Book Review of "Rebel Heart" by Moira Young

Title: Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2) 
Author: Moira Young
Classification: YA Fiction, Dystopian
Source: Bought from Amazon

Overall Grade:

A-

I thought...

This book cured my sequel fatigue.

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Summary (from Goodreads): 

It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise. 

What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road, a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of danger and destiny, betrayal and passion.

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My Thoughts:

It took me a little time to get into Rebel Heart. I'll admit that lately, I've had pretty severe sequel fatigue. I'll take one look at the opening page, see the annoying rehash of events in the first book (I'm looking at you, Insurgent,) and will immediately abandon the book right there.

So basically, I'm tired of sequels.

But Rebel Heart seduced me.

Saba's narrative lured me in and even when the plot wasn't strong, even when I was itching for a certain someone to finally show up, she still kept me turning page after page.

From the cataclysmic events of Blood Red Road, it's pretty clear to see that any follow up would need to have some downtime, where the characters address the needs that were ignored during the tumult. Normally, I cringe for these moments, because they are almost always boring and done poorly.

However, I think the author tackled this well in Rebel Heart. Saba's journey throughout the novel was very different from that of Blood Red Road, but it was still compelling.

I especially enjoyed the development of one of the minor characters from Blood Red Road and can't wait to see more of that person in the last book! Saba's story in Rebel Heart was more emotional, more personal, and just as twisty and surprising as the first book in the series.

Seriously, once you get a hundred pages in, you won't be able to stop.

So for all of you guys who might have sequel fatigue like I do, don't let that stop you from starting this book!

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Overall Grade:

A-

I thought...

This book cured my sequel fatigue.

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(Full Disclosure: Any books purchased from Amazon through the links on this page will result in a small commission to me.)

Book Review of "Shatter Me" by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Classification: YA Fiction, Dystopian, Paranormal
Source: Bought

Overall Grade:

A+

Would I recommend it?

Read it or die. Read this book now!!

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

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My Thoughts:

I've waited a pretty long time to write this review. After my first read of the book, (I've read it twice now,) I'll admit, I was pretty... entranced.

Okay, obsessed.

Addicted.

This story really ensnared me. Juliette's story is so compelling, I couldn't help it. After my first read, I was convinced that it was the best book of the year (2011 at the time).

Now that I've had some time to think about it, and some time to re-read it, I think I'm now able to write a more critical review.

Seriously, if I had reviewed this book right after I read it back in 2011, it probably would have looked something like this:

HOLY HOLY HOLY HOLY CRAP THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! READ THIS BOOK. RIGHT NOW. GO BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT RIGHT THIS SECOND!!!!!!!!!! OMG JULIETTE!! OMG--ADAM! KENJI!! WARNERRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because really, this book has seriously fangirl-making powers.

While the story of Shatter Me is probably the strongest aspect of the book, the writing is what really sets it apart. The style is almost lyrical to a fault. In Juliette's voice, almost everything is made lyrical. Everything is given significance.

And when you read the story with one eye closed, your critical eye, let's say, the style works. Considering Juliette's hardships, the things she's had to go through, the writing style fits.

But with this type of narrative, when you see the seams in the story, they are incredibly obvious. The hints of foreshadowing, the planting of a recurring or overarching theme, the clumsy inclusion of backstory. These bits seem glaringly obtrusive in a narrative as overtly lyrical as Juliette's.

However. While I have overcome a good deal of my fangirl obsession with this book, there is still no way that I will miss the remaining books in this series. I pre-ordered Unravel Me almost a year ago!

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Overall Grade:

A+

Would I recommend it?

Read it or die. Read this book now!!

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Book Review of "Waterfall" by Lisa T. Bergren

Title: Waterfall (River of Time #1)
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Classification: YA Fiction, Christian, Historical Fiction
Source: Public Library

Overall Grade:

B-

I thought...

Adventure. Time travel. Romance. Sword fights.


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Summary (from Goodreads): 

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaeologist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.

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My Thoughts:

This underrated historical novel is a serious treat! Adventure, romance, sword fights, time travel, and even some court intrigue really keep you turning pages.

Gabi and her sister Lia are very unique heroines! Growing up as the daughters or archaeologists, they are very well-versed in history, old civilizations and they are even fluent in Italian. Watching Gabi adjust to life in 14th-century Italy was awesome. She is transported back 700 years in the midst of a veritable sword fight, where she meets Marcello.

... sigh. Marcello. The dreamy, steamy, Italian hottie who is skilled with a blade, with genteel manners, and maybe even a sense of humor. However, I did find Marcello's character to be almost too perfect... where are his flaws, lady? Granted, this may be because I prefer the damaged love interests to the balanced and "normal" ones... think Cole St. Clair from The Wolves of Mercy Falls series...

Gabi is an awesome protagonist! She is very independent, strong heroine who isn't afraid to literally battle for those she loves. I also enjoyed the Christian side of this novel, which is not overt in the slightest. Rather, Gabi wrestles with her idea, or lack thereof, of God as she meets the most exciting, brutal, and heartbreaking challenges of her life. By the end of the book, we definitely see a different Gabi than the girl who surprised feuding, sword fighting Italian guys in a tank top and jeans.

Perhaps because Marcello's character was lacking an unidentifiable... oomph, I felt that his relationship with Gabi was slightly contrived. But I did appreciate their flirtations, the way they grew together through extraordinary circumstances, and yes, the kissing.

The ending of the novel was a little confusing and anti-climactic for me, but it did set us up nicely for the second book in the River of Time series, titled Torrent. I can't wait to see how Gabi, Marcello, Lia and Luca's stories end!

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Overall Grade:

B-

I thought...

Adventure. Time travel. Romance. Sword fights.

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Book Review of "Catching Jordan" by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Catching Jordan
Author: Miranda Keneally
Classification: YA Fiction, Contemporary 
Source: Borrowed

Overall Grade:

C+

Would I recommend it?

An entertaining yet unrealistic contemporary!


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Summary (from Goodreads):

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

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My Thoughts:
  
I had a veritable love/hate relationship with this book. 

There were awesomely funny, sexy, and surprising moments that made me flip through the pages... only to be stopped in my tracks by a contrived situation or cheesy dialogue. 

I think that one of the major success of this book is that it showcases the life of a serious female athlete. I grew up playing high school and club volleyball my entire life, later playing at a Division I school. I liked how Kenneally portrayed Jordan as focused and driven. She took her sport seriously, almost too seriously, and she made a conscious effort to train, take care of her body, and be a good captain to her teammates. 

However, because I am often forced to listen to college football games while reading or making jewelry on Saturdays, I literally cringed every time that Jordan mentioned playing football for Alabama. The complete impossibility of this had me frustrated from the start of the novel, because while I am willing to suspend my slight disbelief that a girl can become the best quarterback in the entire state of Tennessee, there is simply no way to even hope that a girl can earn a full-ride football scholarship to play for the Crimson Tide. 

Seriously. There's no way. 

Because this novel is part of the contemporary genre, one would expect the situations in the book to be realistic... a story that people can imagine actually playing out in their own lives today or tomorrow. I think this is the reason why I ended up feeling disappointed with this book. Because the situation itself was a bit riduculous, that of Jordan actually thinking she could start at quarterback for a top-ranked football team, the dialogue between her and her teammates felt stilted and cheesy. 

However, despite this major problem I had with the book, I was pleasantly surprised by the romance story! Kenneally did a great job at keeping the relationships realistic, complicated, and surprising. Although there is a near case of insta-love between Jordan and Ty, the way that their relationship progresses is not typical of YA lit these days. And I have to say, I am very happy with how the story ended. 

That being said, I think that Catching Jordan would have been much more successful had Kenneally opted to make the sports angle of the story more believable. This would have better served the story by not turning around the general stereotype of football as a man's sport into a situation that is just as equally ridiculous and frustrating. 

All in all, an entertaining, albeit somewhat cheesy, contemporary read that will appeal to athletes and sports lovers!

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Overall Grade:

C+

Would I recommend it?

An entertaining yet unrealistic contemporary!


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Book Review of "Blood Red Road" by Moira Young

Title: Blood Red Road (Dustlands #1)
Author: Moira Young
Classification: YA Fiction, Dystopian
Source: Bought

Overall Grade:

A-

Would I recommend it?

A thrilling and surprising dystopian read!

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back. 

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

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My Thoughts:

Blood Red Road is one of the most surprising books that I have ever read. In a good way.

The novel is written in Saba's sparse, Southern-esque vernacular, which takes a little getting used to when you first start reading. However, once the story gets rolling, you hardly even notice the phonetic spelling and lack of quotation marks.

The story follows Saba, her sister Emmi, the dare-devil Jack, and other friends that they meet along the way as she hunts down her twin brother Lugh. While most dystopian novels these days are so concerned with one specific set of problems and their overall implications (The Society in Matched, for example), Blood Red Road deals with the stories of individuals within the society without spending as much time tackling the major issues.

While many readers may find this unsettling, it makes for a fantastic read, as we watch Saba become a tracker, a survivor, a warrior, and a fugitive in the course of 450 pages (that seem incredibly short, by the way.)

Just when you settle into one mode in the story, Moira Young sends you for a complete loop, guiding their characters into a new challenge. This keeps the story moving incredibly fast!

Saba as a main character is fierce, stubborn, clever, and ill-tempered most of the time. She is definitely a girl that can take care of herself, rather than the damsel-in-distress type heroines that seem to fill the pages of too many YA books today. While reading her story, you will be frustrated as her headstrong nature leads her to make rash decisions. You will cheer for her as she is thrown into surprising, terrible circumstances. You will laugh at her reactions to unexpected love and romance.

You will feel for Saba and the other characters in Blood Red Road, because they are especially well-crafted.

An unconventional, multi-faceted dystopian read that lovers of The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Hunger Games, and Under the Never Sky will enjoy immensely!

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Overall Grade:

A-

Would I recommend it?

A thrilling and surprising dystopian read!

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Book Review of "Finnikin of the Rock" by Melina Marchetta

Title: Finnikin of the Rock (Lumatere Chronicles #1)

Author: Melina Marchetta
Classification: YA Fiction, Fantasy
Source: Bought

Overall Grade: 

A+ 

Would I recommend it? 

I will not be your friend if you don't read it.


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Summary (from Goodreads):

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock—to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she'll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

In a bold departure from her acclaimed contemporary novels, Printz Medalist Melina Marchetta has crafted an epic fantasy of ancient magic, feudal intrigue, romance, and bloodshed that will rivet you from the first page.

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My Thoughts:

Amazing. This book is amazing. How amazing, you ask? Well, if your favorite YA paranormal author (Maggie Stiefvater for me) or YA contemporary author (Cath Crowley) wrote a book outside of their usual genre, would you read it? Would you read a mystery written by Walt Whitman, or J.K. Rowling's poetry?

Okay, so maybe I'm moving away from the point, because these questions provoke a whole new set of ideas which, while I would love to discuss them, are not exactly on topic.

In many of the cases above, you would most likely say NO. No, I don't want to read Stephanie Meyer's new literary fiction. No, I do not want to watch Michael Jordan play baseball. No, I do not want to buy a car made by Hewlett Packard.

But in this case, where author of contemporary young adult fiction, Melina Marchetta, creates a new fantasy novel, the results are spectacular, rather than disappointing and confusing.

This is probably because the main difference between the fantasy and contemporary genres is world building. In her contemporary work, Marchetta is great at building the world of a novel based on the characters in them, what they notice about their childhood home, whether or not they talk to the bum on the corner, what each piece of a city feels like to them.

In Finnikin of the Rock, the world building is more centered on the characters in the land of Lumatere, what happened to them, how they tell their stories, if they tell them at all, and what they must do in the future to secure their place in this imaginative world. It's like the best contemporary novel you've ever read, with sword fighting, magic, prophesies, royalty, intrigue, mystery, and a stunning romance.

While it does take a few chapters to get fully immersed in the story, and it can be difficult to imagine where each nation is located in this new world, once you are hooked, there is no turning back. You must follow Finnikin and Evanjalin to the end!

Please read this book. If not for the fantasy, which is not the strongest point of this novel, for the people of Lumatere!

PS: This novel has a redhead HERO!!

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Overall Grade: 

A+ 

Would I recommend it? 

I will not be your friend if you don't read it.

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Book Review of "Nightshade" by Andrea Cremer

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Title: Nightshade (Nightshade #1)

Author: Andrea Cremer
Classification: YA Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Bought

Overall Grade: 
B+ 
Would I read it again? 
... Maybe.
Would I recommend it? 
Yes

 

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

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My Thoughts:

 

While Nightshade was a thrilling paranormal book that I couldn't put down for the life of me, there was something about the novel that hindered my ability to enjoy it. 
 
For instance, it is no surprise to learn that there is a love triangle in this book, so I don't think that skimming over this is going to spoil the book for those who haven't read it yet! I liked the individual relationships if Calla/Shay and Calla/Ren. However, what I did not enjoy was how easily Calla switched between the two boys without a second thought about being loyal to one or the other. Sure, she feels compelled by different forces, both external and internal, to be with both of these guys, but why doesn't she try to sort out her feelings before she kisses both boys freely, without the other even knowing about it?! That was bothersome.
 
Other than this one major complaint, I enjoyed the rest of the book immensely! I think that world that Cremer created was new and interesting, as well as the mystery aspect. At first I felt confused, as the reader is simply thrown into the thick of things without an explanation of the world, but I soon grew accustomed to it and thought that it was a great way to get the story moving quickly.

All in all, this is a great paranormal read for fans of Vampire Academy and The Mortal Instruments series!

Stay tuned for my review of Wolfsbane, the 2nd book in this series that is going to be released on July 26th!

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Overall Grade: 
B+ 
Would I read it again? 
... Maybe.
Would I recommend it? 
Yes

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Series Book Review - "Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

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Spoiler Alert: This is a review of the entire Vampire Academy series and will contain slight spoilers from all of the books!

Title: Vampire Academy (series #1 - #6)

Author: Richelle Mead
Classification: YA Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Borrowed or Purchased

Overall Grade: 

B

Would I read it again? 

Probably not.

Would I recommend it? 

Yes! Paranormal romance lovers will rejoice!

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Summary of Book #1, Vampire Academy (from Goodreads):

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school; it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's; the very place where they're most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi; the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires, make Lissa one of them forever.

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My Thoughts:

When my sister first told me about Vampire Academy, I immediately checked the first book of the series out from the library. After reading about 10 pages, I decided that it wasn't my style, and abandoned it for something else in my towering stack of library books. The next time I picked it up, however, I read past the... interesting start to the novel and didn't stop until I was finished!

I read the entire series in less than a week. That's over 2,700 pages!  Yeah, it was that good. Let's just say that I shouldn't have started reading Vampire Academy over the Thanksgiving break from school... I got NO homework done whatsoever!!

Because this is a massive series review, I'm going to break down my thoughts on all 6 books into the pros and cons!

What I Loved:

• I loved the following characters: Rose, Dimitri (I heart him), Adrian, Christian, and Sydney. An honorable mention to Jill and Ambrose, as well!

• Rose was a great main character. She was a combination of just the right amounts of sass, snark, toughness, loyalty and dedication. I enjoyed watching her kick major butt, suffer through heartbreak, and grow into a fully-realized individual.

• Rose and Dimitri.... hello?! One of the best romances I've ever read, and not just in the paranormal genre. I was smitten with them in Vampire Academy (#1) and Frostbite (#2),  waiting for the sexual tension to finally amount to something. In Shadowkiss (#3), I got what I wanted, only to be heartbroken. Blood Promise (#4) took me on an incredible journey (probably my favorite book of the series, FYI). And just when we thought it was over, Spirit Bound (#5) completely threw me for a loop! Then, the conclusion of their story, Last Sacrifice (#6), was perfect for everyone... well, expect for he-who-must-not-be-named. Not Voldemort, of course, but I don't want to give it away.

What I Didn't Love:

• Lissa. I'm sorry, but she was annoying. Until the end of the series, when she finally got some guts, I was cringing during the points where we had to deal with her. I appreciated her friendship with Rose, but I just didn't feel very much depth to her character... and this was a 6 book series.

• The other love interests. I know that Rose is a flirt and likes to have her fun, but I didn't appreciate the fact that she continually dragged on relationships with other guys when she was hopelessly in love with Dimitri. Obviously, she thought that her and Dimitri would never, ever, happen, and was just trying to get on with her life. But I think that Richelle Mead could have done a better job at making the other love interests actual competition for Dimitri.

• The repetitiveness. Every novel in the Vampire Academy series starts out with a recap of the previous novel's events. If I had a nickel for every time that Mead explained to the reader what the Moroi and Strigoi and Dhampirs were, I would have too many nickels. This was extremely annoying for those reading each book in the series back-to-back, and I had to skip over several pages at a time.

Overall, Vampire Academy is one of my favorite paranormal series of all time! If you haven't read these yet, I seriously urge you to do so. Fans of paranormal romance and vampire stories will love them!!

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Overall Grade: 

B

Would I read it again? 

Probably not.

Would I recommend it? 

Yes! Paranormal romance lovers will rejoice!

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Book Review of "Paranormalcy" by Kiersten White

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Title: Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1)
Author: Kiersten White
Classification: YA Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Bought!

Overall Grade: 

B++

Would I read it again? 

Possibly!

Would I recommend it? 

Of course!

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours. 

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. 

So much for normal.

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My Thoughts:

All the reviews I read of Paranormalcy were absolutely RAVING over this new series. And really, what's not to love? Vampires, fairies, mermaids, werewolves, shape-shifters, and a totally funny main character!  

Evie was hands-down the best part of this book. She was witty, sarcastic, strong, but with her own weaknesses. I loved her relationship with Lend and watching them get to know each other. It was sweet and endearing! However, I came to love her interactions with Reth just as much... and maybe a little more. There is something about that enigmatic, slightly-evil, bad-boy fairy that makes me want to know more about him!  

I loved the world that White created as well. This was a very interesting take on the paranormal world, with Evie acting as an agent for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the novel and the way that Evie must confront her unknown heritage.  

Overall, a great debut for a promising new series! Can't wait for Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) coming out July 26th, 2011!
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Overall Grade: 

B++

Would I read it again? 

Possibly!

Would I recommend it? 

Of course!

 

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Book Review of "Fire" by Kristin Cashore

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Title: Fire
Author: Kristin Cashore
Classification: YA Fiction, Fantasy
Source: The public library

Overall Grade: 

A+
Would I read it again? 

Why, yes!

Would I recommend it to others? 

Yes. Please read it. 

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Summary (from Goodreads): 

Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

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My Thoughts: 

Fire is described as a companion book to Cashore's Graceling. It's a prequel to the first novel in Cashore's Seven Kingdoms Trilogy, which is to be completed with the publication of Bitterblue in September of 2011.

But in reality, Fire is its own force. It does not rely on the popularity of Graceling. It does not rely on the beautiful cover or the premise of the story. Fire is the story of one of the most wonderful protagonists I have ever read about: Fire, the monster-girl, the person who, against the odds, fought persecution and prejudice to find her place in a world where she is the last of her kind. A place where people want to do terrible things to her.

I absolutely love this book. As I wrote about on my writing blog here, this book totally captured me. It inspired to me to do something better with my own writing. This is because Cashore is an extremely talented writer. Her voice is her own and her characters are nearly three dimensional.

The story and plot in Fire was stronger to me than Graceling, but what was extraordinary in both of Cashore's works is her sense of character. The characters are real. They progress throughout the book. They develop into stronger people throughout the story, something that I find missing from a great many Young Adult novels.

Please read this! If you loved Graceling, you will love this more. And if you love romance, you will love Fire.

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Overall Grade: 

A+
Would I read it again? 

Why, yes!
Would I recommend it to others? 

Yes. Please read it.

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Waiting on Wednesday: ABARAT Absolute Midnight!

Yesterday, I started re-reading one of my most favorite books. Ever. It's called Abarat by Clive Barker.

Having read this first in my junior year of high school and quickly falling in love with it, I voraciously devoured the sequel: Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War, which came out in 2006.

The third book in the series, Absolute Midnight, has been pushed back for publication since... I'm not really sure. But it's already been five long years between the second and third installments of the series and really, I can only re-read these books a handful of times before I risk insanity. I'm definitely ready for the next one.

And finally we have a publication day in reach! The new release date is set for September 2011 and I absolutely can't wait!

If you want to know more about what this whole Abarat thing is about, let me share a little synopsis with ya: 

A journey beyond imagination is about to unfold....

It begins in the most boring place in the world: Chickentown, U.S.A.  There lives Candy Quackenbush, her heart bursting for some clue as to what her future might hold.

When the answer comes, it's not one she expects.

Welcome to the Abarat.

(Blurb from the semi-hardback edition)

Okay, so from that mysterious little blurb, it's probably a tad bit difficult to know what the book is actually about, so here are a few more juicy nuggets of knowledge:

• The books are illustrated. Each novel in the series has hundreds and hundreds of original artwork by the author Clive Barker. It may take a few pages to get used to it, but man, they really capture you in the story.
• The books are fantasy, through and through. The books of the Abarat are so fantastic, imaginative, weird, a bit spooky, and perhaps more than a little morbid. There is also little romance in them. But don't let that deter you, please! There is so much more in these books to enjoy.
• The Abarat is real. Seriously. While I'm reading Abarat (again), I literally feel like I am in the story. I am part of Candy's amazing journey. I am laughing and crying and feeling pain with her. I feel so completely immersed in the story that I find myself constantly smiling in anticipation of the next wondrous event or place that the Abarat will take us to.

That's what I'm waiting on this Wednesday! 

 

(And in other news... I found this giveaway for a signed copy of Maria V. Snyder's new dystopian novel Outside In on the My Bookish Ways blog! Maria is one of my favorite authors, so of course I entered. And so should you! Here's the link.)

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Book Review of "Vesper" by Jeff Sampson

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Title: Vesper (Deviants #1)

Author: Jeff Sampson

Classification: YA Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: ARC from the Publisher

Overall Grade:
C +
Would I read it again?
No.
Would I recommend it? 

Yes, if they're not too into the romance element and aren't too picky about the way it's written.

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?
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My Thoughts:

Vesper is different from your average YA novel. The tone was closer to your average teen than I've read in most other novels, Emily is a geeky girl that doesn't win the heart of a brooding, mysterious guy despite her... circumstances and the book is written by a guy. That last one may not seem like an important factor, but I beg to differ. Reading a YA novel written by a man rather than a woman is like reading a YA novel with a male protagonist rather than a female protagonist. The gender of the protagonist/author changes how the story unfolds.

That being said, here is what I thought about Vesper: the tone was conversational and thoroughly teenage, but bordered on contrived. I can recall several moments in the novel where Sampson's narrative just sounded like Sampson and not like Emily.

The plot of the novel was interesting, but not enthralling. In fact, the end of the novel was a much more exciting than the rest of it. I find myself wondering why Sampson didn't introduce the overarching conflict of his novel (and potential series) earlier in the narrative and if I just wasted my time reading a 300 page prologue to his next book where the real action happens.

A recurring theme I found in Vesper is sloppiness. Sloppiness in Sampson's creation of character (bordering on trite and contrived), and sloppiness in the pacing of the novel and the plot in general (heavily unbalanced towards the end of the story).

I don't know if I am invested enough in Emily Webb's character to continue with the series, because although I generally like Emily, I'm not too thrilled with how she is written.
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Overall Grade:
C +
Would I read it again?
No.
Would I recommend it? 

Yes, if they're not too into the romance element and aren't too picky about the way it's written

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Book Review of "Poison Study" by Maria V. Snyder

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Title: Poison Study (Study #1)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Classification: Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Semi-YA
Source: Public Library

Overall Grade:

A

Would I read it again?

Already have :)

Would I recommend it?

Yes. I just did! 

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Summary:

Yelena has been accused of murdering the son of one of the land's high-officials and awaits the day of her execution in a dark and filthy prison cell. Then, one day she is summoned before the Commander's head of security, who has a tantelizing offer. According to protocol, the next prisoner in line to be executed will be offered the job as food taster for the Commander, escaping the noose but living every day with the knowledge that one more bite can bring an even swifter death. Yelena quickly accepts, recognizing that even a life of fear and danger is better than no life at all.

Yelena moves into the castle and starts her rigorous, dangerous and exhausting food tasting training with Valek, who is not only the head of security, but a deadly assassin as well. In order to ensure that she will never attempt to escape from the castle, Valek exposes her to the deadly poison Butterfly's Dust, a poison whose antidote she must take daily in order to survive.

As she adjusts to life in the castle, she quickly becomes aware that poison is not her only danger, as many make a point of targeting the infamous Yelena, murderess of the high-official Brazell's son. When trying to have a low profile doesn't keep her from being attacked, Yelena seeks out the help of Ari and Janco, talented soldiers who agree to teach her how to fight, and they form an unlikely friendship. 

While Yelena struggles with new friendships, her feelings for Valek, and consistent attempts on her life, we learn more of her past with Brazell and his son Reyad, about her inner and outer strength and her knack for survival. Then, when a plot by Brazell threatens the Commander's rule over Ixia, Yelena is forced to return to her previous home where her darkest nightmares lay.

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My Thoughts:

Poison Study is one of the best books I have read in quite some time. I will admit right now that I most willingly abandoned my homework and reading assignments from school to finish this book.

There are so many reasons to LOVE this book. First off, the story. Oh my goodness, the story! I was enthralled with Snyder's mix of historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy and romance. It is a perfect blend of my most favorite genres and is written so well that it overcame any possibility of cliché. The plot itself is one part thriller, one part political intrigue and one part romance.

Then there are the characters. From Yelena's stubborn strength of will to Valek's deadly power to Ari and Janco's playful banter, I fell in love with these characters. Each persona is carefully crafted with incredible detail by Snyder, so that you feel like you know them.

Then comes the setting. Poison Study, along with the sequels Magic Study and Fire Study are set in a world comprised of the countries Ixia and Sitia. Ixia is ruled by Commander Ambrose, whose strict ruling over the country lacks grandeur and condemns magic, while Sitia is ruled by the Head Magicians and reveres those with magical capabilities. I love the way Snyder unfolded her fantastic setting in the novels. She does so in such a way that enriches the already interesting landscape and adds dimension to her stunning characters and enticing plots.

On another note, there has been some debate over whether or not Poison Study is a Young Adult novel or not. I think this is a definite problem with the book, as it contains more (slightly) adult content than most other Teen or Young Adult fiction. This is why I've classified the book as Semi-YA.

Now, if you're wondering if I have any negative comments about Poison Study, here it comes: the only thing I can generally say that bothered me about this book, and Snyder's other books in the Study series, is her sense of fashion. Yes, I just complained about the author's fashion sense. This is because when describing the clothing of her characters, Snyder often picked styles and colors that I just did not find flattering to the imagination. And yes, that is my only complaint. :) 

Please please read this book.  Then read the other books in the series: Magic Study and Fire Study.

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Overall Grade:

A

Would I read it again?

Already have :)

Would I recommend it?

Yes. I just did! 

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Book Review of "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore

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Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Classification: YA Fiction, Fantasy
Source: Public Library

Overall Grade:

A

Would I read it again?

Yes!

Would I recommend it? 

Yes!

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

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My Thoughts:

This book was not quite what I expected. I expected something light, fast-reading, entertaining, but altogether forgettable. What I actually got was not a whirlwind YA Fantasy, but a rollicking earthquake of a novel with real characters, a fantastic new world and a heroine that thinks and feels and kicks some major butt.  Plus to top it all off, the book also has a smart plot that keeps your heart rate up the whole way.

My only complaint about Graceling is that the narrative started off a little slow for me.  After the novel's initial scene follows several pages of details about the land of the Seven Kingdoms, its people and the general workings of the land.  This was probably necessary to the narrative, but was most certainly boring.

However, once you fall into the world of Katsa there is no going back.  I was so relieved to finally meet a heroine that feels real.  That might sound a bit odd seeing as she's a Graced killer living in an imaginary world, but I felt myself instantly attaching myself to her because she is allowed to truly develop as a character throughout the book, which is also true of Po and which is also the main reason I think this book is different than most other YA fiction I've ever read.

PS: Check out my review of Fire, the prequel to Graceling!

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Overall Grade:

A

Would I read it again?

Yes!

Would I recommend it? 

Yes!

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