Xariel

Somehow it feels that there is way too many new books using the same ideas. This book has huge similarities to two books, first and the more famous one is Twilight, and there is Alyson Noel's Evermore and its sequels. It's very noticeable when you read all of these three books, especially when you read the sequels for each one, too. Immortal guy, non-immortal girlfriend, hard time believing that their love can really work, then there is an other guy that the girl feels very strongly about, we get to know that the guy is something else than he looks like - Angel, Vampire, Immortal - it varies so no one can really blame anyone for plagiarizing, but come on, something new for once?

Fallen has its own good places, at some places the book is actually interesting and I like the characters. But then there is these moments when I start thinking "Wait a moment, didn't I just read this last week?". If you haven't read Evermore, you might not notice these similarities. But the more you read, the more disturbing it grows.

Daniel is a basic male character in this type of books, he has his secrets and he disappears suddenly and acts weird and has supernatural abilities... (Is that what girls really want, by the way?) He is handsome and tall and slim and Luce has a weirdly drawn to him from the first moment, not knowing why... Somehow by now so basic that I was actually surprised that I gave this book four stars. Well, I'm not rating the psychological side of the book or the depth of the characters as much as the basic entertainment I got.

The Saga of Harry Potter started in Philosopher's/Sorcerer's stone. This is the First book. Without this book, and people who read and bought this, we wouldn't have other Potters to read. It's not a bad achievement. ;)

So, I like this book. It's not my favourite one, but it's a very good book and a lot better than Harry Potter 2 or 3 or 4. Number 5 (Order of phoenix) is just like this (good), and the others too. :)

And what's the Thing in these books? Why so many people are crazy about these? I have no simple answer, but I have two little things why I like Potters so much.

The World is the thing number one. Hogwarts, Quidditch, Diagon Alley... It's so big, detailed... and reader knows a lot of things about J.K. Rowling's world without reading about these things. I mean, that thigs somehow come to your mind along the way, and that's how the world starts to live. More important is what author doesn't tell and you still know/guess them than what she tells and you know that way. That's because the most important information is hidden between the lines, instead of author saying it straight.

The Thing number two is characters. Maybe a boy like Potter isn't very unique character in fantasy, but in the books are also many minor characters who are captivating and beautifully made. For example Luna Lovegood.

Philosopher's stone starts with prologue. There are archenemy who kills little boy's parents and tries to kill the Boy also but fails. The enemy dies for a while, and the boy who stayed alive gets a lightning-blot-shaped scar in his forehead. That's the beginning.

Book tells the story of Harry Potter's first year in witches' and wizards' school. He meets new friends and other caharacters, good and evil ones... and so the story goes on.

This book will do nicely for teens and children, and I'm sure that some adults can enjoy it like their children do. :) Maybe not everyone, but some.