Katherine Harbour's Blog, page 9

Working on Yet Another New Story

So I haven't been posting reviews for a while and I've a lot to catch up on. I've been working hard on a new book about a girl (in a world inspired by revolutionary America,) who has to flee into a forest haunted by wytches and devils, her only companions a shady hunter and three boys from the neighboring Foxwaithe Reform School. It's called Tattersleeves.

I'll be returning to posting reviews about the fantastic books I've been reading:)

Meanwhile, here's a list of books I'm looking forward to:

Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Berube
Never Contented Things by Sarah Porter
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

Wild Reckless by Ginger Scott

Wild Reckless
Kensington's parents are on the verge of separating and she has to begin a new life as a high school senior in the almost-country setting of Woodstock. She immediately makes friends with the band kids, but an enemy of Owen Harper, the school's bad boy--who also happens to be her neighbor.
Wild Reckless is a story of that first passionate love, no matter how dangerous, and scattered with perfect little details of high school life. Owen has a tragic back story which explains his behavior, and Kensington is also experiencing an upheaval in her life.This gives them an authentic reason to bond.
A high school story glittering with atmospheric detail, about two people who find refuge in each other during sorrow, this was a perfect summer read.

Everless by Sara Holland

Everless
In a land where time itself is currency, Jules must return to the dangerous castle in which she was raised. She does so, as a servant. The Gerling family are the castle's aristocracy and Jules, as a child, once played with the youngest son, Roan. The oldest son, Liam, however, she recalls as cruel and callous.
Then the ruthless queen and her ward, a girl named Ina Gold, arrive, and bring with them another mystery. Jules has to learn how to maneuver through lethal court machinations to discover a secret from her past.
With its unusual feudal system and strange mythology of an Alchemist and a Sorceress at odds, Everless is an elegant dark fairy tale, with characters who surprise at every turn of the page.

The Girl From the Other Side by Nagabe

The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, A Rún, Volume 1
A manga set in a somber world of outsider and humans. A little girl named Shiva and her beastly, Victorian-garbed protector, who is named Teacher, live in the forest. The outsiders are different, and dangerous, as their touch can transform a human into something Other--Teacher was once human. He rescued Shiva from ruthless human hunters set on destroying anything different. It's a lovely tale, the artwork conveying the delicate and touching relationship between a misunderstood creature and a brave and curious child.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince
Jude and Taryn, twin sisters, have a tragic beginning to their story, and a family history to match. As children, they're taken to live with the faery folk. The theme of being an outsider is cleverly done, and Jude is an anguished protagonist who experiences some horrific things that turn her into an intriguing anti-hero. It's a suspenseful journey through the perils of Faerie and family, The title may not refer to the elf prince who makes Jude's life miserable. Loved this poignant, darkly enchanting tale.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

The Rules of Magic
Set in the 60s and a prequel to Practical Magic, this novel can be read as a standalone. Franny, Jet, and Vincent are raised by distant parents. After tragedy strikes,they must survive on their own in New York City. Their ancestry--they are all witches--has given them rules they must follow to avoid trouble. And there is a curse that has to do with love and the danger the siblings pose to anyone they fall in love with. With an atmosphere of magic realism, this is a fairy tale about three siblings who are determined to live their own way. There's a lovely twist ending that I didn't see coming. The theme, despite the anguish it conveys, is that one must love often and love more. I wanted to follow the characters everywhere and of course I want a movie.

The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke

The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures
I love weird books on folklore. This book fits that category. Written by the host of the podcast Lore, it's filled with stories about the origins of monsters from antiquity and urban legend. Vampires, werewolves, the Jersey Devil, and hauntings are covered. Told with a skeptic's sense of a humor and a well-you-never-know detail, some of the tales are familiar, some I've never heard. Like the constable who came upon 100 vampire-hunting children in a 1950s Glasgow cemetery, or Detroit's sinister Red Dwarf, or a Youtube video of a Lithuanian hiker's encounter with a strange creature in a pool of water. I didn't want this book to end, it was so entertaining.

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray
This dark fantasy is set in an alternative London haunted by creatures called wychkin that embody legendary nightmares such as cradlejacks and the monstrous Rawhead. And a serial killer called Stitchface also prowls the streets.
Nathaniel Fox is a young Wychhunter practiced in the skill of destroying these creatures. Cathalin Bennet, his former mentor, is a young woman who is now his partner. When Thaniel rescues a strange girl named Alaizabel, he and Cathalin discover an apocalyptic plot by a secret society called the Fraternity. And Alaizabel is far more dangerous than her innocent facade implies.
With its vivid rendering of Victorian London and unique cast of characters, this is one of my favorite YA Gothic reads.

Something Red by Douglas Nicholas

Something Red
A group of travelers in 13th century England have their journey take a dark turn when they sense something following--something that tears apart animals and people. Everything is seen through the eyes of Hob, the thirteen-year-old boy who considers the travelers his family. The regal silver-haired leader Molly and her granddaughter might be royalty and witches in Ireland. Jack is Molly's lover and a veteran of the crusades. Everyone has a secret. Soon, the travelers meet a band of gentrified pilgrims escorting an elderly aristocratic lady, and they all become allies against the beast that follows them.
The tale is filled with rich historical detail, intriguing characters, and a mystery that descends into horror when they seek asylum at a castle (plus those delicious secrets some of the characters hide). The ending is a terrifying revelation.

All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

All the Crooked Saints
Set in Colorado in the early sixties, this is the story of the Soria family. Its younger members--sixteen-year-old Joaquin, eighteen-year-old Beatrice, and nineteen-year-old Daniel--aspire to different things. But Daniel is a saint who can perform miracles.
The miracles manifest in strange ways and the pilgrims who come for them often suffer an odd transformation that won't vanish until they reach some sort of catharsis. Joaquin and Beatrice run a pirate radio station. Beatrice believes she's cold-hearted even after meeting a sweet boy named Pete, who comes to work at the Soria ranch. There are striking characters, such as a girl in a constant veil of rain and a bridal gown covered with live butterflies, and I found the magic realism haunting. As the Soria family's fantastical history unfolds, one of them is placed in peril and must be saved by a miracle. More of a fable than a plot-driven narrative, this story is for fans of Isabel Allende, Francesca Lia Block, and Alice Hoffman.