Meredith has
526 books
(40 selected)
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| # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages | avg rating | num ratings | date pub | date pub (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | recommender | comments | votes | read count | date started | date read |
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date purchased | owned | purchase location | condition | format | ||
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| B00AR6ZB60
| unknown
| 4.05
| 663
| Dec 20, 2012
| unknown
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 02, 2013
| Apr 06, 2013
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Apr 02, 2013
| Kindle Edition
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| B00BVDRHN8
| 4.34
| 361
| Mar 16, 2013
| Mar 16, 2013
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Another solid entry into the series. Can't wait for the final book. (See a review of the whole series so far under "A Different Witch.")
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 07, 2013
| Apr 11, 2013
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Apr 02, 2013
| Kindle Edition
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| B009ADZXY6
| 4.22
| 556
| Sep 12, 2012
| Sep 12, 2012
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A fun prequel and one that gives you a different perspective on familiar characters. (See a review of the whole series so far under "A Different Witch...more
A fun prequel and one that gives you a different perspective on familiar characters. (See a review of the whole series so far under "A Different Witch.")(less)
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 07, 2013
| Apr 12, 2013
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Apr 02, 2013
| Kindle Edition
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| 0749953888
| 9780749953881
| 3.90
| 6,074
| Jan 01, 2012
| Feb 28, 2012
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: I’ve read a number of Lisa Kleypas’ historical romance novels and, last fall, I stumbled upon her cont...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: I’ve read a number of Lisa Kleypas’ historical romance novels and, last fall, I stumbled upon her contemporary romances when I read Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor in anticipation of the Hallmark movie adaptation. Rainshadow Road is the second book in the Friday Harbor series, a set of books connected by characters and the sleepy small town of Friday Harbor. I’ve really loved all of Kleypas’ historicals, so I was eager to try her contemporaries as well, but now having read two of them, I’m not quite sure if I’m the same kind of fan. I struggled quite a bit with Rainshadow Road and ultimately, it became a “did not finish” book for me. I did finish and like Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, but for some reason, I found it difficult to engage with this particular novel. From my perspective, Rainshadow Road is a book that can’t decide what kind of novel it is. There’s the contemporary romance side of the novel with Sam and Lucy, which I enjoyed, but there’s also an underlying magical aspect to it, and that part isn’t well integrated with the rest or really even well explained (at least for me). That part of the book never quite fit with the rest and I couldn’t really wrap my head around what I was supposed to believe or take on faith. Moreoever, Rainshadow Road is much more serious and dramatic than Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, I think I started reading this book expecting it to be similar in tone and feel to the previous one, and it wasn’t – at all. I kept waiting for some lightness or comic relief that never really came. Both Lucy and Sam are dealing with quite a lot of baggage and it just gave the book a heavy feel without anything to help counteract that weight. Now, admittedly, I didn’t finish the book, so maybe there’s something I missed, but I guess I felt like I needed more in order to keep reading and since I didn’t get it, I stopped. I’m still not exactly sure why I didn’t finish. Usually, when I don’t finish a book, it’s because I have serious issues with the writing, the plot or the characters. In this case, none of those things really applied. I didn’t dislike Sam and Lucy (though I’m not sure I liked them, either), I do enjoy Lisa Kleypas’ writing style in general and I also like romance novels in general. I was clearly intrigued enough by the plot synopsis to buy the book, so I’m stumped. All I can think is that Rainshadow Road didn’t capture me. It didn’t grab hold of me and make me want to keep reading. My attention waned early and often and I think I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind to read this book at this time. I did buy it, so I own it and I can – and will – go back at some point in the future. But for now, Rainshadow Road is a “did not finish.”(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Mar 20, 2013
| Apr 03, 2013
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Nov 25, 2012
| Paperback
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| B0096TKHAO
| unknown
| 4.18
| 62
| Sep 01, 2012
| Sep 2012
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Rose Holland may have lived in Holland Springs her whole life – and be a member of the family that gav...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Rose Holland may have lived in Holland Springs her whole life – and be a member of the family that gave the town its name – but she’s never really felt as if she belonged. The Holland women dispense matchmaking advice and their “magical” beauty products, but they’re also accused of being home-wreckers. Rose has never fit in the last category and she’s most happy with her life. Then Alexander “Sasha” Romanov walks into town. Sasha is dangerously sexy and Rose is just in danger – of losing her head, losing her heart and losing her family’s home and land as part of a scheme by Sasha’s vindictive uncle to get his hands on the Holland Springs. Sasha’s an unwilling participant in his uncle’s plot, but he’s determined to to make things right, before his loses his heart to Rose as well. Third Time’s a Charm is the second full-length novel in Marquita Valentine’s Holland Springs series. I read the first book, Twice Tempted, earlier this summer and while it was a fun summer beach book, I didn’t feel the need to write a review. So imagine my surprise when I started reading Third Time’s a Charm and was caught off-guard by how much more intense and well-developed this novel was. I certainly don’t want to diminish Twice Tempted in any way, but this second book is the series is much stronger than the first. Third Time’s a Charm clearly shows Valentine’s growth as an author. The characters are more roundly drawn and Rose and Sasha’s story is much more compelling, heartbreaking and hopeful. Plus, there’s just enough of a touch of fantasy and magic to keep things interesting. One of the things I liked most about Third Time’s a Charm is Valentine’s decision to make things difficult for Rose and Sasha. Neither has an easy or enviable life before they meet each other, then they’re both tested repeatedly once they’re thrown together by circumstance. At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss both (especially Sasha) as flat and one-dimensional, but Valentine surprises readers. I wanted to hate Sasha for his scheming and obvious lies, for the way he repeatedly let Rose down again and again. But I couldn’t. Valentine makes you understand the impossible situation he’s in and shows how he tries to subvert his uncle in subtle ways. He’s not perfect, but he’s not evil either. Meanwhile, I liked that Rose never wallowed. Though treated poorly by the town, her ex-boyfriend and even her father, she still manages to maintain her dignity. Even faced with constant scorn, she still keeps helping people. She’s not a saint (after all, no one likes a Mary Sue), but she simply keeps trying to make things better, even when blocked by seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her sense of inner strength is admirable. So, of course, Sasha and Rose fall in love – how could they not? While the chemistry between them is intense and heart-racing (Valentine really knows how to prolong the anticipation and tease readers with little glances and subtle touches), Rose and Sasha’s relationship extends beyond the physical. Thanks to Rose’s influence, Sasha is propelled to break free from his uncle, while Rose learns to let go a little and not let every little snide comment or remark get her down. At the end of the day, they’re better together. Third Time’s a Charm is Marquita Valentine’s second novel and and it clearly demonstrates her growing skill as an author. With more books to come in the Holland Springs series, I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Oct 22, 2012
| Oct 25, 2012
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Oct 20, 2012
| Kindle Edition
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| 0373210744
| 9780373210749
| 4.32
| 2,282
| Aug 28, 2012
| Aug 28, 2012
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Dec 04, 2012
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Oct 06, 2012
| Paperback
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| 0751547301
| 9780751547306
| 3.58
| 1,483
| Jun 12, 2012
| Jun 12, 2012
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Things were just starting to settle down for the Beauchamp women. After a tumultuous summer, Joanna an...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Things were just starting to settle down for the Beauchamp women. After a tumultuous summer, Joanna and her daughters Ingrid and Freya are now able to openly use their magic. Of course, that comes with its own problems. A spirit from the underworld is trying to contact Joanna, Ingrid is embarking on her first real relationship with a man who doesn’t believe in magic, while trying to unravel the mystery of a group of pixies, and Freya’s keeping the biggest secret of all – her twin brother Freddie has escaped Limbo, determined to get revenge upon the person responsible for sending him there: Freya’s fiance, Killian. All three women must figure out what’s really going on because it’s increasingly clear that something – or someone – is still causing trouble for the Beauchamp family and when all is finally revealed, it may be too late to stop the damage. Melissa de la Cruz follows up her Witches of East End novel with Serpent’s Kiss. This book picks up where the previous book left off, but it also works as a stand-alone novel as well, since de la Cruz weaves the events from the first book into the first few chapters of Serpent’s Kiss. It has the same easy, conversational tone and it’s an easy book to read and enjoy. Though the novel is still focused mainly on the three Beauchamp women, the men of the story are incorporated more. Killian, Matt, Norman and Freddie all play a much bigger role in this story and I liked the balance that brought to the book. The narration again alternatives with each chapter, giving us glimpses into Joanna, Ingrid and Freya’s lives, and this time we also get Freddie’s point of view as well. The core of Serpent’s Kiss is the three interweaving mysteries. Freya is on a quest to help Freddie and also clear Killian’s name at the same time. Ingrid attempts to wrangle the unruly pixies and send them back where they belong, while Joanna undertakes the tricky task of locating the spirit trying to reach her. Like the threads of a braid, these three mysteries all start separately, then throughout the novel, begin to overlap as each twists and turns in different directions. Eventually, they all come together at the end of the novel, three different parts of a much larger plot. de la Cruz is good at building the suspense and tension. The narration she’s chosen – with each chapter from a different point of view - creates a series of mini-cliffhangers as each chapter ends ambiguously and you have to keep reading through all the other chapters to find out what happens next. This does mean Serpent’s Kiss feels a little disjointed at times, but overall, I think it worked. Towards the end of the novel, the plot really picks up and de la Cruz jumps around so much that it does make it harder to fill in the blanks and figure out what’s going on. I did wish that she had taken her time and expanded the last fourth of the book, even if it would have meant a longer novel. On the other hand, the frenetic pace of the story matches the heightened emotions of the characters, which helped add to the overall mood of Serpent’s Kiss. Plus, the cliffhanger ending is enticing and has the potential to completely reinvent the series and send it off in a new direction. I’m intrigued to see how de la Cruz develops the story from there. With a deepening of the Norse mythology background and larger roles for new and returning characters, Melissa de la Cruz’s Serpent’s Kiss gives readers more of the Beauchamp family they already know and love. With new mysteries to solve and a dash to the finish that sets your heart racing, Serpent’s Kiss is an admirable and entertaining following to Witches of East End. The third book in the series is set for publication in June 2013 and I, for one, can’t wait.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Oct 16, 2012
| Oct 20, 2012
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Sep 29, 2012
| Paperback
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| 0758267452
| 9780758267450
| 3.52
| 87
| Jan 29, 2013
| Jan 29, 2013
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Cate Kendall is plenty familiar with Jane Austen. As a high school English teacher, she does her best...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Cate Kendall is plenty familiar with Jane Austen. As a high school English teacher, she does her best to insert some culture into her classes via Austen’s novels and spends a fair amount of time trying to guess which students actually read the book and which simply succumbed to the movie version. But her own life is lacking in excitement. Despite weekly Scrabble sessions with her co-worker and best friend Ethan, there’s not much going on. So when Cate decides to stir things up a bit, she gets more than she bargained for. Between juggling her real life with her alter ego, trying to set up her friends and family, and figuring out Ethan’s suddenly distant behavior, Cate also stumbles across a very curious diary – one with a strange connection to Miss Austen herself. Austensibly Ordinary is Alyssa Goodnight’s second novel and though it’s not a sequel, it does connect to her previous novel, thanks to the mysterious and magical Jane Austen diary. This time, Goodnight draws inspiration from Austen’s Emma, but lest you think this is just an updated version of a classic novel, think again. Austensibly Ordinary also includes ghost-hunting, Alfred Hitchcock, secrets both big and small, some seriously killer fashion, and even one particular government agency better known by it’s acronym. There’s plenty of mystery and intrigue, but above all, it’s a fun book with a heroine who’s lovably exasperating. Much like Austen’s Emma, Cate is fairly clueless. Despite her intelligence and best intentions, she keeps misreading the signs and making mistakes. And yet, as frustrating as it was to see her completely blind to what was in front of her, Cate is still very much an everywoman. She dreams of finding her own Darcy (or maybe her own Knightley), and she genuinely cares about the people in her life. The one thing I liked best about Cate, however, was her willingness to push herself to try new things. The events of the novel are set into motion by her decision to get out of her rut and do something different. Sure, it doesn’t work out the way she intended, but at least she did something. Instead of continuing to lament that her life wasn’t what she wanted, she tried to do something about it. Austen’s Emma gets kind of angsty, but Goodnight keeps things entertaining with lots of humor and laughter. Cate’s reactions to her mother’s love life were so perfectly cringe-worthy, and completely understandable for any grown woman watching her mother talk about sex and orgasms. I also really loved Cate’s ridiculous spy theories regarding the Jane Austen diary; as someone who has not-so-secretly wished to be a spy, I could totally understand her illogical jump to conclusions and her adoption of spy lingo. Even Gypsy Jane herself (who makes a few spectral appearances in the bathroom of a swanky hotel) gets a few good jokes in. Austensibly Ordinary does require some suspension of disbelief – much of the plot is contingent upon readers’ believing in the diary’s magical powers of word re-arrangement and advice-giving. But if you can accept that fact, the rest of the story is just so much fun. Cate is a main character who is easily to love and root for, Ethan is a surprising romantic foil and Jane Austen makes everything better.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Jan 29, 2013
| Feb 06, 2013
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Sep 23, 2012
| Paperback
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| B008DMGD0S
| 4.24
| 1,173
| Jun 21, 2012
| Jun 21, 2012
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Please see my review for Geary's A Modern Witch | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Oct 06, 2012
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Sep 16, 2012
| Kindle Edition
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| B006E22IXU
| 4.24
| 1,547
| Nov 24, 2011
| 2011
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Please see my review for Geary's A Modern Witch | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Sep 30, 2012
| Oct 04, 2012
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Sep 16, 2012
| Kindle Edition
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| B005EGWNJQ
| 3.98
| 1,877
| Jul 25, 2011
| 2011
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Surprising, but not nearly as enjoyable as the first book in the series. | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Sep 16, 2012
| Sep 17, 2012
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Sep 16, 2012
| Kindle Edition
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| B004RZ2660
| 3.80
| 3,140
| Mar 12, 2011
| 2011
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: All Lauren McCready wanted was food. A spur-of-the-moment trip to an online grocery store becomes some...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: All Lauren McCready wanted was food. A spur-of-the-moment trip to an online grocery store becomes something quite different when Lauren is redirected to the Witches Central chat room, thanks to Nell’s fetching spell. Lauren may be Chicago’s top elite realtor, but she has a hard time believing that she’s also a witch. But the fetching spell isn’t wrong and soon, Lauren’s life is turned upside down. Grappling with a wealth of untapped power and struggling to reconcile the life she knew with the uncertainty of the future, Lauren’s journey will also intersect with the Sullivan family, her best friend Nat, and one special little boy. While I was deep into the mythologies of magic in a previous novel, I realized I was in the mood to read more novels about witches, witchcraft and magic. So I did what any good reader in the 21st century with Internet access did: I crowdsourced Twitter for some suggestions and made good use of Amazon’s recommendations tool. And that’s how I stumbled across Debora Geary’s Witches Central series and its first book, A Modern Witch. Even with the multiple high reviews on Amazon, I did wonder what I would get – self-published and independently published books vary greatly in their quality. But I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised by A Modern Witch. One of the things I enjoyed most about this novel was the fact that Geary doesn’t write what you’d expect. Towards the beginning of the novel, Witches Central sends Jamie, a trainer, to meet with Lauren to test her and determine the extent of her powers. A tall, dark, handsome stranger flies halfway across the country to meet a single woman? Conventional romance tropes practically demand that they fall in love at first sight. But that’s not what happens in A Modern Witch and I was pleased to see Geary take her book in twists and turns that I didn’t expect. This novel could have been horribly predictable, and yet every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was surprised by something else. Even with its surprises, A Modern Witch isn’t overly complicated. There isn’t an evil villain to fight and defeat, there aren’t impossible obstacles to overcome or daring feats of danger to complete before finding treasure. At its core, this novel is purely and simply about finding oneself. The biggest source of conflict in the book is Lauren’s own internal struggle to come to terms with this life-changing revelation. As she figures out how to be the person she was and the person she’s becoming, we readers get a glimpse of her mind and her own doubts, fears and insecurities. Though the magic is a part of Lauren’s story, there’s plenty any young 20-something reader finding her (or his) way in the world can relate to. Sometimes, we take a leap and, on a whim, try a book without any massive marketing campaign behind it. I decided to give Debora Geary’s A Modern Witch a try and was nicely surprised by what I got in return. A novel for the 21st century, where technology and magic not only rest side-by-side, but in fact help each other out, this was a delightful book to read on a lazy Saturday afternoon.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Sep 15, 2012
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Sep 16, 2012
| Kindle Edition
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| 3.47
| 5,844
| Jun 21, 2011
| Jun 21, 2011
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: North Hampton is a town no one seems to be able to find until they actually arrive. Shrouded in myster...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: North Hampton is a town no one seems to be able to find until they actually arrive. Shrouded in mystery, North Hampton seems to exist in its own time – as do three of its residents, the Beauchamp women: Joanna and her daughters Ingrid and Freya. All three are hiding a big secret. They are powerful, immortal witches banned from using their magic. Then, one summer, just as Freya is planning her wedding to wealthy Bran Gardiner, things start happening. Suddenly, the Beauchamp women are using their magic again and strange incidents are taking place all across town. Soon, Joanna, Ingrid and Freya realize that they may be the target of this evil energy and they’ll have to use all of their talents to find out who’s working against them – and why. Continuing on with my witch streak, an random search led me to Melissa de la Cruz’s Witches of East End. I’m vaguely familiar with de la Cruz as an author, though I haven’t read her Blue Bloods series. As such, I didn’t really have many expectations when I started reading Witches of East End, so I was happily surprised by the depth of the story and the unique spin on witches and magic. It’s a deceptive book. On its surface, it appears to be a book about mother and daughter witches fighting evil. It’s really only in retrospect that you’re able to appreciate all the little seeds and hints de la Cruz plants along the way, revealing a much deeper story. Witches of East End is written in third-person omniscient, but with a twist. Each chapter pivots to a different point of view (Joanna’s, Ingrid’s or Freya’s), so readers get little snapshots of moments in time with each of these three women. While we don’t know what the townspeople are thinking, we do come to know the Beauchamp women intimately. de la Cruz has created three distinct and wholly individual characters in Joanna, Ingrid and Freya. Each woman has her own magical talents, which – not surprisingly – connect with her personality traits. While I liked all three women, I found myself most drawn on Ingrid. Cautious and thoughtful, Ingrid lack’s Freya’s wild-child behavior, but still longs to break free from their centuries-long punishment and help others. Of all the Beauchamp women, I feel like Witches of East End showcases Ingrid’s blossoming most of all. This is still a novel about magic, of course, so there are plenty of spells, charms and potions between the pages. I especially liked how de la Cruz tied the Beauchamp’s history into the book’s current events. Throughout the story, the echoes of their past are present and yo get the sense that someone or something wants the women’s magic to get them in trouble again. As the novel progresses, de la Cruz also weaves in Norse mythology, which I really loved. It was a different take on traditional witch stories and added another layer to the story. As Halloween approaches, witches are in the air and Melissa de la Cruz’s Witches of East End is the perfect novel to curl up with on a cold and dark fall night. With it’s own approach to the witchcraft and magical history, a perfectly realized Long Island town, and three strong, well-developed female lead characters, de la Cruz has started a fantastic new series. (The second book in the series was released in July 2012.) (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Sep 23, 2012
| Sep 30, 2012
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Sep 15, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||||
| 0758267436
| 9780758267436
| 3.39
| 358
| Jan 31, 2012
| Feb 01, 2012
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Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Sensible Nicola James has had The Plan in place since she was 13. The Plan outlines her life for the rest...more Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Sensible Nicola James has had The Plan in place since she was 13. The Plan outlines her life for the rest of, well, her life and she intends to stick to it. So much for good intentions. Despite her plan and her scientific mind, Nic is still a fan of all things Jane Austen, so when a vintage journal catches her eye and reminds her of Austen, she’s hooked. But then craziest thing happens – the journal starts to write back! Propelled by her very own “Fairy Jane,” Nic starts to stray outside her carefully drawn box and once she does, all bets are off. Soon, sexy Scottish musician Sean MacInnes has charmed his way into her life and turned everything upside down. Nic is suddenly faced with clinging to the plan she’s known all her life – or jumping into the unknown, thanks to a mysterious and mischievous Jane Austen. I’m always looking for new twists on Jane Austen and I somehow stumbled across Alyssa Goodnight’s Austentatious. Thank goodness for random searches! Austentatious is quirky, delightful, sexy, fun and above all, a heartfelt and humorous homage to Jane Austen. With quotes from her novels and several of her characters referenced, there is no denying Jane Austen’s influence over this novel. And yet, at the same time, Nic’s story is new and fresh. Jane Austen is simply the way Goodnight has chosen to draw readers in – and it works! The story is remarkably well-grounded. Nic’s skepticism serves as a good way to temper the far-fetched nature of the Fairy Jane journal, while the thread of magic and mystery is subtle enough that it doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the novel. “There’s no avoiding the fact that this whole thing is a crazy-unbelievable fairy-tale miracle, so why not at least try for the happily-ever-after?” I immediately identified with Nic. I, too, love plans and lists and having all the answers in front of me. That big scary concept – the unknown – terrifies me, so I understood all too well Nic’s reluctance to let go of everything familiar in order to embrace something spectacular. As much as she wanted to buy into the magic of the journal and its meddlesome advice, her practical and sensible mind kept getting in her way. The core of Austentatious is Nic’s struggle to learn to take chances, especially when you least expect it. I loved watching her try new things and open her heart and her life to someone new. I especially liked how Goodnight made a point of hinting that Nic’s life wasn’t incomplete before she met Sean; it was just better with him in it. In a nice little play on words, Austentatious takes place in Austin, TX and the “Live Music Capital of the World” is clearly depicted in this novel. I’ve never even been to Austin, and yet I could easily imagine the city’s neighborhoods, the lively, music-filled clubs and restaurants and even Lady Bird Lake (which, I have since learned, is an actual place). I was even able to get a sense of Sean’s band and music, even though Goodnight doesn’t include any lyrics and the novel (obviously) didn’t come with a soundtrack. I could still imagine the sound of the music quite clearly. Austentatious took me by surprise – I started reading expecting a cute contemporary romance with a bit of Jane Austen sprinkled in, but I was given a much richer story of a young woman learning to let go and let life surprise her. See what happens when you stop making plans? Let Alyssa Goodnight’s Austentatious surprise you as well. You never know. Maybe Fairy Jane will have some words of wisdom for you.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Sep 30, 2012
| Oct 05, 2012
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Aug 20, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0670023485
| 9780670023486
| 3.99
| 37,861
| Jul 10, 2012
| Jul 10, 2012
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: One night in October, the witch Diana Bishop and her vampire husband Matthew Clairmont picked up their...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: One night in October, the witch Diana Bishop and her vampire husband Matthew Clairmont picked up their feet in the present day and landed in 1590 Elizabethan England. Diana and Matthew traveled to the past to try to unravel the mystery of Diana’s misbehaving powers and to locate the Ashmole 782 manuscript that just might have all the answers they’re looking for. But nothing is as simple as they thought it would be. Matthew is immediately drawn back in to his group of friends, the School of Night, as well as his shadowy work for his father and Queen Elizabeth. Modern and educated Diana stands out in the past and struggles to find someone to help her learn and accept her magic. With time travel, witchcraft, alchemy and espionage crashing into history – and potentially changing it – Diana and Matthew are in a race against time itself to find their answers and figure out how to get back to their own time. I loved Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches, but I kept putting off reading Shadow of Night because I knew I wouldn’t want to stop once I started. I also knew that once I finished this book, I would be left wanting since Harkness hasn’t completed the third and final book in the series yet. Ultimately, though, Shadow of Night was too irresistible to ignore and though I tried to prolong my reading, I inevitably found myself speeding through it, desperate to get to the next page and the next piece of the puzzle. Shadow of Night, the second book in Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy, picks up where A Discovery of Witches left off and the pace doesn’t let up over the course of the 500-ish pages. Harkness manages to pack an impressive amount of action into the pages of this novel, as Diana and Matthew navigate life in Elizabethan England, try to find a witch to teach Diana and uncover the increasing mysteries of Ashmole 782. Shadow of Night is overwhelming at times, due to the sheer amount of stuff that happens. Every chapter, there’s another revelation, another bit of information revealed and uncovered. At times, it was hard to keep up with all the different threads of the story and much like the history, science and magic Harkness writes about, you only learn a little bit at a time and must then consider how each new thing fits within the context of what’s already known. Once again, Harkness’ details shine, though this time they are heightened by the historical additions as well. As a historian herself, Harkness revels in the details of Elizabethan England and Europe. The images, scents and sounds she conjures up imbue the story with life. She also does a remarkable job of mixing the real pieces of history with her own story and takes great delight in reshaping real historical characters (Christopher Marlowe, Walter Raleigh, Henry Percy among them) to fit her story, while still staying true to what’s accepted as fact. In fact, the secondary characters are one of the best parts of this book. Harkness takes the time to draw out each character’s quirks and personality, from moody and mercurial Kit, to protective and crafty Gallowglass to the wise and sharp Goody Alsop. At it’s core, Shadow of Night is about Matthew and Diana coming into their own. Matthew is provided with the opportunity to confront his secrets and his guilt over actions that will come, allowing him to make peace with his past into order to embrace his future. Diana learns to accept her magical heritage and wield it properly; she learns not to be afraid of her powers and to trust in herself. Together, they learn to rely on one another, to respect each other as equals and to come together as a team, to face whatever (or whoever) is waiting for them back in their own time. The mythology surrounding Ashmole 782 deepens and even though there aren’t as many answers as I would like, each chapter brings Diana and Matthew closer to discovering who (or what) they are individually, who they are together and what it all means for the creatures of the world. My favorite part of Shadow of Night is Diana’s increased strength and sense of self. Pushed into a past she only understands superficially (despite her years of scholarly academics), Diana is forced into a subservient role she doesn’t like, but instead of accepting the status quo, she learns to fight for herself and stand up to Matthew (especially as he is even more domineering when acting as a Renaissance husband who expects obedience). I loved watching Diana learn to face her fears and finally embrace her magic wholeheartedly. It was thrilling to see to cautious, naive Diana from the first book morph into powerful, confident witch in her own right. Considering all that Matthew and Diana must attempt to hide, given their knowledge of the future, I was surprised by how little they seemed to worry about their affect on the future, especially Diana the historian. We’re only given a few tantalizing glimpses of the present world, so we readers know very little about how Diana and Matthew’s behavior has changed their own time. The time travel aspect of the novel is probably the one part that wasn’t developed as much as the rest of the book. A word of advice: just go with it. Don’t spend too much time trying to figure out the science of it. Just accept that Harkness believes what’s she’s writing. If you try to figure out the logistics of the time travel, it won’t make a ton of sense and your enjoyment of the novel will diminish. Simply accept it as part of the story and move on. It’s easier that way. Deborah Harkness’ Shadow of Night is a richly drawn, epic journey back in time that builds upon A Discovery of Witches and sets a frustratingly enticing stage for the third and final book. The All Souls Trilogy is going straight to the top of my list of the best books of 2012 and I cannot encourage you enough to read them for yourself. They may be long, but they are worth every word.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Sep 03, 2012
| Sep 23, 2012
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Jul 24, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0670022411
| 9780670022410
| 3.97
| 97,957
| Dec 27, 2011
| 2011
|
Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Historian Diana Bishop has worked diligently over the years to build up her academic reputation – and...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Historian Diana Bishop has worked diligently over the years to build up her academic reputation – and stubbornly ignore her heritage as the descendant of a long line of distinguished witches. All that changes one day when she unwittingly calls up a manuscript in Oxford’s library, a mysterious, bewitched manuscript that sets off a wild chain of events. Soon, creatures of all kinds – witches, vampires and daemons – are descending upon Oxford, all because Diana’s manuscript just may be a long-lost text that every creature wants, for very different reasons. Thrust into the middle of a situation she knows little about, Diana crosses paths with Matthew Clairmont, a centuries old vampire geneticist with his own interest in the manuscript. Though taught that witches and vampires are enemies, Matthew and Diana are, nonetheless, drawn to each other. Soon, they’re defying the rules and trying to stay one step ahead of everyone else as they try to figure out what’s so special about this manuscript – and why Diana seems to be the only person who can break its spell. Whenever I encounter a book that might be truly excellent, the kind of book that will top my personal “best of” list with ease, I consider three things: (1) Does the book haunt me? Does it stay on my mind when I put it down? Do the characters flit in and out of my dreams as I try to figure out what might happen next? (2) Is the book impossible to put down? Does my heart race as I frantically turn the pages, so eager and desperate to continue the story? and (3) Am I left wanting more, immediately? Do I re-read the book over and over, as a way of staying in its world just a little while longer? When a book fits these three criteria, I know I’m reading something spectacular. Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches is exactly such a book. It is utterly and completely captivating and fascinating. Harkness weaves a fantastical and paranormal premise (witches, vampires and daemons walking and living among the humans on earth) with real people, places and events. There’s history, science, myth, complex social conventions and lots of mystery; above all, A Discovery of Witches is a study of contradictions: fantastical, with strong scientific facts; solidly contemporary, with plenty of history; and undoubtedly magical, while still being completely realistic. Before I met Matthew, there didn’t seem to be room in my life for a single, additional element – especially not something as significant as a fifteen-hundred-year-old vampire. But he’s slipped into unexplored, empty places when I wasn’t looking. By day, Harkness is a historian herself and her strength is the level of detail and the preciseness of her historical additions. Every little thing, from Matthew’s painstakingly described library, to the scents that surround the characters, is recounted with an exactness that makes you feel as if you can see everything unfolding before your eyes, like a movie flickering in your head. Most of all, it’s well-written and thought-out. Every part of the story is there for a reason and what doesn’t make sense at first eventually comes to light. Diana and Matthew’s relationship is complicated, to say the least, and there are definitely aspects of each that aren’t all together flattering. Matthew is overly protective and domineering, obsessive even. Diana is frustratingly naive at the beginning of the book and there were times when I was annoyed that her willful ignorance of magic forced her to be dependent on others. Still, they both learn a great deal over the course of the novel. One theme Harkness recalls throughout A Discovery of Witches is the idea of secrets and how Matthew and Diana have to learn to share their secrets in order to find the answers they’re looking for. It’s terrifying for us mere mortals to reveal our vulnerability and share a secret; imagine how Diana and especially Matthew (after centuries of keeping these secrets) feel when they unmask themselves to a (supposed) mortal enemy! Harkness does an excellent job of showing how they improve and grow and strengthen over time. A Discovery of Witches is a bit slow to start – it doesn’t really start to pick up until about half-way through – and there’s quite a lot of history and science that can seem dense and unwieldy. However, as the first book in a trilogy, there’s a lot of world-building to do and Harkness pulls it off. Her novel truly is epic, when you consider the ramifications – past, present and future – of Diana and Matthew’s actions and decisions. Every chapter brings another revelation and, by the end of the book, I wishes I had Diana’s ability to mentally (and magically) rearrange the puzzle pieces until they fit. I strongly urge readers to stick with the book in the beginning. Your patience will be rewarded and what seemed unimportant in the first few chapters will pop up again in surprising ways. Deborah Harkness’ book passed my three-question test and is, without a doubt, a permanent resident of my “best of” list. I give A Discovery of Witches my highest recommendation and encourage everyone to give it a try.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Jul 2012
| Jul 24, 2012
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Jul 01, 2012
| Hardcover
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| 1599903342
| 9781599903347
| 3.62
| 6,067
| Mar 03, 2009
| Mar 03, 2009
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Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Lucinda Chapdelaine lived a happy life with her parents – until the day they left for a ball and never re...more Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Lucinda Chapdelaine lived a happy life with her parents – until the day they left for a ball and never returned. Sent to live with a distant uncle and his vengeful wife, Lucinda merely gets by working in her aunt’s jewelry shop. Then one day a mysterious woman enters the shop, with an equally mysterious gem stone. Before she knows it, Lucinda’s life is forever changed as she sets off on a path to reclaim her inheritance. Taken in by the Amaranth Witch, Beryl, Lucinda faces situations she never thought she would face – including dancing! - and encounters surprising allies, dangerous foes and – of course – a handsome prince. I saw a review for Julie Berry’s The Amaranth Enchantment on the Book Smugglers blog and was intrigued enough to purchase a copy for my Kindle. I trust the Book Smugglers’ opinions and, like many times before, I was steered in the right direction. The Amaranth Enchantment is a part fantasy, part fairy tale, with elements of Cinderella, and yet is still grounded in a real world. There’s a strong heroine and her stalwart supporters, a proper villain (who’s immortal, naturally), a dreamy prince (literally – in several scenes, he’s sleepy, having just woken up), thieves, magical godmothers and an exceptionally intelligent goat named Dog. Berry’s writing style is often described as “lyrical” and that’s appropriate. It was easy to fall under the spell of her words as she wove her tale. The descriptions of the kingdom and its various gardens, the image of Princess Beatrix as having been spun from sugar – all combine to give readers a vivid picture of this enchanting world. As the heroine, Lucinda is easily the star of this novel. She has spirit, wit, intelligence, compassion and determination. While she’s certainly not perfect (her efforts to avoid embarrassing herself in front of Prince Gregor are particularly charmingly awkward), Lucinda’s best quality is that she tries. Even when things go horribly wrong, she still tries her best in every situation. I also especially liked how Lucinda stood up to Peter, the thief. She didn’t let him get away with talking his way out of the situation. She often called him out on his bad behavior and didn’t let herself get swept away by a foolish infatuation. One particular complaint comes from the novel’s ending. Though I was quite invested in making sure Lucinda achieved her happy ending, the conclusion of the novel’s dramatic conflict felt too convenient. The resolution left out mention of a few characters and their fates while one specific twist seemed to come from out of thin air. (I do apologize for being vague, but I don’t want to ruin the ending for anyone else.) Mostly, though, I wanted more. The brief mentions of Beryl’s “world” tempted me. I wanted to know more, to understand what Berry was trying to convey with Beryl’s character. It felt like an important thread in the story’s plot that was never fully explored. I hope Berry considers writing another novel that delves into Beryl’s history and future. There’s so much more to her than what’s contained in this novel. With a plot that moves quickly and keeps you turning the pages and a heroine with all the very best qualities, Julie Berry’s The Amaranth Enchantment is a charming and delightful novel for fans of fantasy and fairy tales. It does skew a bit younger than typical young adult novels, but there’s still plenty for readers of all ages to enjoy.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Jun 20, 2012
| Jun 30, 2012
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Jun 20, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1936661748
| 9781936661749
| 3.67
| 211
| Jan 01, 2012
| Jun 19, 2012
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Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Since the first novel was published in 1996, George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and...more Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Since the first novel was published in 1996, George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire (better known by the name of the first novel, A Game of Thrones) has captivated thousands of readers, many of whom vowed a dislike of fantasy novels until they read Martin’s work. Originally a trilogy, the series has expanded twice – first to five novels, and currently to seven (as of today, anyway). With more than 15 million copies published worldwide, A Song of Ice and Fire truly ranks among the best fantasy epics, with Martin’s name uttered in the same sentence as Tolkien, Robert Jordan and many others. A new compilation of essays from Smart Pop books, Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, takes a closer look at why this series and these novels have become a global phenomenon and why Martin’s writing is so accessible to so many readers. The collection, edited by James Loweder and with foreword from R.A. Salvatore, covers a wide range of topics and subjects, from a consideration of the elements of romanticism in the series to a look at the inherent and unique challenges of adapting an epic action and character oriented story into graphic novel format. Some essays dive deeper into specific plot points, while others try to unravel the mystery of certain characters’ motivations and still others look at the world of Westeros through a specific lens or viewpoint. There are, of course, many passing references to the HBO television series (indeed, it would be impossible not to mention it, given its place in popular culture), but the heart and soul of each essay are the books themselves and, above all, Martin’s world, his words and his characters. Fair warning: Beyond the Wall as a whole looks at the entire series as it is currently published, up to and including the latest novel (novel number five) A Dance with Dragons. Readers and fans who haven’t read all of the books will most certainly have future plot points spoiled if they choose to read Beyond the Wall, so proceed at your own risk. Additionally, while the book can be enjoyed by anyone, I think casual fans of the books (if such fans exist) and fans who only know Westeros through the television series won’t get as much out of these essays as those who are familiar with the novels. My impression is that Beyond the Wall is intended for engaged fans of the series. There’s a real mix of contributions to this collection, with a diverse group of authors offering up their own opinions on Martin and A Song of Ice and Fire. As is usually the case, a few essays in particular stood out for me. Myke Cole’s “Art Imitates War” is a fascinating exploration of post-traumatic stress disorder and how it manifests in the two very different characters of Arya Stark and Theon Greyjoy. Cole, a former military officer once deployed to Iraq, has an intimate first-hand knowledge of the realities of trauma and war and draws upon this experience to give a palpable authenticity to his essay. “Art Imitates War” gave me the chance to look at familiar characters and events from a new perspective and understand the drastic change Arya and Theon undergo. Having studied theology and comparative religion in college, I was also drawn to Andrew Zimmerman Jones’ essay, “Of Direwolves and Gods.” Jones takes a look at the various religions and belief systems Martin creates, attempting to understand the roles these many (often contradictory) gods play in shaping the events that unfold in the novels. Jones makes comparisons between Martin’s own professed agnosticism and his depiction of flawed, subjective religions that don’t provide easy answers: “The religions of Westeros claim to dictate absolute, perfect truths through imprecise, flawed institutions and beings – just like the religions we encounter every day.” Some of the other essays I particularly enjoyed were Adam Whitehead’s “An Unreliable World,” a look at the problem of history, myth and timekeeping in Westeros; Caroline Spector’s, “Power and Feminism in Westeros,” an exploration of Martin’s depiction of gender; and Matt Staggs’ “Petyr Baelish and the Mask of Sanity,” a character study of the one Westerosi character who is – quite literally and clinically – a psychopath. Some of the essays are more academic, some are more conversational. There are even disagreements within the collection of essays, topics these essayists don’t agree on. But above all, it is clear that these authors, like so many others, are huge fans of George R.R. Martin and A Song of Ice and Fire. They may love this series and these novels for different reasons, but at the end of the collection, they appreciate the astounding creation Martin has given the world. The story has expanded by thousands of pages past Martin’s original target, and the deadline for each new volume’s release has become as fluid as its page count. It’s been a decidedly messy birth, but that very fact should hearten readers. It means the story is being told as it should be told – as its creator wants it to be told. The chaos is a sign of creative freedom. It shows just how vital, how organic, this magnificent series has become.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Jun 07, 2012
| Jun 14, 2012
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Jun 07, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0553588486
| 9780553588484
| 4.43
| 416,539
| Aug 06, 1996
| Aug 16, 2005
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Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Welcome to Westeros, where each season can last years and the current summer has lasted longer than anyon...more Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Welcome to Westeros, where each season can last years and the current summer has lasted longer than anyone can remember. But winter is coming and it will not be forgiving. The death of John Arryn, Hand to the King, sets off a chain of events that few could possibly predict. Eddard Stark of Winterfell, old friend to King Robert Baratheon and the new Hand, wades into a world filled with treachery, betrayal, and secrets, all while trying to hold his own family together. While his bastard son heads to the north, to the great wall that divides and protects the kingdom from mysterious threats, Ned heads south to King’s Landing, where Robert sits on the throne, but his wife’s family, the Lannisters, control things from behind the scenes. Meanwhile, across the sea, the last remaining members of the overthrown Targaryen family, are plotting their return to power, but even the best plans can contain surprises. Winter is coming and when you play the game of thrones, only one can win. A Game of Thrones is the first book in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and, thanks to the worldwide success of the HBO television show, you’ve probably already heard of it. This first novel – and indeed the series itself – is epic in every sense of the word. Martin is a masterful world-builder; with its own mythology, religions, languages, locations and a colorful and dauntingly large cast of characters, it’s difficult not to compare Martin’s Westeros to J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle Earth. But Martin’s novel is original and with layers upon layers of intrigue and shifting truths and alliances, only Martin knows what the final end-game will be. Martin employs the use of multiple “point of view” characters in A Game of Thrones. The story weaves back and forth between these several characters, the plot of the novel unraveling with each chapter. I can’t recall ever reading another book that juggled with many limited omniscient third-person narrators and it does take some getting used to. There were clearly some characters whose voices I preferred to the rest and it could be frustrating to have a POV chapter end, just when you wanted it to continue. There were occasions when I really wished I could “see” the events of a certain chapter from another’s perspective and sometimes, the novel returns to a POV character several chapters after his or her last chapter and it takes a moment to remember where the character was last left. The point of view chapters work, however and that is because Martin is deliberate in his choices of who tells the story. There’s a reason why we don’t get Robert or Cersei’s point of view, just as there’s a reason for having nearly every member of the Stark family as a POV character. The pace of the novel is slow at the beginning, most likely because it’s the first book in the series and a lot of groundwork and history has to be established in order to set up storylines and payoffs for several books later (there are five books currently published and plans for at least two more). Eventually, Martin finds his rhythm and in the second half of the book, the story races towards its conclusion with alacrity. Given the massive success of the HBO television show based on the series, it would be silly not to mention it at least briefly. I actually watched the first season of the show before reading the book and while reading, I’ve noticed that lines, dialogue and scenes from the book were taken almost word-for-word when adapting the novels for television. The writers and producers of the show have really treated the source material carefully and the result is a truly engaging television show because it started with a truly engaging novel. Though I’m usually a fan of “books first,” I actually think it helps to read and watch in tandem. The novels can feel overwhelming at first, especially in terms of keeping characters and relationships straight, and in the back-and-forth of the POV chapters. I’ve found that watching the show, being able to put actors’ faces with characters’ names, is helpful. (And let’s be honest – as wonderful and visual a writer as Martin is, there are just some things – like sword fights – that are really more exciting on screen.) I strongly urge any fantasy fan and certainly any fan of the television show to pick up George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones. Don’t be put off by the length, the detailed map of Westeros or even the ever-expanding cast of characters. A Game of Thrones is the kind of book that demands your time and attention, but it is also the kind of book that is worth every minute you put into it.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Apr 2012
| Apr 24, 2012
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Apr 01, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1599902753
| 9781599902753
| 4.19
| 10,320
| Mar 20, 2007
| Apr 29, 2008
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Surely, Creel’s aunt meant well. The suggestion to sacrifice Creel to the local dragon was made with t...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Surely, Creel’s aunt meant well. The suggestion to sacrifice Creel to the local dragon was made with the hope (rather than the intention) that a knight would save Creel, marry her, and save the whole family in the process. Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending on your point of view – Creel is not the kind of girl to sit around and wait for someone to rescue her. She talks her way out of the dragon’s lair, bargaining for her life and a pair of slippers, determined to find her way to the capital and create her own happy ending. But soon, strange things are happening and Creel – and her unusual slippers – is thrust into the middle of an unexpected adventure. Between the politics of the royal family, the long-forgotten history of the dragons and those curiously mysterious slippers, Creel is about to discover that she’s now part of a much larger story. Almost a year ago, I was lucky to get matched with Other Meredith as part of Forever Young Adult’s pen pal program. We’ve been writing letters back and forth to each other for awhile now and, at Christmas, Other Meredith sent me a signed copy of Jessica Day George’s Dragon Slippers, one of her favorite books. I admit it took me awhile to get around to reading Dragon Slippers, but I’m so glad that I did because Other Meredith’s recommendation was fantastic. George’s novel is exciting, thrilling and just plain fun. Though it does skew a little young (more older middle grade than young adult), I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. It reminded me a lot of Gail Carson Levine novels and yet it was distinctly its own creation. Good fantasy writers make you believe in their world, no matter who outlandish or crazy. George does exactly that with Dragon Slippers. From the very first page, I believed in this world where dragons not only existed, but could talk, communicate with and even befriend a human. George makes all the characters come to life; even the dragons were distinct and whole, each with his or her own personality. I also really loved the level of detail she included, whether it was describing Creel’s sewing creations or making me laugh with the dragons’ hoarding preferences (it’s not all about gold, you know). But most of all, I loved Creel. She was clever, intelligent, unwaveringly loyal, brave and strong. Even though she is a bit of a reluctant heroine, she stands up for herself and for others and does so with a lot of dignity. As the narrator of the story, her voice is authentic and real and though I don’t want to give too much away, I really loved that there wasn’t any over-the-top romantic drama. Her friendship with Luka was sweet and just right. Creel is a fabulous literary role model for girls and I can’t wait until I can give my niece a copy of this book. I probably wouldn’t have picked up Jessica Day George’s Dragon Slippers on my own. In all honesty, I probably would have overlooked it, thinking it “too young” for my tastes. I’m so glad my pen pal Other Meredith sent it to me, because she was right – it’s a fabulous and unique fantasy story with a wonderful heroine and even more adventures to tell (there are two sequels that will be going on my “to read” list). If you like fantasy, even if you don’t typically read middle grade or younger YA novels, give Dragon Slippers a try. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Feb 04, 2012
| Feb 23, 2012
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Jan 15, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0385501129
| 9780385501125
| 3.14
| 27,906
| Jun 01, 2010
| Jun 01, 2010
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: A few weeks before her ninth birthday, Rose Edelstein makes the startling discovery that she can taste...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: A few weeks before her ninth birthday, Rose Edelstein makes the startling discovery that she can taste the emotions in her mother’s homemade lemon-chocolate cake. With every bite, Rose is horrified to find out that her’s mother’s outward happiness and good cheer is just a cover for loneliness, sadness and emptiness. Quickly learning to avoid homemade food at all costs, Rose also realizes that she has, in a strange way, become the keeper of the family secrets, whether it’s her mother’s affair, her father’s unconscious habit of keeping the family at arm’s length or her genius brother’s increasingly bizarre disappearances. As Rose grows up and tries to find her place in the world, she is ever mindful of the emotions swirling around her, threatening to bubble over at any minute. Aimee Bender’s The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, is Rose’s strange and quirky journey that’s also remarkable for being grounded in the ordinary. The novel is infused with the magical, from Rose’s unlikely ability to the dreamy atmosphere that seems to surround everything that happens. And yet, at the same time, it is rooted in the everyday reality of the Edelstein family. Rose’s ability is centered around her mother’s home-cooked dinners and while the rest of the world may see a nuclear family sitting down to eat dinner together, Rose can taste all that’s being hidden. Though Rose starts the novel as a child of nine and ends it as a young woman of 22, her voice carries through the whole story, as if she’s recalling these events from even further in the undetermined future. She has a keen eye for detail and can describe, exactingly, how each bite of food makes her feel: The goodness of the ingredients – the fine chocolate, the freshest lemons – seemed like a cover over something larger and darker, and the taste of what was underneath was beginning to push up from the bite. I could absolutely taste the chocolate, but in drifts and traces, in an unfurling, or an opening, it seemed that my mouth was also filling with the taste of smallness, the sensation of shrinking, of upset, tasting a distance I somehow knew was connected to my mother, tasted a crowded sense of her thinking, a spiral, like I could almost even taste the grit in her jaw that had created the headache that meant she had to take as many aspirins as were necessary… (pages 9-10) But as much as the story is about Rose and her ability, it’s also about her family and how they function. There is her mother, with her endless quest for accomplishments, her brother’s obsession with science – to the point that he shuts himself off from everything and everyone else – and her father’s unexplained and overwhelming fear of hospitals (as well as the sense that he’s afraid of getting close to his own family). Rose acts as the observer to all of this, the careful eyes that watch as her family grows further and further apart. And despite the seemingly magical ability to taste the emotions around her, she still feels helpless to stop anything from happening. The novel is beautifully written, with a clean and economical prose that gives you the sense that every word is there for a reason, no more and no less. Every sentence keeps you engaged with Rose’s story, keeps you grounded in her life, and yet there’s also the sense that there’s something greater happening, something whimsical and extraordinary, even when you can’t say for certain what that thing is. Bender has Rose recount specifics with the preciseness of a scientist, but also adds in a bit of the fantastical. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is definitely a strange novel and therefore it might not appeal to everyone. It’s not quite food literature, nor is it entirely fantasy or realism. It exists in between all three, much like Rose exists in the space between the rest of her family. This novel leaves you with a vague sense of feeling unsettled somehow, as if something is still missing, either from the story or from Rose’s life. It leaves you questioning what you’ve just read and wondering what you might feel the next time you take a bite of food.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 06, 2011
| Oct 16, 2011
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Oct 06, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1423121325
| 9781423121329
| 4.10
| 17,419
| Mar 13, 2012
| Mar 13, 2012
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Sophie Mercer thought things couldn’t get any worse. First, she discovered that the Council was secret...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Sophie Mercer thought things couldn’t get any worse. First, she discovered that the Council was secretly raising demons to use as weapons, then the Casnoffs turned on her and her father, stripping away her powers and trying to kill them both. Though Sophie manages to escape – not knowing the fate of her father, her boyfriend Archer, or her fiance Cal – she’s brought to the doorstep of the Brannick’s, a family of Prodigium hunters. But even after more surprises and discoveries, Sophie is still stuck. Both the Brannicks and the Casnoffs think she is the key to the impending war between the Prodigium and their enemies, but without her powers, she’s not much use to either side. Sophie must venture back to Hex Hall to find the one spell that will help her. Then all she’ll have to do is battle an army of demons and save the world. No problem – right? Spell Bound is the third and final book in Rachel Hawkins’ Hex Hall series and after much anticipation and a year-long wait, Spell Bound concluded Sophie’s story in a dramatic way. The book picks up right where Demonglass left off and flies through the story at a relentless pace. I felt like I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough because there was always something on the next page that I just had to get to. I kept reminding myself to slow down and enjoy the story, especially since I knew it was going to be the last book. I was thrilled to discover that most of my theories, formulated after reading Demonglass, turned out to be true (I was RIGHT! Ha!), but Hawkins still managed to include a few twists and surprises. While I didn’t ever doubt that Sophie and Company would triumph in the end, I liked that I didn’t always know how it was going to happen. Of course, Spell Bound is filled with Sophie’s trademark sarcastic humor and snark, which helps keep the book from feeling too serious, though the characters still felt sufficiently in danger at the right moments. There are also a few new intriguing characters introduced throughout the novel and with well-confirmed rumors of a spin-off novel coming in the future, I’m confident we’ll be seeing some of these people again. (In fact, I can think of a few stories, as either prequels or sequels, that I’d like to read.) Once again, Sophie is our narrator and at the center of all the action. She’s still the Sophie we know and love from the previous books, but she’s stronger now. Even without her magic, she shows signs of having grown up and it’s clear that she’s willing to take on this fight that she’s inherited, to do the right thing and help save the people she loves. She even manages to cope remarkably well with the revelations that come at her over the course of the book and I especially loved how she comes to terms with her magic and learns to accept and control it. I would have liked to see Sophie try to fight without her magic for a little while longer (and, for that matter, I did feel that Elodie’s “help” was a bit of a cheat that negated the missing magic problem), but overall, it’s clear that she really has come a long well since her first mistakes in Hex Hall. I do have a few quibbles about Spell Bound, most notably that the pace of the novel meant the ending and the “climactic” ending felt rushed. I think Hawkins should have drawn the story out more, built up the tension and the danger so that the payoff was greater. There were also some decisions Hawkins made as an author that I didn’t like, even if they made sense for a particular character. The resolution of Sophie’s love triangle with Cal and Archer was a bit of a letdown (and if you have read the book, you know there’s a pretty obvious reason why) and it did seem as if Hawkins took the easy route with some of the plot points. I was left feeling like I wanted more, to somehow make Spell Bound more complete. I’m sad to see Sophie’s story finished and I feel like there are still so many more stories still waiting to be told. Fans of Rachel Hawkins and the Hex Hall series will no doubt love her entertaining and fast-paced conclusion to the series. Spell Bound may not be perfect, but it is enjoyable, funny and satisfying, with a story that both concludes Sophie’s adventures and leaves enough questions unanswered to keep readers imagining what could happen next. If you’ve read either of the first two books in the series, do not miss the final chapter of Sophie’s wild ride.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 15, 2012
| Mar 24, 2012
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Mar 03, 2011
| Hardcover
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| 0373210264
| 9780373210268
| 3.90
| 21,360
| Apr 19, 2011
| Apr 19, 2011
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Kate has lived her whole life in New York City, but now her mom is dying and wants to return to her ch...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Kate has lived her whole life in New York City, but now her mom is dying and wants to return to her childhood home, a town in the middle of nowhere. Kate is faced with starting a new life in a town she’s never heard of, just when she’s on the verge of losing her mother forever. But things aren’t what they seem in this small town, none more so than Henry, a mysterious young man Kate can’t seem to ignore. And when Henry brings a girl back from the dead, things get even stranger. Henry offers Kate a bargain: stay with him for six months out of the year, pass seven tests and he’ll keep her mother alive until she’s ready to say goodbye. Kate doesn’t know what to believe, but if it means saving her mom, she’s willing to do what it takes – even if it kills her. Aimee Carter’s The Goddess Test is a quickly-paced, enjoyable novel that re-imagines the Greek Olympians and the story of Persephone through the eyes of Kate, a mortal girl tasked with becoming Hades’ bride. Though the beginning of the book is a bit jarring – it jumps right into the story and it took me a chapter or two to figure out what was going on – once you get hooked, the story keeps pushing you forward and I was easily got caught in Kate’s nerve-wracking quest. As Kate literally faces danger that could mean the difference between life and death, I kept wanting to know what exactly is going on. The story is written from Kate’s perspective, so there’s a lot that left’s unknown or hinted at – it’s up to Kate and the reader to figure it all out. And though The Goddess Test is planned as a trilogy, there are often answers at the end to satisfy you while still leaving you curious about the next book. As the main character, Kate is easy to like. She’s smart, determined and carries herself with an inner strength. She is a bit self-sacrificing, but that personality trait comes from a deep and genuine need to take care of the people she loves. Though she’s still a teenage girl, struggling to accept that her mother is dying, Kate is not a push-over. Even when she accepts the truth about Henry, she stands up for herself and fights for him. She demands answers when she doesn’t understand what’s going on and, in the end, she makes – and takes responsibility – for her own choices. There were some parts of the book that confused me. I was never quite sure, for example, if the people surrounding Kate were alive or dead, human or immortal. And though Carter does integrate the Greek gods and Greek mythology into her story quite well, it was complicated keeping track of all the characters and, more specifically, keeping track of which gods they supposedly represented (though, to be fair, Greek mythology itself is complicated.) Henry, as Carter’s Hades, came across as a bit bland and brooding, which does not match the image of Hades I have in my head, but the more I read and the deeper I got into the story, the more I loved how Carter took those Greek myths and made them her own. Henry may not have resembled the Hades I pictured, but Carter managed to create a whole new side to a character I thought I knew. The Goddess Test isn’t so much a direct adaptation or update of the Persephone myth as much as it’s inspired by Greek mythology - it takes aspects of familiar stories and reworks it into something new and different. Kate herself mentions many times throughout the book that she’s not Persephone. If you except or hope for a traditional or faithful adaptation of Greek mythology, you might be disappointed. But if you keep an open mind and enjoy the story for what it is – a sweet and entertaining story with a heroine trying to figure out her destiny and a hero trying to hold on to his – then you’ll like Aimee Carter’s The Goddess Test. I’m already looking forward to the sequels. I received this book as an e-book ARC from Net Galley. I was not compensated in any way for my review.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 30, 2011
| Apr 02, 2011
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Mar 01, 2011
| Paperback
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| 1595143068
| 9781595143068
| 4.50
| 84,776
| Dec 07, 2010
| Dec 07, 2010
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Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Dhampir Rose Hathaway has never really played by the rules and she’s known for getting into trouble. But...more Originally posted on The Librarian Next Door: Dhampir Rose Hathaway has never really played by the rules and she’s known for getting into trouble. But she’s never gone too far – until now. In jail and accused of murder – a crime she didn’t commit – Rose’s luck may be running out. But the Moroi world is in chaos and she may have information that could help sway the course of the Royal Council. When her friends and family stage a jailbreak, Rose goes on the run with Dimitri, determined to track down the one person who might be able to help her. Meanwhile, Lissa leads the others in a clandestine search for the real murderer, aware that someone doesn’t want the truth to be discovered. They’re all racing against the clock, looking for answers that may not be found, while the fate of the Moroi world is surrounded by uncertainty. Last Sacrifice, the final book in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series is a wildly epic and dramatic conclusion to Rose’s story. From the very first page of the book until the final chapters, Mead takes readers on a thrilling and heart-pounding adventure as Rose tries to discover the truth behind the queen’s murder and Lissa’s family. With each step of her journey, Rose gets closer to the answers she’s looking for – and closer to the danger that threatens the Moroi and dhampirs alike. Mead’s narrative twists and turns as unlikely allies join forces, long-kept secrets are revealed and both Lissa and Rose learn to trust in their own strengths. One of the things I love about Mead is that every book in the Vampire Academy series heightens the intensity and drama. There’s always another level to reach, another layer to the story to unveil. So many little details are woven into the story, making it rich and dynamic. As the characters delve deeper into the mystery of the queen’s murder, Mead reveals the depth and complexity of the world she has created – a world that’s very real and far from perfect. Technically, the Vampire Academy series is, on the surface, a vampire story, but it’s also so much more – there’s romance, action-adventure, drama, friendship and family, politics and mystery. It’s spectacularly nuanced. This subtlety is most obvious in the exploration of actions and consequences. Throughout the series, Rose’s most defining characteristic has been her recklessness and impulsiveness. But as Rose matures, you see her begin to truly comprehend the consequences of her actions. Even when she believes that she’s doing the right thing, she starts to realize that other people might get hurt. Mead has created a world where easy solutions rarely occur. Though Last Sacrifice is ultimately a triumph for Rose, Dimitri and Lissa, Mead tempers their happy ending with the uncertain fate of other characters, most especially Jill, Sydney, Eddie and Adrian. Rose’s actions throughout the book were in the pursuit of what she thought was the greater good – but at the end of the novel, she admits that there’s still a lot left unknown. Her happy ending came with a price and others are left to pay. Of course, the knowledge that a spin-off series, featuring the very characters whose lives were left uncertain, is being published this summer helps allay any fears I might have had about some of my favorite secondary characters (I may be firmly in the Team Dimitri camp, but my heart did go out to poor Adrian). Still, even knowing there’s more to come, Mead’s Last Sacrifice is a worthy conclusion to Rose’s story, filled with excitement, danger and some good old-fashioned ass-kicking by our favorite dhampir.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| May 20, 2011
| May 24, 2011
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Mar 01, 2011
| Hardcover
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| 0316035963
| 9780316035965
| 4.31
| 1,423
| Oct 01, 2012
| Nov 06, 2012
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: After the events of last fall, Nastasya Crowe is ready for things to calm down. Having faced off again...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: After the events of last fall, Nastasya Crowe is ready for things to calm down. Having faced off against her oldest friend and gotten caught up with all sorts of dark magic, Nastasya is grateful to be back at River’s Edge, even if it means mucking out stalls. But things are far from settled. Nastasya still hasn’t figured out what, exactly, is going on the Reyn, the handsome Viking who is tangled up in her past. Then there is the strange and menacing threat that seems to be coming for her, despite a frustrating lack of answers. Nastasya will have to summon her inner strength and embrace every part of herself – past, present and future – to have her chance at eternity. Eternally Yours, the third and final book in Cate Tiernan’s Immortal Beloved series, is a fulfilling, exciting and even thoughtful conclusion to the series. With Nastasya’s clear and distinct voice providing narration, readers are treated to a well-written, well-paced, action-filled novel as Nastasya finally comes to terms with her past, her magic and her place as her father’s heir. Tiernan has done an admirable job of creating the sanctuary of River’s Edge and West Lowing, giving the novel (and the series) both a very real and otherworldly feel. There are many things I’ve liked about this series, but by far, the best aspect of it is Nastasya herself. Over the course of the trilogy, Tiernan has developed Nastasya so well and so fully. Her sarcasm, self-deprecation and tendency to deflect with humor is finely honed by Eternally Yours and her witty asides to the readers help add a sense of lightness and levity to a novel filled with intensity and uncertainty. Most of all, I loved Nastasya’s growth during the three novels. Readers can clearly see how much she has changed from when we first met her. Best of all, that growth is realistic. Nastasya doesn’t magically change overnight, nor does she end the novel perfect. She is – and always will be – a work in progress. Even those of us who aren’t 400-year-old immortals can relate to that. One thing I enjoy about Tiernan as an author is her willingness to deviate from expectations. Eternally Yours is the final novel of the series and you would expect some climactic confrontation. While she does include plenty of action and even a battle, the real core of this novel is Nastasya’s own internal struggle to embrace who and what she is. Tiernan explores the idea of what it means to be “good” and how our pasts inform who we become – and also who we don’t become. Faced with a mysterious threat and the hostile opposition of new and familiar characters, Nastasya must prove to them, and most importantly to herself, that she is not The person she used to be. It’s exciting to see Nastasya, so different and transformed from the first novel come into her own and find her place. Eternally Yours concludes Nastasya’s story for now, but Tiernan doesn’t answer every question. She still leaves enough unknown to keep us wondering about what will happen next. And that seems appropriate. Throughout this series, Tiernan has emphasized the idea that we’re always trying to be better, always trying to grow and learn, that we’re never quite complete. So while we may always be reaching for something else, Eternally Yours marks the end of another fantastic series from Cate Tiernan.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 25, 2012
| Oct 31, 2012
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Dec 28, 2010
| Hardcover
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| 0316035947
| 9780316035941
| 4.17
| 3,150
| Oct 03, 2011
| Oct 2012
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Nastasya may be more than 400 years old, but she’s only now learning to truly live a worthy life. Afte...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Nastasya may be more than 400 years old, but she’s only now learning to truly live a worthy life. After centuries of a hard-partying lifestyle, Nastasya has finally found something that might resemble peace and contentment at River’s Edge, a kind of rehab for wayward immortals. Though her life isn’t perfect, she’s slowly learning to appreciate the things she used to take for granted. But her doubts still linger. With her head clear, Nastasya is viewing memories of her family in a new light and worries that she’s filled with a darkness she can’t escape. When things start to go wrong, she falls back to her old lifestyle and her old friends, hoping to spare the people she’s come to care for. But going back may ultimately put her in more danger – danger she doesn’t see until it’s almost too late. Darkness Falls is the second book in Cate Tiernan’s Immortal Beloved trilogy. It builds upon the solid foundation Tiernan set up in the first book and then delves deeper into the lives, histories and magical roots of the world she has created. There are more details about the lives of immortals, the magic they possess (for good or for evil) and the great possibilities and dangers that exist as a result. Tiernan still includes echoes of her Sweep series with the basics of immortal magic, but Nastasya and her friends are reside wholly within their own story. Readers will be alternatively thrilled and shocked by the revelations about some characters, while also on edge as Nastasya struggles with new internal and external threats. While the pace of the novel does start a little slow, I appreciated having the time to fall back into this world. There’s not much “rehash” of information from the first book (which I also appreciated), but there’s also no rush to start the action. The story builds realistically and once the excitement and danger becomes obvious, I couldn’t read fast enough, turning pages furiously to find out what would happen next. The best part of this book – and the series – is Nastasya. Even as a 400+ year old immortal, she’s still completely relatable. She’s sarcastic and snarky, but in Darkness Falls especially, she’s also vulnerable, filled with self-doubt and trying so valiantly to do the right thing. The Nastasya of this book is quite different from the Nastasya of the first book and I absolutely love that. Readers can clearly see how much she’s changed, how much she’s learned and how far she still has to go. Her witty asides to the reader made me feel as if I were listening to a friend confide in me and helped provide some moments of levity to balance the seriousness and heaviness of her story. And while those asides are Nastasya’s way of deflecting and covering up her real feelings, I still understood exactly how hard she was trying to be better and I loved her all the more because of it. When I first finished, I was quite surprised with the choices Tiernan made. I had expected the conflict that occurs in the climax of Darkness Falls to come in the third and final book in the series. As such, I was left wondering where Tiernan could possibly take the story. But the more I think about it, the more I realize just how much I still don’t know. There are still so many unresolved questions (not the least of which is Reyn and his complicated past). Things that have only been hinted at in Darkness Falls could come back and I’m excited to see where Tiernan will take Nastasya next. Cate Tiernan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, thanks in part to Darkness Falls and Nastasya. At times familiar and at times new and different, Tiernan has created a fascinating world of immortals and magic, a world in which our choices define who we are and where everyone – even those who are hundreds of years old – is still learning. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Jan 03, 2012
| Jan 07, 2012
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Dec 28, 2010
| Paperback
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| 0373210183
| 9780373210183
| 4.31
| 35,608
| Jan 25, 2011
| Jan 25, 2011
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Banished from the Nevernever, Meghan and Ash resign themselves to living a mortal life – despite all t...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Banished from the Nevernever, Meghan and Ash resign themselves to living a mortal life – despite all the unknowns associated with it. But before Meghan can reunite with her mortal family, she must first resolve, once and for all, the threat of the Iron fey. Summoned back to the fairy world by the threat of all-out war and the destruction of both the Summer and Winter courts, Meghan must use her unique position and power to help keep everyone she knows and loves from disappearing. With Ash and Puck by her side, and help from the most unlikely of allies, Meghan will face the most difficult test she’s ever known – one she may not survive. Usually, by the third book in a series, you’re running out of things to say about that series. That is not the case here. Julie Kagawa’s The Iron Queen may be the third book, but there is plenty to say about how Kagawa continues to raise the stakes for Meghan and her friends and the development of characters we’ve come to know and love. The Iron Queen is action-packed and quickly-paced. From the very first pages to the epilogue, Kagawa includes tons of emotion, political intrigue, military strategy, complicated family relationships and – of course – Meghan and Ash’s romantic relationship. The Iron Queen is much more intense than its predecessors, but it definitely pays off. For me, the biggest strength of The Iron Queen and really the whole series is Meghan. The Meghan in this book is a different person than the one we first met at the start of The Iron King. In a relatively short time, she’s learned so much and undergone a remarkable change and growth. She’s much stronger in this book, much more sure of herself and she really steps up and takes a leading role in this novel. There’s also an increased maturity to the choices and decisions she makes. Though she’s by no means perfect, she takes the extraordinary step of putting others before herself and sacrificing her own happiness for the greater good. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also quite stunning. In the previous books, I mentioned that I wished for more development of the secondary characters. Well, ask and ye shall receive. The Iron Queen really brought many of the supporting characters to life in a new way. Oberon and Mab became more than stereotypes of their courts and the Iron fey especially were especially well depicted – distinct and clearly other, yet still fey at the same time. Kagawa took care to spend time on the little details to make her world much more visual. Most of all, Puck was much more rounded in The Iron Queen; no longer just a joker, Kagawa takes the time to show him as he truly is – complex and hard to pin down. Though the conclusion of The Iron Queen has a sense of completeness to it, there’s still enough left unresolved to warrant a fourth book – which Kagawa wrote, thankfully. Still, The Iron Queen in some ways completes Meghan’s story and provides readers with a thrilling ride through the mortal realm, the Nevernever and into the formidable new Iron kingdom. The Iron Queen is one part of a truly unique approach to fantasy in the modern world.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Nov 22, 2012
| Dec 03, 2012
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Dec 10, 2010
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0373210132
| 9780373210138
| 4.20
| 39,701
| 2010
| Aug 01, 2010
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Meghan Chase only recently discovered that she is half-human, half-faery, and life hasn’t gotten any e...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Meghan Chase only recently discovered that she is half-human, half-faery, and life hasn’t gotten any easier since. The daughter of the Summer King, Meghan made a deal with the Winter Prince, Ash, to return to the Winter Court with him after saving her little brother from the Iron King. Now Meghan is stuck in the frozen, cold Winter Court and must constantly be on guard against those who wish her harm. Worst of all, Ash is acting harsh and cruel to Meghan. And no one believes her story about the Iron King, not even when Iron Fey attack the Winter Court. Meghan must summon her inner strength and rely on her wits if she’s going to save the Nevernever from the threat of the Iron Fey – and if she hopes to win back Ash’s affections. The Iron Daughter is the second book in Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series and with the world and its players firmly established, Kagawa increases the intensity with this novel. At the start of the novel, Meghan is essentially a hostage in a hostile court and must learn to navigate the tricky and treacherous world of the Winter Court. Before long, she’s off on another quest, encountering characters new and familiar with the stakes rising with each chapter. The Iron Daughter is action-packed and very well-paced. Kagawa knows just how to tease readers and get them to turn the pages with increasing speed. The villains are properly villainous, Meghan’s allies are forever shifting their alliances and few, if any, could predict how the story twists and turns. Even after reading only two of her books, it’s clear to me that Kagawa’s strength as an author is exceptional characterizations, even in a fantasy novel that relies heavily on readers believing in the magic and mystery. Meghan may technically only be half-human, but she’s 100% relateable to readers. She’s not always perfect and she doesn’t always do the right thing, but she keeps trying over and over. Even with a core strength and strong will, she still makes human decisions and human mistakes, just like the rest of us do. This is a young adult novel, so naturally, there is a love triangle with Meghan at its center. Normally, I’m not a fan of love triangles, especially those that are drawn out. But somehow, Kagawa keeps me invested in Meghan’s romantic entanglements. Brooding, intense Ash is the bad boy every girl secretly wants, but Kagawa keeps him from being a stereotype by giving readers glimpses of his own struggle to reconcile his feelings for Meghan with centuries of devotion to the Winter Court and a heart hardened by past experiences. Mischievous, playful Puck has a history with Meghan beyond the Nevernever and as a Summer Fey, he’s much more appropriate for her. The fact that Ash and Puck have their own complicated relationship just heightens the drama. And yet I never felt that the back-and-forth between the two guys was too much. Meghan holds genuine feelings for both and it’s hard to say that one was worse (or better) than the other. The only part of The Iron Daughter that I felt was lacking was the portrayal of some secondary characters. Though Meghan, Ash and Puck are fleshed out and fully developed, many of the secondary characters – Sage, Queen Mab, even the street rats – seemed one-dimensional and flat. Given the relatively short length of the novel and the choice to concentrate almost exclusively on the main trio, Kagawa falters a bit when it comes to showing readers other characters’ motivations. I wish she had explored them a bit more, though since this is only the second novel, I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and hope that further explanations are included in future books. A faery book unlike other faery books, with an equal emphasis on the fantastic and the realistic, The Iron Daughter is an exciting and thrilling next step in Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series. With the cliffhanger ending and two more books in the series, it’s clear The Iron Daughter is setting the stage for even more intrigue to come.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Nov 07, 2012
| Nov 11, 2012
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Dec 10, 2010
| Paperback
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| 0373210086
| 9780373210084
| 3.99
| 63,447
| Jan 26, 2010
| Feb 01, 2010
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Meghan Chase has always felt out of step with the rest of the world, but she just shrugged it off as t...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Meghan Chase has always felt out of step with the rest of the world, but she just shrugged it off as typical teenage angst. But soon strange things begin to happen. She notices a strange boy watching her in the woods and her mischievous best friend becomes strangely overprotective. Then, on her sixteenth birthday, Meghan discovers the truth: she’s half-faery and the daughter of a mythical faery king, destined to always be a part of two worlds and placed in danger by her very existence. When her younger brother is kidnapped, Meghan travels deep into the heart of the Nevernever to rescue him, and comes face-to-face with a brand-new threat no fey has ever seen before. I’m always a little wary about faery and fey novels; some I have loved and others I have not. A few years ago, with author Julie Kagawa first published The Iron King, the start of her four-book Iron Fey series, nearly every young adult blogger in the book blogosphere started raving about it. Now, just as Kagawa is set to release the first book in her new Iron Fey spin-off series, I’m finally getting on board and starting the original series. And, to my delight, I truly enjoyed The Iron King and its twist on the fey mythology. My general issue with faery novels is that not all authors are successful at making readers believe in the reality of the fey world. Julie Kagawa does not have that problem. Her writing is superb – the plot really picks up speed towards the end and she knows how to keep you turning the pages – but the highlight is her ability to describe the fey world with an exactness that makes the Summer Court, the wyldwood and even the seedy side of New Orleans come alive. I could easily picture each distinct, unique location in the novel because Kagawa has created such a vivid world. Best of all, she has made it her own. She’s not simply rehashing the fey lore that has come before. She’s inventing and creating her own pieces, most notably the Iron Fey, a fey born out of humanity’s love of technology. That creation is not only clever, it’s also believably true. Beyond the fantasy aspect of novel, though, The Iron King succeeds because Kagawa spends time developing her characters and their relationships. Strip away the fey glamour and magical world and you have a novel that, at it’s core, is about Meghan and her relationships with the people she meets in this new world. Despite being thrown into strange situations, Meghan’s strength and loyalty serve her well. She’s smart and she quickly learns and adapts to the fey world, proving to be a worthy adversary to anyone who tries to cross her. Add in the other equally complex and well-developed characters – Ash, Puck, Grim and a whole host of fey both friend and foe – and The Iron King becomes a wild, suspenseful and surprising adventure. The short lesson is this: when several trusted bloggers can’t stop raving about a particular series, it’s probably for good reason. Though it took me awhile to get here, I finally gave in to the allure of Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series and its first novel, The Iron King. My reward was a thoroughly enjoyable, well-plotted and highly visual journey into a magical and mysterious world. I’ve already given in to my book-buying impulses and purchased the rest of the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Note: The Iron Fey series has four novels and three accompanying e-novellas that take place in between the novels. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 06, 2012
| Oct 14, 2012
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Dec 10, 2010
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0670020559
| 9780670020553
| 3.44
| 56,047
| Jan 01, 2009
| Aug 11, 2009
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Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Quentin Coldwater is a genius, a literal, brilliant genius who is also generally dissatisfied with lif...more Originally published on The Librarian Next Door: Quentin Coldwater is a genius, a literal, brilliant genius who is also generally dissatisfied with life. He spends most of his time feeling vaguely miserable, his only solace being a series of children’s fantasy books about a magical land called Fillory. Those books are his secret obsession, his one way to escape from the world – until Quentin is admitted into Brakebills, an exclusive and highly secretive college of magic. Quentin is a modern-day sorcerer and he is soon entrenched in a rigorous magical education, learning to cast and conjure spells, all while experiencing the life lessons any other college student would: the value of friendship, first loves, having casual and not-so-casual sex, getting drunk and breaking the rules. But even within this new magical world, Quentin’s old feelings of discontent resurface. It seems magic is not the answer for everything. Then one day, after graduation, Quentin and his friends make a startling discovery – Fillory is real, but even in a magical world, it’s not the childhood idyllic place they thought it would be. The Magicians, a novel by author Lev Grossman, has been called, in many reviews, the “adult Harry Potter.” While it’s true both stories share some similarities, to try to compare the two would do a disservice to both. The Magicians stands on its own as a thoroughly engrossing, complex, detailed, character-driven novel about magic and the dangerous lengths some people will go to because of it. In the world Grossman has created, magic is difficult, often backbreaking work. It’s rote memorization and repetition and practice, where the slightest mistake could literally kill you. It is easy to see where Grossman included touches of Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia and other fantasy novels; there’s even a nice meta-fiction twist, thanks to the constant references to the fictional Fillory books-within-a-book. The heart of The Magicians, however, is all thanks to Grossman. This book is much darker than Harry Potter or Narnia and that’s primarily because it’s intended for adults, not children. But Grossman is also exploring drearier themes, including the idea that magic doesn’t make people any happier. There’s a bleakness to The Magicians that stems from Quentin’s never-ending search for satisfaction and contentment. Thankfully, Grossman includes a number of secondary characters who are just as fully-fleshed and well-development as Quentin to balance things out. The novel would not be complete without Eliot, Janet, Josh, Alice and the rest – the title, after all, is the plural Magicians. The book can feel a bit overwhelming at times, because there is so much detail crammed into it, but patience is a virtue that’s rewarded when it comes to The Magicians. “For just one second, look at your life and see how perfect it is. Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there’s nothing else. It’s here, and you’d better decide to enjoy it or you’re going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.” One aspect of the book that requires patience is Quentin himself. At first, it’s difficult to find much to like about Quentin. As I mentioned previously, the novel is very much a character-driven novel and Quentin is at the heart of that. Readers learn every little thing he thinks, feels, says and does – and it’s not always positive or noble. Quentin initially thinks Brakebills is the answer to his problems, but he soon learns that there’s no magical solution for his general dissatisfaction. He’s always looking for the next best thing, but always ends up disappointed when he finds it because it inevitably doesn’t live up to his expectations. He’s simultaneously insecure and full of himself, so there were plenty of times when I wanted to reach through the pages of my book and slap him upside the head. Patience is also necessary simply to get through the many pages in The Magicians. The novel has a plot, but Grossman spends most of his time building up this world, layering it and adding to it almost methodically. As a result, the pace can seem quite slow – it isn’t until more than halfway through the book that Quentin even discovers Fillory is real. But I would urge readers to find the patience to stick with this novel. Grossman’s insistence on taking the time to develop his ideas and lay the groundwork for plot points, characters and events eventually pays off. Though it can feel unnecessary in the beginning, their importance eventually shines through and you end up marveling at the effort Grossman extended to make even the littlest things seem vital. In fact, it is all those little details that add up – yes, they take time to establish in the beginning, but they’re worth it in the end. I’ll admit I was tempted to give up on The Magicians at times, because of the slow, character-driven pace and because Quentin isn’t the easiest guy to like. But even when I thought about putting the book down, I didn’t. There’s something intangible about the world of Brakebills and Fillory that kept me reading and compelled me to keep turning the pages. Something about Quentin and his friends captured my attention and wouldn’t let it go. Even when I stopped reading for the night, characters and events would linger in my mind as I wondered what could possibly come next (I never guessed right, either – Grossman’s twists and turns were always surprising). Some of the best books I’ve ever read are the books that won’t let me go and stay with me long after I’ve finished reading. They are the books that compel me to ponder, over and over again, the story, the characters and the world the author has created. Lev Grossman’s The Magicians is one of those books. (less) | Notes are private!
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| Jul 31, 2011
| Sep 09, 2011
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Sep 07, 2010
| Hardcover
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