Royal Diaries: Lady of Ch'ao Kuo

 A Royal Diaries novel featuring an ancient Chinese tribe.


      The Lady of Ch'iao Kuo is an well loved figure who Laurence Yep writes favorably about in this addition of the Royal Diaries. It was published in 2001. Yep's book is written entirely in the form of a journal and begins in the year 531 A.D. Overall, this book's appeal varies greatly depending on a reader's preferred writing style despite its interesting story.
     Lady Ch'iao Kuo, the main character, is called Princess Redbird by some historians. Her story, in Yep's book, begins when her father, the king of the Hsien tribe, cancels a spring festival due to fear of invasion. The Hsien people were a strong kingdom and the book calls their enemies, the Dog Heads. Throughout this novel, the princess and her family struggle against their enemies. The prejudice that the Hsien and the Chinese have against each other, complicates matters further.
     This book is well recommended for anybody who enjoys reading books written in the style of journal entries. I must warn you though that individuals who don't like that style of writing, may not have find the same enjoyment. This book is still worth a try.

Shanghai Girls

                                        Shanghai Girl's

                                                            by Lisa See

     Recently, I have just finished reading Shanghai Girls, a novel by Lisa See. This book, although unique, isn't the best book about Asian girls in the library, but it is worth the time to read. It's plot, wasn't according to what I wanted to read. Yet, Shanghai Girls has a lot of things that will entertain its readers. It could have been better, but I still recommend it.

Sims 4: Top 9 Reasons I may not Buy

                       Sims 4: Top Ten Reasons Not to Buy

     All across the Internet I hear rumors about what Sims 4 is lacking. For now, it's just hearsay, but for me, if the majority of the rumors below are true, I am not getting the game. I have been a fan of The Sims for nine years and currently find the franchise entertaining.

The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C Carleson

                             The Tyrant's Daughter

                                            by J. C. Carleson



     The first time I have ever heard about this book was in an ad featured in Teen Ink, a monthly magazine composed of writings written by teenagers. At first glance, The Tyrant's Daughter gives a feeling of adventure, political intrigue, high school drama, and rebellion all in one go. But does it really meet up with it's first impression?

     To summarize it, The Tyrant's Daughter focuses on fifteen year old Laila. She is the daughter of a European sovereign who contains absolute control over the country in which he rules. The novel begins just a little bit after her father's death. The novel takes place entirely in the United States where Laila lives with her mother and six year old brother. Throughout the book, Laila tries to adjust to a new environment while her mother tries to bargain to restore the family's power back in Europe. Laila, in the mean time, tries to learn what her mother's up to.

     As for how the book was, I'd say it was surprising. Not because of what's actually it, of course, but rather because it actually wasn't boring. I'm not really a fan of novels centered around school life. To me they are so...dull. But, The Tyrant's Daughter actually has color to it. No, it was not good, but it was okay.  Even though it wasn't necessarily to my tastes, I have to say that I would highly recommend this book. It is a unique twist to novels about teens and would be fun for those who like books such as Pretty Little Liars.

     When writing The Tyrant's Daughter, Carleson's lack of background on Laila's country was his/her primary mistake. Laila's nation is nameless and lacks description in depth. Overall, I think the book was fine and recommend it.