Secret of the Sands by RAI AREN AND TAVIUS E.

I'm leaving today. Anyways since I don't have very much time, I mooched a summary off amazon. ;)


Summary Courtesy of amazon:

In the shadow of the Great Sphinx of Giza, two young archaeologists unearth extremely unusual artifacts dating over 12,000 years old. Not only could this change everything we thought we knew about Ancient Egypt, but the exhilarating find is wrong - very wrong. The artifacts shouldn't be there. . .they shouldn't even exist at all. The greatest discovery in human history may also turn out to be the deadliest. . . Visit www.secretofthesands.com to learn more about the story that opens a window into the past, bringing this previously unknown and startling civilization to life.


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First off, I have to say that I don’t generally read books like Secret of the Sands. However, despite that, I found the novel to be a fairly engaging read.

I found that the novel managed to remain mostly fluid even though it alternated between Egypt from the past and Egypt now. However I found some of the writing in the novel to be choppy and somewhat immature. The parts of the book written in the present had this sloppy feel to it. I felt it to be unrefined and the writing was childish. But on the contrary, the sections written in the past tense were better developed and it was much more enjoyable to read.

Lastly, the characters in the novel (especially the ones from the present era-Mitch and Alex) were not up to my usual standards. I thought they were written weakly and I couldn’t picture them in real life.

All in all, the concept of this book is fascinating. If you love Egypt, if you love fantasy and if you love action try out Secret of the Sands.

7/10

Happy Reading,

Reader Rabbit

PS: But if you like laughing, pink smelly covers check out our review for Triple Shot Betty...coming soon..

PPS: Check out Reviewer X's contest here

A Chance...

to win Shift AND read an interview with us (lameboring) Rabbits!

The class of 2K8 were kind enough to offer us a chance to take part in their "In the Book Reviewer Hot Seats."

Soooo if you want a chance to win AREALLYSUPERDUPERAWESOMEBOOK..

head over
to..
here

xD

And now I really have got to go study. *tear*

-Reader Rabbit One

Feast of Fools : RACHEL CAINE

Both of us rabbits have been ensnared in hunting traps this past week-those traps known as finals. Since it’s Friday and all...we realized that we needed to update our blog before next week starts and finals whisk us away again.

So without further ado:

Feast of Fools


The third Morganville book left off with an EVIL cliffie. Luckily the fourth one delves into the questions left unanswered in the last book...but once again Rachel Caine sadistically leaves us with another suspenseful ending.

Anyways, this book continues the tale of Claire-the uber-genius girl who graduated school early and then decided to go to college in Morganville...only to find out that Morganville is basically run by those bloodsucking fiends known as vampires -and her friends, Shane, Eve and Michael.

Earlier in the series Claire put herself and her friends under the protection of Amelie( basically the highest ranked vampire in the town)
But this time the trouble’s something more than even AMELIE might be able to handle.

In the third book we were left hanging when Amelie’s father, Mr. Bishop decided to drop by Michael’s house WHILE Claire’s parents are visiting. Mr Bishop, a terrifying vampire, and his friends refuse to leave until Amelie meets him face to face. After he’s dealt with by his daughter, Mr. Bishop leaves the house but his role in the book is not nearly over. Instead, Mr. Bishop comes up with a plan to attempt to take over Morganville...and now it’s up to Claire and her friends to save the town.

Personally, I adore the Morganville Vampire books. (I’d sooo “glomp” the mailman if I could only just catch him when he’s delivering them.)
Onwards! (before I scare you all.)

I found the third book of the series a bit frustrating. I wanted to know what happened sooo bad. So I was overlyoverly excited to read this one.
And I was NOT disappointed at all.

The characters were superb, as always. Despite the fact that I don’t know many people like some of them (I mean.. where am I going to make vampire friends...) they were realistic and relatable. Michael and Eve continue to play important roles in the book as does Claire’s boyfriend, Shane. They learn, they change and they’re wonderful secondary characters to read about. Claire also is a dynamic character. Her ordeals in Morganville continue to shape her as each book goes by, you see her mature from a sheltered nerdy student into someone self-sufficient and strong.

The plot also is captivating (as usual...again). The ideas are fresh and I love the whole *spoiler* disease that seems to be killing all the vampires. Definitely can’t wait for book 5 (especially after that CRUEL cliff-hanger. I hate themhatehatehatehate them. It makes the wait so much worse)

All in all, make sure you check this one out if you’ve read the rest of the series (these books really can’t be read without reading the prior ones). And if you haven’t read the series, you should.
ASAP.
9/10
Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

PS: I know I sound crazy. Blame exams. I just had about...4.5 this week. and more to go..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REVIEWER X

Since today is reviewer x's birthday and I love to NOT study for my exams I made her a little banner!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPH!
xD
YOU'RE CATCHING UP TO ME! <3

I spent 68654 hours on making the banner below. You better like it... OR ELSE

..it's the thought that counts..right?
..

okokok
FINE
here's..
MY actual banner




And The Ravenous Reader made an AWESOMEAWESOMEPROPROAWESOMEAWESOME banner for Steph as well so check that out here

Happy Looking,
Reader Rabbit 1

A Second Review of Read My Lips by Teri Brown....

...because, well, my sister and I don't always agree.



Serena Nelson is oral deaf (meaning that she has the ability to speak and with her hearing aid she has some hearing). Luckily for her, Serena is also very adept with reading lips. A skill that's about to come in handy when she goes to a new school.

At her new high school, Serena reads the lips of a private conversation and then shares it with some classmates. Right away, the “Popular Girls” realize what an asset a lip reader would be to their spread of gossip. So, soon Serena is part of the exclusive group of girls and also begins vying for a position in their secret sorority.

Life's going good for Serena. She has a huge crush on Miller, the high school outcast, and he seems to like her back! But, Serena is forced to discover who her real friends are. But soon, one person takes it too far and Serena is forced to defend and fight what she truly believes in. Read My Lips is a novel about the price of fitting in, finding your real friends and learning about who you really are.

Read my Lips is a fun read. On one hand, it was rather predictable and some parts of the plot came off as a little cliche. At the same time, I couldn't quite believe that Serena had been a skater punk. However, it was nice to have a book where the "popular people" weren't stereotyped. I agree with almost everything my older sister said about this book except I think that they were a few more good things than she did.

Despite the fact that Serena is deaf, the novel never focuses on her deafness. Serena has normal problems and behaves like a normal teen. Sure, she's deaf, but it doesn't affect the way she lives her life.
Teri Brown also does a good job of showing people's misconceptions against Serena in a humorous way. As in the beginning of the novel where the teacher just naturally assumes that Serena's deafness prevents her from talking. Or when the principal talks VERY LOUDLY whenever Serena is nearby.


Despite its flaws, I still found the book a fairly entertaing read and would recommend it as a fun read for the summer.


6/10


Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit the Second

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Don’t talk to strangers.

For Alice, one stranger changed her life.

Don’t talk to strangers.

When Alice was ten years old, she went on a field trip to the aquarium and got lost. And, when a man, Ray, (wearing the aquarium’s uniform) offered to help her find her way back to her school’s group, she accepts. But then, he doesn’t take her to the group. Instead, he abducts her.

Don’t talk to strangers.

It’s too late for Alice, though. Five years later, her life is a disaster. The scars brought on by both physical and mental abuse can never be healed. And at this point, she doesn’t care. All she wants is a way out, a way to get away from Ray. And then, Ray offers her one. He wants her to find him a little girl, perhaps one to replace Alice. Fighting the self-disgust, Alice agrees.

Living Dead Girl is different from any of Scott’s other novels but that’s not to say that it’s any less good. It’s much darker, a wee bit creepy and very powerful.

“It is more than a novel…it is a visceral experience,” (from the back of the ARC) is an accurate description of it. For you will feel the pain and hurt that Alice goes through on a daily basis. You will feel her struggle to survive and the conflicting emotions going through her own mind. The whole book has a sense of panic to it which makes it read fast but also makes it hard-hitting. Alice’s thoughts throughout the novel and especially near the ending were very well expressed. Of course, the question running through your mind in the novel is Why didn’t Alice go to the police? And, through the mind of Alice, you’ll learn why and perhaps begin to understand.

Reading this novel is an experience no one should miss up, the characterization, the story line...all of it was executed just perfectly. Personally, I think that this is Elizabeth Scott’s best book yet...and that’s saying...a lot!

Though now, I will never be able to glance at those Missing signs in my local grocery store (‘cause that’s just how good Elizabeth Scott got down the character’s emotions), I can still say that I greatly, greatly enjoyed the book. My only (tiny) qualm is the length. Other bloggers have mentioned it and I agree. I do think that the novel is the right length for the story but at 170 pages, I’m not sure it should be in hardcover form. But, if it had been any longer, I think the effect may not have been so powerful. Nonetheless, I still highly, highly, recommend that you go out and buy it when it is released in September.


Rating: 9/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit 2 and...2 sentences by RR1

Read My Lips by Teri Brown

The typical plot of “teenage girl goes to new school, meets popular girls, becomes part of their little games and then JUST HAS to fall for an outcast” has a new twist in Read My Lips.

This time the girl, Serena Nelson is oral deaf (meaning that she has the ability to speak and with her hearing aid she has some hearing). Luckily for her, Serena is also very adept with reading lips.

[I bet you all know where this is going].

At her new high school, Serena reads the lips of a private conversation and then shares it with some classmates. And of course the “Popular Girls” realize what an asset a lip reader would be to their spread of gossip. So, soon Serena is part of the exclusive group of girls and also begins vying for a position in their secret sorority.

Of course Serena doesn’t let her entire identity fade as she heads for popularity. She’s still a “skater punk”, even though her new friends have managed to change her clothing a bit, and she does have the hugest crush on Miller, an outcast.
Read My Lips is a novel about the price of fitting in, finding your real friends and learning about who you really are.

Before I‘d read this novel, I’d only heard good things about it from other reviewers. I’d also read the author’s blog and loved it. Not to mention how awesome

I think the title is. Really, this book appeared to have everything. I was fully expecting to adore this one.

Sadly, it was not to be.

First, I found the characters’ dialogue to be a bit much. It seemed like the characters were trying too hard to be “cool” and there were also moments in their speech that I winced at and thought in my head “No. Freaking. Way. Would anyone *I* know say that”

Secondly, I could not relate to Serena Nelson. I didn’t find much to her character besides of the fact that she could read lips, was deaf, wanted to fit in, considered herself to be a skater...oh and liked Miller!

I also had a problem the way people were kind of classified in the novel. I felt like there was wayyyy too much attention focused on how Serena was a “skater” or whatnot. Really. I don’t care. We get the idea that she’s being pushed out of her comfort zone. Move on. Please.

However, a bonus about this novel is that the author did not stereotype all the “Popular” Girls. While some of them were indeed the stereotypical bitchy and shallow types, others were good people and true friends to Serena.
All in all, I didn’t find this novel that enjoyable. I wasn’t intrigued and I was barely entertained with the plot.
I wouldn’t recommend this book, but I suppose you never know. It could be the book for you!

Rating: 6.5/10.

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante

My sister and I would like to apologize for the lack of reviews lately. Unfortunately, the school year's coming to a close and you know what that means. TESTS! *sigh* We still have three more weeks of school....and tests!

Growing up in a religious commune isn't easy for anyone. But following all those rules is especially difficult for Honey, whose rebellious spirit causes her to get in trouble far too many times.

Agnes, Honey's best friend, can’t believe Honey! She wants to become a saint and she worships the commune leader, Emmanuel. Despite the many discrepancies in Emmanuel’s teachings, (i.e. if no outside things are allowed, why is Emmanuel allowed to have a TV and a car?) Agnes would never leave the commune. After all, the commune is a safe haven from the Outside World’s “corruption”, right?

Wrong….

When Nana Pete, Agnes’s only contact from the outside, pops in for a surprise visit, Emmanuel doesn’t have time to hide his dirtiest little secret. And Nana Pete is determined to save Agnes, Honey and Agne’s little brother from Emmanuel even if it’s the last thing she does.

When reading the Patron Saint of Butterflies, I was entranced and devoured the book all in one go. The plot was hard-hitting and truthful and the author’s voice never turned "preachy".Also, I found the characters to be very well-developed; every decision they made held true to their character.

Agnes character was a tragic one to read about. The conditioning that she had been put through was evident throughout. At first it was hard to believe that anyone could be that misguided but slowly I began to understand Agnes frustration with her grandmother when she was "kidnapped" from Emmanuel’s rule.

Personally I adored Honey as a character, probably because she was easier to relate to than Agnes. She was the person that we sympathized with as we read it as we saw her desperation to be freed and the release that came with it.

Overall I found this book to be a great read for all ages! If you haven’t already I recommend getting this book now and be prepared for a truthful and sometimes painful story.

9/10

Happy Reading,

the Rabbits

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Things I've Intended to Post About.....But Didn't

First of all, I want to thank the Blogger Guide. Thanks to an awesome article my sister and I now have two sidebars. If any of you guys need blog help then I highly suggest you head on over there.

Secondly, we've joined the Irresistible Review Challenge. I LOVE this idea. Basically, you have to write reviews of books that you wouldn't have discovered if it hadn't been for bloggers. There are so many books that we might not have read if it hadn't been for bloggers like The Adoration of Jenna Fox and Dragon Slippers. We already have two reviews in the works for this challenge.

And lastly, we have joined the Canadian Book Challenge. As Canadians, we're definitely interested in doing this challenge. We'll be bringing you reviews of books by Great Canadian Authors (or at least, I conside them great) such as Jaclyn Moriarty, Kenneth Oppel, Thomas Wharton and Thomas Trofimuk!

Author Meme

Rules: Link to the person that tagged you, post the rules somewhere in your meme, answer the questions, tag six people in your post, let the tagees know they’ve been chosen by leaving a comment on their blog, let the tagger know your entry is posted.

1. Who’s your all-time favorite author, and why?

Ahhh...that's much too hard. I love so many authors! If I really had to narrow it down, though, I'd say Markus Zusak (author of The Book Thief) and Megan Whalen Turner (who created the incomparable Attolia series).

2. Who was your first favorite author, and why? Do you still consider him or her among your favorites?- Probably Tamora Pierce. I was obsessed with her. And I'm talking serious obsession. ;)

I still really enjoy her novel and eagerly anticipate every one of her releases!

3. Who’s the most recent addition to your list of favorite authors, and why?

-Gary D. Schmidt-his latest novel, Trouble, blew me away. A review's forthcoming!

4. If someone asked you who your favorite authors were right now, which authors would first pop out of your mouth? Are there any you’d add on a moment of further reflection?-Markus Zusak and Megan Whalen Turner, obviously. And upon further reflection I'd add Gary D. Schmidt, Daniel Handler, Juliet Marillier, Shannon Hale, Beth Kephart, Libba Bray, Sarah Rees Brennan (okay, okay..I know she's not published yet but I love her fanfic) and Maureen Johnson.

-Reader Rabbit the Second

I was tagged by the Book Muncher and I tag:

Hope

Dominique- Oh and guys, Dominique is holding an awesome contest for The Swan Kingdom. Head on over to her blog to enter!

Writer's Block Reviews (Holly)

Aella

Book-Adorer

And Kayla (Midnight Twilight's Book Blog)