Review: Strike: Dawn Of The Daybreaker

Title: Strike: Dawn of the Daybreaker

Series: The STRIKE Trilogy Book 2

Author: Charlie Wood

Publisher: Createspace

Published: October 9, 2012

Genre: Young Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 211

Source: Received from author

Read: March 13-23 2013

My Rating: 3 Stars

Goodreads: Add To Your TBR Shelf

Goodreads Synopsis:

It has been seven months since Tobin Lloyd became the superhero known as “Strike,” and the city of Boston, Massachusetts has never been safer. Yes, it turns out Tobin is pretty good at this superhero-stuff…even if he has to balance it with hanging out with friends, doing homework, and trying to graduate from high school.

However, a threat is looming that Tobin is unaware of: the red giant named Rigel—the last follower of the super-villain Vincent Harris—is still alive, and he is plotting to continue Vincent’s invasion and enslavement of the planet Earth. To do so, he is searching for a bizarre creature known as “The Daybreaker,” a super-villain so powerful that no one on Earth (or Capricious) will be able to stop it.

Will Tobin and his friends—Orion, Keplar, and Scatterbolt—discover Rigel’s plan before it is too late? Exactly who is this Daybreaker, and where did he come from? And even if the heroes succeed, will anything ever be the same again?

Featuring new characters, new locations, and new revelations, STRIKE: DAWN OF THE DAYBREAKER is the thrilling sequel to the young adult fantasy novel STRIKE: THE HERO FROM THE SKY.

Tobin Lloyd’s adventures are about to continue…whether he is ready for them or not

Melissa's Musings:

Tobin's adventures pick up 7 months from where he left off. He's still trying to find a balance between normal life and that of a superhero, and it's definitely a challenge for him.

This book is full of action and cool stunts, and quip filled dialogue. While the action is full, as are the twists and turns to keep things interesting, I have to say that for me, this book suffered a bit of the sophomore slump. 

Yes, there's action, yes there are twists and turns, but it feels like the author was struggling a bit in this middle book of the trilogy, leaving the really juicy dialogue and descriptions for the last book in the series. Some of the descriptions are repetitive in spots, and some of the sequences just seem a little too formal, they don't mesh with the flow you might expect.

In other spots, some of the action sequences in particular, I could really imagine the scenes as they were happening. At a few points I found myself thinking that this set of books with some polishing would make a really neat superhero franchise.

There are a few elements that I really liked. For instance, the introduction of Adrianna as a love interest for Tobin. She's supposed to be on the opposing team, but then she ends up helping Tobin out a few times as well. The love interest element is simple, and not overdone, which is great.

I also like the attention to some of the smaller details such as the Chrono Key. I really like the fact that this super hero gadget allows the user to travel through time, but only into the past, because the future hasn't happpened yet and is constantly changing with every decision that's made. Often times, stories with elements of time travel can account for suspected futures, but it makes a person wonder what they're really based on and what shaped these futures. The past has already happened, so you have a solid base to go back to, and as a reader you (usually) know what has happened so it's easier to navigate through than imagined futures might be.

That's not to say that I don't like stories with future time travel, I just think that the author made a wise choice in making it so that the Chrono Key can only take someone into the past.

The copy that I have has a different cover than the one posted here, and  I have to say I like the cover on my copy better. The cover pictured above is just cold and a bit stiff. The one I've got is more vibrant and colorful which is why I enjoy it more.

The story is solid and sets up well with an enticing cliffhanger that makes you wonder just how it's all going to turn out in the end. I'd recommend this for anyone who likes stories about superheroes.

Behind the Blog 29: Much to be Thankful For

Behind The Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts Faye Kathe and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or media they find interesting!

This week's theme is Thankfulness

With Thanksgiving having been just last week here in the US, and Christmas approaching, I thought it might be nice to take a break from all the holiday hustle and bustle for a  moment and reflect on the things that we are all thankful for this year. What are you most thankful for? Are there any particular events that have made you particularly thankful or appreciative of anyone or anything?

In relation to books and media:

What are some books and movies that teach good lessons about being thankful? Who are some characters who learn to be thankful for what they have?


I'm thankful for many things, not just during the holiday season but each and every day.

I'm thankful for both of my families, near and far. I say both families because Dearran's family has welcomed me and embraced me as much as my own family has. I'm grateful to have two groups of great people who support me as much as they do.

I'm thankful for Dearran. He is as supportive as a girl could ask for. He usually knows just the right thing to say to make me feel better when I'm having a cruddy day or feeling low. He makes me laugh. He loves me and is not ashamed to tell me so, or let anyone else know for that matter. I'm thankful that even though things can be difficult for us at times, we are strong enough to weather whatever life has to throw at us.

I'm thankful for my friends. Each one of them brings light, joy, and perspective to my life, for which I am always grateful.

I'm thankful for my good health. My health is by no means perfect, but it is good.

I'm thankful for the book blogging community. It's been great to interact with all of you over the past year that I've been blogging. Blogging hasn't been without some drama, but I don't think I would have had nearly as much fun if I hadn't connected with some of you. Thank you to those who have taken this relative newbie under their wing.

I'm thankful for the books. Oh the books. I've read such a variety this year. I've laughed, I've cried, I've sat shaking my head thinking "WTF?" Without all these books there would be no blog, so I will always be thankful for books, whatever their format.

I'm thankful that I'm finally becoming more comfortable in my own skin. This is an ongoing process, but I am thankful for every moment of clarity, self growth, and understanding.

I'm thankful for all the experiences I've had this year, good and bad, that have shaped me. This year has been difficult, for several reasons, but all the events I've gone through this year have had an impact on who I am and who I want to become.

There are several other things that I'm thankful for on a daily basis, but I won't list them all.

What are you thankful for?

Books and Media:

Photo Credit goes to IMDB

Groundhog Day might seem like an odd choice, but I think it fits. Phil is stuck in a time loop, destined to live the same day over and over again. Only after he goes about using the skills he's learned to befriend and help the members of his town does he escape the time loop. He learns that instead of dreading things and trying to get out of them, he should be thankful for the skills and abilities he does have and use them to help other people.

Cover Credit to: Goodreads

I reviewed Twelve Months just a few weeks ago. You can check out that review HERE This book embodies thankfulness through the main character, Don. Dying of cancer, he realizes that he needs to make the most out of the time that he has left. He isn't concerned with stuff or consumerism, but memories, and he cherishes and is thankful for each extra moment he gets to spend with his family, even the ones that aren't so great.

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Happy Thanksgiving A Little late

As I've been going through my email today, I realized that I completely forgot to do a Thanksgiving related post. It just slipped my mind to do the post, but the things I'm thankful for did not/

I had (and have every day) much to be thankful for:

My families, both near and far.
My fantastic boyfriend
My friends
My good health
The roof over my head.
The delicious food that I got the chance to enjoy yesterday.
The wonderful book bloggers and authors that I have met and interacted with, and the book blogging community that I have become a part of over the last 11 months.
My personal library of books that I've accumulated.
All of the events, both good and bad, that have shaped me into the person I am today.

I have all of these things, and many more that I am thankful for each and every day.

I hope that all of my American followers had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, joy and delicious food. For all of my international followers I hope you had a wonderful Thursday. For anyone who is or already has braved Black Friday shopping, I commend you and hope you were/are being safe because it can be crazy out there. My shopping is mostly done, and what little I have left will be done in a few errands next week/online.

Women On Writing Blog Tour Stop: Until My Soul Gets it Right Review and Guest Post

Today I'm happy to be bringing you a review of Until My Soul Gets It Right by Karen Wojcik Berner as part of WOW Blog Tours. First though, I'd like to direct your attention to the following guest post by Karen herself.

Masquerade
By Karen Wojcik Berner

Thank you so much for having me here today.

In my latest novel, “Until My Soul Gets It Right (The Bibliophiles: Book Two),” the Bibliophiles classics book club members go on a field trip to All Hallow’s Eve at Naper Settlement, a local living history museum. They see Edgar Allan Poe and the three witches from “MacBeth,” plus Dracula and a Puritan witch trial, all good, frightening, classic literary festivity .

One of the best things about Halloween is that for one day each year, you can be whomever or whatever you want. Well, that and the fact that you can walk down the street wearing said costume without people thinking you are a little nuts.

This year, what about a character from classic horror or gothic literature?

Sure, people always dress as Frankenstein, but it’s usually the green and square-headed Universal Studios version. What about a monster that looks sewn together with mismatched body parts like in Mary Shelley’s book?

How about the Phantom of the Opera, Gaston Leroux style? Or Lucifer from  Shakespearean contemporary Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus?”  Wouldn’t that be fun?

Here are some of my favorite literary costume ideas.

The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Assemble a frame around you, dress in a debonair suit, and gradually age you face with makeup from one side to the other.

Ichabod Crane or the Headless Horseman from Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other Classic Tales.”

Dracula’s mistresses. Remember the three vampire women in Dracula’s castle who torment Jonathan Harker?

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It could be a great two-face concept or a couple’s costume.

What about the famous ladies of gothic literature, such as Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca or Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre?

Any character created by the Brothers Grimm, scary, as they were intended to be, not happy children’s fairy tales. Maybe the wolf dressed as grandma, hiding to ensnare Little Red Riding Hood, a wicked queen, or even Rumpelstiltskin?

These are just a few of the many possible options. How about you? What would your favorite literary Halloween costume look like?

My Thoughts on the Book:

A couple of days ago, I reviewed A Whisper to A Scream which is Book 1 in the Bibliophiles series. You can check out that review HERE 

Here's some information about  Until My Soul Gets it Right which is the next book in the Bibliophiles series:

Title: Until My Soul Gets It Right

Author: Karen Wojcik Berner

Series: The Bibliophiles-Book Two

Publisher: CreateSpace

Publication Date: May 23 2012

Pages:  294

Source: Provided by the author for the purposes of this blog tour

in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 4 Stars
Buy The Book: Amazon

Synopsis:

The ladies (and men) of the Bibliophiles Book Club are back!  This time the spotlight is on Catherine. Catherine Elbert has never been good at making decisions, whether it was choosing an ice cream flavor as a child or figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew up. The only thing Catherine knew for sure was there had to be more to her life than being stuck on her family’s farm.

So Catherine became enamored with the complete opposite of the flat farmlands of Burkesville, Wisconsin – the ocean, lobsters, and rugged coast of Portland, Oregon. Despite her parents’ threat to disown her and her brothers’ bets on how many days until she comes home Catherine heads for Peaks Island, off the coast of Portland.

She is finally free. Or so she thought. What Catherine forgot was that you can’t run away from yourself!

Melissa's Musings:

This book provides an in depth look at the life of Catherine Elbert, who we met only briefly in A Whisper to A Scream. I have to admit that although I was curious about her in the first book, she's not quite what I thought she would be. 

Catherine grows up on a farm in the midwest with one goal in mind. Get the heck out of there. And who can blame her? Her brothers pick on her and blame her for everything, (even as adults) and her mother only tells her what she's doing wrong. I'd want to escape that life too if I were her. 

So, she does. She sees a travel show on PBS about Maine, and she decides to move there. She meets some wonderful people and makes some good friends, but she also gets into a  bit of trouble, and eventually has to escape that situation too. I won't say what happens so I don't spoil anything but lets just say that it's serious. The only thing that I have a problem with in this section of the story and in another spot too is that she gets a job really quickly and doesn't have to struggle at all. Call me cynical, but that just seems too unrealistic to me. 

Catherine does go through a lot though and her growth is nice to watch. She starts to stick up for herself once she is free of her family. And although she doesn't quite fit in with her husband's family she tries her best to make it work.

The juxtaposition between "normal Catherine" and "actress Catherine" has to be hard for her to maintain, so I'm hoping that if we see more of her in the next book, these two parts of her personality will have merged a little bit better.

In my first review I mentioned that the dialogue is a bit stiff. I'm happy to say that the dialogue is much improved in this book. It's still stiff in a few spots but it has a more natural flow to it now, it seemed to me like the author has found her flow and it shows. There's harsher language in this book too. Nothing crazy, just some cussing. But there are also some scenes of violence as well which is a bit of a change from the first book. Not a bad one, because it completely furthers the story, it's just different.

The one thing I wish there were more of is involvement of the actual books in the book club. It's probably just because I love books so much myself but I'd really like to see them apply some of the life lessons in the books they're reading in the club to their own lives as the story goes on.

Overall this was  a great book. Other than a few minor issues I really enjoyed it. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series, Sarah and Annie: A Bibliophiles Christmas which is due out in November 2012.

I want to thank WOW Blog Tours for letting me be a part of the tour and allowing me to review this book*

*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for this honest review.

Special note:

Be sure to check out the contest that Karen is having on her website. Until the end of the tour, October 12, she is holding a giveaway where TEN lucky people can win a copy of  A Whisper to a Scream

ENTER HERE!