Welcome to Hannah's shiny new book review log, Captivating Words. With this website, hopefully many other readers will be able to discover good books and writers. Hannah mostly reads Young Adult fiction, to give you an idea. This is also a vessel for sharing many of her thoughts and opinions on the grand, timeless thing that is literature.

The rating system of this review site is as follows:
5 stars ***** - Definitely a must read.
4 stars **** - A good read.
3 stars *** - So-so.
2 stars ** - Not a very worthwhile read.
1 star * - A waste of money.

Enjoy!

Rating: 5 stars ***** - Definitely a must read!

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel is, in the plainest words possible, a masterpiece. It's as flawless as a novel could get. Actually, I've been delaying to write this review for quite a long time now. I'm frightened I might not be able to do Clarke's wonderful novel any justice, hehe ^_^.

Strange & Norrel is a brilliantly-told tale about magic, and many other things besides: fairies, war, love, society, mystery...but to be more specific, it is chiefly about the efforts of two magicians, Gilbert Norrel and Jonathan Stange, to restore the use of magic in England. This story is blended with the events of 19th century England and the war against France. In some sense it is a historical novel, but only because Clarke used some historical figures as her characters and it echoes some events during that time. I say, Clarke is gifted with an extraordinary imagination. The book is remarkable as a historical fantasy.

Many people have claimed this book to be a Harry Potter-like fantasy for adults. But it's very different. Clarke reinvents the idea of magic, and shows its practical, social and political implications. In Clarke's world, magic is not something done for mere show. She writes it as something that means serious business, but at the same time preserving the mystery and allure of magic. She shows how magic works, and brings to light the nature of magic. Additionally, the novel features magical beings, like fairies. Fairies play a major role in the story. And again Clarke depicts them uniquely, giving them the mystical nature that is due them. This is undoubtedly one of the strongest points of Strange & Norrel: Clarke's original portrayal of the world of magic.

Strange & Norrel is also filled with wit and interesting portrayals of English society. Clarke is often compared to Jane Austen for this. But I like her better than Austen. I never got to muster enough patience to finish Pride and Prejudice, but I guess that's because there were too many run-on sentences and they hurt my brain. Which leads to another point: Clarke's sophisticated but very readable writing style. Her prose is flawless.

Her characters are well-drawn. All are realistic, all with a certain charm to them. I can't say Clarke's as good as Philip Pullman when it comes to creating great characters, but hers are good nonetheless. Especially the Raven King, one of the constant mysteries of the novel.

The book is, however, very, very long. 1006 pages. There are also many side stories of sorts in the foot notes. I think it was very creative of Clarke, but 1006 pages can be quite formidable to the not-so-patient reader. I was even a bit frightened by the book's lengthiness, actually. I would probably have enjoyed it more if I had not been. But I can't imagine the book to be as good as it is if it were shorter. I swear, though, Strange & Norrel was worth every bit of my patience. I totally enjoyed it, and I recommend it to everyone I know.

There is really much much more to say about this novel, but I think the rest can be summarized in four words: YOU. MUST. READ. IT. :D

Hannah

Rating: 4 stars **** - a good read

Amanda used to lead a happy life. She works as an architect in a decent firm, and her career looks very promising. She's married to Edward, and they love each other dearly. All is going well in her simple little world.

Until Naamah the demon came.

Now all is threatened to be destroyed in Amanda's life, and Naamah won't stop until her victim is no more.

Come Closer by Sarah Gran is a thoroughly disturbing novel that narrates a convincing, horrific tale about demon possession. The greatest impression that the book leaves afterwards is "What if this happens to me?" It doesn't deliver a very strong blow of terror all at once, but it does tap onto your little fears, one by one, until you are filled with frightful thoughts about demons and insanity. The story goes at a steady pace, and everything that happens is absolutely essential to the story line, which is an achievement for Gran. The characters are all very human, and that gives Come Closer a great sense of realism.

Additionally, the novel lends an opportunity to study the morals, weaknesses and desires of man. What keeps you holding on to the novel when you've finished reading it are the themes presented about human character. What lurks beneath our subconscious? Do we all have little demons of our own? Do we create them? There is truly much to think about this well-written story.

Overall, Come Closer was indeed a satisfying novel. It's not an extraordinary achievement, but definitely something I'd recommend to anyone who wants to read a dark and frightening story.

Hannah

Rating: 4 stars **** - A good read

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman marks the beginning of a breathtaking, extraordinary trilogy. The novel's heroine is 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua, a headstrong and adventurous girl who loves exploring her beloved Jordan College and fighting ragamuffin wars with her daemon (a person's soul, existing outside the body and manifested through an animal form) Pantalaimon. But that part of her life ends unexpectedly once Lyra hears of Dust, a mysterious particle. Another chapter in her life begins as she is lead towards the cold North, where danger, wickedness and fate await her.

Pullman is a magnificent writer. Among the many YA novels I've read, The Golden Compass is the only book whose characters are all captivating and well-written. The protagonists are ideal and brave but reasonably flawed, while the villains are purposeful, clever and ruthless; this is how they should be.

I had some problems with the descriptions and details though: I thought they were too much. I guess it's because I'm not much of an observer of minor details and I'm used to books that demand less focus. These narratives are for the most part essential to the intricate story line, though. Still, the story would've done with simpler descriptions, so as for them not to be tiresome.

But the true charm of the novel is its ability to surprise the reader and keep him thinking of what will happen next. This coupled with amazing characters and an interesting plot makes for a worthwhile read.

Hannah

Rating: 5 stars ***** Definitely a must read!

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle is an excellent tale of love, terror and magic. The story revolves around Kate and her younger sister Emily, who move into Kate's land Hollow Hill after their father's death. The sisters later meet Marak, a terribly clever, dark and powerful man who turns out to be the King of the goblin race. To Kate's horror, she finds out that she is the perfect Wife that Marak seeks. Now Kate must use all her wits and courage to elude capture from the ruthless goblin King.

One of the strongest points of this novel is Dunkle's masterful and vivid prose. It's not just essentially a vessel for telling a story, but also a potent fuel for the imagination. The story is very gripping and fast-paced as well. It's almost impossible to put down, trust me ;D.

Another point which I liked is that the details aren't tedious to go through. I believe this is mainly because of the plot. The story urges you forward while not making you impatient, despite of some long descriptions.

The only flaw of the story is Kate's seemingly endless whining and complaining (which you will know about when you read the book. I don't want to spoil the story too much ^_^;). It was becoming very irksome, but I guess you can sympathize with her, and it makes Kate a realistic character. Of course, the rest of the story makes up for it, especially Marak. His character was the best thing about the novel. He makes much of the dialogue very amusing with his witticisms.

Overall, The Hollow Kingdom is a thoroughly enjoyable and good book. YA fans will certainly delight in this unforgettable, spellbinding novel.

Hannah