Watership Down by Richard Adams

Watership Down by Richard Adams
Click here to buy it now!

Watership Down is one of my favorite books of all time.

I don't really know how to use emoticons, I just never really learned, I try, but alas for a person of my age, I am rather bad at it.

I should watch more soap operas and stop reading Jane Austen. that'll fix my problems.

Jk lol

Did I use that right?

Never mind, back to Watership Down.
I <3 it, very much.

It's a story about rabbits, now don't get all,
"Rabbits? Rabbits? it must be a childish childs story."
I beg to difer. though children might enjoy it.

It's a survival story. kind of a rabbit dystopia story. before dystopia stories were cool.

The story opens with Hazel and his brother Fiver, (Rabbits are bad at counting, anything over five is simply a fiver)

Fiver is counted as weird and timid, his normal brother Hazel looks out for him.

When Fiver senses something horrible will happen

he and Hazel try to warn the other rabbits in their warren

(Warren's are several burrows where rabbits live in large numbers)

Their warren, their society is ruled by a general.

What the General says, goes,

and he doesn't like what Fiver is saying.

Hazel and Fiver along with a group leave in the dead of night,
but their dangers aren't over, no, it's just the beginning

                                   They have nowhere to go, and only a hope to guide them.

They're never safe for long as they find new friends and new treacherous enemies.

There's nowhere to go except a path that is fraught with unspoken dangers.
the only constant thing for our haired friends, is danger.
Their warren, gone, destroyed and the dangers they face much, much worse.
Will they make it?


That's right, these rabbit's just got real.

-The Zebra Reader

Power of the Heir's Passion (Andy Smithson 0.5) By L.R.W Lee

Power of the Heirs Passion By L.R.W Lee
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(The Kindle edition is free!)

Power of the Heirs Passion is a short story.

On to the point, this story gives the history of WHY bad things are happening.

Imogenia dies, because her brother wanted to be king and you know... kills her.

Imogenia goes to after life where according to the story, the after life is like an,
well an airport.
At least that's how I think of it.

 You can go to the After After Life(Also how I'm describing it in this),

Unclaimed Baggage, Unfinished Business Office, Guest Services,

Employment Office or a Waiting Area.

I thought that was really funny.

Not the part where Imogenia dies, the airport like place, thing.

Okay! You know what I mean.

She decides for revenge, (though she doesn't think she does)
she wants to teach Kaysan(Her Brother) a lesson.

She must navigate the red tape to send a curse on her land.

But to what end is she willing to go until her anger is quenched?

The Zebra Reader

Game On By R. E. Rowe

Game On By R. E. Rowe

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The beginning was exciting and cool, but it got a little stuck at the half way point.

 The first half of the story felt like the beginning story arc.

At that point I was disappointed, because it was a cool story and I wanted it to be great.

 BUT then it kicked into high gear and it was really great.

So Jayden, Parker and Nora got kidnaped to fight in a intergalactic war.

They escape and rightly so.

There is a war and lives are at stake, Earth is at stake. So the group that is fighting

 to right the wrongs takes them in.

But my problem is this,
 Jayden, Parker and Nora want to lie and steal from them because it's

"not their fight" even though Earth is in danger and they can be vital to stopping this war. 

This is where I thought the story had just gotten tired.

I was having trouble because I couldn't get behind the main characters anymore,
or so I thought.

Long story short (and minus spoilers) big stuff happens and they realized

that it was kind of selfish and they jump in and save the day, many times.

Jayden is a great leader, but he doesn't quite know it yet.

In the heat of battle he just naturally takes the position, but out of battle?

He tosses that position off.
He doesn't want to be a leader (He really does, he doesn't know it yet)

but after that big WHAM he claims it 100%

It was pretty cool.

The thing that really bugged me throughout the story was that it wasn't always defined.

Something would happen, but I wasn't sure what.

 Also I wish was that some of the characters were better defined.

it was a limbo of liking and not liking them.

I had trouble telling if a character was bad or not, it was a little confusing at times

This wasn't a huge problem, if I got lost I for the most part could read a little further and

I could piece it together. 

So, Yeah. I recommend it.

It's fun and cool, some space stories can be cheesy but Game On wasn't at all.

It was an adventure for sure.

.

I give Game On, By R. E. Rowe four stars.

The Zebra Reader

Making It Home (Book One in the Time to Time Series) by Suzanne Roche

Making it Home By Suzanne Roche

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Two brothers Max and Henry and their semi resent step sister Peri are the main characters.

as you can imagine, they don't quite get along. They're all struggling in their own way.

Peri's father owns an antique shop Peri loves it, the boys do not.

After school they all meet there because, they do? it's not the most clear about why. maybe because their home is farther away and not in walking distance, so they wait to be picked up.

So sibling squabbles and then bam, they're in the past.

And they don't know exactly how to get back.

We learn that Peri has done this once before but she doesn't know how she came back the first time.

A little unlikely I think, if I went back in time, I would be freaking out. But hey, I've never been back in time so whatever.

The writing style can be a little confusing, not descriptive enough. Like it switches point of view and I don't know who's talking. but that's minor.

The farther I got into the story the more I liked it, I guess I got into the rhythm of the writing.

The beginning meanders a little and the story arch was not very prominent.

But I enjoyed it, it was a fun educational story. It had a lot of history presented in an enjoyable way.

I give Making It Home Three and a half stars. I liked it and I would recommend it.

I am interested in perusing this series.

-The Zebra Raeder

Resurrection of the Phoenix's Grace by L.R.W Lee

 "If the king was part robot and Andy's mom was part cyborg and there was time travel and an alternant universe I think it would make more sense. I'm not knocking it, just saying WHATTT?""

Resurrection of the Phoenix's Grace by L.R.W Lee
Click here to buy it now!

Cuteness, check.
 Still haven't figured out the Andy/Mom/Father/Dad/King thing, check.
More mind with ability to still be blown, check.

Okay all, it's book four, lets put on our seatbelts and prepare for the ride.
Let's go.

Things have been heating up, we have los of  "WHOOOOO!"s
 a couple "WHAAAATTTTT??????"s
a new player come in the game and old characters coming into the lime light.

SO, Andy and his sister visit their grandfather, (On their dads side) and barely miss being captured by Zolts in Andy's world. communication is cut off between Andy and his beloved land as danger approaches. The Zolts are closing in on Andy and he feels angry and abandoned. and also he kind of has a temper tantrum, but wouldn't you if you couldn't communicate with the land which you are heir to rule? I mean, don't we all feel that way?

A subject I breached in the last review was Andy starting to notice girls.
and that continues in this story, it's a little fun, a little off putting and a little scary, just like in real life!

Andy's mom has some mysterious powers that aren't explained yet.
Methuselah picks up some new tricks, well it would be better to say Andy learns more about his sword. It is a epic sword.

The quest starts looking for a long thought dead princess of Cromlech, princess Yara.
Hans, Hannah, Alden and Andy set off to find out if these rumors are true.

And may I break from this review to simply say something concerning princess Yara? You're okay with that? Okay Good.

Ahem.
Andy and Yara Sitting in a tree. K.I.S.S.I.N.G
First comes Andy who nobody knew was heir
Then came Yara who everyone thought was dead
(If you haven't read it yet... I mean you don't know, Yara might not be alive, it could just be a tall tale, (whew! I totally avoided giving away spoilers!))
then come a united kingdom through marriage!
(They're just 13, so no marriage yet... uh, I mean IF Yara was truly alive... (pat on back for nice recovery, me!)

Now back to the review.
Andy's dreams come into play, helping them find... ahem, I mean search for the maybe not dead princess.

If Yara is alive I think she'd have strong powers, like maybe being able to plant suggestions in peoples mind. If she's alive and all that.

The center where Cromlech healing powers is under duress and they find that they have limited time to save it.

-The Zebra Reader

Starting point

I'm a book lover of course, If I wasn't why would I have a blog with book reviews?

 

I first deiced I should start doing reviews years ago, I just didn't know how or what platform I should use.  I'm the summer reading program champion, well, that's not a real thing, but if it was, I would be.

it started on a Saturday and the next Tuesday I finished it.

 

I AM that cool.

 

The Librarians know me well. and the Library book sale, I am so there. and any book sale too.

 

For a long time I reviewed books for my family or friends. 

I have an editorial mind with books, and I was quick to say what bothered me about books, what I liked too. (But what I didn't like was funnier).

I would act out the scenes, for whoever was near by when I was reading.

I remember reading a novella by a pretty famous author, She's a good writer, but she should have stayed in her genre, because outside of that, it was horribly terrible.

 

It was a modern fairy tale, and for the ones who don't know

I LOVE fairy tales, not just Cinderella or the popular ones, I have a thick book of fairy tales.

the obscure one too. so when the book trend moved to fairy tales, I was delighted.

 

This book how ever, was bad. It was a take on snow white. But there was no evil step mother or... anything else really. There was an apple though.

 

So the guy is an EMT. I have mostly forgotten the plot (YAY!) and only remember the key details for the garish scene. So he's an EMT and she does something for work, Her dad tries to match make, blah blah blah. So the end scene is where things get going.

Of course because this is a romantic story there has to be a rift in their love (eye roll) so for some stupid reason they decide they can't be together. many a tear is shed, blah blah blah.

 

So it's winter and she's eating an apple as she checks her mailbox she realizes that they really could be together but then she slips on the ice and chokes on the apple. 

Of course at that very moment Mr. EMT is thinking that they could be together too, he's all happy and then he see's her fall. "Oh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

But because he's a professional EMT who has dealt with these things hundreds of times and that while this is different and personal he should be competent enough to get the stupid apple out so she doesn't die, right?

 

Wrong.

 

Apparently the big, strong and competent man who was taught at a EMT School to respond in emotional, hard and tragic situation can't do a thing but cry on her.

I tell no lie, it said in real words in the book that "His Tears fell on her cheek".

What??? WHAT???

 

So what's the first thing I do after I read this atrocious scene? 

I lay on the ground in the living room and act the scene out for the enjoyment of my family.

It wasn't long after that I realized I should start writing reviews, though not all are as dramatic as others.


And that was how I began my journey

What do you think?

Hey all! This is The Zebra Reader, or Katie, whatever you prefer. they sound similar enough, right?

So I'm coming to a Review Reflection about my reviews 

because I'm finishing my reviews of L.R.W Lee,

 

The 5th book isn't out yet, so it would be hard to review it, I mean, I can try but the review would probably be about waffles, dancing and how I still have to attend the "Andy's Parentage Confusion Support Group" Meetings.

 

 I think I've stopped trying to figure it out, kind of like when I was eleven and had my first "Mid Life" crisis I learned to ignore my brain and all the whys.

 

Also the "Why the sun hasn't Exploded" or the "What's Eternity" support groups are still open...

I thought, and still do think to much, just thinking.. oh wait. Um, Just saying, I had a little bit of anxiety. That's a joke, because everyone who knows me well knows I have tons of anxiety.

that's why it's called an anxiety disorder.

but I'm talking to much and have side tracked.

 

So my point is

 

What type of reviews do you want?

* The Hinting Reviews,

* The Spoiler Reviews

* The Talking about How I liked the Book Reviews

and or the

* Talking to Much but People Laugh Because I Talk to Much and it's Easy to Laugh at Me Reviews.

 

I don't want to spoil your book with spoilers but I don't want to be to vague.

What do you think?

 

Also I'm open for book suggestions

 Message me at TheZebras91@gamil.com

 

-The Zebra Reader (And Writer????

Disgrace of the Unicorn's Honor (Andy Smithson #3)

Andy Smithson makes me want to go to the store, buy all the books even though I already have a copy, then cuddle with the paperbacks and giggle like a crazy person.

Disgrace of the Unicorn's Honor (Andy Smithson #3) By L.R.W Lee
Click here to buy it now!

I simple adore the kings and Andy's relationship. it's so cute and wonderful. I really love the characters in L.R.W Lee's series.

Book three, things start getting intense. The title is pretty epic. though I wasn't sure about the unicorns, but it works, you'll see. At the end of the last book we're left with the question why does Andy's mom have a stone of Athanasia? What does it mean!? We know that Andy is related to the king somehow. How he is related is mind blowing, and a little weird. okay very weird. I still haven't quite figured it out. Lets say that's it would be a very awkward Thanksgiving family dinner.

I loved this book, for many reasons, but one being that Andy starts noticing girls,
but is SO unsure and doesn't know what's going on. reminds me of the good ole days....
wait, nah I don't want to relive those times!

Unsure of the fate of the people he holds dear,
Andy is faced with a choice that can save the land or break it.

-TheZebraReader

Andy Smithson: Venom of the Serpent's Cunning, Book 2

Andy Smithson Venom of the Serpents Cunning book 2 by L. R. W. Lee
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In Andy Smithson Venom of the Serpents Cunning Andy's parents are worried about him, he started talking nonsense AND he's doing his chores without complaining, something is defiantly wrong. his parents try to get him the help he needs, he doesn't even want to play video games where he fights dragons. I mean something is wrong with this poor boy.

After months of waiting he finally has a form of contact with Oomaldee, lets just say his lawn is much worse for wear and leave it at that.

Once back at his home away from home he picks up a new sport, new fans and a new skill. I wont tell you, you'll have to read it and find out what it is.

While Andy has some problems, everyone loves him, well most everyone. and of course what's the first thing you do when you return to a magical land? you teach your friends how to fist bump. I love Andy!

Imogenia crosses the line when it comes to keeping the curse intact. she goes to her enemy and strikes a deal just to stop Andy, losing sight of the good for revenge. setting a bellicose on his trail.

The unthinkable happens, the king and Mermin fall deadly ill, the kingdom in chaos and without it's king, Andy must do something.

Forgiveness is a strong theme in this series, be it forgiving someone else or yourself and growing from it.

I Give this book four and a half stars,

-The Zebra Reader

Blast of the Dragon's Fury (Andy Smithson, #1) by L.R.W. Lee

Blast of the Dragon's Fury (Andy Smithson, #1) by L.R.W. Lee
Click here to buy it right now!

(The Kindle edition is free!)

This book is intended for older children, I can easily see them loving this, and as a girl with a college reading level I enjoyed this a lot! The writing flowed, it was descriptive, but not overly so. It was so very refreshing to read about a ten year old who acted like a ten year old! Andy was fun, and he was grew! I loved Mermin, his lisp was... perfect. I liked the humorous edge this book had. it was light, funny, and fun. I will continue this series.

The book begins with Andy in trouble...again. but he is whisked of to a strange land. Andy quickly makes friends and is sent of on a daring quest to break the curse (Which I thought was an original curse). In the quest Andy finds courage, friends and enemies...

-The Zebra Reader

The Zebra Reader

I received this Book in return for an honest review This is not the type of book I would normally choose to read, but this book carries a message, a truth. Fermented Sin is like no other book I can think of. It left me breathless, So much was said and done. It shouldn't have made sense, but it did. After days of thinking about it I could not liken it to one book I've read. At first I compared it to Ted Dekker or even more closely Frank Peretti's "Oath". It has elements that match, but it didn't st I'm Katie, but you can call me The Zebra Reader. If you've read other blogs from the sister blog Searching for Zebras, you find out why zebras are so important to me. When life gets you down, you can find other ways to live victoriously, I'm proof of that. Moving on, I love books, I'm intelligent, a little analytical and I love writing. So, it makes sense that I review books. I do it anyway so why not share with the world? So here I am, If you have a suggestion of a book  for me to review message me and we'll see! -The Zebra Reader