Review: Frostborn by Lou Anders

Title: Frostborn
Author: Lou Anders
Genre: fantasy, middle grade
Series: Thrones and Bones #1
Pages: 352
Source: I received this book at Book Expo America in consideration for review
Rating: 3/5

Meet Karn. He is destined to take over the family farm in Norrøngard. His only problem? He’d rather be playing the board game Thrones and Bones.

Enter Thianna. Half human, half frost giantess. She’s too tall to blend in with other humans but too short to be taken seriously as a giant.

When family intrigues force Karn and Thianna to flee into the wilderness, they have to keep their sense of humor and their wits about them. But survival can be challenging when you’re being chased by a 1,500-year-old dragon, Helltoppr the undead warrior and his undead minions, an evil uncle, wyverns, and an assortment of trolls and giants.

Frostborn, the first in a new series by veteran of the publishing world Lou Anders, was an unexpected and happy surprise. It hadn't been on my radar until a friend (who knows my obsession with dragons) saw it at BEA and grabbed me a copy. I am forever thankful to Lyn for that because without her kindness, I would have missed a fantastical, fun adventure with two memorable and well-drawn middle grade protagonists. The slower start, the worldbuilding, and the engaging  characters all added up to an entertaining read.

I am a sucker for anything fantasy, especially one with dragons, but Anders has a lot to offer here. The worldbuilding is somewhat slighter and less substantial than I would have liked to see but more than enough to frame the world that Karn and Thianna live in. The countries, empires, and cultures they each inhabit or experience are original, but also have obvious callbacks to real-world history. The inspiration for this world further serves to help envision both the lives of the two main characters.

Karn is a more than adequate character for several reasons, but it is Thianna that stole the show for me. A child of mixed heritage and ostracized because of that fact, it's easy to connect her character arc to reality. Her struggles for acceptance and happiness are real, and easily felt through her anger, bitterness, and her humanity. But for all that, Thianna is a rounded girl. She is smart, kind, and able to not only defend herself, but save others. Give me more middle grade girls like this, please. Her coming of age story is just as pivotal as that of the male character and it is so so refreshing to read.

While I didn't love this the way I do my middle grade favorites, I found myself enjoying my time spent with these characters. The beginning suffers from a slower pace, but things rapidly become more and more actiontastic as the story goes on. It's more than worth a few chapters and patience. It's a lighthearted kids' adventure, but Anders strikes a good balance between tension, humor, and characterization.

Review: No One Needs to Know by Amanda Grace

Title: No One Needs to Know
Author: Amanda Grace
Genre: contemporary, lgbt
Series: None
Pages: 240
Published: Expected September 8, 2014
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Sometimes, the cost of love is too steep

Olivia's twin brother, Liam, has been her best friend her whole life. But when he starts dating, Olivia is left feeling alone, so she tries to drive away Liam's girlfriends in an effort to get her best friend back.

But she meets her match in Zoey, Liam's latest fling. A call-it-like-she-sees-it kind of girl, Zoey sees right through Olivia's tricks. What starts as verbal sparring between the two changes into something different, however, as they share their deepest insecurities and learn they have a lot in common. Olivia falls for Zoey, believing her brother could never get serious with her. But when Liam confesses that he's in love with Zoey, Olivia has to decide who deserves happiness more: her brother or herself?

Reviewed by Danielle. 
You can pry the ship of Olivia and Zoey out of my cold dead hands. I am so unbelievably in love with them as a couple and I’m desperately invested in their relationship.

And to think I almost missed out on this book entirely because the cover and title imply it’s about cheating.

The blurb does this book a huge disservice, so allow me a minor spoiler. Liam is not in love with Zoey. He never says he’s in love with Zoey. (He says the opposite.) They’re casual. Liam starts liking her more than she likes him, but that is absolutely not the same thing. Around the three quarter mark, the relationships start to feel kind of cheater-y, which is what causes the climax, but I don’t feel like this is a “cheating” book. Your mileage may vary.

Liam is really a non-factor in most of the book, though. Zoey’s POVs almost never features him, thoughts of him, anything. Instead, it’s all about the slow build from hate to friendship to love between Olivia and Zoey. It’s so natural and sweet; it’s probably one of the best examples of a relationship in YA/NA. If I had one quibble, it’s that Zoey never gave gifts or planned the dates. I understand Olivia has more money and time, but I just wish I’d felt a little more give and take. Still, I’m never going to get over the graffiti date. The idea of a love interest taking the time to plan a perfect day for their partner, institute it, and use it to show their affection? Beautiful.

I did find one thing extremely weird. Zoey has a little sister who she’s extremely close to. She comes along on trips out with both Olivia and Liam, but at the climax, she has no idea who Liam is. (She didn’t talk to them on the ferry, but she had her face pressed to the glass and definitely saw them together, but didn’t recognize him at all when he arrived at the house. Huh?) I feel like a scene must have been added and not edited in properly. I hope that’s corrected before release. OH NO, LOOKS LIKE I MUST BUY A COPY TO CHECK. IT IS A TRAGEDY.

Their home lives are a little melodramatic and feature some subplots I could take or leave. The maybe-cheating didn’t make me feel good, though teenagers aren’t known for their complex romantic morals. It doesn’t matter. This is a book that features a f/f relationship with no homophobia or consequences of being gay. Do you understand how rare that is? If I'd been able to see a happy, healthy homo relationship when I was a teen, instead of sad issue books where being gay is the only thing in a person's life, it would have saved me a lot of pain and tears in my own life. So allow me to quote Olivia,

“It was perfect.

The whole [book] was perfect.”

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

Title: The House of the Four Winds
Author: Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory
Genre: fantasy
Series: One Dozen Daughters #1
Pages: 304
Published: August 5, 2014
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Mercedes Lackey is the New York Times bestselling author of the Valdemar series and romantic fantasies like Beauty and the Werewolf and The Fairy Godmother. James Mallory and Lackey have collaborated on six novels. Now, these New York Times and USA Today bestselling collaborators bring romance to the fore with The House of Four Winds.

The rulers of tiny, impoverished Swansgaard have twelve daughters and one son. While the prince’s future is assured, his twelve sisters must find their own fortunes.

Disguising herself as Clarence, a sailor, Princess Clarice intends to work her way to the New World. When the crew rebels, Clarice/Clarence, an expert with rapier and dagger, sides with the handsome navigator, Dominick, and kills the cruel captain.

Dominick leads the now-outlawed crew in search of treasure in the secret pirate haven known as The House of Four Winds. They encounter the sorceress Shamal, who claims Dominick for her own—but Clarice has fallen hard for Dominick and won’t give him up without a fight.


Full of swashbuckling adventure, buoyant magic, and irrepressible charm, The House of the Four Winds is a lighthearted fantasy romp by a pair of bestselling writers.

Reviewed by Danielle. 

If I could rate this book based on a summary of events, it would be five stars. It’s got a princesses disguised as a boy, sword fighting, pirates, an evil sorceress, romance, sea monsters, treasure, and a happily ever after. ♪ ♫These are a few of my favorite things! ♪ ♫

Unfortunately, what The House of the Four Winds suffers from is poor pacing. The initial boat trip stretches on far too long and we aren’t even introduced to the villain until well past the half way mark. Things drag on, (the reverend, the magical amnesia,) and are then resolved with little to no fanfare or impact. The climax felt clumsy and a big reveal didn’t have enough time or emotion behind it to feel shocking. If I could take 75 pages from the early set up and reassign them to the climax, I’d be a lot happier.

Furthermore, I am very disappointed in the worldbuilding. It’s Earth, but because of the discovery of magic, everything’s different! Well, the country and city names are different. Except Manna-hattan. And everything’s pretty analogous to 18th Century Europe. But it’s totally different!

And your African parallel is still being plundered for slave trade? Spare me.

Now, there are positives for this book. Clarice is a really fun character. I was very impressed with the way she handled herself on the ship. She’s level headed and good, but still acted when the situation called for it. I really appreciated that she accepted her feelings for Dominick and then moved on with her life because nothing could be done about it right then. The romance was nice, evolving in a natural and sweet way. I really liked and appreciated that his virginity and her lack there of was an absolute non-issue. Go Mercedes, flip that script.

The House of the Four Winds isn’t a fairy tale retelling, but it has a lot of similarities to old classics. It actually has a lot in common with Ms. Lackey’s Five Hundred Kingdom’s series, in both tone and structure. It’s not my favorite series, but it’s one I’m always happy to come across. I suspect the One Dozen Daughters will be the same way.

Review: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

Title: Mortal Danger
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Immortal Game #1
Pages: 385
Published: August 5 2014
Source: ARC from publishers for review
Rating: 3.5/5

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

I should have known that a book that boasts of a "Faustian bargain" would eventually manage to creep me the hell out. Mortal Danger feels a lot like a more interesting Premeditated at first (girl is out for revenge on those fellow high schoolers who have done her wrong) but it eventually shows its true colors as a chilling, creepy semi-horror novel with a side helping of teenage romance. If you're a horror creampuff like myself, I wouldn't advise reading this book: while alone, at night, or by yourself in an isolated location. It's not a "true" horror novel in that it's a constantly threatening stream of events, but the occasional freaky event/person that appeared was more than enough to make me need a few breaks in the four-hours I inhaled this story.

Chances are if you don't like difficult, occasionally unlikeable protagonists, main character and narrator Edie (and Mortal Danger itself) will be a struggle for you. If you like Courtney Summers's version of main characters, Edie will be your next favorite person in that style. She's got hard edges, attitude, and a lot of bitterness. But I really liked Edie and the way she evolved though the novel. She is who she is and her goals, while not those of "a nice girl" are understandable. Her struggles to fit in, to find worth in herself are so relateable and conveyed so well. Not everyone has been in the dire situation Edie is at the beginning of the novel, but she is real and believable. And Edie grows and changes over the course of her story, which is refreshing and authentic.

I wish I was as into the romance angle as Edie and her love interest Kian are. From their first meeting, it's pretty obvious how their romance/story will proceed. It's the typical instaforbiddenlove, and while I grew to like them as a couple and appreciate their chemistry, it accelerates way, way too fast. I understand that stress and fear can create unexpectedly strong bonds between two people, but the alacrity with which Edie gloms onto Kian and vice versa was a little too much too fast for me. I could seem them being together, but felt they needed more time to know each other before the depth of their emotion could be believed or endorsed.

There were several good surprises for readers in Mortal Danger. For all that the romance was predictable, a lot of the plot and characters aren't. I really appreciated that Aguirre paints her (human) antagonists with more than one color. Cameron and Britt are more than stereotypical high school villains, which made Edie's mission of revenge a complicated one as she realizes there's more to them than she knew before. Plotwise, there was one big twist that made the book for me. All I will say, to avoid any kind of spoiler, is I love authors who aren't afraid to do the unexpected to their cast. 

For a series beginner, Mortal Danger is a strong, interesting introduction into the world Aguirre is setting up for her Immortal Game series. It's original and freaky, fun and scary, peopled with believable characters. I liked a lot about it and will be on the lookout for the next installment of Edie and Kian's struggle.

Review Take Two: Traitor's Blade by Sebastien de Castell

Title: Traitor's Blade
Author: Sebastien de Castell
Genre: fantasy, awesomeness
Series: Greatcoats #1
Pages: 370
Published: March 6 2014
Source: received for review from publisher
Rating: 4.5/5

Falcio is the first Cantor of the Greatcoats. Trained in the fighting arts and the laws of Tristia, the Greatcoats are travelling Magisters upholding King’s Law. They are heroes. Or at least they were, until they stood aside while the Dukes took the kingdom, and impaled their King’s head on a spike.

Now Tristia is on the verge of collapse and the barbarians are sniffing at the borders. The Dukes bring chaos to the land, while the Greatcoats are scattered far and wide, reviled as traitors, their legendary coats in tatters.

All they have left are the promises they made to King Paelis, to carry out one final mission. But if they have any hope of fulfilling the King’s dream, the divided Greatcoats must reunite, or they will also have to stand aside as they watch their world burn…

Immediately upon finishing this fun, exciting, original book, I thought, "More! Encore! It can't be over already!" For me, one of the great hallmarks for any fantasy novel is never wanting it to end. And that was exactly my reaction for Sebastien de Castell's debut novel Traitor's Blade; I was utterly unwilling to end my time with his creations, notably Falcio, Brasti, and Kest. It's the kind of story that grips you right from the first chapter and never lets your attention wander. It's involving and swashbuckling, filled with history and fresh worldbuilding. Boasting great characters with creative personal arcs, fantastic writing and more this is a solid foundation for de Castell to build his series.

Now it's obvious that I had a great time in this world, and a lot of that is down to the characters themselves. Falcio val Mond is the main main character but he is complemented (and sometimes challenged) by his two sidekicks, the enigmatic Kest and the cocky Brasti. They're a trio on the run and the camaraderie and charisma of the trio is undeniable. I connected the most with narrator Falcio, but that doesn't mean his compatriots aren't well-defined, or explored in their own time. They might not get the same amount of time at the forefront of the story as Falcio does being the first-person narrator, but they're all equal legs of this main character tripod. They're all connected by virtue of being outcast Greatcoats but to spoil their personal history would be a disservice to the novel.

Fantasy is known for being dark and depressing (especially if you go in for the GRRM/Joe Abercrombie brand of it) but de Castell is able to inject humor, warmth, and wit into his characters and story without sacrificing authenticity. They're complicated, complex, and unique people with many facets to their personalities.  Danielle noticed the same thing in her review, and it's those flashes of light that help make both Falcio and Traitor's Blade so damn good. Sebastien de Castell is able to pull off both the darker moments and the levity of each character with equal ease. It's an impressive feat for a first novel, but the characters carry their various ghosts without totally losing sight of why they became Greatcoats in the first place. All in all, it's a cast characterized with skill and subtlety. 

There were a couple scenes that didn't fit as well within the story for me as a reader. Danielle's explanation of why the handling of Falcio's wife doesn't sit well with a feminst audience is perfect and I couldn't agree more. Women are more (and should be shown as more) than props to motivate a male character. That particular trope is more than unfortunate and is largely why this wasn't a 5 star read for me. The temple sex scene was similarly ill-used and just unnecessary for the plot. It doesn't seem to fit with either Falcio himself or the narrative arc of the story. 

Traitor's Blade is a fantastic introduction to the author, this world, and the characters themselves. Often a fantasy novel will focus too closely on one aspect, to the detriment of others. Not so here; de Castell's debut is fresh, creative, and just plain fun to read. It left me eager for the continuation of the story and impatient for when that sure-to-be-stellar sequel will release. If you're a fan of complicated and original fantasy, you can't go wrong picking up the first novel in the Greatcoats' series.

 

Book Tour Review: Inamorata by Megan Chance

Title: Inamorata
Author: Megan Chance
Genre: historical fiction, supernatural
Series: N/A
Pages: 420
Published: August 1 2014
Source: TLC Book Tours for review
Rating: 4/5

American artist Joseph Hannigan and his alluring sister, Sophie, have arrived in enchanting nineteenth-century Venice with a single-minded goal. The twins, who have fled scandal in New York, are determined to break into Venice’s expatriate set and find a wealthy patron to support Joseph’s work.

But the enigmatic Hannigans are not the only ones with a secret agenda. Joseph’s talent soon attracts the attention of the magnificent Odilé Leon, a celebrated courtesan and muse who has inspired many artists to greatness. But her inspiration comes with a devastatingly steep price.

As Joseph falls under the courtesan’s spell, Sophie joins forces with Nicholas Dane, the one man who knows Odilé’s dark secret, and her sworn enemy. When the seductive muse offers Joseph the path to eternal fame, the twins must decide who to believe—and just how much they are willing to sacrifice for fame.

If you asked me what I liked most about reading Megan Chance's new novel Inamorata, I would been forced to pick between the complicated, compelling characters, the ever-present ambiance and atmosphere of 1800s Venice, or the creative mythology used to frame the plot and narrative. There's a lot to recommend this supernatural historical, and I found myself readily engaging with Chance's detailed and thoughtful storytelling style. The beginning moves at a slower pace than would be most effective and the denouement can feel a bit rushed after the 400 pages leading up, but I would recommend this readily to anyone searching for a historical with an edge of the supernatural.

There's not a lot out there in the same vein as Inamorata but the closest accruate comparison I can comeup with is Kate Forsyth's Bitter Greens. Both feature complicated villains/antiheroes, and use those characters as muses for the ages. Chance's novel is about a trio of well-drawn characters but it is Odile Leon, a woman who has inspired and loved many artists, singers, musicians that commands the most attention. In many ways for a variety of reasons, Odile is the best part of the novel. Though she is clearly set up as the antagonist for Nicholas as well as the Hannigan twins, Odile is complicated, complex, and thoroughly interesting. She's an excellent foil for the trio, but her own story is more than that of a typical antagonist.

Joseph and his sister Sophie are the catalysts for the story's plot. Odile needs Joseph, Nicholas wants to defeat Odile, and the Hannigans have a secret agenda of their own. It takes a while for the reader to understand the motivations of each character since their backstories are doled out slowly, revealed through slight flashbacks and hints in dialogue and internal monologue. Megan Chance is a gifted author and it shows in how well-crafted and three-dimensional her core cast are shown to be throughout the course of Inamorata. None of them are perfect, and all of them are haunted by who they are and how they got to be that way. 

I did feel that there was slightly too much build-up and not enough conflict for the finale of the novel. I wanted more action and felt that Nicholas's pent up bitterness and rage was overcome slightly too easily for the seven years he nursed his ambitions. I definitely didn't expect for the book to end the way it did and the final twist is commendable for its execution and the surprise factor.  For all that, Inamorata is a fantastic pairing of history and the supernatural and easily a favorite for 2014.

TBR Planning: August

August is my second favorite month. This time in a year, I will be in hardcore wedding mode. I probably will avoid all my responsibilities with reading. Not that I've ever done that in the past or anything. I've been doing pretty good sticking to a reading plan/guide and here are a couple in the wings going forward in the 8th month of the year!

American artist Joseph Hannigan and his alluring sister, Sophie, have arrived in enchanting nineteenth-century Venice with a single-minded goal. The twins, who have fled scandal in New York, are determined to break into Venice’s expatriate set and find a wealthy patron to support Joseph’s work.

But the enigmatic Hannigans are not the only ones with a secret agenda. Joseph’s talent soon attracts the attention of the magnificent Odilé Leon, a celebrated courtesan and muse who has inspired many artists to greatness. But her inspiration comes with a devastatingly steep price.

As Joseph falls under the courtesan’s spell, Sophie joins forces with Nicholas Dane, the one man who knows Odilé’s dark secret, and her sworn enemy. When the seductive muse offers Joseph the path to eternal fame, the twins must decide who to believe—and just how much they are willing to sacrifice for fame.

Inamorata by Megan Chance
A blog tour novel about Italy and art and siblings and love. It's going to be a convoluted tale and it sounds like the best kind of historical fiction.

Frostborn by Lou Anders
A BEA book that I've been eyeing for months. It's due to be published and it's a MG fantasy with dragons and kick ass girl characters. I'm almost sold by just that alone!

Dark Aemilia by Sally O'Reilly
Shakespeare's famous dark muse gets a name and a history in this historical fiction read. I haven't seen many authors tackle this idea so it gets points for trying at least. I hope the execution is worthy of the premise.