Thirst for Fiction

Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen- and everyone is pointing their fingers at Poseidon, Lord of the Oceans. If the bolt is not returned by the summer solstice, then Zeus will begin a war that will surely destroy the gods and humanity as we know it. And Percy Jackson is caught right in the middle of it; the son of one of the gods. Percy must find the bolt and return it, before all life is destroyed...

I've been wanting to read Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief for some time now, but I always had 'better' things to read. Now, after I'd seen the film adaptation, I was deeply enthralled. Although the the film in itself wasn't great, it had teased me enough to want to read the full novel.

It's an intresting concept; making the Greek gods alive and kicking in the modern day. And it's one that Rick Riordan has pulled of nicely. The idea if the gods coming down from Olympus and having kids with immortals is fascinating, and I love the way he did it: that the strengths and weaknesses of the demigod follow suit to that of the parent god, how they have inherited powers etc. It gives a nice touch and intresting relationship between the demigods....

Sadly, there are also a lot of parralels with Harry Potter. Surprisingly many, in fact. It's a shame, really, and although I noticed these simalarities, I wasn't overly bothered by them; the setting is quite different, and the whole Greek gods concept manages to pull you away from these common ideas. I don't think it will bother many people; after all, it is a winning formula, and it works effortlessly in the setting given. But for some, it may become a distraction, and you may not enjoy the book as much as others have done.

One of the most obvious common ideas in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief are the main characters. Yes- two boys and a girl, all about the same age, with Percy Jackson being the one who it all spins around. I can't say that these characters were great; I felt that they sometimes lacked some emotion (this is most evident in the fact that Percy doesn't show much sadness at the loss of his mother) and Percy's anger came accross as a bit half hearted sometimes. They're no great characters, but they work with the story, and I think that's what counts, and it's still entertaining to read about them.

I did enjoy how Percy Jackson was written, though. The first person perspective is quite neat, and I thought it worked quite well for the story. In that respect, I found the first page or so quite similar to Maximum Ride by James Patterson, although the similarities end there.

You wouldn't really think that Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief has many comedic moments, but it has quite a few, which I was surprised about. I found them quite entertaining and I particularly liked the dry humour in the chapter titles, which were always slightly mysterious and odd. Of course, I might just have a rotten sense of humour, and you might not find it funny at all, but you won't find out until you've read the book!

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief has a nice fast pace and the Greek mythology embedded into the story is entertaining yet informative, although not preachy, which was good. For older readers, Percy Jackson is probably more of a light read, although I still think you'll enjoy it, as it does have a nice concept. For younger readers, you'll enjoy every bit of it, and you'll love the action and adventure.  All in all, I really loved this read...it's entertaining, unputdownable and a great read for all ages. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, you'll love this.

Blurb

Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek God. I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. That's when things started really going wrong. Now I spend my time fighting with swords, battling monsters with my friends, and generally trying to stay alive. This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea. Can Percy find the lightning bolt before a fully-fledged war of the Gods erupts?

Details

Published:  May 2008
Pages:  384
Age: 9+

John Cleaver is a sociopath and a mortician. And he's enthralled by death and all that surrounds it. Mr Monster -his dark side- wants to mutilate and disfigure those around him. John wants to be peaceful and normal, like everyone else. But ever since he murdered the Clayton Killer- the serial killer that caused much pain in Clayton-John is finding it harder and harder to control his dark side. And now he knows he can't go on like this forever...

I've never really been a fan of horror stories; pointless killing and torture never thrilled me. It seemed like such a feeble excuse to right a book or shoot a film. In fact, I was quite against it, especially the books which were aimed at younger audiences (10-13ish).

That was, until I received Mr Monster.  Having never really enjoyed the horror genre, I was a bit wary when my review copy came through the door. I read the blurb and the letter from the publishers, and I was intrigued by the concept of a guy murdering to stop other killers. I was also interested in how Dan Wells portrays the internal conflict of John Cleaver- the protagonist, so to speak. I'm glad a picked it up, though. It has probably been one of the most tense and thrilling books I have read in a while. It's a shame I never heard about the previous book I Am Not a Serial Killer.

What I really enjoyed about Mr Monster is the tensions within himself- the lust for control, and his will not to want to hurt people. They are both very powerful and contrasting feelings, and it's great how Dan Wells has managed to combine them together so well. They make John's character infinitely more thrilling, deep and odd. John is such an amazing character to read about- highly unpredictable and disturbing, and yet I felt a strong bond to him from the very beginning, and a sympathised with him. He truly is an amazing character, the likeness of which I have not seen many of.

The story is just as good. The climax is fast paced, tense and highly exhilarating. I had no idea what was going to happen, due to the spontaneous nature of John Cleaver... The complexity of the plot kept me gripped until the end, and it's nice to read something fresh and down to earth after a line of strong fantasy novels.

Dan Wells' writing style is perfect for this genre; witty at times, it has a nice flow to it, and Wells manages to portray the action wonderfully. The descriptions are vivid and easy to imagine... While reading it I could visualise every detail. No doubt, Mr Monster would make a great film, too!

It's disturbing. Gruesome. Gory.  And yet, it is also strangely thrilling and extremely entertaining. I read it in one go- interrupted only by the need for sleep...and I love it, and I'm pretty sure that plenty others will too. I will certainly recommend this to my friends, and I can see it becoming popular... This will be a book that will be enjoyed by many otherwise non-reading boys, no doubt.

Mr Monster is witty at times, very tense, gruesome, action packed and a joy to read. But this is not for the faint of heart! The bloody descriptions are disturbing and dark, and really quite gory. So don't go running home and saying that I didn't warn you...

Mr Monster Review was written by Rhys for ThirsforFiction.

Blurb

From the author of I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER...

John Wayne Cleaver has always known he has a dark side but he’s fought hard to oppress it and live a normal life – separating John from Mr Monster to survive. But after confronting and destroying the vicious killer that was terrorizing his town, his inner monster is getting stronger and harder to contain.

And now more bodies are being discovered...

With the police failing to catch Clayton County’s second serial killer John is going to have to use his secret knowledge of the first demon-killer to trap the second...but will he be able to avoid suspicion falling on him, and, in the face of extreme horrors, will he be able to restrain Mr Monster?

Details

Published:  March 2010 by Headline
Pages:  288
Age: 14+ (It's quite gory...)

In a world where cities have wheels and eat each other, prey is running out. Sooner or later, London will have to starve, and become static once more. But the Lord Mayor has over plans. With an ancient weapon garnered from the Sixty Minute war that happend a long way back, Crome hopes to reinstall London as the greatest city in the world. Only the Anti-Traction League stands in his way, and Tom must decide which side he is fighting for.

I remember when I first read Mortal Engines, two and a half years ago. It was part of a term long English project, and we were reading it in class, every lesson another chapter or so. I distinctly remember always reading ahead, excited about what was happening in what Phillip Reeve always refers to as the WOME: the World of Mortal Engines.

Picking Mortal Engines up again was an intresting thing. I'd forgotten a lot of what happened, especially towards the end of the book, but some scenes were still clear in my head. Among these was the opening paragraph*. I love the way how Phillip Reeve introduced us to London first, rather than any of the characters. This first paragraph seems to establish all the things we need to know about the WOME, and yet manages to do it in an intresting and strangely artistic way...I could always picture London speeding on, through the classic British weather described... The first line alone seems oddly captivating, seemingly managing to show us what Mortal Engines is about; in some ways, it can be described as a mission statement for the whole book. It is one of the greatest opening lines I have read in modern fantasy/sci-fi/steampunk.

Throughout the rest of the book, Phillip Reeve manages to continue the intriguing start, with the same style of writing; vivid descriptions which are intresting to read but doesn't slow any of the story down. The powerful narrative manages to keep the climactic scenes tense and moving, and the tender moments innocent and loving, and the lovely delicate romances seem far more natural and beautiful than many other books, especially as the romance is rather different to the classic Hollywood setup, and not cliché in any sense!

The descriptive narrative of Reeve seems also to make Mortal Engines realistic and very believable... Phillip Reeve manages to give explanations, and the historically factor of the WOME just adds to this realism. The world in which Hester and Tom live in seems quite feasable, and the world building of The WOME is very complete; it seems there is no half heartedness about it.

Most if not all of the characters are wonderfully developed, including those who are not see a lot (the characters of Pomeroy and Anna Fang come to mind). Hester is a very intriguing character, and it is thrilling to read about her motivations and how she acts. Shrike, also, is quite odd... It's very hard to describe, but if you've read Mortal Engines you'll understand what I am saying... He's a fascinating person, if I can call him that, and he too has some oddly hypocritical motivations.

I've read numerous reviews by people mentioning the lack of emotions displayed by Tom's character. I think this is certainly true throughout the beginning, but towards the end, this seems to fade, particularly in the final chapters. I didn't really mind it, anyway; the sheer amount of other great characters soon makes up for this slight flaw, and even then, Tom is still an above mediocre character.

Older readers will also see some of the underlying themes, which, when I read it at age 11/2, I did not see, but now at 14, I do. The theme seems to question the convention of heroism and beauty; How far should you go to be a hero? Mortal Engines brings these questions up in a very subdued, mysterious way, which is in no way preachy or moralistic. I think this is one of the factors that makes it so appealing to adults also; not only the facinating plot, characters and world they live in, but also this underlying moral questioning.

I've seen Reeve's writing compared quite a lit with Pullman's, and Both Mortal Engines and Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials have similar elements of being set in a steam punk world...but the similarities end there. Both are critically acclaimed; but it seems that Mortal Engines is not as famous as His Dark Materials, which is a shame, because it is just as good, if not better. So if you enjoyed Northern Lights, then you'll certainly enjoy Mortal Engines.

Even if you're way in your twenties, thirties, forties and fiftys, you are sure to live this enthralling fantasy come steampunk book. It's a great page turner, and every sentence adds something to the book. I highly recommend it to everyone.

*The opening line: "It was a dark, blustery afternoon in spring, and the city of London was chasing a small mining town across the dried-out bed of the old North Sea."

Mortal Engines (Mortal Engines Quadrilogy) Review was written by Rhys for ThirsforFiction.

Blurb

MORTAL ENGINES launched Philip Reeve's brilliantly-imagined creation, the world of the Traction Era, where mobile cities fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic future.The first instalment intrduces young apprentice Tom Natsworthy and the murderous Hester Shaw flung from the fast-moving city of London into heart-stopping adventures in the wastelands of the Great Hunting Ground. Repackaged with a stunning double cover and eye-catching new brand look that features the famous recycled 'Old-Tech' of Reeve's fantastic world

Details

Published:  2002
Pages:  304
Age: 13+, although younger readers would enjoy it, although perhaps not understand/see the underlying themes

Arthur Penhaligon has been unknowingly chosen as the Heir to the Kingdom. He must undo Millennia of meddling that has occurred in the Second Realms ever since the Architect left- and it seems not many are on his side. Infact, only three others are; the first part if the Will of the Architect; Suzy, a young girl; and another. But can he be trusted? He has served with the enemy for many a year, but where does his true allegiance lie? With ever growing pressure, can Arthur manage the task he has been endowed with?

Mister Monday is the first in Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series, and it certainly makes for a thrilling and magical read. Garth Nix continues captivate us with his breathtaking imagination and story-creation skills.

When you first start reading Mister Monday, I, most definitely, was intrigued about the concepts that Nix has described in the prologue. The mystic of it all seems to want to make you read further, and discover what it is all about.

Sadly, Chapter One does not seem to follow the mysticality of the prologue; it introduces us into our main character, Arthur Penhaligon, and the asthmatic problems he is plagued by. It is a rather weak attempt at introducing us into the life of Arthur, and after the high intensity of the prologue, I didn't really want to know about this 14 year old.

The following chapters are similarly bland: not much happens that builds our knowledge of this mysterious Will mentioned, and we are left with the mediocre story of Arthur's escapades in his new school.

That is, until about 100 pages in, when everything changes. This is what Garth Nix does best; creating odd fantasy realms that are detailed in every way. The mysteria of the prologue thickens, and this is where enjoyment starts; the ingenuity of the House and all that is inside shines through, and the imagination is truly astounding. Nix's ideas are quite amazing, and it is a pleasure to discover how this fantasy world works. I'd also like to praise the way Garth Nix has made the concept entirely feasible; the way the House and our world (the Secondary Realms) intertwine is believable, and for that, The Keys to the Kingdom is perhaps the best book in combining fantasy with reality.

Sadly, that cannot be said about the characters; I failed to establish a bond with Arthur early on; he seems quite two dimensional at the start (this does improve towards the end, though), and the dialogue seems unrealistic and forced. There also seems to be a lack of expression of emotions in Arthur, and when they are shown they are vague at best. Other characters, too, seem a bit flat. Mister Monday seems to be a normal villain; no ingenuity seems to be spent developing him. My favourite character is probably Suzy, and although she is far from perfect, I connected far better with her than Arthur.

Arthur's asthma seems to me to be thrown in rather hurriedly, as if Nix was intent on giving him a weakness. It doesn't really add a lot to the main story arc, and the only thing it seems to be there for is to have a viable way of making Arthur the main character. Arthur's will to find a cure for the Sleepy Plague seems also to be half-hearted; we don't see it a lot, and when we do, it doesn't feel natural or believable.

It's a shame Nix didn't invest as much time making the characters and the dialogue three dimensional as he did with the concept of the series. Had he spent more time, Mister Monday truly would have been a great book. But what I love about Mister Monday is the dark, secret and mysterious plot and opening. Garth Nix has created a strong conceptual foundation for the seven part series, and I think character development will only go uphill from here. So, although there are a few negatives, it is, all in all, a great read, that incorporates a fast-paced plot, a sinister concept and some clever ideas.

Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom) Review was written by Rhys for ThirsforFiction.

Blurb

Breathtaking new magical adventure series from the author of Sabriel. Seven days. Seven keys. Seven virtues. Seven sins. One mysterious house is the doorway to a very mysterious world -- where one boy is about to venture and unlock a number of fantastical secrets. Arthur Penhaligon is not supposed to be a hero. He is supposed to die an early death. But then his life is saved by a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. Arthur is safe -- but his world is not. Along with the key comes a plague brought by bizarre creatures from another realm. A stranger named Mister Monday, his avenging messengers with bloodstained wings, and an army of dog-faced Fetchers will stop at nothing to get the key back -- even if it means destroying Arthur and everything around him. Desperate, Arthur escapes to the mysterious house that has appeared in town -- a house that only he can see. Maybe there he can unravel the secrets of the key -- and discover his true fate.

Details

Published:  1st July 2003
Pages:  448
Age: 12+