PRE-RELEASE REVIEW! UK publication date: 17th January 2012
A gorgeous object, The Thorn and The Blossom is written accordion style - without a spine, t...morePRE-RELEASE REVIEW! UK publication date: 17th January 2012
A gorgeous object, The Thorn and The Blossom is written accordion style - without a spine, two perspectives on one series of events can be read with the turning of the book.
Whilst 'not strictly YA', I'm not sure that I'd class it as anything too far beyond young adult realms. Dealing, at first, with postgraduate students... perhaps if there were an 'early adulthood' genre it would fit better in there. In any case, there was certainly nothing that was ... um ... "more adult" than teenagers feel.
As two perspectives uniquely interwoven, Theodora Goss does an amazing job of guiding the reader through the dual narratives. Brendan and Evelyn are engaging and realistic. I read Brendan's side of their story first, thinking that alphabetical was a good option, and felt his bewilderment and wry romanticism as if they were my own emotions. When I moved on to Evelyn's tale, gaps that I wasn't sure existed were filled in.
I loved The Thorn and The Blossom, and so will you if legends, love stories, and modern-day Victoriana tickles your fancy. Somehow, a blend of Charlotte Bronte, Iris Murdoch, and Neil Gaiman has been achieved in two counterpart, intertwined, novellas. My hat is off to you, Ms. Goss, my hat is so far gone that I've lost sight of it.
Wolfsong explores the bonds that tie relationships together, whilst shining new and unexpected lights upon the concept of werewolves. A short book tha...moreWolfsong explores the bonds that tie relationships together, whilst shining new and unexpected lights upon the concept of werewolves. A short book that doesn't immediately scream YA, Wolfsong meanders through Sarah's final steps in the jump from youthful naïveté to adult realisation and acceptance. It is a new take on the coming of age tale.
The way in which the narrative unfolds is as beautiful as the concept of woman-as-wolf moments are unique. Sarah responds to the nudges of knowledge from Nico, her strange, yet strangely appropriate, mentor in reassuringly normal ways. Reasonable, logical, mathematical, and more memorable than she would ever have believed, Sarah is a refreshing narrator whose thoughts on cells (genetic) versus cells (prison) are particularly telling.
The characters are amazing, it's like a behind the scenes version of a 1960s movie - sure, there are gorgeous dresses, jewellery, and men whose wildness after several glasses of whatever's in is barely concealed, but pretend that's reality before taking a step beyond... and the world of Wolfsong is revealed! That's how it felt to me, at least. Easily corruptible and utterly believable.
Amanda Prantera stunned me with her writing. I read Wolfsong in one sitting (it successfully took my mind off wisdom tooth pain for a few hours!), gobbling it up like a favourite sweet. On one hand I wish there had been more, on the other I feel that it had one of the most perfect endings I've read in a long time. Just wonderful.
This Is Not Forgiveness ripped something out of me, and then squished it back in. In a good way. I think.
Written from three different, but irrevocably...moreThis Is Not Forgiveness ripped something out of me, and then squished it back in. In a good way. I think.
Written from three different, but irrevocably intertwined, perspectives, This Is Not Forgiveness explores the realities of war, political activism, first love, mental health, and how challenging clambering from teenager to adult (17-24ish?) can be if you scratch the surface. It is, in places, a challenging read, but even the most shocking descriptions are somehow rendered a beautiful piece of the whole.
If you have read any of the frankly awesome historical-ish books by Celia Rees, forget them. This Is Not Forgiveness is something utterly different. (Although, there are still subtle hints of `magic as real`!)
Jamie, or the less "poncey" Jimbo as his big brother Rob likes to call him, is a fairly average sixth form student. He's single, his summer job keeps his pockets lined, and he's as likely to be at home drinking coffee as to being on a night out. He intends on going to university - it's just what you do when you finish your A-Levels, right?
Rob is different, was different before he ever joined the army. Reckless, blokey (did I make that word up?), self-medicating *wink wink* and deeply scarred: inside and out. But he's fiercely loyal to his brother, in his own way. Martha, their sister, is typical in a different way to Jamie - with fake tan and freshly-straightened hair, she and `the girls` form a clique of gossip-lovers at every opportunity. She tries to protect Jamie, though, and seems to love him as much as most close-in-age teenagers love their siblings.
Caro... she's a beautiful roller-coaster; seemingly spontaneous, secretly obsessive. Terrified, but hides it under an attitude of free love and a come-no-closer shell. She creates chaos and compulsive behaviour as much as she craves it.
I'm not particularly one for politics, I can't quote speeches or name many names; nor am I one for sitting, considering all the evidence and making decisions about the usefulness, or indeed legality, of recent military actions. However, even I could relate to the characters who did get sucked into, or more-than-mildly infatuated with, such things. Particularly moving was the portrayal of the line between political activism as a useful tool for necessary societal change and terrorism: blurry, and all too easy to cross.
This is not a feel-good read. This is not an obvious journey.
Is this an important read? Hell yes, as far as I am concerned...(less)
PRE-RELEASE REVIEW! UK publication date: 5th January 2012
If I'm honest, I have to say that Tempest confused me. In a couple of ways, actually.
Firstly...morePRE-RELEASE REVIEW! UK publication date: 5th January 2012
If I'm honest, I have to say that Tempest confused me. In a couple of ways, actually.
Firstly - time-travel in general boggles my mind! I can get on board (I wish literally!) with Doctor Who, as he jumps through time and space in a pretty big way... which for some reason makes my head a slightly less confused and more accepting place. In Tempest, the management of time-travel is more intricate, far more obviously sci-fi, and yet slightly unfinished. And, yes I'm going to say it - a little creepy.
Secondly - the characters seemed to almost jump in and out of each other... their voices became blurred and seemingly out-of-character at times. It was an odd experience that would have perhaps been less noticeable in a world that was less complicated. With such a lot going on, so many threads to keep in mind with every turn of the page, things became too confusing when characters acted out-of-character too often!
Don't get me wrong - this is certainly a page-turner! I read Tempest in one sitting and found it difficult to pull myself away even to refill my cup of tea, but it felt more like a film than a book. Let me explain: there are books, I think, that I can't imagine ever being adapted well onto the big screen, then there are books that I adore as books and wish passionately would be filmed..... and then there's Tempest, which I truly believe should be a film, and a film alone.
I read an uncorrected proof, though, so perhaps some of the problems I noticed are unfair as they might get ironed out in the final version.... I would love to read the opinions of other readers of this book! Please leave a comment if you've read it!(less)
Katelyn McBride expects an extraordinary life and as a teenager trained in ballet and gymnastics living in L.A. she seems all set to live out her outs...moreKatelyn McBride expects an extraordinary life and as a teenager trained in ballet and gymnastics living in L.A. she seems all set to live out her outstanding dreams (like, you know, starring in a Cirque du Soleil performance... or two...). When tragedy strikes she moves to the isolated town of Wolf Springs to live with her grandfather, a retired philosophy professor used to living in solitude, and finds that life outside the big city is more different than she could ever have imagined.
Reading the first few chapters of this book before an ever-so-slightly-tedious lecture was probably not the best idea because it was so good that anything my lecturer could have said or done (short, perhaps, of introducing Sean Bean from behind a velvet curtain and then sitting down) would pale in comparison. As you might have guessed, I loved Unleashed and cannot wait for the next Wolf Springs instalment!
But what was so great about it? Firstly hats off to whoever designed the cover as it is a bucket of wonderfulness, not only grabbing the eye but also totally setting the scene for the shadowy levels of hotness that wander through the pages. Yes, oh yes, there is hotness. I am fairly sure that Trick and Justin will haunt the dreams of readers for quite some time! The gorgeous girls are so likeable that I forgot to be jealous of them... and if you're in the mood for girl candy then I think you'll also find Wolf Springs to be a well-stocked town! For once, the supernatural as well as the relationships of the usefully-hot characters had me screaming "WHAT? THERE HAS TO BE MORE!" after turning the final page. Seriously, I loved these characters pretty much unanimously. (less)
**spoiler alert** Philippa Gregory focuses on the oft-ignored women in history - those who marry, mother, or somehow otherwise influence the lives of...more**spoiler alert** Philippa Gregory focuses on the oft-ignored women in history - those who marry, mother, or somehow otherwise influence the lives of those "great men" that are more commonly known. The Lady of the Rivers is the third of Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series (The White Queen and The Red Queen being the others) which chart the course and culmination of the Wars of the Roses from the viewpoints of some of the key women involved: in the case of The Lady of the Rivers readers delve into the mind of Jacquetta, mother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville and great-grandmother of Henry VIII.
I enjoyed this book more as a guilty pleasure than anything else - like 1980s power ballads, watching Neighbours, and drinking tea through a straw - as I do love Philippa Gregory's gift of writing characters that are compelling enough that I actually care about their lives. However, and this should probably get a giant *SPOILERS/RANT* warning, I hated the implication that women are only able to be strong if they are either full of magic (yes, magic), at least slightly loose with their virtue, or a combination of the two. This does seem to be a theme with this Cousins' War series; the tale that the water goddess Melusina is an ancestress of Jacquetta (and therefore also of her children) gives an odd magical heritage that seems better placed in fantasy than in historical fiction. Witchcraft trials were reasonably common, yes, but that by no means points to the fact that England in the past was more like Hogwarts than anything else. *END OF SPOILERS/RANT*
Recommendation: If you're a fan of Philippa Gregory and her previous books, this will likely be an enjoyable experience that fills in a picture of the lives of some lesser known historical characters. If you enjoy witches with more than a whiff of power about them, then The Lady of the Rivers might delight you.
This Dark Endeavour delves into the life of one teenage Victor Frankenstein, living in his Genevan family villa. And when I say Victor Frankenstein I...moreThis Dark Endeavour delves into the life of one teenage Victor Frankenstein, living in his Genevan family villa. And when I say Victor Frankenstein I don't mean that his parents happened to be Frankensteins and loved Mary Shelley enough to name their child in honour of her madly brilliant, monster-making doctor - I mean that Victor Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's corpse animation extraordinaire, in teenage form.
With Frankenstein, Mary Shelley broke literary boundaries enough to create a story that is praised as the forerunner to modern science fiction, fantasy, and horror; but her tale is so much more deeply layered than that, especially as it introduces readers to the exquisitely intense character of Victor. Intense fervour, though, seems an inadequate reason to go on multiple corpse-robbing journeys... I've often wondered what sparked Victor's need to harness the spark of life (yes, I'm that cool) and I'm ever so glad that Kenneth Oppel seems to have spent even more time pondering the question than me!
Victor's life is grand and fantastically recreated through 19th century-esque prose in This Dark Endeavour, his family is well-off (thanks to his high-ranking-in-the-law father) and his days spent with brother, Konrad, cousin, Elizabeth, and friend, Henry, are relatively carefree until the dual horrors of the Forbidden Library (read the book and then tell me you don't want one!) and mysterious illness strike, with alarming consequences.
Recommendation: Angsty lust, alchemical adventures (climbs, caves, and impromptu surgery - oh my!), and Gothic suspense drive this portrait of the early life of a well-known character. If you've always secretly wondered how to spot the signs of an energetic, arrogant mind falling into something slightly more worrying - read This Dark Endeavour and learn just how hypnotic power can be. (less)
David is a novel suitable for those unafraid of mentions of sex, politics, and artistic inclinations!
Renaissance Italy, Florence to be precise - this...moreDavid is a novel suitable for those unafraid of mentions of sex, politics, and artistic inclinations!
Renaissance Italy, Florence to be precise - this is the world that the reader steps into within the pages of David, sitting on the shoulder of beautiful-yet-naive Gabriele as he makes his way from his childhood village home to his milk-brother's city hearth. Throw into this coming of age/boy meets world tale the fact that Gabriele's milk-brother is none other than the famed sculptor of the statue of David, Michelangelo, and you may be able to begin to understand just what a volatile situation young Gabriele wanders into.
As far as I can tell, Mary Hoffman captures the voices of age (memory, anecdote, wry humour) and youth (enthusiasm, action before thought, vanity) with brilliant style and accuracy - but it is her sensually volatile depiction of early 16th century Florence and its precarious political state that I best enjoyed (disclosure - history nerd and proud!).
I can't imagine anybody reading David without doing these three things: 1) putting on their best Italian accent, 2) wishing they had artistic genius, 3) imagining their perfectly perfect Gabriele! (High five for you if you already have 1 and/or 2 under your belt!)
Recommendation: If you like beautifully imagined historical fiction, palpable political tensions, and gorgeous scenery to view in your mind then David will float your boat all the way to the shores of Italy! (less)
Henry VIII is one of the best known English monarchs, perhaps eclipsed in popularity only by his second daughter, Elizabeth I. Whether this is due to...moreHenry VIII is one of the best known English monarchs, perhaps eclipsed in popularity only by his second daughter, Elizabeth I. Whether this is due to their fantastic names (disclosure: "Hi, I'm Elizabeth and this is my son Henry...") or some fantastic Tudor-fuelled expectation of power is hard to tell (but I'm hoping the name thing will bring more happiness and less madness in the case of myself and my son!). In VIII, H.M. Castor pulls her readers into the mind of Henry and manages to keep them hooked right there from his youth until his death.
Reading VIII felt to me as if I was strapping on some kind of magic spectacles that allowed me not only to see through someone else's eyes, but also to feel their emotions: it was an uncanny and exhilarating experience. I felt sorry for the child (emotional, eager-to-please, caught up in family politics, secrets, and hierarchies), was rooting for the young man and monarch (idealistic, heroic, destined for certain glory), and raged with the ageing king (righteously indignant, increasingly violent, more than slightly mentally unhinged) before I realised that these feelings and desires weren't mine. This, I think, shows the genius of H.M. Castor's writing - I was pulled into the mind of, at best, a powerful man of his time, at worst, a madman.
VIII meanders through the life of Henry VIII, examines the idea of hauntings in a literal and breath-stealing way, and walks you through the possibility that an exuberant and precocious child can grow into something monstrous.
Recommendation: With beautifully expressive prose and three-dimensional characters, VIII should appeal to fans of the Tudor period as well as those who love psychological and relationship-driven fiction. I felt drained when I finished the last page; physically drained, as if I had lived another life whilst reading. I can't recommend VIII highly enough. Get it, read it, love it.(less)
Lottie Biggs is (not) Tragic is my first foray into the world of Lottie Biggs, Welsh wondergirl. I think the fact that I'm an English girl living in W...moreLottie Biggs is (not) Tragic is my first foray into the world of Lottie Biggs, Welsh wondergirl. I think the fact that I'm an English girl living in Wales helped a lot with the `in` jokes ... and understanding the use of "lush"!
Hayley Long perfectly captures the teenage language that I hear whenever I get on a bus around the end of school time. Seriously, it's that hilarious! I chuckled away to this book, every chapter has at least one one-liner that I felt I should try to put to use. And yes, I'll admit it, there was a tea-drinking/spluttering incident. Or two. Or three...
The story itself is engaging and fast-paced, the scenery and characters are believable and have enough back-story to feel as if I knew them already. I think I'll have to stalk Lottie and buy copies of Hayley Long's other books!
Recommendation: Looking for a contemporary YA novel that's as full of laughs as it is of angsty issues? Love imagining Welsh accents? Enter the world of Lottie Biggs and enjoy, my friends.
When YA fantasy is well imagined, written, and voiced it is a joy to read, The Dragon Whisperer is a joy to read. Quenelda and Root make an unlikely d...moreWhen YA fantasy is well imagined, written, and voiced it is a joy to read, The Dragon Whisperer is a joy to read. Quenelda and Root make an unlikely duo of tomboy-noblewoman and artistic-commoner, but their journeys twist beautifully within the overall narrative strands of the tale. With hierarchies of dragons, nobles, warriors, and mages on one side of the Third Hobgoblin War and, well, hobgoblins and super sneaky intrigue on the other there is plenty of plot to keep up with.
The Dragon Whisperer, though, is more than the sum of its parts as a story (adventure, coming-of-age, magical, warrior, etc.), somehow Lucinda Hare has managed to create a world that I yearn to return to – one that is as fantastical as it is realistic, thanks to the minute details that make the word-building such a stunning feat of imagination.
Within a breath of finishing reading The Dragon Whisperer I had opened Flight to Dragon Isle (the next, and most recent, book in the series), and already I am thrilled and charmed by it in equal measure – a testament to the quality of the writing and to the series in general! What surprised me was the fact that The Dragon Whisperer included pictures; every so often there were black and white full page illustrations that really added to the tale for me. It was like a cross between the drawings in old Enid Blyton books (because they’re both black and white pen and ink style) and those in my copy of The Hobbit (coloured illustrations, but dragons and caves featured highly in both!)… so the connotations were all good for me!
Recommendation: Fans of Tamora Pierce, Gail Carson Levine, and J. K. Rowling will likely enjoy The Dragon Whisperer. The world is a beautiful one that pulls at my thoughts in the way that only Pierce’s Tortall and Rowling’s magical take on this world have ever managed to before.
Rating: 4/5
Review copy received from publisher. The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare, published by Pan Macmillan in 2011. (less)
A fool, the Tudor/Shakespearean kind, and a girl make their way to London... a good beginning, perhaps, but this is not the start of their story. Viol...moreA fool, the Tudor/Shakespearean kind, and a girl make their way to London... a good beginning, perhaps, but this is not the start of their story. Violetta and Feste have lived a tale before this tale, one that readers of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare will be familiar with.
Celia Rees has a knack of bringing believable historical magic into her stories (Witch Child and Sorceress are the only others I've read, but it was present in both - as you might guess from their titles!) which she expertly weaves into her narrative threads. I love this aspect of her storytelling. In The Fool's Girl the historical realism of an imagined William Shakespeare, a troupe of travelling actors, political intrigue at the highest of levels are so vibrant that the addition of the fool and his girl just feels right.
For me, this book is a great example of a retelling that works. Sometimes reading updated or re-imagined stories only leads to me tearing my hair out (see my review of Jane), but The Fool's Girl proves that if done cleverly and sympathetically to the original, retellings are a potentially great genre!
Recommendation: Whether you're a Shakespeare-nut, historical fiction fiend, or just love a well-crafted tale, The Fool's Girl is the perfect read to curl up with to be whisked away from reality. Review copy received from publisher(less)
Fallen Grace is the evocative tale of Grace and Lily, watercress-selling sisters living in Victorian London and their turbulent effect of the Unwin fa...more Fallen Grace is the evocative tale of Grace and Lily, watercress-selling sisters living in Victorian London and their turbulent effect of the Unwin family, undertakers extraordinaire, on their lives.
Grace, at fifteen, is a solemnly beautiful young woman who struggles to keep roof overhead and food available for herself and seventeen year old Lily. The bond between Grace and Lily is incredibly realistic; as events uncoiled I was swept along by Grace's quiet emotions.
The plot itself was, for me, pretty predictable from the start of the second chapter. Despite this, I was addicted to watching the story unfold page by page. Mary Hooper's language was completely appropriate for a jaunt into the middle of the 19th century and her attention to historic detail applaudable. My one qualm would be when a Union Jack was placed atop a coffin ... I was under the impression that it was a Union Flag on land and only a Union Jack at sea (or possibly over water?).
Recommendation: The ending was a bit abrupt and if anything felt like a setup for a second book, which actually might be really interesting and something that I'd definitely read. I love well-written and researched historical fiction, which Fallen Grace is a fine example of. Despite its (few) flaws, I loved reading it.
Rating: 4/5
Review copy received from publisher. Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper, published by Bloomsbury in 2011.(less)
Early review! Release date: 7th July 2011 (Book received from publisher)
When sisters Amy (short for Amaryllis) and Phin (short for Delphinium) Goodnig...moreEarly review! Release date: 7th July 2011 (Book received from publisher)
When sisters Amy (short for Amaryllis) and Phin (short for Delphinium) Goodnight show up to ranch-sit for their Aunt Hyacinth, they don't realise quite how much the experience will change their lives. Phin is so wrapped up in her scientific studies (with a paranormal twist) that she rarely notices anything that doesn't fall directly into her sphere of interest, and Amy? Well, Amy wants nothing to do with the para side of normal - in fact, she has made it her life's work to act as a buffer between her family, who are ... eccentric at best, and the rest of civilisation.
Texas Gothic uses an ingenious recipe of part archaelogical dig, part Scooby-Doo-esque mystery, and part love story with the added spices of romance, magic, and cowboys. Well, actually, it's mainly subtle hints of cowboys, but there is a hunky Texan guy who first appears on horseback - so I'm definitely counting him in the cowboy column.
I'm always almost unhealthily glad when bones appear in books (don't judge me, I'm about to start a degree in Medieval History and I've always had a fascination with the Black Death), so their appearance teamed with the added aspects of magical heritage and teenage soul-searching really kept the pages turning for me. The first line of the book is "The goat was in the tree again." - which gives you some idea of the intriguing information that you may learn in amongst the plot (do goats climb trees? Please don't disillusion me unless you know for sure!), as well as the tone of the novel. I loved Amy's voice, she's definitely going down as one of my favourite unlikely heroines!
Recommendation: If you like your normal with added para, your natural with more than a hint of super, then take a walk with Amy and see if anything will make her agree with you. Did I mention there was magic and a (sort of) cowboy? Come on!
Fair warning: I'm all for appropriate swearing in the YA genre, and so are the characters in Texas Gothic. (less)
**spoiler alert** Betrayal is the fourth book in Amy Meredith's A Dark Touch series: books one to three were Shadows, The Hunt, and Fever. Of the four...more**spoiler alert** Betrayal is the fourth book in Amy Meredith's A Dark Touch series: books one to three were Shadows, The Hunt, and Fever. Of the four, Betrayal was my favourite. It took a darker turn than the previous books that I think reflected the growth of the main characters and their relationships really well.
Eve, Luke, and Jess are faced with more than demons in Betrayal; as the title suggests they also face turmoil in their friendship for the first time, as well as the realisation that the past actions of the original Deepdene Witch can affect their lives.
**SPOILERS!** The ending didn't seem strong enough to be a series finale, it felt as if it was leading on to another book. In Betrayal we begin to learn more about The Order, but there stills seems much left to be discovered. I'm also hoping that Jess gets a better boyfriend as her current relationship seems somewhat unbelievable and falls far short of the carefully crafted Luke and Eve duo. **END OF SPOILERS!**
Recommendation: Betrayal is the best book in the A Dark Touch series, in my opinion. The darkness and sense of disloyalty felt by all the characters added a new depth to the perfect-except-for-the-occasional-demon teenage life that they seemed to have in the previous three books. A must read for Deepdene fans!
Rating: 4/5
Review copy received from publisher. Betrayal by Amy Meredith (A Dark Touch #3), published by Red Fox (an imprint of Random House) in 2011.(less)
Eve and Jess are teenage best friends, shopping partners, and demon butt-kickers: the combined power of the Deepdene Witch and a hardcore cheerleader...moreEve and Jess are teenage best friends, shopping partners, and demon butt-kickers: the combined power of the Deepdene Witch and a hardcore cheerleader is a force to be reckoned with. Luke, the new boy about town who just happens to be a minister's son, is becoming part of Eve and Jess's team... but in a triangle of teenage friends, can friendship run smoothly?
Relationships, friendly and otherwise, are questioned when members of the Deepdene community start disappearing... only to be found in the kind of shape that calls for a closed coffin. Yeah, it's pleasant stuff.
Amy Meredith does a great job in describing the rising terror of the small-yet-exclusive town of Deepdene and yet keeping the fantastically adolescent voices of the characters realistic: let's face it, even if there were corpses of classmates turning up in the shrubbery, the important stuff like gossip, shopping, and ... uh... homework still go on.
Recommendation: The Hunt builds on the setup of story and characters from Shadows in a way that not only deepens the reader's relationship with both, but also provides a well-paced pageturner. I really enjoyed it.
Rating: 4/5
Review copy received from publisher. The Hunt by Amy Meredith (A Dark Touch #2), published by Red Fox (an imprint of Random House) in 2010.(less)
Best friends Eve Evergold and Jess Meredith live in the ever-so-exclusive Hamptons. To me, an English girl who grew up in a tiny seaside town, their t...moreBest friends Eve Evergold and Jess Meredith live in the ever-so-exclusive Hamptons. To me, an English girl who grew up in a tiny seaside town, their teen experience of designer clothes, shoes, and gadgets seems as extraordinary to read about as it is to see on television shows like Gossip Girl (of which I've seen about two episodes overall, but I very much got the impression of shiny fabulousness in teenage packages).
Shadows, then, is something akin to Gossip Girl meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We have shallow-on-the-surface-but-actually-reasonably-normal teen friends, Eve and Jess, and two new cutely-mysterious-and-swoonable guys, Mal and Luke, moving to town. Oh yeah, and two of those people, a girl and a guy, turn out to have more going on - supernaturally speaking - than it at first seems.
Slightly confused? Feeling the whispering and giggling of your high school years niggling in the back of your mind? Living these years yourself? Well, that goes a long way to explain Shadows. Thanks to the television shows of the rich and beautiful, I could push the huge amounts of cash everyone had aside and see these well-observed teens for what they are: witty, teen-tastic, and believable.
Did I mention there's a portal to hell in their ever-so-exclusive town? Yeah. So let's not forget to throw some demons into the mix with the designer labels and Biology homework!
Recommendation: A light read and a good series opener that made me care about the characters and their development, Shadows does its job well. I am really looking forward to reading about the further adventures of these teens (and find out what other demonic nasties will visit Deepdene!).
Rating: 3.5/5
Review copy received from publisher. Shadows by Amy Meredith (A Dark Touch, #1), published by Red Fox (an imprint of Random House) in 2010. (less)
Even though one of the photographs in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children did cause me to utter a sound not unlike a yelp whilst reading on th...more Even though one of the photographs in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children did cause me to utter a sound not unlike a yelp whilst reading on the bus this morning, I loved this book. The fact that found photographs (mostly non-terrifying, although definitely all peculiar) were interspersed with the text added a depth to the, already unique, storyline that isn't often found in Young Adult fiction.
I'll admit here and now that the idea of opening the book and loving the story, and then being confronted by potentially disturbing photographs did worry me at first. I seem to have a lock on my imagination where, most often, I can force myself not to visualize some things I read... but once I see something, really see it, that something tends to stick in my head despite any efforts I might make to shake it out. I can only think of one photograph in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children that I want to shake out (page 48, and it's likely my own fault for being crept out by humans and animals looking remotely like each other).
Enough about the photographs, it's time to talk about the prose. This book was one of the most beautifully written that I have ever read. Ransom Riggs manages to capture the voices of different eras, localities, and temperaments with a witty accuracy that is a joy to read. Jacob is a great character to follow on his journey from adult-diaper stacking teen to ... well... becoming something of a `hope` in a vacuum. I loved sitting on his shoulder for the ride.
Recommendation: If you look to YA paranormal fantasy for more than just werewolves and vampires, are willing to get drawn into a world where improbable childhood stories come true, and love beautifully written stories then try Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
Rating: 5/5
Review copy received from publisher. =
Sidenote: After reading this, it was no surprise to read that the film rights have already been snapped up by 20th Century Fox - I'll be really interested in seeing how this translates to the big screen! (less)
Abandon is the first Meg Cabot book that I've ever read (though, and I suspect that this doesn't count, I have s...moreOriginally posted on A little sun shy.
Abandon is the first Meg Cabot book that I've ever read (though, and I suspect that this doesn't count, I have seen both Princess Diaries movies), so I'm coming at this novel not from a Meg Cabot fangirl stance but rather from a Hades and Persephone myth fangirl stance. Yeah, that's right - I love me some Ancient Greek mythology (as you might've guessed from my review of Starcrossed)!
When it comes to the young-girl-taken-to-the-Underworld-to-serve-as-Death's-bride turn of events, Abandon is excellent. Really. I loved the way the Underworld was written and the very believable actions of Pierce, the lead character. But Pierce is an odd one... and not odd in the way that I like. I found her voice really irritating. The way she'd keep repeating phrases like they were mantras, and being totally unsubtle in her grinding towards realisations. It just didn't come across as believeable - she certainly didn't seem like the oh-so-very-caring-of-others girl she was presented (repeatedly) as being. I couldn't comprehend why any Death deity would be interested in her as an eternal bride.
So, whilst I definitely didn't like Ms. Pierce Oliviera, I did like some of the supporting cast of characters (particularly her cousin, Alex, and his dad, her Uncle Chris) as they felt both more realistic and with more compelling stories to tell than her own.
Recommendation: I felt that the story fell far short of where it should have been, given both the premise of the original myth and the possibilities of updating it to modern High School life. I finished the book and will probably read the next in the series, but I definitely won't be ordering a copy early (like I did with Abandon!) and pinning my hopes on a gorgeous and captivating tale.
Rating: 3/5
Bought for review. Abandon by Meg Cabot, published by Point in 2011. (less)
I've never really understood the fascination with zombies - there, I've admitted it! My husband is a fan - well,...moreOriginally posted at A little sun shy.
I've never really understood the fascination with zombies - there, I've admitted it! My husband is a fan - well, as much of a fan as one can be of rotting re-animated corpses who enjoy eating brains - but I am not. When I read that Die For Me was some kind of Parisian zombie romance I was in equal measure intrigued (how the heck would that even work? Disturbing mental images abound!) and worried (if this does work out, does this mean I'll suddenly have to count myself as a zombie fan?!). You can understand my conundrum, I'm sure.
Anyway, I needn't have worried: if you're hoping for some smoulderingly sexy people who need to wear air-freshner necklaces to disguise their rot-stench, then you'll be disappointed with Die For Me. If, however, you want to meet a new breed of undead folk that are something between zombies and vampires (yet without the blood-drinking habits of one and the hygiene issues of the other) and still something else entirely then please dive right into Die For Me, because Amy has written a whirlwind of a ride for you to enjoy.
Two sisters, displaced from America and staying with their French grandparents, somehow fall into a Parisian underworld that I could not have imagined (but now secretly hope is actually true!). For all book loving, museum addicted, readers out there, I think you'll find a kindred spirit in Katie - I know I did. Admittedly, her fluent French and English trounce my (utter lack of) language skills, but I don't hold that against her!
Recommendation: Bored of supernatural stereotypes? Want something dark, new, and... uh... French? Read Die For Me and revel in the beautiful descriptions of winding lanes, museums, and one or two (or three...) very hunky sounding dudes. You know you want to.
The first thing that caught my interest about Wither was it’s cover – eyecatching, yet not giving away the plot, is my kind of cover paradise. Upon re...moreThe first thing that caught my interest about Wither was it’s cover – eyecatching, yet not giving away the plot, is my kind of cover paradise. Upon reading the first page, it was immediately apparent that I’d devour this book for the writing alone; it is, in a word, beautiful. Spellbinding would also do. I was pulled into the undercurrent of Wither and couldn’t escape until I’d finished it, and now I’m playing the waiting game for the second instalment in the series!
Why? Well, it’s an intriguing premise: set centuries into the future, Wither takes place in a world that is recognisable and yet alien from our own. With an utter lack of post-20s population, the world is in peril and shocking measures take place in an attempt to rectify the situation. After all, in a world where parents, even incredibly young ones, will not live to see grandchildren born, surely these shocking measures are the only way to ensure the survival of the human race?
Wither left me with a brain buzzing with questions and general ponderings on such weighty subjects as mortality, fate versus choice, and whether the human race is such a fantastic thing (aka, who are we to go against Darwin and attempt to force and prolong our survival?). I’ve been forced, by reading Wither, to take a hard look at how modern medicine has affected my own life: from eye operations as a child, life-threatening allergic reactions being stopped as a teenager, and a hefty metal plate added to hold my pelvis together almost 3 years ago when I was 21, I really connected with the questioning issue of `medical advances at any cost?`.
Recommendation: Wither is not a light read, but I think it is an important one. It manages, in a page-turningly exciting storyline, to recognise the dynamics of close-knit relationships and scrutinize an imagined future that could conceivably become a reality. I wait with baited breath for book 2 in the series!(less)
A Tale of Two Castles charts an episode in the life of Elodie, a 12 year old girl sent away by her parents to become an apprentice weaver in the flour...moreA Tale of Two Castles charts an episode in the life of Elodie, a 12 year old girl sent away by her parents to become an apprentice weaver in the flourishing town of Two Castles. Elodie doesn't take the course in life her parents have planned; she's yearned to be a mansioner (an actor) for years, learning the tricks of the trade (and much more besides!) from an old farmhand (and ex-mansioner) employed by her parents.
Twists and turns abound in this re-imagination of Puss in Boots: the well-known elements of tricksy feline and impoverished master, shape-shifting ogre, and a King with his Princess daughter looking for marriage are all present, but Gail manages to merge these factors with her imagination to create a perfectly-drawn world for this fairytale turned upside down.
Elodie is a fantastic character, lying about her age from the beginning and using her mansioning talents (along with a quick brain) throughout to get where she wants to go, even if that place is somewhere entirely different from where she imagined. Count Jonty Um, the ogre, and Masteress Meenore, the dragon whose gender is ITS own business, head a supporting cast of layered characters who act unexpectedly and quaintly in turn.
Recommendation: Surely aimed at younger teens, as in the case of Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury, A Tale of Two Castles is an enjoyable read whatever your age. You won't find smouldering passion within its pages, but there is talk of love and poison to keep the pages turning, along with one of the most dragon-y dragons I've read in a while! If you enjoy fairytales and their retellings, add this book to your list. (less)
Winterborne won me over on the first page and refused to let me go until it had finished with me. I felt literally gripped whilst reading it, to the p...moreWinterborne won me over on the first page and refused to let me go until it had finished with me. I felt literally gripped whilst reading it, to the point where my washing was almost left to take its chances on the line all night. Luckily, for the washing, I finished Winterborne before night fell. Unluckily, for me, I finished Winterborne. Now I’m left with the feeling that I’m missing out on moments with characters I’ve grown to care about. Sure, it was a whirlwind getting to know them, but I do feel like I know them now and I’m annoyed that I’m bereft of them now.
Mia Winterborne and Loie (rhymes with Joey) Bryce are not what they seem: they share a secret between them, one that stretches back to their shared birth-date and is added to when Loie’s parents die and Mia’s father disappears when the girls are 5 years old. The bond they share goes further than friendship; they are as close as sisters, but Loie accepts that Mia is special, a princess to be adored, and so they don’t clash the way sisters are prone to when each has a mind and agenda of their own.
Not to say that either Mia or Loie is mindless, far from it! On the brink of turning 17, both girls are aware of their futures: Loie is working hard to get scholarship-worthy grades for college, her ticket out of small-town living, and Mia is readying herself for her destiny. Imagine Buffy (the Vampire Slayer) knew she’d become The Chosen One and had the time to prepare for her calling, how much more hardcore would she have been in season 1 (especially if Willow had picked up on her Wicca vibe, too… but I digress!)? Mia knows something special is coming to her on her 17th birthday, and she’s well-equipped to deal with it thanks to her loyal sidekick, Loie.
When trouble comes, it brings a party of friends. There’s death, daggers, and dances on one side and Mia, Loie, and the newly-arrived Andreas (an Englishman, and a decidedly gorgeous one at that!) to oppose them with more than a drop of teenage flair and angst. I highlighted only a few lines, eyebrow raised: I’m English and I’ve never heard a boy refer to his swimming trunks as a swimming costume before (!) … but, actually, the part about English people assuming cheerleaders etc. was spot on, especially for people like me for whom Buffy the Vampire Slayer and reruns of Saved by the Bell are wholly responsible for views of American high schools!
Recommendation: I can’t recommend this book strongly enough. I’m amazed that this is a self-published title: the writing is sharp and witty, the characters immediately believable, and the world by turns recognisable and threateningly alien. If you get your hands on a copy of Winterborne, you won’t regret it. (less)
High-points: Great story idea, new take on an old and well known tale, interesting world created, beautiful prose.
Hell-pits: Chapters names confusingl...moreHigh-points: Great story idea, new take on an old and well known tale, interesting world created, beautiful prose.
Hell-pits: Chapters names confusingly long (unnecessary, in my opinion), important world information only released when it came up in conversation making it seem forced.
Mini-review: Rumpel is told from many different points of view, which was at times confusing. It is set in the kingdom of Rodavlas, with threatened war from the kindgom of Niaps, in a world where you might be born with such an extraordinary gift that even in death you are chased, as a spirit.
I engaged with Rumpel (aka the troll, Rumpelstiltskin) far more than with any other character (with the possible exception of Boris, a Niapsan searcher). The names of the characters seemed odd: trolls had long names, yes, but humans had no uniformity about them and ranged from Elizabeth to Luna in one family.
The idea for this story is excellent, the writing descriptive and beautiful, but sometimes it felt as if it wasn't the story that gave the reader the information on how the world was built... information was instead spoon-fed out in an odd way (e.g. information on the mythical creatures, who was what and what each could do). Overall, I was impressed with the standard of this novel and would be very interested to read the rest of the series. (less)
Brightly Woven is just my kind of thing. Impending war, epic journey, magic that is not understood by all, main character has interesting talent (weav...moreBrightly Woven is just my kind of thing. Impending war, epic journey, magic that is not understood by all, main character has interesting talent (weaving, folks, weaving!), and main character’s love interest is not all they seem. In fact, the words, dark, brooding, and misunderstood come to mind descriptively – what’s not to like about that?
Sydelle Mirabil is an engaging female lead, although I did get slightly confused at the beginning by her rapidly veering emotions. But then, she’s 16 years old – and I do remember being 16 (it wasn’t that long ago!), and allowing for that the emotional rollercoaster makes much more sense. Wayland North, rogue wizard with more to him than at first seems possible, seems much older than 18 – and I kept imagining him as such, then getting thrown utterly whenever his youth was mentioned. The secondary characters, notably Owain (who I wish there was a book about!), were fantastically fleshed out. I really have no complaints with the characters!
Recommendation: If you’ve read Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine and enjoyed the quiet feistiness and ingenuity of Ella, you’ll get on with Sydelle just fine! And Wayland North has all the qualities of a great (and literary-crush-worthy!) male character, with his secrets upon secrets that hide his motives. Peel away his layers with Sydelle and enjoy the ride. I truly hope that Brightly Woven’s world is revisited with further novels in the (near) future!(less)
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