Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Teen (Adults might find boring/repetitive to other stories), minor language, a kiss or two
Length: 416 pages
Author: Sara Raasch
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: October 14th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

NOT TOO SHABBY.

I listened to this on audio during my runs and it kept me interested enough to ignore how long I needed to run that day. Lots of magic and adventure involved!

It’s really easy to get the ‘main’ plot twist early on, but it doesn’t take away from the overall book. This book follows most fantasy YA novels with the story line, so nothing too new here.

There is a love triangle (and if you’re like me, you generally stay far away from them). This one wasn’t bothersome for me to stop listening. I can’t decide which guy I like better for Meira so I’ll see how book 2 goes.

Some dragging themes do occur, having to learn the history of Winter and the other nations, people being captured, etc. Raasch focuses too much on some of the side stories that either haven’t resolved (which could be why there’s so much focus), or truly are there for no good reason.

While nothing that special stands out, it’s still a good, quick read if you’re looking for something simple (and that has a cute love component).

They’re some fight scenes that are a touch gory. No major love scenes (two characters kiss once) so it’s appropriate for most ages.

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Teen+, no language, some fight scenes, no love scenes
Length: 280 pages
Author: Megan Whalen Turner
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: October 31st, 1996
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

TOUGH TO GET THROUGH.

Oh goodness, I had been warned that this book was tough to get through, but necessary to the rest of the series, and that is SO true.

I spent most of it speed reading through to conversations just to understand the story. The book tells the story of the Thief, Gen, going with the Sounis to find a stone said to give immortality to its holder.

While I enjoyed the back story of the formation of the world by the Gods (Earth & Sky), besides that I could barely hold on. Most of the time it’s the group moving through the country trying to get to the fabled Temple.

Once there, the story does begin to pick-up as real action descends. Fighting rebel armies, ending up back in prison, and a solid twist round out the conclusion.

I believe that this book will set-up the rest of the series well (and I’ve heard great things about the rest of her books).

If you’re interested in reading this series, I would still recommend reading this book.

The Thief is appropriate for all ages. I don’t recall any language, and there’s literally 3 women in the entire book who speak (maybe 15 lines?) so no love involved either, haha. They’re some fight scenes, but gore is minimal.