Review: The Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Series: No
Pages: 487
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.

The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.

The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

Feelings:
The Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly is set in New York City at the turn-of-the-century when society is obsessed with the old rich, and daughters of the rich are expected to marry for wealth and advantage. Josephine Montfort knows she wants to be a journalist, but she knows it will be looked upon with disdain. When her father died, they tell her it was an accident cleaning his gun and she doesn't believe them. She set out to find the truth with Eddie, a young journalist looking for a big story, to find the truth.

Along the way Joe discovers that her life as one of society's most eligible young ladies is everything she isn't everything she thought it was. With Eddie she begins to discover herself in the city. I liked the story a lot more than I thought I would. Sometimes I find historical fiction to be doll, this wasn't. It didn't reflect the acetic of the time but Joe was not your typical girl. She had an opinion and she stood by it, even if it meant asking questions no one else does and taking risks.

"They teach you anything in finishing school besides embroidery, Miss Montfort?" Eddie asked. "Your uncle had a good reason for bribing the police--you. Suicide is a lot of things. It's ugly and sad, but most of all it's scandalous.  . . . The old New York families--your people--they're not too keen on scandals, are they?" p. 35

After Jo finds out that her father may have killed himself or worse been murdered, she can't let it drop even if it means risking her future as part of New York's elite.

There are many less reasons I recommend the story but the biggest is it's characters stand up for themselves and they aren't fun to read about. A nice stroll through his stork New York City with great people.

Review: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Genre: Young Adult
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #2
Pages: 416
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Feelings: 
I really enjoyed the first in the series, The Winner's Curse, and I wondered if The Winner's Crime would be as good. The Winner's Crime has espionage, betrayal, and hidden love. It was well written, and I enjoyed the political parts of the book. Yes, I like politics, but prefer the fictional kind.

One thing this book was missing for me was romance. Kestrel denies her feelings because she is scared of what will happen if she doesn't. Arin is still head strong and a little frustrating in the way he jumps to conclusions and doesn't listen. However, I really enjoyed both the narration from Kestrel and Arin's point of view. My favorite new character in this book was Mine, the puppy Prince Verex gives Kestrel. I'm I allowed to pick a puppy as a character? Maybe not. I did find Prince Verex an intriguing character, even though I didn't want to like him at first.

Did I mention how horribly unlikeable the emperor is? He is great to dislike. I enjoy disliking him. He is also a well developed character, which makes disliking him even better.

I'll defiantly be picking up the last book in the series.

Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Genre: Young Adult
Series: Yes, The Winner's Trilogy #1
Pages: 355
Copyright: 2014 
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Feelings:
Have you ever been to an auction and gotten so excited that you bid higher than you intended to and won? That is the winner's curse. You regret your purchase because it is not something you intended, but it happens. Here you have the set up for this novel. The Winner's Curse is not set in our world, but a made-up world where an empire the Valorian is expanding and coercing enslaving those they conquer. That Herrani are such a people.

Kestrel, the daughter of a general, buys a slave at auction because she sees something of herself in his defiance. Arin is our second narrator and the slave Kestrel buys. He is haughty and doesn't act like a slave should. This attitude is what draws kestrel to him. I give nothing away, when I say, this is a story of forbidden romance. It is more than that deceit, lies, and betray, but they all playing important part in the story.

This wasn't quite fantasy but it is close. The world is not our world which pushes it towards fantasy. However, I would place this in the general fiction category. A made-up world, though, does that automatically make it fantasy? Should it be considered fantasy? I seen a lot of people considering it such, and I admit I'm tempted to agree. Tempted but I feel like the story doesn't have anything, besides the green storms, that I really make it being fantasy. I'm undecided. It might be, it might not be.

What I liked about this novel was a strong characters. This is adventure, nor is there as much romance as you might expect. It is an engaging story though. I liked the political side of the story. It wasn't what I expected, but when you think about slavery and the turmoil it causes having one group subjugated, the political side of the story rings true. While some people might have found it less then engaging, I found find fictional politics fascinating. Yes, it reflects our past, but it also shows possibilities.

Watching Arin in Kestrel in their game of intrigue was interesting. They know the other is smarter than they anticipated and that draws them to each other. There is a reveal and shadow that happens through out the story. It increased their understanding of the other, but does not reveal the other's secrets.

It was the complexity of the narrative and the strength of the characters that made this a story I can't wait to read more of. I highly recommending The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. It is a world that is bright yet full of darkness.

Review: Exile by Anne Osterlund

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Yes, Aurelia #2
Pages: 295
Copyright: 2001
Publisher: SPEAK
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Crown princess Aurelia is a survivor. She survived attempted assassination. She survived the king's rejection. She survived her mother's abandonment. And now, in exile, she must survive her kingdom-from hostile crowds to raw frontier to desert sands. But even as unknown assailants track Aurelia and expedition guide Robert, she knows her greatest risk is falling in love...

Feelings: 
Exile by Anne Osterlund is the second novel in the trilogy and it picks up with Aurelia leaving the castle and her sister, who tried to killer her, to see her kingdom. Soon after they leave Aurelia is threatened again. She and Robert set off alone into the woods and the distance between them that was formed from a misunderstanding begins to fade. 

While I enjoyed this novel a lot, I think it was because I wanted to see the relationship between Aurelia and Robert grow and less about the adventure the characters were having. The relationship between the characters does grow but slowly. There wasn't as much time for them to relax with each other because they were being chased. However, there were a few good kisses. Is it bad that I liked this novel because of the kisses? Oh, well. I enjoy a good fantasy romance every once in a while. Maybe I read this novel partially for the adventure, which was fun, but if I'm honest it was mostly for the romance.

I think I preferred the first novel a little over this one but not much. I'm interested to see where the last novel takes Aurelia. She is such a great character. She knows how to  have fun and that makes her extremely likable.

Before Robert had even finished hitching the stallion, Aurelia had been whirled away into the festivities. She was laughing, her head thrown back, excitement rampant on her face. A far cry from the elegant, fuming princess he had witnessed less than three months ago at her sister's coming-out party. p. 147

I look forward to the last novel in the trilogy and recommend this one.

Review: Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Yes, Aurelia #1
Pages: 246
Copyright: 2008 
Publisher: SPEAK
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
An impressive debut, equal parts commercial appeal and literary prowess.

Princess Aurelia is next in line to rule the kingdom of Tyralt, but she would rather be one of the common folk, free to learn and roam and . . . not marry the next tyrannical prince that comes courting. Naturally, the king wants Aurelia to marry for political power. Aurelia wants to marry for love. And someone in the kingdom wants her . . . dead. Assigned to investigate and protect Aurelia is Robert, the son of the king's former royal spy and one of Aurelia's oldest friends. As Aurelia and Robert slowly uncover clues as to who is threatening her, their friendship turns to romance. With everything possible on the line, her life, her kingdom, her heart, Aurelia is forced to take matters into her own hands, no matter the cost.

Feelings: 
This is the second time I have read this book. The first time I read it, it was a stand along novel. This time I read it so that I  could read the next in the series and understand what was going on. Most of the time when I reread a novel I find it to be diluted because I know the outcome. This was a little but I still enjoyed rereading the story.

Princess Aurelia is a likable character and her innocence is sweet. She is also strong and devious. From the minute Robert returns to the castle he is drawn to her. He remembers his childhood friend, but knows that he wants more than just a friend.

I really enjoyed the opening of this novel.

On the night of her younger sister's coming-out party, Aurelia almost died. Of boredom. Her ankle itched as though a single ant were casually creeping over her flesh. ... She longed to reach down and scratch, but years of royal training had not been entirely lost. She could not afford such a dramatic movement while her father was speaking.p.5

It gives you a good feel for the laughter and fun you will find. The book isn't all funny, and I know that part of me liked the novel for the romance, only a kiss. Sometimes it really makes a novel more enjoyable to have a little romance, and it did for this one.

When I first read this novel in 2009 it read like a stand alone novel so I was a little surprised when I realized it was part of a series. The second one came out a few years ago and the third comes out in October of 2016. I thought it was worth checking out the rest of this series and I'm glad I started back with the first one because I had forgotten much of this story. I recommend Aurelia by Anne Osterlund. It has Princesses, romance, poison, and a intrigue. Both Aurelia and Robert are fun characters.

Review: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fantasy
Series: Serafina #1
Pages: 293
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
“Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There’s plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity . . . before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.

Feelings: 
Mythical creatures prowl the night, and Serafina just might be one of them. In Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty, Serafina witnesses the disappearance of a girl and barely escapes. This was an interesting combination of history and fantasy. 

The book started out a bit slow, but it picked up near the end. I like that it included both historical elements about the Biltmore Estate and mythical/magical elements. Part of me wonders if I would have enjoyed the book as much as I did if it wasn't set locally. 

I really enjoyed the character Serafina, which was good because this was limited third person from her point of view. There are plenty of characters in the book but there are only three to five that I would consider well developed characters. Braeden Vanderbilt and Serafina's pa are the most developed of the characters. This is probably because Serafina has been hidden from humans by her father, who is afraid that she is so different she won't fit it. I thought at first I might not like this book because it was from a 12 year-old's perspective but Serafina was not a whiny child but a curious one. That made a big difference in my opinion of her.

Braeden and his dog Gidean make for interesting side kicks for this adventure. Gidean is a typical very loyal dog but he needed to be that in this story.

The man in the black cloak is bad but I never really got a feeling for the character to dislike him. Serafina was scared of him, but she was also curious about him and what the cloak was. Two chapters into the book, I was invested in the story enough to want to learn more.

I will be reading the next book in the series because I'm curious to see what happens with Serafina once she stops hiding. 

Review: The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Yes, The Wrath & The Dawn #2
Pages: 416
Copyright: 2016 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Buy: Amazon

Review of first in series The Wrath & The Dawn

Summary: from Good Reads
The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

Feelings: 
The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh included a little love and betrayal, intrigue and war, a curse, and magic. This was a strong novel and I thought it did an excellent job concluding the series. Shahrzad and Khalid were strong characters and they developed through out the story. My only complaint was the very very ending...not going to include spoilers in here but I felt like the epilogue was not needed. 

The characters in this book and the first are amazing and I loved reading about them. When I fist saw this series I didn't think it would be a retelling of The Arabian Nights, but it is so much more than just a retelling. It take the idea of telling stories to stay a live and gives the back story and so much more. 

I really enjoyed Renee Ahdieh's writing and I look forward to seeing what she writes next. I recommend you check out this series. It is a love story and a story of finding trust in yourself and those around you. 

Review: The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Fantasy
Series: Yes, The Wrath & The Dawn #1
Pages: 388
Copyright: 2015 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Buy: Amazon

Review of the second in the series: The Rose & The Dagger

Summary: from Good Reads
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.


Feelings: 
Shahrzad was looking for revenge for her grief not love.

The beginning of the story shares something with A Thousand and One Nights. However, I felt like this novel gave a bit more of a human side to both Shahrzad and the king. Truthfully, I don't even remember the king's (sultan's) name from A Thousand and One Nights. This story is less about the stories that are told by Shahrzad and more about the relationship between the characters. There is a lot of mistrust between characters; of course there is. You marry a king who has killed all of his past wives after one night, and that is bound to cause a little bit of suspicion.

What I really liked about this was that it went into more of the back story and more of the characters stories. I think I would have been bored with this novel if it had followed the same pattern as A Thousand and One Nights. The Wrath & The Dawn focused more on Khalid so that we begin to feel compassion for him. This compassion is not something that is easily given and as Shahrazad comes to have feelings for him the reader too begins to wonder about the boy-king and what made him the way he is.

At the very beginning of the book we get a hint that the killing is something that isn't a choice.

"It is done."
His father nodded, and the soldier left.
Again, the two men stared up at the sky.
Waiting
A drop of rain struck the arid surface beneath their feet, disappearing into the tan stone. .....Soon, rain was falling around them at a steady pace.
"There is your proof," the general said, his voice laden with quiet anguish. (p. 2)

We don't know why but this opening to the story gives the reader something to question. We realized with the first chapter that the opening happened a while ago and we are put into the middle of the conflict. I liked that. It gave me a reason to keep reading.

What I didn't like was switching between character's perspective. I didn't mind the perspective's of those around Khalid and Shahrzad but I didn't really like those outside of the castle. I know they had a purpose but I didn't enjoy reading those chapters as much. The author did a good job removing any compassion I had for Shahrzad's father and Tariq Imran al-Ziyad. I really didn't like their perspectives. While I didn't enjoy reading from their perspective, I do understand why it was in there and how it added to the story. I enjoy reading from characters perspectives I liked. I'm hoping that the characters I didn't like as much in this end up getting explained a little more so that I can relate to them better in future novels.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy young adult fantasy with kings, queens, romance, conflict, and a little magic.

Review: Salvation by Anne Osterlund

Genre: Young Adult Romance
Series: No
Pages: 276
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: speak
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
A smart, unexpected romance from an award-winning author.

Salvador Resendez--Salva to his friends--appears to have it all. His Mexican immigrant family has high expectations, and Salva intends to fulfill them. He's student body president, quarterback of the football team, and has a near-perfect GPA. Everyone loves him.

Especially Beth Courant, AKA the walking disaster area. Dreamy and shy, Beth is used to blending into the background. But she's also smart, and she has serious plans for her future.

Popular guy and bookish girl--the two have almost nothing in common. Until fate throws them together and the attraction is irresistible. Soon Beth is pushing Salva to set his sights higher than ever--because she knows he has more to offer, more than even he realizes.

Then tragedy strikes--and threatens to destroy everything that Salva has worked for. Will Beth's love be enough to save him?

Thoughtful and romantic, this is a beautifully written story about following your heart and fulfilling your potential.

Feelings: 
This novel surprised me. I wasn't expecting an intelligent story that dealt with race, poverty, and high school. That is asking a lot of a young adult novel. I had previously read Aurelia, and enjoyed it so I thought I might read another book by the author. Salvation is very different. I thought their might be a fantasy element since the previous novel had it. However, this one is set in reality. 

There are small details throughout the novel that don't slam home the poverty and race issues the book covers but add to the story. They build the feeling of being stuck in a hard place.

Salva scanned the stark classroom. The seniors sat so frozen in their seats you'd have thought the air-conditioning was working. (p. 8)

Many of the characters in the novel are Hispanic and dealing with the racism and poverty of being the minority.

"You tell your real boss," the guy said to him, "I'm talkin' to someone who speaks English on the phone, not this Spanish flunky. This is America." (p. 109)

The sad thing is I've seen white Americans treat non-white Americans exactly this way. Reading it hopefully people will see how despicable these action is and how it reflects poorly on all Americans. I want to think of America as a place where we accept others for who they are. However, this is not the reality.

This novel doesn't allow the characters to feel sorry for themselves because they aren't going to the best school and their options are limited because of poverty and race. I respect that. The characters in this novel were strong. I enjoyed both Beth and Salva's perspective. They had dreams and they weren't going to be held back by the situation they found themselves in. Their relationship starts slowly. They are friends at first. Although they are both conflicted about their feelings, things progress in a fashion that you would expect from two shy teenagers.  For me the relationship was nice but it was the strength of the characters that made the story for me.

I recommend this book. I know I've only given it a three bird rating but that is because I prefer fantasy. This was very good for not being fantasy.

Review: The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett

Narrator: Samuel Gillies
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Yes, The Lymond Chronicles #1
Length: 25 hours
Copyright: 1961 (book), 2000 (audio)
Publisher: Recorded Books
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads.
Dunnett introduces her irresistible hero Francis Crawford of Lymond, a scapegrace nobleman of elastic morals and dangerous talents whose tongue is as sharp as his rapier. In 1547 Lymond is returning to his native Scotland, which is threatened by an English invasion. Accused of treason, Lymond leads a band of outlaws in a desperate race to redeem his reputation and save his land.


Feelings:
This audiobook was a little slow at first, but once the characters were introduced it started moving faster. Lymond is loquacious and verbose. He values his intelligence and wit above all other things. He uses them to deceive and pillage throughout Scotland in his quest to clear his name with the Scottish court.

There are both pluses and minuses to this book. I know that giving it a five bird rating might make you think this book is for everyone. It isn't. However, there were many things in this novel to respect and love. I think the cons for the book are very few and the amount of enjoyment I got from this book far out ways my initial opinion. Most of the cons I had, vocabulary, Scottish accent, use of Latin, Spanish, and French, and following the narrative as it switched perspective were things that resolved themselves as I became acquainted with the writing style. Yes, if I had a dictionary while I was listening and the desire to look up every word I didn't know I would have been pausing all the time. You can find huge lists of words in other reviews of this book. However, it think exposing oneself to new vocabulary is a good thing. We all have the potential for growth and this book presents a story that is engaging while offering a challenge.

Things I really enjoyed about this audiobook were the characters. They make mistakes and they are human in the way they deal with these mistakes. There are regrets and characters grow and work to correct their past blunders. Many times in stories characters only learn from or grow from mistakes when it suits the narrative. I didn't feel that way about this novel.

The story itself was very interesting and the history surrounding the story seemed to be only a small part of the story. I was glad for that because if the plot climax was dependent on history it would not be a surprise. I like to be surprised by the climax and this was able to do that.

Samuel Gillies did an amazing job reading this audio book. This seems like it would be a difficult book to read given the vocabulary of our characters. I don't know that I would have enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed listening to it.

I highly recommend the audiobook. The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett was amazingly crafted and the story and characters were wonderful to follow as they travel the country.

Review: The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

Genre: Dystopian Fantasy 
Series: Book of Ember #2 
Pages: 338 
Copyright: 2004 
Publisher: Random House 
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
“It is green here and very big. Light comes from the sky…”

When Lina and Doon lead their people up from the underground city of Ember, they discover a surface world of color and life. The people of a small village called Sparks agree to help the Emberites, but the villagers have never had to share their world before. Soon differences between the two groups escalate, and it's up to Lina and Doon to find a way to avoid war!

In the riveting sequel to the highly acclaimed The City of Ember, Jeanne DuPrau explores the nature of conflict and the strength and courage necessary to overcome it.

Feelings: 
I really enjoyed this second book in the series. I was actually pretty happy with the ending of the first book, but this was a satisfying read to follow the first. This one also has an ending that doesn't leave you hanging. I really appreciate that. Many books I read do leave you hanging.

After they leave the city of Ember, things are very interesting for Lina and Doon. I liked that they tried so hard to get the people out of Ember, and that in the town of Spark they become more children but still struggle to make sure their people are taken care of. I think getting to know the people of Sparks better also made this an interesting story. 

I will continue to read the series, but I don't feel like I need to immediately pick up the next book.

Review: Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy #1
Pages: 374
Copyright: 2014
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
The exhilaratingly seductive new series from the author of the bestselling Starcrossed series.

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the savior of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

Feelings: 
I enjoyed Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini more than I thought I was going to. I wasn't sure I was going to when I started reading it. The first scene is of your main character having an allergic reaction and vomiting in the bathroom and hoping she can hide what is going on from her best friend. Not a great start to a book if you ask me. It did improve a lot after that opening. At first it seemed like the novel was going to be a high school drama, but after Lily looses her best friend she is taken to an alternate version of Salem. That is when the story got interesting.

I enjoyed the characters and the magic that was included in this novel. Lily is both weak and strong. Her health struggles back in her world have given her the drive to continue living even when things get rough. In the new world she finds herself stronger for having struggled. I liked that what made her weak in her world was something she could learn to control in the world she finds herself in. 

In the new Salem, she encounters Rowan a man she has never met, who hates her, and Tristan, who is like the Tristan in her world but different. I liked getting to know the characters as Lily does, and seeing how they react to her based on what they know of the version of her from their world. I really liked the characters and the idea of infinite versions of the universe.

It was an easy read, but it also had more to it than some of the young adult novels I've read. I recommend Trial by Fire, and I'm looking forward to seeing were the characters in this series go.

Rewivew: The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Genre: Dystopian Fantasy 
Series: Yes. Book of Ember #1 
Pages: 270 
Copyright: 2004  
Publisher: Yearling 
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Many hundreds of years ago, the city of Ember was created by the Builders to contain everything needed for human survival. It worked…but now the storerooms are almost out of food, crops are blighted, corruption is spreading through the city and worst of all—the lights are failing. Soon Ember could be engulfed by darkness…

But when two children, Lina and Doon, discover fragments of an ancient parchment, they begin to wonder if there could be a way out of Ember. Can they decipher the words from long ago and find a new future for everyone? Will the people of Ember listen to them?

Feelings: 
I enjoyed The City of Ember. It seemed familiar to me when I first saw it, and I couldn't place why until I looked it up and saw that there was a movie. I don't remember seeing the movie or the trailer, but I must have heard the name then.

This book reminded me of other dystopian books that have been popular recently. I think that maybe Lina and Doon were a little mature for 12 year-olds, but I was willing to let that go as I thought maybe in a society like this people would grow up faster.

I plan on reading the next book in the series, but I'm not sure if I will make it through all of the books. I enjoyed what I've read so far. The ending of the first book was satisfying, and I'm not feeling like I need to read the second one immediately.

Review: Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

Genre: Fantasy
Series: Sorcerer Royal #1
Pages: 371
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: Ace
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Magic and mayhem collide with the British elite in this whimsical and sparkling debut.

At his wit’s end, Zacharias Wythe, freed slave, eminently proficient magician, and Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers—one of the most respected organizations throughout all of Britain—ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up.

But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain—and the world at large…

Feelings: 
Sorcerer to the Crown is Zen Cho's first novel. I picked it randomly off the adult new fiction shelves at the library. When I picked it, I had no expectations. However, before I read it, I saw that some people were speculating it might be nominated for a Nebula Award. That lead me to expect this to be an amazing book. It was a good book but the story didn't impress me. I enjoyed the story a lot, but Prunella, one of the narrators, got on my nerves and seemed overly childish to me. Zacharias, the Sorcerer Royal, the other main character was more appealing to me. He was older than Prunella and could be awkward at times but his character seemed more genuine to me.

The plot of the novel seemed like that of a young adult novel, which made me wonder if it was just the age of the characters that categorized it as an adult books or if there was something else that separated it from young adult. The vocabulary was more sophisticated than most young adult novels, and maybe that is why. One of the characters, Prunella was the age of many young adult characters, 18 years old, and the other character Zacharias was 24, which is older than most major characters in young adult novels. I would be interested to know how the decision was made to place this with adult novels.

Because of my expectations and the fact that this felt like a young adult novel, I didn't really feel like this novel stood up. It was good -- I didn't want to put it down while I was reading it -- just not as good as I had hoped it would be. What disappointing me most about the book was the ending, which also really pushed this into the young adult category for me. If the novel had ended a chapter earlier I think I would have been more satisfied. The last chapter seemed a little silly to me.

Overall, I really enjoyed the novel, and I recommend it. As Zen Cho matures as a writer, I will be interested to see where her writing goes. I greatly enjoy good fantasy and this was almost there.

Review: Son of No One by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Fantasy
Series: A Dark-Hunter Novel
Pages: 351
Copyright: 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
It’s not easy being life’s own personal joke, but Josette Landry has made an unstable peace with the beast. Life will continue to throw every bad thing it has at her, and she will continue to not put her head in an oven. But that’s okay. That which doesn’t kill her will just require a few hours of mental insanity. Completely down on her luck, Josette takes a job with a local paranormal group trying to get their own cable show as a photographer and camerawoman. Yeah, they’re even crazier than she is. The only paranormal thing she believes in is the miracle that keeps her rusted out hoopty running. But when her group accidentally releases something truly evil into the world, they are forced to call in reinforcement.

From the moment Josette meets Cadegan, she knows something about him isn’t quite right. And it’s not just because she can’t even begin to pronounce his last name: Maboddimun. Mysterious and armed with lethal sarcasm, he seems a lot older than his apparent age…

Centuries ago, Cadegan sold his soul for vengeance against the betrayer who cursed him. Forced against his will to do good, he hates everything in life. All he wants is a way out. But for the damned there is only eternal suffering. And yet there is something about Josette that intrigues him as much as it irritates and frustrates him. Something he can’t seem to fight, and the last time he felt this way about a woman, it cost him his soul.

He knows he has to stay away from her, but the evil her friends unleashed is hellbent on consuming her soul. Something he cannot allow. If one more innocent is taken, he will be sent back to an unimaginable prison that makes his current hell look like paradise. But how can he keep her safe when his being with her is the greatest threat of all?

Feelings
Who knew demons and the paranormal could be so fun? When I picked out this book, I didn't know I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. This was romance with the sex, fantasy with magic and dragons, and humor what more could I want in a light read?

While this is part of the Dark-Hunter Series, of which there are currently 26 books, I understood the story line without having read any of the other novels. This was the first book by Sherrilyn Kenyon I've read, and I think I will be enjoying more of her books in the future. I can see that I wouldn't want to read her back to back but as a light novel between other books it was a great read.

Jo is funny and stubborn in a way that I found endearing. Cadegan is also a fun character and since we switched back and forth between their points of view it  was nice to have two characters that I liked reading about as the focus of the story.

If you are looking for a book that has fantasy, romance, and humor, I recommend this book. I'm planning on checking out other books by the author.

Review: The House of the Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

Genre: Adventure Fantasy 
Series: Book One of One Dozen Daughters  
Pages: 300 
Copyright: 2014  
Publisher: A Tor Book 
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
The tiny nation of Swansgaard is a lovely place with abundant natural resources, including the royal family, which has been blessed with twelve daughters and a son. As this boisterous baker's dozen approaches adulthood, the king and queen lovingly tell their daughters, "You must make your own fortune, for we cannot enrich you without impoverishing our people or leaving our lands defenseless, and that we will not do."

Happily, the princesses of Swansgaard are eager to meet this challenge, for they yearn for adventures both near and far from home.

Clarice, an expert swordswoman, is the first to depart. Disguising herself as Clarence, she signs on for a voyage to the New World. The captain is vile and blackhearted, and the crew soon mutinies. Clarice becomes first mate - and finds her heart captured by the new captain, Dominick, who is, to his own surprise, increasingly attracted to Clarence.

Now outlaws, Dominick and his crew turn to piracy - though their hearts are not entirely in it. They soon run afoul of the Pirate Council, who orders them to retrieve the Heart of Light. All who have searched for this great treasure have vanished, with neither ships nor crews ever seen again and no sign of their fates ever discovered.

But none before have carried with them the sorceress Shamal, who stakes a claim of her own on Dominick's heart.

Feelings:
This book says it is Book One of One Dozen Daughters, however, I see no indication that there will be more books to come.

I'm going to admit to doing something when I go to the library to pick books that adds some randomness to what I read. When I don't have a lot of time to look at books or I can't find the book I was looking for, I will pick up the first book I see with a fantasy sticker on the spine. This was such a book. Looking at the cover, I knew it was not going to be the best book I've ever read. Sometimes though reading a book with mediocre writing is alright if the story is interesting. That being said I enjoyed the story, but at times the dialogue felt fake.

Clarice is an interesting character and I enjoyed reading from her point of view. The story starts with her leaving home, and then we skip six months of her adventures to when she decides to book passage on a ship to the New World. She is told that three ships will be leaving soon, and the first two ships she tries to book passage on she finds do not have any room for a passenger. The third ship is not highly recommended but as the only option she books passage on it. While she doesn't like the captain of the ship, she find Dominick, the navigator, enjoyable company and decides if he is sailing on the ship it can't be too bad.

Once out to sea things do not look good though, and Clarice wonders at her choice. This is when the book dragged a bit for me. It wasn't until the second half when they get to the pirate haven that it started to pick up for me, and I started to enjoy it more.

Every once in a while a pirate book can be great fun, and this was that for me. The writing wasn't great, but I did enjoy reading it.