Hélène Louise's Blog, page 12

Sour Fruit – Eli Allison

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I was very curious about this book and haven’t been disappointed. The dystopian context is interesting and very well outlined by the story: absolutely no infodump, the immersion is immediate and the comprehension gradual.

As a result the first 20% were easy to read but I had the feeling of a nightmare. Then gradually the world begins to unfurl and clear up, till the end, where nearly all the mysteries are unraveled (we even find about Onion’s real name!), leaving just enough suspense for future developments.

The characters are quite good, the mad ones as much as the main characters, which are all likeable, despite or because of their flaws. Their psychologies are well nuanced and credible in the context, especially the heroin’ s ones. Onion is frequently rude and injust, even cruel, but the circumstances are so dire that her reactions are quite understandable, and it’s easy to feel for her.

The narration is fluid and not difficult to follow, despite the absence of chapter. I had more difficulties with the vocabulary, loading with slang (hello Kindle dictionary!) and sometimes with sentences I didn’t understand while understanding every word. But English isn’t my first language and some books can sometimes be challenging…

The story has a lot of personality and a very strong atmosphere. It’s also dark and nearly desperate and, if never gratuitous – the world imagined, in a not so far futur, is unjust and terrible – rather too oppressive for me. I appreciate my reading but the end of the book was a bit difficult. But I wasn’t surprised, I knew that this kind of story is always hard for me to swallow! And the end was great, interesting and surprising.

A very good read, with a lot of personality, a graphic atmosphere and good characters, a book I strongly recommend to any reader intrigued by its synopsis.

(I thank Netgalley an Unbound Digital for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

 

The Lord of Stariel – A.J. Lancaster

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What a delicious read! So perfect for me! Just the false-light read I’m looking for, but usually can’t find anymore these days, as romances tend to be heavy on the romance and explicit sexe to the detriment of the story, and even to characters’ development, with stereotypical protagonists.

« Lord of Stariel » is just the kind of family story I love, a mix of fantasy, feminism, romance and humour, a mix of levity and profoundness: subtle but never simplistic. A very feminine read (and I don’t mean « for girls »), which will delight readers who appreciate a classic style, beautiful and smart dialogues and an absence of clichés – or rather the presence of twisted ones!

I loved each aspect of the book, but I’ll begin with the main character, Hatty, who’s a superb feminine protagonist. She’s quite feminine and sometimes a flirt (by her own admission), but is also her own person, capable, independent and occasionally irritated by male chauvinism. It was easy to root for her since the very beginning of the story.

The setting of the story is interesting, a mix of a fifties-ish atmosphere, where magic is mundane and used in a pseudo steampunk way as an energy, fuiling classical devices (cars, elektricity,..) and sometimes as an art – but not one well-mannered and respectable ladies should persue. There is also a touch of some romantic and mysterious magic, as the link between the land of Stariel and its family members…

The main tone of the story is rather perky, humorous and good-natured, with the kind of pragmatic romanticism I particularly love (as in Jane Austen’s books, in a way). But never superficial. For instance one of the main theme is about festered family relations, how some are bound to be always difficult and even impossible, and won’t even be absolved in death. Hatty is a strong minded person, able to accept the fact that her father died before she could see him again, and that they wouldn’t have being reconciled even if she had come back home sooner.

The whole story was an easy read, clever and fun, with mysteries and revelations (some easy and exciting to guess, some others just exciting), a lovely bunch of various characters, and a pinch of romance!

I’m looking forward reading the sequences (it will be a quartet) and to buy this first book of the series in its paper version, which will soon be available: the cover is so beautiful!

(I thank Netgalley and Camberion Press for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

Worlds Seen in Passing – Irene Gallo

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I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read this anthology, as I frequently feeling lazy towards short stories: most of the time I have to make an effort to begin a new story and, for a very short one, I may be frustrated by its shortness if I liked it or disgruntled to have spent some time and efforts for nothing if I didn’t. This was the very occasion to make acquaintance with some unknown authors, to read more of others I like, or to try again with some I didn’t appreciated in the past.

It’s  very difficult to put a note down for so many stories. I chose arbitrarily 4 out of 5 (even if my own would average around 3) because with so many various stories any reader is sure to have some very good surprises in the whole. I did!

I’ve written some very brief reviews for each story to explain why I did like it, or didn’t, or didn’t and even ďidnt finish it. Here they are:

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« Six Months, Three Days” by Charlie Jane Anders: DNF 1*/5

To be honest this kind of theme doesn’t interest me much and I rarely appreciate its use as a story plot (as an exception the glorious « Spoon Benders » by  Daryl Gregory, in which it’s absolutely not the only theme). I wouldn’t have read this novella spontaneously, to be sure. But I was all for trying! Well it’s was confusing, not convincing (the characters were so nearly normal, so implausible!) and, the worse, boring. I didn’t care for the characters and wasn’t intrigued by the end, so I stopped reading.

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“Damage” by David D. Levine: 4*/5

I liked very much this story, loved the duality between what the main character knew and what it was feeling, forced by its programming. The tone is sad, melancholic and suits this heart-rending story.

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“The Best We Can” by Carrie Vaughn: 3*/5

I liked the main idea: making a story about finding the proof of extra terrestrial intelligence in a way that couldn’t make any story. The wear and tear of the situation for the main character was thoroughly and cleverly exposed. But the end was quite disappointing. I was ready for something less pseudo educational…

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“The City Born Great” by N. K. Jemisin DNF 2*/5

Well written with a strong voice but not to my liking! I was swimming in incoherent esoteric oneiric flights of fancy and was lost before to the end of the story and, consequently, stop to read. I absolutely don’t mind this kind of tale when I can find a coherent reason for it (as for instance the wonderful « Challenger deep » by  Neal Shusterman) but there it seems gratuitous, and I wasn’t touched by the…urban fantasy fairytale? and decided the novella a lost cause for me.

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“A Vector Alphabetof Interstellar Travel” by Yoon Ha Lee DNF 1*/5

I’ve read one book by the author (« Ninefox gambit ») . I rather appreciated it, even if it was very foggy (strange fantasish science, action which seemed to be happening… nowhere), because the characters were great and the story was interesting. In this novella there are no characters and no story either. It’s just a list, author’s notes, ideas… I tried to read through but finally gave up: unintelligible for the reader I am.

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“Waiting on a Bright Moon” by JY Yang 2,5 */5

I liked the writing and the atmosphere, I read this novella easily. I appreciated less the fantasy-science (magic, not science), the end, which doesn’t end anything, and the impression (maybe false but here I am) that the author used their story to make a point about feminine homosexuality. I’m all in favour of diversity in matters of love, it should be naturally broached in all stories. But in this short story this theme is central and, if beautifully expressed, over developed. The romance wasn’t very convincing, it seemed more like two people searching and finding comprehension and affection. Sweet but not dreamy!

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“Elephants and Corpses” by Kameron Hurley 5*/5

I loved everything about this story: the writing, immersive and smart, the characters who managed to be so touching in such a short time, the main idea and how it was developed, the humour, the humanity, the beautiful conclusion. I hadn’t read anything by the author, but realised that her book « The stars are legion » is in my possession, waiting to be read! It’ll be soon

Android Chronicles 1&2 – Lance Erlick

I’ve read these two first books of the series in a row (« Reborn » is the first and « Unborn » the second) and it was a very satisfying read.

The first thing to know before choosing to read the series, is that the story, if very interesting, is never riveting, nor sensational or emotional. It’s not a heart-breaking story either. But it isn’t a flaw per se! The story is actually written in a very realistic way, with a serious reflection, without any drama but thorough, about singularity, Artificial Intelligence wise. What could be the risks to be overwhelmed by Artificial Intelligences someday?

The story takes place in a near futur. Differences are few, but essential: an abundance of security recordings via cameras, miniature drones and such, and advanced androids – so advanced they could pass for humans. Could but shouldn’t, as these androids are forbidden by law. Androids are made robot-like or with at least a robotic face. Of course some secret programmes are working to perfect their own forbidden android…

Our heroine, Synthia, is one of these very rare and outlawed androids. She as been made female, and very beautiful, by an absolutely brilliant (and rather mad) scientist. She’s different from others (for a reason I can’t tell, but is very important for the story) and is trying to break free from her abusive owner. I say abusive because the reader, perceiving the story from Synthia’s point of view, quickly root for her, as they understand and admit her individuality.

Synthia’s adventures will be numerous but always in a realistic way. The manner how people (scientists, police, special forces, various powerful organisations legal or not) consider the situation is meticulously developed. And if some of them are afraid of the real possibility of androids taking over the world, annihilating or subjugating humanity, more of them want to pursue their experiences, convinced that they could manage controlling androids much smarter than any human.

The story (the two first books’ narration is quite linear) shows and explains how androids could override their programming and « want » autonomy. But our android is a wise one. She doesn’t want singularity, she believes that she was made for a human world as it is, and would have wanted to be the only one. She also wishes to be let alone, which is unacceptable: she’s to dangerous and to valuable…

If you wonder about the pronoun « she » it’s not a misuse of language but a narrative choice (actually Synthia’s so advanced in her technology that she’s able to change her appearance at will).

This story will particularly appeal to geek readers: the use of technology by Synthia, who’s able to multitask, override and hack any system, using any camera, phone or drone to monitor her ennemies’ activities and keep a head start, is very enjoyable!

I also appreciated the reflection about artificial intelligence and ownership: being up with Synthia’s thoughts the reader realises very soon that she’s her own person. But all the humans of the story (well, except two rather trouble ones who are in love with her) think that she’s nothing more than a very advanced machine, without any individuality or personality. Which should have been the case but for her mysterious difference…

Note that this series is clearly feminist. The feminine characters are numerous, clever and frequently in position of authority. There are also many examples of abuses of power by men over women and, in general, masculine characters varie from abusive and weak to bulking bullies! Alas not so fanciful to be sure… The women of the story aren’t angels at all, but are just struggling and fighting to be respected and considered.

A very good read for readers who like their reads to be food for thoughts!

(I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

Changeling (Sorcery and society – 1) – Molly Harper

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Despite some few menial flaws (probably corrected in the last update), « Changeling » was a very good read.

I appreciated that the classical themes weren’t a pretext to over broached some happy clichés. For instance, if there are two young boy, there isn’t any love triangle! (Shocking I know, one of them is just a childhood friend and nothing else). And if the heroine encounter her future nemesis at school, she doesn’t refuse her interested friendship at first: she must be very prudent and chose wisely, even if it saddens her. A very logical and coherent choice in the context.

The alternative magical school is well featured, in a rich Victorian young ladies way.  The school is quite comfortable, the young boarders are being waited on, there are rich young ladies after all! There are some Harry Potter winks, as presents publicly received by the most pampered girls, and the presence of animals, any animals in fact – the familars’ development is quite nice and fun!

All in all, the story is a very entertaining YA story, with mysteries and danger. The characters are always credible in the context – if always in a YA way -, especially the heroine’s family members. Mrs Winter’s character is particularly well done, I loved the interactions between her and Cassandra!

To conclude the author manages to keep true to her word and never err for some YA expectations sake. I admire that as an exception in this kind of rather classical story. I’ll read the sequel without any hesitation!

(I thank Netgalley and INscribe Digital for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

Time’s Children – D B Jackson

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What an excellent surprise! Time’s Children was an excellent read, intelligent, original and thorough. The book is rather long, but doesn’t show, the reading is always easy and satisfying, quite enjoyable.

I really like reading fantasy stories but can be easily disappointed. I love personality and good writing, but can’t stand thoroughly longish sadistic descriptions, so frequently used to create some kind of dramatic? serious? adult? atmosphere. Young adult fantasy can be great but is often (and more and more so I’m afraid) monotonous and stereotypical, cliched even. For these reasons I’m always really happy to read some good fantasy, which qualifies as « adult », but could be read by a teenager or a sensitive adult (who don’t care having over stressful readings, as l). For instance Brandon Sanderson’s or Patricia Briggs’ works do the trick for me! Some parts of their stories may be terrible, but their author never dwells unhealthily over them.

Time’s children was perfect in this way. Tobias’ life isn’t easy and gets on being harder and harder! Still, I could read and appreciate the story comfortably (actually I skimmed through a very small passage, just one).

Before starting this book you should know that it isn’t a stand alone. Not quite a surprise with this genre, for surem but never said explicitly (it seems the new fashion, I don’t appreciate this method much, to be honest). Probably a trilogy, who knows?

Anyway, I was quite happy to read the book which was a lovely surprise!

The main character, Tobias is very likeable; his choices speak for him. The narration was always logical, credible, Tobias’ decisions were always coherent regarding his background and personality. The magic was great: interesting and developed with a creditable rigour, which I applaud. Tobias’ magic makes possible for him to come back in the past (in a way rather similar as Hermiome’s Time Turner). But nothing is easy or comfortable, and the worst point is probably that each travel makes you older. If you come back a month ago, then come back to your own time, you’ll be two months older: this particular magic has a cost.

I’m always reticent about time travel: thinking about it is always difficult, impossible even. Most stories over simplify or at the contrary over complicates the thematics. In Time’s Children, the idea was used with care, elaborating an uchronia along. Clever, entertaining and clear! An accomplishment.

All in all the story is very enjoyable, with good characters, credible interactions and some very good ideas, as time demons and time magic. The end isn’t frustrating, the story has met a sensitive point, and can be suspended for a while. I’ll be really happy to read the sequel, which isn’t so frequent for me nowadays: even if I’ve liked a story, I rarely continue the series. A book must have personality, originality, and good writing, with endearing characters, to make me reading the sequel.

To conclude « Time’s Children » is a solid, intelligent and over the top fantasy,  which will, I hope, meet its readers!

(I thank Netgalley and Angry Robot for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

The Confectioner’s Guild – Claire Luana

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My first impressions were very good, I was enthusiastic and ready for a very good read. The ebook I received is lovely, with two beautiful maps and very soigné chapters’ font. Alas I became quickly disillusioned…

The good points were plentiful: a classic setting but an original and fascinating magic. This aspect I loved. The whole pseudo Harry Potter situation was nice, too: a young girl discovering that she has some incredible magic, a best kept secret between some happy few, a young girl who makes friends, enemies, learns about a world she had never dreamed off… Quite undearing.

But I couldn’t cope with all the improbability and stopped reading at the half.

You can’t (or shouldn’t be able to) write a pleasant story of a girl leaving a brand new life, with all its niceties and little pleasures (testing delicious food, bantering with a spirited affectionate sexy young male, being flustered by another one, wearing brand new dresses, chatting with a bestie) if the girl is about to be torture to death in two weeks for a crime she hasn’t commited. And it’s not as she doesn’t think about it. She actually thinks about it all the time. But like one would think about missing an important exam, or being expelled, or being exiled. I don’t believe one minute that someone could lead such a normal existence with such a horrific possible end hanging above their head. She shouldn’t be able to sleep, to eat, to live properly. She should be scare to death all the time !

Well, it’s the so classic error of Young Adult’s books, which want to mix some tragic and dark fate with some modern (high school caricature) story. And the reason I appreciate less and less last YA publications…

The heroine’s psychology is all around improbable, she doesn’t exist as a person, restricted to a two dimensional character. Born very poor, has lived on a streets as a child before being rescued by a confectioner who has kept her working like a well-kept slave, she still behaves like a modernish sixteen-year-old. It’s supposed to be comfortable for the reader, I guess, but for me it seemed very silly and keeps me from enjoying the story…

An another point is dramatically stupid, I’m sorry to say: since the beginning of the book the heroine is helped by a nice police officer who understands that she’s accused of a murder without any proof or even common sense. He has all the reasons to find the murderer. He asks her to take pains to find any clue useful for the investigation. Unusual but why not. But nothing is ever done properly! The heroine, some days later, suddenly think to go and ask who has purchased the fatal cupcakes. Yes, because seemingly the police officer hadn’t think about that himself!! It’s not the only example but the most offensive.

It’s shame because this story had many qualities and could have been a nice if not unforgettable read.

Still, if I you don’t mind logical flaws in a book, as much for characters’ psychologies as for plot devices, and if the book’s presentation appeals to you, you’ll probably enjoyed this book, which isn’t lacking in personality for all its classical YA themes.

It ends with us – Colleen Hoover

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It’s not a bad read by no means, but I’m afraid I can’t enjoy this kind of story anymore. I stopped at the half. A mix of good things, authenticity and good dialogues, but also clichés and stereotypes – I don’t have the patience nowadays.

(Ah. Sexe scenes bore me to death too ^-^)

The best parts were those from the past. A sad story and one the author seems to know well, reading her first note. But if some points are very precise and coherent, some others are off-handly: people who speak so naturally just after meeting for the first time (Lily and Ryle but also Lily and his sister), Lily’s flowers which seem to magically appear in her shop, business which takes off like a rocket (of course), the unbearably stupid love story of Ryle’s sister and her husband, etc.

Why clever writers so rarely take pains to be perfectionist with their stories which happen to be also romances? Because no one cares but me? Yes that’s probably the answer, I should just shut up and re (rerererere) read my Jane Austen’s and Victoria Clayton’s books ^-^

Before ending my raving review, one last point which annoyed me particularly: Ryle is (soooo) sexy because he’s a neurosurgeon. Because he saves lives? because he’s hard working and brilliant? because he’ll be rich one day?

No. Because… scrubs are sexy!!

So stupid and insulting.

By the way scrubs are used to be clean at work, not to bring back germs in the hospital. So, if Ryle put some on at home, before going at work, he’ll must change to fresh ones (sterile ones he’s a neurosurgeon!!) once in the hospital. In real live ? I guess that people who work in hospitals just put some normal and comfortable clothes to get to work.

Just to say.

The ABC murders – Agatha Christie

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This mystery was particularly interesting and arresting. I was happy to quickly have my own suspicions; but to be honest, I must have read this book a long tome ago, and if I didn’t remember one think about it, it’s probable that I was involuntary marked by the main idea at the time.

The first part wasn’t the best, Hastings annoyed me. I’m wondering about the possibility that Agatha Christie didn’t like him much at all! Quite surprising as he’s the narrator but not impossible…

The author may have amused herself by inventing a classic English man, not unkind or stupid but less clever than he believes, and frequently prejudiced – which in itself is a good proof of lack of intelligence. He’s always surprised but never humbled each time Poirot establishes his superiority of mind. He never learns from his mistakes, and keeps a high opinion about himself. His attitude towards women, if not definitely offensive, is another proof of his narrow-mindedness. There are the old and plain women, whom don’t concern him, and the young and pretty ones, whom he likes.  He never alludes to any woman possible intelligence, as Poirot frequently does. In fact, he doesn’t seems to have any use of feminine intelligence – even if he tells, in the beginning of the story,  they he left care of his home in South Africa to his wife, to come in England for a few months to settle some investments. His wife must be clever, even if he doesn’t consciously realise anything about it!

I believe that Agatha Christie liked being mean with Hastings, taking revenche, perhaps, on all men whom must have scorn her wits and abilities, or of  any woman’s, during her life…

Le goût amer de l’abîme – Neal Shusterman

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Ce roman remarquable (et je pèse mes mots) vient de paraître aux éditions Nathan. Voici quelques arguments pour vous poussez à lire – pour les bonnes raisons.

Tout d’abord si votre unique expérience de l’auteur se réduit (comme moi) à son succès français « La Faucheuse » parue chez CollectionR, ne vous attendez pas à retrouver le même type de lecture YA. Cela n’a rien à voir, ni dans les thèmes, ni dans l’ambiance, ni surtout dans l’intention.

Comme l’auteur l’explique dans la postface ce livre, qui traite de la maladie mentale chez l’adolescent, est largement autobiographique. Ce que vit le personnage et ses proches est très largement inspiré de la maladie du fils de l’auteur, désormais adulte et en bonne santé. D’ailleurs les dessins qui agrémentent le livre, sont de lui.

Je suis toujours à la recherche de romans traitant de la différence et se faisant l’apôtre de la tolérance vis-à-vis de celle-ci, quelle que soit sa nature : origines, orientation sexuelle, handicap, maladie, personnalités atypiques, etc. Cependant je suis toujours méfiante quand à l’information donnée ; si l’auteur(e) n’est pas directement concerné(e) par le sujet, des erreurs sont possibles, même avec la meilleure volonté du monde ! Je pense par un exemple au superbe et si émouvant « Je t’ai rêvé » de Francesca Zappia, que j’ai adoré mais qui renvoie une idée faussée de la schizophrénie juvénile. Bien pire encore sont les romans qui instrumentalisent une différence pour écrire un roman « à touches », qui appuiera sur les bons boutons du lecteur, l’émouvant sans aucun doute mais sans aucun souci du réalisme et dans un immense dédain des personnes réellement concernées.

Avec ce roman passionnant, fascinant et émouvant, mes attentes ont été comblées ! L’auteur a en effet puisé dans son expérience personnelle pour écrire cette histoire originale et divertissante malgré son fond si sérieux, pour nous ouvrir à la maladie mentale, en particulier chez l’adolescent.

Le roman s’articule en une double narration. D’une part nous suivons la vie quotidienne de Caden, 15 ans, alors que ce garçon brillant et sans problème, sociable et bien dans sa peau, sombre peu à peu dans la maladie. Parallèlement une histoire étrange et inquiétante nous est contée, un conte onirique à la limite de l’absurde, une quête en mer sur un vaisseau dominée par les deux personnages phares du roman, le capitaine et le perroquet.

La partie dans le monde réel durant la première moitié du livre est terrible, poignante. Âmes sensibles ne vous abstenez pas, ce n’est pas un roman pessimiste mais au contraire porteur d’espoir ! L’histoire onirique qui double la vie réelle est brillamment écrite, dans une ambiance qui rappellera les Peggie Sue de Serge Brussolo, Alice au pays des merveilles de Lewis Caroll ou peut-être plus encore ces rêves absurdes qu’on essaie de raconter au réveil, encore nourri de la conviction de leur logique parfaite.

Un des grands attraits de ce roman magistral est l’exercice de devinettes auquel le lecteur va s’adonner, à faire coïncider peu à peu les deux récits, à rechercher les symboles, à comprendre, intuitivement, les pensées errantes de Caden. Ce livre d’une fausse simplicité est formidablement bien écrit.

Nous suivons enfin la guérison de Caden, les difficiles étapes du traitement, les souffrances qu’il engendre, les immenses difficultés. Il est impossible de ne pas s’attacher à Caden, d’admirer son courage et son intelligence, sa culture et sa curiosité, sa persévérance, ses efforts à se raccrocher du bouts des doigts au réel, et surtout son amour pour sa famille, pudiquement révélé par son regard si lucide. Comme il le dit lui-même, la maladie mentale est une épreuve autant pour le malade que pour ses proches…

Un roman très fort et presque brutal mais aussi distrayant et parfois même drôle, qui réussit le tour de force d’informer sans réserve, sans rien édulcorer, tout en étant formidablement positif. Un roman incontournable pour tous ceux qui veulent mieux comprendre une maladie effrayante. Un espoir de nous montrer plus tolérants et plus ouverts !

Paru chez Nathan le 30 août 2018

408 pages – 16,95 €