Looking for a good book?

Hello my fellow readers...
however few you may be :D
Remember in my original post where I mentioned I love all things books.
I wasn't lying. I adore them. So much so that I recently had to make my self some more book shelves.
As I was rearranging them I realized that now seems like as good a time as any to talk to you about some of my favourites and as they're so "Splintered" (ah ah see what I did there... well you will) or should I say eccentric this will be a two part-er.

Now I more of a favourite author gal myself. When I find a fantastic author I stick to them like crazy-glue. No seriously I do. These are the books I read when I'm sad, or need a moment to myself - they're the artists that create my comfort-food... books.
Things like the Nightseer, by Laurell K. Hamilton, which I've already mentioned as a book I read in order to relax, makes it to the short list. I'm fairly certain I own all of her Anita Blake and Merry Gentry Series' books (more on that in another post - I promise). Other authors like Garth Nix, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Tamora Pierce and Rick Riordan also make this list. As do my two "new" favourite authors: A.G. Howard and Deborah Harkness.

So what's so appealing you ask?

Well... it's the way these authors create an entirely different (or not so different) world. It's the way they tell a story that transports you to a new place, so that you can escape your own tedious one for just a moment, just a second, and breathe in the new sites and sounds. All of this in the comfort of your own bedroom. Their characters remind you of yourself and go through the same kinds of problems (and by problems I mean - anxiety or dementia, coming out to your parents or being different) giving you the courage to at least look at your own problems.

They set you free.
And teach you a little something about your self in the process.
Which is why we love them so much.

So what exactly do I read: Well let's take a jaunt, and let me break it down for you.
(Since I've already looked at Laurell K Hamilton and Garth Nix - Nightseer and Sabriel being my favourites from these two- in a previous post I'll leave those two out to talk about another time.)

Demon in My View - Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

 Atwater-Rhodes wrote this book when she was 15... you saw that right 15 and it is brilliant. I remember reading it when I was 17 for the first time and thinking "Wow, I wish I was this brilliant." The book itself is not very long, has large print and is obviously written to the Young Adult Audience. All while managing to be about an dark-haired, fair-skinned outcast of a girl and what I like to call, the "asshole" with redeeming qualities, who just so happens to be a vampire.
(No he does not sparkle, yes he drinks blood, and yes he's broody).
The book is an easy read and takes you to something a bit more primitive - where blood is the coin you pay in and we (the reader) are just along for the ride.
And this book is by far the best in this series - so check - it - out!

Percy Jackson (The Olympians Series) - Rick Riordan 

Percy Jackson - how was this series not made earlier. This series and the following sequel series are genius modern adaptations of Greek and Roman myths. They're so brilliant that I felt like ate through the book in no time. The large print and funny chapter titles... make it that much easier to read. This series and the subsequent one, tell the stories or quests of half-bloods or demi-gods. Add to that the gods in all their forms and ancient monsters and you have all the ingredients for a Homeric Epic, without the Hymns and for a younger audience.

The Immortals Series - Tamora Pierce

By far my personal favourite series by Tamora Pierce, the Immortals Series tells the tale of Dane a girl with Wild Magic - who doesn't know that she has it (she just thinks she's a bit crazy). On her travels she meets new people, falls in love and discovers who her dead parents really were. The books are essentially one book split into four- smaller books for lighter reading and are good for those rainy days - to read to yourself or kiddie.

Splintered - A.G Howard

The debut novel by A.G. Howard is a modern adaptation ... or continuation if you will of Alice in Wonderland. A bit slow to get into (at least for me - slow for me is in the second/third chapter) but keep at it because it gets soooo much better. In fact it gets fantastic. The heroine of this story is a descendent of Miss Alice and her family is cursed. They can talk to insects - and that's what has landed their family in the looney bin or to commit suicide. Until ... a strange, curious insect appears, and it leads back into Alice's dream or nightmare.
Classified forYoung Adult audience- but who cares, some of the best books are in that section to begin with and it was very easy for me to finish reading within two/three days. I just could not put it down.
And I am waiting, ever patiently for the next one. January you are cold but I want that book so bad!

All Soul's Trilogy - Deborah Harkness

Words cannot describe how much I adore this and Shadow of the Night. Both books transport you to the world of a witch- a very special one in fact. A witch who doesn't wish to be a part of the Supernatural world, and would much rather be a Doctorate in the History of Alchemy. Until a college and fellow member of the Supernatural walks in and steals her library work space... and he just so happens to be a Vampire.
In a world of Daemons, Vampires and Witches the number one objective is to stay hidden from the Humans. But Vampires are starting to die, Daemons are getting a little more crazy and the Witches... there are less and less. The book teaches you about History, while looking at how we're made, adding in the dynamics of being Christian and a Vampire, a Witch without using magic. Ultimately trying to discover how we got here and how we're to evolve.
You can definitely tell how well researched the book is and imagine how wonderful a Prof. Deborah Harkness makes - the words just leap off the page and you don't want to put the books down.

I cannot wait to read the conclusion to these two novels.


That's all for this one folks.
Till the next time
(The next one will be on some books I would not read again...)
Ta ta
-Ari