Review: Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
GoodReads: The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for …more The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she’ll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister’s role in the prophecy, and that’s not the only thing she wants: There’s also Lia’s boyfriend James.
Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn’t know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.
Michelle Zink has a masterpiece of a trilogy coming together with the latest release of book two in the Prophecy of Sisters Series. I was enamored with the Sisters and the story in book one. Guardian of the Gate has me gasping for air and waiting with bated breath for book three. When is it coming? When are there going to be ARCs. I need the conclusion now people!
Zink’s world building is phenomenal, her character creation stellar, and her dialogue stunning. I cannot say enough amazing things about this series. If you haven’t read Prophecy of the Sister’s hop to. It’s out in paperback now. Then get to Guardian of the Gate. If you read Prophecy then go out to your local indie and grab a copy of Guardian now! Right now. Drop that cup of coffee, strap yourself in the car and get to the store. You won’t regret it.
Lia has grown so much in this second book. She has become a woman in her own right and is stronger than ever despite all the losses the prophecy itself has claimed from her. She is willing and able to put an end to this once and for all even if that means either she or Alice has to die.
There is betrayal so vile in these pages but it is laced with the hope of the future Lia wants for herself. Will that future be in New York with James or in the land of the Sisters with the newly introduced mysterious Dimitri. I for one vote for Dimitri.
This book is a definite for the best of 2010 from Bookalicio.us and will be featured in the Holiday Gift Guide. Let me know what you think of the series.
Here is the wonderful trailer for Prophecy of the Sisters by Vania of VLC Productions.
FTC Disclosure: (lame) I received this book at the Teen Author Carnival in New York.
Review: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
I have over all enjoyed the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead. I love the characters, the books are easy reads, fun plot, not a lot of holes, and I like the culture she gave the vampires. This book however didn’t do it for me really. There are lots of reasons why I personally didn’t like this book, needless to say I loved the first three and my little annoyances shouldn’t keep you from picking up this volume or starting the series. I highly recommend reading the series in its entirety.
The book starts off with Rose on her mission to find Dimitri. She is in Russia and we follow her through her ordeal of trying to find him and monitoring what is up with the Moroi in the area. She is now out of school and not finishing up a rouge dhampir probably never becoming a guardian, but you have to do what you have to do right?
Two of the things that bothered me most were the love story of Rose and Dimitri were kind of ruined for me, and the author kept stressing how McDonald’s in Russia is so different than McDonald’s in America. That really isn’t true. McDonald’s is the same all over the world, I have ate at McDonald’s in Holland, London, and other places. Sometimes there is an added cultural item or two but in the end the Big Mac is the Big Mac. This shouldn’t have bothered me greatly but as I said it was mentioned several times and I really dislike skewed information that is easily researched. To make sure I wasn’t in the wrong I checked with some Russian and Finnish web developer friends of mine and the menu’s are the same there.
I felt the friendships were not as looked after in this addition to the series, although secondary characters in previous books were fleshed out more. I do plan to read the next book and I am anticipating it. I hope to get a release date soon.
