Dark Eden

Bookworm's Ranking - 1 Worms

Storyline - On the alien, sunless planet they call Eden, the 532 members of the Family shelter beneath the light and warmth of the Forest’s lantern trees. Beyond the Forest lie the mountains of the Snowy Dark and a cold so bitter and a night so profound that no man has ever crossed it. The Oldest among the Family recount legends of a world where light came from the sky, where men and women made boats that could cross the stars. These ships brought us here, the Oldest say—and the Family must only wait for the travelers to return. But young John Redlantern will break the laws of Eden, shatter the Family and change history. He will abandon the old ways, venture into the Dark…and discover the truth about their world. (Copied from Goodreads.com)
 
Author - Chris Beckett
 
Publisher - Broadway Books
 
Age Group - 17 and up
 
Content - *May Contain Spoilers* When others didn't think or agree with the main character, he would ruminate how they are simple minded. Everyone seemed to have a problem with everyone else if they didn't agree with how they think things should be done or people behave. A physical romantic scene between a fifteen year old and a woman with several children. The protagonist risked his life to save another.
 
Personal Opinion - I didn't make it past the fifth chapter. My main issue with the story was the "slip" scene, fairly detailed, between a fifteen year old and older woman. For being what I thought a young adult book, this was unnecessary. Morally, I had a problem with this and is what caused me to stop reading the book (that and, according to other reviews by those who did finish the book, it sounded like there were going to be more of these scenes). Because I stopped reading the book, I have no idea what the author was trying to say about this stuff and might have had a good message about the whole "slip" thing but how it was going about the point was completely unnecessary. Before you think I'm just a prude, this is not the only reason I was frustrated with this book. For the first several pages, there was no description even though events were happening so it was hard to picture. Not only that, everything had different names than I am use to because it was a different planet so it was  confusing. The new language techniques, which I would have appreciated if it had been toned back a bit, were over used to the point they just became annoying instead of creative. The cover was very well done and represented well how the trees were suppose to give off light as well as the animals which I think sounds really cool. Having the characters reminiscent of caveman was fun and unusual. I am sorry I wasted mine, the author's, and publisher's time, though. This just teaches me once again I should research a book a little more before taking it.
 
Buy - Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Publisher, 

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the publisher through Blogging for Books.

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Destruction Series: Imperial Hostage

Bookworm's Ranking - 1Worms

Storyline -Book 1 - "From the moment 12-year-old Prince Erechtheus docks in Poseidia, capital of the Empire, to be a hostage for 13 years, nothing in his life is easy - or safe. An unexpected and foreboding prophecy, uttered by a blind seer, puts the prince immediately in the crosshairs of Al-Jinn, the powerful and paranoid High Priest from the Temple of Bel. Only last minute intervention from Kul-Kan, High Priest of the rival Temple of One, saves the prince from a gruesome fate. Erech gains exceptional fighting skills and an understanding of the natural world as he matures, but he suffers a series of crippling, heart-breaking losses - most as a result of the many attempts on his life. At the twilight of his captivity as a hostage, the 25-year-old prince encounters one last trial, a trial that could very well lead to war between his native land and the Empire."
(Took this from the back of the book)

Author - Phil Cantril

Publisher - Journalstone

Age Group - 17 and up

Content - The good characters help Erech out a lot and looked out for him as attempts on his life was made. One even helped him learn to fight to protect himself. Unfortunately, this book had a lot of stuff that contradicted what I believe such as saying there is no God and we are all connected. Once when the prince proclaimed something as a miracle, someone said there are no miracles and it was just science.  And this is from the good guys. The bad guys believed in a god and were very creepy. There was also some sexual content that made me uncomfortable but it was mostly from the bad guys but about two things from the good guys. I don't believe that it is natural for two men to be together and yet two from the good guys were. It was strange how the the good guys said we are all connected and yet they had priests and ceremonies and had spirits.

Personal Opinion - Creeped me out in first chapter and didn't go away. It didn't help I miss read the back and thought it was something other than what it was (also for some reason I thought this was a young adult book, probably because the main characters are like 12 when the book starts). The book taught stuff I don't believe are true such as the good  temple that saved the main character didn't believe in a god, they actually say there is no God and we are all united as one, and the guys who did believe in a god were evil and gross. The bad guys also used words and phrases that I am familiar with my own religion so that made it uncomfortable. There was some good behaving characters who did good things, knew right from wrong, and protected and cared for someone who couldn't protect themselves but it wasn't enough. They also kept harping on the bad thing that happened at the temple to the main character and it was made clear what happened with this word they used in a later chapter (I like to think of this blog as PG-13 if not PG so I wont repeat it). This book upset me so much that, even though at first, because I won the book through a giveaway, I tried to force myself to read it, but couldn't do it any more. Didn't even make it to 100 pages before decided to just stop reading it. There are too many books I want to read that I know I will like more than this one to spend time on it since I wasn't enjoying it. Did learn one thing though; be careful of the giveaways you enter.
Disclaimer - I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.

Links - Learn more about the book and author at the publisher's website at: http://journal-store.com/fiction/imperial-hostage-book-1-of-the-destruction-series/

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