The Thirteenth Tale By: Diane Setterfield

http://www.amazon.com/Thirteenth-Tale-Novel-Diane-Setterfield/dp/B004H8GLXQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319774918&sr=1-1


*It has been awhile since I've read this and I do suffer from book amnesia so hopefully I am remembering everything correctly. Please feel free to let me know of any mistakes.
Cleanliness:
The language is clean. There is one semi-awkward moment in this book but is less than a page long.


Summary:
Margaret Lea is the daughter of a book owner and the author of of a few, short, insignificant biographies. Out of the blue Margaret receives a letter from a world renowned author, Vida Winter. Vida is asking Margaret to write her biography. The trick is that Vida Winter has never told anyone her real life story. Throughout the years she has spun tales about her life, never answering a question the same and leaving all her fans wondering who she really is.


But now Vida promises to tell Margaret the truth. And Margaret can't help but wonder why Vida would choose her, of all biographers, to tell the truth to. She also can't help but wonder if Vida is really ready to tell the truth. What secret has she been keeping all these years? Can it possibly compare to the painful secret that Margaret has kept to herself for so long?


What I Really Liked:
Have you ever read a book where you're certain there must be a twist and you're fairly certain what the twist will be? But at the same time it seems too easy and you're hoping there is a different twist, one that you can't see. For me, this was not that book. For once I was unable to figure out the twist and I was definitely surprised at the end. Maybe I am just slow but this book surprised me and I loved that.


I also loved how well Setterfield developed the characters. You feel like you genuinely know them and you take an investment in them- even if they are peculiar. And if you are a book lover like me and maybe a little awkward, you might find Margaret a bit relatable, despite her oddities.    

What I Disliked:
There is some strong sisterly love that happens in this story that is likely to make you a wee bit uncomfortable. There's not a whole lot of joy in this book.


Reading Worth:
If you are looking for a smart, intriguing read this is definitely a book for you. However, it is pretty melancholy and you are might use a bit of brain power trying to figure out the twist so if you are looking for a light, upbeat book, this is not a book for you. 

Graceling By: Kristin Cashore

http://www.amazon.com/Graceling-Kristin-Cashore/dp/015206396X


Cleanliness: 

The language is clean. There is some sexual content but not enough that you would be embarrassed to lend it to your mother.

Summary:

If you like the Hunger Games & Twilight series, chances are you will also like this addicting book. It takes place in a fantasy world where there are 7 Kingdoms. Within these Kingdoms there are people who have special gifts or in other words, people who are graced. These gifts could be the ability to hear what others are thinking, to predict the weather or in Katsa's case, the ability to kill easily. 

Though Katsa's grace should make her unbeatable there is one thing she hasn't been able to overcome, her fear of disobeying King Randa. Instead she acts as his personal thug, physically harming those who have wronged him, even though sometimes their wrongs really aren't that wrong.

But a guilty conscience, or so I believe, has led Katsa to form a secret council that helps those who might be harmed by the wrong doings of any of the 7 Kings. And when this secret council saves a King's kidnapped father Katsa not only meets a Graceling who is equal to her strength but eventually learns the frightening truth behind the kidnapping which leads them to a battle a seemingly unstoppable evil.

What I Really Liked:

I really liked the love story because it felt believable. They didn't fall in love at first sight like Edward did with Bella and it took some time for strong willed, anti-marriage tough shelled Katsa to soften up and fall in love. I also loved that there wasn't a love triangle like in Twilight & Hunger Games, I felt no need to decorate any Team shirts because the love interest in this story didn't have any real competition.


What I Disliked:
The climax felt like it fizzled a little. I was prepared for an all out battle of some sort to end the reign of this unstoppable, evil King but instead it was over in a matter of moments. It left me feeling a bit disappointed.   


Reading Worth:
If you are looking for an easy, entertaining, addictive read this book is for you If you are looking for a smart, amazingly well-written, thought provoking book than this is not the book for you.