Four Challenges Finished!

After going through my list of books read and listing a bunch of alternatives, I am proud to announce that I have finished four challenges:

1st in a Series
Back To History
What An Animal
Young Adult

Now I get four free books:)

Faerie Wars (book review)

Faerie Wars is the first in a series of fantasy books by Herbie Brennan. When the main character, Henry Atherton, helps his old neighbor Mr. Fogarty clean up his house, the last thing he expects to find is a faerie. But that's exactly what he does find. Pyrgus Malvae, the Crown Prince of the Faerie Realm, is on the run from treacherous evildoers, and he needs to find a way back to his world. Mr. Fogarty helps the faerie build a portal back to his dimension, but something goes terribly wrong, and Henry may be the only one who can save Pyrgus and his family. But as Henry is drawn deeper and deeper into a conflict betweeen two Faerie clans, he finds that the world of Faerie is more complicated than he originally thought.

This book was very complex, and with each new chapter the suspense built up even more. I found it very exciting and dynamic, and I think it's lucky that I already own the next two in the series, or I'd want to head out to buy them immediately! It was a superb mix of fantasy, science fiction, humor, and adventure. What more could you want?

Twilight (book review)

This book was also for the Chunkster Challenge.

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, is the story of seventeen-year-old Isabella Swan (more commonly known as Bella). She's currently living with her dad, Charlie, in a small and dreary town known as Forks. Bella is nervous about going to the high school in Forks, as she wasn't really accepted at her old school. But here she finds a ton of friends and is welcomed into the popular circle almost immediately.

However, Bella is drawn to a young boy named Edward Cullen. He and his siblings are outsiders at the school, and they are constantly given disapproving looks by their peers. But Bella ignores what everyone else thinks of them and befriends Edward. Soon she discovers a dark secret from his past--he's a vampire, and so are all of his "siblings" and "parents". Edward tells her that he and his family don't drink human blood, but when a different vampire catches Bella's scent, her very life is put at stake.

Like so many other people, I loved this book and its cliffhanger ending. I really want to know what happens next, so I'm going to buy the sequel as soon as I can! I really loved the combination of modern love story and traditional vampire story that made this book so unique!

Wyrd Sisters (book review)

Wyrd Sisters, by Terry Pratchett, is the story of three witches: Nanny Ogg, Magrat Garlick, and Granny Weatherwax. They are generally non-social witches who don't meddle in people's business unless necessary. However, when an evil duke steals the throne in the kingdom of Lancre, it will take everything they've got to thwart his plans and put the true king on the throne.

I loved this book, but not as much as I did its prequel, Equal Rites. The characters in both were different and fun, and the settings were new and exciting! I would recommend Terry Pratchett's Discworld books to anyone who's looking for a unique twist on fantasy.

Underworld (book review)

Underworld, by Catherine MacPhail, is the story of Fiona, Angie, Zesh, Axel, and Liam. They hate each other at school. They all believe things can't get any worse when they are picked for a school field trip to a remote Scottish island. However, things do get worse when they are all trapped in the labyrinth of caves under the island and their teacher is nearly killed. They must use their wits if they want to survive. And everyone has the feeling that something is watching them, because deep beneath the ground, something is stirring.

Underworld was a funny, spooky story that tells of five dejected teenagers with no friends and how being stuck with only each other to help them survive changes them in ways they don't yet know. It was also the story of a lost legend and a monster. I definitely enjoyed this one!

A lot of new challenges!

I'm joining a ton of new challenges this year! I only have two books left for the Four-legged Friends and two for the Book Awards Challenge, so I should have plenty of time for these new challenges! I'm not posting my list for the What's In A Name Challenge here because I already have a separate post for that.


First, there's the Sci-Fi Experience, hosted by Carl. This isn't really a challenge, but I'm looking forward to reading lots of good sci-fi books!






Second, there is the Mythopoeic Award Challenge, hosted by Lenneth. Here is my list:



Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Tithe by Holly Black

Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson

The Giver by Lois Lowry



Third, there is the Young Adult Challenge, hosted by Joy. Here is my list:


Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Swan Sister edited by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

Finishing Becca by Ann Rinaldi

Maximum Ride: School's Out--Forever by James Patterson

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Underworld by Catherine Macphail

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison



Fourth, there's the Back To History Challenge, hosted by Shannon. This is my list:





Finishing Becca by Ann Rinaldi

Number The Stars by Lois Lowry

The Coffin Quilt by Ann Rinaldi

On The Edge of Revolution by Deborah Kent

Air Raid Pearl Harbor by Theodore Taylor

Amelia's War by Ann Rinaldi

Seeds of Hope by Kristiana Gregory

The Plague by Philip Wooderson

Burning Issy by Melvin Burgess

I Am Regina by Sally M. Kehn

West To A Land Of Plenty by Jim Murphy

What Was Watergate? by Pamela Kilian

Alternates:

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-Li Jiang

11,000 Years Lost by Peni R. Griffin

Two Girls Of Gettysburg by Lisa Klein

Robert E. Lee by James I. Robertson Jr.

Ulysses S. Grant by Steven O'Brien

The Seer of Shadows by Avi

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Lucy and Her Times by Paseal Pieg and Nicole Verrechia


Fifth and finally, there is the First In A Series Challenge, also hosted by Joy. Here's my list:



So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce

Larklight by Philip Reeve

The Fire Within by Chris D'Lacey

Northlander by Meg Burden

Triskellion by Will Peterson

Terrier: The Legend of Beka Cooper by Tamora Pierce

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

The Divide by Elizabeth Kay

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper


That's all!