Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Title: Cleopatra's Daughter
Author: Michelle Moran
Pages: 448
Publisher: Crown

Publication Date: September 15, 2009

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, but only two—the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander—survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters.

Selene has lost everything; her parents, her kingdom, and her brother. Octavian brings her and her twin, Alexander from Egypt to Rome and provides them with enough adventure to last a lifetime. Selene struggles to stay and behave as she is introduced to rebellion, first love, and the great empire of Imperial Rome. She goes through many sufferings, but will she ultimately overcome them all?

Woven with immense clarity and diversity, Michelle Moran writes a novel full of rich history and adventure. Selene's narrative is mature and original. Her character is solid from the very start and only grew as the novel progressed. And unlike many other protagonists, Selene is headstrong and knows what she wants.

The mystery in Cleopatra's Daughter is captivating and suspenseful. The Red Eagle is rebellious and nobody can catch him. Selene admires him and doesn't know that he's actually closer to her than she thinks...

Architecture and art plays a big role in Cleopatra's Daughter. It is described vividly and beautifully. Selene finds solace in her work and defies tradition and insists in doing what she loves. She never gives up as people try to stop her from achieving her goals. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: Cleopatra's Daughter is the perfect historical fiction read. It's full of suspense, mystery, and, of course, romance. The ending is my favorite; it's sweet and completely unpredictable! Just like the book!

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9.5/10
Theme: 9.5/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 8/10
Total Score: 96/100 (A+)

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Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Pages: 352
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publication Date: August 1, 2009

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters---

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, they find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Prophecy of the Sisters is an unprecedented and transcendent start to a new series. From the turn of the first page, up until the flip of the last page, Zink persistently keeps the reader captivated and absorbed in the book. Zink writes with perfect balance and vivid imagery that establish the dark, cryptic, and elegant ambiance that is the Prophecy of the Sisters.

Zink's engrossing and powerfully suspenseful plot was executed with great authenticity and skill. Zink's lyrical and alluring prose helped cultivate the eerie and graceful atmosphere throughout the totality of the novel. The vividly-described setting is matched flawlessly with the ominous, enigmatic time era.

An interesting aspect of the novel is the relationship between Lia and James. Their easy-flowing romance has suddenly become dark and secretive. What used to be luminous and blithe is now withdrawn and obscure. The bonds between her and James seem to slowly crumble with the lack of trust and--seemingly--love.

Throughout the entirety of this novel, the reader will feel like Lia is suffocating and trapped in all the events and conflicts that distinguish themselves. Lia, herself, is a strong and unique character...not at all like any stereotype. The unknown mysteries about the prophecy pique her interests. And as she delves deeper, and deeper, she is slowly becoming the very heart of the prophecy. She must fight against Alice; no matter what it takes. Intense pressure and grief must not overcome her. If it does, nothing will ever be the same...everything will change---for the worse.

The Bottom Line: If I was to describe the Prophecy of the Sisters, I would choose beautiful. Beautiful is a simple word, yet it portrays more than any other word could. Zink delivers a magical tale of two sisters with the surrounding of lies, deceit, and hate. This debut author seems like she's been in this business for a much longer than 2009. I can't wait for the next installation of the series to come out! A+ :-)

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8.5/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9.5/10
Theme: 9/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 9/10
Total Score: 95.5/100 (A+)

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Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Title: Just Ella
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Pages: 240
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 27, 2007

Being a princess isn't all that. . .

You've heard the fairytale: a glass slipper, Prince Charming, happily ever after. . .

Welcome to reality: royal genealogy lessons, needle-point, acting like "a proper lady", and---worst of all---a prince who is not the least bit interesting, and certainly not charming.

As soon-to-be princess Ella deals with her newfound status, she comes to realize she is not "your majesty" material. But breaking off a royal engagement is not easy feat, especially when you're crushing on another boy in the palace. . .For Ella to escape, it will take intelligence, determination, and spunk---and no ladylike behavior allowed.

Okay, I have to be honest. . .the only thing great in this book was the plot. . .it stops there. Don't get me wrong, I hate writing bad reviews. That's why my lowest rating is going to be a 'D'. No author deserves an 'F'.

Haddix's writing was the most boring I've read. It was dull and unexciting. I was snoring by the time I got to page 3. . . literally. I've looked at what others thought about this book and surprisingly, Just Ella elicited almost-perfect reviews. Maybe it's just me then.

Haddix just couldn't accomplish charismatic writing. Instead, the book ended up colorless and passive. To get to the point, I was bored out of my mind. Even though this book was practically lifeless, I persisted in reading it so that I could have this review done (plus, I hate it when I don't finish a book).

Ella was practically the only thing in Just Ella that was great. She was so full of life. I loved her from start to finish (and Jed also). They made the plot more lively and less boring. Is it possible to hate the writing but love the characters and the plot?

The Bottom Line: I didn't get why people liked this book so much. For me, I was extremely disappointed with the book, aside from the characters and the plot. I guess it was just too 'middle-aged' for me. But who knows? You might like it. Me? Not so much. D
:-)

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