Two Minute Backlist Review: Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson

Title: Quicksilver
Author: R.J. Anderson
Genre: young adult, supernatural
Series: Ultraviolet #2
Pages: 384
Published: May 2013
Source: publishers for review
Rating: 5/5

Back in her hometown, Tori Beaugrand had everything a teenaged girl could want—popularity, money, beauty. But she also had a secret. A secret that could change her life in an instant, or destroy it.

Now she’s left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the one friend who truly understood her. She can’t escape who and what she is. But if she wants to have anything like a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unusual... talents.

Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears and gives Tori some bad news: she hasn’t escaped her past. In fact, she’s attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-cop turned investigator for a genetics lab.

She has one last shot at getting her enemies off her trail and winning the security and independence she’s always longed for. But saving herself will take every ounce of Tori’s incredible electronics and engineering skills—and even then, she may need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free.

I've been waiting for this book since the day I finished my first read of Ultraviolet - aka 2011.

So I was like:


 Because I mean, if you've read the first boolk, you know that R.J. Anderson takes no prisoners and shows no mercy. And  going into her books blind is the best way -- you're never prepared for the awesome and the emotions that come screaming at you. 

So I waited.

I finally bought it, and the day it arrived I was like this:



With a dash of this:



And then I met Milo and felt like this and realized our heroine was really asexual which DIVERSITY YAY:



Anytime anyone/anything needed/wanted my attention I felt like this:



 Because really, how can you tear yourself away from a book like this? It's so different and original it commands all your attention. It's not a madcap rush the entire time, but when the plot gets going, Tori rockets along. And this is a character you want to keep up with!


And then, close to the end, I was like this:



And I had to keep telling myself this:



And Tori was badass like this:



 
Seriously. That was one of the most memorable scenes I've read in YA. It was ballsy, it was awesome and it WORKED SO WELL for both the story, the plot, the charactrs. I looooved it and that Anderson WENT THERE.

And I responded by going like this:




and this:



And I thought that Anderson did this with her duology:



And in the end, I felt like this, about the whole thing:

 

New Bookish Arrivals!

I received a generous state tax return, which turned around to use to buy and pre-order 19 books. The first wave aka "the only only ones already published" have showed up.

I've already read three of these - Graffiti Moon, Ultraviolet, India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy - but I needed physical copies to hold/love/complete a series.

Ultraviolet/Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson - I loved the first, could not get an ARC of the second for the life of me, so I scooped up both when they were on sale.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters - lots of hype, lots of great reviews from trusted sources.

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - read and loved to bits in 2011, finally bought myself a copy. Lovely, funny, real, this is one of the best of Aussie YA.

India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy by Carol K. Carr -  I was sent an e-ARC from a publisher, but I own paperback editions of the first two. So, clearly, I needed to complete the series.

I had a long weekend with family,p and no trip is complete without checking out the local bookstores. So, this happened:

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett - a high fantasy I've had my eye on for a while - only $5!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - another I've beren very eager to read for over a year. I read this in the car on the way home (instead of the books I was supposed to read) and I cried. And loved it.

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson - You had me at "Bluebeard". I'm not really sure what to expect with this one - some of my friends have loved, hated or been indifferent. All I know is I am excited to see how it goes.

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan - another highly anticipated fantasy debut. The amazing Ewa read it, and had some interesting thoughts on it.

Poison by Bridget Zinn - This just looked too cute and fun to pass up. It may not be the most original idea, but it looks like loads of fun.

Top Ten Young Adult Favorite Reads of 2011

This has been a good reading year for me. I managed to read 212 books, for a total of 75,768 pages. Only 22 of those 212 warranted a five star rating from me, and only 9 young adult novels were among those 22 and most are represented here in this list. I read more YA this year than I have since I was a teenager, and have fallen in love with the genre. I'm still a fantasy girl at heart (expect a Top Ten Fantasy list soon!) but I was largely very impressed with my YA selections this year.

The Top Ten:

1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I read and reviewed this gem only in September of this year, but boy did it make an impression. The first in a series to come, I have high hopes for this author and series!

From my review:

The story is striking and imaginative and unforgettable. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a genre-blending exercise of win, unlike anything I have yet read. It's a new, charismatic spin on the angel/devil/seraphim/nephilim/chimaera theme, populated with real characters with actual personalities - relayed by dialogue and deed rather than an infodump. I loved the nicely tuned balance of action and wit, drama with imagination and wordbuilding on a grand-scale. When's book two out? I cannot and hope not to wait long for another installment in this spellbinding world.

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Though I just read this in December, The Book Thief is impossible not to add to this list. Affecting, poignant and utterly impossible to put down, this is one of the rare ones that deserves all the hype and acclaim it can garner. I was an absolute mess after finishing (only four hours after beginning!) but in that full-hearted way one feels after a really, really great book.

From the review:

This is a work of art in novel form, moving and poignant from  its start in 1939 to its all-too-soon finish. Zusak's portrayal of these stand-out characters (Liesel, Hans, RUDY) will linger long in your memory. Don't dismiss this novel out of hand as just "another YA", especially if you are an adult. This book will resonate with and affect you even if you're long gone from the dreaded teenage years.

You won't just passively read [The Book Thief]: you'll experience Liesel Meminger's world in all its horror and beauty. 

I can't recommend The Book Thief enough. If you take one recommendation from this blog at all this year, let it be this one.

3. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

 

I have yet to write a review for this YA fantasy novel done almost perfectly. Seraphina has many of the dreaded staples of its genre hated by nonreaders: weird, foreign names, words with too many vowels or beginning with "q", and of course: dragons. What is so wonderful about this 2012 release is the unique and individual spin Seraphina puts on all these old, used-up tropes. Never old or boring, this is a fresh and lively addition to the fantasy ranks. Keep an eye out for my upocoming glowing review for its publication later in the year!

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Another great read I loved immensely that I've sadly failed to review, but hardly one that is hardly unknown. The Hunger Games series is a force to be reckoned with with movies on the way and numerous reprints and editiosns, and is an enjoyable trilogy. But of those three, the first novel is the strongest, and the obvious best. Katniss is at her best here, doing things and creating action, with Peeta there to provide am emotional outlet. The Hunger Games is shocking, engrossing and one of the best young-adult dystopians I've come across.

5. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley 

My first young-adult novel from a Down Under author and I was quite blown away by the authentic emotions, strong yet still likeable characters, and dynamic storytelling consistently present throughout Graffiti Moon. This is a moving novel that is nothing short of impressive. I was hooked immediately and never wanted the book to end.

From the review:

I didn't just read Aussie author Cath Crowley's novel - I inhaled it. I read the entire two hundred sixty seven page novel in just under a three hour period; I couldn't put it down to eat, play with the dogs or even move from my desk to the reading chair. It's gripping, consuming and alive in a way very few stories are - and more should be. I want to pull huge sections from the narrative to quote - my whole review would be quotes if I were clever enough. This is, simply put, a beautiful book - beautifully written, carried, developed and ended. Graffiti Moon is a young-adult novel that transcends the genre of its origin; all ages of readers who appreciate a deftly woven, compelling read would treasure this book. It's brilliantly descriptive and full of evocative and moving imagery. This book moved me.

6. Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

Ultraviolet is a great, great inceptive read. With an unreliable narrator and a truly interesting but completely real condition (synesthesia) Alison is a one-of-a-kind, original protagonist. She makes the book; strong, intelligent and relentless I wish more of my teenage female YA protagonists were more like her (though without the whole "did I murder someone or not" thing.) Twists and turns abound through the pages of this sci-fi mystery genre bender, and I need the sequel Quicksilver asap.

From the review:

This is a novel that more than lives up to its advertising byline: Everything You Know Is Wrong. But you'll only know the why and the how if you read this novel. Its got a unique premise, gorgeous prose, epic tons of quotes to love, and more than helluva twist more than recommend it.

7. Angelfall by Susan Ee

Yet another I've unfortunately yet to review, Angelfall is currently taking my GoodReads friends by storm. In my defense, I only heard of (and bought and read) this book mid-last week. I read it in two hours, and though it's relatively small at just 255 pages in ebook format, this is a GREAT novel. Angelfall gets so many things right that other authors miss, usually painfully: pacing, female action/fighting techniques, a gritty post-apocalyptic world, the romance angle, angels/nephilim, family interpersonal relationships.... all are handled ably and with a dab hand for imagery.

And one of the best parts about Angelfall? It's only $.99. Susan Ee is the first self-published author that has impressed me enough to wish she was traditionall published. I want my own hard copy of this delight and there none such as of yet. Buy this now, while you can get it cheap for Nook and Kindle. This is good. Buy it.

8. Lirael by Garth Nix

One of my first books reviewed for this very blog, I enjoyed Lirael far more than its predecessor and first in the series Sabriel. This is a smart and quite detailed YA supernatural novel with a very unique and creative magic system, first published way back in 2001, but one that hasn't aged a day.

 From the review:

Lively and absorbing, brimming with imagination and an utterly engaging plot. Suspense, sheer curiosity, genuine creepiness, unsettling creatures, along with unseen twists and turns make this a hard-to-put-down book. One of the best young-adult fantasy books I have ever read; better, even, than its predecessor Sabriel.I preferred Lirael as a protagonist compared to Sameth AND to Sabriel from the first book.

9. Abhorsen by Garth Nix

 Third and final book of the Abhorsen series and the second book of the trilogy to make this list (woo! what an accomplishment!;]), Abhorsen finalizes the strong trends and plots from the first two books. A fitting and very satisfactory ending to one of my favorite series, I was sad to end my reading but happy with the novel. This is a series for any fan of great female characters and unique, refreshing paranormal/supernatural aspects without vampires.

From the review:

This is a marvelous adventure. A great series with strong characters, a compelling plot and unique magic and creatures. Brilliant in all senses of the word. It is a  superb ending for an amazingly entertaining series; it deserves to be read. 

10. Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst 

I just had so much fun with this twisted little teenage vampire tale. Pearl is a vampire with no regrets: difficult, strident, rude, supercilious, and above all, amusing. She walks the fine line between aggravating and pure humor, and with the benefit of a unicorn and some escapes, she comes across easily on the amusing side. This is a book made of win and pure fun.

From the review:

The interesting set-up, the time-limit and unique proclivities of Pearl make the pace of this novel fly by. It's one of those books a reader picks up to peruse for a minute and is immediately lost within. I highly enjoyed this novel, and I think it will find love from a widely varied audience.
If you see it on a bookshelf in your near future, buy it, read it, love it.

Honorable Mentions:

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (reviewed  here)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (reviewed here)

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (reviewed here)

The Demi-Monde: Winter by Rod Rees (reviewed here)

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts (reviewed here)

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber (reviewed here)

Review: Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

Title: Ultraviolet

Author: R.J. Anderson

Genre: young-adult, mystery, paranormal/supernatural fiction

Series: N/A as of yet

Pages: 315 (Nook format; NetGalley uncorrected ARC)

Published: September 2011
Source: publishers via NetGalley

Rating: 4.5/5

This uniquely imaginative and intelligent novel was a terrifically melded blend of mystery, science fiction, fantasy and young-adult genres. Told through the eyes and life of Alison Jeffries, a seventeen year old girl, Alison is both a very unreliable narrator and a hugely sympathetic character. R.J. Anderson truly achieved the voice, and attitude of a sullen, hurting young woman. Alison is a living, breathing, three-dimensional character filled with flaws, virtues and humanity. As Alison, the narrative is filled with passion and viable emotions and thoughts. Her wry (and often self-deprecating) humor were dead on the mark for a teenager who has been taught to be ashamed of all she is and can do.

This is a novel that was crafted with delicacy and much planning. It is laden with clues, subtle hints, and hidden meanings deep in the imagery-heavy, sensory-rich prose. I do not feel that revealing Alison has synesthesia as a spoiler -- it's out mentioned in the in the ads. Words, numbers, sounds all have personalities, colors, smells thanks to her possessing five different kinds of the phenomenon. Alison, while driving in a car states, "[...]I wanted to hear the landscape, taste its contours, and smell its hues," as only she can. Her amazingly vivid condition fits the lush style of the writing well: it's as close as the reader will ever get to experience life the way Alison does. I was so interested in this very real condition that I researched it online and I am beyond impressed with the depth of research and history Anderson went to in order for this story to work on the levels it does. (Wikipedia link if you're interested in a quick over-view. And you should be.)

I enjoyed the fresh scenery: I've not read any hardly any novels set in Canada and the change of scene was a nice harbinger of the individuality to follow. The atmosphere of the story was completely enveloping. Even necessary the parts of the novel (for example Part One was The Scent of Yesterday, chapters are titled Zero(Is Translucent), One (Is Gray), Ten (Is Vulernable), etc.) are subtle reminders that hearken back to the most fascinating aspect of the novel: Alison's abilities. The first part of the novel focuses much more on the mystery aspect of Alison's story: what exactly did happen to Tori, and was Alison in any way responsible for Tori's death/disappearance. Part one was intense and impossible to extract myself from as the pieces were slowly revealed. The more Alison pulls herself and her memory together, details about the mysterious event are doled out like nuggets of gold. The true events of the mystery are parceled out so stingily, for the first hundred pages I genuinely could not decide if I believed Alison was sane or not. Now that's an unreliable narrator: one who does not even trust herself or her recollections. Part two (Present Sense) suffers just a bit from a rushed, slightly uneven tempo. For instance, Alison has a quasiromance with the alluring Faraday, but it is rushed into and very present, but then never coalesces into a relationship. But, happily, the problem was short-lived: part three (Touching Tomorrow) managed to be well-rounded, nicely executed and soulful conclusion to a delightfully surprising novel. The ending is more bitter than sweet, but is entirely appropriate and fitting for Alison's journey. There are a few opportunities and plot-lines left open for exploration in a possible sequel, one I can only hope is written soon.

This is definitely more of a plot-driven novel. The rush to figure out what happened to Alison, to Tori, to be placed under her own cognizance, moves the characters more than romance or friendship. There was a deft touch with the tension in the novel: it builds slowly, marginally and then ratchets up to 11 in the final scenes. I hardly minded the plot-focus because I was entirely caught up in the uniquely creative language and prose. Descriptions like "his hair was the color of a thunderstorm reflected in a mud puddle" will win me over any day of the week., especially if interpersonal interaction is not a strong point of the author's. And, to be honest, some of the love/emotional scenes were a bit too saccharinely sweet for my taste. However, I do love creative, innovative writers than can make their words and ideas pop: R.J. Anderson is definitely one such author.

This is a novel that more than lives up to its advertising byline: Everything You Know Is Wrong. But you'll only know why if you read this novel. Its unique premise, gorgeous prose, full of quotes to love, and more than helluva twist more than recommend it.

"I heard the universe as an oratorio sung by a master choir accompanied by the orchestra of the planets and the percussion of satellites and moons. The aria they performed was a song to break the heart, full of tragic dissonance and deferred hope, and yet somewhere beneath it all was a piercing refrain of glory, glory, glory. And I sensed that not only the grand movements of the cosmos, but everything that had happened in my life, was a part of that song. Even the hurts that seemed most senseless, the mistakes I would have done anything to erase--nothing could make those things good, but good could still come out of them all the same, and in the end the oratorio would be no less beautiful for it."