A Review of Proxy

Proxy by Alex London
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Proxy is an original way of re-working the older story of the Whipping Boy, set in a city where the class system is based on debtors and patrons/creditors--those who hold the poor people's debt. In between are middlemen companies who arrange these debt contracts. Syd has been in debt since he was small, and Knox's father owns his debt. Every time Knox does something wrong, Syd is punished while Knox watches from afar.

I just honestly can't figure out why so many people liked this book so much. Maybe it's the tie-in to The Whipping Boy, but even though I'm a fan of dystopians and re-workings of old stories, I really prefer The Whipping Boy. In the original, there's a lot of character growth, but in this one, there really isn't. Sure, some of the characters' choices are forced to change because of the circumstances they find themselves in, and their actions indicate they're experiencing growth, but their innermost thoughts don't. Knox finally performs what seems to be a selfless act at the end, but I get the sense it's all still to spite his father. And Syd, as usual, lets it happen because, as he has since he knew who Knox was, he sort of feels like Knox owes it to him. I just found it hard to care for either of these characters. Knox because he was so self-centered and entitled, and Syd because he really could care less about people beyond his own small circle. I also had no clear love interest to root for, which was a little disappointing. There doesn't have to be a lot, but it can add depth to a story, depth that I feel Proxy could have really used--all of the sudden, choices become more complicated, decisions more weighty, ideals and outlooks are less clear. but with every character running around in their own bubble, they just sort of drifted along with the events happening to them, pretending they were making choices (and they were, in a few cases) but mostly just being shepherded from one place to another.

It was interesting, a fast read, and it wasn't too hard to finish, hence the three stars. I just didn't find it very special. I'm sure some people will enjoy the fast-paced action or the world-building, it just wasn't really my type of story. Just be aware that if you like character-based stories, you may not love this one, whereas if action and tech ideas are more your thing, you'll probably enjoy it.

This digital copy of Proxy was given to me by NetGalley & Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Short and...not sweet?

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I couldn't write a review immediately after reading this book because I honestly couldn't decide what to make of it. On some levels, it was good--it was a fast read, funny at times, an interesting connection to the pageant world for anyone who's seen Toddlers&Tiaras, and explored some emotional issues that a teenager or someone who works with teens could easily connect to.

But...it wasn't entirely believable. In the real world, yes, someone could be friends with a lot of guys and not date anyone, but that doesn't necessarily make them "popular" as the book's summary describes. In fact, that kind of girl usually has a hard time making friends with other girls. And adding a little make-up and the right kind of clothes doesn't suddenly get you a guy and "in." I sort of hated that this was the lesson being portrayed, even if it was later revealed that it wasn't just the make-up that got Lexi the guy. It's just that essentially what this book seems to say is that you need make-up and pretty clothes to make you feel confident enough to have that great personality that then gets you the guy you want.

Plus...and this is what swung it from four to three stars for me, the ending sucked. Majorly. Just dropped us off a cliff with nothing really resolved except how Lexi feels about herself. And even that's not entirely resolved.

General summary: Lexi is emotionally scarred and overlooked in favor of her younger sister, who's been chained to pageants since babyhood. Lexi refuses to make any effort with clothing, hair, etc., until in her attempt to get a friend together with a guy, she finds the tables turned on her. She starts wearing make-up and cute clothes, gets in with the in crowd and gets one of the 'it' guys, but has to figure out not only if this is really what she wants, but also if she can take anymore of being her younger sister's cheerleader as well as the disappointing daughter in her mom's eyes.

I don't know, it was okay, but nothing amazing.

This digital copy of Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality was given to me by NetGalley & Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Lessons on being Gorgeous

Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gorgeous was one of those books where I could see "the funny," but it wasn't always funny enough to make me actually laugh. I did chuckle a few times, raise an eyebrow, and smile a few times with amusement, but it was just too over-the-top for me to really get into it. It wasn't bad though,, especially if you go in with the understanding that it's going full-out. Rudnick doesn't shy away from exaggerated description and full-blow fairytale-ness (though he never does quite indicate how all of this magic is possible. I suppose just through the sheer awesomeness that is supposed to be Tom Kelly?).

I did struggle a little with the romance in the story, just because the author seemed to skip right over the falling in love part. At one point Becky is determined to marry this guy, and then suddenly, after a afew brief pages charting the things they do together, and one ninja-like action sequence, bam, she's in love. But I suppose the romance wasn't the point of the story--it was more about her relationship with her mom and the father she had never met, and the lessons she learned through the course of wearing the three dresses.

Overall, a good, quick read--nothing amazing, but I found decent enjoyment in the story.

This digital copy of Gorgeous was given to me by NetGalley & Houghton Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.



View all my reviews

So a little while ago I reviewed a book called "The Testing," and I just wanted to let y'all know there's a free look at the prequel and the beginning of the actual book! Just click on the image below and enjoy--again, I found it to be a really great read. :)

A Review of The Testing, a satisfying dystopian

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Testing...an important mark of adulthood for a chosen few, this is something Cia has striven for all her life. To be tested for a spot at University, along with the other chosen from colonies around the country, is a great honor. Her father made it, but no one else from her colony has made it in the last decade, including a smarter older brother. When she does make it (and since you can tell from the synopsis that she does, I'm not considering this a spoiler), she finds out the Testing is a lot darker than she ever realized.

This book seemed almost to be a cross between The Hunger Games and Divergent, only probably not as amazingly written, but still really good--especially if you like those sorts of stories. It's set in a dystopian world long after nuclear strikes took out a good part of the country. The United Commonwealth is still focusing on revitalizing the land, and Cia's father is heavily involved in these revitalization efforts.

It's a dark story, and explores some heavy ideas, but I personally think it makes the book all the better. Some readers seem to wonder why a country would go to such extremes to test for the brightest minds, and why it would also waste so many of the didn't-quite-make-it bright minds. After all the country is still trying to repopulate. But I could see why it might make sense, especially to a country that as a whole, seems to still be suffering lingering effects of PTSD. It is a proven fact that going through extreme circumstances can really bring out someone's character; it is the ultimate test. And for a country who still has the mindset that their leaders need to be able to lead through the pressures of a nuclear war, I could see where their fears might have created this insane testing system.

But this is why we like to read dystopians, right? Because the characters will need to face terrible situations and overcome impossible hurdles, and throughout those experiences, grow into who they really are. They will probably discover they need to rebel against the system, and lead the way to change--but my guess is that part will wait for book two. Which I can't wait to read.

This digital copy of The Testing was given to me by NetGalley & Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in exchange for an honest review.



View all my reviews

Some Quiet Place...a place of no emotions

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Someone who can't fear, or love? It seems like that would the most boring type of character to read about, but Kelsey Sutton manages to make it absolutely fascinating. Elizabeth doesn't feel any emotions, and right from the get-go you're willing her to, because who doesn't want her to be affected by the frustrated, beautiful Fear, or the thoughtful, attentive boy in class?

I was worried the author wouldn't be able to stick to the emotionless plot, since emotions are the heart and soul of books. But that wasn't the case--she managed to portray it quite well, and at the same time give you a good idea of what the character would feel if she could feel.

Some other readers seemed to struggle to connect with Elizabeth because of her lack of emotions, but for me, that made me care about her even more. I hated seeing the way she took abuse or lived with difficult situations just because she could, and I was desperately urging her to start feeling, to start fighting. I wanted her to figure out the mystery of who she was so that she could finally connect with Fear. And while yes, some of the reveals at the end were obvious, I believe that was the author's intent--I was speeding through pages, hoping I was right, because it would make the story just that much better.

I would highly suggest reading Some Quiet Place if you're looking for something different, because I honestly haven't read much like this before. And if you like knowing the main character is definitely in love with only one other character, despite the presence of multiple choices, you'll be happy to read this too.

This digital copy of Some Quiet Place was given to me by NetGalley & Flux Books in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

A Review of The Rose Throne

The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story almost has the feel of alternate history, only...it isn't. There are a lot of similarities here to the idea of Henry the VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth. Ailsbet is red-haired, her father was a charmer in his youth but a dangerous, paranoid, man as he ages, with his girth ever growing. The king gets rid of a wife who doesn't please him, and Ailsbet must tread carefully, committing her heart to no man. And of course, there's the title, The Rose Throne...

I actually sort of liked Ailsbet because she wasn't the typical heroine, and both she and her brother had a lot of growth throughout the novel. The princess I had more of a problem with was Marissa. I understood she was from a poorer, lesser kingdom, but I had serious problems with the way she just accepted the insults Kellin hurled at her. And her father, the king, let Kellin! And in the midst of her statements of , "oh yes you're right, I'm so sorry," and "I'm so naive and terrible," they're suddenly saying they shouldn't be in love. I felt like I missed the chapter where they actually fell in love and started appreciating each other. I get the idea of a love-hate relationship, and I even like them when they're done right, but this almost just felt like an abusive relationship.

I also liked the world set up, with the gender-specific magic, though I didn't entirely understand why only the islands seemed to have magic. I was also very curious about Ailsbet's flute-playing as I felt there was more to that than was explored--it would be great to see a book go further into this and all the magic.

In fact, another book is pretty much necessary at this point. After seeing so much growth with Ailsbet, I really hope to see it with Issa as well, and not just in the love area. And maybe the author will draw out the developments a little more in the next novel--this one was good, but at times, it felt like the author just wanted to rush through certain areas and get to "the good parts."

This digital copy of The Rose Throne was given to me by NetGalley & Egmont USA in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews