Xor: The Shape of Darkness by Moshe Sipper Review

Xor: The Shape of Darkness by Moshe Sipper

Published by Amazon
Format: Paperback
Source: Given by author in exchange for honest review

SUMMARY:

 On his twelfth birthday Lewis Nash comes home from school to find that his house has blown up to smithereens, killing his father. Having lost his mother in an accident four years earlier, Lewis realizes he is now an orphan - but he has no time to dwell on it. The moment he gets off the school bus a fearsome wolf-man tries to grab him. The boy is saved in the nick of time by Master Long, who reveals to him that he's a Shaper from a place called Xor, which is being devoured by the Realm Pirates. Lewis learns that must do his utmost to become the powerful Shaper he was destined to be. 

Because, it would seem, he's the one and only chance Xor has.

Review: 

Lewis is brave, intelligent and way more mature than any 12 year old. But then again, he is Lord Shaper. You know he's a big deal if he has Lord beside his title. One with utmost power should reflect his power. As soon as he finds out his dad is dead, avoiding being kidnapped from an evil creature, he is snatched away into the world of Xor, where he finds out about his new identity and adjusts to the reality of being the only one that can save his planet. Meeting great friends and mentors, battling the darkness inside him, and faced with people that are deceitful, Lewis only has less than a week to save Xor before it's entirely consumed by darkness. A great protagonist to compliment this crazy roller coaster of a story. There were so many adventures and antagonists to keep the book from becoming boring. A lot of the times I found myself trying to solve problems along with Lewis and his friends.

However, a big flaw was the writing. I found it to be a little... simple. In my opinion this would be more of a novel for preteens instead of youth adults. I found this book to be quite repetitive, especially near the end. Lewis was so inquisitive it got to the point of a little annoying. The beginning could have been built up a little bit more as well, allow the readers time to adjust to the new setting.

The ending was I think what I enjoyed the most. It was unpredictable and left me feeling warm hearted. I would have this novel is considered both a hit and miss for me. But on the side note, if Xor turned into a movie I predict it'd be a big hit. I would definitely go see it if I was someone that hadn't read the book yet.

Rating: 3.5/5

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren

I hope it's not too late to do my IMM.

For Review:

The Dirt by Lori Culwell (I just got this today!)

Cyber Freak Debt by Stuart Wilson (eBook)

From NetGalley:

Demons (Seers #2) by Heather Frost

The Blue Door (The Threshold #1) by Christa Kinde 

Follow Friday (14)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

This week's feature is The Bookshelf Review.
Be sure to follow him!

Follow Friday`s question this week was :

Q. What would you do over if you were to start your blog again from scratch.

A. My layout. That's my biggest problem with our blog to be honest. I think I should have started blogging when I had more knowledge with html etc. I still don't really know much about it, and I have yet to find someone who could help me out in that department haha. But other than that, I think it would've helped out blog a lot if before starting this blog we learned how to run a blog instead of winging it.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Review

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games (#1)
Published by Scholastic Inc.

SUMMARY:

 Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before --- and survival, for here, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes as contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Review:

I would've read this book as soon as it came out but at that time, it didn't interest me in any way whatsoever. That was a HUGE mistake. However, I am finally able to join in on all the hype.

I am a huge fan of stories with make believe or futuristic worlds. The setting created in this story seemed so fascinating I was hooked before the real games even started. The build-up and introduction of characters created great excitement because it felt like I was right there observing and watching the events take place. All the describing and explaining at the beginning was within perfect pace. It did take half the book before the Games began but I didn't have to guess and interpret my way through the book.
The Games itself was epic, dangerous, adrenaline rushing, violent,  somewhat gruesome deaths filled with mischievous and devious schemes to get rid of their opponents. It's either kill or be killed.

Katniss was the perfect contestant. Edgy, bold, feisty, independent, clever, nimble, a hunter at heart. The supporting characters brought out Katniss' personality and survival instincts and proved to many how girls can be more tough than guys. Peeta and Katniss' completely opposite personalities showed how well these two would be as a couple. He melted Katniss's ice cold personality a little showing her more desirable and caring side.

Collins has written the perfect book that allows readers to get away from the real world, and escape into someone else's.

On a side note, right after I finished reading the book I went to watch the movie. The movie was a little disappointing but I did expect this, movies never really do the book justice. The arena and elements in it were different than what I had visualized in my mind, however, it was still an enjoyable movie.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Followers Mark

Your Average Bookworms has finally reached its 100 followers mark!
We started back in March of 2011. Back then, we never would've thought our blog would be as successful as it is now. Sure compared to other blogs we may not be that popular, but to us, it exceeded our expectations. We went into blogging purely out of our own enjoyment and wish to express our feelings.
We really hope to have many more followers in the future. We'll continue to do our best in providing quality reviews and a blog that anyone will love. :) Thank you guys so much for being such awesome followers.

YAB~