The Hunger Games (Book One, Hunger Games Trilogy)

Seventy four years ago, the thirteen districts of Panem (Post-Apocalyptic America), revolted against the Capitol, objecting against their degenerate and oppressive rule. The rebellion was put down, the thirteenth district was destroyed, the other twelve beaten. The Capitol decided to ensure the remaining district's loyalty by creating The Hunger Games. Every year, a boy and a girl, ages 12 to 18 from each district is chosen, by lottery or volition, to compete in a fight to the death, a competition in which the last person standing is designated the winner. Katniss Everdeen, the oldest daughter in a family of only her sister and mother, lives in district 12, the coal district, the most impoverished district. When the 74th Hunger Games arrives, Katniss's sister, Primrose (Prim), an innocent gentle girl who could never hurt a soul, is chosen as the female 'tribute' from their district. Horrified, Katniss volunteers in her place. Forcibly thrust into a world of orgies, death, slaughter, competition, decadency, betrayal, and love. Katniss is thrown into a competition, and a world, she could hardly ever had imagined. Along her journey, she learns that friends can be enemies and that no one, not even herself, can be trusted.

The Hunger Games is deservedly an international sensation. Filled with suspense and, a bit too much if you ask me, violence. Each part of the book compliments the whole. I understand that the violence is used to show the horror of the event, however, I feel that Suzanne Collins could have tuned it down, just a little bit. I recommend this book, but not for the faint of heart.

The Amber Spyglass (Book Three, His Dark Materials Series)

In the final installment of His Dark Materials, war is brewing, Coultier has gone into hiding and Lyra has disappeared. To find her, Will must join forces with Lyra's former companion, an Armoured Bear named Iorek Byrnison. Meanwhile, Lord Asriel is beginning to deploy his massive army against the Kingdom of Heaven, one that now numbers in the millions. However, in order to defeat The Authority, he must have the Subtle Knife, AEsahaettr, the God destroyer. As Asriel sends two Galvespian spies to find Lyra and Will, dark clouds are brewing, clouds that will force all to hide and take cover, clouds that will take Will and Lyra to the land of the dead, where everything will be righted once and for all.

The Amber Spyglass is an amazing story of life, love and loss. It was a compelling read that forced me to think deeper that I would normally about the plot, and life. In invigorating read it kept my up , burning the midnight oil. The entire story arc, beginning, middle and end is satisfactory and intriguing. The prequel, The Book of Dust, is coming to stores soon. The sequel, Lyra's Oxford, is already on the shelves.

The Subtle Knife (Book Two, His Dark Materials Series)

Just managing to escape Lord Asriel's insane project, with her life, Lyra finds herself stranded in a spectral world in between dimensions. This city is known as Cittagazze, the city of magpies. Also lost in this strange world is Will Parry, searching for his father after fleeing his (our) world. He is a murderer. Lyra joins Will in his search for his father as they travel between worlds in this adventure of a lifetime. But, at the same time, Ms. Coultier is searching for Lyra, for reasons unknown, and will stop at nothing to have her in her iron hard grasp. Meanwhile, Lord Asriel is beginning to amass an army, an army preparing for the greatest war of all time, a war against God. However, Lurking in the deepest, darkest, oldest, strangest reaches of Cittagazze is an item of extraordinary power, a weapon that could only be described as subtle.

The Subtle Knife is full of mystery, history, exploration, and alternate universes. The Subtle Knife is  intriguing, yet subtle, and hints as to who is actually pulling the strings.

Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) (Book One, His Dark Materials Series)

 In an alternate universe, much like ours, humans have their souls, called daemons, on the outside, not inside. One sunny day, 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua, along with her daemon Pantalamion, is hiding in the retiring room of her home, Jordan College, awaiting the arrival of her Uncle, Lord Asriel. When Lord Asriel enters and begins to pour the wine, Lyra, who earlier saw the Master of Jordan College pour poison into Asriel's decanter, bursts out of hiding and tells Asriel of the Master's plot. After Asriel leaves the college, Lyra meets a woman, Marisa Coultier. Enchanted by Ms. Coultier, Lyra is sent to live with her by the Master. Before her departure, the Master of Jordan gives Lyra a small golden compass, an Alethiometer, a truth teller, and instructs her not to let Coultier see it. But, when Lyra learns of Coultier's true nature, she flees and is rescued by passing Gyptian boatmen. Hurled into a world that she could never have dreamed of, Lyra must travel to the frozen north to find Asriel while, at the same time, evading the shady General Oblation Board, or Gobblers, and managing to stay alive. But, what will Lyra find when she goes to Asriel in the frozen island of Svalbard?

The Golden Compass is filled with mystery, suspence, action and, of course, armored bears. The Golden Compass is a great read for those who love fantasy, alternate dimensions, and armored bears.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book Five, Harry Potter Series)

In the aftermath of the Triwizard Tournament, the Dark Lord Voldemort has been resurrected using Harry's blood, Cedric Diggory has been killed and Harry's life has been changed forever. However, things once again take a turn for the worse. At every turn, the Ministry of Magic is furiously trying to discredit both Harry and Professor Dumbledore and put down their claims that Voldemort has returned. In addition, the Ministry has appointed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge, who begins to take school matters into her own hands. As Voldemort's power and influence grows and as the Ministry begins to take control of Hogwarts, Harry and his friends must fight against two very powerful foes while retaining their friendship and humanity. Deep in the Ministry of Magic, within the Department of Mysteries, there lies a Prophesy, one that will decide the fate of the wizarding world, and ours, and will dictate the lives of Harry and all he loves. Both Harry and Voldemort need this relic, yet only one can obtain it. It is the weapon the Dark Lord did not have last time he surfaced and tried to gain total power, and the weapon around which both their lives depend.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  is a great installment in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, and the scene within the Department of Mysteries is both sad, triumphant and completely riveting. One of my favorites in the series. I loved this book and hope you do too.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book Four, Harry Potter Series)

The Triwizard Tournament, a legendary event amongst the three greatest European schools of magic, Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons. It is the ultimate test of a witch or wizard's skill in the magical arts and the winner will be bathed in eternal glory. This year at Hogwarts, Harry's fourth, is the first Tournament in over two-hundred years. With potential competitors from all three schools arriving to Hogwarts this year Harry is excited to experience this historic event, but has no intention of participating. In order to participate, the contestants must place their names into the Goblet of Fire, which will make the decision as to who will participate, one per school. To insure that there would be no casualties this year (there were before and the tournament was discontinued for two-hundred years) and that underage wizards could not compete, Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, placed an Age Line around the Goblet. However, when the contestants are announced, Harry's name is amongst those chosen! Thrust into the Triwizard Tournament, Harry must now fight for his life and his humanity in three grueling events that will try to break him both mentally and physically. As Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire hurtles to it's ultimate conclusion, betrayal and treachery will be revealed and many a question will be answered. What is the secret of the graveyard Harry dreams of, and what is it's connection to the Tournament? These questions and more will be answered in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is one of the most well-written books in the series, filled with action, suspense and teenage angst (wait . . . what?). The scene at the end of the book (the one with the  cauldron) is one of my favorite in the series despite my initial reaction, "Well . . . ^&#%."

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book Three, Harry Potter Series)

Entering his third year at Hogwarts, Harry has defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort, (for now . . .), has protected the Sorcerer's Stone from evil, and has slain the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets with the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. Simply put, a lot has transpired yet, thirteen-year-old Harry still hungers for the truth about his past and his strange connection to Voldemort. However, an ominous presence now looms over Hogwarts. As the train to the famed school of magic nears it's destination, the compartments are searched and ransacked  by Dementors, horrifying, ghoulish, creatures with the ability to steal someone's emotions and soul. Confused over the Dementor's presence, the students' questions are soon answered when they learn that the mass murderer Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, his whereabouts unknown. According to popular belief, Sirius was the one the betrayed Lilly and James Potter, Harry's parents, to Voldemort. As time goes on, however, Harry begins to realize that Sirius has a greater connection to him than he could have ever imagined. As the clock ticks, the danger and suspense only grows as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban hurtles to its ultimate conclusion.

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my two favorites in the series, along with book seven, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Prisoner of Azkaban has just the right balance of action, suspense, and magic. Moreover, it is a turning point in the series where our understanding of the main characters and the interconnections among them deepen. It is also the book where Sirius Black, a combination loyalty and bravery, and one of my favorite characters, is introduced.