Marie August's Blog, page 28

Book Review: Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars #1) By Kersten Hamilton

A wonderful new young adult, urban fantasy series based in Irish folklore

Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars #1) By Kersten Hamilton
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: November 15, 2010
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pages: 320
Source: Amazon Vine
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Sixteen-year-old Teagan "Tea" Wylltson speaks to apes in sign language while working as an intern at the Chicago zoo. She's determined to win a scholarship to a prestigious veterinary school, but in the meantime she's surrounded by fascinating people. Her father is a school librarian who loves to read aloud to his children and claims to be a descendant of Merlin. Her mother creates beautiful--and often frightening--illustrations of goblins for children's books and is an orphan who was raised by a band of Irish Travelers who immigrated to America. Tea's five-year-old brother Aiden is verbally precocious and musically gifted due to having a photographic memory, and Tea calls him a human GPS system because he never gets lost no matter where he is. Her best friend Abby claims to be psychic, has had dreams of Tea being in terrible danger, and comes from a family with ties to the Mafia.

In spite of all the quirky people around her, Tea does her best to live a normal life and stay on track with her ambitious career goals. Part of that plan is to refuse to get involved with boys, because they're nothing but a waste of time. But when handsome, charming Finn Mac Cumhaill is delivered to her family's doorstep by a social worker, in spite of herself, Tea is intensely attracted to him. Finn is part of the Irish Traveler family Tea's mother belonged to, but Tea's mother hasn't seen any of them in years. Finn has been living on the streets since he was twelve, for almost six years, and would still be there now if he hadn't broken his arm and come to the attention of the authorities when he went to the hospital.

As unsettling as Tea finds the sizzlingly mutual attraction between her and Finn, this is only the beginning of the problems that Finn brings into her life. Far from being simply a cute boy with a sexy, Irish accent, Finn is a battle-scarred warrior with a very special mission, and Tea, her mother, and her little brother are disastrously tied into it.

I absolutely loved this book! Unfortunately, it is extremely hard to talk about it without inserting spoilers into the review, but I will do my best to not go beyond the spoilers the publisher itself has used in the blurb on the book cover. This book is the first in a series called "Goblin Wars." That's a term I haven't heard much in YA urban fantasy, but in actuality, most urban fantasy authors would label the magical creatures this author is calling goblins as "fae" or "faery."

The number one thing I look for in any novel is great characters, and Kersten Hamilton massively succeeds at that. Tea and Finn's enemies are not just horrifyingly evil, as all good villains should be, but intriguing creations in their own right. And the people Tea loves are so appealing that the reader can vicariously share in Tea's gut-wrenching anguish on her family's behalf as she desperately tries to stop the goblins from harming them. Tea's mother is witty, kind and fiercely loyal to her family. Her father is adorably eccentric, and her little brother Aiden is a an absolute scene stealer. Tea's best friend Abby has a relatively small part in the story, but she provides welcome comic relief amidst all the darkness of the evil goblins.

Finn is a fabulous love interest. He's not just a good-looking, heroine-worshipping piece of the scenery in a female-centric book. He has far too much to do to just sit around adoring Tea. In addition, his personality is sharp and exciting, and the grace with which he endures the terrible hand fate has dealt him is admirable. From his initial romantic banter with Tea, all the way through the many goblin-created ordeals they face together, their growing trust of each other is built up the hard way, by risking their lives, side by side, to save Tea's family.

Tea herself is an unusual combination of beautiful nerd and courageous fighter. Though her main goals in life have been her studies and helping animals, when dangerous paranormal circumstances demand it, she's able to be as fierce a warrior in her own way in defending the people she loves as Finn. I'm also extremely grateful to the author for refraining from having Tea whine or wallow in teenage angst. She simply sees what needs to be done and gets on with it.

As for the world-building, I've encountered all the various types of magical creatures presented in this book in other YA urban fantasies, but not with the Irish-mythology twist this book gives to them. I've read only one other YA series, by Maryrose Wood, that employs Irish mythology and uses Irish characters, including a love interest who speaks in Irish brogue. However, the tone and focus here are very different from Wood's, whose books are written in first-person in a comic, chick-lit style.

There is plenty of dark, scary action in this book for those who like thrilling adventure, and there is a great deal of character development and interaction for those who love strong and compelling characters. Which, to me, is the perfect mix in a great urban fantasy read.

In a year packed with wonderful YA novels, this book is a real standout. I can't wait for the next installment! I particularly recommend this book to those who enjoyed Julie Kagawa's Iron Trilogy, and vice versa.

Heroine: 5

Subcharacters: 5

Fantasy World-Building: 5

Writing: 5

Action-Adventure Plot: 5

Romantic Sub-Plot: 5


Overall: 5

Book Review: The Pale Assassin (Pimpernelles #1) by Patricia Elliott

A beautiful young aristocrat's high adventure during the French Revolution

The Pale Assassin (Pimpernelles #1) by Patricia Elliott
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: November 2009
Publisher: Holiday House
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher's Review Copy
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Eugenie de Boncoeur is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy marquis. In spite of being an orphan, she and her brother have been well provided for and she's lived a life filled with glittering parties and gorgeous, outrageously expensive clothing. Until the moment the French Revolution breaks out. In addition to her whole way of life being destroyed, she is horrified to discover that her guardian has promised her in marriage when she turns 16 to Le Fantome, the Pale Assassin. This shadowy, evil man has had a grudge against her father for many years, because the marquis humiliated him as punishment for cheating at cards.

This is an action-adventure historical novel with a heroine in the vein of Scarlett O'Hara, though with a less compelling goal. Unlike Scarlett, she is not seeking to save her home at any cost, rather to escape her awful would-be bridegroom and the violence against aristocrats in her war-torn country. The heroine encounters spies, revolutionaries and double-crossing suitors in her frantic journey across France.

Though the heroine starts out understandably spoiled from her life of privilege, she grows across the course of the book. For teens who have never read a historical novel, or who have read and enjoyed them, this book is a satisfying journey through a deadly period of history.

Heroine:5

Subcharacters: 4

Historical World-Building: 5

Writing: 5

Action-Adventure Plot: 5


Overall: 5

Book Review: The Oracle of Dating (The Oracle of Dating #1) by Allison van Diepen

A hilarious young-adult, chick-lit novel with an adorable, matchmaking heroine

The Oracle of Dating (The Oracle of Dating #1) by Allison van Diepen
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: May 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 256
Source: Purchased
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

No one at school, not even her best friend, knows that Kayla, who is almost sixteen, is the Oracle of Dating. Kayla runs a website filled with dating tips, and for the reasonable fee of five bucks paid to her Paypal account, she gives private advice online. Kayla has been helping young women with their love lives for almost five years, but only recently for a fee. She began her career when she was only twelve, offering her much-older sister and her sister's friends dating advice. It was they who dubbed her the Oracle of Dating, their effusive praise and gratitude for Kayla's precocious wisdom ultimately inspiring her to hang out her shingle online.

All has been going swimmingly for some time with Kayla's business until the day her best friend decides to consult the Oracle. It rubs Kayla's nose in the fact that she's been keeping a huge secret from her friend, but she can't resist giving the feedback that her friend so clearly needs. Unfortunately, the advice blows up in her friend's face big time, and Kayla is right there to witness the disaster. Kayla's faith in herself as a dating expert is severely shaken. And her confidence in herself as a girl who can get a date drops precipitously, too, when she can't figure out how to connect with Jared, a gorgeous rocker who's the new boy in school. Too bad there's no one around who can give Kayla some badly needed romantic advice.

Kayla is a great heroine. She genuinely cares about people, yet is often hilariously oblivious of her limitations as a dating guru. And Jared is a great romantic lead. He's not simply handsome and sexy, but smart, talented, and observant enough to be several steps ahead of Kayla a great deal of the time in their relationship--which adds to both the comedy and the romance.

I also enjoyed the subplot with Kayla's twenty-something sister. Kayla's protectiveness towards her big sis is a great plot twist that is both humorous and touching.

I highly recommend this book to fans of chick lit and romantic comedy. For similar books by other authors, I recommend A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker, and Tina Ferraro's three romantic comedies, Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress , How to Hook a Hottie and The ABC's of Kissing Boys .

Heroine: 5

Subcharacters: 5

Writing: 5

Chick-Lit Plot: 5

Romantic Sub-Plot: 5


Overall: 5

Book Review: Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro

A cute and funny, young-adult romantic comedy

Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: March 13, 2007
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Pages: 240
Source: Library
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Nicolette Antonovich bought the prom dress of her dreams toward the end of her sophomore year when one of the cutest guys in school, Rod "Rascal" Pasqual, asked her to the prom. But her ecstasy turned to agony two days before the big event when Rascal suddenly dumped her and took his ex-girlfriend instead. Nic still cringes at the memory of that humiliating fiasco, but none of those painful emotions have affected her appreciation for her wonderful prom dress. She finds comfort and reassurance in secretly trying on the pink vintage gown, which does wonders for her slight, athletic figure, making her feel lovely and desirable--in spite of her terrible luck with boys.

As it turns out, it's fortunate Nic has something in her life that is comforting, because the problems she's facing her junior year are far worse than even the prom debacle of the previous spring. Her mother is struggling to make money as a real estate agent and the bank is about to foreclose on Nic's childhood home. Her uncaring father is too involved with his two-year-old "replacement" daughter in his new marriage to be concerned with Nic and her mom. Scandalous rumors about Nic are circulating around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team and ruin her chances for a sports scholarship for college. She's finding it hard to resist the flirting of the jerk who dumped her. And though her best friend's older brother may be the biggest hunk at her school, he's nothing but a thorn in Nic's side, constantly giving her unsolicited advice.

Nic is an adorable heroine, feisty and determined and just plain cute. The way she tries to help her mother is admirable, and her struggles with her feelings of jealousy and abandonment due to her father's divorcing her mother and starting a new family are movingly portrayed. I also found the juxtaposition of Nic's assertiveness and strong athletic talent with the conventional femininity of her love of a frilly prom dress a fascinating contrast. And her frustrating encounters with her two gorgeous romantic interests are laugh-out-loud funny.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves chick lit or romantic comedy. Tina Ferraro is fantastic at writing it, both in this book and her two other wonderful romantic comedies, How to Hook a Hottie and The ABC's of Kissing Boys .

Heroine: 5

Subcharacters: 5

Fantasy World-Building: 5

Writing: 5

Romantic-Comedy Plot: 5


Overall: 5

Book Review: Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors

A hilarious journey through the world of Romeo and Juliet

Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Pages: 272
Source: Library
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Mimi Wallingford is a 17-year-old actress from a Barrymore-type theater dynasty who longs to offload the burden of upholding her family's reputation and attend medical school in California. Instead, she's stuck taking acting jobs to help her mother pay the bills to maintain her great-grandmother's aging theater in Manhattan, and she's developed crippling, nausea-inducing stage fright. Her latest agonizing acting job is the role of Juliet in Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet . She perks up a bit when she realizes the part of Romeo will be played by teen heartthrob, Troy Summer, whom she immediately develops a crush on. But Troy makes fun of her romantic inexperience when they rehearse their first kiss scene, and Mimi is humiliated and angered. She's never dated, and she hates that this is clearly completely obvious to Troy. They are on the outs with each other from then on--until the day that a magical bit of ash from Shakespeare's burned quill catapults them into the sixteenth-century world of Romeo and Juliet.

I thought when I picked up this book it would be a time travel story, but as Mimi notices very quickly, she hasn't actually time traveled. Yes, the Verona she and Troy are transported to is filled with costumed people, many of whom smell nearly as badly as the sewage-filled streets. But these are characters from a play, not real people from an actual, historical world. Which is a big part of the magic of the story, and a huge source of comic fun.

I really enjoyed this book. Mimi is a great character. Though in the real world of Manhattan she feels overwhelmed with her family obligations, once she's in the magical world of Shakespeare's Verona, she's no longer a Wallingford. Everyone assumes because of the costume she's wearing from playing Juliet in Manhattan that she's a Capulet cousin, and she reacts in a very forceful--and comic--way to her new situation. From the minute she meets Romeo and Juliet, she's determined to stop them from the terrible mistake of committing suicide at the tender ages of 14 and 15.

For those who have read Romeo and Juliet --as most high school students are required to do--it is particularly funny seeing the twists on the story that Mimi creates as she blunders, with all good intentions, through Romeo and Juliet's lives.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good comedy, especially an original, quirky one that makes you laugh out loud.

Heroine: 5

Subcharacters: 5

Fantasy World-Building: 5

Writing: 5

Romantic-Comedy Plot: 5


Overall: 5

Book Review: The Demon Trapper’s Daughter (The Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver

Adult paranormal, dystopian novel marketed as teen fiction

The Demon Trapper’s Daughter (The Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver
Reading Level: Young Adult (17+)
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 368
Source: Amazon Vine
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Riley is an apprentice demon trapper who lives in an alternative Atlanta of 2018 in which the fabric of society has been torn apart by severe economic upheavals. As if that weren't awful enough, the world has also been invaded by demons.

Riley's mother is dead, and her father is a demon trapper saddled with bills and in an extremely dangerous profession. Riley is determined to be a demon trapper, too, and her father has reluctantly agreed to help her train as one. But when her father tragically dies leaving her an orphan, Riley's already difficult life is completely torn apart. She is forced to rely on Beck, a former apprentice of her father's. Unfortunately, she has bitterly resented Beck every since he rebuffed the adolescent crush she had on him in the past because of the age difference between them.

There are two protagonists in this paranormal, dystopian thriller set in a mythical 2018. Riley, a teenage girl, and Beck, a young man in his 20's. This setup is similar to that of another recent, adult urban fantasy marketed as a young-adult novel, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer . The latter is told from the points of view of a twenty-something hero, an eighteen-year-old heroine, and a middle-aged villain. The content of both of these books is extremely dark and "gritty" (to use a term that publishers are fond of employing for adult novels published under the label of "young adult"). There is a great deal of violence in this book and sexual situations that are adult in nature, such as references to sexual violence, mentions of sex toys, and soliciting a minor.

As an urban fantasy in general, the world-building is well done. There is a lot of action, which is always good. The heroine is passionate and driven. The co-protagonist Beck is sympathetic, and there are lots of scary villains. In short, all of the ingredients for excellent urban fantasy are there. The ending is also well done with enough loose ends to draw readers forward into a planned series of books, probably a trilogy.

All in all, a read that fans of urban fantasy will very likely enjoy, but many parents may not consider it an appropriate read for teens younger than 16 or 17.

Heroine: 4

Subcharacters: 4

Fantasy World-Building: 4

Writing: 4

Action-Adventure Plot: 4


Overall: 4

Book Review: The Demon Trapper's Daughter (The Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver

Adult paranormal, dystopian novel marketed as teen fiction

The Demon Trapper's Daughter (The Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver
Reading Level: Young Adult (17+)
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 368
Source: Amazon Vine
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Riley is an apprentice demon trapper who lives in an alternative Atlanta of 2018 in which the fabric of society has been torn apart by severe economic upheavals. As if that weren't awful enough, the world has also been invaded by demons.

Riley's mother is dead, and her father is a demon trapper saddled with bills and in an extremely dangerous profession. Riley is determined to be a demon trapper, too, and her father has reluctantly agreed to help her train as one. But when her father tragically dies leaving her an orphan, Riley's already difficult life is completely torn apart. She is forced to rely on Beck, a former apprentice of her father's. Unfortunately, she has bitterly resented Beck every since he rebuffed the adolescent crush she had on him in the past because of the age difference between them.

There are two protagonists in this paranormal, dystopian thriller set in a mythical 2018. Riley, a teenage girl, and Beck, a young man in his 20's. This setup is similar to that of another recent, adult urban fantasy marketed as a young-adult novel, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer . The latter is told from the points of view of a twenty-something hero, an eighteen-year-old heroine, and a middle-aged villain. The content of both of these books is extremely dark and "gritty" (to use a term that publishers are fond of employing for adult novels published under the label of "young adult"). There is a great deal of violence in this book and sexual situations that are adult in nature, such as references to sexual violence, mentions of sex toys, and soliciting a minor.

As an urban fantasy in general, the world-building is well done. There is a lot of action, which is always good. The heroine is passionate and driven. The co-protagonist Beck is sympathetic, and there are lots of scary villains. In short, all of the ingredients for excellent urban fantasy are there. The ending is also well done with enough loose ends to draw readers forward into a planned series of books, probably a trilogy.

All in all, a read that fans of urban fantasy will very likely enjoy, but many parents may not consider it an appropriate read for teens younger than 16 or 17.

Heroine: 4

Subcharacters: 4

Fantasy World-Building: 4

Writing: 4

Action-Adventure Plot: 4


Overall: 4

Book Review: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Adult urban fantasy marketed by the publisher as young adult fiction

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Reading Level: Young Adult (17+)
Release Date: October 12, 2010
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 352
Source: Amazon Vine
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Samhain Corvus Lacroix (Sam) is a college dropout around 20 years old who works in a fast-food restaurant with his best friend Ramon. As far as Sam knows, he's an extremely ordinary guy, until the day he runs into Douglas, an evil necromancer, who tells Sam he is a necromancer, too. Douglas is determined to train Sam in the dark art of necromancy and develop what little innate ability Douglas thinks Sam has, but Sam has no desire to train with Douglas because he's a vicious jerk. Unfortunately for Sam, Douglas refuses to take, "No," for an answer. Sam soon learns the hard way that by continuing to resist Douglas and his minions, he is putting his friends and family at risk.

This story alternates between the points of view of Sam, Douglas, an 18-year-old shapeshifter named Brid who is Sam's love interest, and Sam's mother Tia, who is a witch. The story is well-written and engrossing, and the climax is tense and exciting. As urban fantasy goes, the magic is believably presented, the main characters and supporting cast are all strongly drawn and intriguing, and this looks to be a unique and engaging series.

I only have one complaint, and it is not directed toward the author, but the publisher. It is obviously a marketing decision to get on the young adult bandwagon that has driven the publisher to label this book young adult. But it is definitely not young adult fiction. This book is filled with adult themes, and all of the characters are adults, not high-school students, as is typical and expected for young adult fiction. In addition, the author spends a great deal of time in the points of view of two middle-aged characters, one of which is the totally evil villain--another indicator that this is not young adult fiction but rather written for adults.

It is possible that teens older than the target age for YA fiction of 12-15 might well enjoy this book, but in my opinion it is questionable that the age group it is being marketed to will find the point-of-view characters relatable.

Hero: 4

Subcharacters: 4

Fantasy World-Building: 4

Writing: 4

Action-Adventure Plot: 4


Overall: 4

Book Review: The Dreamwalker’s Child by Steve Voake

Fascinating YA Fantasy with a Science-Fiction Feel

The Dreamwalker’s Child by Steve Voake
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: April 4, 2006
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Pages: 320
Source: Library
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Young teen Sam Palmer is a geeky recluse who is somewhat embarrassed by his obsession with insects. He's also amazed, and slightly freaked out, that his fascination seems to be reciprocal. Insects follow him everywhere. They never hurt him, though, until the day he sees a strange cloud of wasps, feels a sting on his neck, and blacks out. The next thing he knows, Sam is in a strange marsh in the middle of nowhere, in the dead of night, and the only living souls around him are a pack of slavering dog-like creatures out for his blood.

The action gets started in this book almost immediately, and it never stops. The story is told in alternating points of view of Sam, the leaders of two opposing militaries on the planet Sam has been swept to, and Sam's mother, who is the Dreamwalker of the book's title.

There are some truly hideous villains in this book, and Sam is knocked around brutally. He's a very strong protagonist, though, and so is the young girl who is sent to rescue him by the leader of the non-evil army. Skipper is a crack pilot of one of the most unusual flying "machines" you will ever read about in a fantasy.

There are a lot of insects in this book--the whole story is based around them. If you find the very thought of bugs repugnant, you might not enjoy this book. But since this book is primarily geared to adolescent boys, I don't think that will be a problem for them at all. I think they will love this book. The dynamic female character in the book will make it enjoyable for girls as well.

For parents: This book has no sex, drugs, or alcohol, and no bad language. It does, though, have a lot of violence. However, it is presented in such a way that I don't believe young teens will find the book overwhelmingly scary.

Hero: 5

Heroine: 5

Subcharacters: 5

Fantasy World-Building: 5

Writing: 5

Action-Adventure Plot: 5


Overall: 5

Book Review: The Dreamwalker's Child by Steve Voake

Fascinating YA Fantasy with a Science-Fiction Feel

The Dreamwalker's Child by Steve Voake
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: April 4, 2006
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Pages: 320
Source: Library
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Young teen Sam Palmer is a geeky recluse who is somewhat embarrassed by his obsession with insects. He's also amazed, and slightly freaked out, that his fascination seems to be reciprocal. Insects follow him everywhere. They never hurt him, though, until the day he sees a strange cloud of wasps, feels a sting on his neck, and blacks out. The next thing he knows, Sam is in a strange marsh in the middle of nowhere, in the dead of night, and the only living souls around him are a pack of slavering dog-like creatures out for his blood.

The action gets started in this book almost immediately, and it never stops. The story is told in alternating points of view of Sam, the leaders of two opposing militaries on the planet Sam has been swept to, and Sam's mother, who is the Dreamwalker of the book's title.

There are some truly hideous villains in this book, and Sam is knocked around brutally. He's a very strong protagonist, though, and so is the young girl who is sent to rescue him by the leader of the non-evil army. Skipper is a crack pilot of one of the most unusual flying "machines" you will ever read about in a fantasy.

There are a lot of insects in this book--the whole story is based around them. If you find the very thought of bugs repugnant, you might not enjoy this book. But since this book is primarily geared to adolescent boys, I don't think that will be a problem for them at all. I think they will love this book. The dynamic female character in the book will make it enjoyable for girls as well.

For parents: This book has no sex, drugs, or alcohol, and no bad language. It does, though, have a lot of violence. However, it is presented in such a way that I don't believe young teens will find the book overwhelmingly scary.

Hero: 5

Heroine: 5

Subcharacters: 5

Fantasy World-Building: 5

Writing: 5

Action-Adventure Plot: 5


Overall: 5