The Saint of Dragons

The Saint of Dragons by Jason Hightman

I had one of my reviewers take this home over the summer, when she returned it to me, she commented that she had to fight with other members of her family as they all wanted to be first to read it. I think she won but I bet the others were sneaking a peak when she set it down. So if that's not enough of a reason for me to be taking it home before library classes start I don't know what is. So I took it home with me tonight and am already on page 60, and so far I love how it's started.

Here's the write up from the back cover.

You've been taught to believe they are dead. Figments of an ancient imagination. but one lonely schoolboy is about to have a rude awakening. Dragons are real. And they have... evolved.

Simon St. George has been living at the Lighthouse School since he was two years old, so it comes as a bit of a surprise when suddenly two men show up, both claiming to be his father. It's an even bigger shock to discover that he's actually descended from Saint George - dragon killer and all-round knight in shining armour - and that he's expected to carry on the family business.

In a moment, Simon is swept away from his lonely, predictable life, and thrown into the jaws of an adventure that threatens to swallow him whole. For dragons are alive, evil, and could be causing trouble in your neighbourhood this very day...

Read On

The Conspiracy of Kings

The Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

Sophos, under the guidance of yet another tutor, practices his swordplay and strategizes escape scenarios should his father's villa come under attack. How would he save his mother? His sisters? Himself? Could he reach the horses in time? Where would he go? But nothing prepares hime for the day armed men, silent as thieves, swarm the villa courtyard ready to kill, to capture, to kidnap. Sophos, the heir tot he throne of Sounis, disappears without a trace.

In Attolia, Eugenides, the new and unlikely king, has never stopped wondering what happened to Sophos. Nor has the Queen of Eddis. They send spies. They pay informants. They appeal to the gods. But as time goes by, it becomes less and less certain that they will ever see their friend alive again.

Across the small peninsula battles are fought, bribes are offered, and conspiracies are set in motion. Darkening the horizon, the Mede Empire threatens, always, from across the sea. And Sophos, anonymous and alone, bides his time. Sophos, drawing on his memories of Gen, Pol, the magus - and Eddis- sets out on an adventure that will all of their lives forever.

It had been awhile since I had read the other books in this series, so for a while I stumbled around with the characters and plot, but eventually got pulled in. Who to trust? Such a great question and it has played so heavily in both this book and Mockingjay. Who can you believe? Do you go with your gut or second guess the guesser? If I haven't yet turned you on to this series now is a great time to start - it begins with The Thief.

Here's the trailer.

Here's the trailer for The Thief.

Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Against the odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she has made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this trilling final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. (from the inside cover.)

This is a hard one to blog about, I'm feeling overwhelmed! WOW what a rollercoaster ride. I feel like if I write anything it will be giving you a spoiler. It's taken me days to digest this book. It's dark, it's brutal, it's a bit gory but then so is war.

Fellow blogger Kathy Mahoney has written a terrific summary without giving anything away.--

It started as a game. It turned into a battle. In the wake of the spectacular failure of the Quarter Quell to crush the growing dissent amoung the citizen of Panem, The Capitol has declared open war on the Districts....

to check out the rest of her blog post visit: hiplibrariansbookblog.blog-city.com

Here's the trailer.