So, Vampire Kisses...it's done... it's finally done. Well, I say finally with a teaspoon of salt (it only took me a week to read 10 books). I liked th...moreSo, Vampire Kisses...it's done... it's finally done. Well, I say finally with a teaspoon of salt (it only took me a week to read 10 books). I liked them, a lot. They're silly and camp. They're pulp. They don't require a lot of brain power. Pure fun.
This finishes the manga plot line that began with volume one (redundant)....Claude and the gang... and all that. I'm happy the series is done and I can move on.
Vampire Kisses Blood Relatives Volume 2 by Ellen Schreiber... not a whole lot to say at this point. It's furthers the adventures of Alexander and Rave...moreVampire Kisses Blood Relatives Volume 2 by Ellen Schreiber... not a whole lot to say at this point. It's furthers the adventures of Alexander and Raven... and Alexander's cousin Claude, and company. Claude is still seeking eternal life... complete Vampiredom. Raven and Alexander are trying to stop him. That's pretty much it. The art's pretty. Yeah.
So, after reading the entire Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber in a week of course I had to pick up the manga spin off series! These short, bea...moreSo, after reading the entire Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber in a week of course I had to pick up the manga spin off series! These short, beautifully illustrated, books are perfect compliments to this series. The goofy scenarios within the world lend itself well to manga format (maybe they all should have been manga).
We're introduced to Claude, Alexander's cousin who is half Mortal, half Vampire. He is searching for something to make him all Mortal and Raven gets in the way. That's about the sum total of it. Entertaining candy, I read it in 20 minutes. I expect I'll read all three of these today.
I'm just speeding through these books. A good thing too, I'm not sure how long the Vampire Kisses books will hold my attention. By the third book, Vam...moreI'm just speeding through these books. A good thing too, I'm not sure how long the Vampire Kisses books will hold my attention. By the third book, Vampireville, I'm starting to notice patterns with the characters - a rather obvious flatness that pervades. I hope these characters grow some dimension... anything at all. I think I will grow weary of over-sensitive artist Alexander and perky Goth girl Raven if they don't attain some level of depth.
However, Vampireville still did it for me. So, that's good.
Alexander and Raven are still dealing with newcomer twins Jagger and Luna. They have succeeded in faking them out, that Raven was turned into a vampire at the drive in by Alexander. However, they have set their sights on a new target - Trevor, Raven's preppy arch-nemesis since kindergarten. Even though Raven despises him she cannot let the bad guys win... so a plan ensues... with much rejoicing (yay).
I think I called these Scooby Doo-ish in my review of the first book. This book really amps up the camp. I find it hard to believe that Vampires can be outwitted and foiled so damned quickly by children (well, teens). I mean, seriously... these must be the dimmest Vampires in all Christendom. However, it works, and it's working for me now... though I am beginning to feel a little guilty pleasure towards these books. Pulp? Yes. Complicated? No. Not a bit.
Like I said yesterday, the Vampire Kisses books by Ellen Schreiber are light... able to finish in two + hours kind of light... But in a good, Gothy, p...moreLike I said yesterday, the Vampire Kisses books by Ellen Schreiber are light... able to finish in two + hours kind of light... But in a good, Gothy, pulpy, YA kind of way. I'm still enjoying them, though they are very much candy books.
In Kissing Coffins Raven is heartbroken. She just found out that her Gothic Prince, Alexander, is actually a Vampire. Following the discovery he has disappeared and Raven progressed into an angsty riddled (more so than usual) teenager. She vows to find him. Tracking him down to a town her Aunt Libby lives in, Hipsterville, she encounters a new Vampire, Jagger, who is Alexander's rival. Much of the book follows her search, the rest follows Jagger trying to exact revenge on Alexander for scorning Jagger's twin sister, Luna.
...and lots of Gothy jokes, and quick dialogue, and silly scenarios... Like I said, it's pulp... but it's very engaging pulp. Squee.
If it takes me 3 hours to read a book (and that's guestimating high) than I can read the remaining 5 books in about 15 hours... stretched out over a week likely. I'm still dubious if all 7 will get read right now, but for the moment I am enjoying the ride. 4 out of 5 stars.
So, we slip back into "light" reading, after the powerful awe that was Delirium. Que sera... and all that.
Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber has sat on...moreSo, we slip back into "light" reading, after the powerful awe that was Delirium. Que sera... and all that.
Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber has sat on my shelves at work for the entirety of my bookselling career. I have always meant to read it.. but you know how books (and series of books) get away from you after a while...erm, 5 years worth of while. This year I gave myself a goal to read several of the ongoing series books from my section, particularly the teen Vamp books, so I can handsell them better for X-mas. This is the last one. Squee. An ending.
Whilst I'm not blown away by this series to the extent of overzealous gushing I did rather enjoy the first book. It's fun in the way that Heather Brewer's Eighth Grade Bites is fun. A bit young, sure, but worth the time if it's what you want. The main character, Raven, is fun to read. Some of the situations are eye-rollingly young adult.. but, you know... It IS young adult. It can be younger than I'm accustomed to reading in the genre. It does, after all, encompass ages 12 - 18.
The ending is a little Scobby Doo-ish. And silly. But, the whole story is cute, so that makes up for it. I have the first omnibus with books 1, 2, and 3 in it... so my plan is to read that and go from there with the rest of the series. I don't know if I am quite in the mood for "awwww, cuuuutte!!!" for 7 whole books... 8, considering that Cryptic Cravings releases in May. We'll see, they're such candy books I could probably read all 7 in a week. Now there's a challenge.
Stopping Time is a short story by Melissa Marr based in the same world as Wicked Lovely. It follows Leslie, Irial, and Niall from book two in the seri...moreStopping Time is a short story by Melissa Marr based in the same world as Wicked Lovely. It follows Leslie, Irial, and Niall from book two in the series, Ink Exchange. It was very refreshing to read this, as these are my favourite characters in the series. This particular addition really helps to round out everyone as well.
Leslie is a student, assiduously avoiding her past... trying to forget the time she spent in the Dark Court with Irial. Now a college student she has a tentative agreement with Irial. They see each other once a week at a coffee shop. They do not speak. That is the agreement. If she wants to see him, she must approach him. She must dictate the friendship.
Leslie begins to receive threatening text messages, messages that want to out the Court. She only wants to move on but finds herself immediately yearning to rely on the Dark Court to solve her problems.
I loved this story. It's perfect. I'm not usually gaga on short stories but in this case this was the perfect length. I felt almost as if this should be tacked onto the end of Ink Exchange.. it's how I would have wanted it to end. It's also a very good palette cleanser to take me from Fragile Eternity into Radiant Shadows. Squee!
I have determined I will pretty much read anything that Melissa Marr writes. Evidenced by this is the manga Wicked Lovely Desert Tales series. Challen...moreI have determined I will pretty much read anything that Melissa Marr writes. Evidenced by this is the manga Wicked Lovely Desert Tales series. Challenge follows Rika, Shy, and Jayce after Shy is stabbed by Maili, a desert fey. Much of the novel is spent during Shy's convalescence, and a visit from Keenan, the King of the Summer Court.
Again, beautifully drawn. There are lots of panels with no dialogue, so the novel goes very fast. I enjoy it. Enough to read the next one, but I'm very glad that I had a friend to borrow it from. As a general rule with books I can read in under a half hour.. there's very little reason to hang on to them.
Still, 5 of 5 stars. This helps to nicely round out the far corners of Marr's Faerie Courts.
It's the great Melissa Marr reread that won't die! Don't worry folks, I only have two more books to read after this, I swear! (Well, three if you coun...moreIt's the great Melissa Marr reread that won't die! Don't worry folks, I only have two more books to read after this, I swear! (Well, three if you count the third manga to this series coming out in 2011). I just finished the first of the manga spin off series - Wicked Lovely Desert Tales: Sanctuary. Volume 1. There, I think I got the whole cursed title.
Rika was once a consort of Keenan, the infamous Summer Court King. When she picked up the staff of Beira she became of the Winter Court, intaking Beira's breath and ice into herself. Since then Donia (and who knows how many others) have been chosen to bear Winter's ice, and Rika is free to roam as a fairie. The trouble is she cannot be around iron, or cities... or people, so she has relocated herself to the desert. With a band of meddlesome faeries, and Sionnach, a friend, she tries to make a new life.
She has become fascinated with a young man named Jayce who frequents her cliffs. One day he falls... well, in truth, the faeries have pushed him. Before she considers the alternatives Rika saves him. This sets in motion a series of events that only begin to highlight how different she is from him.
These are fun. Brief and fun. They're manga, prettily illustrated by the Xian Nu Studio. I read this in about a 1/2 hour... they don't take much brain power, or time... but they look beautiful. and it's nice to see the characters in the flesh... or, at the very least in ink. This addition to the world of Marr's faeries is very entertaining. 5 out of 5 stars.
Ok, I'll admit it... I didn't know this was a book that was written to help sell a line of dolls. I found that out about halfway through the reading.....moreOk, I'll admit it... I didn't know this was a book that was written to help sell a line of dolls. I found that out about halfway through the reading... and felt a little dirty when I did. However, I finished Lisi Harrison's Monster High with high spirits. It was a fun read. It's fluff... but it's fun fluff.
Melody and Frankie are both new to Salem Oregon. They have both enrolled in Merston High and both have similar secrets.... they are both hiding who they really are. Melody was born with an ugly nose and asthma. When her family chose to move to Oregon, hoping the change might improve Melody's asthma, Melody's plastic surgeon Father gave Melody a present... a new nose. Frankie is only 15 days old. She was created in a lab from the best part her parents could find. She has to be charged up every day... and she is the Granddaughter of Frankenstein. The story alternates between the two girls as the settle into Salem.
Both have to hide who they are, but when they get to Merston High they realize that they are not alone... though they go separate ways they both end up in cliques of girls who hide behind artifice... Melody's new friends, Bekka and Haylee, force her to sign a friendship contract ensuring that she will not attempt to steal Bekka's boyfriend, Brett. Frankie's new friends are obsessed with fashion and gossip...and are all descended from infamous monsters.
The premise is fun... the execution is... well, I've never read Harrison's Clique series, but I expect they read exactly like them... with Monsters. It's cheeky, but in a now way. I don't think this series/book will age well... it's already very pop culturally dated. For all of the fashion and star reference I couldn't help feel that I wanted something more out of this premise. I mean, sure... it's written to promote a line of fashion dolls from Mattel (Think JEM dolls, but now!). It feels vapid and puerile out of the gate. However, there's a charm to it that I find myself embarrassed to admit I like.
Besides that, as a first book to a series, this sets up not a lot of anything to hang a lengthy story arc for several books... unless it's all character based. Frankie's story has potential; she could run with the whole Civil Rights aspect for monsters for a while and I could be into that. However, Melody's story left me cold. I didn't care much about her pining for the boy across the street or her relationship with two bitchy girls. I was bored with that, and found myself yearning for Frankie's part.
I'm bitter that I enjoyed it so much. These kind of guilty pleasure books make me feel shallow... however, yes. After all that kvetching, guess what? 4 out of 5 stars. *hangs head*
Cherie Priest's Four and Twenty Blackbirds should have had me at hello. However, it lost me at about page 185. I just lost interest. What went wrong?
E...moreCherie Priest's Four and Twenty Blackbirds should have had me at hello. However, it lost me at about page 185. I just lost interest. What went wrong?
Eden is an orphan adopted by her Aunt Lulu. She is bi-racial in the South, which offers all sorts of interesting scenarios, mostly from her estranged family. When she's a teenager she is shot at by a gunman. She also sees ghosts quite frequently. That much I'm sure about the plot.
At one point Eden grows up and becomes a bit of a beat. At this time the man who tried to shoot her attempts it once again, taking out a girl at a poetry slam believing it to be Eden. It's around this time that Eden begins to wonder at her parentage, demanding questions from her family that no one will answer. She goes on a quest... there's more ghosts... the gunman keeps chasing her... and I grew weary.
This should have really done something for me. It had all the elements; Southern Gothic atmosphere, a headstrong heroine, the ghosts, the family pathos.. yet I was bored, and only half paid attention, and didn't care when I got to any kind of interest. I wanted it to be different, I wanted it to be better than it was. I feel bad, because I want to adore Cherie Priest...still... not what I was expecting.
2 out of 5 stars. I wish I could have enjoyed this.
It took me a while to get through Pale Demon by Kim Harrison. I blame the Holidays more than the book. I quite enjoyed it, mostly. The last third seem...moreIt took me a while to get through Pale Demon by Kim Harrison. I blame the Holidays more than the book. I quite enjoyed it, mostly. The last third seemed to drag a touch... but again, the Holidays.
We pick up book #9 in The Hollows series where Black Magic Sanction left off. Rachel has been shunned by the coven. She has a mere few days to revoke the shunning, but she must get to San Francisco in order to do it. In tandem, Trent Kalamack has a special Elven quest he has to perform, and he must get to Seattle to accomplish his task. Much to Rachel's annoyance she finds herself on a 2000+ mile road trip with Trent... and Jenks... and Ivy... All in one car... all stressed out to the max... all getting on each other's nerves.
It's delightful.
One of the things that continues to plague me about this series is the relationship that Harrison hints at between Rachel and Trent. I know that sexual tension helps to imply conflict, but it irritates me that they might end up together. I have never liked Trent from the get go, and the fact that Rachel vacillates on her feelings to him bothers me. He's not a good man. He does some vile things on a regular basis. He has screwed over Rachel countless of times, and no matter what noble deeds he has done to redeem himself it is still tough to watch the two of them dance around a sexual attraction. It's frustrating, and I'd rather her end up with other people than Trent (Ivy please? Please! I'd prefer her... though it won't happen, or someone new). Still, I think that's the direction that Harrison is going in, and my gorge is up over it.
4 out of 5 stars, for the drag... but still a damned good book.
I have no earthly ability to look at this book, or read this title, without the song Across the Universe popping into my head.. be it The Beatles or D...moreI have no earthly ability to look at this book, or read this title, without the song Across the Universe popping into my head.. be it The Beatles or David Bowie singing it. It's fitting, I suppose.
Beth Revis' debut novel Across the Universe is a thrilling ride, albeit one I was reluctant to pick up. For the record I am not a fan of Space Opera, and, for all intents and purposes, that is what my initial knee-jerk estimation of this book was... Space Opera. Space Opera, to me, smacks of bad Star Trek episodes and blue big breasted alien women bedding befuddled starship captains... which boils back down to Star Trek, when you get right down too it. A whole stereotype of a genre based on one silly TV show.
However, everyone under the sun has recommended this book to me. When nothing else would suit I pulled it out of the pile and took it into the bathtub... this is my usual approach to books I don't know what to think about... if it survives reading outside of the bath, it's a winner. The book lasted past the bath, and into the next day, and before I knew it I was madly in love. Space Madly, for you Ren and Stimpy fans.
For the record, this book is barely Space Opera. It is more of a Dystopian Mystery Young Adult Romance that happens to take place on a starship. It is not what I expected at all, and for that I am pleased. A few bits towards the end become predictable, but that I can ignore. I was wholly surprised by how awestruck this book kept me.
It feels like there will be more, but if the story ends there I am fine with that too. I don't want to say more, because you folks out there need to be surprised by this book. I was, and am. It's a great read, and I'll be looking for more from Revis in the future.
...why can't I spell twelfth right ever on the first try? Seriously. It's a problem, my whole life. I think it's the lispy L F T H combination. It fee...more...why can't I spell twelfth right ever on the first try? Seriously. It's a problem, my whole life. I think it's the lispy L F T H combination. It feels awkward. Truly.
Alright. End rant. Begin gush.
I've been a fan of Heather Brewer's The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod books since the very first one released 3 years ago. The final book, Twelfth Grade Kills (yes, I screwed up the spelling again), is now out for all to read. I just finished it. It was fabulous. It was exactly what I wanted.
For those who have not read it, a warning. These books are light, especially at the start. Vlad begins the series in eighth grade, which each successive book upping to the next grade level. This means we start with Vlad as a naive young boy. He's obsessed with video games and the pretty girl in class... he eats a ton and is a little immature. Fast forward four books... and nothing has changed! No.. joke joke... I kid people. Very much has changed, and with every change Vlad's level of responsibility goes up a notch, as all good children born of prophecies do. He's grown into a very fine young man by this book.
Several of my favourite characters make an appearance - Henry, Nelly, Otis, Joss... Snow... Kristoff... even weasley little Eddie Poe... it's great to be reintroduced to these characters once again. I'm happy to see that Vlad has finally found his Ginny after he's been chasing Cho Chang for so long. That may be a spoiler, but I couldn't resist the comparison.
I'm very pleased with the conclusion to this series. It feels good to say goodbye to these characters. 5 out of 5 stars. Thanks very much, Ms. Brewer, for entertaining me most heartily. I look forward to seeing what you pull out of your bag of tricks next.
I was a bit apprehensive about reading Unearthly by Cynthia Hand for one very, distinct reason - I don't believe in God. Not only do I not believe in...moreI was a bit apprehensive about reading Unearthly by Cynthia Hand for one very, distinct reason - I don't believe in God. Not only do I not believe in God but any mythos I hear about Angels, Demons, and the like I consider to be only that... mythos. Interesting to read about, but please don't preach to me. I'm not an easy convert.
That said, I really enjoyed reading this book because Hand achieved a magnificent thing... she wrote a realistic, wonderful, heavenly good Angel book that did not turn me off in the first 50 pages. Squee.
This is Hand's debut novel, the first of a planned trilogy. The premise surrounds Clara, a 16 year old Californian girl with a secret... she's a quarter Angel, a Quartarius. Angels are on earth to fulfill purposes, purposes that come as visions, and Clara has just had her first vision. She finds herself in Wyoming, trying to locate a young man in her vision.. a young man she is destined to save.
The idea is fun, the telling is better. Hand spends a lot of time in the book fleshing out Clara, her mother, her pissed off brother, who is aggravated at being pulled from his life in CA. Her family and friends end up being entertaining to read. Clara's adventures in finding Christian, the boy in her vision, make the reader laugh and moan and facepalm all at the right moments. She's an engaging heroine, and that makes for a great read.
There are a few things I would have liked to have seen tightened up, grammar things and the like. I'm hoping they are cleaned up in the final versions. However, that said, 4.5 stars from this heathen non-believer. I never thought I would like a book about goody two-shoes angels this much.
Dust City by Robert Paul Weston was about what I expected, and yet nothing what I anticipated. It's a weird conglomeration of Pulp Mystery, Fairy Tale...moreDust City by Robert Paul Weston was about what I expected, and yet nothing what I anticipated. It's a weird conglomeration of Pulp Mystery, Fairy Tale, and Werewolf tale. It reminds me a touch of Sin City... if Sin City were being told about adolescent boys... in a Grimm's Fairy Tale. It's weird, and good, but it's not perfect.
Henry Whelp lives in St. Remus, a home for wayward boys. Years ago his Father went mad and killed Red Riding Hood and her Grandmother. Henry fears he will be just like him. In Dust City there is a company called Nimbus Thaumaturgical that manufactures a drug called Fairydust that has magical properties.. guaranteed to work like the Dust of old before the fairies and pixies died... except for one thing; A new Dust is being circulated that claims to be the actual thing. Where is this Dust coming from?
This book had potential to be perfect, but fell short. It's told in these interesting short chapters, little vignettes of story to make of Henry's quest to help his Father and find the source of the Dust. It feels like reading a book of fairy tales and like traditional fairy tales there are images both dark and disturbing to occupy the mind. These parts of the book really make it sing. Henry's story, however, feels overlong. I found myself growing weary the last 70 pages and longing for an end. I wasn't interested enough in him to enjoy his journey, but I loved who he met along the way... Snow White, Cinderella, Jack climbing up his beanstalk.... those parts are all brilliantly worked. The core story though I almost could have done without.
A solid 3. I wanted it to be a four, but I skimmed the last chunk... so... yeah... 3 out of 5.
I think I'm going through withdrawal. I loved the Elemental Assassins book by Jennifer Estep, and now they're all done! *whingemoan*... at least until...moreI think I'm going through withdrawal. I loved the Elemental Assassins book by Jennifer Estep, and now they're all done! *whingemoan*... at least until Tangled Threads comes out in April... next year. Whinge.
Venom starts out with a bang, or at the very least a beating. Ashland "royalty" Mab Monroe and goons, Jonah McAllister and Elliot Slater, ambush Gin in a parking structure... while she's flu riddled... that's playing dirty! Goon #1 believes Gin murdered his son, Jake... which she totally did, but she'll never let him know that. Fast forward and Goon #2 is terrorizing local Vamp nightclub owner Roslyn, and Gin knows he's going to hurt her, maybe even kill her. When a hit turns personal can Gin keep it together til the bitter end?
I'm sad to see these done. I could have read more and more. However, the three currently published have concluded and I have to deal. There's a lot of quirk to these books that I have come to appreciate... the characters, the food, the atmosphere... wonderful! One thing that annoys me, and this is more of a comment about the current state of all things VAMPIRES in the publishing world now, is this. Why are Vampires so damned... human? Seriously, why are they no longer badass creatures of the night? Roslyn is so weak in this book I consistently forget that she's a Vampire. She cannot stand up to Elliot herself, who, admittedly, is a giant. Literally. But, still? When (or more importantly why) did Vampires become so weak? I keep coming up against this... Vampires who stand in sun and not get burned, who eat human food, who don't necessarily need blood to live, who... for all intents and purposes... are slightly better than everybody else? They are abnormally normal, as it were.
I blame Stephenie Meyer. Completely. Blasphemy... yes... but it stands. I loved her books (mostly).. I hate her impact on the more frightening literary characters ever conceived. It's downright shameful that this is what we are saddled with now in our Horror/Paranormal/Supernatural writing. I think this is why I'm currently rereading Dracula... to remember why I love the mythos so desperately bad to begin with. I'm not getting what I want out of most other Vampire writing these days.
Ok. I'll stop bitching. However, even with that rant attached I have to give this a 5 of 5 stars. I loved it (with one exception, which I have less of a problem with Estep with and every problem with the publishing industry at large).
I read most of Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep in one day. I really love this series, though numerous online reviews panned this addition in the Element...moreI read most of Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep in one day. I really love this series, though numerous online reviews panned this addition in the Elemental Assassins books. Why no one liked it completely baffles me. I adored the premise of this book and I laughed the whole way through it. It's most entertaining.
Gin Blanco has retired from the Assassin business following the death of her foster father, Fletcer Lane. She inherits his home, his business (a barbecue joint called the Pork Pit), and a nice chunk of change. Retirement at 30 is sweet, but Gin grows bored and craves excitement. Two incidents two days in a row at the Pork Pit find Gin in circumstances she thrives in. First millionaire badboy, Jake McAllister, decides to (try to) hold up the restaurant. Next, a mysterious young woman comes in asking for the Tin Man, Fletcher's old moniker when he was an Assassin. Both of these incidents lead to events that forces Gin out of her languid retirement (yay!) and introduce new people into her piecemeal band of family and friends.
This book is too much fun. I found it a very natural progression of the story from book one. Of course Gin would react to Fletcher's death by retiring. She's mourning. This makes sense. Like I said earlier I have been reading reviews with many upset folks pooh-poohing this particular book and I find them all absurd. I did not find this book boring. It's quite fun and does a lot to open up Gin's character as well as many of the others. I love Finn and the Dwarf sisters, Jo-Jo and Sophia. I love some of the newbies also. It's hard to pick a part in this book that I disliked. Maybe I'm just not a joiner?
I wonder if it boils down to the fact that there is less sex in this book? Granted, there was only one actual sex scene in book one. However, Gin's rampant bawdy imagination well made up for the lack. I blame her tamed down libido on the fact that lusty object-of-desire, Donovan Caine, doesn't make many appearances in this book. When he is there he makes them count, but overall he is very much not there. I think the feeling of calm that pervades the book only adds to the feeling of ennui, and that works within the confines of the story. Boring, no... just complacent. Gin is not a woman to be complacent too long though. I view this book as the proverbial calm before the storm. Which makes me wonder what in God's name she is going to do next?
5 out of 5 stars. This is quickly becoming one of my favourite Urban Fantasy series.
So, like many people I recently started Stephenie Meyer's new novella The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner. Note that I said started, but not finished...moreSo, like many people I recently started Stephenie Meyer's new novella The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner. Note that I said started, but not finished. I couldn't get into this, and part of me really wanted to.
I'm not sure why the disconnect. Perhaps because it's been 3 years since I read the first books. Perhaps because the last book really lost me on Meyer as a writer (I was terribly happy that The Host came out prior to the release of Breaking Dawn, or I might never have read it otherwise). I found Breaking Dawn to be tedious and poorly structured, not to mention the terrible messages for young women and the wretched plot devices that Meyer chose to include. To me the Twilight books end with Eclipse. Period. End of story.
So why read about Bree Tanner? Why should I care at this point? Call it a sick curiosity. Call it a chance for Meyer to redeem herself... whatever you want to call it I'll just say this... I could not make it 60+ into a novella that spanned under 200 pages.
Ouch. That's a bad sign. So what went wrong?
Perhaps it was the stream of consciousness style of writing. Meyer never breaks anywhere in the story. You can do this if you are a great technical writer. The trouble is that Meyer is not and 6 books under her belt has not changed that fact. You need to leave a break to give the readers a chance to stop and process, if they so wish to do so. When you do not include breaks, and you are not the best writer, the work begins to suffer... in this case drone. I felt like the character was droning at me and I didn't like that. Perhaps Meyer chose to write this character's story as such to imply the continuing thought patterns and experiences of an immortal being. Why ever the reasons this did not work for me. I found myself stopping inconveniently just to break and I was resentful about having to do that the whole way through.
Besides this there were just weird little plot points that made little sense. Meyer almost lost me when she had Diego and Bree walked into the book store to get books. Meyer wrote her as "walking into the H section" to pick up her next few books... umm, last time I checked book stores are shelved by different genres or topics and then broken down alphabetically by the author... there are no "H" sections in book store. There is not a case with the letter "H" in bold type above it. I might be nitpicking on this point but this tells me that Meyer has not stepped into a book store in I don't know how long... and as a bookseller this offends me to my core. "H" section... good gods. Maybe I'm just jaded... but really? Three words were all it would have taken to make this make sense... the whatever section... the fiction section, the non-fiction section, the sex section... I don't care, but specify a damn section! Please... is that too much to ask?
I'm not even going to dignify the scene with Diego and Bree learning of their inability for the sunlight to kill them... sitting out in the sun smiling and sparkling... and smiling and sparkling... and sparkling...and sparkling... and smiling.... and sparkling... please. That's literally where I shut the book. It was ridiculous.
I think I'm officially off Meyer now... I feel duped that I even picked this up. I am hoping that curiosity does not kill this cat wherever (and whenever) she chooses to publish another book. My money's on near or about the release of the Breaking Dawn film (whether it's broken up into two parts or not, I keep seeing rumours about this happening). I feel like that's when Meyer (or, rather, Meyer's publishers) will pull something out, whether it's the much anticipated Midnight Sun, a Host sequel, or something entirely new I expect it to coincide with the release of the last film... I still believe the Midnight Sun leak to be a publishing strategy to create buzz for the books, but you know... I could be wrong.
I don't think I'll finish this, ever. Maybe if I ever reread the series, and that's a huge "if" at this point, Meyer has burned me too many times. Still, 1 of 5 stars. I can't even wrap my head around how much I didn't enjoy this book.
This summer I decided to read three different Newbery titles. The first was The Giver by Lois Lowry. The second was The Twenty-One Balloons by William...moreThis summer I decided to read three different Newbery titles. The first was The Giver by Lois Lowry. The second was The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois.
Professor William Waterman Sherman has taught children for many years. He tires of it after several decades and takes up ballooning instead. One day he retires and sets sail around the world in a flying home with a giant hot air balloon attached to it. The plan is to be air born for a solid year... unfortunately, some seagulls alter that plan. Sherman has to set down on a small island in the Pacific. The island turns out to be Krakatoa, and inhabited. Sherman then enters into one of the strangest, and most blissful, periods he has ever known.
The book was pretty good, albeit a little young for me to be gaga over. It's interesting that it's written by a French American author in 1940 - whatever (the award was given for 1947). The book is heavily steeped in socialist politics in a very positive light... and this is pre-communist 1950's red scare. Were this written a few years later would it be subject to the same kind of scrutiny that fueled that time of fear in our country? Would it have been politically overlooked for the award?
Politics aside though, this book is very appealing for an action, survival novel. I described it today as a communist, desert island survival adventure manifesto novel for kids. I'm sticking to that. It was good, I should have read it 20 years ago. Today it warrants a 4 out of 5, but it's a damn good 4 out of 5 read.
I started Lisa Cach's Wake Unto Me yesterday morning and I just finished it up. It was...ok... the book started out with such promise but fell kinda f...moreI started Lisa Cach's Wake Unto Me yesterday morning and I just finished it up. It was...ok... the book started out with such promise but fell kinda flat two thirds through.
Caitlyn has always felt out of place in Oregon. She studies the past, art and history, like some girls study fashion magazines and pop culture. A good evening to her is reading a book of fine art while listening to Chopin. When she gets an opportunity to study at a prestigious boarding school in France she jumps on it, forsaking America and everything she knows for castles, and fine food, and a chance to immerse herself in culture.
At first the book is a Gothic ghost haunt... Caitlyn sees visions of the past, of the Medici family and Europe of the past. But the book devolves to a Templar treasure hunting story and with it went my attention span... don't do Knights Templar very well, I'm afraid. Parts of the mythos intrigues me, but overall the bits of knights in the service of God... yeah, my attention veered to say the least. I wanted more of Catherine de Medici and Rafael and the hauntings, and my interested was ill rewarded. Just like that. My interest quite literally deflated in the final 100 pages. I skimmed the latter part of the book.
While not for me, this may interest people for the Gothic-ness of the story. And the characters in the school are all intriguing, though a bit flat dimensioned. 3 out of 5 stars. I wish I didn't have to resort to skimming the end.
I've been on a YA romance kick lately. Firelight by Sophie Jordan was no exception. The difference of course being that while I have been reading Goth...moreI've been on a YA romance kick lately. Firelight by Sophie Jordan was no exception. The difference of course being that while I have been reading Gothic and Werewolves and Vampires (oh my!) the theme here is different... dragons... or, rather, Draki. Draki are a race descended from dragons who hide in the world by disguising their forms with human raiments... and human bodies. A Draki's form manifests when they hit puberty, along with a talent that will define who you are within the pride.
Jacinda is a fire breather... the first fire breather in several generations. While she is embarrassed and hides under her own nature the rest of the pride has other ideas for her. Her mother learns what is in store for Jacinda and decides she has to protect both her and Jacinda's twin sister, Tamra. The three flee to Nevada, hoping the desert will help protect them from Jacinda's true form manifesting before humans. There is a catch... Jacinda hates it. She wants to back home with the earth and the rain where she can be herself. Tamra and Jacinda's mother are completely at peace as Tamra never manifested and her mother, in sympathy with Tam, de-manifested her Draki form. For the three to lead a normal life Jacinda has to sacrifice the most important thing... herself.
Firelight surprised me. It's completely unique to the YA market. There is not another series that I can think of like this. I enjoyed it so much. It does descend a bit into the angsty romantic triangle impossibilities that so defines the YA genre currently (curse you Twilight!)... but, that said, I'm not mad at it. I thought it was a great read, and I am very excited for the sequel.
Well, I'm on a roll. This is the third book in a row that I have read this week in a matter of days. I'm very pleased by this. Completely.
That said......moreWell, I'm on a roll. This is the third book in a row that I have read this week in a matter of days. I'm very pleased by this. Completely.
That said... I read Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting. This is the sequel to this year's The Body Finder. Wow. Derting does it again. These books make me so happy, and desperate for a sequel... which means I now have to wait until Spring(ish?) 2012. Whinge!!!
Anywho, intelligent review... yes! Yes, I can do that.
Violet and Jay have developed their romance. As they get deeper Violet becomes aware of new, protective feelings of Jay. She's become territorial, particularly when a new brother and sister, Mike and Megan, move into town. Besides that, Violet keeps experiences echos that signify bodies, bodies that will eat at her until she sees them laid to rest. She's already dealt with a mass murderer but now she has a new conflict... someone is stalking her, and Violet has to find out why... and who.
Like I said, or rather implied, I love these books. They are creepy in all the right ways, tender in all the right moments and.. better yet.. have a wholly believable female character helming the ship. Violet is perfect, her voice rings. It's refreshing to see a heroine who doesn't just crumble under her romance with Mr. Perfect (coughcoughbellacoughcough). Violet is independent, headstrong, intelligent, and charismatic. Violet also swears, and does stupid things, and gets horny, and jumps to conclusions. Violet is a real character, which makes her that much more fun to read. It's wonderful to find something in the young adult genre that is not just another abysmal Twilight clone. Especially now that so many publishers are publishing abysmal Twilight clones. I realize I am more or less repeating my impressions of The Body Finder, but the point is even more extraordinary with a sequel... the sequel stands up to the first one. That's probably the best praise I can offer to Derting.
5 out of 5 stars. If you haven't read The Body Finder yet, you are a fool.
Last year I read the first two books in M.L.N. Hanover's The Black Sun's Daughter series. I enjoyed them greatly. They are not perfect but there is a...moreLast year I read the first two books in M.L.N. Hanover's The Black Sun's Daughter series. I enjoyed them greatly. They are not perfect but there is a certain something to them that makes them impulsively readable and incredibly fun. Reading book 3, Vicious Grace, is a little more complex and harder than it should have been.
Vicious Grace follows Jayne and company to Chicago, where a demon rider is attacking people's sleep and dreams. These books are heavily character dependent, and this book is no exception to the formula. However, VG diverts from the engaging formula of the first two and seems duller, weaker paced, and less fascinating than the first two. I think both Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels grew in scope upon recollection.
Book 3 deals with a subject matter I find difficult to read... dreams, and the structure of the human mind within the dream realm... I tend to gloss over details and grow weary when authors begin to wax rhapsodic on the dream field. That so much of this book is spent dealing with a subject I do not care about doesn't help. I have my own thoughts on dreams and what they mean... I don't need interpretation or philosophies on this theme.
I'm hoping book 4 gets back on track. This one isn't horrible, it's just not my cup of tea. I haven't given up on Hanover yet, because I did love all of the character development in this book. This, however, is not my favourite in the series.
I was privileged enough to acquire an advanced copy of Matched by Ally Condie several months before the release date. I'm thrilled to say that the boo...moreI was privileged enough to acquire an advanced copy of Matched by Ally Condie several months before the release date. I'm thrilled to say that the book lives up to it's premise.
The Society has always provided for everyone's needs - food, clothing, shelter are merely a matter of course. They also provide Matches for everyone, genetically perfect pairs for breeding out the biggest imperfections a human being can develop. Cassia is 17 and has never questioned the Society, particularly not when they match her with her best friend in the world, Xander. Cassia is suddenly the object of jealousy and envy from many girls. Not only is Xander handsome and kind but there's a closeness that Cassia and he have that no one can hope to duplicate with the miles that lie between them and their Matches. Cassia is a very fortunate girl.
Then one day she sees another face flash upon her viewing screen; a young man named Ky Markham who is from the same district as Cassia and Xander. It is only for an instant, but that instant will forever change Cassia; unsettling more questions that she only barely has the courage to ask herself... Is Ky supposed to be her Match?
Matched is a gentle, yet disturbing, Dystopian romance worthy of some of the canons of the genre. But it's unique edge comes in the fact that it is, at heart, a love triangle for teens. It's all about the packaging though. It's been a long time since a YA novel has brought up so many questions to be pondered... of choice, of free will, of random vs. planned occurrences. Any decision that Cassia is free to make has been guessed at by the Society based on careful examinations of her personality, dreams, and many other factors that make her her. How can one choose freely when the Society counters with "We knew you would choose that within a certain percentage? You always pick things outside the majority." I'm paraphrasing, but you get the point. How can free will exist if it has been, more or less, bred, tamed, and calculated out of being by an all powerful government? Is it possible to completely eradicate choice?
This is such a great read. I'm so glad I got an early crack at it. 5 of 5 stars seems like not enough...but yeah, it's pretty much perfect.
Beautiful Darkness is a reread for me. I read it first in July of 2010, when I couldn't talk about the book because everything I might talk about coul...more Beautiful Darkness is a reread for me. I read it first in July of 2010, when I couldn't talk about the book because everything I might talk about could be construed as a spoiler. Sitting down to type this now, however, I realize that pretty much everything I can say about this book even now is an actual spoiler, and that makes it hard to write a review that will not offend someone.
But I'm going to try. Because I can. And because my previous boasty review of this needs to be stricken.
* Spoilers for those who have not read Beautiful Creatures *
Lena's sixteenth birthday has come and gone. The claiming failed and now Lena is stuck between two states, the dark and the light, with both sides warring for her powers. She is heartbroken over her Uncle Macon's death and this puts a lot of strain on her relationship with Ethan. Ethan is not the same either; he sees visions and longs for the relationship he once had with Lena. But as the months stretch onto her seventeenth birthday Lena begins to drift from him. She is spending more time with the Dark Casters in her family. Ethan finds comfort in the Librarian with Marian and, more importantly, Marian's British research assistant, Liv. Lena's birthday rocked the supernatural foundation of Gatlin to its core and, as the book goes on, Ethan vows to find a way to bring back the girl he loves.
There's a piece in the middle of these books where the pacing is incredibly slow. I didn't notice it on the first reads because I was impatient to know what the hell was going on. I'm noticing it more on the second read, a dull middle bit where the reader wades through the plot like quick sand. I know it's intentional, and therefore I can't fault it on the author's part. These books are always plot heavy in the end and world building/character heavy in the front. It's just the way that Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl structure their novels. However, it has been noted - the middle drags a little. Make a note as a reader and do not be surprised.
The characters are what really shine in these books though. Ethan has always been a favourite male narrator of mine. His resourcefulness and empathetic nature have always appealed to me. His love for Lena is both tragic and beautiful. These two are fundamentally different people - he's human and she is, well... not. It causes some ripples in their relationship throughout the entire series. That they keep trying to be together, despite the odds, is what makes these books work. The doomed nature of their relationship is gorgeous.
The side characters are also a fantastic addition - Link and Ridley, Amma and *sniff* Macon, the great Aunts, Lena's Caster family, even some of the cattier girls at Ethan and Lena's school figure in well to the story. Without some human element of drama it would fall flat, and the high school addition reminds us that Ethan, at least, is human.
The latter part of this book is where the action really sings. And I had forgotten the ending, particularly the bit about the older woman (I hope I am being nebulous enough). That was my favourite part of the book.
So, with Darkness done we march onto Beautiful Chaos, with a vengeance.
5 out of 5 stars. I still love it, even with the drag. We all need a little drag in our lives, sometimes.
Wow... WOW! I completely loved Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers. Completely. Utterly. Wow.
Frannie is your average 17 year old high school girl from...moreWow... WOW! I completely loved Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers. Completely. Utterly. Wow.
Frannie is your average 17 year old high school girl from a Catholic family. When new bad boy Luc moves into town school has suddenly gotten more interesting... and there's a reason for it... he's a demon sent from Hell to tag Frannie's soul for the service of the devil. Problem is, he's got competition. Enter Gabe, beautiful and blonde... and an angel sent... you guessed it... to tag Frannie's immortal soul for Heaven.
Frannie doesn't believe in God, or in love. Frannie is having a hard time getting over the loss of her brother, Matt. Frannie also isn't some innocent thing to be trifled with. As the story ensues Frannie proves to be a very formidable mark. This girl is not making it easy for anyone.
Desrochers debut novel will have you laughing, and crying, and begging for more. It's got it all, and is uber sexy to boot. A solid 5 of 5 from me. I reaaaallly, desperately, want the next one.
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