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Post by julietmontague on Jul 25, 2008 19:08:33 GMT -5
^It's really that they're both an author's taking well-known aspects of fantasy and the supernatural and making them their own, unique and original in the way most authors aren't able to achieve. Realms, magical orders, vampires, werewolves, have all been done before, but never in the way that Libba and Stephenie were able to. I agree that the issues covered in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy are extremely more important, but it can't be denied that both are simply amazing in how they take the over-used and well-known and make it completely new, and quite exciting in a way the world hasn't seen in a century since the times of Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells, and Bran Stoker!
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Post by lucian11 on Jul 26, 2008 5:41:50 GMT -5
^^I guess I'll just drop the subject altogether cause I see nothing original about the Twilight Saga and frankly I got nothing good to say about it.
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Post by juniper on Jul 27, 2008 16:07:50 GMT -5
I've never read Twilight, and I never plan to. I'm sure I might love it if I read it, but once I heard that the vampire's 'sparkled' it, I just couldn't take it seriously.
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Post by KitKat on Aug 3, 2008 11:43:47 GMT -5
Another book to read: Inkheart and it's sequel Inkspell
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Post by lucian11 on Aug 3, 2008 17:04:19 GMT -5
Another book to read: Inkheart and it's sequel Inkspell I've heard really good thing about this series and they are making a movie too.
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Post by julietmontague on Dec 26, 2008 23:13:07 GMT -5
I just finished this one book today with a heroine similar to Gemma, and it got me thinking about other books with strong, independent, kick-ass young women who remind me of our very own Gemma that you guys might be interested in
~The Bloody Jack Adventure Series by, L.A. Meyer (1: Bloody Jack, 2: Curse of the Blue Tattoo, 3: Under the Jolly Roger, 4: In the Belly of the Bloodhound, 5: Mississippi Jack, and my favorite, 6: My Bonnie Light Horseman)
~To Catch A Pirate by, Jade Parker (the one I read today: pretty cliche, but I'm a sucker for cliches, it's really a good quick read!)
~Both Sides of Time Series (a.k.a. Time Travelers) by Caroline B. Cooney (1: Both Sides of Time, 2: Out of Time, 3: Prisoner of Time, 4: For All Time)
~Trade Wind by M.M. Kaye (my favorite author!)
~The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
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Post by juniper on Dec 28, 2008 13:27:15 GMT -5
Those sound pretty cool, juilet! I did try reading To Catch A Pirate, but found it way to fakey-pirates of the Caribbean for me. I'll check out the others though!
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Post by julietmontague on Apr 10, 2009 19:59:08 GMT -5
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Post by cindagirl14 on Apr 11, 2009 19:58:35 GMT -5
I just read the 3rd book in the Luxe series, Envy (dumb library only got the 3rd novel) and I'm starting the 1st one now. It reminds me a bit of this series, at least in the society parts. Though, to be honest, its more of a Victorian gossip girl than anything else. Has anyone else read them? I really like Envy. My favorite character is Penelope... Diana and Elizabeth annoy me to death. But of course I'm reading them out of order so I might just be that.
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Post by lucian11 on Apr 11, 2009 20:18:46 GMT -5
I've read The Summoning which is the first book in the Darkest Powers trilogy by Kelley Armstrong and really-really loved it!!! I can't wait for the second book The Awakening which is coming out April 28.
The main character, Chloe Saunders, is a 16 year old, kick-ass necromancer who lands herself in a group house, as a result of her powers kicking in at school while she knew nothing about their existance, only to find out that the rest of the residents aren't all that different. It's set in modern U.S. but it has a main character similar to Gemma with similar abilities, it is very well written, entertaining and captures the readers attention.
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Post by julietmontague on Apr 15, 2009 20:23:36 GMT -5
^Ooo, those sound so good!!
And cindagirl14, I haven't read them but a lot of my friends have and they said the same thing about them being like Gossip Girl in the Victorian Age, haha
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Post by lucian11 on Apr 16, 2009 15:50:03 GMT -5
I think all fans of the Gemma Doyle trilogy would love the Old Kingdom series (also known as the Abhorsen series in North America) by Garth Nix! Three books have already been published, Sabriel, followed by Lirael and Abhorsen, and Garth Nix has announced two additions to the series: a prequel and a "sequel of sorts to Abhorsen". While the sequel is unnamed, the prequel has the working title Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen. The books are slated to appear in 2010 and 2011
The series is set in two neighbouring fictional countries: To the south lies Ancelstierre, which has a technology level and society similar to that of early-20th century England, and to the north lies the Old Kingdom (the setting for most of the series), where magic works and dangerous spirits roam the land - a fact officially denied by the government of Ancelstierre and disbelieved by most of Ancelstierre's inhabitants.
These dangerous spirits that roam the Old Kingdom range from undead corpses known as Dead Hands to supernatural beings known as Free Magic elementals. These living Dead are raised by Necromancers, or black magicians, who roam the Old Kingdom or live in Death, using Hands to do their bidding. To remedy the problem of dangerous, living dead, there is always a sorcerer with the title of Abhorsen, who is essentially a Necromancer himself (or herself), only in the reverse; he/she puts the dead to rest.
At the time of Sabriel, the initial Abhorsen was her father, Terciel, but once he was overcome by an evil spirit, he sent his bells and sword to his daughter Sabriel, who was being raised in an Ancelstierre school, out of reach of those who might have tried to strike at her father through her.
I picked up this series recently and fell in love with it!! I also found out that according to Publishing News, Garth Nix is preparing to pitch a Sabriel film to studios. ;D
official site: www.abhorsentrilogy.com/abhorsen.html
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Post by julietmontague on Jun 10, 2009 22:57:43 GMT -5
So I've mentioned before I've never really been into pure, unadulterated chicklit sort of novels, or at least ones that seem to be (I know, I know, "don't judge a book by it's cover"--but I happen to do so in the literal sense more than I should lol) but the description of this book reminded me of West Side Story so I had to give it a chance, and am I glad I did!!!
The book is called Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles; it has strong themes like the Gemma Doyle trilogy and it's just a REALLY, really addictive read, short but satisfying (I hear Michael Scott's voice in my head yelling "that's what she said" btw) but seriously, it appears to be a high school chicklet with pom-poms and all, but it actually even mocks that kind of a book haha, it really appeals to all sorts of audiences which I think is a mark of a talented author ^_^
"When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart."
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Post by julietmontague on Jun 22, 2009 0:46:15 GMT -5
I recently read Poison Study (Book 1) and Magic Study (Book 2) and I'll soon start reading the third and final, I think, Fire Study from the Study trilogy by Maria V. Snyder and LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED it!! I really do think Gemma Doyle trilogy fans would enjoy this trilogy!! I JUST READ THE FIRST TWO! You are so right, Gemma Doyle fans will fall in love with these books ^_^ Aaaand Valek = sexiest assassin EVER. I'm off to the bookstore as soon as it opens tomorrow to get Fire Study!!!
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Post by lucian11 on Jul 5, 2009 11:44:06 GMT -5
I recently read Poison Study (Book 1) and Magic Study (Book 2) and I'll soon start reading the third and final, I think, Fire Study from the Study trilogy by Maria V. Snyder and LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED it!! I really do think Gemma Doyle trilogy fans would enjoy this trilogy!! I JUST READ THE FIRST TWO! You are so right, Gemma Doyle fans will fall in love with these books ^_^ Aaaand Valek = sexiest assassin EVER. I'm off to the bookstore as soon as it opens tomorrow to get Fire Study!!! Oh, I'm so glad you liked it ;D Usually I feel uncomfortable recommending books cause people have different tastes and what might seam great to me, you might hate
I have to admit the second and third book weren't as good as 'Poison Study' but Yelena is an unusual character with a strong personality and Valek is so imposing, mysterious and sexy. In 'Poison Study' he kept surprising me with every new chapter
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