Cornerstone by Kelly Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I got caught up in the storyline, cheesy romance lines and all.
Yes, some of the dialogue might be awkward if read out loud in real life, but luckily, no one's reading this book aloud or making it into a movie. The point is, the world is interesting ( it took a bit to figure out exactly how it worked, but part of this can be blamed on the main character's ignorance), the plot intriguing, and enough kept happening to keep me interested. I liked the romances in this book...I have a bone to pick with the later books on that score, but that's another review.
Generally a good, easy, read. A few typos/grammar errors, but enjoyable, with the emphasis on fantasy and romantic elements.
This digital copy of Cornerstone was given to me by NetGalley & All Night Reads in exchange for an honest review.
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Second Stone by Kelly Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Second Stone had me up and down, loving characters one moment, hating them the next. Emariya and Torian's relationship seemed to become more real, perhaps because they actually had the chance to get to know each other. And I loved how they tested the waters, wanting to fall in love outside of the pull of the stones. But Reeve...ugh, even the mention of his name makes my blood boil. I hate his choices in this book, and I hate the consequences of his choices, and I hate his relationships. That's all I can really say without giving too much away. But it does make you really feel for Emariya, because it's hard enough as a reader to see Reeve turn out the way it does.
Also, I feel like the writing is stronger in this book--perhaps the author is more comfortable in the world of Three Corners? Whatever it is, it was well done.
This digital copy of Second Stone was given to me by NetGalley & All Night Reads in exchange for an honest review.
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Broken Stone by Kelly Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
With Broken Stone, a good portion of this book is each character getting to know themselves, both their best pats and their darkest parts. Each character's loyalties and commitments are tested, and it's interesting to see how it all falls out. There were definitely a few surprises in here for me as well, which was great. Also a lot of exploration of their various powers, which I always enjoy when I'm reading fantasy.
A good ending to a good series; pretty much all questions were answered, though like any smart author, Walker left some open questions that could result in further books--which I hope it does! In fact, I've already searched out some more stories in this world to read.
This digital copy of Broken Stone was given to me by NetGalley & All Night Reads in exchange for an honest review.
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Thursday, December 12, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Aberrant, the first in a YA trilogy
Aberrant by Ruth Silver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was torn between giving this one two or three stars, so the rating is probably closer to a 2.5. And there were times when I was reading it where I really liked it, and then other times when I got frustrated with it. Aberrant felt like it was full of great ideas, but its strength was its downfall as well--it just had too many ideas going on in it. We see plenty of devices used in other Dystopians: A day of choosing/selection/assignment (Divergent, The Giver), a society with set matched partners (Matched), worldwide fertility problems, with only select people being chosen to have children, a "testing"/trial type situation (Hunger Games), and mental powers/abilities on top of all that. All in one book! I felt like I was hopping from dystopian to dystopian, with very rough transitions. And Olivia was so good at this hopping, that it was almost annoying. It seemed like every time she was going to have to get through a serious situation, or deal with some intense drama, she would manage to escape it in the nick of time. She hardly ever saw action, because she was always running from it.
I was interested in the individual places she went to, but I felt like she just didn't deal with them. When imprisoned at home, she's quickly rescued (though in a strangely inefficient method, considering their technology). At her next places, she was just given some news she strongly disliked when an attacked forced her and her love interest to flee (a car was conveniently empty and waiting for them to take). Their third destination she finally has to deal with some hardship, but it's abbreviated hardship. I just wanted more all over--I felt like this book in itself could have been expanded into three books.
So, good in one sense--I was interested enough that I wanted to read more. But bad in another sense--I kept being frustrated with where the writing was taking me. Oh well, like I said, I'm still interested enough to read the next books. I just hope the next ones take us back to some of the first locations so she has to deal with some of the problems she left behind.
This digital copy of Aberrant was given to me by NetGalley & Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was torn between giving this one two or three stars, so the rating is probably closer to a 2.5. And there were times when I was reading it where I really liked it, and then other times when I got frustrated with it. Aberrant felt like it was full of great ideas, but its strength was its downfall as well--it just had too many ideas going on in it. We see plenty of devices used in other Dystopians: A day of choosing/selection/assignment (Divergent, The Giver), a society with set matched partners (Matched), worldwide fertility problems, with only select people being chosen to have children, a "testing"/trial type situation (Hunger Games), and mental powers/abilities on top of all that. All in one book! I felt like I was hopping from dystopian to dystopian, with very rough transitions. And Olivia was so good at this hopping, that it was almost annoying. It seemed like every time she was going to have to get through a serious situation, or deal with some intense drama, she would manage to escape it in the nick of time. She hardly ever saw action, because she was always running from it.
I was interested in the individual places she went to, but I felt like she just didn't deal with them. When imprisoned at home, she's quickly rescued (though in a strangely inefficient method, considering their technology). At her next places, she was just given some news she strongly disliked when an attacked forced her and her love interest to flee (a car was conveniently empty and waiting for them to take). Their third destination she finally has to deal with some hardship, but it's abbreviated hardship. I just wanted more all over--I felt like this book in itself could have been expanded into three books.
So, good in one sense--I was interested enough that I wanted to read more. But bad in another sense--I kept being frustrated with where the writing was taking me. Oh well, like I said, I'm still interested enough to read the next books. I just hope the next ones take us back to some of the first locations so she has to deal with some of the problems she left behind.
This digital copy of Aberrant was given to me by NetGalley & Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review.
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Monday, October 21, 2013
Allegiant, the final book in the Divergent Trilogy
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As I write this review, I’m still in shock. Not because Allegiant was horrible, but quite the opposite—it was good, it was realistic, it was unexpected, and oh my goodness, it was emotional. I’m still reeling from the ending. Just my saying that might have some of you guessing at what the ending could be, but you’ll probably still be surprised (well, unless you already read a spoiler somewhere, of course). I was entirely shocked—I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered a YA novel that ended quite like Allegiant did. Does it sound arrogant to say I’m proud of Veronica Roth for writing it the way she did? I hope not, because I truly mean it as a compliment. So many authors either avoid reality or plunge too far into it, turning it so tasteless that it’s like trying to swallow bitter ash. But Allegiant walks a fine line of bringing those moments that make us giddy and happy, and then reminding us of the seriousness of being a real person in real life.
Dang, I loved this book.
I wasn’t sure at first. Insurgent was good, but not as amazing as Divergent, and of course Allegiant started off in yet another different way, so I had no idea how it would go. Whereas Divergent was almost insta-love, Allegiant was more like falling in love with a best friend who just sort of crept up on you…unexpectedly in some ways, but yet, not so unexpected.
I suppose I should actually mention the plot, beyond all these vague hints. I don’t want to give too much away, and I think the summary covers the plot just fine, so what I’ll do is I’ll talk about the questions that are addressed in this book. If you want to know absolutely nothing about the plot and what is answered, stop reading here!
So…for the rest of you. Yes, Tris and Tobias finally learn what’s outside of their city. They learn where they are, what’s been going on in the outside world, and how their faction system originally got set up. We also see what happens to the city they’re from, so it’s not like the city’s totally been left behind. Tris and Tobias have to again make decisions about their values and morals, and they are wonderfully true to character. And I don’t mean they keep making the same decisions no matter what, I mean that they change, grow, and make decisions based on both old values and new realizations. Just like any person does. We also get a little bit of an epilogue, which is nice. I’m glad the book didn’t just end—I hate when stories do that.
If someone’s looking for critiques, the best I can give you is that Tobias has changed from who he was in Divergent, and some fans may not like that, who knows. Also, some of the science/ scientific ideals seem a little unbelievable to me, but I suppose you have to sort of take that in stride when you’re reading a dystopian.
But all that aside, it was the writing style, message, and characters that mattered more to me, and I loved all those. So a definite five stars for Allegiant, and I can’t wait to see what Veronica Roth comes up with next!
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My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As I write this review, I’m still in shock. Not because Allegiant was horrible, but quite the opposite—it was good, it was realistic, it was unexpected, and oh my goodness, it was emotional. I’m still reeling from the ending. Just my saying that might have some of you guessing at what the ending could be, but you’ll probably still be surprised (well, unless you already read a spoiler somewhere, of course). I was entirely shocked—I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered a YA novel that ended quite like Allegiant did. Does it sound arrogant to say I’m proud of Veronica Roth for writing it the way she did? I hope not, because I truly mean it as a compliment. So many authors either avoid reality or plunge too far into it, turning it so tasteless that it’s like trying to swallow bitter ash. But Allegiant walks a fine line of bringing those moments that make us giddy and happy, and then reminding us of the seriousness of being a real person in real life.
Dang, I loved this book.
I wasn’t sure at first. Insurgent was good, but not as amazing as Divergent, and of course Allegiant started off in yet another different way, so I had no idea how it would go. Whereas Divergent was almost insta-love, Allegiant was more like falling in love with a best friend who just sort of crept up on you…unexpectedly in some ways, but yet, not so unexpected.
I suppose I should actually mention the plot, beyond all these vague hints. I don’t want to give too much away, and I think the summary covers the plot just fine, so what I’ll do is I’ll talk about the questions that are addressed in this book. If you want to know absolutely nothing about the plot and what is answered, stop reading here!
So…for the rest of you. Yes, Tris and Tobias finally learn what’s outside of their city. They learn where they are, what’s been going on in the outside world, and how their faction system originally got set up. We also see what happens to the city they’re from, so it’s not like the city’s totally been left behind. Tris and Tobias have to again make decisions about their values and morals, and they are wonderfully true to character. And I don’t mean they keep making the same decisions no matter what, I mean that they change, grow, and make decisions based on both old values and new realizations. Just like any person does. We also get a little bit of an epilogue, which is nice. I’m glad the book didn’t just end—I hate when stories do that.
If someone’s looking for critiques, the best I can give you is that Tobias has changed from who he was in Divergent, and some fans may not like that, who knows. Also, some of the science/ scientific ideals seem a little unbelievable to me, but I suppose you have to sort of take that in stride when you’re reading a dystopian.
But all that aside, it was the writing style, message, and characters that mattered more to me, and I loved all those. So a definite five stars for Allegiant, and I can’t wait to see what Veronica Roth comes up with next!
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Monday, October 14, 2013
Closed Hearts, Mindjack Trilogy
Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Closed Hearts was a good follow-up to the first, but it some ways it was sort of frustrating, because it felt like it used a lot of the same plot devices. She again feels like she can't love Raf--this time to protect him, but of course, she does it anyways. Again, she doesn't want to be involved in world-changing events, but she gets dragged into them (I suppose at least he stays true to character?). She gets lugged off to another secret government facility and AGAIN is shocked by the scope of it. Except this time, she gives in more easily to what happens to her. Maybe because she expects it at this point? I'm not entirely sure, but it's sort of frustrating. It made me want to shake her!
Essentially, I sort of wish that Kira would take less time to make the decisions we all know she eventually has to make. She seems to be in a state of denial, masquerading as a normal mindreader, pretending her family isn't in danger, and fooling herself into thinking she can take a job as a mindguard without practicing mindguarding/jacking (oh, and her employer is some kind of benevolent, protective grandfather type?).
It was decently action-packed, added to the world-building, and kept me entertained though, so three stars!
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Closed Hearts was a good follow-up to the first, but it some ways it was sort of frustrating, because it felt like it used a lot of the same plot devices. She again feels like she can't love Raf--this time to protect him, but of course, she does it anyways. Again, she doesn't want to be involved in world-changing events, but she gets dragged into them (I suppose at least he stays true to character?). She gets lugged off to another secret government facility and AGAIN is shocked by the scope of it. Except this time, she gives in more easily to what happens to her. Maybe because she expects it at this point? I'm not entirely sure, but it's sort of frustrating. It made me want to shake her!
Essentially, I sort of wish that Kira would take less time to make the decisions we all know she eventually has to make. She seems to be in a state of denial, masquerading as a normal mindreader, pretending her family isn't in danger, and fooling herself into thinking she can take a job as a mindguard without practicing mindguarding/jacking (oh, and her employer is some kind of benevolent, protective grandfather type?).
It was decently action-packed, added to the world-building, and kept me entertained though, so three stars!
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Thursday, October 3, 2013
All The Truth That's In Me, an examination of moral shades of gray
All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story caught me by surprise, sneaking up on me when I thought I wasn't really going to like it. Lyrical or artistic writing is often hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes I like it, sometimes it drives me crazy (not in a good way). But With All The Truth That's In Me, I found the writing style exactly fitting to Judith and her mental state. It made sense, the way she thought, moved, reacted.
Her obsession with Lucas was a little disturbing at first, but it fit with her history. He's one of the few good points in her life, the ivory tower she can admire from afar, never thinking she has a chance to be near it. He frustrated me some--how long it took for him to notice Judith, but at the same time, it made him more human. And I think that's what I liked best about this story; all these characters were very, very human, and very imperfect. No one always made the right decision or thought entirely logically, but their mistakes weren't idiotic either. They were emotion-based.
If you enjoy books that explore the human character, and show how people aren't easily definable as good or evil, you'll probably enjoy this book. A teen reading this should probably be more mature, able to understand all the moral shades of gray.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story caught me by surprise, sneaking up on me when I thought I wasn't really going to like it. Lyrical or artistic writing is often hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes I like it, sometimes it drives me crazy (not in a good way). But With All The Truth That's In Me, I found the writing style exactly fitting to Judith and her mental state. It made sense, the way she thought, moved, reacted.
Her obsession with Lucas was a little disturbing at first, but it fit with her history. He's one of the few good points in her life, the ivory tower she can admire from afar, never thinking she has a chance to be near it. He frustrated me some--how long it took for him to notice Judith, but at the same time, it made him more human. And I think that's what I liked best about this story; all these characters were very, very human, and very imperfect. No one always made the right decision or thought entirely logically, but their mistakes weren't idiotic either. They were emotion-based.
If you enjoy books that explore the human character, and show how people aren't easily definable as good or evil, you'll probably enjoy this book. A teen reading this should probably be more mature, able to understand all the moral shades of gray.
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Freak of Nature
Freak of Nature by Julia Crane
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I wanted to give this book a better rating, I really did. It had so much potential, but...it fell flat. I like books with a lot of depth, with characters who have shades of gray, whether or not they see the world that way. I like when situations in a book make decisions difficult. And none of that really happened here, or not to any extent that I was every truly worried for Kaitlyn. Everything was too easy for her. One of the people who spends the most time with her just happens to be a gorgeous boy her age, who also happens to find her attractive. When she meets up with a guy from before her accident, there's potential for drama, but then Kaitlyn simply bypasses it. And then at the end she gets to go off and dictate exactly what she wants to do. I'm still not sure how a money-conscious businessman/scientist would be convinced that her greatest use is to go hunt down rapists and human traffickers, but oh well...maybe she has secret super powers of persuasion. The idea was interesting enough that I did finish the book, and the writing was fine grammatically, I just couldn't really get into it. And I'm not usually picky when it comes to romances, but like I said, this one was just too...easy.
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My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I wanted to give this book a better rating, I really did. It had so much potential, but...it fell flat. I like books with a lot of depth, with characters who have shades of gray, whether or not they see the world that way. I like when situations in a book make decisions difficult. And none of that really happened here, or not to any extent that I was every truly worried for Kaitlyn. Everything was too easy for her. One of the people who spends the most time with her just happens to be a gorgeous boy her age, who also happens to find her attractive. When she meets up with a guy from before her accident, there's potential for drama, but then Kaitlyn simply bypasses it. And then at the end she gets to go off and dictate exactly what she wants to do. I'm still not sure how a money-conscious businessman/scientist would be convinced that her greatest use is to go hunt down rapists and human traffickers, but oh well...maybe she has secret super powers of persuasion. The idea was interesting enough that I did finish the book, and the writing was fine grammatically, I just couldn't really get into it. And I'm not usually picky when it comes to romances, but like I said, this one was just too...easy.
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Monday, September 16, 2013
Countdown, act or die
Countdown by Michelle Maddox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is one of those books that has so much potential...it just needs a lot more editing to get there. Kira and Rogan wake up next to each other and find out they're fighting for their lives, and they have a time limit to do it in. Almost reminded me of Saw in some aspects, only not quite as gruesome. It was an exciting beginning, and gave me high hopes for the book. But then...the book felt rushed, with characters and places not fully fleshed out. I only ever had the vaguest sense of what things looked like, and the actual countdown never seemed to really match up with how long it should actually take to do something. And the games weren't that exciting, at least the early ones. Considering the whole premise of why they're in Countdown, I kept expecting more. Everything also felt like a rush to get to "the sex scene," and then that scene turned out to be horribly awkward. Yes, we the readers know Rogan's meant to be the love interest, but that doesn't mean we want the love to happen that quickly.
The second part of the book, "after countdown," as I label it in my head, has them confronting the bad guy and making everything better. Again, it all happens fairly quickly, and I found myself struggling with some of the explanations. It was good enough, but...I had to suspend a lot of disbelief, and use a lot of imagination to fill in gaps left by the author.
I still gave it three stars though because it is an interesting story idea, and it was a fast-paced read. I just wish it was more detailed and thought-out than it seemed.
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is one of those books that has so much potential...it just needs a lot more editing to get there. Kira and Rogan wake up next to each other and find out they're fighting for their lives, and they have a time limit to do it in. Almost reminded me of Saw in some aspects, only not quite as gruesome. It was an exciting beginning, and gave me high hopes for the book. But then...the book felt rushed, with characters and places not fully fleshed out. I only ever had the vaguest sense of what things looked like, and the actual countdown never seemed to really match up with how long it should actually take to do something. And the games weren't that exciting, at least the early ones. Considering the whole premise of why they're in Countdown, I kept expecting more. Everything also felt like a rush to get to "the sex scene," and then that scene turned out to be horribly awkward. Yes, we the readers know Rogan's meant to be the love interest, but that doesn't mean we want the love to happen that quickly.
The second part of the book, "after countdown," as I label it in my head, has them confronting the bad guy and making everything better. Again, it all happens fairly quickly, and I found myself struggling with some of the explanations. It was good enough, but...I had to suspend a lot of disbelief, and use a lot of imagination to fill in gaps left by the author.
I still gave it three stars though because it is an interesting story idea, and it was a fast-paced read. I just wish it was more detailed and thought-out than it seemed.
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Branded, A Dystopian Set in a Prison World
Branded by Abi Ketner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is one of those boooks that, while I enjoyed reading it, I couldn't help but noticed inconsistencies, plot development oddities, and other small things I just didn't. So if I was rating it just based on general concept and how fast I read it, I'd probably give it five stars. But the things that bothered me just kept adding up...
Probably the first thing that I thought was a little odd was that everyone in the Hole was obsessed with Lexi. Literally. Her guard was beating people off her transport truck because not only did she have the blue brand of Lust, but she was apparently just that beautiful. That sort of annoyed me. I was also bothered by the fact that "prostitute" was a job in a society where that was obviously a huge crime. I get that they were already in the Hole, and that they might have turned a blind eye to any of this happening because these people were "getting what they deserved" but to actually force someone to continue to 'sin'? Didn't really make sense to me. There's also a lot of internal monologue about the things she's learning and discovering about herself that seemed a little forced.
Then there's Cole. Hot hero of the story, super obvious love interest. The foreshadowing is very heavyhanded with this. But...Cole is so quick to fall in love with Lexi, and once he does, his personality seems to totally change. Things he insisted on at the beginning don't seem to matter much anymore, and he doesn't struggle very long against his feelings. Oh well, maybe he's just a weaker man than I initially thought.
Lastly, the "revolution," or the second part of the book. Lexi doesn't put up much of a fight about some things because she wants to fight, which doesn't make much sense to me. Then she goes from shrinking, frightened girl to one of the best fighters? A little bit of a Mary Sue there. The action scenes were confusing in this part of the book and over with quickly. Lexi thinks she's fought for herself but in reality, she's sort of let everyone else handle the dirty work for her. Maybe I just didn't like Lexi much, and that's why she frustrated me.
I don't know, this book was obviously not my favorite, but despite all the nitpicking, it was still a decent read. I'd probably be interested in reading the sequel, which is why I gave it three stars. I just hope Lexi becomes a little more practical.
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is one of those boooks that, while I enjoyed reading it, I couldn't help but noticed inconsistencies, plot development oddities, and other small things I just didn't. So if I was rating it just based on general concept and how fast I read it, I'd probably give it five stars. But the things that bothered me just kept adding up...
Probably the first thing that I thought was a little odd was that everyone in the Hole was obsessed with Lexi. Literally. Her guard was beating people off her transport truck because not only did she have the blue brand of Lust, but she was apparently just that beautiful. That sort of annoyed me. I was also bothered by the fact that "prostitute" was a job in a society where that was obviously a huge crime. I get that they were already in the Hole, and that they might have turned a blind eye to any of this happening because these people were "getting what they deserved" but to actually force someone to continue to 'sin'? Didn't really make sense to me. There's also a lot of internal monologue about the things she's learning and discovering about herself that seemed a little forced.
Then there's Cole. Hot hero of the story, super obvious love interest. The foreshadowing is very heavyhanded with this. But...Cole is so quick to fall in love with Lexi, and once he does, his personality seems to totally change. Things he insisted on at the beginning don't seem to matter much anymore, and he doesn't struggle very long against his feelings. Oh well, maybe he's just a weaker man than I initially thought.
Lastly, the "revolution," or the second part of the book. Lexi doesn't put up much of a fight about some things because she wants to fight, which doesn't make much sense to me. Then she goes from shrinking, frightened girl to one of the best fighters? A little bit of a Mary Sue there. The action scenes were confusing in this part of the book and over with quickly. Lexi thinks she's fought for herself but in reality, she's sort of let everyone else handle the dirty work for her. Maybe I just didn't like Lexi much, and that's why she frustrated me.
I don't know, this book was obviously not my favorite, but despite all the nitpicking, it was still a decent read. I'd probably be interested in reading the sequel, which is why I gave it three stars. I just hope Lexi becomes a little more practical.
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Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Grasping at Eternity: A YA romance
Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First thought: This should be a guilty pleasure book. Second thought: No! There's nothing to feel guilty about!
And there really isn't. A book doesn't have to be an in-depth, overly detailed 500-page tome to be worthy of five stars. I just friggin' enjoyed this book. I'm sure someone can pick out a bunch of weaknesses, but I don't feel like it, because I want to continue enjoying the series (as I write this, I admit, I already bought, read, and loved the second book in the series). It's just a fun, interesting, romantic book (ok, so I wouldn't recommend it for guys, maybe), and a fast read. Maybe I felt slightly guilty about the five stars because there was so much romance in it, but hey, I'm a girl, and I can't help but love a well-done romance. Note the well-done part. I do have standards. :)
I guess that was my favorite part of this book. Maryah's romance with Nathaniel has such a good balance between the slow development that should be natural to a romance, and the instant love that comes with having a soulmate that you've been with over multiple lives/reincarnations. I like the fact that Maryah was hesitant about being with him, but at the same time couldn't really be interested in anyone else.
As for the rest of the plot, I found it pretty interesting too. It gets off to a fast-paced start with several murders, leaving Maryah in a vulnerable state. She struggles to remember who she is amidst a group of people who claim to know her better than she knows herself. She feels like a normal teenager, but she soon finds out she's not as normal as she thinks--both a good and bad thing. She has to quickly come to terms with who she is in order to help those she cares about.
If you like modern fantasy romance, but you're tired of vampires, werewolves, and love triangles, I'd definitely recommend this book/series.
This digital copy of Grasping at Eternity was given to me by NetGalley & All Night Reads in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First thought: This should be a guilty pleasure book. Second thought: No! There's nothing to feel guilty about!
And there really isn't. A book doesn't have to be an in-depth, overly detailed 500-page tome to be worthy of five stars. I just friggin' enjoyed this book. I'm sure someone can pick out a bunch of weaknesses, but I don't feel like it, because I want to continue enjoying the series (as I write this, I admit, I already bought, read, and loved the second book in the series). It's just a fun, interesting, romantic book (ok, so I wouldn't recommend it for guys, maybe), and a fast read. Maybe I felt slightly guilty about the five stars because there was so much romance in it, but hey, I'm a girl, and I can't help but love a well-done romance. Note the well-done part. I do have standards. :)
I guess that was my favorite part of this book. Maryah's romance with Nathaniel has such a good balance between the slow development that should be natural to a romance, and the instant love that comes with having a soulmate that you've been with over multiple lives/reincarnations. I like the fact that Maryah was hesitant about being with him, but at the same time couldn't really be interested in anyone else.
As for the rest of the plot, I found it pretty interesting too. It gets off to a fast-paced start with several murders, leaving Maryah in a vulnerable state. She struggles to remember who she is amidst a group of people who claim to know her better than she knows herself. She feels like a normal teenager, but she soon finds out she's not as normal as she thinks--both a good and bad thing. She has to quickly come to terms with who she is in order to help those she cares about.
If you like modern fantasy romance, but you're tired of vampires, werewolves, and love triangles, I'd definitely recommend this book/series.
This digital copy of Grasping at Eternity was given to me by NetGalley & All Night Reads in exchange for an honest review.
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Sunday, September 1, 2013
Open Minds, a YA dystopian
Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'm always excited to pick up a dystopian book where mind powers are involved, just because I find it fascinating to see how the characters deal with the ethics of their powers/abilities. And that's one of the best parts about this book--there's definitely a whole lot of ethics here. It's also unusual and that the whole society is filled with people who have some kind of mental ability (most are 'readers' and can read minds). I don't think I've ever read anything where the abnormal person is the person without any kind of mental ability. So Kira is one of those abnormals, a 'zero' who can't read minds like everyone else around her. Or so she thinks. It isn't long before she finds out she can mindjack, something quite alarming because of the control it allows someone who has the ability.
Kira also has to deal with the traditional dystopian love triangle, but not in the usual way. There's Raf, the steady best friend who never cared that she was zero. He understood how she was. Then there's Simon, who teaches her to be a mindjacker--in her eyes, she understands who she now is. I found myself rooting for both boys at different times, which I liked...I could sympathize with the characters I didn't even want to be sympathetic for.
It was well written, a quick read, and the plotlines were very interesting to follow. Occasionally scene shifts felt a little jerky--whenever she went to a new place it felt very abrupt, and I sometimes had to re-orient myself, since the whole tone of the story seemed to shift with the new scenes. It almost felt like each scene could have been expanded into a book of its own, if the author wanted to, but hey, I was okay with this method too. Definitely recommend it!
This digital copy of Open Minds was given to me by NetGalley & Susan Kaye Quinn in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'm always excited to pick up a dystopian book where mind powers are involved, just because I find it fascinating to see how the characters deal with the ethics of their powers/abilities. And that's one of the best parts about this book--there's definitely a whole lot of ethics here. It's also unusual and that the whole society is filled with people who have some kind of mental ability (most are 'readers' and can read minds). I don't think I've ever read anything where the abnormal person is the person without any kind of mental ability. So Kira is one of those abnormals, a 'zero' who can't read minds like everyone else around her. Or so she thinks. It isn't long before she finds out she can mindjack, something quite alarming because of the control it allows someone who has the ability.
Kira also has to deal with the traditional dystopian love triangle, but not in the usual way. There's Raf, the steady best friend who never cared that she was zero. He understood how she was. Then there's Simon, who teaches her to be a mindjacker--in her eyes, she understands who she now is. I found myself rooting for both boys at different times, which I liked...I could sympathize with the characters I didn't even want to be sympathetic for.
It was well written, a quick read, and the plotlines were very interesting to follow. Occasionally scene shifts felt a little jerky--whenever she went to a new place it felt very abrupt, and I sometimes had to re-orient myself, since the whole tone of the story seemed to shift with the new scenes. It almost felt like each scene could have been expanded into a book of its own, if the author wanted to, but hey, I was okay with this method too. Definitely recommend it!
This digital copy of Open Minds was given to me by NetGalley & Susan Kaye Quinn in exchange for an honest review.
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Tuesday, August 27, 2013
A Review of Impostor: think young x-men sponsored by the FBI
Impostor by Susanne Winnacker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Impostor was a decent book. Entertaining, good romance, interesting story, cool powers. But...even though I haven't read this exact storyline before, it just felt sort of formulaic. Girl pines over a boy who can't be with her for some mysterious reason. Girl has some cool ability that forces her to do something super important and dangerous, and boy must protect her. And...yeah. It was fairly predictable, though I'll admit I wasn't entirely sure about the who the killer was. I also was frustrated at the end, because it seemed like a lot of questions I had were just not going to get answered, and I couldn't decide if it was because they'd get answered in a later book, or if it was because the author thought she gave us the answers, and I just didn't find the answers satisfactory.
I did like the main character, Tessa, but you have to be very understanding of the fact that she is a completely normal teenage girl. She has a major crush and doesn't always know the best way to handle it, she sometimes acts rashly, she's highly influenced by emotions, and tends to trust her instinct over anyone else's. There were a few plot holes around her story--why had she trained for two years but still had no fighting skills? Why did Alec (her crush) have to be with Kate (to me, it seemed like part of some kind of secret mission, because I could sense NO attraction there)? Why did Tessa's variation have issues at time? I know it was supposed to be tied to emotions, but she had to have high emotions before, considering her history. Some things just didn't add up. And besides Tessa, most of the other characters were fairly one-dimensional. I did like Devon, the brother of the girl she has to pose as, but I suspect that's because he's going to pop up as a main character and even possibly another love interest in the next book.
Just a lot of speculation, and more unanswered questions then I'd like at the end of a book. It's a fast and fairly good read, as long as you don't feel the need to examine explanations too closely. I probably will read the next books in this series, just because I am curious to find out what happens with this group of characters.
This digital copy of Impostor was given to me by NetGalley & Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Impostor was a decent book. Entertaining, good romance, interesting story, cool powers. But...even though I haven't read this exact storyline before, it just felt sort of formulaic. Girl pines over a boy who can't be with her for some mysterious reason. Girl has some cool ability that forces her to do something super important and dangerous, and boy must protect her. And...yeah. It was fairly predictable, though I'll admit I wasn't entirely sure about the who the killer was. I also was frustrated at the end, because it seemed like a lot of questions I had were just not going to get answered, and I couldn't decide if it was because they'd get answered in a later book, or if it was because the author thought she gave us the answers, and I just didn't find the answers satisfactory.
I did like the main character, Tessa, but you have to be very understanding of the fact that she is a completely normal teenage girl. She has a major crush and doesn't always know the best way to handle it, she sometimes acts rashly, she's highly influenced by emotions, and tends to trust her instinct over anyone else's. There were a few plot holes around her story--why had she trained for two years but still had no fighting skills? Why did Alec (her crush) have to be with Kate (to me, it seemed like part of some kind of secret mission, because I could sense NO attraction there)? Why did Tessa's variation have issues at time? I know it was supposed to be tied to emotions, but she had to have high emotions before, considering her history. Some things just didn't add up. And besides Tessa, most of the other characters were fairly one-dimensional. I did like Devon, the brother of the girl she has to pose as, but I suspect that's because he's going to pop up as a main character and even possibly another love interest in the next book.
Just a lot of speculation, and more unanswered questions then I'd like at the end of a book. It's a fast and fairly good read, as long as you don't feel the need to examine explanations too closely. I probably will read the next books in this series, just because I am curious to find out what happens with this group of characters.
This digital copy of Impostor was given to me by NetGalley & Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review
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Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Red Rising: One of the Best I've Read this Year
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book deserves a nice, long narrative as a review. Why? Because I feel like a book that was so awesome for me, I have to be awesome back to. And I had NO idea that I was going to enjoy this one so much. I simply finished the last book I was reading, perused my Kindle shelves, and randomly picked this one up. My initial thought after two pages was that the book reminded me of Dune. Young hero hardened by a hard life, and in a frysuit that reminded me of the stillsuit Paul wore in Dune. I also thought the writing was good and engaging, but in an in-depth way that seems to be lacking in a lot of YA novels. However, I don't want to compare it to Dune (or the later part of the book to The Hunger Games for that matter), because it isn't Dune, and it isn't fair to the author, who came up with a pretty cool concept for Red Rising.
Let me briefly cover what it's about. In this society, people are divided into colors based on their station in life. Reds are at the bottom, Golds at the top. You are born into your color and cannot change to another color (kind of like the caste system), but more interestingly, you really can't because your genetic traits also define your color (all Reds seem to have red hair, for example). Darrow is a Red, skilled at his dangerous job--a job that guarantees him a short life, but is also necessary for future generations to live on Mars, the planet the Reds believe they are colonizing. However, the world as he knows it is soon turned upside down, and he has to move into new circles of society to bring down those he hates. This brings him to a world of pretty smiles and fierce competition, as well as unexpected allies. AND IT'S SUPER AWESOME! I don't mean the world is really cool (though it is), but more that the storyline here is just SO fascinating. Pierce Brown does a good job of exploring different human emotions, and exploring the psyche of why people do things that others might view as atrocities. He is upfront with his characterization, allowing Darrow to be who he needs to be, instead of having him make unlikely decisions just so he can seem the perfect hero. Darrow is flawed, which makes him seem real.
I really can't recommend this book enough. The only, tiny issue I had was that it was a little slow to start off with, but if you're like me, just give it a chapter or so, and it will really start to pick up. I'll also add that I don't know if younger YA readers should read this book quite yet--I suppose it depends on what they've read before this. This just deals with a lot of brutality, as well as a lot of shades of gray in ethical decision making--something important for young adults to understand, but something that can be difficult for them to until they reach a certain maturity. Just be aware that those are a part of this book.
But overall, I am so, so happy that I had a chance to read this! And I recommend that anyone who has a chance to, read it as well!
This digital copy of Red Rising was given to me by NetGalley & Del Rey Spectra in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book deserves a nice, long narrative as a review. Why? Because I feel like a book that was so awesome for me, I have to be awesome back to. And I had NO idea that I was going to enjoy this one so much. I simply finished the last book I was reading, perused my Kindle shelves, and randomly picked this one up. My initial thought after two pages was that the book reminded me of Dune. Young hero hardened by a hard life, and in a frysuit that reminded me of the stillsuit Paul wore in Dune. I also thought the writing was good and engaging, but in an in-depth way that seems to be lacking in a lot of YA novels. However, I don't want to compare it to Dune (or the later part of the book to The Hunger Games for that matter), because it isn't Dune, and it isn't fair to the author, who came up with a pretty cool concept for Red Rising.
Let me briefly cover what it's about. In this society, people are divided into colors based on their station in life. Reds are at the bottom, Golds at the top. You are born into your color and cannot change to another color (kind of like the caste system), but more interestingly, you really can't because your genetic traits also define your color (all Reds seem to have red hair, for example). Darrow is a Red, skilled at his dangerous job--a job that guarantees him a short life, but is also necessary for future generations to live on Mars, the planet the Reds believe they are colonizing. However, the world as he knows it is soon turned upside down, and he has to move into new circles of society to bring down those he hates. This brings him to a world of pretty smiles and fierce competition, as well as unexpected allies. AND IT'S SUPER AWESOME! I don't mean the world is really cool (though it is), but more that the storyline here is just SO fascinating. Pierce Brown does a good job of exploring different human emotions, and exploring the psyche of why people do things that others might view as atrocities. He is upfront with his characterization, allowing Darrow to be who he needs to be, instead of having him make unlikely decisions just so he can seem the perfect hero. Darrow is flawed, which makes him seem real.
I really can't recommend this book enough. The only, tiny issue I had was that it was a little slow to start off with, but if you're like me, just give it a chapter or so, and it will really start to pick up. I'll also add that I don't know if younger YA readers should read this book quite yet--I suppose it depends on what they've read before this. This just deals with a lot of brutality, as well as a lot of shades of gray in ethical decision making--something important for young adults to understand, but something that can be difficult for them to until they reach a certain maturity. Just be aware that those are a part of this book.
But overall, I am so, so happy that I had a chance to read this! And I recommend that anyone who has a chance to, read it as well!
This digital copy of Red Rising was given to me by NetGalley & Del Rey Spectra in exchange for an honest review.
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Saturday, August 17, 2013
A Review of Spinning Gold, a Rumpelstiltskin story
Spinning Gold by Vivi Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rumpelstiltskin, gone from ugly, nasty, little old man to tall, strapping, golden-skinned young man? What's not to love? I haven't seen many twists on this fairytale, and this is one I really enjoy. However, I think the novella could've really been extended into a novel to better tell the story. There were some parts that I felt like were rushed through, and I would've liked to see more of. For example, Juliana falling in love with Rumple...I always like to see how to romance develops, and I missed some of that in here. Also, she could've been more involved with the revolutionaries, by that almost seemed to be skipped just so that we could hurry up and get to the ending. But personally, I don't mind taking it slow to get the ending if the in-between is good. Maybe it's just a personal preference, but I definitely would've liked to see more.
I'm also rather curious about Juliana's great-grandmother's story--she seems like a feisty, strong-willed woman, and it'd be kind of neat if there was a novella about her as well.
And that's my main complaint with this book. It certainly was fast-paced, and there was some good romance, but it was too fast, and almost too focused on the romance aspect. A good read, but not great (technically, I think I'd give it around 3.5 stars).
This digital copy of Spinning Gold was given to me by NetGalley & Vivi Andrews in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rumpelstiltskin, gone from ugly, nasty, little old man to tall, strapping, golden-skinned young man? What's not to love? I haven't seen many twists on this fairytale, and this is one I really enjoy. However, I think the novella could've really been extended into a novel to better tell the story. There were some parts that I felt like were rushed through, and I would've liked to see more of. For example, Juliana falling in love with Rumple...I always like to see how to romance develops, and I missed some of that in here. Also, she could've been more involved with the revolutionaries, by that almost seemed to be skipped just so that we could hurry up and get to the ending. But personally, I don't mind taking it slow to get the ending if the in-between is good. Maybe it's just a personal preference, but I definitely would've liked to see more.
I'm also rather curious about Juliana's great-grandmother's story--she seems like a feisty, strong-willed woman, and it'd be kind of neat if there was a novella about her as well.
And that's my main complaint with this book. It certainly was fast-paced, and there was some good romance, but it was too fast, and almost too focused on the romance aspect. A good read, but not great (technically, I think I'd give it around 3.5 stars).
This digital copy of Spinning Gold was given to me by NetGalley & Vivi Andrews in exchange for an honest review.
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Tuesday, August 13, 2013
A Review of the Enchanter Heir
The Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was really excited about reading this, as I'd thought there wouldn't be anymore books in the Heir Chronicles. But..by the end I was so frustrated with this book! It wasn't that it was terribly written or anything like that. In fact, I thought it was well written, with a good pace, and I liked one of the main characters, Jonah. I wasn't such a fan of Emma--her characterization just seemed sloppy. With the other books in this series, the main characters are typically male with the occasional female viewpoint thrown in, so I don't know if that had something to do with it. I just felt like Emma at the beginning of the book was totally different from Emma at the end. She does go through a lot of stuff, but still. She goes from wild-spirit roamer to someone just looking for a home to desperately cling to.
Maybe we'll see more of the roaming spirit when the next book comes out, which brings me back to my main point of frustration. HORRIBLE ENDING! Cliffhangers are for chapter endings, not book endings!! This is seriously the worst cliffhanger ending I've ever read, and that's including the endings between the Lord of the Rings books. I felt like I was in the middle of the climax, and the author just forgot to put the last two or three chapters in. Makes me so mad! This book also reminded me of something else I've come to dislike about the series. The author always brings back some previous characters into the current books, and I've never really liked that. Mainly because I grew to love those characters, and then when they reappear they seem very flat. It's as if the author can only focus on rounding out a few characters at a time.
I suppose I should actually talk about the plot, now that I've mentioned the beginning and the end already. It was really interesting, throwing in a grittier angle to all the magic. I love the inclusion of magical mutants, though I wouldn't mind more questions answered about them before the book finished. The reader will also have to pay careful attention to pick up on some of the new lingo. Some main things to know: savant/labrat=someone poisoned at Thorn hill, mainline guild=non-poisoned members of the magical guilds, shades=spirit-type things of savants that appear after they die, and appear to want to take over human bodies. Also, savants seem to be able to attain new abilities outside of their normal base powers (sorcerer, enchanter, etc.), though they might complement what was already there. There are a couple different theories on what happened at Thorn Hill, depending on if you're asking wizards or savants. Also, savants appear to have weirstones that are slightly different from those who belong to mainline guilds.
It was generally a good book, I just really, really hope the next book continues to focus on Jonah instead of moving on to a new character.
This digital copy of The Enchanter Heir was given to me by NetGalley & Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was really excited about reading this, as I'd thought there wouldn't be anymore books in the Heir Chronicles. But..by the end I was so frustrated with this book! It wasn't that it was terribly written or anything like that. In fact, I thought it was well written, with a good pace, and I liked one of the main characters, Jonah. I wasn't such a fan of Emma--her characterization just seemed sloppy. With the other books in this series, the main characters are typically male with the occasional female viewpoint thrown in, so I don't know if that had something to do with it. I just felt like Emma at the beginning of the book was totally different from Emma at the end. She does go through a lot of stuff, but still. She goes from wild-spirit roamer to someone just looking for a home to desperately cling to.
Maybe we'll see more of the roaming spirit when the next book comes out, which brings me back to my main point of frustration. HORRIBLE ENDING! Cliffhangers are for chapter endings, not book endings!! This is seriously the worst cliffhanger ending I've ever read, and that's including the endings between the Lord of the Rings books. I felt like I was in the middle of the climax, and the author just forgot to put the last two or three chapters in. Makes me so mad! This book also reminded me of something else I've come to dislike about the series. The author always brings back some previous characters into the current books, and I've never really liked that. Mainly because I grew to love those characters, and then when they reappear they seem very flat. It's as if the author can only focus on rounding out a few characters at a time.
I suppose I should actually talk about the plot, now that I've mentioned the beginning and the end already. It was really interesting, throwing in a grittier angle to all the magic. I love the inclusion of magical mutants, though I wouldn't mind more questions answered about them before the book finished. The reader will also have to pay careful attention to pick up on some of the new lingo. Some main things to know: savant/labrat=someone poisoned at Thorn hill, mainline guild=non-poisoned members of the magical guilds, shades=spirit-type things of savants that appear after they die, and appear to want to take over human bodies. Also, savants seem to be able to attain new abilities outside of their normal base powers (sorcerer, enchanter, etc.), though they might complement what was already there. There are a couple different theories on what happened at Thorn Hill, depending on if you're asking wizards or savants. Also, savants appear to have weirstones that are slightly different from those who belong to mainline guilds.
It was generally a good book, I just really, really hope the next book continues to focus on Jonah instead of moving on to a new character.
This digital copy of The Enchanter Heir was given to me by NetGalley & Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.
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Sunday, August 4, 2013
Zombies!
Mortality by Kellie Sheridan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
For a zombie book, this honestly surprised me. I've come to be very picky about the zombie books I read, simply since the YA and sci-fi markets are flooded with them right now. The more there are, the more you have to wade through to find the good quality books. This book has an interesting structure, starting with two viewpoints--Savannah and Sarah. Zarah's viewpoint starts as the virus is spreading, Savannah's is mostly the after. So it's interesting to get the beginning of the story from another character, but nice not to have to skip that part for once. So many books go straight to the "surviving with zombies" part that I always wish I could see how it actually happened.
Savannah is definitely the more intriguing of the two characters, but that's ok, since we spend the most time with her. I like the fact that she seems like a very normal teenager as well--making rash decisions, having a crush on a guy that not only doesn't return it, but may not be as great as she thinks, and then trying to do her best to change the world. And I also enjoy the romance storylines in here. It's not all about the romance, but it's enough to give me character relationships to care about.
I'd definitely recommend this for teens who like zombies, but especially for those who maybe don't want their stories to be all action and gore, but like a little character development time as well. It's also a fairly fast-paced read, I think I read it in a couple sittings.
This digital copy of Mortality was given to me by NetGalley & Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
For a zombie book, this honestly surprised me. I've come to be very picky about the zombie books I read, simply since the YA and sci-fi markets are flooded with them right now. The more there are, the more you have to wade through to find the good quality books. This book has an interesting structure, starting with two viewpoints--Savannah and Sarah. Zarah's viewpoint starts as the virus is spreading, Savannah's is mostly the after. So it's interesting to get the beginning of the story from another character, but nice not to have to skip that part for once. So many books go straight to the "surviving with zombies" part that I always wish I could see how it actually happened.
Savannah is definitely the more intriguing of the two characters, but that's ok, since we spend the most time with her. I like the fact that she seems like a very normal teenager as well--making rash decisions, having a crush on a guy that not only doesn't return it, but may not be as great as she thinks, and then trying to do her best to change the world. And I also enjoy the romance storylines in here. It's not all about the romance, but it's enough to give me character relationships to care about.
I'd definitely recommend this for teens who like zombies, but especially for those who maybe don't want their stories to be all action and gore, but like a little character development time as well. It's also a fairly fast-paced read, I think I read it in a couple sittings.
This digital copy of Mortality was given to me by NetGalley & Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review.
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Monday, July 22, 2013
Temeraire, Book 8!
Blood of Tyrants by Naomi Novik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was entirely up and down about how I felt about this book almost the whole way through. Its starting point had me confused and adrift, much the same as our main (human) character, Lawrence. He is shipwrecked (by himself) on Japan, with no memory of ever being an aviator or anything else that happened during his years with Temeraire. And that was my major issue with the first part of the book--I hated that he couldn't remember Temeraire. It was convenient for the story's sake, and allowed us to revisit the Lawrence of the earlier books, where he is coming to terms with a clashing of duties and values, but dagnabit, it was annoying! I just wanted him to hurry up and remember. And stop freaking out Temeraire so much.
But it got better after Japan--we return to China, and from there to Russia. Which, if you know your European history, marks the beginning of the end for Napoleon. That does make it a little harder to get interested in the battle scenes, since I know the ultimate outcome, but the Russian way of handling dragons is rather fascinating (and scary!). It makes for an interesting dynamic to add to the fight.
For most of the book I was unsure why we'd even bothered visiting Japan, unless it was just for Lawrence to say that was another place he'd been to, but I think the set-up for the final book becomes more clear at the end of this one. It's a long and early setup, but I'm hoping it turns out to be fairly important.
All in all, I did enjoy this book. It was a return to some of the things people love best about Temeraire--Lawrence struggling with his new duty, battles, conflicting morals, and sidestepping politicians. Lawrence and Temeraire are back in the center of things, and the set-up is for them to see the war right to its end.
This digital copy of Blood of Tyrants was given to me by NetGalley & Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was entirely up and down about how I felt about this book almost the whole way through. Its starting point had me confused and adrift, much the same as our main (human) character, Lawrence. He is shipwrecked (by himself) on Japan, with no memory of ever being an aviator or anything else that happened during his years with Temeraire. And that was my major issue with the first part of the book--I hated that he couldn't remember Temeraire. It was convenient for the story's sake, and allowed us to revisit the Lawrence of the earlier books, where he is coming to terms with a clashing of duties and values, but dagnabit, it was annoying! I just wanted him to hurry up and remember. And stop freaking out Temeraire so much.
But it got better after Japan--we return to China, and from there to Russia. Which, if you know your European history, marks the beginning of the end for Napoleon. That does make it a little harder to get interested in the battle scenes, since I know the ultimate outcome, but the Russian way of handling dragons is rather fascinating (and scary!). It makes for an interesting dynamic to add to the fight.
For most of the book I was unsure why we'd even bothered visiting Japan, unless it was just for Lawrence to say that was another place he'd been to, but I think the set-up for the final book becomes more clear at the end of this one. It's a long and early setup, but I'm hoping it turns out to be fairly important.
All in all, I did enjoy this book. It was a return to some of the things people love best about Temeraire--Lawrence struggling with his new duty, battles, conflicting morals, and sidestepping politicians. Lawrence and Temeraire are back in the center of things, and the set-up is for them to see the war right to its end.
This digital copy of Blood of Tyrants was given to me by NetGalley & Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
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Monday, June 24, 2013
A Review of Never Fade, a sequel to The Darkest Minds
Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I always get nervous about reading sequels, because so often the different tone of the book means I find it less interesting than the first one. But this cursed downhill slope with sequels thankfully did not happen with Never Fade. In fact, I may have enjoyed this one even more, as there was a lot less aimless wandering around. The characters constantly had a purpose, and a reason for going the direction they went in. And dang, they went to some pretty intense places.
I'm trying not to give too much away, but I will say that in some ways, Never Fade is probably darker than The Darkest Minds. The premise of The Darkest Minds was definitely pretty horrific, but this time Alexandra Bracken revisits some of the worst parts of the camps, plus takes us to some pretty awful places outside the camps. Not in a bad way either--I think the grittiness of the book helps shape Ruby's character growth. It's awesome watching Ruby come in to her own, and refreshing to see a character who while admitting they might have made some mistakes, doesn't take up half the book to wallow in those same mistake.
I was happy to see the return of a good number of the characters from the last book, and of course Liam--I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't gotten to see Liam. Throw a pillow across the room? Maybe something more breakable? :) All the characters are changed in some way, but that only makes sense, considering what they've been through. And personally, I loved the change; the "kids" are growing up, after all.
Whereas the end of the last book left me sad and horrified, this one left me still a little bit sad, but also hopeful. And impatiently awaiting the next one (I know, I have a super long wait since this one isn't even published yet)! I don't often give sequels five stars, but I'd say this one definitely deserved it.
This digital copy of Never Fade was given to me by NetGalley & Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I always get nervous about reading sequels, because so often the different tone of the book means I find it less interesting than the first one. But this cursed downhill slope with sequels thankfully did not happen with Never Fade. In fact, I may have enjoyed this one even more, as there was a lot less aimless wandering around. The characters constantly had a purpose, and a reason for going the direction they went in. And dang, they went to some pretty intense places.
I'm trying not to give too much away, but I will say that in some ways, Never Fade is probably darker than The Darkest Minds. The premise of The Darkest Minds was definitely pretty horrific, but this time Alexandra Bracken revisits some of the worst parts of the camps, plus takes us to some pretty awful places outside the camps. Not in a bad way either--I think the grittiness of the book helps shape Ruby's character growth. It's awesome watching Ruby come in to her own, and refreshing to see a character who while admitting they might have made some mistakes, doesn't take up half the book to wallow in those same mistake.
I was happy to see the return of a good number of the characters from the last book, and of course Liam--I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't gotten to see Liam. Throw a pillow across the room? Maybe something more breakable? :) All the characters are changed in some way, but that only makes sense, considering what they've been through. And personally, I loved the change; the "kids" are growing up, after all.
Whereas the end of the last book left me sad and horrified, this one left me still a little bit sad, but also hopeful. And impatiently awaiting the next one (I know, I have a super long wait since this one isn't even published yet)! I don't often give sequels five stars, but I'd say this one definitely deserved it.
This digital copy of Never Fade was given to me by NetGalley & Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.
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Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Ink: a YA novel finally set in Japan
Ink by Amanda Sun
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It seems like a lot of reviewers were disappointed by this book, but I think it all depends on what you expect going into it. To that end, I'll do my best to give you a good idea of what you should...and should not...expect.
This isn't highly artistic writing, or deeply thoughtful, or intensely provocative. This is lighthearted fun, written with a lot of manga/anime qualities to the storyline and characters. I thought that the characterization style was highly appropriate, given the Japanese setting, but it could be annoying and unbelievable if you expect a serious story when you start reading it. Katie's reactions are over the top, her love with Tomo instantaneous and not entirely explainable, her thinking a bit silly and illogical, but the overall plot is intriguing and the character interactions amusing. It very much reminds me of the Manga I've read, only I don't have to deal with short sentences and having to read five books to get anywhere in the plot.
Essentially, Katie is an American teenager forced to move across the world because of guardianship issues after her mother's death. She has trouble acclimating to Japan at first, but after meeting Tomo, quickly discovers a whole other side to living in Japan that both intrigues and frightens her. For some reason, drawing start to move, and it seems to be linked to both Tomo and herself.
The book's ending definitely wasn't final enough--I'm going to be impatient about wanting to read the next one. I wouldn't say this was my favorite book of the year, but it was a quick, enjoyable read, with some cute drawings in addition.
This digital copy of Ink was given to me by NetGalley & Harlequin TEEN in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It seems like a lot of reviewers were disappointed by this book, but I think it all depends on what you expect going into it. To that end, I'll do my best to give you a good idea of what you should...and should not...expect.
This isn't highly artistic writing, or deeply thoughtful, or intensely provocative. This is lighthearted fun, written with a lot of manga/anime qualities to the storyline and characters. I thought that the characterization style was highly appropriate, given the Japanese setting, but it could be annoying and unbelievable if you expect a serious story when you start reading it. Katie's reactions are over the top, her love with Tomo instantaneous and not entirely explainable, her thinking a bit silly and illogical, but the overall plot is intriguing and the character interactions amusing. It very much reminds me of the Manga I've read, only I don't have to deal with short sentences and having to read five books to get anywhere in the plot.
Essentially, Katie is an American teenager forced to move across the world because of guardianship issues after her mother's death. She has trouble acclimating to Japan at first, but after meeting Tomo, quickly discovers a whole other side to living in Japan that both intrigues and frightens her. For some reason, drawing start to move, and it seems to be linked to both Tomo and herself.
The book's ending definitely wasn't final enough--I'm going to be impatient about wanting to read the next one. I wouldn't say this was my favorite book of the year, but it was a quick, enjoyable read, with some cute drawings in addition.
This digital copy of Ink was given to me by NetGalley & Harlequin TEEN in exchange for an honest review.
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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.
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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.
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Friday, May 3, 2013
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.
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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.
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Saturday, April 27, 2013
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.
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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.
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Monday, April 22, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
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.
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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.
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Tuesday, April 9, 2013
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.
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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.
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Sunday, March 31, 2013
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.
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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.
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Thursday, March 21, 2013
A (admittedly ranting) Review of The Summer Prince
The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I have so many bones to pick with this book, but I'd do my best to start at the beginning. First off, why the Summer Prince as the title? Enki, the man June loves, is a Summer King or a Moon Prince (i'm not entirely sure what the difference is, since the author was never very clear), but he was definitely never a summer prince.
And that's where I get into my next issue. I have never had to guess so much about what was going on while reading. I had NO idea at times, and would just sort of assume things since I knew there was never going to be a definitive answer. The lack of description during action scenes and the random Portuguese words with no context clues....
*deep breath.* Okay. I'm going to try to be fair and at least state what i feel are definitive facts about this book. It is poetically, artistically written. It has beautiful imagery. Its action scenes are poorly written. Its plot meanders. The world-building lacks grounding in reality. It is NOT YA appropriate.
So let's start with the first few points, the reason I gave it anything more than one start. The writing is very pretty. It flowed well. Yet I think it's the first time I've encountered beautiful imagery that actually failed to create an image for me. We get a general sense of a glass pyramid above green vats, but that's about it. I can't figure out how June can see through the different levels int he pyramid when things like walls, flowers, grass, also exist. The author, caught up in the character's head, also seemed to have trouble clarifying anything for the reader that June was unclear about or that June already knew enough about that she never bothered to explain it. It was very frustrating.
The plot drove me crazy because I couldn't quite figure out what the point of it was, other than that we were all waiting for the summer king to die, and this was a sad thing. Yet it was hard to feel sad for him when he became super hedonistic and elf-centered (yet all this was supposedly because he loved too much). I got the feeling we were supposed to adore the main characters, but I couldn't connect with any of them, because their choices made no sense to me.
Which brings me to the next issue, the lack of realism. Everyone in this world seems to be pan-sexual, and have little feelings about it. You have sex early, often, and with whoever feels like having it with you. It's okay if someone you loves has sex with someone else you love. Jealousy? Ha, a thing of the past, apparently. And this is also where I really don't agree with this book being categorized as YA. Sure, the characters are the right age, but that's about it. I know I would never recommend my cousins or students read this--their parents would be horrified with me. And in all likelihood, they would get bored before they got to the sex scenes anyways, having given up on trying to understand the book.
It's a prettily-written book, and probably likeable if you can ignore that half the book doesn't really work. Unfortunately, I can't.
This digital copy of Dear Cassie was given to me by NetGalley & Scholastic Inc. in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I have so many bones to pick with this book, but I'd do my best to start at the beginning. First off, why the Summer Prince as the title? Enki, the man June loves, is a Summer King or a Moon Prince (i'm not entirely sure what the difference is, since the author was never very clear), but he was definitely never a summer prince.
And that's where I get into my next issue. I have never had to guess so much about what was going on while reading. I had NO idea at times, and would just sort of assume things since I knew there was never going to be a definitive answer. The lack of description during action scenes and the random Portuguese words with no context clues....
*deep breath.* Okay. I'm going to try to be fair and at least state what i feel are definitive facts about this book. It is poetically, artistically written. It has beautiful imagery. Its action scenes are poorly written. Its plot meanders. The world-building lacks grounding in reality. It is NOT YA appropriate.
So let's start with the first few points, the reason I gave it anything more than one start. The writing is very pretty. It flowed well. Yet I think it's the first time I've encountered beautiful imagery that actually failed to create an image for me. We get a general sense of a glass pyramid above green vats, but that's about it. I can't figure out how June can see through the different levels int he pyramid when things like walls, flowers, grass, also exist. The author, caught up in the character's head, also seemed to have trouble clarifying anything for the reader that June was unclear about or that June already knew enough about that she never bothered to explain it. It was very frustrating.
The plot drove me crazy because I couldn't quite figure out what the point of it was, other than that we were all waiting for the summer king to die, and this was a sad thing. Yet it was hard to feel sad for him when he became super hedonistic and elf-centered (yet all this was supposedly because he loved too much). I got the feeling we were supposed to adore the main characters, but I couldn't connect with any of them, because their choices made no sense to me.
Which brings me to the next issue, the lack of realism. Everyone in this world seems to be pan-sexual, and have little feelings about it. You have sex early, often, and with whoever feels like having it with you. It's okay if someone you loves has sex with someone else you love. Jealousy? Ha, a thing of the past, apparently. And this is also where I really don't agree with this book being categorized as YA. Sure, the characters are the right age, but that's about it. I know I would never recommend my cousins or students read this--their parents would be horrified with me. And in all likelihood, they would get bored before they got to the sex scenes anyways, having given up on trying to understand the book.
It's a prettily-written book, and probably likeable if you can ignore that half the book doesn't really work. Unfortunately, I can't.
This digital copy of Dear Cassie was given to me by NetGalley & Scholastic Inc. in exchange for an honest review.
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A Review of Dear Cassie (from someone who knows this world)
Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was intrigued by the premise of this book from the start, because I work as a counselor at a therapeutic boarding school, a place many kids end up attending after going to a wilderness experience like the one Cassie is sent to.
Because of that, I found this book generally hit-or-miss. It didn't matter that I hadn't ready the first book, Pretty Amy, which I definitely consider a positive point. Cassie is one of those girls who's tough on the outside but all soft of the inside. A mix of messed-up emotions and unfocused determination. She knows what she wants, realizes that what she wants might be more complicated than she initially thought, then has to deal with that realization. The book doesn't have some neat bow wrapping it all up, leaving us with a perfectly healed girl, but that's life. That's real.
One of the "misses" I found with this book though was the actual therapeutic aspect of her wilderness experience. I don't know of any therapeutic program that would have boys and girls camps so close to each other (really? Half of the problems these kids have is with boundaries and relationships)--I felt like this was just stuck in there so Cassie could have an opportunity for romance. And this need for romance also bothered me because while totally swearing off boys isn't the answer, Cassie still does need to discover who she is without a guy. I felt like the author went through the motions of creating the wilderness setting (hikes, journaling, hard work), but didn't actually have the program delve very far into the issues the girls and guys were working with.
Either way, it was still good to see this world explored somewhat, and I found myself highlighting some of the passages. I think this book could be good for teens struggling with things in their own lives, as long as they're open to it. And I think they could be, because the author doesn't come off as preach at all. In fact, things like the main character's vulgarity (possibly a shocker to some readers) would possible make her more relateable to troubled teens.
Well-written ad interesting, I was tempted to give it four stars, but ended up giving it three because I think it could have done more than it did, and I definitely wasn't a fan of the abrupt, 'what the heck' ending. It was an okay place to end, just not enough questions had been answered.
This ARC digital copy of Dear Cassie was given to me by NetGalley & Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was intrigued by the premise of this book from the start, because I work as a counselor at a therapeutic boarding school, a place many kids end up attending after going to a wilderness experience like the one Cassie is sent to.
Because of that, I found this book generally hit-or-miss. It didn't matter that I hadn't ready the first book, Pretty Amy, which I definitely consider a positive point. Cassie is one of those girls who's tough on the outside but all soft of the inside. A mix of messed-up emotions and unfocused determination. She knows what she wants, realizes that what she wants might be more complicated than she initially thought, then has to deal with that realization. The book doesn't have some neat bow wrapping it all up, leaving us with a perfectly healed girl, but that's life. That's real.
One of the "misses" I found with this book though was the actual therapeutic aspect of her wilderness experience. I don't know of any therapeutic program that would have boys and girls camps so close to each other (really? Half of the problems these kids have is with boundaries and relationships)--I felt like this was just stuck in there so Cassie could have an opportunity for romance. And this need for romance also bothered me because while totally swearing off boys isn't the answer, Cassie still does need to discover who she is without a guy. I felt like the author went through the motions of creating the wilderness setting (hikes, journaling, hard work), but didn't actually have the program delve very far into the issues the girls and guys were working with.
Either way, it was still good to see this world explored somewhat, and I found myself highlighting some of the passages. I think this book could be good for teens struggling with things in their own lives, as long as they're open to it. And I think they could be, because the author doesn't come off as preach at all. In fact, things like the main character's vulgarity (possibly a shocker to some readers) would possible make her more relateable to troubled teens.
Well-written ad interesting, I was tempted to give it four stars, but ended up giving it three because I think it could have done more than it did, and I definitely wasn't a fan of the abrupt, 'what the heck' ending. It was an okay place to end, just not enough questions had been answered.
This ARC digital copy of Dear Cassie was given to me by NetGalley & Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
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Saturday, March 16, 2013
Review of The Deepest Night
The Deepest Night by Shana Abe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was admittedly very excited to receive the e-copy of this so soon after reading the first one. I approached The Deepest Night with some hesitation, however, because I wasn't sure how Abe was going to pull off the Amrmand-Lora love that was destined to happen. They are both drakon, after all, and with all the other drakon books that creates an instant attraction. But as the book opens, it's clear Lora is still dealing with Jesse's death, and I didn't want to see her overcome that too easily either.
I would say Abe did a pretty good job of handling it all. Lora wasn't entirely prostrate with grief the way I thought she should be, but some time had passed since the last book, and she did have Armand to keep her company, after all. Her true love is gone, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for more love on the horizon (and perhaps a more possible love).
The tone of this story is fast-paced and full of action, much like the end of the last book, only less rushed. SO be prepared for more war, soldiers, bullets, and brief glimpses into the darker side of human nature. We even visit an asylum, which frankly, gave me the creeps. But also definitely made me feel for Lora even more.
If you're a fan of Armand, you're going to enjoy this book--A LOT. If you're anxious to learn more about Lora's past, you will be rewarded with a few small tidbits. And when you're done, you're really, really going to want to know more about not only her origins, but what happened to the rest of the drakon as well.
This ARC copy of The Deepest Night was given to me by NetGalley & Random House - Bantam Dell.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was admittedly very excited to receive the e-copy of this so soon after reading the first one. I approached The Deepest Night with some hesitation, however, because I wasn't sure how Abe was going to pull off the Amrmand-Lora love that was destined to happen. They are both drakon, after all, and with all the other drakon books that creates an instant attraction. But as the book opens, it's clear Lora is still dealing with Jesse's death, and I didn't want to see her overcome that too easily either.
I would say Abe did a pretty good job of handling it all. Lora wasn't entirely prostrate with grief the way I thought she should be, but some time had passed since the last book, and she did have Armand to keep her company, after all. Her true love is gone, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for more love on the horizon (and perhaps a more possible love).
The tone of this story is fast-paced and full of action, much like the end of the last book, only less rushed. SO be prepared for more war, soldiers, bullets, and brief glimpses into the darker side of human nature. We even visit an asylum, which frankly, gave me the creeps. But also definitely made me feel for Lora even more.
If you're a fan of Armand, you're going to enjoy this book--A LOT. If you're anxious to learn more about Lora's past, you will be rewarded with a few small tidbits. And when you're done, you're really, really going to want to know more about not only her origins, but what happened to the rest of the drakon as well.
This ARC copy of The Deepest Night was given to me by NetGalley & Random House - Bantam Dell.
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Thursday, March 7, 2013
Review of Obsidian Mirror
The Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As a fan of Incarceron, I wanted to like this book, I really did. And it was decent, but...like Incarceron, it had its issues.
The book starts off with a fascinating premise--a boy out for revenge, a mysterious guardian. The name Oberon (Midsummer Night's Dream, anyone?) is already a clue that there might be some fae magic going on, so when more sci-fi elements get brought in, its a pleasant surprise. I personally always love to see the two combined, and I was also looking forward to Jake as a central character, since many YA books are written from the girl's point of view.
Jake initially intrigued me at first, but unfortunately, I quickly became and bored of and disappointed in him. He starts off as a dangerous teenage boy, willing to do anything to get expelled from school. Eager to see why, I read on, only to discover that my questions were answered all too quickly as he immediately opened up to a teacher he barely knew. All of the sudden Jake was a big softy with little spine and a willingness to accept whatever explanation was told to him. Every now and then he went back to that fierce determination, but I saw nothing else of the dangerous boy I glimpsed in the first few pages.
The story was fast-paced, the plot interesting, but I think half the problem with this book is that there are so many plot points and sub-plots that the characters get lost in the story Fisher is trying to tell. I had a similar feeling with Incarceron and Sapphique, where there were so many mysteries that I lost track of them, and sometimes when secrets were "revealed," I still didn't really understand their significance. It's much the same with this book, where big "reveals" don't seem important to me, and all the information I really want to know is still being held out, hopefully for the next book. By the end I started to get confused about which character was doing what, as the POV kept switching so much and I just wanted to yell at them to start asking the right questions!
I obviously got a bit worked up by this book, but part of that is because I did still get into the story. I do still want to see what happens, and find out more answers. So if you're willing to get through the parts where the characters drive you a little bonkers, then I say go for it. In all likelihood, you'll still enjoy the read.
I received this advance ebook copy from NetGalley
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As a fan of Incarceron, I wanted to like this book, I really did. And it was decent, but...like Incarceron, it had its issues.
The book starts off with a fascinating premise--a boy out for revenge, a mysterious guardian. The name Oberon (Midsummer Night's Dream, anyone?) is already a clue that there might be some fae magic going on, so when more sci-fi elements get brought in, its a pleasant surprise. I personally always love to see the two combined, and I was also looking forward to Jake as a central character, since many YA books are written from the girl's point of view.
Jake initially intrigued me at first, but unfortunately, I quickly became and bored of and disappointed in him. He starts off as a dangerous teenage boy, willing to do anything to get expelled from school. Eager to see why, I read on, only to discover that my questions were answered all too quickly as he immediately opened up to a teacher he barely knew. All of the sudden Jake was a big softy with little spine and a willingness to accept whatever explanation was told to him. Every now and then he went back to that fierce determination, but I saw nothing else of the dangerous boy I glimpsed in the first few pages.
The story was fast-paced, the plot interesting, but I think half the problem with this book is that there are so many plot points and sub-plots that the characters get lost in the story Fisher is trying to tell. I had a similar feeling with Incarceron and Sapphique, where there were so many mysteries that I lost track of them, and sometimes when secrets were "revealed," I still didn't really understand their significance. It's much the same with this book, where big "reveals" don't seem important to me, and all the information I really want to know is still being held out, hopefully for the next book. By the end I started to get confused about which character was doing what, as the POV kept switching so much and I just wanted to yell at them to start asking the right questions!
I obviously got a bit worked up by this book, but part of that is because I did still get into the story. I do still want to see what happens, and find out more answers. So if you're willing to get through the parts where the characters drive you a little bonkers, then I say go for it. In all likelihood, you'll still enjoy the read.
I received this advance ebook copy from NetGalley
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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Review of The Sweetest Dark
The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abé
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lora Jones is an intriguing heroine, party because of the author's choice to add a twist to the "poor tortured orphan" past--not only was she raised in a cruel orphanage, but she also faced a stint in a mental hospital. Having personally seen up-close what even modern mental hospitals are like, it immediately made me more sympathetic and interested in the character.
As in any good YA book, there are two equally mysterious guys who become attracted to her; however, I was gratified to see that Abe didn't force poor Lora to be torn between the two of them. Lora is very sure of who she is in love with, but if you've read any of the other Drakon books, you can sense that there may be a sad twist to this romance even before the full complications are revealed. I didn't mind it so much, because it made the story seem more realistic.
Now here's the tricky part. Shana Abe wrote another trilogy in the Drakon world several years ago, only it was published as adult fantasy-romance instead of YA. And if you haven't read at least the first book of this series, you will probably be a lot more confused and enjoy this new book a lot less. I loved all the little things revealed about the main character--hearing voices and music, loving stones, wanting to jump off a roof, etc., because I knew what they all meant from reading previous Drakon books. But if you haven't read the other stories, you probably are going to start to think she really is crazy, and you're probably going to still have a lot of questions by the end of the book (and at that point I'd recommend reading Smoke Thief). And that's probably the big reason I rated this book 4 instead of 5 stars--it just doesn't completely work as the first book in a new series.
The book was fast-paced and easy to read--I think I finished it in a few days--with a fairly satisfying romance, although at times I did tend to wonder if they liked each other for any other reason besides the fact that their natures naturally drew them together (and this applies to both boys, Jesse and Armand). The climax seemed a little odd to, since it drew in the war, which hadn't really even had much of a presence throughout the rest of the book. If you're able to ignore some of these small oddities like I did, then The Sweetest Dark will be an enjoyable read, leaving you wanting more and ready to find out what else will happen to Lora.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lora Jones is an intriguing heroine, party because of the author's choice to add a twist to the "poor tortured orphan" past--not only was she raised in a cruel orphanage, but she also faced a stint in a mental hospital. Having personally seen up-close what even modern mental hospitals are like, it immediately made me more sympathetic and interested in the character.
As in any good YA book, there are two equally mysterious guys who become attracted to her; however, I was gratified to see that Abe didn't force poor Lora to be torn between the two of them. Lora is very sure of who she is in love with, but if you've read any of the other Drakon books, you can sense that there may be a sad twist to this romance even before the full complications are revealed. I didn't mind it so much, because it made the story seem more realistic.
Now here's the tricky part. Shana Abe wrote another trilogy in the Drakon world several years ago, only it was published as adult fantasy-romance instead of YA. And if you haven't read at least the first book of this series, you will probably be a lot more confused and enjoy this new book a lot less. I loved all the little things revealed about the main character--hearing voices and music, loving stones, wanting to jump off a roof, etc., because I knew what they all meant from reading previous Drakon books. But if you haven't read the other stories, you probably are going to start to think she really is crazy, and you're probably going to still have a lot of questions by the end of the book (and at that point I'd recommend reading Smoke Thief). And that's probably the big reason I rated this book 4 instead of 5 stars--it just doesn't completely work as the first book in a new series.
The book was fast-paced and easy to read--I think I finished it in a few days--with a fairly satisfying romance, although at times I did tend to wonder if they liked each other for any other reason besides the fact that their natures naturally drew them together (and this applies to both boys, Jesse and Armand). The climax seemed a little odd to, since it drew in the war, which hadn't really even had much of a presence throughout the rest of the book. If you're able to ignore some of these small oddities like I did, then The Sweetest Dark will be an enjoyable read, leaving you wanting more and ready to find out what else will happen to Lora.
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Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Shadowfell
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Neryn has one of the darkest pasts I've seen Marillier write, which is surprising considering it's in the YA genre. Still, it helps you admire her more as she struggles through her past to find answers to her future. And of course, you can't help but love the love interest--Marillier has always done a great job with creating a man who feels real and has faults, unlike the model-esque, perfect men that are typical in YA fiction right now.
This book had an odd pace, absorbing my interest for chapters at a time, then slowing down before picking up again. The writing style is definitely different from her Sevenwaters series; you can tell the book was written for a YA audience instead of an adult one. It's still good, there's just a lot more dialogue, a lot less description, and less of a sense of completion. Neryn does manage to reach her stated goal, but you can tell there's still much more of the story to come, whereas with most of Marillier's other books, each novel can technically stand alone.
Certainly worth reading if you're a fan of Marillier, just don't expect it to feel exactly like many of her other works.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Neryn has one of the darkest pasts I've seen Marillier write, which is surprising considering it's in the YA genre. Still, it helps you admire her more as she struggles through her past to find answers to her future. And of course, you can't help but love the love interest--Marillier has always done a great job with creating a man who feels real and has faults, unlike the model-esque, perfect men that are typical in YA fiction right now.
This book had an odd pace, absorbing my interest for chapters at a time, then slowing down before picking up again. The writing style is definitely different from her Sevenwaters series; you can tell the book was written for a YA audience instead of an adult one. It's still good, there's just a lot more dialogue, a lot less description, and less of a sense of completion. Neryn does manage to reach her stated goal, but you can tell there's still much more of the story to come, whereas with most of Marillier's other books, each novel can technically stand alone.
Certainly worth reading if you're a fan of Marillier, just don't expect it to feel exactly like many of her other works.
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