Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz

(Cover picture courtesy of Harford County Public Library.)

They murdered his parents.  They shot him and left him for dead.  And yet Alex Rider thought he was finished with the terrorist organization known as Scorpia.  He was wrong.  Back, and more dangerous than ever, Scorpia is working with ruthless gangs operating across Southeast Asia.  Known as snakeheads, the gangs smuggle drugs, weapons, and, worst of all, people.  When the Australian Secret Service asks Alex to infiltrate one of the gangs, Alex accepts for one reason only: to work with the godfather he never knew existed in hopes of learning more about his parents.  What he uncovers, though, is a secret that will make this his darkest and most dangerous mission to date.

What is the saddest thing of all?

Wasted talent, of course.

Perhaps I’m getting emotional because I’m watching the last act of Aida as I write this, but the Alex Rider series makes me kind of sad.  Anthony Horowitz is an absolutely amazing writer—he can create breath-stopping suspense and throw in some truly unexpected plot twists, but he is wasting this talent on a cliché series.  Sure, Alex has a bit more depth by now, but he is still a cardboard cutout.  And yes, the plot of Snakehead is exciting, but the ending is predictable: Alex saves the world yet again.  The only thing I truly love about this series is the fact that kids who have never read before are discovering the joy of reading, which is something that lasts a lifetime.

The plot of Snakehead is fairly predictable, but there are occasional plot twists, especially at the end.  You know that Alex saves the world, but this is another case where the journey is more interesting than the destination.  Of course Anthony Horowitz keeps things moving along with his perfect way of balancing dialogue and description.  He also informs readers about how horrible smuggled refugees have it, especially when they travel by ship.

Alex isn’t a complete cardboard cutout by Snakehead, but neither is he an exemplary character.  He is still far too perfect for a fourteen year old boy, even if his uncle did train him all his life to be a spy.  Meeting Ash, his godfather, gives him a lot more depth, but he’s pretty much back to the same old Alex by the end of the novel.

I give this book 3/5 stars.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble

Surprise!

Okay, I have a surprise for everyone here to brighten up your next Monday.  As you’ve probably seen, my Self-Publishing: A Reviewer’s Perspective garnered a decent amount of attention and some very thoughtful comments which started an interesting discussion.  Well, you’ve all seen a reviewer’s perspective, but how about the perspective of an actual self-published author?

That’s why I asked Andrew Levkoff to take time out of his busy schedule and write an article about his own views on self-publishing.  So on Monday, May 28 at 12:00am local time, Self-Publishing: An Author’s Perspective will be going live.  Mr. Levkoff has also graciously agreed to drop in on the comments from time to time, so after you read his article, feel free to ask away about anything related to self-publishing!  He’ll certainly be able to give you better answers than I will as well as adding a much more balanced perspective to a so far one-sided conversation.

The Mirror of Merlin

(Cover picture courtesy of Open Library.)

There is something wicked in the swamplands on the magical isle of Fincayra—an encroaching evil intent on destroying the land—and only young Merlin possesses the power to stop it.

Together with Hallia, the deer-woman Merlin has fallen in love with, he must embark on a journey through the haunted land that will test his knowledge and his courage to find his stolen sword.

But then Merlin discovers a magic mirror capable of altering a person’s destiny—and the visage he finds within the glass is someone he never imagined he’d see…

What if you could go back in time to talk with your younger self and warn him/her about impending danger?  Or what if you could look into a mirror as a teenager and see the person you will become?  Well, that’s what the mysterious mirror in the middle of the Haunted Marsh allows Merlin to do.  But first he must travel to the very centre of the swamp with the deer-woman he loves in order to retrieve the sword Nimue stole from him.

“Mirrors, I assure you, can cause more pain than broadswords, more terror than ghouls.”

The novel’s prologue starts out with a haunting observation from Merlin looking back on his youth and it definitely sets the tone of the entire novel.  Filled with mystery, despair and tragic prophecies while still managing to captivate readers, The Mirror of Merlin is my second-favourite book in The Lost Years of Merlin series, only surpassed by the first novel.

T. A. Barron’s world-building is second to none in the world of fantasy fiction.  Filled with creatures from Celtic mythology as well as completely new creatures, it contains more diversity than many mainstream novels.  Just the way all people are filled with both light and dark, Fincayra is populated with dark creatures like marsh ghouls but balanced out with good creatures like the ballymag.  This is a nod to Merlin’s parentage as well; his evil father and his good mother give him a sort of symmetry.

Readers will cheer for Merlin every step of the way through his difficult quest and will be thrilled as more familiar elements from the Arthurian legends fall into place.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Today I’m once again guest posting for We Heart Reading, as it is Wednesday (already!).  Since I already reviewed Airhead, I decided that I might as well review the second book in the trilogy, Being Nikki.  If you’re like me and are scared of chick lit, I would recommend the trilogy.  It includes none of the militant feminism nonsense that some chick lit books seem to.  In my opinion, the message is more subtle and it isn’t at all preachy.  So go on and check it out!  you may surprise yourself.

And if you’re just coming back from your May Long Weekend holiday, here’s a recap of what you missed:

Sunday: Fire Star by Chris d’Lacey

Monday: Self-Publishing: A Reviewer’s Perspective (one of my finer rants, if I do say so)

Tuesday: A Spy in the House (The Agency #1) by Y. S. Lee

A Spy in the House (The Agency # 1) by Y.S. Lee

[Guest post by ForTheLoveOfBooks.  –CS]

From Goodreads

 Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction on fine manners- and an unusual vocation. Miss. Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen Mary is about to put her training to the test. Assuming the guise of a lady’s companion, she must infiltrate a rich man’s home in hope of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the household is filled with dangerous deceptions, and there’s no one to trust- or is there?

Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets including those of her own past.

I first came across A Spy In The House after watching Priscilla’s Review  for the book and I thought it would be a great read. I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint me at all! I don’t think my reviews would be complete without dedicating some attention to the cover of course. I like the cover of this book, especially Mary’s gaze towards the side. There’s something mysterious about it and it suits the plot. Also the house pictured on the cover reminds me of “The Noble House of Black” from the Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix  movie. The verdict is: I approve of the cover and now it’s time to move onto more fascinating aspects of the book!

As goodreads has explained, the story follows the life of Mary Quinn from being an orphaned thief to novice detective as she has started to work on her first case. The story centers mainly in London, while places like Brighton and India are mentioned briefly. The importance of these locations become evident as the story progresses.

The plot is enjoyable and fast paced. By fast paced I mean, the story begins in 1853 and by pg.11 we have already time traveled to 1858 where Mary is seventeen years old and is working as an instructor for Miss.Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls, only to be introduced later to The Agency; an elite female detective organization headed by Anne Treleaven and Felicity Frame. These two women are also Mary’s mentors, especially Anne. Still focusing on the pace of the book, I think what I found strange, yet good was the pace moved steadily as the story progressed. I didn’t feel as if any of the chapters acted as fillers for the entire story. All aspects were relevant, even in a minor way. However my only disappointment was that the fast pace let the story down a bit. The aspect here I’m referring to is the training Mary undergoes prior to setting off on her assignment. I would have liked to know more about her training and the interactions between Mary and the instructors. To see the protagonist pushed to her limits would have been an element worth exploring. The plot twists were surprising and enjoyable. Mary’s heritage was one that came as a surprise and I would like to see how that story arc is developed in the next book. Continue reading →