Blog Watch Wednesday!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Reviews Posted:










Fun Stuff

I want, I want, I want. Purses/bags made from old books.

Sixteen Things Calvin and Hobbes Said Better Than Anyone Else. "You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don’t help." is quite famous, but there are some even better ones in there. They even comment on hipsters before it was cool.

Hey, you can read 18 pages of Robin Wasserman's forthcoming fantastic, spooky, engrossing new YA novel, The Book of Blood and Shadow! I LOVED this book; I loved this book's main character; I loved where this book was set and all the history involved. You want to read this book.

 It's widely known that Whitney Houston has died. At only 48, this woman had years and years ahead of her. It's a shame she died - especially when you consider she had a voice that could do this. Her isolated vocals are staggering, not not only on I Will Always Love You, but even her pop records.

This is hilarious - "George R. R. Martin" reads children's books. The mix of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" + the Night's Watch vow = too amusing.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, so here are some amusing Westerosi/ASOIAF Valentine's Day cards. The one with Bran's "I think I am falling for you" - both horrible and so so awesome.  

Speaking of Valentine's Day - did you know it was first associated with romantic love (instead of Christian martyrs) around the High Middle Ages thanks to Geoffrey Chaucer and his crowd? Thanks, Geoff!



How hey, did you see? Matthew Broderick was cool again for 2.5 minutes.  Y'know if selling out your most iconic character to shill for a car company is "cool".

Have you seen Kristen Bell's epic and hilarious meltdown over a sloth? It both endeared her even more to me, and showed me a new way to express my emotional range. "If I'm not between a 3 and a 7 on the emotional scale, I'm crying. I'm crying if it's too sad, or if I am too excited." How great is KBell? I need to start watching Veronica Mars.

I want to go - and buy a book from - them all.

Oh hey, remember when Ralph Fiennes was hilarious and unexpected and read Harry Potter fanfic porn as Lord Voldemort in his pajamas and it was the best/most random thing ever? While that may never be topped in sheer scope of WTF, the HP cast is just awesome and strange. Enjoy Gary Oldman's dramatic reading of Snooki's UTI.


Also: Samuel L. Jackson reads the audiobook for Go the F*ck to Sleep, a book I'm pretty sure an alter ego of his wrote onde day when he had a psychotic break from reality.


Along with the new trailer, the Hunger Games marketing has started to roll out. I love that it's both thematic and creepy. Well done.

This was a pretty interesting read: The High Stakes Behind the Hunger Games.

If you've never heard of Nancy Wake, the "White Mouse of WWII" you're probably not alone but you really really should read up about her. She died in 2011, but she was one hell of a woman and resistance fighter.

The Huffington Post has a March Madness-style bracket challenge for "the Best Jesus Movie."  I haven't seen any of the semifinalists, so I'm not voting in this one.

Anatomy of a Tearjerker - Why can Adele's "Someone Like You"  make anyone/everyone cry. An answer - with science!

Speaking of Adele, she swept all 6 categories she was nominated for at Sunday's Grammy's. I did a happy dance each and every time.

But, the Grammy's should be ashamed about their position and acceptance of Chris Brown. This article details why you should be offended by his invitation + performance better and more fully than I ever could, but I will continue to ignore/blacklist CB forever.

Also the Grammy's released these tongue-in-cheek infographics for the albums nominated for Album of the Year.


10 of the Greatest Kisses in Literature. I love that they included the one from Peter Pan. Adorable, though I could've done without Romeo/Juliet being included.

From Cracked:
and my two personal favorites - seriously, READ THEM:
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Review: The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Genre: young-adult, supernatural fiction
Series: Incarnation #1
Pages: 256 (digital ARC edition)
Published: January 2012
Source: publishers for review
Rating: 4/5

After spending six hundred years on earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world's riches, but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to swap bodies with other humans, jumping from one vessel to the next, taking the human's life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she's done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

Then sixteen-year-old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she's inhabiting--and falls for the human boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she's his again, and every moment she stays, she's putting herself and the people she's grown to care for in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that's eluded her for centuries: true love?

Short but sweet, The Alchemy of Forever is deceptively simple and remarkably engaging. The plot may not be entirely the most original, nor the writing the most striking, though it certainly has its moments of sparkle, but this was an unputdownable read.  Finished in under three hours, my first experience with the series of the Incarnates was like the perfect sugary snack between actual meals: filling while eating and left no feelings of guilt or shame when I was finished. With both a great title and a new spin on teen immortality that isn't vampires or even vampire-adjacent in its immediate favor, I obviously found The Alchemy of Forever to be a very entertaining novel.

Seraphina and her story are instantly energetic; her story begins on a night of death but it is far from the end of Sera's existence. Alchemy, an ancient (and real) fruitless search for gold/youth and immortality among others, is successful in this alternative world of Williams's imagining, and wonderfully so. In this fantastical London, science and magic are indistinguishable, and fit in wonderfully with Sera's tale of escape and redemption. Sera and Cyrus have a core, selected group with which they share fellowship: Charlotte, Sera's BFF for 200 years; Jared, a pirate from the 1660's and a sort of enforcer for Cyrus; Sebastien, a reticent and largely unseen and mysterious member of the coven; and lastly, Amelia, an icy blonde that seems to harbor ill will toward both Charlotte and Sera. With each member needing a new body roughly every ten years, this is a group with many ghosts in the closet, though only Seraphina is shown to have any remorse for the killing left in their wake. While this seems to be set in an alternative world to ours, different only in the successful alchemy, I thought I caught a reference to Bram Stoker's Dracula - a dog named Harker that doesn't seem to take to Kailey/Sera... As I've mentioned I find the Incarnates condition and modus operandi (stalking/killing victim to replenish own lifeforce) and vampires to be very similar, I wonder if it is an intentional mention. There's not enough evidence to be sure yet, but I will be on the lookout for more clues/conspiracies in the sequel.

By virtue of becoming 'Incarnates' aka basically "body snatchers" with original souls in tact with her first love Cyrus, Sera endures centuries of life - but not real love, nor true happiness despite all the exotic experiences had and places she has been. Cyrus emerges as controlling, insane, volatile type of man - but happily, instead of mistaking this psychotic behavior as the danger it is and not misconstruing it as love, Sera attempts to free herself from his clutches. Even the act of hiding petty change gives her a thrill, to "have something that was mine." From the moment I realized Sera's plans, I liked her. For the first time in centuries, Sera dares to make her own decisions, dare to dream for herself instead of fearing what Cyrus will do to her as punishment. Her naivete at 14 haunts her for the most part of her endless centuries of life, and her maturation from selfish, thoughtless girl into an actual woman takes longer than eighteen years. Sera is a very introspective woman, as can be expected from someone downtrodden and controlled for so long, and that means much of this book is not action. As I adjusted to Sera and her style, I appreciated more the inwards-bent of her thinking - this is another of those characters that sneak up in your affections.

The Alchemy of Forever is a very engaging if all too brief, novel both in terms of character, and the unique, entirely welcome new spin on immortality. But this is also slightly disquieting book. The notion of "body snatching" is itself pretty creepy - the actual person is dead but the shell remains, with another inside, unbeknownst to anyone else. There are no less than three movies since 1945 devoted to how horrific this concept is to us. Sera herself seems very aware of this, commenting internally and often that "the daughter they knew was dead and they had no idea" in several different reiterations, with just Sera wearing her skin.  And the fact that there is an entire coven of immortal-body-snatching-murderers-with-permanent-wanderlust out there adds another level of menace to the novel it otherwise lacks. Cyrus certainly makes for an adequate villain and foil for Sera - more than adequate when he's actually present on the page instead of a ghost or memory- but the threat of him doesn't inspire as much tension as it could otherwise.

While I can't say the "relationship" between Sera/Kailey and Noah the black-haired neighbor-boy with a heart of gold smacks of the long-sought-after and advertised "true love" from above, there is a clear chemistry and sweetness between the two. I think I found Noah a bit too wide-eyed and perfect to entirely believe in him - or his continued attraction to Kailey after it emerges how shoddily she treated him for years - but overall I liked his character and could see the appeal even if I stood outside of it. From what is alluded to about Kailey pre-Sera she seems like a hard-to-like girl as well, so I wonder why Noah didn't remark upon the abrupt and 180 degree attitude changes that "Kailey" experienced in the novel...? I also wonder at how this thing between the two will develop - how will Sera reconcile Noah to the fact that the Kailey he knew is gone but the "Kailey" he loves is an immortal murderess hundreds of years older than himself? But while I found the 'love' between the 'teens' to be somewhat lacking, the home relationship and dynamic of the Morgans is refreshing and warm, and real. They present a stark and very bleak comparison to the 'love and family' that Sera has known for centuries with the coven, and it's nice to read a non dysfunctional family once in a while.

The ending is abrupt, let's just say that. It comes to a screaming and ominous cliffhanger right at the very moment you most wish to keep reading. While I can understand the cutoff as an incentive to read the next novel it left me somewhat dissatisfied with this first in the series. Unfortunately, many, many threads are left wide-open after that bastard of a cliffhanger for an ending and no main conflict is resolved - the book just ends. What happened to the magical book Sera had the night she switched bodies? What happened to Taryn, who might know all of Sera's secrets? What was Kailey doing the night she died? The questions are endless and enough to ensure, above all doubt and frustration with this finale, I will be continuing this series. 

Another cover, though I like the first the most:




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Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Monday, February 13, 2012
Title: Obsidian
Genre: young adult, science fiction
Series: Lux #1
Pages: 287 (Nook ARC edition)
Published: November 2011
Source: publishers via NetGalley
Rating: 3/5

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

I have heard quite a lot about this author in the year+ since I've begun bookblogging. She's one of the more widely-known indie authors and the books in her first series have thousands of ratings - surely a good sign right? In some ways, yes, there is a lot to like about Armentrout's science fiction young-adult tale. For one: it's science fiction instead of supernatural/paranormal. Some other readers and reviewers may label Obsidian/the Lux series as being of the supernatural persuasion, but for me <SPOILER, but it's in the blurb for the book> anything involving beings from another planet constitutes science fiction.</SPOILER> For the most part, this is a vert easy read and an enjoyable one too; if only I hadn't hated the male main character (Daeman) or his interactions with the girl main character (Katy), or if the first half wasn't completely devoid of any plot (seriously, there's only so much hot-guy-gazing and general jackassery I can take from one book) this would have been in the 4 - 4.5 range instead of a 3.

Katy is a medium protagonist. She certainly has her moments - like her attitude towards Daemon initially - but there was a bit of a disconnect for me as a reader. By all means, Katy should've been a real, easy-to-relate to type of character, but I never truly invested in her, or her relationships. She seems geared towards a specific audience: young, female, readers. A lot of recent novels, particularly in YA that I have noticed, feature  bookworms for a main character, and often that works well for both the book and the character. And sadly, sometimes it falls flat, as is the case here with Katy and her blog "Katy's Krazy Obsession." Instead of being the one thing about Katy's so-so personality that drew me most to her, the book-loving, book-reviewing aspect of her life just seemed counterfeit, only occasionally popping up to make readers identify with the MC's convoluted story. While I obsiously didn't love Katy, I did appreciate her "take no shit" attitude and strong opinions - this is not a character than can be accused of being a wallflower, despite how bland she may come off.

Katy's language is also fairly strong for a young-adult novel and for a teenager of her years. I personally don't mind a curse or two, as I have the mind and mouth of a sailor with Tourettes, but some readers will be bothered by the plethora that leave Katy's lips. Curse words and expletives don't bother Katy, so my advice to you if they bother you: this is not the book to read. Daemon, let's talk about Daemon. I liked him: he was intriguing, alluring, hot, mysterious - until he gets around Katy. Then he morphs into a giant douche - all to protect her/him etc. I hated this dynamic between the two. Hated, hated hated. They do have great chemistry - Armentrout can certainly create sexual tension and write a hell of a make-out scene - but I can't ignore Daemon's awful treatment of Katy. I mean, when it's more likely you're going to the woods to be murdered than be kissed ("Dee, I think the reason he stares at me is because he is planning on ways to kill me and hide the body."), I think that's a sign of a dysfunctional relationship.  Kids, chances are if the hot guy next door is being an ass to you, it's because he's a giant ass, not a super sekrit alien race hidden by the government' in our country. While their banter may have been occasionally amusing or snarky, Daemon's attitude should never be excused or rationalized by his looks.

Things I Did Like About Obsidian:
  • Katy and her mom have a normal, mostly healthy relationship (wonder of wonders)
  • Katy isn't a wallflower happy just to be noticed by anyone
  • the easy, breezy beautiful style of writing
  • Katy calling people on their bullshit
  • the flashes of genuine humor that had me giggling (Katy on medication was noteworthy, "There was no doubt in my mind that Daemon believed revenge was a dish best served in my face.")
  • incorporation of aliens/sci fi themes 
  • the chemistry of the characters


And now for the less fun portion of our review here this evening: my other issues with Obsidian. Why is the weakness of the bad guys, the "Arum", obsidian, a hardened glass found only here? What did Daemon and Company do to kill one before they came to Earth? There are some substances out in space that resemble the black glass, but would they work for a Luxen as a weapon? What is the plot of the first half of the book before the bad guys show up? It's easy and readable, but there is no forward momentum for one hundred pages. When it does finally appear, the plot is sadly fairly generic and  entirely predictable - the best thing going for Obsidian are the Luxen, the aliens and the readers curiosity about them. This is obviously a mixed-bag: some readers will love this, others will feel fairly "mehhh" about it (here!) and I can see, and understand, when readers will hate it. 

Armetrout has proved herself an author that is here to stay, with two multiple-book series ongoing currently. I am not sure at this point whether or not I personally will continue to read this series (or ever start her first), but Obsidian wasn't bad enough to be blacklisted. I just wish more had been original, in keeping with the idea of the Luxen, and less time spent on weaker elements of the story. Short story: fans of the author will be gratified, new readers will be possibly intrigued and detractors will find fodder to hate.

Another reason it might be worth checking this out if you're even mildly intrigued: this is a fairly cheap ebook at just $5.99



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Review: A Little Night Magic by Lucy March

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Genre: supernatural fiction, romance novel-ish
Series: Untitled #1
Pages: 322 (Nook ARC edition)
Published: January 2012
Source: publishers via NetGalley
Rating: 4/5

Olivia Kiskey needs a change. She’s been working at the same Nodaway Falls, New York, waffle house since she was a teenager; not a lot of upward mobility there. She’s been in love with Tobias, the cook, for the last four years; he’s never made a move. Every Saturday night, she gathers with her three best friends—Peach, Millie, and Stacy—and drinks the same margaritas while listening to the same old stories. Intent on shaking things up, she puts her house on the market, buys a one-way ticket to Europe, and announces her plans to her friends . . . but then she meets Davina Granville, a strange and mystical Southern woman who shows Olivia that there is more to her life than she ever dreamed. 

As Liv’s latent magical powers come to the surface, she discovers that having an interesting life is maybe not all it’s cracked up to be. The dark side of someone else’s magic is taking over good people in town, and changing them into vessels of malevolence. Unwilling to cede her home to darkness, she battles the demons of her familial past and her magical present, with those she loves at her side . . . and in the cross fire. Can the most important things in life—friendship, love, magic, and waffles—get her through the worst that the universe can throw at her?

I enjoyed this so, so much. I think I read the entire thing with a smile on my face, or actually giggling (out loud!)at what the characters said. This was exactly what I was looking for after such an emotionally wrenching read, like the one I just finished (The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy). This is the perfect kind of bubblegum book - tasteful, not too lengthy and just so adorable. As soon as I closed the metaphoric cover (as this was an e-galley) I went online to see when/if any sequels were planned. Lucky me (and you, should you dear reader, take a chance on this hidden gem) there's at least one other adventure set in this series to be had: That Touch of Magic, though it is not due to be released until 2013(!). 

Olivia takes the cake as one of my all-time favorite heroines.  Not only can this girl banter with her love interest (I love witty back and forth, something Olivia does ably and often), she's smart, snarky, self-aware and interestingly flawed. Nearly every chapter Liv would do/say something that just utterly reinforced my love for her. My personal favorite bon mots and sentences from this spunky waitress with a waffle addiction: 

"Spontaneity without commitment is just wishful thinking."

"[Skinny jeans] are the jeans that you buy that are too small so that someday you can wear them and feel awesome." "There are so many things wrong with that sentence. I don't even know where to start. " "It's okay. This is advanced self-loathing. You'd have to be a woman to understand it at this level."
"While I had the standard waitress's upper body strength, I sadly lacked the standard waitress's thirst for blood."

"I don't care what Edward did in the Twilight books, watching a girl sleep is just creepy."
It's easy to tell I invested in this character both immediately and abundantly. It's very easy to relate to the 28 year old waitress: Liv's voice is strong, enjoyably consisten and lively from the outset. This is just a fun book to read - it's almost effortless. Liv is a great character, and one of the few female leads that seems to have her head on her shoulders, romantically speaking.

Speaking of the romance, I must add that I absolutely adored everything about Tobias and Olivia. In a novel that is more character-driven, as is the case here, the characters need to strong, realized people to hold up the novel's weight. Ms. March has done so accordingly here: not only Liv is rounded out and characterized: Tobias, Peach, Stacy, Millie - all are unique with interesting facets. I must admit that besides Liv, Tobais is my favorite. What helps his case is the dynamic between him and Olivia: these two have chemistry and both amusing and snarky dialogues often (Olivia: "Why are you looking at me like that?" Tobias: "This is my standard expression when stating into an abyss."). Their alternatively relaxed and charfged interplay, the give-and-take of the "will they, won't they" were all very well handled: this never felt like a shallow romance or a ploy for drama. It's a believable attraction, easy to root for and all the more engrossing because I actively wanted the two together, despite all obstacles.

Though I've labeled this as a "supernatural/paranormal fiction" type of novel, the magic aspect is quite shallow and underdeveloped - while I liked the information and details that were provided about the 'Magicals' and conjurers of Olivia's world, there just wasn't enough. The system of 'day magic' and 'night magic' is an interesting twist on abilities and powers, but what exactly determines which allegiance a Magical belongs to? <SPOILER> If it's dependent on genes and family traits, how did Olivia have day magic and her sister Holly night magic?</SPOILER> How exactly do these powers work? Where do they come from? Questions aside, Olivia's animating magic created some of the cutest-sounded but odd pets I've heard of: a mug bunny, a bat phone, a trashcan lid dog. . . at least the author went off the beaten path - I definitely appreciate the may and varied touches of individuality throughout the story. 

I loved the ending. I loved the beginning. The middle had its moments of weakness and predictability (especially in regards to the big reveal/Tobias's reticence) but overall, it held up well and tied together the delightful endpieces of the novel. Though the magic aspect may leave a little to be desired, the wonderful, cute characters more than took up the slack. I want more, and I want it now.
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Two Minute Review: Ember by Kristen Callihan

Friday, February 10, 2012
Title: Ember
Genre: historical fiction, supernatural fiction, romance novel-ish
Series: Darkest London # 0.5
Pages: 92 (Nook ARC edition)
Published: February 2012
Source: publishers via NetGalley
Rating: 3.5/5

After a fire consumes the Ellis family fortune, the beautiful and resourceful Miranda finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma: enter a life of petty crime or watch her family succumb to poverty. But once her fiancé learns of her descent into danger—and of the strange, new powers she's discovered—saving her family may come at the high price of her heart.

When Lord Benjamin Archer's one chance for redemption is destroyed by corrupt London antiquarian Hector Ellis, he vows to take what Ellis values most—his daughter Miranda. Forced to hide his face behind masks, Archer travels the world hoping to escape the curse that plagues him so that he can finally claim his prize.

But once Archer returns home to London, will it be revenge he seeks? Or will the flame-haired beauty ignite new, undeniable desires?

After very much impressing me with her first novel - and first in the series - Firelight, I picked up Ember expecting a short, uncomplicated but thoroughly entertaining glimpse into the lives of Miranda and Archer before the events of book one.  For once, I got exactly what I had hoped for - Ms. Callihan does not disappoint. This novella does cut it a bit close to the short-side; the page count (for the ARC at least) is 92 but the last twenty pages are extras and about the full-length novel. The extras are quite  fun and if I hadn't already devoured read Firelight, after this my appetite would be thoroughly primed and ready. But for the use of 72 pages devoted to Pan and 'the Bloody Baron', I was once again entranced and intrigued by these two well-rounded and interesting characters. 

Readers will get to see the events in the warehouse that doom Miranda's family - the prologue is a bit vague initially about who she was with at the time (Martin? Billy Finger?), but the bulk of the novella is centered in 1879, two years after the disastrous fire and after Miranda and Archer meet for the first time. Miranda's powers are actually used in the novella - something I wasn't expecting after how long it took to get to that point in Firelight - but are not the focus of the story here. With Ember, the reader gets to experience the fear of Miranda scrounging out a living thieving in London, observe Archer search for any type of cure he can find in Egypt.

The additional plotline about Martin was rather nicely handled. The relationship between him and Miranda ended rather quickly during the first book, so I appreciated the look into the actual relationship as it existed. This plotline also stirs up a lot of sympathy for Miranda's lot in life - something I didn't really feel for her while reading Firelight. I liked her certainly - Ember only reinforces that impression - but the events herein are very good at engendering sympathy for the Londoner fallen on hard times. Archer is, of course, as dashing and alluring as ever but the opportunity to see him in Egypt/New York allows for additional facets to his personality to be fleshed out more.

Fans of Firelight will want to grab Ember as a tasty little morsel to hold them over until the August release of book number two, Moonglow. Best of all? It's a steal at only $.99 for Nook.
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Review Take Two: Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Genre: fantasy
Series: A Tale of the Kin #1
Pages: 414 (mass market paperback edition)
Published: February 2011
Source: won in GoodReads giveaway from publisher
Rating: 4/5
Drothe is a Nose, an informant who finds and takes care of trouble inside the criminal organization he’s a part of. He also smuggles imperial relics on the side. When his boss sends him to Ten Ways to track down who’s been leaning on his organization’s people, Drothe discovers hints of a much bigger mystery. Someone is trying to stir up trouble between lower-level criminal organizations, including the one Drothe belongs to. And there’s a book rumored to contain imperial glimmer (or magic) that a lot of very dangerous people seem to be looking for — including two crime bosses known as the Gray Princes. When Drothe discovers the book, he finds himself holding a bit of swag that can bring down emperors, shatter the criminal underworld, and unlock forbidden magic… that's if he can survive long enough to use it.

 I was very excited to receive Among Thieves as part of the Librarything Early Reviewers program. I was not disappointed.

Among Thieves is an action-packed romp through a fantasy city known as Ildrecca. The main character, Drothe, is a rogue, gathering information for his crime lord and collecting relics as a sort of hobby. Then a particular relic enters his life and turns it upside down. He has to choose between promises and friendship, doing the right thing or the easy thing.

One of the biggest strengths of Hulick's writing are his battle scenes. The timing of each sword stroke, each move by the combatants, seems real beyond most other writers' abilities. Nor is the fun bogged down by unnecessary details; the history of the world and just enough setting detail integrates seamlessly into the story.

One of the questions I ended up asking myself, though, was whether or not I liked the main character. I found him believable certainly. Clever in his own right, concerned for his people, and honorable almost to a fault. I didn't feel the connection I wanted to feel to him, though. I had fun with him, but I don't feel like I learned anything new from him.

Over all, I think Hulick's first try is fairly successful. I am definitely going to pick up the next book when it comes out. I want to find out what happens to the empire, to Drothe and all the Kin.

--------------------------------
My review can be found right here; it was posted about seven months ago. I rated it less a star than did April here, but still very much enjoyed the journey into Hulick's beginning series. The second novel, Sworn in Steel, is so far slated for an April release.
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Review: Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Title: Firelight
Genre: historical fiction, supernatural fiction, romance novel-ish
Series: Darkest London #1
Pages: 289 (Nook ARC edition)
Published: February 2012
Source: publishers via NetGalley
Rating: 4/5

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Firelight is a great read! I didn't have high expectations going in, but I am glad to say that I was on the wrong foot when starting the gem that is the first in the Darkest London series. One I am both enthusiastic about after finishing and also feel comfortable, almost eager, to recommend to others.  With two such dynamic leads as we have in Archer and Miranda, an enthralling and very fast read, further coupled with a fresh take on 1880's London, Firelight adds up to a prime recipe for both easy reading and instant enjoyment. This is a retelling of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, but with a unique supernatural bent. The subtle and/or dry humor spiced throughout ("Think of England, darling.") is a nice touch added to balance the darker story of murder, mystery and betrayal that permeates through Ms. Callihan's evocative read.

The writing of the novel immediately caught my eye - in a very favorable way. Sentences like:


"Mud-thick fog hung low on the ground, refusing to drift off despite the crisp night breeze. It never truly went away, ever present in London, like death, taxes, and monarchy."

appear often and early. Ms. Callihan can certainly set a scene and her version of London at the turn of the century is both compelling and amusing. Most of the time the writing in the novel is pretty and flows with remarkable ease. However, this is a first novel and it is not free from errors. While I just stated my love for the prose, I have to admit at times it did wax occasionally florid with descriptions and dialogue -which is, by rights, a small complaint when the majority of the novel is carried so well. The beginning of Firelight is also a bit rough in comparison - cliches abound and might scare off less forgiving readers, but Callihan hits her stride early on and rarely veers off course after. Firelight may stumble out of the opening gate, it more than gathers steam (and steamy scenes!) as it progresses.

One of the things I enjoyed so much about Firelight  right from the beginning is that the book makes it quite obvious that the beloved story of Beauty and the Beast (even the original La Belle et la Bete) is itself a retelling of the legend of Psyche and Eros. Many retellings are either unaware of the genesis of the story or gloss right over the origins without a nod - which I mean clearly, I am being nitpicky here as such details are not required - just enjoyed by myself. But Callihan does it so well, without detracting from the forward momentum and I liked the subtle allusions and reminders the author inserted into Miranda and Archer's tale. Archer himself is the best part of the whole novel: reimagined and intriguing London and mysterious powers having no claim on the charismatic but tortured hero. I was more iffy on Miranda, especially at the beginning (Aaah - the cliched girl in pants! Can we just please retire this trope already?!) but her strong-headed independence and good attitude quickly catapulted her high in my estimations. Both Archer and Miranda are wonderfully realized characters for the most part: neither one is perfect and neither one should be taken at appearance value. I did have issues with the immediacy and the passion of Archer's feelings for Miranda based on little but looks - it smacks of insta!love - but  happily, and against all expectations, their relationship much more complicated than it appears initially. Miranda, perhaps for the first time, sees in Archer someone that will value a true equal, someone who looks beyond her outside and finds value within. For Archer, Miranda represents acceptance and love in a world that has spurned him - really, the two complement each other quite well and have a relationship to root for..

With Archer an awesome but very noticeable <SPOILER> mix of V from V for Vendetta and Emma Frost from X-Men</SPOILER>, it's easy to say that this one form of supernaturality I've yet to encounter - something to treasure in an overpopulated genre such as this. I really liked the spin the book placed on immortality and am so grateful that Callihan didn't go the vampire route.  So much of this novel is new or created that though I've read numerous UFs set in England, this feels like a retread of none of them. Archer and the mystery of his past/face is more involving than most of the other plotlines involved throughout Firelight. I am sad to say that while Archer's reveal was creative and compelling, I was disappointed in how little and randomly Miranda's powers were utilized. I was on a self-imposed Fire Watch - aka waiting for Miranda to use her powers of fire. At page 77, disappointed. At page 122, still not a lick of flame. At page 135, barely a spark. Finally, more than halfway through the 289 page novel, Miranda's unique abilities are brought to the fore. I wouldn't have minded if say, Archer's mystery were solved by then, but two have two large elements of the plot largely absent for half the book can be quite frustrating. I was also further frustrated by the lack of explanation about Miranda. Archer's past is finally delved into and answers provided, but where/how/why did Miranda acquire her power? No answer is given within Firelight itself but I have hopes that within the next two books, such confusion will be cleared up.

While the fist three-quarters of the novel rush by in a blur of murders, tension and sexual tension, the last fourth is much more involved in the romance of the two leads than the plot. One of the other few places that Firelight falters in its setting up and execution of the mystery of the killer haunting Archer and Miranda. It was easy fairly early on to figure out who, if not their motivation. The mystery simply lacked the alluring mysterious that Archer himself possessed. As a result, it is unraveling his past than catching a cold-hearted murderer that had me turning the pages so swiftly. But for it's few faults and many many instances of win, this is one of my favorite reads so far in 2012. Bonus? It's only $5.99 for ereaders! I can't wait until the next one, Moonglow, the story of Miranda's sister Daisy, comes out later this year!
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