Book Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

GoodReads Summary:

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Review:

This debut novel by Sara Raasch is a tale of loyalty, love and discovering one’s destiny.  While in the end I adored Book 1 of this soon-to-be-discovered series, at first, I found myself exasperated by Meira and her ungrateful, irritable nature.  I was expecting a strong, confident character from the top of the novel.  However, I soon found myself engrossed in the growth of her character and wishing I hadn’t been so quick to judge. 

As the story progressed, I found myself honored to be a part of Meira’s growth into the resilient and poised character I was looking for. Sara Raasch surprised me in the end with some heroic and fantastical scenes that left this heroine wanting more! I am so excited to read the next installment of this series, Ice like Fire, out in October 2015!

Happy Reading,

Valerie
YA Reader’s Advisor

Teen Book Review: D-Frag by Tomoya Haruno

Summary:

 

"D-Frag " is a new ongoing manga series that parodies high school clubs, nerd culture, and the slice-of-life genre in a side-splittingly hilarious storyline. For fans of manga series about otaku-centric high school clubs like "Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends, Genshiken," or "The""Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, ""D-Frag " has the last laugh, as it satirizes the genre like never before.

Kazama Kenji thinks he's a delinquent. He's got the look, the style and the attitude to match--he even has a second-rate entourage of sorts. Deep down, however, Kazama is a good-hearted kid who finds himself and his loyal gang in over their heads when they stumble upon the Game Creation Club. The club's formidable members, Chitose, Sakura, Minami, and Roka, are four girls who he might actually be attracted to if they weren't so freaking weird.

The girls claim to have otherworldly powers which they use to defeat Kazama's gang and force him to join their offbeat club. Can Kazama resist the girls' bizarre charms and return to some semblance of a normal, everyday life...or is it "game over" for our hapless hero?

 

Teen Review:

 

D-Frag is an excellent manga series and you should read it. Why? Because the characters, story and adventure in the first volume alone will leave you wanting more. In the first book an upcoming gang at a Japanese high school enter the Game Dev. Club looking to swipe some games. This does not go well for them and their leader is sucked into a world of gaming and make-believe. If you are a fan of manga or are looking to get into it D-Frag is the one for you.

Carson

Geek Out: 30 Books That Are Out of This World

It's that time of year again!  Registration has begun for our teen summer reading program. This summer read what you want, when you want!  The Orillia Public Library's Teen Summer Reading Club; Geek Out: 30 Books That Are Out of This World is all about celebrating reading.  Thirty exciting, "Out of This World" titles have been chosen from a variety of genres.  We are challenging Orillia youth ages 12-19 to collectively read 150, 000 minutes between June 27th and September 6th! In addition to a library wide reading goal we are challenging each of you to read for over 2500 minutes this summer.  Meet your goal and win a prize!  You can earn additional points throughout the summer by participating in programs, writing book reviews, and playing our Teen Scene Summer BINGO!  Click here for more details.