Category: Books

Reviews and ratings of books Toi has read for pleasure.

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Books

Review: City of Bones

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, book1) by Cassandra Clare

I give this book a 4.

LikeIt

A book about the existence and intermingling of angles with human beings, why wouldn’t I like this?

This is the Nephilim genre at its YA best, as its heroine Clary encounters the world of Shadowhunters for the first time. Clary isn’t a social outcast just waiting for some adventure to enter her life. She’s a normal teen with normal issues, but soon learns that she’s so much more. A chance encounter at a nightclub opens her up to a whole other world that exists in the shadows.

After Clary’s chance encounter, all she wants to do is go home and forget what she saw and hopes that “they” forget seeing her. But that would be too easy. Chance encounters or not, the world of the Shadowhunters was destined to come knocking at her door, and her mother knew this all alone. The problem now is that her mother is missing and she has to depend on strangers to help her find answers.

I really liked this book. I must admit that I allowed myself to be too hyped before reading it and was thus left a little disappointed. I wanted more, but I guess that’s why it’s a series. It’s no secret that I struggle with the YA genre. I have enough problems of my own that make it difficult for me to relate to the struggles of the ever changing, growing, and maturing mind of teenagers, but this book was good.

I adored the lore of this story and the way it plays into the actions of the characters. I liked the mixture of mysticism and magic. There were times, however, when I felt there was too much going on. There were too many creatures and beings to keep up with, but I guess it all worked for the story in the end.  This a definitely a good read for teens, but even adults with a passion for fantasy will enjoy this one.

*I was hoping for a little more spirituality to be infused with a story of this nature, but it is what it is.

This review has been posted to GoodReads.

If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Books

Review: Childhood’s End

Childhood’s End by Author C. Clarke

I give this book a 5.

LoveIt

This is a wonderful book I wish I’d read sooner. Everything I’ve always known and loved about alien invasion plots seems to have been influenced by this book in one way or another.

The book starts out by describing the harmless but startling invasion of the Overlords. Within very little time, the soft-spoken, and at that point, never seen Overlords have rid the world of war and violence and made it subtly clear that they plan to stick around for a very long while. Of course, people being people constantly wonder and question the motives of the Overlords, but since no lives are being taken, peace abounds around the land.

Generations go by before the Overlords present themselves to the public, for good reasons that are clearly explained in the book. After that, the earth begins to reach its almost utopian pinnacle.  The one and only thing that really seems to be lacking in this new perfect world is the desire and or opportunity to explore new things. So of course, there is one man who decides to tackle this deficiency, with unexpected results.

More and more generations come and go until such a time that man has begun to evolve. Finally, the Overlords are ready to reveal their true purpose, but by that time, it doesn’t really matter anymore. There’s something more in store for the fate of the earth.

Wow, is the first thing that comes to mind each and every time I think of this book. The most riveting notion throughout this book is the sense of the unknown. Every time one thing is explained and all is well, there’s something else to keep you guessing. The story comes to a very clear and compelling end, but even then you are left wondering, and not because the author didn’t feel like filling the reader in. There are some things in this world that we just cannot understand. We can either accept them and move on with our lives, or we can let our desire to know destroy us.

While children and even some teens may not understand all the themes and scope of this story, I would recommend it to anyone. Sci-fi fans are sure to love this story, but anyone who’s ever been plagued by wanting to know more will appreciate this book.

This review has been posted to GoodReads.

If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Books Spotlights

Author Spotlight: Brita Skinner 1.3

spotlight

DayBreaker Review

By Vanessa Grosett: Authors Care Agency, LLC

The main character is eighteen year old Sambi Prince and takes place in Toronto Canada. Sambi has a brother named Sam. They both don’t have a great start in life, as they relocate constantly and don’t have a good relationship with their mother.

Sambi meets also eighteen year Matthew Greenwood in her Chemistry class, and there is certainly chemistry between them as they take an instant liking to each other. Matthew however is not all what he seems, he comes from a supernatural world that Sambi is also part of though she does not find out until later on in the book.

An unfortunate incident makes Sambi leave her household, her brother goes missing and after a heated argument with her mother Sambi decides to look for him, with Matthew, during their travels Matthew decides to tell her who she is, part Nephilim.

It seems like humans are not the only one in this world as well as the Nephilim there are the Nightlife who are demons. There are three clans in this book, DayBreakers are Nephilim which means they are fallen angel they want to exist peacefully among humans, the Dark Angels are too Nephilim however they have sided with the Nightlife by interbreeding with humans, the more children their make the more their DNA will remain. Making this supernatural world that they can rule over, and eventually humans will be extinct.

This book contains action and adventure. The reader can really relate to Sambi, her confusion, pain and be a part of the world she lives in. This book is not afraid to step into the unknown, and doesn’t shy away from topics that some publishers think people might be uncomfortable with. When in fact there is a great interest in the supernatural world and this book brings this to readers.

It is such an enjoyable unique book. The writer has thoroughly research this topic. A must read.

For more information about Brita Skinner or to contact her, please try these links:
Web: http://britaskinner.wix.com/britaskinner#, Email: authorbritaskinner@gmail.com

On behalf of author, Brita Skinner, and myself, I do hope you have enjoyed this spotlight and will take some time to look into the creative works of this talented author.

*This review has been posted (text provided by author) per the request of the author being featured. This review has been written by a professional agent representing the featured author. The relationship between author and agent is based on an agreed upon monetary exchange for services rendered, but the details of each individual case varies. With that being said I, Toi Thomas, have not requested and have not received any compensation for posting this review.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords