Young Adult Books

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, the engaging style that invites the reader into the world of Octavian and many of his contemporaries such as Herod the Great, Tiberius, Cleopatra, Cicero, Livey, and many others. You come away from this book feeling as though you experienced something of the past. It is though you were there and lived through it yourself. Second, this book is a history of religions in that it focuses on the world religions of the first century all over the world. You learn about the religions of Rome and how they were evolving, as well as Judaism, Christianity, Buddism, Mithraism, Hinduism and many more besides. The story of the Roman and Greek gods are told. Third, festivals and there meaning are focused on. This is particularly true of December 25th and how the various religions treated this date. Other festivals are taught about as well, like the Jewish passover. Fourth, the calendar and how it come into being is another great feature of this book. One learns about astronomy and astrology as well as how all of the months and days of the week that are currently used in the west were named. Fifth, the founding and history of various cities are told. Finally, one can not leave this book without sensing that he has taken a trip back in time. The one negative about the book was that the author takes a religious stand that "all roads lead to god". There is very little negative treatment of the various religions. Most people and religions are cast in a very positive light. Octavian was likely a little meaner and cold hearted than he comes off here. Of course, if Octavian was telling the story himself then he may have told it like this since we are all the hero of our own story.

One of the best all-ages history books. :) Gorgeous illustrations, useful family trees, all told in a friendly and familiar style; not dry and academic at all.

What a wonderful book and introduction for a young person to learn about the Romans, and the way they lived! I remember first being introduced to this book in the 9th grade, when I had a mild obsession with the Roman Empire. This book has stuck with me for a long time. It is written in an entertaining manner, and makes these people seem more real and human than some stale 3rd person account of how things were. Each historical figure is depicted as people with the same basic fears, hopes and desires as everyone else, in relation to the society in which they live. It of course being for children is toned down as far as some of the facts we know or speculate today about these people (ie I, Claudius) but it gives a great account of how an individual of the day might have lived, and it is not just about Octavian/Augustus himself, but the people around him and alive at the same time, sometimes even in another country. This was the world of that time, and was a fascinating period of history. This type of book can easily open up a historical interest for a young person for life. I myself searched 10 years ago to find a used copy of this gem, remembering it from high school over 10 years prior, and successfully found a copy in an old book shop. I was thrilled to death to read it again, even after reading several translated histories from the Roman Empire.

I cannot say enough good things about this book! I just finished reading it before using it for homeschooling, and am amazed at how much I learned! If only they used history books like this in when I was in school, I may have had an interest in history.

The books covers from Octavian at age 18 (when his uncle Julius Caesar is killed), through his death. The beauty of this books is that it covers world events during the time period as well as daily life in Ancient Rome. It's wonderfully well rounded and the illustrations are a nice bonus.

I will absolutely read her other historic fiction books and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this one!

One of the great bonuses of parenting is that you get to introduce books to your own kids that wowed you when you were a kid yourself. Sometimes your children love the books as much as you did; sometimes they don't. But in either case, you get to revisit with old friends and see how much you and they have changed and retained over the years.

Some of my best book friends when I was a kid were the wonderful illustrated histories of Genevieve Foster, and the one I loved most was *Augustus Caesar's World.* I recently introduced it (and a few others: *Washington's World*, *Lincoln's World*, *John Smith's World*, *Columbus's World*) to my 8 year old, and he's discovering the magic in them I did so many years ago.

There are three qualities to *Augustus Caesar's World* that make it so entertaining and educating. The first is that it's incredibly well written. Foster has the gift of breathing life into historical accounts. In reading about Cicero's execution or the life of Siddhartha, for example, one experiences all the dreadful waste of the one and the liberating wonder of the other. Second, the book is wonderfully illustrated by Foster herself. The illustrations are themselves instructive: along with individual scenarios, she provides time-lines, illustrated most fetchingly, that conveniently encapsulate events and persons. Finally, Foster's histories are really world histories. In *Augustus Caesar's World,* she focuses on the events leading up to the end of the Roman Republic and the establishment of the Empire (roughly, 44BCE to 14 CE). But she doesn't limit herself to Roman history; she also examines events taking place across the world during the time frame in which she's working: the druids in Gaul, Hindus in India, Confucius in China, Mayans in the Americas, and so on. She even includes intellectual history: the origins of Christianity and Buddhism, the Upanishadic culture of the Hindus, etc. Her aim is to give the reader a wide angle of vision, and she succeeds wonderfully.

I'm grateful that Foster's histories are being republished. They don't patronize kids by resorting to silly gimmicks that supposedly make learning more palatable (or at least more marketable). Instead, they make history fascinating the old fashioned way: by showing that it's a great story in its own right. They're a great discovery for my son, and a great rediscovery for me.

Wow, I just want to say this book is awesome! I remember buying it at Barnes & Nobles because I thought it looked interesting. It was so good, I just could not put it down! I read it in like two days and I have been waiting for the sequel for months. I'm going to go and pre order it now!

I know it says in the summary that this is for readers of Gossip Girl and A-List, but I swear this book is much better than those. I liked this book so much, because it showed four girls in pursuit of their dreams. I could relate to each of them in different ways, and I felt like the ending was perfect. It wasn't entirely corny and predictable. This is similar to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, except for the fact that we don't have to wait for a second book to come out before we find out what happens.

It is the time for their lives to truly take flight. Best friends Harper, Kate, Becca and Sophie have graduated high school and are going to separate colleges to pursue their separate careers. But to Harper's disappointment, her future is crushed when she received the rejection letter from NYU and rather than tell her friends the truth, she decides to spend the year writing America's next Little Women. Although her gambling journey was not to be taken alone, for Harper inspired both Kate and Sophie to chase their dreams as well. Sophie blindly stumbles into Hollywood in search of the perfect audition that will propel her into the movie business, but instead finds love with the wrong actor. Leaving home with only a passport and an open road, Kate bails out of Harvard to explore the world and its broad opportunity where she hopes her dream is hidden. The only one to stick to her plan, Becca hits the ski slopes on the Middlebury team content with the only thing she feels good at, which keeps her company when her friends are far. Love comes to each girl that year and with it decisions that could change their lives, and though apart, the four friends manage to find ways to hold each other close. Bass Ackwards and Belly Up, by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fein, is a heartfelt novel that defines the love that is intertwined in the friendship of four girls who experience their first steps into the real world.

Bass Ackwards and Belly Up is made up of the four stories of the four friends Becca, Harper, Sophie and Kate. The tales of each of their separate lives makes the book a more intriguing read, one that's difficult to put down. From each girl, the reader can sometimes relate and because there are separate stories, it is easier to compare with.

Thorough the hard times, together or apart, the authors do a great job of defining each character by their experiences. For instance, when Kate is robbed and Harper finishes the first fifty pages of her book, each girl is changed and reacts a different way to the events. The characters are very well developed and it makes the story much easier to imagine.

Bass Ackwards and Belly Up focuses on each friend's dream, whatever that dream may be. In this way, it gives teens the incentive to chase their dreams, but still to think out what this change may hold for their futures. Through this story, the authors send a great message for teens that shows you can accomplish whatever you wish if you just give it a try.

This story of four friends and their adventures as young adults is an incredible story of love, determination and the freedom to make your own choices with the burden of the consequences. I highly recommend Bass Ackwards and Belly Up to teenage girls and young adults for I highly enjoyed it myself.

E. Knipp

Best friends Harper, Sophie, Becca, and Kate have done everything together since elementary school. Now they've graduated, and are about to go off to college. True, they're all going to different schools, in different cities, but they're still all having the same experiences, just in different locations. Then, the night before Becca is supposed to leave for Middlebury, Harper drops a bomb. Instead of heading off to Manhattan, she's going to be staying at home in her parents basement and writing the next Great American Novel. In other words, following her Dream. Sophie and Kate quickly hop on board the "Dream Train," as they call it, going to L.A. and Europe, respectively. For Becca, joining the Middlebury ski team is her dream, but her friends tell her she should work on expanding her horizons by falling in love. As the girls' powerful stories alternate throughout the novel, you will be rooting for all of them to accomplish their dreams. True, there are obstacles: a bitter ski coach, skeezy guys, and writer's block, to name a few. But this Dream Train is full speed ahead, and it doesn't stop for anything or anyone.

Despite their vastly different personalities and families, Harper, Sophie, Becca, and Kate have been best friends for years. No matter what, they tell each other everything.

Well, almost everything. Harper was rejected from NYU, the only college to which she applied, and has been keeping this a secret from her friends and her parents for months. Right before her friends plan to take off for colleges all over the country, the truth comes out.

Well, kind of. Harper acts as though she has decided not to go to NYU, preferring to stay home and write the next Great American Novel. She thinks this quasi-admission will shock her friends, but their reactions shock her even more: two of them decide to follow her example and take a year off from college to chase their own capital-D Dreams.

From there on, the story follows each girl in turn. Each storyline is given equal time and attention, switching back and forth every few pages. This format will be familiar to fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Sophie wants to be a famous actress. As luck would have it, her mom's old friend lives with her husband in Beverly Hills and allows Sophie to stay at the guesthouse rent-free. Sophie's landlords are quite busy and have good connections, giving her total freedom and helping her snag some auditions. Sophie befriends Sam, an aspiring actor who takes care of the pool and does odd jobs around the place, and Trey, a famous actor who gets her a line in a movie and steals her heart. If you like Sophie's storyline, read The 310 series by Beth Killian.

Kate's post-high-school plans were supposed to be set in stone: Go to Harvard with her long-time boyfriend, study hard and get good grades in an effort to live up to her parents' high expectations. Harper's big plan makes Kate realize she has no plan of her own. Europe calls out to her, so she books a plane ticket and packs her bags. As her boyfriend drops her off at the airport, he breaks up with her. She heads off to her big trip feeling more alone than ever. While she travels, she attempts to work her way through a list of 100 tasks ("Touch the Berlin Wall," "Take the water," "Stomp grapes") created by her friends and her younger adopted sister Habiba. If you like Kate's story, read 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson.

Becca heads off to Middlebury as planned, wanting to wow the school's coach with her skiing ability. He coached an Olympic team and she wants to impress him more than anything. She ends up getting on his bad side during the first practice and staying there for quite some time. Not only that, but small pratfalls evolve into bigger disasters, snowballing into something she never could have seen coming. Somewhere along the way, she manages to do the one thing her friends challenged her to do: fall in love. If you like Becca's story, read the Love Bukowski series by Emily Franklin.

Meanwhile, Harper finds herself staring at a blank computer screen. Now living in her parents' basement and told that she must pay rent, she takes a job at a local coffeehouse. An old classmate, Judd, becomes an unlikely friend. The twenty-three-year-old English teacher she crushed on in high school becomes a regular customer - and maybe something more. Now if she could only manage to actually write something . . . If you like Harper's story, read That Summer by Sarah Dessen.

The book covers three months in the lives of four teenage girls. As any teenager can tell you, that is both a very short and a very long period of time. During those three months, the characters are each granted a new kind of independence, but manage to come back together. If only all friendships were truly this strong, and we were all afforded the freedom (and, for the most part, incredibly good luck and easy resolutions) these girls were given.

Bad Girls Club

Poor Martha. I don't think I've ready about many girls who have as many battles to fight as this poor girl, but fight she does! Even when all the odds are against her, she keeps trying to move forward, which is no easy thing. A girl at school wants to kill her, her mother is drunk or stoned or gone for days at a time, her neighborhood is about as scuzzy as it gets, and yet Martha survives. With the help of a friend of a friend, Martha gets a second chance and even when that falls apart, she manages to keep going. I recommend this book to all teens who are struggling with abuse, family alcoholism, poverty, bullying, problems at school, or just surviving in a modern world where so many fall through the cracks.

I loved this book, mainly for the character's rich voice, but also because the plot kept moving me along so that I could not wait to find out what happened next. It did tackle a lot of hard subjects right away, and unflinchingly--racism, abandonment, abuse, neglect, alcohol and drug use, drug dealing, poverty, a near-lethal bully, friendships, drifting, a tragic death, guilt, seeking a "normal" life that maybe isn't so normal, and perhaps most frighteningly of all, being pushed to the edge where at last you become violent yourself in order to react to the madness around you. But it's all done with such charm, so intriguingly, and with an odd spark of humor, that you get Martha's voice stuck in your head and you just want to keep reading till you find out what happens next. Despite being not fully satisfied by the ending, I haven't read anything this avidly in a long time.

This book was fantastic. It's a shame young adults get put into situations because of parental flaws. Martha is a perfect example of this and I would recommend this book to young adults as well as adults.

Martha Kowalski is beat down. Beat down by her mother's substance abuse and lousy choice of boyfriends, and beat down by the bullying of a girl at her new school, where Martha is one of the few white students. She lives in a run down apartment in a run down part of town, and her chances of escaping a life of poverty seem to have run out. But a series of events, including a drive-by shooting, actually create a chance for Martha to remake herself in a new home and school. She changes her name, makes new friends, and connects with a boyfriend. But her past - and the lies she's told to cover it up and the lies told about her - catch up with Martha and beat her down again. Similar to my own novel Chasing Tail Lights, this is a shattering look at girl living in poverty, surrounded by a swarm of violence and selfishness, who is resilient enough to rise up again and again after the beat downs.

YOUNG ADULT-A book on "Writing for Young Adults" urged me to read books from the genre that I plan to write for-so here I am.

I was completely intrigued by this book. It was so good that I couldn't put it down. This story is presented in a straight-forward manner. It was so refreshing to see such a realistic story.

This is the story of Martha. She has to deal with her mother's alcohol/drug use, physical abuse, verbal abuse, as well as her own personal issues. In her struggle to become an adult, she has to interact with three major antagonists: Chardonay, Nikki, and her own "Momma".

In Cleveland, Ohio the major anttagonist is Chardonay. Chardonay picks on Martha just because she is different. (The abuse is pushing, kicking, verbal abuse, and with a knife.) Martha tries to reason with Chardonay, but after an almost deadly altercation, the two are separated. The resolution (the parting) is permanent, but the anger and venom was still there.

When Martha goes to live with the Brinkmans, Nikki becomes the antagonist. At first, Martha and Nikki are friends: Nikki gives Martha the nickname "Gina". Nikki becomes jealous and conniving which leads to bad interactions. Martha becomes secretive and defensive. Both delve into drugs to temporarily relieve their pain, but the verbal abuse escalates. Finally, Nikki says that Martha has to leave and Martha''s "Momma" demands her return.

Martha's mother is a constant negative influence on her child's life and future. Her mother is self-absorbed and lives in the past. The mother can not reconcile herself with the bad relationship that she had with Martha's father. The mother takes up with Wayne and turns her back on his physical abuse of Martha. The mother also tries to end Martha's opportunity to be a successful cello player. To be like her mother; Martha temporariily falls into alcohol, drug, and sexual promiscuity, but Nikki, who is a recovering alcoholic by now, reminds Martha that she can be better.

Luckily, Martha does persevere and make her life better. She overcomes antagonists and peronal demons on her voyage to becoming an adult.

My book is Dreams in August: Life, Love, and Cerebellar Ataxia

This book is a must read story for any horse lover. I was lucky enough to meet Blackjack in person and he is a beautiful horse. Reading this book will take you on a wonderful horse adventure! Thank you Ellen Feld for writing such an amazing book.

This book is a must have for all who love horses! It is entertaining, heartwarming, and inspiring. No teenage girl should be without it!!

AWSOME!! I can't wait to read the other ones!!!

Its the best horse book I have ever read. Any horse lover or owner like me will fall in love with the horses and the characters. I laughed and even came near to tears in this heart filled story. I highly recommend it.

I love Ellen Feld's Morgan Horse books. I love them because they don't ask the reader to believe that teenaged girls can solve crimes, stop the destruction of rural America, or take a half-starved rescue horse on Monday and win the KY Derby on him the following weekend. OK; I'm exaggerating. It usually takes them at least 6 months before they win the Derby.
Ms. Feld's books are realistic in their portrayal of the human and equine characters, and accurate in their descriptions of tack, veterinary care, etc.
As a once-upon-a-time horse-crazy teenager grown into a horse-crazy middle aged person, and both a bookseller and tack store owner in years past, I appreciate the fact that Ms. Feld's books aren't filled with inaccuracy and improbable fantasy. It has always seemed to me that many YA stories that are, presuppose that the readers are not very knowledgeable about horses.
Five stars and a bag of carrots to Ellen Feld's books.

I read all of the Med Center books when I was in middle school. Now, I'm a senior in high school, but this book came up on one of my Amazon searches, and it truly was a "blast" from the past. I think these books are what got me interested in medicine in the first place. I had always read Diane Hoh's books (especially the Nightmare Manor ones!), and I checked this one out on a whim.

The book was entertaining...just the kind of thing middle school kids would like. Looking back on it now, I realize that some of the things may have been highly improbable (for example, the character Will was just out of high school and already a paramedic - paramedic training takes longer than that to complete.)

I think what I loved best about these books was the excitement and romance, I rememberd thinking - "I want to do that!" And surely enough, I've volunteered in hospitals, done job shadows, gone to forums and conferences, and in the spring I have an internship in a hospital, then in the fall I will finally be a pre-med student and on my way to medical school. I guess I was really liking the romanticized view of medicine shown in these books, but now that I have realized what medicine is really like, I have no regrets, I am still as interested in it as the day I read the books.

It's a great way for middle school kids to get a sneak peek into medicine. I will definitely be reading all of these books again, just for kicks!

i love the series. i am interrested in medicine and love itwhenthey describe the wounds. i live for the gory details

This is a truly awesome book. Even though I have only read 2 books in the Med Center series, I am already addicted. She uses down-to-earth characters and real-not-real situations. A refreshing change from other books I've read. If you were like me, thinking that series are stupid and so old-fashioned you'll definitely change your mind when you read this book. Happy reading!

One night at Grant University there was a mishap with chemicals in the science lab. Tim Beech is a student there and he was working on something at nine at night. Jeremy, a "friend" of his was invited there by Tim. Tim was finishing up and Jeremy was about to leave. All of a sudden Tim said uh-oh and the building exploded in a flash of light. When the ambulances got there, they started right away. The people dug for any survivers that might be under there. Sid, a boy in a wheelchair lifted up a huge slab of stone and uncovered a few survivers. They were rushed to the hospital imediately and got tended to. In a matter of hours more people were uncovered. When Will, a volunteer had been carefully trying to get to Damon. The third floor, which was left standing, was making louder and scarier noises than before. In a matter of seconds it came crashing down on Will, crushing him. Damon and a bunch of other helpers worked together to get the last set of people out. After that, they managed to find Will and get him out of the mess too.

IVE READ ALL THE BOOKS AND THIS IS THE MY FAVORITE SERIES OF ALL. iVE ALWAYS BEEN INTO MEDICINE AND THEY GAVE A LOT OF INFO ON THAT AND REAL SCENARIOS.

Carbonel took me away when I was a child,I loved every well written detail,and could imagine every event as it took place-the only problem was,when I got older (alot older!!)I had forgotten the title and despaired of ever finding the book again-Imagine my joy when I found a used copy in a thrift store-it looked familiar,could it be....? Hooray!It was!Carbonel!I bought it immediately and read it asap and will never ever let it out of my hands again!This is a fabulous book for children of all ages,and if my opinion counts for anything,I would advise to get a copy of your own right now!Truly a wonderful,wonderful book.

...It was my FAVOURITE when I was a kid - ...Why is this fantastic book out of print??

When I first read this book, I was 10-years-old. I grew up and never forgot the joy that I received from its pages. I kept looking for it when I got older and now have my own copies of all the Carbonel books. I am now in possession of an amazing child's book that deserves to be shared throughout centuries to come. Wonderful book - deserving to be named a favorite classic.

This book captured my imagination as a child and was a pleasure to read again after 17 years. I feared I might ruin a childhood memory by tracking it down and reading it again but it was well worth the effort. I hope it's magic will still reach young readers even though it is now out of print.

My mom gave me this book when I was 8 years old. Hesitantly, I started reading it, and was immediately hooked. It is the first chapter book I remember reading, and I owe my love of literature to Barbara Sleigh and Carbonel. Before the advent of the Internet, I spent many years trying to track down copies of all the Carbonel books, with limited success. Then one day, I discovered that they had had been reissued in the United Kingdom. I was in law school at the time, and my wife told me we couldn't afford them. Imagine my surprise, that Christmas, when I found them under the tree! My wife had called a bookstore in London, and had them shipped to the US just in time for the holidays. I'm now 39 years old, and still reread those books about once a year. I have read them to both my children, and they have read them by themselves. I think we can all look back on our lives, and find one or two events that shape aspects of our future. For me, a British book about a little girl, a witch and a magical, royal cat set me on a road where books became some of my most cherished possessions, and reading my most enjoyable pasttime. Read the books; feel the magic.

Sakura, the Clow Card girl, is back! She's not capturing the Clow Cards again... She's got to find out who else is making mysterious situations! Her magic is weaker than somebody else's. Who is this person and why is he(or she) doing this? Sakura's gotta find out, and get stronger than this person. One day, she defeats the magic with the firey card, but the card changed. Then, she figures out she makes this card and names it a Sakura Card. Now, she's got to change all of the cards too! Double trouble! Can she do it when she has to go to school and with her sixth sense brother lurking around?

Sakura and her friends are back in the first book of the follow-up series to Cardcaptor Sakura. Sakura has passed the trial by Yue the Judge and rightfully become Master of the Clow Cards. But when a new force shows itself, Sakura's magic isn't strong enough to defeat it. Can she somehow find a strength in herself to overcome?

I was so happy to find this book and to revisit my favorite Cardcaptor characters once again. Full of the same wonderful story, art, and characters as the first series, this book is sure to please any manga-lover. Find out what happens next!

Master of the Clow is the sequel to the original 6-part Cardcaptor Sakura manga. Sakura has collected all of the cards and has even beaten and subjugated the other guardian, Yue, to prove that she was worthy of being the "Master of the Clow". Perhaps, after that, Sakura believed that she would be able to go back to a normal life. But in a vision in the last volume of the first series, Clow Reed, who is believed to be dead, appeared to her and told her that he "might cause her some trouble". Now, what this means is anyone's guess. But soon after some unnatural occurences begin to happen and Sakura steps in to stop them, she finds her card magic is useless! Sakura is going to have to step it up a notch to face this new threat. And do two mysterious transfer students have a hand in this magical test?

I don't know if I'm going to like this second series. I enjoyed Cardcaptor Sakura a lot and got in her corner as Sakura had to overcome trial after trial to prove her power of spirit. But I think it's a little cruel to have to start all over again from scratch. To me, it's already been done. The formula of discovering new powers to lick new enemies just doesn't sound promising the second time around. Don't get me wrong, this book wasn't bad, it just seemed to be a repeat of something I've already read. I'll go one more volume to see if it has any surprises.

SF : THIS REVIEW IS RATED SPOILER-FREE

After watching the CCS anime up to the part when she faces Yue in the final test, I was agast (sp??) that my beloved Sakura had ended. But, much to my glee, I discovered a WHOLE NEW ARC OF CCS!!! Bigger, bolder and far, far better than the first arc, sakura faces a whole new posse of villains (or ARE they?) out to get her, the plot becomes even thicker than before, and relationships begin to develop. This is the bigger cliffhanger EVER -- the plot out-does LOTR, Harry Potter, Sailor Moon...in fact, ANY OTHER BOOK I'VE EVER READ!!! it is simply incredible. I am told the next books are even better. Don't know how that one works..............

Hiya! I'm an otaku-girl living in the U.K, where it's DAMN difficult to get manga! I wish I lived in the U.S,waaah! But anyway, I get all my essentials imported, so it's not too bad! Enough about me, let's talk about Cardcaptor Sakura! I didn't actually buy the manga, I reserved it from the library! Infact as I'm writing this, it's only been the second day since then! I LOVED it! I recommend it to everyone who loves art from CLAMP, and the previous series of Cardcaptor Sakura! The art is just BEAUTIFUL, the story is great and you'll just want to read it all over again once you've finished! Here are some of my favourite scenes:
1. When Li blushes when Sakura says she can't wait for the day he'll come back to visit from HongKong.
2.When Eriol and Li have an encounter over him holding Sakura's hand.
3. The way Li blushes when he sees Sakura.
4. The teddy-bear scene.
5. Rika giving the bear to Mr. Terada.
6. Li thinking of giving a bear to Sakura."Return your love......"

Well that's all, hope I didn't spoil too much! By all means buy this book, 'kay!

What a great book! One of the few books that I have ever read and literally not been able to put down. Think it took all of about three hours to read this for me I was so enthralled. The entire series is good, but Torment is a shining example of how a rough sketched story can be turned into a true literary gem by a talented writer.

Great, captivating tale.

That's not saying much considering I don't read a lot, but this book is awesome. The parts with Llawan and Laquatus are kinda boring but they don't ruin it by any means. I didn't really like the ending, but overall the book was 5/5 for me. This is one of the few magic storylines I've actually given a crap about. (The other being weatherlight.)

Even though the Odyssey cycle has been gone for over 2 years, you should definately still pick this book up.

This is my 2nd favorite book I have ever read in my life. This is the 3rd Magic book that I read, and after this I was captivated by the MTG novels, I have now read over 10 of them in only 4 weeks, and these are great books, Torment is my favorite so far. From beginning to end, it is AWESOME. There are a few boring parts when it follow Empress Llawan, but they are all worth it because they lead up to make a valuable point. I reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction, such as Harry Potter or MTG, it also reminds me of LOTR a little bit.

This is a great book from beggining to end! After I read this book, I got really hooked on to magic after I read this book.

This was a superb read. It is, by far, the best of the three Odyssey block books.

In a nutshell, the first half or so covers the same timespan as Odyssey, just from Chainer's point of view. While Kamahl is off chasing the Mirari, Chainer is developing his magical skills and is rapidly ascending the ranks as the Cabal's best dementist. With the aid of the Mirari (he is the only person so far who has been able to control it), he seems virtually unstoppable. The view into the Cabal's dark intentions is quite entertaining, as we learn more and more about the mysterious Calchexas, the Cabal Patriarch. The book ends in a big climax and leaves readers with an excellent starting point for Judgment.

This book earns a well-deserved 5 stars.

This series focusses on three Wiccan girls trying to make it through normal life while all the while using and running into magic. This series was particularly special to me as I am a young Wiccan myself and to see a book like this that shows Wicca in such a lighthearted and acceptable manner is simply wonderful.

I was glad to see an extra-large book to tie up the loose ends in this series in a great finale. It lessened the blow of this possibly being the end of the series.

The whole series is well written, character driven, mostly realistic, and well worth reading.

'"And so it ends."'

Now, I'm not usually one to waste my time soaking up the end of a series, but "Initiation" by Isobel Bird was one exception. I have to admit, this was one dramatic and overall astounding conclusion to "Circle of Three," and I would reccomend it to anyone. Whilst Cooper and Jane are busy with their 'Bitter Pills' plans, Kate and Annie are undergoing thier final initiation as witches. Cooper, who didn't make the initiation class, seems to be wasting away her sorrow in her hard-rock guitar; but Kate and Annie are more interested in which coven they will join and what the right choice is. Little does the circle of three know, their choices will soon merge into one as the conclusion of the fifteen-book series comes to an end. And as it draws near, Annie fears that the circle of three she, Kate and Cooper had formed is really going to break up after all. But the end is full of surprises, like Cooper's decision to become initiated and the forming of a brand new coven. Like I say, this is truly the beginning of the end. I hope to see more books by Ms. Bird, but if not, I'm glad I read the Circle of Three. This is truly excellent for all young Wiccans who need a good read, a good laugh, and time to enjoy themselves.

1st of all i would just like to say i am NOT 1, i am 14, there was just a problem with the regular review form. Lol. But anyway, this last book was a great finale for The Circle Of Three series. I can't believe it's over. It may not be, but there's usually a title for the upcoming book and even a passage, but it was not there. Basically, Kate, Annie, and Cooper have to deal with their Initiation...Kate will have to decide between her life in wicca, or being in Wicca for an old flame...Annie must choose the right coven also, but the upcoming wedding and her new sisters will show her what's the real path, one which will let her find her way....Cooper was not offered initiation in The Challenge Box, but finds renewed faith, but it may be broken once more... Each witch-to-be will together face a shocking revelation, including facing rejection...but the question is for all of you who haven't read the book yet, will they find the light to their destined paths? This may be confusing, but once you read Initiation, you'll understand. This was a great read, which i recommend to all who have read the others in the series. Buy it soon!

I must say, this entire series has been surprisingly informative and interesting (there are even a couple of ideas that I'm interested in adapting for public rituals). I'm a 29 years old practitioner or Wicca (I've been studying for 12 years), and although these books are aimed at teenagers, I've read them all, and so have many of my friends (ages 22 to 35).

As the series evolves, we see the personal growth and studies of three teenage friends as they struggle with adolescence and with their increasing interest in the pagan religion which is Wicca. This series presents their experiences as members of a study group organised by an eclectic coven (a year and a day of studies, possibly leading to initiation) and as members of their own "circle of 3", how their friendships and personal goals develop with time, how they become stronger, more mature individuals, how their families and friends react to their interest in this path, etc. The books are informative in the ways of eclectic Wicca, if I had children I'd feel completely comfortable in letting them read them, there is no gratuitous sex or violence or any such thing. Very well done, highly recommended!

I don't know what age this book was written for but let me say I am well over 40. I ordered this book because of its cover and knew nothing about the author or the story. When it arrived I noticed it was the second in a series so I ordered the first book (Ratha's Creature)and put this one aside. I have been hooked for several years on the Warrior serices by Erin Hunter, and this is equal to it with a lot less neames to remember. It is just a great story that keeps you turning the pages until you are finished. I have the next two books already and have pre-ordered the fifth one. I just hope the author keeps them coming like the Warrior series.

I read this book when I was a kid, but had almost forgotten it. When I saw it was going to be re-released I was very excited. It's a great book for all ages.

"Ratha's Creature" is a marvelous piece of genre writing. It certainly was wonderful to find that author Clare Bell keeps the saga flowing so smoothly with the follow-up publication of "Clan Ground." I find CG to be as engrossing, exciting, and as well-written as the original. I couldn't wait to crack the 3rd book in 'Tne Named' series after reading "Clan Ground."

Clan Ground is the second book in Clare Bell's Named series. It is a fantastic sequel to Ratha's Creature. At the time this series was written, I had never read anything of its like. Since then, I've noticed some other series in the Young Adult section that seem to have the same sort of premise, but Clare Bell did if first and she did it best!

I highly recommend this series, as it tops my list of best Young Adult books ever written. Luckily for potential new readers, they are now back in print!

'Clan Ground' is the second book in a series by author Clare Bell, coming after 'Ratha's Creature'. The clan has now settled back into life under Ratha's rule as clan leader and all looks well. And then a stranger from the outside wishes to join the clan. 'Clan Ground' is very difficult to put down once you've started reading! The plot, the setting and the characters are all wonderfully detailed and unique and the emotion draws you right in. Very highly suggested!