Julia Fiorili Fiorili itibaren Appinapalle, Andhra Pradesh, Hindistan itibaren Appinapalle, Andhra Pradesh, Hindistan

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature. I give 3 stars to Wizard's First Rule (the first book), but this review refers to the SOT series through book 9. Terry Goodkind’s first book Wizard’s First Rule was great! Except for the actual First Rule ("People are Stupid"), which was...stupid. The story had so many unique and fascinating characters (especially the secondary ones). I was in love with Richard; I wanted to be a Mord-Sith. The next couple of books of The Sword of Truth were pretty good, too. Then... I don’t know what happened... it just TOTALLY lost it. The writing style became incredibly annoying and Richard was getting WAY too preachy (constant Ayn Rand-ish humanistic ranting). But, I kept going because I was really invested by this time. And each time I bought one of his $25 hardback books, I found myself rolling my eyes at every passive sentence and starting to fall asleep during the sermons (when did Richard hire a speech writer??). And the plot really got ssslllllloooowwww (just look at the book covers for Chainfire and Phantom — you can tell we're not going anywhere). But the weirdest thing is that I kept buying these 1 star books! I can’t explain my behavior, except to say that Terry Goodkind is (was) a master at plot and characterization (truly, his secondary characters are so well done). So I kept thinking that things would get better, but they did not. How did he pull off that excellent first booK?? I've learned from this experience that I can put down a book if it's not good. There's too much good literature to read. According to Mr Goodkind, those of us who have bailed out are ignorant and uneducated. Wow. That is something I have never been called before. I should have realized right from the start ("Wizard's First Rule: People are stupid") what kind of fellow Terry Goodkind is. Here is a quote from a chat session conducted with Mr Goodkind (this used to be on his website, but has now been removed. It is well-documented on the internet, however.): "Why would they continue to read books they claim are bad? Because they hate that my novels exists. Values arouse hatred in these people. Their goal is not to enjoy life, but to destroy that which is good — much like a school child who does not wish to study for a test and instead beats up a classmate who does well. These people hate what is good because it is good. Their lives are limited to loathing and indifference. It isn't that they want to read a good book, what they want is to make sure that you do not. Ignore them." —Terry Goodkind I say Terry Goodkind is the one acting like a school child having a tantrum. I regret that he got so much of my money. I hope you won't give him any of yours. If you really want to try a Goodkind book, I would recommend that you go to the library and check out the first few, and then trust me that you don't need to read any further. I will not read the last book. I'm not even tempted. What an ass. ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

So I’ve been dying to read this book for three reasons- 1) the cover is so pretty-full 2) I’ve heard such awesome things about it and 3) the author is super funny cool. I had such high expectations for this book and I’m so glad it didn’t disappoint. This Little Red Riding Hood retelling by Jackson Pearce is edgy, thrilling, fast paced, action packed, and stuffed with romance; wicked fight scenes; and a breathtaking sister relationship. SUMMARY After being attacked by a Fenris, or werewolf, as children, Scarlett and Rosie March grow up to be Fenris hunters. Badly scarred and missing an eye from the first Fenris attack, Scarlett is driven by the hunt, it consumes her. She is determined to kill every single last Fenris, and armed with her trusty hatchet and wrapped in her red cloak she hunts in her small town of Ellison. Rosie dreams of a normal life, filled with more than hunting. But she feels like she owes her sister Scarlett her life, so she stays in Ellison and hunts. The two sisters have, what they believe to be an unbreakable bond. Scarlett’s best friend and hunting partner, Silas, returns home and the three of them temporarily move to Atlanta together to hunt the Fenris that have begun to gather there. Together they must try to figure out just what they Fenris are up to, while trying to save as many girls as they can. Things get complicated when Silas and Rosie start to fall for each other, and the bond between Rosie and Scarlett is tested. CHARACTERS The book is told from both Scarlett and Rosie’s point of views through alternating chapters. I felt like this really gave me the chance to connect with and get to know each sister on an individual level, while the intertwining of both perspectives created both a figurative and literal link between the two sisters. I genuinely liked both sisters and appreciated their realistic development. On the surface Scarlett is hard and confident with an impenetrable guard around her emotions, but within her own mind her insecurities, fears, and doubts are constantly swirling and bubbling. For as strong as she is, she’s also quite fragile. I found her complexities as a character to be simply captivating. Rosie balances Scarlett’s hardness with a natural softness. Rosie is more open about her insecurities, both to herself and to others, and I found this honesty very compelling. There’s a sweetness to Rosie that I found refreshing, yet at the same time I like that she’s just as tough as her sister. As much I like both sisters, there were aspects of their characters that I didn’t like. Scarlett’s hard personality can be a bit overwhelming at times, while Rosie’s willingness to allow Scarlett to boss her around and make her feel guilty is frustrating. Silas adds a much needed sense of humor and lightheartedness to the story. He’s caring, witty, brave, and charming. I like that he feels fiercely protective of the sisters, yet he completely respects their abilities as hunters and never doubts that they can take care of themselves. They are all engaging as a trio, as individual characters, and as pairs (the sisters, Rosie/Silas, and the Scarlett/Silas friendship). THE STORY Pearce’s Sisters Red is a deliciously twisted, dark, and captivating take on the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale. It’s imaginative, smart, bold, romantic, and has a sweetness that is charming, yet as razor sharp as Scarlett’s hatchet. And while it is a retelling of such a famous fairy tale, Sisters Red pops with its own originality. I like that Pearce as taken the clichéd damsel in distress concept that fairy tales are known for and has completely flipped it around. Jackson’s two little red riding hood wearing females are anything but helpless. They are fierce, capable, courageous, Fenris ass kicking girls with steely determination and a tireless perseverance. And did I mention they kick some serious ass?! Cause they do and I really enjoyed reading about it too! The book is fast paced and packs a wicked punch. There’s an electric intensity to this book, especially during the fight scenes. Pearce doesn’t hold anything back during these scenes. These are violent, fight or die moments, so there’s blood, goriness, and swearing. These scenes often left me breathless and wide eyed, especially the last few chapters. The fantasy and action aspects in this book are awesome, but it’s the emotional aspects that really gripped me and have stayed with me. At its core, this book is about the relationship between the sisters; the beautifully heartbreaking, conflicted, tender, codependent relationship between Scarlett and Rosie. Pearce develops and explores this relationship with such care and sensitivity that the feelings between the two sisters are palpable and piercing. Their struggles to keep their deep bond intact while at the same time their need to figure out who they are as individuals was compelling to witness and breathtakingly crafted. ROMANCE The romance between Rosie and Silas is a lot of fun to watch unfold. It progresses quite naturally and never feels forced or contrived. There are scenes where the chemistry between the two sizzles off the page, while other scenes are very sweet. I really enjoyed watching this romance develop and never felt like there was too much or too little of it. MY FINAL THOUGHTS: This book as it all- kick butt heroines, heart-pounding action, a sweet romance, and a creative premise. I found myself captivated by the world and characters Pearce creates in this book and mesmerized by her smart, engaging, well crafted writing. This is an awesome book that is definitely worth a read! Read the complete and original review (and many more) at Word Spelunking