Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Title: Ever
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Age Group: Tweens
# of Pages: 244
My Rating: 1/5

Kezi loves to dance and knot rugs. She wants a simple life and lives with her loving family. She never expects to have her death arrive so soon because of an oath her father made to the god Admat.

Olus is seventeen, god of the winds who falls in love with Kezi from a distance. He got a job as a goat herder from Kezi's father when he didn't want to being staying up in the gods' world no more. When he realizes that Kezi will die, he tries to find a way to save her life. It is a dangerous task where both may fail and death can be the result.

This book is incredibly disappointing in my standards. I guess one of the reason is that since it is written for a much younger audience so there is little details of the surroundings and such. It is written in first person, which I don't mind for most of the time but the fact is that it is all in present tense! I can't stand books like that back I like them all in the past tense. Reading it for the most part was torture for me. I just hated this writing style Mrs. Levine wrote in. I adore Fairest so when I turned to Ever, I was expecting for some more surprises and excitement. And the fact that religion comes into play I don't like so much. Well, at least the cover is pretty.

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

Title: Fairest
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Age Group: Tweens
# of Pages: 326
My Rating: 4/5

The very first thing that drew my attention to this book for making me wanting to read it was the cover. I simply adore this cover because of the unique medieval concept and the model at the front. The summary about the story also captured me. After reading it, it was satisfying though I need hope for a better ending. Nonetheless it was enjoyable enough for any fantasy lover. More so recommended for girls of course. The characters were interesting though I don't really like the prince. He was just sorta there if you know what I mean.

Aza was abandoned in her adoptive parents inn about one month old. She is raised by her loving family that treated her like she was blood-related and love her dearly as much as she loves them back. Aza has one of the most beautiful singing voice that anyone could ever heard of. She is able to "illuse" (a term that she created), meaning that she can throw her voice where it seems like it came from a different location. Of course within reasons because she can not make her voice appear on the other side of the world. It is a fantastic thing to to have lovely singing because it is one of the most prized quality of Kingdom of Ayortha. There is one other quality that everyone takes into consideration when judging a person on this mystical land that Aza does not have, beauty. In fact, she is on the other end of the spectrum. She is downright hideous! People would be completely rude to her because of her appearance.

One faithful day, a cat-loving duchess came to the inn. She was going to go to the royal wedding of King Oscaro and the commoner from Kyrrian, Ivi. The Duchess companion caught a cold so she had no one else to take. She decided to take Aza so she would not show up to the castle alone.

While at the castle, the queen made Aza lady-in-waiting. The queen has a jealous personality and wants many things. When she found out about Aza's talent, she asks her for a risky request that puts many in danger, including Aza herself.