about the Pevensie children rediscover Narnia. About 1,000 years have passed since they ruled Narnia, so Narnia looks a but different. I loved how Aslan revealed himself to the children one by one showing that the others should just believe. Narnia is such a magical world that I think anyone can enjoy reading about. I know I will reread these books in the future, and when I have kids I will read this lovely series to them as well.

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia #3) by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis:
Shasta is a young boy living in Calormene with a cruel man who claims to be his father. One night he overhears his "father" offering to sell him as a slave, so Shasta makes a break and sets out for the North. He meets Bree, a talking horse who becomes his companion. On their way they encounter Aravis, a high-born girl escaping an arranged marriage, and her talking horse. Despite their differences the children and horses learn to work together to reach the freedom they long for. In the meantime, they uncover a Calormene plot to conquer Narnia.

Review:
The Horse and His Boy may be my favorite book in the Chronicles of Narnia. I love everything about it. The main characters are interesting, and their adventures to Narnia are exciting. It takes place during the time that the Pevensies ruled Narnia as Kings and Queens. What is different about this one is that it actually starts in the world of Narnia (although actually takes place outside of Narnia). There is not any children going through a wardrobe or using a ring to get there.

I remember loving this book as a kid because of the talking horses. What little girl would not love a story with talking horses in it? This book follows the adventures of the boy, Shasta, and the talking horse, Bree, as they make their way to Narnia. Along the way, they meet a girl, Aravis, and another talking horse named Hwin. I really liked Aravis because she is a strong girl character. She may very well be the strongest girl character of the whole series. Of course, there is a great deal of Christian allegory, which I think is great for the kids.

I definitely recommend reading this book and the other books in the Chronicles of Narnia. It is a fun read that I think most people will enjoy.

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia #2) by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis:
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, completed in the winter of 1949 & published in 1950, tells the story of four ordinary children: Peter, Susan, Edmund & Lucy Pevensie. They discover a wardrobe in Prof. Digory Kirke's house that leads to the magical land of Narnia, which is currently under the spell of a witch. The four children fulfill an ancient, mysterious prophecy while in Narnia. The Pevensie children help Aslan (the Turkish word for lion) & his army save Narnia from the evil White Witch, who's reigned over the Narnia in winter for 100 years.

Review:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic tale like no other. The story follows Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy as they plunge into the world of Narnia. Digory from The Magician's Nephew makes an appearance, but he is now known as Professor Kirke. Of course, the White Witch also reappears as does Aslan. If you have read The Magician's Nephew you know how the wardrobe came to be.

The Pevensie's are great characters. I actually liked them more than the characters in the previous book. Edmund did annoy me at times, but I think he was supposed to be like that since he did betray his siblings. Great story from beginning to end.

I thought The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a fun book to read. There is a lot of symbolism in this book that relates to Christianity. I think people of all ages enjoy this book, so if you have not read it, I recommend you do.

Rating: 5/5

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Review: The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia #1) by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis:
When Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory's peculiar Uncle Andrew into becoming part of an experiment, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. What happens to the children when they touch Uncle Andrew's magic rings is far beyond anything even the old magician could have imagined.

Hurtled into the Wood between the Worlds, the children soon find that they can enter many worlds through the mysterious pools there. In one world they encounter the evil Queen Jadis, who wreaks havoc in the streets of London when she is accidentally brought back with them. When they finally manage to pull her out of London, unintentionally taking along Uncle Andrew and a coachman with his horse, they find themselves in what will come to be known as the land of Narnia.

Review:
The Magician's Nephew is a lovely start to the Chronicles of Narnia. In this book, Lewis explains how the world of Narnia came to be. It was fun to read about Polly and Digory's adventures to different worlds. I like how it was explained how the wardrobe came to be along with how the White Witch came to be in Narnia.

If you have not read this book, I definitely recommend that you do. It is an exceptional classic. The story is amazing and beautiful. People of all ages will enjoy this book, I think. It has something for everyone.

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Synopsis:
Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess.

Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires to be chosen and win the heart of her childhood best friend. But when bandits seek out the academy to kidnap the future princess, Miri must rally the girls together and use a power unique to the mountain dwellers to save herself and her classmates.

Quick Review:
Princess Academy is a great story to read. I thought the whole story was cute and sweet. Shannon Hale is such a talented writer that I have never been disappointed by her books. The voice she gives her characters just shines through. I would say Princess Academy is aimed at a younger audience (middle school), but I still enjoyed it. Miri is a great character. As a young girl, she is strong and tough despite her small stature. I loved that she used what she learned in Princess Academy to help her village. Princess Academy is a wonderful fairy tale. It is the kind of book I could not put down.

Rating: 4/5

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Review: Santa Paws on Christmas Island by Kris Edwards

Synopsis:
The Callahans are about to settle in for an unusually snowy holiday at home, when a last minute opportunity lands them in the tropics instead. With surfboards, sand castles, and sunshine, this vacation to Christmas Island might be the best trip the Callahans have ever taken.

While the Callahans try to relax, Santa Paws is hard at work. He saves people from drowning and even prevents Abigail the cat from being devoured by an aligator. But before the holiday is over, it's Santa Paws who will need to be rescued. You'll never guess who saves the day! It's a magical Christmas for everyone.

Quick Review:
Santa Paws On Christmas Island was a fun children's book. I actually enjoyed this little book more than I thought it would. I am sure kids will enjoy this story and fall in love with Santa Paws. I thought the plot was adorable and fun. Perfect book for Christmas time. Santa Paws has some Lassie in him. I loved that Santa Paws saves the lives of many people throughout the book. I definitely recommend this book for children. What kid does not want to read about a dog that saves people?

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Empire of Night (Vampirates #5) by Justin Somper

Synopsis:
After the surprising revelation of the Tempest family history, twins Connor and Grace face a newly-defined future marked by their Vampirate roots. Meanwhile, Sidorio's evil Vampirate Empire continues its expansion, making it tragically apparent that no ship is safe. As for the pirates, they have a new mission: wipe out the vampirates.

There's a bloody battle brewing in the seas, and each crew will need all hands on deck. And, this time, Grace and Connor may find themselves fighting for their lives-or against each other.

Review:
Empire of Night is an exciting installment in the Vampirates series. After reading the fourth book, Black Heart, many months ago, it was fun to get back into the world of Vampirates. This one does seem to be darker than the previous books with more deaths and difficult life choices to make.

Empire of Night is mainly about Grace and Connor spying on the main villian, Sidorio, by living on his ships. Since Sidorio is actually their father, the twins do lose focus at times. Grace and Connor learn more about their family and themselves and what it means to be a dhampir. Along the way, Connor and Grace both make some bad decisions and essentially lose who they are, but they find their way back in the end. Connor finally excepts who he is to some point, but he still does not like it.

In Empire of Night, we get to know Sidorio more, and he has definitely changed! I did not find him as evil as he used to be. He easily accepts Grace and Connor as his own and takes them under his wing as his heirs. He obviously cares for his children.

I definitely enjoyed this book. There was plenty of pirate action with sword fighting, of course! The ending was completely unexpected. I am curious where Somper is going to take it. This series is a fun, thrilling ride, and I am looking forward to the next book!

Rating: 4/5

Books in the Vampirates Series:

1. Demons of the Ocean
2. Tide of Terror
3. Blood Captain
4. Black Heart
   

1.5 Dead Deep

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Dead Deep (Vampirates #1.5) by Justin Somper

Synopsis:
When Connor Tempest and his swashbuckling pirate buddies get a rare break in their duties, they're in the mood for fun, sun and adventure. A chance meeting with the crew of The Lorelei seems to offer all that and more. Soon, Connor and co are learning to freedive into the amazing world far beneath the ocean's surface. But the pirates are further out of their depth than they realise. Under the water, danger is lurking - and it's going to take everything they've got to get out alive...

Review:
Dead Deep is a short story that falls between Demons of the Ocean and Tide of Terror (the first and second book of the Vampirates series). I was excited to read this book because, like I said in my review of Blood Captain, I was always curious about Connor, Jez, and Bart's lost weekend. Since none of them could remember what happened, their matching tattoos are their only proof that anything actually happened. I was happy to discover what exactly happened. It is definitely a fun addition to the Vampirates world. I thought the story was cute. It filled with adventure, arm wrestling, sword fights, and mythical creatures. I enjoyed diving back into the world of Vampirates. It was a fun and fast read (at only 69 pages) that will hold me over until the fifth book, Empire of the Night, is released in the U.S. later this month.

Rating: 3.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

Synopsis:
You just can’t keep a good girl down . . . unless you use the proper methods. Piper McCloud can fly. Just like that. Easy as pie. Sure, she hasn’t mastered reverse propulsion and her turns are kind of sloppy, but she’s real good at loop-the-loops. Problem is, the good folk of Lowland County are afraid of Piper. And her ma’s at her wit’s end. So it seems only fitting that she leave her parents’ farm to attend a top-secret, maximum-security school for kids with exceptional abilities. School is great at first with a bunch of new friends whose skills range from super-strength to super-genius. (Plus all the homemade apple pie she can eat!) But Piper is special, even among the special. And there are consequences. Consequences too dire to talk about. Too crazy to consider. And too dangerous to ignore. At turns exhilarating and terrifying, Victoria Forester’s debut novel is an unforgettable story of defiance and courage about an irrepressible heroine who can, who will, who must . . . fly.

Quick Review:

The Girl Who Could Fly reminded me of the X-men movies, but for a younger audience, mixed with Pippi Longstockings. The storyline is very interesting. A girl who can fly is sent to a special "school," but there is more to it than meets the eye. The main character, Piper McCloud (such a fitting name for a girl who can fly!), quickly discovers that her new school may not have her best intentions at heart. The characters are fun and exciting to follow. Piper McCLoud is so lovable and fun that you cannot help but like her. I loved the story about being yourself no matter what everyone else thinks. The Girl Who Could Fly is a fun, light read that you cannot help but adore. Great children's book.

Rating: 3/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Anna's Blizzard by Alison Hart

Synopsis:
A dramatic story featuring a young Nebraska girl who discovers the courage to save others during a life-threatening snowstorm IT IS 1888. Twelve-year-old Anna loves life on the Nebraska prairie where she lives with her parents and four-year-old brother in a simple sod house. She doesn't mind helping out with chores on her family's farm, especially when she is herding sheep with her beloved pony, Top Hat. Here, on the open prairie, Anna feels at home in the world. But at school she feels hopelessly out of place. Arithmetic is too hard, her penmanship is abysmal, and stuck-up Eloise Baxter always laughs at her mistakes. When a fierce blizzard suddenly kicks up on a mild winter day, Anna, her schoolmates, and young teacher, Miss Simmons, become trapped in the one-room schoolhouse. The kerosene is gone and the wood for the stove is low. Then the wind tears away the roof and door. Anna knows they must escape before it is too late. Does she have the courage and strength to lead the others through the whiteout to safety? Author Alison Hart offers young readers a dramatic story of rescue and survival set in a nineteenth century homesteading community and featuring a plucky, determined protagonist. An author's note provides more information about prairie life in the late nineteenth century and about the great storm that hit Nebraska in 1888, now known as "The School Children's Blizzard."

Review:
This is going to be a quick review.

Anna's Blizzard is definitely a children's book. It reminded me of the American Girl books that I used to read when I was in elementary school. This book is pretty short at only 141 pages, but I had a hard time getting through it because it was just too young and simple for me. If I read this book at the age when I still enjoyed those American Girl books, then I am pretty sure I would have loved this book. It is the kind of book that sneaks a history lesson into the story since it is based on the winter storm of 1888 in Nebraska. If you have young children, I have no doubt that they will enjoy this book.

Rating: 3/5

Swords are for fighting,