Tim's Bookshelf

"The Willowmere Chronicles" is one of my favourite book series. I very much like the protagonist, Claire, because I like the way she always acts. "The Witches of Willowmere" is the beginning of a good story arc which, once you have started, can't put down.

After "The Witches" comes "The Warding of Willowmere", which has as much potential as the first book in the trilogy. I have the (sometimes annoying) habit of re-reading the very best pieces in my books. But if I did that with this book, I'd be reading it two times as long as usual. A book which you can't put down!

"The Wyrd of Willowmere" (which means "The Destiny of Willowmere") is the last book in the series (what a shame). I have enjoyed this series. It took me less than two days to read the whole series, about 750 pages. "The Wyrd" is just as good as the other books, with a very good end. The author has thought for how to end this series, and it worked. "The Willowmere Chronicles" is one of the best series I ever read.

This is one of the best books I ever read. I didn't like Funke's Inktrilogy, but the Mirrorworld series is something completely different. I love the world, the characters, the tales, everything! This a fairy tale for young adults you can't put down.

We had to wait more than two years, but now it's here! "Fearless", the second book in the "Mirrorworld"-series. This book is at least as beautiful and dangerous as the first one. Let yourself drift away on the magical tales about Jacob, Fox and the others.

"White Cat" is told from the view of Cassel Sharpe, in the I-person. The story is situated in the nowadays USA. Because Cassel tells everything, he thinks you already know everything there is know, which might make the story a bit confusing at the beginning. Apparently, all over the world, there are people living who are called "curse-workers". Instead of other stories, all other people who aren't curse-workers, know that they exist. These curse-workers have special abilities, of which you can read in the novel. If you are able to understand this and some other strange things, "White Cat" is a very special book. This series is one of my favourites!

"Red Glove" continues where "White Cat" stopped. Here, it's also Cassel who tells everything, but since you now understand how the curse-workers work, it'll be easier to read. The fantastic tale which started in the first book, continues... Let yourself grabbed by Cassel Sharpe!

"Black Heart" is end of "The Curse-Workers" Trilogy. Here, Cassel must look for the last resolutions so he can have a better life. In the end, it becomes better then he had expected. A very satisfying end. On The Curse-Workers' old website, there was a page called "Lila Zacharov's 13 Pieces". It were 13 short-stories which were told by Cassel's friend, Lila. The stories were all separate and you could read them in any order to wanted. Unfortunately, since the new website got on air, "13 Pieces" has ended to exist...

"Cinder" is the start of The Lunar Chronicles, which has an interesting theme. Each of the four books introduce a new character (in this book, it's Cinder) which is based on a character of a fairy tale. Cinder is based on Cinderella. If you read the book, it'll be nice to find out that there are some similarities between the fairy tale and the book itself. Except, this is set in a dystopian world of course. However, if you don't/didn't like fairy tales, you still must read the book. Because it is very good.

"Scarlet" introduces Scarlet Benoit, based on Little Red Riding Hood. This book is divided into more or less three different sections. First of all, we follow the adventures of Scar (mostly together with Wolf). The second part sees Cinder, together with Captain Thorne, travelling to Europe. (These two parts will eventually get mixed into each other.) And then there are some chapters who focus on emperor Kai, who struggles to find the line between what is right and wrong, what is a lie and what isn't. I read this book in four hours. That means it is a very good book.

"Eoin Colfer". It is almost a new noun. People who read the Artemis Fowl series, Airman and other books written by him, know by now that he has a special way of writing. This has the characteristics of rather sarcastic humour, a he-narrator who, at some exiting point, starts a long explanation which you can only partly understand. This is probably why Colfer must be one the most known writers of this century! If you read other books by him, then you must certainly try "The Reluctant Assassin", the first book in W.A.R.P., which stands for 'Witness Anonymous Relocation Programme'. According to the female protagonist, the CIA probably put the 'Anonymous' in it because [quote by Chevie Savano] 'otherwise they would have WRP and what kind of acronym would that be?' (See what I mean with his way of writing? That way!) If you haven't read any books by Colfer, then this is the time to start with it. If you read other books by Colfer, then you'll notice that he has put in some things from other books. There is a street named Half Moon Street, which comes from the book "Half Moon Investigations" and some people might remember Otto Malarkey and Little Saltee from "Airman". At this time, there have been no mentions of Artemis Fowl, but, well, it's a series about time-travel, so maybe that's for another book in the series. This book is yet another one masterly written! Read it! You won't regret it!

After reading "Throne of Glass", I was afraid - terrified - to read its successor, "Crown of Midnight". I thought it would be near impossible for Maas to write a sequel which could be as fantastic as the first book. I was wrong. I can tell that "Crown of Midnight" is one of the best books I've ever read. It contains all the elements to make it unique: a daring, humouristic, young, intelligent, arrogant,... heroin, romance, magic, conspiracy and some violence. It's unbelievable how an author can write such a book. There isn't a single thing which isn't really good. One of my all-time favourites!

"Innocent Darkness"! The first book in "The Aether Chronicles"! Just... Just look at the cover and you're floating somewhere - probably where your wildest dreams are set. I LOVE steampunk. Unfortunately, it's a subject that you don't often come across. This book combines steampunk and faeries. I think that's unique, and it's the thing that makes this book special. The only thing which I thought was negative, was in the second half of the book. In that part, there were some things which were just a little too predictable. However, it doesn't really affect the story and there are still enough surprises lukring around the corners. I'll be reading the next book. If you like steampunk and/or faeries, you should read these books as well.

It's no secret that "Throne of Glass" must be my favourite series EVER. So "The Assassin's Blade" could not be bad. And it isn't. This book contains five novellas, all set before the beginning of "Throne of Glass" itself. The first story ("The Assassin and the Pirate Lord") starts about a year before, is then followed by "The Assassin and the Healer" (which is shorter than the other four, due to the fact it was originally a UK World Book Day Novella), then comes "The Assassin and the Desert", "The Underworld" and, finally, "The Empire". Those five stories in fact tell how Celaena found her way to the Salt Mines of Endovier, where we find her at the beginning of the first book. The story explains a lot of strange remarks, notes and thoughts you get from Celaena. If you have read the books in the main series, this is a must-read. And if you haven't, it's still a must-read.

"The Hangman's Revolution". Well, shame they changed the cover a bit. Apart from that - it's just Colfer. Like when, in Steampunk groups (because W.A.R.P. is part Steampunk) you say 'Vernian' when you're talking about Jules Verne, or 'Edisonades' when it's about books featuring Thomas Edison, you can say this is 'Colferian' or something like that. It's very simple - if you liked the first book, you'll like the second one too.

Tamora Pierce said that 'Celaena Sardothien is as much an epic hero as Frodo or Jon Snow'. I believe she is absolutely right. "Heir of Fire" is about 150 pages longer than its predecessors and readers will love it. So much happens - for everyone. Maas makes you sit at the edge of your chair. It is unbelievable that anyone is able to write such a flawless book. I'd rate it 6/5, but of course that's impossible. I can't wait to read the sequels and Maas's other series. If you ask me, "Throne of Glass" really is the best series ever written.

After ten books, the "Camp Half-Blood Series" stops. We've had five "Percy Jackson ..." books and now, the fifth and final "Heroes of Olympus", "The Blood of Olympus" has been released. It's been a long way. This book sees the end of the Greek and Roman demigods and it's rather climactic. Riordan really is the 'myth master', as he called on the English covers. He's done a great job. Just read this book and the entire series. Starting with "The Lightning Thief", Riordan has made a book series of about 5300 pages, counting those of the spin-off books and the Jackson-Chase/Kane e-novellas as well. It's been an awesome journey. Well done, 'Uncle Rick'. Now, on to "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard".

I was really excited to read "Banished", the first book about Kit Blackhart. (Who knew the name 'Kit' could be used for a girl?) She seemed very interesting to me. I have to say I normally don't read books with werewolves in them, but, well ... I just had to make an exception. I wasn't mistaken. "Banished" is an amazingly good book. It made me think about another book which had kind of the same theme (I can't remember the other one now), but this is much better!

"Vowed" continues the story that started in "Banished" a few months earlier, featuring Kit Blackhart. With almost 500 pages - about 100 more than the first book - a lot happens in this novel and everything is just as magical as what happened before. The only teeny tiny negative remark I can think of, is that De Jager sometimes ends and starts her chapters at annoying points in the story, like in the middle of a conversation. To me, that works a bit confusing at times.