Gretchen C. Hohmeyer's Blog, page 46

ARC Review: “Annabeth Neverending” by Leyla Kader Dahm

Annabeth Neverending by Leyla Kader Dahm

Goodreads | Amazon

At first, teenager Annabeth Prescott thinks she’s found quite a deal when she talks down the price of an ankh pendant she discovers at a flea market. She soon wonders if the bauble is more than she’s bargained for when she faints and glimpses images from a past life in ancient Egypt.

The discovery coincides with another new find: Gabriel, a handsome young man who takes an interest in her. When she meets his twin brother C. J. at a Halloween party, she realizes they look exactly like two boys who figure prominently into her memories.

Does C. J. share the heroic qualities held by his past incarnation Sethe, her bodyguard when she was Princess Ana? Does Gabriel possess the same evil powers he wielded as Kha, the black sorcerer who sought her affection?

Love meets the supernatural in this gripping young adult paranormal romance. Readers with an interest in reincarnation, as well as ancient Egypt, will be drawn to its mystical mixture of history and hesitation as Annabeth sways between the two brothers.

Will her reincarnated soulmate win out? Or will Kha finally find the way to her heart?

Two and a half stars

Thanks to Leyla and NetGalley for this free review copy! Annabeth Neverending is available for purchase now.

Full disclosure: I read this book while recovering from wisdom teeth removal. However, I still don’t think that that impacts just how rough the first part of this book was. The romance–and the way Annabeth talks about the romance–was sometimes uncomfortable. While it began to redeem itself in the middle, the ending was also weirdly rushed. Still, I picked it up because I will read anything vaguely related to Ancient Egypt, and that’s most of what kept me going.

Like I said, the book starts off really weirdly. You spend the first chapter with Annabeth and this old lady named Ms. Lansing at a flea market, and you learn a bunch more about how fleas work then you probably ever cared to know. Annabeth finds the ankh at a stand because it calls to her, she buys it, and then immediately starts having visions about her past life. When she does this, she faints, being rescued from smashing her head against concrete by Gabriel. He immediately asks her out and she accepts. (Also, random moments of slut shaming.)

Gabriel doesn’t immediately appear in her Ancient Egyptian visions. Instead, there she is Princess Ana who is in love with her slave body guard, Sethe. Sethe looks nothing like Gabriel, but Anna decides that the past is the past and the future is the future–and that is that. Honestly, though, it’s weird how quickly Anna jumps to thinking about herself as reincarnated, and how easily she talks about it to Ms. Lansing who automatically believes her. Neither of them question it for a second, which–frankly–seemed completely unrealistic to me.

Then come the wrinkles in the story. The flashbacks begin causing seizures, which alert Anna’s parents that something is wrong. Then–surprise!–Gabriel’s twin brother CJ shows up, and he looks exactly like Sethe. And it turns out the Gabriel is the incarnation of the black sorcerer Kha, who tried to force Ana to marry him in a past life. Present Anna wants to be with present Gabriel, but she can’t forget the past and she feels drawn to CJ because of their connection as Ana and Sethe.

Now here’s where things get even weirder. At one point, Anna’s best friend suggests that she juggle both brothers, and Anna says that that sounds like an okay idea. She keeps having sexy thoughts about Gabriel, but goes on dating CJ. When CJ’s behavior starts getting a little odd, she forgives him because of the person Sethe was. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the bottom line is that the way that Anna talked about the love triangle, and the way that it was presented, made me feel a bit uncomfortable at times.

However, the middle-end of the book really did some great work in redeeming the book from an unforgivable place. It becomes clear that Leyla is really trying to create a more complicated plot that I had thought, and also that there is something very important being said about the nature of love triangles and the romance trope of reincarnation. I appreciated that, given the way that I, personally, feel about both tropes.However, since the writing wasn’t the strongest to begin with, and I was already kind of weirded out by everything that was going on, it didn’t impress me the way that it could have.

I did, however, really enjoy the flashback sequences and the Ancient Egyptian history that got thrown in. I will read ANYTHING that has to do with Ancient Egypt, and it was clear that Leyla really did her research into the time period. The characters and plot might not have been the best, but in this the writing was quite strong and enjoyable for me.

The ending tried to present an action filled twist that I mostly saw coming (except for the cat. The cat really got me). I think I might have enjoyed it more if it hadn’t been so rushed. Again, no spoilers, but the whole situation just flip flops so fast that I got some very uncomfortable whiplash that ended up feeling more cliche than anything else. It seemed to be set up for a sequel, but it also could just have ended there, which made the ending weirdly unsatisfying.

All in all, if you’re REALLY feeling a yen for something connected to Ancient Egypt, you might be able to put aside what the writing lacks to enjoy a few moments in the ancient world. However, you have to be ready to get past the beginning, which is really rough. If you can get past that beginning, you’ll be rewarded with some good ideas, even if they aren’t presented with the strongest writing. Leyla clearly has a lot of potential as an author, and I’m sure that the sequel–if there is one–will improve upon that.

Betwixt the Books Reads! Fairy Tale Retellings

Hey guys! Once again, bringing you a new feature: Betwixt the Books Reads! This is a series of mini-reviews under a particular theme, like this one and fairy tale retellings! Michaela and I have each chosen four books each based on a wide variety of fairy tales from Snow White to Alice in Wonderland. I know I got some books that I wanted to read just from listening to Michaela’s four picks, so I hope you enjoy watching!

Worth it Wednesdays: “Pushing the Limits” by Katie McGarry

Worth It Wednesdays is a weekly post where I feature my favorite YA titles. Find out more about it here!

Title: Pushing the Limits

Author: Katie McGarry

Goodreads Description: So wrong for each other …and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with “freaky” scars on her arms. Even Echo can’t remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo’s world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she’ll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Why it’s worth it: I got Pushing the Limits as an ARC back in 2012, and I still can’t tell you why I requested it in the first place. I don’t like contemporary YA romances, as a rule. They all seem the same to me, and I get bored easily.

I’M SO GLAD THAT I DID THOUGH, because this book is such a stand out.

I think the best thing about Pushing the Limits is that it isn’t just a love story. I mean, it certainly is a romance–and a really, really good one–but it also takes the time to give Noah and Echo lives outside of their romance–really, really 3D lives. They’re both struggling through real, serious struggles in their own, individual lives, each of which could have been a singular novel on their own. But then their stories twine together, and they fall in love and give each other strength while doing so.

One thing that always irks me in YA contemporary romance is that there is usually one person in the romance (typically the girl, but not always) who is having the struggle, and then the other one comes in at exactly the right time to be their hero. Or, worse, they both have very shallow struggles going on that take a backseat to some kind of star-crossed love. In my ARC review of Pushing the Limits, I wrote that it was actually NOAH’S finale that made me tear up, as opposed to Echo’s, which NEVER happens to me. I usually identify with the girl more, and usually the guys are really trite besides. Noah and Echo are both important, integral and real parts of the story–something I have rarely found outside of Katie’s books.

I did also review the second book in this series, Dare You To, on my blog, but I read the whole series and loved every one. Sure, I didn’t really have the intense, visceral reaction that I did to Pushing the Limits, but that doesn’t make the whole series any less worth it.

Read it if you’re looking for: contemporary romance that isn’t cliche, books dealing with serious topics, love that isn’t insta-love, realistic romance, a tear jerker, swoon worthy leads

Betwixt the Books Discusses: Spoilers!

Michaela and I bring you this week’s Betwixt the Books video LIVE in an effort to create more content where we actually get to talk to you guys! If you want in on the discussion (even after the video is recorded), feel free to use the hashtag #btbspoilers and tweet at us!

This time around, we’re discussing our relationship to spoilers, how we feel about them–and I even share something about my reading habits that I’ve never told a soul before…

I Have Done the Unthinkable (or, My First TBR)

From the Notebook videos are taking a break this week because I had to get my wisdom teeth out. Therefore, I’ve made a super crazy post for you guys!

If you’ve read My Life is a Notebook for any length of time, then you know that I don’t read widely. I like YA. I’m fine reading mostly YA. I do read other things but only when I really want to.

But as you may also know, I recently made a bookish resolution to do the Pop Sugar 2016 Reading Challenge with Michaela and … ooh boy. There are 40 categories on this list, and to save myself I’ve overlapped a few. Sorry. Reading is hard for me at school.

Below is my VERY TENTATIVE reading TBR for the challenge. I‘ve also made a bookshelf on Goodreads for it. Asterisks (*) mean books that me and Michaela will both be reading! Don’t miss Michaela’s own TBR for this challenge!

A book based on a fairy tale

2. A National Book Award Winner

3. A book that’s more than 600 pages

4. A book you haven’t read since high school & a book sent in your home state*

5. A book translated into English*

6. A romance set in the future*

7. A book set in Europe

8. A book that’s under 150 pages & a book of poetry

9. A book that’s becoming a movie this year & a political memoir

10. A book recommended by someone you just met

11. A self-improvement book & a book written by a celebrity

12. A book at least 100 years older than me

13. A book from Oprah’s book club*

14. A science fiction novel & a classic from the 20th century

15. A book that’s published in 2016

16. A book and it’s prequel (multiple prequels, in my case)

17. A murder mystery

18. A book written by a comedian

19. An autobiography

20. A book about a road trip

21. A book about a culture that you’re unfamiliar with

22. A satirical book*

23. A book that takes place on an island*

24. A book guaranteed to bring you joy

25. A dystopian

26. A New York Times Bestseller*

This is hardly a complete list, but some of the other categories are going to take either some work for me (like a graphic novel) or are really easy and will naturally happen (like a book with a blue cover) or can’t be assigned right now (like first book you see in a bookstore). I’ll update my Goodreads TBR as I go!

God, this is going to be an interesting challenge.

Weekly Wrap Up + What We Read 1/17/16

Betwixt the Books is back with another weekly wrap up, plus what we read this week! As an added bonus, I look like a very sad and botoxed chipmunk, since I just got my wisdom teeth out. This is a sight not to be missed, Michaela says. I say that you shouldn’t miss this video even though I look like … this. Anyways, without further ado!

Monday:

Michaela’s Monday Musing on Learning Languages on Your Own
Gretchen’s Top 5 Disappointing Reads of 2015

Tuesday:

Michaela’s 30 Seconds to Disagree on Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore
Gretchen’s 30 Seconds to Disagree on First Test by Tamora Pierce

Wednesday:

Gretchen’s Worth It Wednesday with Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Michaela’s review of Southern Bastards Vol 2.

Thursday:

Gretchen’s Thesis Thursday about BIG NERDY NEWS

Friday

Michaela’s review of Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Gretchen’s review of The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Saturday

Betwixt the Books’ first Book Haul
Bibliomancy for Beginners: The Magician King by Lev Grossman

Bibliomancy for Beginners Special: “The Magician King” by Lev Grossman

IT’S FINALLY HERE! As you guys may know, last year for our New Year’s Special, Bibliomancy for Beginners did a hangout for Lev Grossman’s The Magicians. Then, in our 2015 wrap up, Michaela and I both agreed that the hangout was one of our favorites of the year. All three of us thought that we had such a great discussion, and were so interested/annoyed/intrigued/confused by the series as a whole, that we unanimously decided to do ANOTHER January special on the follow up to The Magicians, The Magician King.

Now, I don’t want to give anything away, but I’ll give you a hint of what do expect: the emotions, issues, and feelings from that first video? They’ve increased EXPONENTIALLY in this one. Get ready for one hell of a ride as bibliomancy begins!

Our First Book Haul! – Betwixt the Books

Look at us, pretending that we’re real readers and reviewers. That’s right, Betwixt the Books is bringing you our very first book haul, replete with ARCs and uncontrollable book buying sprees.

Also, I just got my wisdom teeth out so it’s a kind of painful thing to watch but Michaela says I look like an adorable chipmunk. Tell me who’s right in the comments!

One last thing! IF you watch all the way to the end, you’ll get an exclusive sneak peek into what is coming up on the Betwixt the Books and Bibliomancy for Beginners calendar!

Review: “The Orphan Queen” by Jodi Meadows

The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows

Goodreads | Amazon

Published March 10, 2015, by Katherine Tegen Books

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.

Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

Three and a half stars

I’m not sure I’ve ever been this conflicted about a rating before. For sure, this rating would not go any lower. However, the conflict comes from whether or not is should be higher. I’m not sure. Let me explain.

The main character of this novel, Wil, is no lost princess who needs to be rescued. After losing her kingdom–and her parents–to a one night “war” with a neighboring kingdom, Wil and all the other orphaned nobles she could find have been training in secret as “The Ospreys” to take back their kingdom. They can pick pockets, forge signatures and fight with the best of them. They have infiltrated the Indigo Kingdom to take back their country.

This is hardly their only fight, however, wraith–the deadly end product of magic use–is threatening to take over the land. So far, there is nothing that can stop it. In the meantime, magic has been outlawed and practitioners are killed on sight. Wil is not only a lost princess and a thief, but also a magic user. She stands to be thrice killed if she’s ever discovered. Even so, she and her best friend infiltrate the castle to find information vital to their efforts to regain their kingdom, posing as noble women even as Wil escapes each night to fight crime–helped and hindered by the vigilante, Black Knife.

As you can tell, this book hardly ever sits still. Wil is always doing something, trying to help someone, or engaged in some kind of fight–physical or verbal. I sat down and read this book in one sitting because there was literally no way to put it down. Even on a re-read. The plot itself is A+, from beginning to end–ESPECIALLY THE END. So fast-paced and magical. I loved it.

Wil herself is the kind of girl that I like to read about. Mostly. (More on that in a minute.) She relies on her own abilities–of which there are many–and doesn’t need anyone else to save her. She gets annoyed when people try. At the same time, she struggles with trying to be the future queen and leader that the Ospreys need her to be, especially when pushed up against the Ospreys de facto leader, Patrick, who is the son of a great general. Her heart is in the right place, but her confidence in herself needs work. I like the mix a lot.

The other characters in the novel are kind of one dimensional to me, which is frustrating. Wil’s best friend, for example, mostly exists as a go between/foil for Wil and Patrick, and Patrick himself is pretty “going to do whatever it takes no matter what” and fairly emotionless. The only character of real interest to me (who is not introduced in the final act of the novel) is Black Knife, but his identity was easy to guess and I got annoyed with how long it took Wil to figure it out.

The world, itself, is where a majority of my love/hate relationship with this book comes from. On the one hand, the idea of wraith being the by-product of magic is fantastic and I love it. The global-sense of this world is also done really well, even though the book is set in only the capital of the Indigo Kingdom. However, there are too many things related to Wil’s magic that are brushed aside with “Well, I don’t know how I did it but I did it so moving on.” I can’t go into detail without spoiling, but let’s just say that it felt like some things within the world were being made up to convenience the plot without much to back it up. Now, I understand that these are questions that will (hopefully) be answered in the next (and last) book, but it just made things feel … too easy and simple. This is one place where I’m conflicted, because I know that these questions are being set up to be answered, but the way they were written bothered me even if I can’t put my finger on why. I just had to factor that into my rating.

Note that I have yet to mention the romance, which is weird for me. I know. That’s because I’m actually okay with how Wil’s romance went, and how it was dealt with in the end of the book. I don’t think that the next book will end with anything less than a happy ending, but I can dream that Meadows will take the anti-cliche situation that she’s set up and develop it out into the sunset. God, I can dream.

The biggest conflict for me, however, is how the character growth goes at the end of the novel. I’m not going to spoil anything, but … I’m still thinking long and hard about whether or not I even like the direction that Wil takes. On the one hand, I can’t really see her character having done much of anything else. On the other, I felt like a lot of her badass agency disappeared. The end of the book certainly set that up to change back to a more kickass version of Wil, but I can’t prove that until I get my hands onto The Mirror King (out in April) so right now I’m just … conflicted.

While I certainly didn’t have the “WOWZA” moment with The Orphan Queen that I had with Meadows’ debut, Incarnate, I still really enjoyed this novel. It is quite possible that I will up my star rating after I get my hands onto The Mirror King. If you’re on the fence about reading this book right now, I’d say that you definitely should it if seems interesting to you, and then get back to me on what you think!

Thesis Thursdays: BIG NERDY NEWS

Thesis Thursdays is a weekly(ish) feature where I rant, love and talk about young adult books I’m reading because I’m conning my college into thinking this is all for academia! Find out more here!

Alright, if we’re being honest this news might not mean as much to you as it means to me. But go into this knowing that THIS MEANS A LOT TO ME, GUYS:

MY ENGLISH THESIS WAS ACCEPTED TO THE ANNUAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, allow me to quote from the ChLA website, http://www.childlitassn.org:

The Children’s Literature Association (ChLA) is a non-profit association of scholars, critics, professors, students, librarians, teachers and institutions dedicated to the academic study of literature for children. For our members, children’s literature includes books, films, and other media created for, or adopted by, children and young adults around the world, past, present, and future.

In my words, the ChLA is an association of my kind of nerd. It’s a group of people who devote huge portions of their lives (if not just their lives) to studying children’s and young adult literature because they love it. Every year in June they hold annual conference where members come together and share their current research. It’s a big deal, and you have to be accepted on the basis of your abstract (or paper summary) to be able to present.

And I’m presenting.

This, actually, makes two conferences at which I am presenting my thesis work. (You know, the one about Throne of Glass, female assassins and YA publishing that I summarized here.) The first is the Whalen Undergraduate Academic Conference, which is an Ithaca College thing for undergrads. Now that’s also really cool, but ChLA is a real, adult opportunity and I CRIED WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL.

If you watch any Bibliomancy for Beginners, you might also get a kick out the fact that Taylor and I are both presenting at both of these conference. GO US.

I’m really, really, really excited about this, guys. So excited. And so proud and so shocked and a million other emotions. I am the kind of person who gets confused when other people think I am doing something worthwhile because, well, the things I do for myself tend to be all about my passions.

I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it in June!