Rapture - Lauren Kate (2012)

 3 stars

This is the fourth book in the Fallen series by Lauren Kate, and I was underwhelmed by the conclusion to the series.

This book was written from Luce's perspective like the other books, however unlike the other books when both the prologue and epilogue is from Daniel's perspective the epilogue in this book is from the angels and nephilim's perpective (minus Cam). I didn't like this book as much as it's predecessors mainly because I thought it was kind of predictable and although I liked the ending, it didn't really have much action or suspense like the previous books where I felt I had to keep reading. My favourite character was Arianne, she was cute and loveable as always and brought some lightheartedness to the darkness that Lucinda was feeling for most of the novel. I was frustrated by the mystery that surrounded Cam, the question of who he loved, what he was going to do for the rest of eternity, and where he was during the epilogue are things that could have made the book that much more interesting, and I can only assume that Kate was setting up for a spin off series based on him, which would probably be good because I always liked his character. I recommend this series to any paranormal romance fans.

For a plot summary see Mac's previous blog.

A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin

5 stars

I watched bits and pieces of this show and liked it, and then I heard some really good reviews of this book so I decided to read it and I wasn't disappointed.

I really enjoyed this book, although I found it incredibly long (which is why I haven't posted a blog in about a month) and it's hard to power through an eight hundred page book when you've seen bits of the tv show and know what's going to happen. This book is very good , and although the television show is a pretty accurate retelling, the book has a lot more detail and makes everything a lot clearer. It is very well written, and describes the battles and deaths in such a way that explains all the details of the wounds without being too gruesome for me. My favourite character was Arya, a well written kick-ass heroine that doesn't annoy me in any way, which is very rare for a heroine in most books I read. I would recommend this book to mature readers who like really intricate fantasy.

Lord Eddard (Ned) Stark is King Robert Baratheon's oldest friend and when Jon Arryn, the King's Hand, dies suddenly Ned is given the job. While serving the King and living at court Ned looks into Jon's death and learns that Robert's children to the Queen are not his but Jaime Lannister's, The Queen's own twin. Cersei learns that Ned knows this and poisons Robert while he's on his hunting trip. When on his deathbed Robert makes Ned write out a new will naming him Protector of the Realm until his "son" Joffrey comes of age and Ned doesn't have the heart to tell him his children aren't his when he's about to die so he changes the will so it says "heir" not son. Once Robert dies Ned tries to tell people that Joffrey doesn't have any right to the title, however Cersei names him a traitor and has him taken to the dungeons. Joffrey is then named King and Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, and Robb Stark form armies to march against him. Sansa is kept in King's Landing and still betrothed to Joffrey, Arya escapes and takes the guise of a boy going to the wall with Yoren, Catelyn moves with Robb and his army, and Bran is lord of Winterfell and looking after Rickon. Joffrey orders Ned's execution against the advice of everyone on the council, including his mother, and Daenerys, the last true heir to the throne, hatches three dragons, which were long thought to be extinct.