Firefight

Happy Valentines Day! I'm celebrating with a book I love...and it has a red(ish) cover...aren't I festive?

Firefight
(The Reckoners #2)
Brandon Sanderson

My rating: ★★★★★

ISBN: 978-0385743587
Publisher: Delacorte
Date of publication: January 6, 2015
Age: Grades 8 and up
Genre: Science Fiction

Themes: superpowers, resistance, evil, secrecy

After the downfall of Steelheart, David thought life would be simpler. Instead, he has questions. Perhaps his answer lies in Babylon Restored, the borough once known as Manhattan. There, the high epic Regalia is taunting the Reckoners, drawing them to her city. But it's also where Firefight is, and David needs to know if she's really the villain people claim. These and other answers, however, just may cost David his life.

I loved this book. I love Brandon Sanderson. The way that he can create an entire community--world, really--where these amazing powers and abilities control the way everything works is amazing. That he can do it in a believable way is even more amazing. David is an even better character in this book. Whereas in the last novel where he was driven by revenge, his one goal in life has been accomplished. There's a hole in his heart. So what does that mean? His character evolves, beautifully.

I was a little confused at some of the events in the end (a little bit of, "Wait, what?"). There were some stretches. But it was just SO EXCITING it didn't really matter. It was one of those books that just didn't leave my mind even after I had finished it. I need the next book, Sanderson!! Everyone, read these books!

See my review for Book 1

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Steelheart

Steelheart
Brandon Sanderson
(Reckoners #1)

My rating:  ★★★★★

ISBN:9780385743563
Publisher: Delacorte
Date of publication: September 24, 2013
Age: Grades 7 and up
Genre: Science Fiction

Themes: superpowers, resistance, power, revenge

Ten years ago, it happened. It was a burst in the sky that gave some humans extraordinary powers, turning them into Epics. But instead of becoming heroes, all were evil and desirous of power. David Charleston’s father was murdered in cold blood by Steelheart, the most powerful Epic in Chicago. But every Epic has a weakness, and David is the only living person to have seen Steelheart bleed. With the help of the Reckoners, the human rebel group bent on eliminating Epics, David is sure he can exact his revenge.

This book is. SO. GOOD. Is there any real need to say anything more? Well, if you don’t believe me, I’ll explain a bit more. First, the concept is original and captivating. The characters? Riveting. The word that these Epics create is perfectly conveyed through Sanderson’s writing. The ending? Bam. Go and read.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The Rithmatist

The Rithmatist
Brandon Sanderson

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 9780765338440
Publisher: Tor Teen
Date of publication: May 14, 2013
Age: Grades 6 - 12
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Steampunk

Themes: steampunk, chalk, elite group, abductions

In an alternate version of our world, there is an elite group of fighters called Rithmatists. Skilled in chalk drawing, their creations come to life to defend and attack, and they’re the only defense against the wild chalklings. Joel wishes to be a part of that group, but missed his opportunity for inception years earlier. Still, he studies them with a fierce passion. When Rithmatist students start disappearing from his school, leaving only a chalk-ridden battleground and traces of blood, Joel jumps into the investigation with vigor. Who is taking the students and how can he be stopped?

Um. Yeah. This book was just really hard to get into...slow to start and slow to build up drama. Probably because the drama centered around chalk. Yes, chalk. What's so threatening about chalk? Still, the characters were good (even if it took forever to go into their stories with more depth) and the mystery was hard to solve. The detail Sanderson puts into the Rithmatist world is, of course, amazing. In the end, I did like it, but I probably won’t be searching out the rest of the books in the series when they come out. Surprising, since I love Sanderson’s other books immensely…

Find it at your library or on Amazon