The Thief

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Gen is a remarkable thief. Although in prison at the beginning of the book, he is soon released on orders from the King into the hands of the magus. The condition of his release is that he is to accompany the magus and his group on an expedition to steal the famous Hamiathes's Gift Stone, which is hidden in a magical maze under a river. If he succeeds he will have a reward, if not he dies. The likable Gen's adventure is filled with action and intrigue right to the unpredictable end. Both boys and girls will find this an interesting read.



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The Clockwork Three

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Clockwork Three is an engaging story about Hannah, Frederick, and Giuseppe. The book begins with three separate stories about the characters: Frederick,the apprentice clockmaker, Hannah, a maid who is working to help care for her ailing father, and Giuseppe, a street orphan, who plays his violin on the street and pays his proceeds to Stephano, his evil caretaker. There doesn't seem to be any relationship between the stories or the characters in the beginning, but Kirby craftily weaves the three stories together. As the stories intertwine,the characters find they need each other to help solve their individual problems. The story has a stronger beginning than end, but it is still an enjoyable read.

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Paranormalcy

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Evie can't remember much before becoming the foster child of Rachel, the head of the International Paranormal Containment Agency (ICPA). Evie has unique abilities she uses to help the ICPA. She is able to see through the glamours of paranormals such as vampires and werewolves. Her job is to use this gift to capture and bring the paranormals back to ICPA for cataloging and neutering. Armed with her pink taser (Tasey), she is good at what she does until Lend, an unidentified paranormal ends up in a cell at IPCA. Lend is a shape-shifter, who has come to find answers to what is going on at the ICPA. Evie falls in love with Lend. She is attracted not to his many glamours, but to the boy inside. Both find the acceptance they haven't found from anyone before. They also uncover the person behind a sinister attack on all paranormals. The book is an enjoyable blend of normal teenage angst and the supernatural. Middle school students and above should find this a fun read.



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