Review: The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Finally I've finished writing the review for this book. I don't know why it has taken me so long or why it's been so hard to write but I've finally finished the review. I apologise if it seems a little rushed or is a little confusing in parts, I had a small spout of inspiration and just jotted down everything that was crammed into my little brain as fast as possible! Anyway, I loved loved loved this book and read it in one day, within a few hours. It was just amazing and although I started it with a little hesitation because of its popularity I devoured it and wanted more instantly (luckily I have the all the books!). I've also seen the film and really enjoyed it but thought that it was not gory enough but I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil its awesomeness for those who have yet to see it! Before I post my review here is the description of the book for all of you who have been living under a rock for the past few months hehe, or just for those of you who would like a little recap of the books happenings :)

The synopsis of The Hunger Games:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My review of The Hunger Games:

5/5 - Amazing, amazing and just amazing.  

I started this book with a little bit of hesitation. I was hoping that it would totally live up to all of the hype that has been surrounding it but was a little worried that I’d read it and find it not as good as everyone claims it is. But I was completely wrong! From the first chapter I was completely hooked and every time I got to the last sentence of a chapter I had decided to carry on to the next instantly. I couldn’t put it down! I had to know what would happen to Katniss, Peeta and co. I had about an hours respite from the story before I gave in and picked up the book again. Basically, I started it at 1pm and by 6pm I was reading the last sentence of the whole book. From the first page onwards I was hooked. The enthralling tale of the stubborn Katniss Everdeen and her daily struggle to survive in both her home in District 12 and in the arena, was amazingly told and I was completely immersed.

A futuristic dystopian novel it depicts an oppressive society ruled by the iron fist of the Capitol who annually punishes the inhabitants of Panem for the rebellion that occurred 74 years ago. First thing is first, just get over it! I hated the fact that innocent children were made to die horrendous deaths all because of a mistake that they never participated in. Barbaric and disgusting. The fact that it’s televised to its hordes of ecstatic Capitol baboons and the inhabitants of Panem is even more disgusting. It obviously questions and criticises the fascination with reality TV that has taken over everyone’s televisions. People today are glued to their televisions and watch eagerly as people suffer and get ridiculed.  The people of the Capitol watch in anticipation for suffering, pain and bloodshed and are themselves glued to the televisions awaiting news of another death. The contrast between the inhabitants of the individual districts and the Capitol is shocking but brilliantly portrayed. The whole concept of the Capitol made my skin crawl. So much death and starvation consumes the lives of so many in the impoverished, oppressed districts, and the inhabitants of the Capitol look glamorous, eat endlessly and worry about pointless things such as messy eyebrows and body hair. It would be laughable if it wasn’t just so disgustingly shocking. It’s enough to make anyone sick to the stomach. But I guess even thought it’s a portrayal of a dystopian future it still resonates with today’s world and society. People today are so obsessed with material things and appearance, that morals are almost non existent and people still starve daily all over the world. I shared my shock with Katniss and Peeta as they stepped through the doors of the lavish train and witnessed the excessive wealth and sumptuous surroundings of the inside. A very stark contrast to the dark, dirty and harsh surroundings of their homes in District 12 and it really does make you question the humanity of the Capitol individuals. But then their humanity is non existent when they celebrate the deaths of so many innocent children annually. It’s very disturbing; very disturbing.

The most disturbing aspect of the book in my opinion was the Hunger Games themselves. That every year two children from every district is chosen to fight each other to the death, live on television is just disgustingly inhumane. The description of the deaths of some of the children was gory and realistic and I found myself flinching at times and screwing up my face in disgust. But the book obviously was successful in creating strong and dramatic reactions from its readers and with the killing of children, the subject is instantly brought to the forefront. I didn’t think that it was too gory, not at all. It dealt with a difficult subject matter brilliantly so obviously emphasising the monstrous actions of the Capitol and the heartless game makers. Also, I hate to admit it but I found myself reading onwards throughout the book anticipating who was going to be killed next. Horrible I know and just so like the excited inhabitants of the Capitol but its true. The book is just un-putdown able and I found myself counting through who had died and how many were left alive. And the big question: Will Katniss survive the games?

Katniss Everdeen is the perfect role model for young girls and women. She is a fiercely independent and strong individual who takes her life into her own hands and doesn’t allow others to dictate her existence. As the main provider in her house her life revolves around hunting, surviving and providing for her family. Her basic instinct for survival helps her adapt to the harsh and deadly surroundings of the arena ensuring her a fighting chance. What makes Katniss such a fighter is her willingness to sacrifice herself for those she loves.

Her love for her young sister is obvious in the sacrifice that she makes during the Reaping. She is willing to die an unthinkable death just so that she can save her sister this year from a similar fate. She is a fighter and I was watching her every move intently because of her strong characteristics. I also enjoyed the first person narrative aswell because I came to know Katniss personally and shared her experiences, emotions and worries firsthand.

I just wasn’t sure about Peeta. I felt that he was rather weak in some ways but then in other ways was maybe the stronger of the two District 12 tributes. Maybe its because I secretly love Gale but who knows, but I don’t see Peeta and Katniss as lovers or anything of the sort. It just didn’t work as their characters are just so different and Gale and her share so much more things in common. There’s a few twists within the story concerning Peeta which were great plot shockers.

Another technique of the first person narrative was the influence of Katniss feelings towards the other tributes and how it effected me as a reader. Most of the tributes weren’t described in too much detail and a lot of them weren’t even mentioned. I believe that this is because of two things in particular. Firstly that Katniss wasn’t prepared to become close to any of the tributes knowing full well what will have to happen in the arena to survive. Secondly, I guess it’s to show them as less than humans. I won’t say much more but I believe that this ambiguity concerning the characters is highlighted brilliantly in a big shocker towards the end of the novel and the end of the games.

There are countless twists and turns within the story itself and some big shocking, wow moments. This book will have you constantly on the edge of your seat, eagerly awaiting and anticipating what will occur next. It is exciting, shocking, stomach-wrenching and heart-breaking and just such an amazing story. If you haven’t jumped on the Hunger Games train yet, please please get on at the next stop because no matter what genre you enjoy I can assure you that this book will entertain you in some way. So pick it and read it and you won’t be disappointed! 

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Review: Wraith's Forest - L. J. Leger

I'd like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review this short story. Also, I'd like to apologise at the delay of posting the review. Life is just so hectic right now! I really enjoyed this book and thought it a great and original re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy-tale. I'd definitely recommend YA lovers to read it! 

Here's the synopsis:

Fairy tales and haunted woods lead us through L.J. Leger's Beauty and the Beast story of one girl with the weight of a village on her shoulders and the attention of a very unlikely soul.

Jenna is chosen for the coveted task of gathering the magical fruit to preserve the peaceful balance of the secret valley where she and many others live. During the harvest, one fruit is damaged and the task of healing the bruise falls on Jenna’s shoulders. She must enter the Wraith’s Forest, retrieve a magical blade from the specter who lives there so the valley will remain a utopia. But once she makes contact with the Wraith, her fear slowly disappears and her curiosity is aroused with more questions of why the Wraith is in the Forest and the true purpose for the harvest. If you love Beauty and Beast type fairy tales, Wraith’s Forest is the book to read. Perfect for Young Adults!

My review of Wraith's Forest:

3.5/5 stars: A magical tale, beautifully written.

Wraith’s Forest is a dark fairy-tale novella filled with deceit, compassion and magic. I was pleasantly surprised by this short story. An intriguing re-telling of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale, Leger perfectly produces an original and exciting tale that magically draws you into the story.

In my opinion the story was beautifully well-written. The author’s use of description and syntax just completed the story and added that extra layer to the narrative of the story. The writing emphasised the frantic emotions of the protagonist, Jenna when she descends terrified into the forest searching for the haunting Wraith. In this scene in particular, the sentences were short perfectly highlighting the scared girl’s emotions and her increasing heartbeat. The writing throughout the story perfectly paralleled the emotions of the characters; a great technique in my opinion. The descriptive scenes of the story brought the fairy tale to life. I could truly feel the cold, deathly breath on Jenna’s face, smell the decaying surroundings of the forest and felt the warmth and luxuriousness of the bath water. It was magically written.

I enjoyed the characterisation within the story. They were authentic and believable; perfect characters for a great re-telling of the timeless fairy tale. Jenna, a young and pretty girl finds herself terrified and alone amongst the dark and decaying trees of the forest where the dreaded Wraith waits in the shadows, guarding the forest and the magical tree. The Wraith was a believable scary character; I always find such creatures more frightening than monsters. I personally felt complete sympathy for the anguished creature when it was mentioned that he wails for days and nights on end when the harvest of the Tree is completed. I won’t spoil the story too much but it is one of pity, compassion and heartbreak.

I did enjoy the story but I thought that it only skimmed the surface. The length of the story just didn’t work for me. I think if the story was longer another layer of depth could have been exposed and the story could have progressed a little slower therefore revealing each layer slowly creating more of an effect. The relationship between the characters could have developed at a steadier pace but I guess that’s the nature of fairy-tales! But that is the only negative thing I really have to say about this story; I enjoyed the story so much that I wanted it to be longer. So not too bad of a point I hope.

All in all, it was a good, enjoyable read. I was surprised upon reading it as it was just so beautifully written. The descriptive scenes within the story were just written perfectly. The story was also an exciting read and although it was a short novella I did get caught up in the story of the two protagonists. A great fairy-tale re-telling and I hope the author writes more original tales based on other classics. I'll definitely be looking out for more by this author in the future.

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Review: Covenant of the Faceless Knights - Gary F. Vanucci

Before I do or say anything I must apologise to the author, Gary F. Vanucci for taking so long posting this review. Uni work is just piling up and exams are in a few weeks so I've been studying quite a bit so I've been a little late in writing and posting the review for this book and a few others. Sorry! I cannot wait for a few weeks time when I can just get back to normal. Anyway, Covenant of the Faceless Knights is a debut fantasy novel for author Gary F. Vanucci and it is a thrilling read. He has also published a few short stories concerned with numerous characters within the main novel, so if you're interested in good fantasy then hop on over to his blog where you can learn everything you need to know about the books.

Here's the synopsis of the novel:
When a dangerous artifact goes missing from a temple, the elderly high priest in charge requests the aid of a one-time apprentice. Garius Forge, who is now an Inquisitor among the Order of the Faceless Knights, assembles a small team of heroes and sets out on his quest. He is aided by the wise-cracking Rose, a rogue among rogues, by the stoic and battle-hungry Saeunn, and...more  
When a dangerous artifact goes missing from a temple, the elderly high priest in charge requests the aid of a one-time apprentice. Garius Forge, who is now an Inquisitor among the Order of the Faceless Knights, assembles a small team of heroes and sets out on his quest. He is aided by the wise-cracking Rose, a rogue among rogues, by the stoic and battle-hungry Saeunn, and by a naïve elf named Elec, who reluctantly agrees to accompany them at the behest of the persuasive Inquisitor. The eclectic group sets out to recover the artifact before it falls into the hands of the lich who once held it. Not only do the heroes have to overcome numerous foes, but they must also conquer their own shortcomings in order to ensure the safety of the Realm of Ashenclaw!

Set in an original fantasy setting entitled the Realm of Ashenclaw, Covenant of the Faceless Knights: Beginnings, is an epic fantasy tale wherein a group of unconventional heroes are charged with recovering an ancient and deadly artifact.

Here's my review of Covenant of the Faceless Knights:

4/5 stars: An exciting read. A page turner and had me hooked from the beginning. A great traditional fantasy.

The author of this book, kindly sent me this book to review after enjoying two of his Wothlondia short stories. It is fast-paced and adventure packed and thoroughly enjoying. It is packed full of detailed descriptions of the characters and setting, therefore making the world of and its inhabitants even more realistic and authentic. Vanucci also gives us the viewpoints of numerous different characters, be them good or bad, giving us a wide range of perspectives and therefore allowing the reader to see the story through the eyes of different individuals.  

You are thrown head first into the story and I do like to be in the thick of it straight away. I enjoyed the build-up to the beginning of the quest and being introduced to each of the characters individually.

There were three characters in this book that stood out for me. The first; Rose Thorne. What a feisty, independent woman she is! In the first few chapters I witnessed her skill with a blade, her roguish attitude, her skills as a thief and her special ability to disappear into the shadows. I enjoyed witnessing her humanity throughout the novel. She is so confident and cocky I enjoyed seeing her softer side at times, reminding us that she is human after all with real feelings. I grew to like her and I’m looking forward to seeing what is in store for her in the next book.

Secondly, I admired Elec’s humble personality and his caring attitude towards his fellow companions. He was always thinking of the safety of others and on numerous occasions we witnessed his compassionate side.  His unexpected ability with alchemical potions helps to hone his less than confident skill with a blade. I loved the concept of the magical potions helping him in battle and thought it an original idea. What I loved most of all was his entrance on his mighty steed; an eagle! What an amazing entrance and it really gave Elec that wow factor and I was just as amazed at his mount, as the guards of Oakhaven were on seeing the magnificent beast for the first time. 

Sauenn was also an admirable character. A barbarian survivor of the Chansuk tribe she is hungry for revenge and her strong willed character helps feed her dangerous skill in battle. Although a deadly, blood-thirsty warrior, I also thought she was a vulnerable young woman. Underneath the desire for revenge, I felt there was a grieving little girl just trying to find her way in life and understand the atrocities that had been committed against her people. I just loved her fiery personality and how she just throws herself into battle regardless of the consequences. Definitely one to watch out for.

The level of detail within the book was just immense. I personally love detailed descriptions of characters, worlds etc and boy, this book didn’t disappoint. I just think such a level of detail adds that extra layer of authenticity to the story.

The use of each chapter as a different window was an effective narrative technique in the story. One minute your fighting alongside Rose, flying on the back of an eagle with Elec or traversing the underground passages with Barguth, the goblin and his worg mount. Being able to see the world through the eyes of the bad guys was a great idea.  In most books the story is told through the eyes of the good guy and we partake in his journey alone, but in Covenant of the Faceless Knights I was taken on numerous different journeys.

I must admit I was a little confused at times and felt as if I was being jumping from scene to scene, character to character just too fast. I was most confused when it came to the bad guys as I wasn’t quite sure of what exactly was going on with the two different groups. But I must admit it was great to have a story where we had the baddies perspectives! Also I do enjoy the disjointed chapters and found it rather similar to Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire simply in the way that each chapter was centred on a different character. I do think it’s a good narrative technique as it keeps the reader wanting more and having to read on and on to get back to their favourite characters.

I really enjoyed the book but I just felt that it could have been just that little bit longer! I just think a lot more could have been explained and the story could have progressed at a slightly slower rate therefore incorporating more in the text. My main reason for thinking this is that I wanted to see the relationships of Elec, Rose, Sauenn and Garius develop right infront of my eyes over a realistic time frame. By the end of the book I was convinced of their ever growing close bonds as companions but I do wish that I could have just witnessed more of them conversing and communicating with one another. I’m sure that I’ll see their relationships grow stronger through the trails and tribulations of the next book. It was great seeing the result of their companionship at the end of the book; they all had key parts to play in the quest and played them perfectly. The length really isn’t an issue and maybe it is just my obsession with reading massively long books!

All in all, this was a great and exciting read. I would definitely recommend it to fans of traditional fantasy. Thank you to the author for allowing me to review it. I certainly had an exciting journey alongside Elec, Rose, Sauenn and Garius in Wothlondia and I’m looking forward to rejoining them in the next book!

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