Raven: The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus #2)

A novel by Rick Riordan

Publication Date: October 4th, 2011

Publisher: Hyperborean Book CH 

Pages: 513

Targeted Audience: Hyperactive Teens who think they are Half-Bloods!

Summary: Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, 

To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth 

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams. 

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart. 

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

Ah! Another one of Percy Jackson's book. If there is anyone out there who does not prefer reading Rick Riordan's books then SUE YOU! Cause you are missing out a LOT in life!  There are Greek and Roman Gods waiting for you out there. All you gotta do is open the freaking book! 

Okay, back to the review. Rick Riordan has done it again! A fantabulous book that will keep you at the edge of your seat. It's a page turner. It will make you feel so jittery that you can barely hold yourself away from the book.

Percy has lost his memory and the book begins with him fighting off two gorgons who work as saleswoman at a Bargain Mart. His way to escape them AND get his memory back is by carrying a hag on his back. Yup, you will start laughing from the beginning.

Percy enters a safe haven for Romans called New Rome with the hag on his back and Frank and Hazel, the guards of New Rome, fighting against the gorgons. Turns out that the hag was actually Juno (Hera), the wife of Jupiter (Zeus). 

Now Hazel is the daughter of Hades and has the power of navigating underground tunnels and popping precious-cursed-gold from the ground. She also happens to be... wait for it... NICO DI ANGELO'S SISTER!!! Yup he is back! 

Frank is accepted by his father after he wins the game called Siege (It is kind of like Capture the flag) His father happens to be Percy's most-hated-God. (If you are an ardent fan of Percy Jackson you should know) and this Percy's-most-hated-God gives them a quest:
Go to Alaska. Find Thanatos and free him.Come back by sundown on June twenty-fourth or die.
(Yeah, he is a no nonsense person.)

And so the three of them go on a quest to Alaska to free Thanatos (the hawt god of death) from Alcyoneus (Gaea's giant son-the bane of Pluto) Now on their way they meet the cool Amazons, a smart harpy named Ella, the coolest horse in the world (Arion) and Frank's cool grandma.

The ending of this book turned me into a snake. Seriously... I was writhing all over the floor because I wanted to read what happened next! Yet again! Riordan leaves a Cliff hanger at the end! I was this close (shows picture of an atom) to ripping off my hair in desperation. I had to calm myself with a lot of deep breaths. 

So this is all I'm telling you. The rest is for you to find out. Are they able to free Thanatos? What are Hazel and Frank hiding? What is Frank Zhangs history? Does Percy ever get his memory back? Will the Romans accept him if they find out that he is Greek? 

Here are a couple of excerpts from the book:

Hera: You are the glue that unites the seven.

Percy: Great! I always wanted to be glue. 

And here is another one: 

Percy wondered what the mortals saw through the Mist. Maybe they thought that the harpies were pigeons and the weapons were lacrosse sticks or something. Maybe they just thought the Thai mac and cheese was so good it needed an armed escort.

In both the above cases I had to shut the book and calm my hysterical giggles before continuing. 

I can't wait to read The Mark of Athena. This book deserves a 5.

Lots of love & Gold Nuggets

Raven

Beez: Divergent (Divergent#1) 

Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

I. cannot. wait. for. tomorrow.

I'm getting INSURGENT.

This book was a-mazing.

Why didn't i read it before? What was i waiting for?? And you -yes i'm talking to you reader- if you haven't read it yourself then i'm ordering you to haul your ass and just read it already. Read, Read, Read.

The reason i read this book because i happened to find Insurgent at the library and flipped out which ended in me reserving it. And since Insurgent is the second book(which i'm getting tomorrow!!) i had to read Divergent first. And i don't even have an atom size reget except for the regret that i din't read it before. But just as well. Since now i get to read Insurgent as a book book i couldn't be more happier.

As the summary already tells you, there are five factions. Abnegation, Dauntless, Candor, Amity and Erudite. I am a true Dauntless. Because lets face it i can't be Candor- I'm a humongous lier. Abnegation- I am outright selfish and i would die rather than live as Abnegation. Erudite- I think my grades provide enough explanation. Amity- I enjoy fighting.

That leaves Dauntless. That's me. I'm (sorta) fearless. I love doing dangerous and new things. And I'm a lunatic. Dauntless, no doubt.

The ending is so amazing. I was gasping for more. My heart was pounding -thuk, thuk- when Tris goes to the control room. I can't spoil what happens in the control room.

I find it impossible to believe that while everything was happening with Tobias and Tris, my stupid sister was playing with the neighbors and my mother was chatting with her friend when i was in the middle of soo much. Noooooo. I din't want the book to get over. Tris. Tobias.

After the part that Tobias kisses her in the control room i think i hopped around for a minute with happiness.

Umm... random.

This book in some ways reminds me about The hunger games. Its in the future and its both a struggle against life styles. They're both powerful books. They have those amazing breath stilling, heart wrenching and slow motion moments. When you can neither make out whether its day or night. You're soo lost in the book and every thing else just bounces off you skull. I live for those moments.

The characters in these books are complex. My favorite is no doubt Tobias otherwise known as Four(i'll let you find out why he's called four). He's so fearless, strong and mysterious. And in ways unknown to man he is also slightly a romantic. I knew knew knew the guy was going to be Four when i read the line 'the corners of his lips twitched into a slight smile'. Tris and Tobias remind me about Dmitri and Rose from Vampire Academy. So fierce and passionate and both are between instructor and the person who is being instructed. 

Tris. 

Words fail me.

The other character i liked was Caleb, Tris's bro. He's so kind an caring. I hope he never dies. I hope he finds a pretty, blond girl(like Erin Moriarty in kings of summer) who loves him ferociously. 

I have huuge expectations for the next book. And i'm jumping for it. I don't think i would be able to survive if i were not getting it tomorrow. All i can think is one more day, that's it only one more day and i shall get INSURGENT!!

I cannot wait for the movie. I totally blinded myself from all movie news because i wanted to read it first but i got a glimpse that it was due in 2014!! Soo long. 2014 is a year much awaited for. Split second, Vampire Academy, Divergent etc...

That's a good thing because i desperately need something to keep me going.

Waiting.

I'm a little devastated that this book is over. Only 24 hours or less...

Read, Read, Read, Read!!

Lots of love and hamburgers

Beez.

Raven: The Hidden World (The Remarkable Adventures of Tom Scatterhorn #2)

A novel by Henry Chancellor

Publication Date: August 24th, 2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Pages: 528
Targeted Audience: 9+ and anyone who loves adventures!

Summary: It's the start of the summer holidays, and Tom is back at the Scatterhorn Museum. But when an unexpected guest arrives his world is thrown into disarray. Her name is Pearl Smoot and she is a traveler - like him. She needs Tom's help. Urgently.
There is evil afoot in the shape of Tom's old enemy. Don Gervase Askary. He has captured Pearl's father and brother, and what's more, she thinks he's holding Tom's parents too. Tom and Pearl set off to rescue them, on a perilous quest that leads them from the foothills of the Himalayas to the steaming jungles of Polynesia, then on wards into the very heart of Don Gervase's insect kingdom...

Now now everyone. Let's just take a moment to SCREAAAAM!! I CAN'T BELIEVE I FINALLY FOUND THIS BOOK! I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ALL OVER THE  GLOBE FOR THE OTHER TWO BOOKS IN THIS SERIES AND WHEN I FOUND THIS? AH! BLISS!

For the full account of what happened go check out our other blog where I have posted "The Library incident"

So I start this book expecting sooo much more and I was not disappointed. From the first chapter itself you are plunged into a roller coaster ride with unimaginable creatures and a plot that will make your head spin.

There are some bugs that are mentioned in this book which I hope do not exist. EVER.  

Pearl is a great girl. I love her character just as much as I love Tom. They are the best pair ever. I love them both so much. 

Sir Henry Scatterhorn and August Catcher are also beautiful characters. I really wish I had the brains to make something like what August made. Then I too would stuff taxidermy of birds with the encyclopedia. Who would need the internet right? You got a doubt? Just ask the talking bird with the encyclopedia in her head!

And of course I can' t forget the evil Don Gervase Askary and his daughter Lotus Askary. They are wicked! And the creatures that they harbour, their plans for the future... GAH! This book makes me wanna take entomology as a subject!

I am starting to love bugs. I know it sounds disgusting but I just want to study them, know more about them. There is a whole world out there filled with thousands of species of bugs! Who knows when they might take over the world.

There is the Elixir of Life and why Don Gervase Askary really wants to use it. I kind of felt sad for the bugs for their short life and all that but hey! bugs give thousands of eggs! If they lived longer they will totally populate the earth and rule over us! Eugh! They already have a higher population than ours.

Also this book reveals a lot more of the mystery that began in the first book (The Museum's Secret, a review which I have already done) 

Trust me. You want to read this book. I know you do. This book will get you thinking things that you never thought were possible. And also this book will make you laugh a lot. Books rarely make me laugh so it is a big deal. 

I have loved those funny scenes soo much that I want to share one with you. I will make sure that I don't give away the plot.

The hyena's eyes stared at them menacingly.

AAHHH! 

Pearl screamed, Tom screamed, the driver screamed and all the monkeys screamed together. The driver slammed his foot on the brake, sending them all thudding against the windscreen, and the next moment the hyena bounced off the bonnet and tumbled down into the road. Struggling to its feet it stared at them angrily, then loped off into the shadows. For a moment the driver sat still, too stunned to speak. The two monkeys clinging to his steering wheel started to scream.

XD I laughed so hard at this moment. Chancellor has taken a classic scene and put into a situation that makes it hilarious!

I rate it a 5 for drama, comedy, adventure and mystery put all into one 500 pages book. Please read it! I promise you. You won't regret it. My friend loved it too! But if you like the kind of books that Beez reads (Teen fiction) then I doubt you would like it. But if you prefer mystery, adventure and the kind of thrill that makes you want to rip your hair off! Then go ahead and read it.

My ratings... Paris style! 

Lots of love & Beetles

Raven 

(It's so ironic that Ravens eat beetles and I love them... but not enough to eat them)