Brighid’s Quest (Parthalon #3) by P.C.Cast

Brighid’s Quest (Parthalon #3)
by P.C.Cast
Published by Harlequin Teen
Paperback, 512 Pages

Synopsis from the Author's Website:

Fleeing her centaur clan's increasingly militant beliefs, Brighid Dhianna has begun to find peace and acceptance among the humans of Clan MacCallan. Still, she agrees to leave her newly formed friendships to guide her clan chieftain's grieving brother home. As she journeys, Brighid discovers that the long-dormant Shaman blood that runs so thickly in her veins will no longer be silenced. As seductive new powers begin to beckon, Brighid glimpses a future that is more impossible -- and more magical -- than any she could have dared to imagine.

But when tragedy summons her back to the Centaur Plains, Brighid must make a decision that will affect not only her friendship with the humans, but the centaur herd and indeed the world. For the Great Goddess Epona has set her on a new path that demands everything she has to give.

When the whole world is turning to her for help, healing the heart of a warrior doesn't sound so daunting . . .

This is a coming of age book and has a lot of things woven together. After seeing Elphame's concern for her brother who has gone to bring back the New Formaorians to Clan McCallan; Brighid decides to put her clan's chief's heart at peace and takes up the journey to find Cu and aid him in bringing the New Formorians back! But what Brighid does not expect is her struggle with her own powers, finding love and finding her destiny...this journey will change what Brighid Dianna stood for and will stand for, for time to come.

The land is still shrouded in darkness, but the sky had begun to blush in anticipation of the sun...

- Brighid's Quest

Brighid's Quest is the 3rd book in the Young Adult Parthalon Books by P.C. Cast! I had no clue when I selected this book from NetGalley that it was part of a series. I felt sorry I had not read the 1st 2 books because I have come to LOVE Cast's writing. It is so beautiful and vivid! When this book started, I really was a bit confused as I had no clue what was happening. But 10 pages into it and I was reading non-stop. This book is addictive in a way, I cannot explain. I loved Brighid, Cu and Elphame! I love the world that Cast has so beautifully crafted.
I LOVE her lyrical writing... I know I am saying it again... but I think I cannot express my love for this book enough.


Dwelling on tragedy makes grief become like a dipping icicle that begins as a small, harmless silver of coldness. But slowly, as winter of mourning progresses, layer after dripping layer hardens into an unbreakable dagger of pain. 
- pg. 67


The connection between dawn and sunset was like a coin with 2 faces. Alike, yet seperate. Similar, yet not the same. There was a simplicity and rightness to thinking of the two as reflections of one another... beginning and ending... and then beginning again...just another part of the great circle of life.
- pg. 271


Some things in life can't be placed tidly on sides of good or evil. We are often in the midst of a balancing act, where the scales are hopefully tipped toward the good and away from the evil. But sometimes evil wears the face of friends and family. And good looks like the outlander."
- pg. 288

You know that prejudice is not logical, which is why it is so hard to overcome."

Just like a coming-of-age novel, this one is predictable. I mean you know what is going to happen, but how and what all really happens - you have to read the book to really find out! On a side-note, I do not like the cover at all :(

I am waiting to get a chance to read all the books in this series. And I recommend this book HIGHLY!

I hope you guys give this series and this author's other books a try!

Check out the author site - P.C. Cast site

Thanks to Harlequin Teen and to NetGalley for my copy of this eBook!

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

Past Midnight by Mara Punrhagen

Past Midnight
by Mara Purnhagen
Publishing on September 1st 2010 by Harlequin
Paperback, 208 pages

With parents who have their own popular ghost-debunking TV show, it's hard for new girl Charlotte Silver to keep a low profile, especially when her parents' work follows her to high school in the form of two angry ghosts.

Charlotte Silver wants to live like a normal person, spend her senior year in one school and go around with normal people - well is this too much to ask for? Not for a normal person like you and me but for Charlotte, whose parents make their living by going to haunted places just to prove that they are not haunted this was a bit difficult. Once people found out about her celebrity status, she and her family were considered more of "ghost-busters" than ghost-debunkers. But when her family moves to Charleston and decides to be there for sometime, Charlotte starts to believe that there nomadic life would come to a temporary end after all. But all changes when she is to her brand new house, by 2 very angry, impatient ghosts, uhh no, not ghosts but "balls of energies" - as her parents like to call them. What follows is a quest to help them find what they are seeking through her.

I totally enjoyed Past Midnight. At 200 pages, it was fast, thrilling and I was anxious to know what was about to happen. It was slightly predictable but I am one of those who believes that the ride is what matters and not the destination. This novel is not just about real ghosts but also about facing our ghosts as well. It is about facing about facing your problem head on, I loved that. I loved the fact in the end Charlotte came to accept that she was never going to be normal, and she was happy about it. I loved how Charlotte evolved in this novel and I am looking forward to reading the whole series :)

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

The Song of the Whales by Uri Orlev

The Song of Whales 
by Uri Orlev, Hillel Halkin (Translator)
Publishing on April 12th, 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Hardcover, 128 pages 

From GoodReads.com,

Michael’s grandfather has a secret—a secret that’s almost too strange to share . . .

When Michael moves to Israel, he leaves loneliness behind and steps into the light of his grandfather’s magic. Like a sorcerer’s apprentice, Michael learns how to blur the lines between dreams and reality when his grandfather hands down the most precious of gifts—a gift that allows Michael passage into his grandfather’s dreams.

Written with a quiet simplicity that wins the reader over at once Uri Orlev writes in a style so sure and yet so unassuming that it is certain to linger in reader’s minds long after turning the last page.

My Thoughts

It is not always that you get to read about dreams. And this little book for kids does just that. This book is about Michael or Mikha'el (Mee-kha-EL - that's how his name was pronounced in Israel) who has to move to Jerusalem from Washington because his parents want to be near his old Grandpa. Michael is not like kids his age, he doesn't have friends his age and mingles well with grown - ups and likes to help them with there work. His parents who are always busy with work have little to no time for him. He is worried about the move, but soon comes to like the new place and his Grandpa too.  His Grandpa becomes his only and best friend and loves his house as well. But his Grandpa has a secret, he can take anyone into his dreams! And he takes Michael with him into his dreams as well. From them on, every now and them Michael and his Grandpa have fun adventures in his Grandpa's dream. They both enjoy it immensely and slowly Michael comes to understand and adore his Grandpa more than anyone!

More than anything, it is the simplicity with which this story is told that tugs at your heart. The importance of dreams and the need to "repair" the sad and bad ones is beautifully brought about. To put in a little sweetness in to a sad dream, or to mix in a bit of hope into it... that we have the power to change the dreams... is beautifully portrayed in this small story.

There is something very nice and sweet about this story and my review, I am sure, does not do it justice it deserves. But I would definitely want to get hold of the book and read it to my kid someday. I like to believe that this will definitely be something that we will both enjoy. 

Highly recommended for kids and older kids like me ;-).
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book. 

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

Hannah's List By Debbie Macomber

Hannah's List

By Debbie Macomber

Publishing on April 27th 2010 by Mira

Hardcover, 400 pages

From GoodReads.com, 

Make time for friends. Make time for Debbie Macomber. On the anniversary of his beloved wife's death, Dr. Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him. In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request. An impossible request: I want you to marry again. She tells him he shouldn't spend the years he has left grieving her. And to that end she's chosen three women she asks him to consider. First on Hannah's list is Winter Adams, a trained chef who owns a cafe on Seattle's Blossom Street. The second is Leanne Lancaster, Hannah's oncology nurse. Michael knows them both. But the third name is one he's not familiar with - Macy Roth. Each of these three women has her own heartache, her own private grief. During the months that follow, he spends time with Winter, Leanne and Macy, learning more about each of them...and about himself. 

My Thoughts: This book traces the life of a 40 something Pediatrician, Michael who has lost his beloved wife, Hannah of 11 years and whom he loved immensely. Even after an year, he is still sad, broken from inside and not ready to accept her non-existence. He accepts the fact that she is dead, but it is not ready to let go. Hannah's brother and Michael's best friend hands him a letter from Hannah. Hannah had asked Ritchie to wait an year and then give this letter to Michael. In the letter, Hannah asks Michael to move on with his life and goes as far as listing 3 probable women he could date. Knowing him, she is sure he needs this help more than anyone else. And thus Michael to honor Hannah's last wish meets and spends time with the 3 women.

Michael is a guarded and stubborn person who is not ready to let go of the grief that he has in his heart because of the loss of his wife. He holds on to it and his past and is not ready to acknowledge the fact that it is futile. He feels that if he was happy again, he would be guilty. All through, Hannah just wants him to let go of her and remember their times together as beautiful and just move on. She wants him to let go off of his guilt and walk towards happiness.

I definitely thought this was a slow read in the beginning but on the entry of the 3 women and there individual stories it suddenly became interesting and a great read. Of course it is a bit predictable but I really liked all the 3 women. There individual relationship problems, were lessons from which I learned a lot. Of course, Macy is a favorite and her quirkiness is her charm and it is a great experience seeing Michael winning over his emotional struggle and feeling happy. 

All in all, it was a nice, fluffy and cozy read. I am sure it will put a smile on anyone's face and you get to learn a thing or two about relationships as well. Recommended.

                       

On a side note, I don't like that cover but it is relevant to the books plot :)

Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy.

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

The Clearing By Heather Davis

The Clearing

By Heather Davis

Publishing on April 12th 2010 by Graphia

Paperback, 336 pages 

Synopsis - 

Amy, a sixteen-year-old recovering from an abusive relationship, moves to the country to start a new life with her aunt–all she wants is for everything to be different. In the clearing at the back of Aunt Mae’s property, she makes an amazing discovery—Henry, a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. Henry and his world become Amy’s refuge and she begins to learn that some moments are worth savoring. But when the past and present come crashing together, both of them must find the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.

The synopsis gives you an exact picture of what this story is all about. Amy, who has been stuck in an abusive relationship moves to the country where her loving Aunt Mae lives... she basically runs away from her previous life to start afresh and to find herself and hopes things will be different. But as she realizes in due course, nothing could be different if one is not ready to be different. On one of the walks in her Aunt's backyard, she chances to find a clearing and on crossing it... she finds herself in a beautiful settings on 1940s and a family who is stuck in time, they are still living in the year 1944. She becomes friends with the boy in that clearing and starts visiting them every now and then. As there friendship blossoms into something more, both realize what they need to do to move forward in life. 

The writing is beautiful, it is lyrical and it is so nice to see words of love, friendship all woven so beautifully together. This novel apart from dealing with love, also deals with various issues in a young teens life - the choices that they make and the role of a parent in helping them out in the time of crisis. It explores the relationships between parent and child and the need of communication in life. It discusses abusive relationship and what keeps one hanging on to it even when it hurts and they know it is in vain. It teaches us that there was no point in fretting over tomorrow and that it has to come and that we need to accept what life holds for us now and then. And finally I got to read a novel on time travel and I loved it. 

My only qualm with this one was the ending, I did not expect it and it did not thrill but I felt some how happy for Amy, for her Aunt Mae and sad for Henry Briggs. I have come to accept the fact that it had to be like this!

"The physical things get more difficult when you are old like me, and the emotional things are hard when you're young like you.  I remember when I was your age, everything seemed like a crisis - everything was so big. Things happened that I thought I'd never get over."
- pg. 121

My dear, time is the one thing you should pay attention to. One day, you'll find there's never enough of it.
- pg 62.

For its writing, it's superb dealing with so many issues and things... I recommend it wholeheartedly!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the review copy

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster