Catching Fire

Written with the same amount of intensity, excitement, and drive, this highly-anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games does not disappoint.

:Spoiler ONLY if you have NOT read the first book::

Synopsis: It picks right where it left off in the first book in this young adult trilogy. Katniss won the games, but so did Peeta. Now they are back in the city of Panem, and the government (fondly called the Capitol) is furious as to how both of them tricked them into letting two contestants win. This results in a plan of twisted vengeance that could change not only their lives, but the future of the whole city.

Review: This sequel has everything the first book has, so if you liked that one, you would like this too. Truthfully, a part of me actually thought this was better than its predecessor, which is a rarity when it comes to follow-ups.
In Catching Fire, we learn more about the main characters, as well as the Capitol, which I thought was really interesting and intriguing.

Overall, I think this was used mainly as a follow-up, adding in much needed information that the first book lacked, and as a perfect transition for its conclusion in the final book. A very good one at that. Fans will not be disappointed.

Note: Final book will be out on Aug2010.

The Girl Who Played with Fire

This is a sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. And again, for this review, I will not be writing my own synopsis.

Synopsis: Lisbeth Salander is a wanted woman. Two Millennium journalists about to expose the truth about the sex trade in Sweden are brutally murdered, and Salander's prints are on the weapon. Her history of unpredictable and vengeful behaviour makes her an official danger to society - but no-one can find her anywhere. Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist, editor-in-chief of Millennium, will not believe what he hears on the news. Knowing Salander to be fierce when fearful, he is desperate to get to her before she is cornered and alone. As he fits the pieces of the puzzle together, he comes up against some hardened criminals, including the chainsaw-wielding 'blond giant' - a fearsomely huge thug who can feel no pain. Digging deeper, Blomkvist also unearths some heart-wrenching facts about Salander's past life. Committed to psychiatric care aged 12, declared legally incompetent at 18, this is a messed-up young woman who is the product of an unjust and corrupt system. Yet Lisbeth is more avenging angel than helpless victim - descending on those that have hurt her with a righteous anger terrifying in its intensity and truly wonderful in its outcome. - Source

Review: If you have read my review for its predecessor, you would know I wasn't exactly raving too much about it. But I'm happy to say that this sequel turned out much better than that.
One of my main complaints with the first one was that the characters were not well developed enough. Here, we get to learn more about them, which I liked a lot. Also, I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before, but Larsson really paints a strong woman in one of his main characters, which I highly respect. I like an author--especially one from the opposite sex--that can see see women as they are, and not be afraid to depict them as that in their stories.
Another good thing about this is the pace. It no longer seemed to draw out with unnecessary subplots, but went straight to the point instead. It was much faster to read as well, and much more exciting. There were many plot twists, but none of them seemed forced.

Overall, I recommend this book. A well-done thriller.
By the way, I honestly don't think you need to read the first book to understand the story of this one, although of course that is preferable.

RIP Stieg Larsson

Rebel Angels

Being a fan of the first book, A Great and Terrible Beauty, I was quite ecstatic to read this one.

This sequel is still about Gemma Doyle and her friends, this time set during Christmas time in London. I won’t give anything away, not even a summary of the story.

We all know how sequels have the tendency to disappoint. Usually they fail to live up to its predecessor, but that is definitely not the case with this one. In fact, I found myself enjoying it more than the first one. I liked how the characters have evolved into different people. Their transitions are realistic, and despite the fact that this is a fantasy book, the events and situations happening are believable. It still had the same gothic, eerie feel to it, the same exciting pace, and excellent literary writing. What added was also the big plot and character twists.::Spoilers:: I just have to comment also that I thought one of the best parts of this sequel is Pippa’s character change. I found her creepy and disturbing, but still lovable at the same time. I find it sad though, knowing that she just won’t be the same again.

I can not wait to read the third and final book from this trilogy. I love this series. I will definitely recommend this to any young adult reader, or to anybody who enjoys fantasy books, no matter what the age.