Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 (1953)

    Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? (Goodreads)

    With incredibly rich language and an entertaining enough plot, Ray Bradbury crafts what is justifiably known as a science fiction classic. Although the plot may be disjointed at times, weighed down with almost too much figurative language, it is still masterfully written. A well done protagonist with engaging internal conflict, combined with the parallel of captain Beatty make for an entertaining main conflict. While the supporting cast could be stronger, Fahrenheit 451 is still justifiably a classic. 8.0/10

Rick Riordan: The Hammer of Thor (2016)

    Thor's hammer is missing again. The thunder god has a disturbing habit of misplacing his weapon--the mightiest force in the Nine Worlds. But this time the hammer isn't just lost, it has fallen into enemy hands. If Magnus Chase and his friends can't retrieve the hammer quickly, the mortal worlds will be defenseless against an onslaught of giants (Goodreads).

    Yes, it was an amusing read. Yes, it had an engaging plot. And yes, it was deja vu all over again, as The Hammer of Thor, in reading it, is much too similar to Riordan's previous books. Granted, Riordan is good at it, but one would like to see some more dynamics in plot and protagonist, while the author seems to be more focused on adding the paradox of supporting characters with great dynamics, many of whom would likely make a more interesting protagonist than Magnus himself. Good character diversity, an amusing plotline (albeit not that original), and a surprising (for better or for worse, we'll find out soon enough) ending sum up the second book of the Norse Percy Jackson series. 6.7/10

Kevin Sands: The Blackthorn Key (2015)

    When a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, the trail of murders grows closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop. With time running out, Christopher must use every skill he’s learned to discover the key to a terrible secret with the power to tear the world apart (Goodreads).

    It's always enjoyable following the protagonist in a solve-the-clues adventure, and the Blackthorn Key does just that. With a simple plot, but well and freshly executed, The Blackthorn Key is enjoyable, but not over-the-top amazing. Somewhat dynamic characters are endearing still, and the fairly original plot idea and setting definitely add to the book's appeal. A great twist near the end (an extremely dark and bloody twist at that) add to what would have been a simple plot and raise this book from good to great. 8.0/10

Pittacus Lore: United as One (2016)

    The Mogadorians have invaded Earth. Their warships loom over our most populated cities, and no country will risk taking them head on. The Garde are all that stand in the way, but they’ll need an army of their own to win this fight (Goodreads).

    United as One does not pick up where the previous book left off, with non-stop action. Instead, the start of the novel is rather slow, however the second half of the book takes a whole new turn, showcasing the darkness of full fledged war with excellent narration, but still with the bits of humor readers have come to expect. At some points, the hopelessness of the protagonists is overwhelming, especially since they have a backup plan prepared in case they all die. However with some confusing references to companion novels, the plot is almost disconnected and another unsatisfying ending makes readers unsure of whether the series is over yet. Overall however, a dark and rich conclusion to an epic series. 7.7/10

Adam Gidwitz: A Tale Dark & Grimm (2010)

    Fairy tales have never been more irreverent or subversive as Hansel and Gretel learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after (Goodreads).

    With a cliched premise (the 'uncovering the 'true' fairy tale'), A Tale Dark and Grimm does excellently to be unique, starting with the fairy tale in question: Hansel and Gretel is not generally a fairy tale authors twist up, however Gidwitz does wonderfully with the classic fairytale, with humorous storytelling, however his many interjections (although amusing) break up the story and make it seem choppy. Also, for all the hype about being gory, the book doesn't quite live up to it. Dark, for sure, but gory, not extremely. Still, this darkly humorous tale is a lovely bit of storytelling. 7.9/10

Rick Riordan: The Hidden Oracle (2016)

    After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disorientated, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favour (Goodreads).

    Finally, Rick Riordan writes with new, fresh characters and an original plot, even though he is once again just modernizing ancient Greek myths. Apollo is an amusing, self-centered character, and although he is an ancient God, Riordan manages to dispense great character development. Riordan finally seems to let go of Percy, although now he seems to be a convenient plot device. The climax is entertaining, and there is a twist ending that leaves readers wanting more. New and old characters respectively are able to keep readers engaged with Riordan's universe, and a supporting cast is also well executed. As per the norm, however, we are yet again bogged down by repeated addition of Greek (and Roman) names and places that no reader could memorize all of. 8.0/10

J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, & Jack Thorne: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts 1 & 2 (2016)

    While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places (Goodreads).

    However many fond memories this eighth Harry Potter story brings up, nostalgia alone does not cover the fact that The Cursed Child seems like a fanfiction. With a few ridiculous story elements (see the fact that Voldemort actually had a child; or the trolley lady insanity), the story lacks the original charm of the Harry Potter series, whether that is because of the script format or that it is not focused on magic anymore, instead on relationships and character development, that admittedly is done rather well. Scorpius in particular is an excellent character who is one of few that are not flat.Even with some typical amusing Ron quips, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has a somewhat confusing plot, although with some well done emotional scenes, and just manages to keep readers satisfied. 6.9/10