Title: Of Fire and Stars Author: Audrey Coulthurst Genre: fantasy Series: N/A (maybe?) Pages: 400 Published: expected November 22 2016 Source: Book Expo America Rating: 2.5/5
Betrothed since
childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known
what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between
Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile
lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a
dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is
forbidden.
Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while
trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn
to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her
teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and
unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her
betrothed.
When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom
reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the
culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the
other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and
bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their
friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.
But
with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important
than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose
between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to
save their kingdoms—and each other.
I am thinking... 2, maybe 2.5 stars for the long-anticipated lesbian princess fantasy book?
Maybe? If I am being particularly generous. I wanted to love this and I tried, I really did. I didn't give up over those 400 pages. So many good ideas for Of Fire and Stars, and there were so many
pages to fill... and a lot of it fell flat. It was mostly a dull, somewhat plodding fantasy read, occasionally brightened by a promise and potential for more that never quiiiite came to be. I do still hope this novel works
better for other readers and sells well because I want way more f/f/ fantasy. I just won't be rereading this one.
Of Fire and Stars was a long book and the main characters of Dennaleia and Mare take their time getting to know one another and developing feelings for one another. Normally, this is something I would love and enjoy reading, (even though in this case it's setting up a super awkward love triangle involving royal siblings. Anyway.) However, the interpersonal relationships just take way too long to coalesce into real emotion and I had far too little of interest in the limp murder-mystery that occupies the other half of the novel's plot. The worldbuilding is lacking, insomuch that it's barely even a factor. There's no real sense of place, of history, or culture. I am not sure if this is being continued into a series, but I am fairly sure I won't be following it if it does.
Title:Replica Author: Lauren Oliver Series: Replica #1 Pages: 544 Published: expected October 19 2016 Source: Book Expo America Rating: 4/5
Gemma has been in and
out of hospitals since she was born. 'A sickly child', her lonely life
to date has revolved around her home, school and one best friend, Alice.
But when she discovers her father's connection to the top secret Haven
research facility, currently hitting the headlines and under siege by
religious fanatics, Gemma decides to leave the sanctuary she's always
known to find the institute and determine what is going on there and why
her father's name seems inextricably linked to it.
Amidst the
frenzy outside the institute's walls, Lyra - or number 24 as she is
known as at Haven - and a fellow experimental subject known only as 72,
manage to escape. Encountering a world they never knew existed outside
the walls of their secluded upbringing , they meet Gemma and, as they
try to understand Haven's purpose together, they uncover some
earth-shattering secrets that will change the lives of both girls
forever...
After a couple years of reading her novels, I've come to realize that I like Lauren Oliver's books so much more when she's writing for teens rather than for adults. Some of this particular YA novel is easily predicted by anyone whose read more than a few, yes, but there's more than what meets the eye to the story being told in Replica. It's a twisty and eventful ride with a surprising variety of characters and turns of event.
It's a clever pair of stories told in a somewhat gimmicky but ultimately inventive manner. There are two key characters in Replica's over 500 pages and the way Oliver chose to write it allows them both equal time and distinct voices to tell their respective versions of events. Some events have ripples on both sides of the novel and it is fascinating to see how two such different people interpret and react to the same event or news.
Replica is the first of a scifi-ish series and while I am not sure how long this particular conceit - both plot-wise and presentation-wise, will last before wearing out, but I am at least interested enough to see what happens next.
Title:Leave Me Author:Gayle Forman Genre: general fiction Series: N/A Pages: 343 Published: September 6 2016 Source: Book Expo America Rating: 4/5
For every woman who has
ever fantasized about driving past her exit on the highway instead of
going home to make dinner, for every woman who has ever dreamed of
boarding a train to a place where no one needs constant attention--meet
Maribeth Klein. A harried working mother who's so busy taking care of
her husband and twins, she doesn't even realize she's had a heart
attack.
Afterward, surprised to discover that her recuperation
seems to be an imposition on those who rely on her, Maribeth does the
unthinkable: She packs a bag and leaves. But, as is so often the case,
once we get to where we're going, we see our lives from a different
perspective. Far from the demands of family and career and with the help
of liberating new friendships, Maribeth is finally able to own up to
secrets she has been keeping from those she loves and from herself.
With
big-hearted characters who stumble and trip, grow and forgive, Leave Me
is about facing our fears. Gayle Forman, a dazzling observer of human
nature, has written an irresistible novel that confronts the ambivalence
of modern motherhood head-on.
Gayle Forman is a wonder. No matter if she is writing novels for teens or adults, her stories and her characters have a way of sinking into your heart. Her books are nuanced and thoughtful; careful explorations of many different kinds of lives and the people in them. Before, where she had tackled teenage growing pains, she now focuses on adult relationships and all their issues. It's a different stroke for an experienced writer, but like the pro she is, Forman handles the transition from YA to adult with aplomb.
The strength of a Forman novel lies in first her characters and in then in their complicated, evolving relationships. From romantic to platonic to familial, she is an author that understands human nature and the bonds between people. There's a give and take to every relationship and Leave Me is the story of Maribeth stretching that tether for the first time in a long time. There's not a lot that I personally can relate to in the book from my own life and marriage -- I am not a middle aged mother of two -- but it's the talent of Forman that I found myself solidly in her shoes before 150 pages.
The ending of Leave Me may be a tad too easy and too happy to fit with the bittersweet honest nature of the story that preceded it. The sap in me was satisfied at the romance angle, but it was a little too neat for the mess of a life Maribeth had been leading upto the beginning of the novel. There was a definite sense of resolution for her and for the plot, but it wasn't a perfect fit; one of the few reasons this was not a full five star read for me. Still, I would definitely call Forman's first foray into adult lit a success.
Title:Furthermore Author:Tahereh Mafi Genre: fantasy Series: N/A Pages: 416 Published: expected August 30 2016 Source: Book Expo America
There are only three
things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother,
who wouldn't miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and
Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood
he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it's been almost three years
since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father
even more than she loves adventure, and she's about to embark on one to
find the other.
But bringing Father home is no small matter. In
order to find him she'll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous
land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can
be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named
Oliver whose own magical ability is based in lies and deceit--and with a
liar by her side in a land where nothing is as it seems, it will take
all of Alice's wits (and every limb she's got) to find Father and return
home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father, Alice must
first find herself--and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of
loss.
Lyn: Okay, so I was a bit worried about this one, because I did read Shatter Me. Horrible Confession: I read it because I loved the cover.
Jessie: I was of the same mind. I read Shatter Me, found it overblown and loaded with language that just didn’t flow the way the author obviously intended. But, I really liked her imagination enough to try this MG. I am glad I did because her style is much more suited to fantasy.
Kara: Yeah, while I appreciated what she tried to do with Shatter Me, that book was just kind of a mess in its execution. I never read the rest of the books in the series, but I had a feeling that she was going to go in a different direction as far as style goes with her middle grade. And she did, and Furthermore was great. Such fun!
Lyn: Her writing worked out for this story. It fit with the narrative and the setting. A dystopian novel is not a place to describe rain with purple prose. But a fantasy novel was perfect for her style. Also, I felt that the author has grown overall. While it still felt like Mafi’s writing, it wasn’t so forced this time around.
Jessie: Yep, I read the first SM book and never went back. Furthermore was the opposite; it left me wanting more. It was such a fun and visual reading experience. And the prose that felt purple before FLOWS really well here. So many little sentences worded just the right way to describe Alice. “Mother liked dipping them in honey but Alice preferred the unmasked taste. Alice liked truth: on her lips and in her mouth.”
Kara: I agree, Jessie. The turns of phrase were really just eye catching and I would find myself stopping to read things over when I liked the way they sounded. I had a lot of fun with this book. It made me stretch my brain to try to visualize her world and how she wanted it to be seen. The writing was whimsical and it reminded me a lot of the Fairyland books by Cat Valente in a way.
Lyn: I’m honestly surprised that this wasn’t a series. There is so much more to explore in this book. Not only with the villages, but I wanted to see what happened next with Alice. She had a lot of room to grow. She was a highly immature character, but the author demonstrated how that was a downfall, and how it almost ruined her. It was a great build up for her character to give her a weakness and to not apologize for making Alice arrogant. It really worked, and I could see Alice becoming something great. Seriously, I wish I had this book when I was a girl. It was something wonderful to see a girl who wasn’t imperfect, but just enough to give her an edge. This was a girl with some issues, but it made the story stronger.
Jessie: I’m totally with Kara -- this is the closest readalike I’ve found to Valente’s MG books. One that doesn’t talk down its audience but engages them in multiple ways; there’s a lot of relevant discussion and ideas in this fantasy. I actually have hope that Mafi will explore more in this world. This is such a vibrant place and one painted in a short amount of time. The book is pretty long for an MG novel but the careful evolution of Alice and the slow unraveling of what happened to Father worked to keep interest high. It’s whimsical and creative and made for exploration. Tahereh Mafi is an imaginative writer and I’d be sad never to see Alice and Oliver again.
Kara: I think if the first book sells well, there may be an opportunity for more to be written in this world. I agree with what you both said, and I think I would like more books but I am also perfectly happy with it being a standalone because there are so few of those. One thing I can definitely say is that Mafi is an experimental writer, and I like that she takes chances. I will more than happily experiment with her and hopefully the next book will be a hit too.
The one thing that irritated me about this book though? How pat and perfect the book ended. It felt a bit rushed to me and ended abruptly before I was ready to finish the last page. And that is pretty much my only complaint.
Lyn: I was really shocked how clean it was at the end. When I was reading, I was freaking out how few pages I had left, and I kept thinking “Don’t deux ex machina this!” And it was. It was so cobbled together, like she was just tired of writing it. Yeah, the ending was weak.
Jessie: YEP. The whole way it was revealed felt like a limp resolution; a minimal effort to conclude things as easily as possible once the novel hit a certain point. When the pursuit of an answer propels the plot for 400+ pages, there needs to be a real sense of denouement. That didn’t happen here.
Kara: Yeah, I completely agree. The book was completely memorable until I got to that point. And there is nothing that sucks for me as a reader more than a weak ending. It almost ruins the whole reading experience for me. I hate to admit this, but I’m willing to be a bit more lenient with middle grade since I know the books aren’t written for me, but it still did affect my reading experience quite a bit, which is disappointing. This has left me confused as a result.
Lyn: It was anti-climatic. It was like a really awesome meal, and then you get a Twinkie for dessert. That is half eaten. I had some closure issues. I almost took off half a star for it, but then I got lazy and I really loved the foxes and I adored that there was no romance, but, yeah, I would have rated this as high as a 4.5 without that ending that was just lazy, and I’m not buying any other excuse for it.
Jessie: We are all on the same page. That ending was a definite low-point for what had been, up til then, a pretty perfect book. I am disappointed it was such a lamb of an ending and won’t deny it rounded my rating down. This is still one of the best MG novels I have read but it lost a little at the end.
Kara: Yup. I completely agree. So with all that in mind, I ended up rating this 4 stars. How about you guys?
Jessie: I had been feeling a 5-star rating but at the very end, I can’t give it more than a 4.5/5.
Book Expo America 2016 has come and gone. It was a whirlwind of books and drinks and fun and lines and deeefinitely not enough sleep. BEA is great for a lot of reasons, but my favorite will always be getting to see/meet my blogger friends (aka exclaiming "I know you on twitter!" or wondering "do I know her on twitter?"). I cannot deny that the books and signings are fun, but the other aspects of BEA -- the Buzz Panels, Bloggercon, etc. -- are also incredible for book lovers. I did do fairly well at BEA. It was my second year going and I was much more prepared mentally and physically. I had a list of books that I was aiming for -- these here -- and of those ten(ish) books, I only missed out on two. I found a whole slew of other new books to read, thanks to that Buzz Panel/my fellow Boozy Lady Knights' recs/etc., so it's not like I'm missing out until I can buy The Reader and The Sun Is Also A Star. The whole collection:
Day 1:
When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin A Deadly Affection by Cuyler Overholt The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid Invincible Summer by Alice Adams A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess (Kingdom on Fire #1) Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson (Seeds of America #3) Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally (traded for Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott) How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin (Wolf by Wolf #2) The Call by Peadar O Guilin Little Deaths by Emma Flint I was pretty excited about Blood for Blood, because Wolf by Wolf is one of Graudin's best and I've also had an ARC of her last three books. The Forgetting is also another I was very excited to get -- and I also got to have drinks with the author and almost all the Boozy Lazy Knights the first night I was in Chicago thanks to Boozy Lady Knight Lindsey (aka @bringmybooks). Diabolic sounds like a creative science fiction and one I had not even heard of before a fellow BEA-er mentioned it to me in a line for A Shadow Bright and Burning!
Here you see Ashley (@ReadandJeep), Lindsey (@bringmybooks), Laura (@LECrockett)'s glass, my arm, Dani's arm, Gilly's arm, and Morgan if squint really hard. Day 2:
Strange the Dreamerby Laini Taylor (sampler + buttons) Iron Man: The Gauntlet by Eoin Colfer (signed to me) The Female the Species by Mindy McGinnis Metaltown by Kristen Simmons (signed to me) Leave Me by Gayle Forman Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow The Romantics by Leah Konen The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart The Haters by Jesse Andrew Mischling by Affinity Konar Replica by Lauren Oliver (signed to me) Aerie by Maria Dahvana Headley (Magonia #2) Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton The Graces by Laure Eve Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst (signed to me) Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi (signed) Caraval by Stephanie Garber The Guineveres by Sarah Domet Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty The Thousandth Floor by Katherine McGee A lot of these were ones that publicists brought to my attention (Metaltown and The Romantics), or were brought to my attention because they looked like "a Jessie book" (A Deadly Affection). Gilly and Dani held down the Furthermore line for me so I could WAIT FOREVER in chatty Lauren Oliver's line (aka directly adjacent to the MacMillan Stampede) and I raced around super stealthy to grab Leave Me and a tote with Caraval, Truly, Madly, Guilty and The Guineveres -- the latter two I had not heard of before. Also Eoin Colfer tricked both me and Morgan (@morganameridius) so HARD, trolled us about being #teamcap and then laughed merrily about it. It was embarrassing awesome. Day 2.5 aka Drinks with Mac Kids/Leigh Bardugo/Marissa Meyer/Caleg Roehrig/Kami Garcia:
Heartless by Marissa Meyer (signed to me) Crooked Kingdom sampler (signed to me) Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig (signed to me) 1984 by George Orwell (not sigend because that would be an impressive trick but with an ominous message inside..) Highlights: free drinks and I had Pepsi. Ssssh. I drank enough other times. Bonding with Leigh Bardugo about how awesome the name Leigh is (it's my middle name), how awesome Flagstaff is, and how much we needed a drink. Also, later, while sitting down chatting with B'CAW (aka @ironteethbitch) at our table (we're old and tired), Marissa Meyer just drops in for a fifteen minute chat about books, ships, fan art, and more. Another fun fact: Caleb Roehrig is goddamn delightful. Day 3:
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin Thieving Weasels by Billy Taylor (signed to me) Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer Gemina by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman (Illuminae #2) A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes #2) (signed to me) The fun part about this last-day-of-BEA haul is that half of it is a result of me going to the Buzz Books Panel, thanks to Gilly's (@mizgillianberry) heads-up. I had only planned to get Spare and Found Parts, Gemina, and A Torch Against the Night on day 3. But Billy Taylor, Aaron Starmer and Kerri Maniscalco made me so intensely curious about each of their new books.
I got a chance to meet three of my favorite authors -- Leigh Bardugo, Jay Kristoff, and Laini Taylor. Everyone is so approachable at BEA if you're respectful and I am so happy I finally I ran into them -- literally. I also accumulated a lot of totes from BEA. It happens and it's definitely necessary -- ARCs are heavy and the day is loooong -- so I keep my favorites and use them. This year's totes that made the cut:
BEA is an intense, exhausting, fascinating event. I had a great time and got to know new bloggers, new librarians, and new authors and publicists. Meeting some of my favorite people for the first or second or third time, rooming and hanging out with the ladies I got to (Disney and Anastasia singalongs in realtiiiiime!) was, without a doubt, the best part of my trip to Chicago and BEA 2016.
We're home, ducklings! And very sad about that, actually. While I didn't go into BEA treating it like a vacation, I definitely had a more vaca-like experience than my last medical billing conference. I attribute that 110% to my amazing roommates, Morgan and Ashley at Gone With The Words, Laura at Scribbles and Wanderlust (Best blog name? Best blog name.), Lindsey at Bring My Books, Gillian at Writer of Wrongs/The Art of Young Adult, Gaby at Bookish Broads, and of course my beloved Jessie from right here at Ageless Pages. Without them I definitely would not have had so much fun. I'd probably be dead. I definitely would not have my wallet. So, without further ado, lets discuss BEA!
My final haul, minus swag and bags.
Things I Learned at BookExpo America 2016:
1. Airports are the tenth circle of hell.
I'll let the other girls fill you in on their truly terrible travel experiences, but even I, who's flight went perfectly fine, hated O'Hare. I came into terminal 2, while everyone else was in 3. (Or 4, depending on who was texting,) The signs for baggage claim were so confusing I ended up calling my girlfriend and having her navigate me via the internet. So great start on my adulting!
As I hit terminal 3, Morgan was just deplaning, so I went to find Jessie and meet Lindsey and Ashley for the first time so we could all ride to the hotel together. I'm very sorry to all the people trying to get their bags at 11 am, who got to experience me screaming Jess' full name and launching myself onto her. First impressions, I do them good. Then Morgan's bags got stuck/lost and we couldn't get a cab big enough for all of us and poor Laura, who drove, was waiting on us and it was super frustrating and basically suck it, O'Hare. 2. These are your people.
I came to that realization many times over the weekend, but my first real, like "wow I love these girls" moment came when we went down to have drinks with Sharon Cameron. First, Sharon is beyond nice and was so lovely and kept trying to feed us but I wasn't familiar with her work at all, (SORRY SHARON!) so I was kind of out of my depth and I could feel an anxiety attack starting, so I tapped Gillian and told her I was going back to the room and then I was anxious like, "all my roommates are going to hate me and think I'm a flake" so I DM'd them because I can do internet and they all got it and that's when I realized that the Boozy Lady Knights are my friends for realsies.
3. Lines are more suggestions and everything is anarchy.
So day one of BEA we all got up and showered and we're bright eyed and bushy tailed and Gilly got to be on a panel and we're all proud of her and we show up to get our badges and...
Well damn. First, we're told to join the end of the line and "snake". Then the snaking is taking too much space, so we all need to stand and compress together. But now we're just in a mob and the woman going around trying to keep us in order just tells the six of us to "merge in", like that won't start a riot, and the line finally opens and there's no line anymore, just a stampede to the Scholastic booth for their first drops. (I got Sharon Cameron's The Forgetting ASAP because she was seriously, so. nice.)
This isn't even including the Macmillain stampede on day 2 or the 3.5 hour wait for Gemina.
4. They call it a haul, because you are hauling those things around.
Even on days when I was like, I'm only going to get two books, I always ended up with at least four in a bag. You're constantly discovering books you didn't know about and, and this was a new one to me, less hyped books are sometimes brought to you. Waiting in line for a hot new MG? Someone's assistant will just take a big old stack of 700 page non-fictions and start passing them out. (And then you and Gillian get to geek out over the 200 page bibliography, like whoa.)
a) Now my whole body hurts and I'm possibly dead.
I know I'm not a physically fit person. I work a desk job 60 hours a week. But I felt I had a decent handle on "go here, stand, go there, stand again." LOL, I do not. Especially on day one, even though it's only a half day, I was carrying twelve books between two bags on each shoulder and sprinting between drop lines.
Thank god for pubs and their tote bags. I was not prepared.
5. It's not all books.
Publishers and publisher-adjacent companies are coming up with super interesting swag. Litographs is doing their Alice Chain, where everyone gets temporary tattoos of lines from the book and they publish them online:
Wiley had a photobooth that lets you turn your pictures into gifs, (with subtle branding of course.)
Disney gave out phone chargers (that definitely do not project Eoin Colfer dressed as Iron Man) and Tony Stark-tails, while Out of Print had a basket full of Fahrenheit 451 match boxes.
The comics row was impressive. Image gave out all their number ones, which is a great deal as Saga and Rat Queens are basically amazing. Next door, Lion Forge had Robin Christensen Roussimoff signing posters of her dad.
It's cliche, but there really is something for everyone. (Except adult historical fic? Our search for that did not yield any results.)
6. There's a lot of down time.
I don't just mean standing in line, although you're going to do that. The con is over at five. You have so much free time to be with your friends, it's kind of insane. We saw two movies, did a museum, had a massive drunken CaH game, watched two Disney movies, one Don Bluth movie, three episodes of Friends, and I finished a romance novel.
Seven clowns in a car. Not available: Gilly in Meg's lap
Hello, we're from the internet.
7. But there's also not enough time?
With approximately six hundred people yelling, "hey we should hang out later!", it's impossible to get enough one on one time with everyone. I was so looking forward to seeing Bekka, Meg, and Angie and I feel like I didn't get a quarter of the time I wanted to talk to them. I was really looking forward to meeting Steph, and I only got to see her for about five minutes at a party! My SandersonArmy girls caught up for one pic, but then it was off to the four winds for us all. I need BEA to be like a city we can all just move to.
Quick, take a selfie to prove we were in the same place!
8. If you have the opportunity, go to the parties. I was fortunate enough to get an invite to the Macmillan Childrens/Fierce Reads party and it was a highlight of the trip. Coming home to a lot of drama and discussion about how bloggers fit into the publishing industry would have been a lot harder if I hadn't had Mac telling me that I'm the fucking shit. They made us these amazing goody bags, complete with a note from Brittany in New York since she couldn't be with us and it was just such a fun atmosphere to talk to Leigh Bardugo about why she should never come to Toledo. (Just don't.) Caleb Roehig, Heather, and I all got to bond over the midwest and how none of you know what our food is. (I'm serious about the buckeyes Caleb, hit me up.) When I went back to the table Jessie and Bekka were at, there was a brunette in a cute dress in my vacant seat. Long story short, Marissa Meyer.
Caleb meets PocketJamie
This would be Marissa's view.
Party it up friends, it really is the best.
9. Authors - They're Just Like Us (and also, they're standing right there?)
At one point on day two, I got separated from everyone. As I'm walking through the convention center, there's Laini Taylor, who I ADORE. Wearing squirrel ears. Just there, being Laini Taylor. Then I walked past Eric Smith. I make it to my queue and who's behind me but Caleb Roehig again? Want to see Ransom Riggs and his shiny silver shoes? To the left. Jay Kristoff in all his imposing seven foot glory? Back there, geeking out with Amie Kaufman.
a) But they're also people, so maybe let Jay walk and stop hitting on him and Ransom? ↑↑↑↑↑
10. It's going to blow your mind.
Ok loves, that's about it for me. If you want to see the full list of the books I got, check my BEA16 tag on GR, and stay tuned to Ageless Pages for so many reviews! Jess should have her own haul up this week as well. (Spoiler, she reads three times as fast as me, so she had to SHIP HER HAUL HOME.) And for everyone who made this one of the best weeks ever, another heartfelt thank you.
Title:The Walled City Author: Ryan Graudin Genre: young adult, historical, fiction Series: N/A Pages: 432 Published: November 4 2014 Source: Book Expo America Rating: 4/5
730. That's how many days I've been trapped. 18. That's how many days I have left to find a way out.
DAI,
trying to escape a haunting past, traffics drugs for the most ruthless
kingpin in the Walled City. But in order to find the key to his freedom,
he needs help from someone with the power to be invisible....
JIN
hides under the radar, afraid the wild street gangs will discover her
biggest secret: Jin passes as a boy to stay safe. Still, every chance
she gets, she searches for her lost sister....
MEI YEE has been
trapped in a brothel for the past two years, dreaming of getting out
while watching the girls who try fail one by one. She's about to give
up, when one day she sees an unexpected face at her window.....
In
this innovative and adrenaline-fueled novel, they all come together in a
desperate attempt to escape a lawless labyrinth before the clock runs
out.
(note, I am using the incorrect cover, because I LOVE IT) Wow. I am so impressed by this! After having had a bad experience with
the author's debut in another genre and, in particular, its overabundance of unwieldy purple metaphors, I
was leery of trying The Walled City. But Kara from Great Imaginations knew
about Kowloon, the factual place that inspired the setting for this novel and her
knowledge fed my curiosity. I am glad I listened because outside of a
few side-eye worthy descriptions, The Walled City was really, really good and it was really, really fun to read. It was a story that had action, it had heart, and it also had some interesting and well-rendered characters. But what The Walled City
really had going for it was a real sense of history and the enveloping
atmosphere that the story and characters evoke for the reader. It was a rich, engaging reading
experience. I also loved that this book promoted connections and bonds besides
those that are purely romantic in nature -- familial love plays a key
role for the two female narrator, though there is a romance between one
female narrator and a male character to be had as well. The Walled City is a good action novel. It's one of those rare standalones that are worthy and deserving of a sequel to either expand on the story here or start a new one in the same place. Hak Nam is a terrifying, dangerous place, but Ryan Graudin makes it so damn fun to read about that I would willingly sign on for any further extension of time/story in this world.
I haven't posted one of these in forever, but here are some books I tried that just weren't quite right for me: On a Clear Day by Walter Dean Myers
Young
heroes decide that they are not too young or too powerless to change
their world in this gripping, futuristic young adult novel by the New York Times bestselling author of the Printz Award–winning Monster.
It is 2035. Teens, armed only with their ideals, must wage war on the power elite.
Dahlia
is a Low Gater: a sheep in a storm, struggling to survive completely on
her own. The Gaters live in closed safe communities, protected from the
Sturmers, mercenary thugs. And the C-8, a consortium of giant
companies, control global access to finance, media, food, water, and
energy resources—and they are only getting bigger and even more
cutthroat. Dahlia, a computer whiz, joins forces with an ex-rocker, an
ex-con, a chess prodigy, an ex-athlete, and a soldier wannabe. Their
goal: to sabotage the C-8. But how will Sayeed, warlord and terrorist,
fit into the equation?
DNF'd: I was bored, bored, bored. I read 155 out of 256 pages and that was 155 too many. Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson
Someone Else's Love Story is beloved and highly acclaimed New York Times
bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson's funny, charming, and poignant
novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and
forgiveness; about falling in love, and learning that things aren't
always what they seem—or what we hope they will be.
Shandi Pierce
is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old
genius son Nathan, aka Natty Bumppo, and keeping the peace between her
eternally warring, long-divorced parents. She's got enough complications
without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up and falling in love
with William Ashe, who willingly steps between the robber and her son.
Shandi
doesn't know that her blond god Thor has his own complications. When he
looked down the barrel of that gun he believed it was destiny: It's
been one year to the day since a tragic act of physics shattered his
world. But William doesn't define destiny the way others do. A brilliant
geneticist who believes in facts and numbers, destiny to him is about
choice. Now, he and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies
head on, making choices that will reveal unexpected truths about love,
life, and the world they think they know.
DNF'd: This book is weird and off-putting and the characters just make NO SENSE, both in how they act and how they think. Read: 200/320 pages. Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
This
world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies
keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem
take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high
school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But
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 them all is
Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.
What
makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In
this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't
hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.
DNF'd: I didn't care about anything. The characters were blah and the romance only annoyed me. Read: 250/374 pages.
I
remembered my name – Mara. But, standing in that ghostly place, faced
with the solemn young man in the black coat with silver skulls for
buttons, I could recall nothing else about myself.
And then the games began.
The
Messenger sees the darkness in young hearts, and the damage it inflicts
upon the world. If they go unpunished, he offers the wicked a game.
Win, and they can go free. Lose, and they will live out their greatest
fear.
But what does any of this have to do with Mara? She is about to find out . . .
DNF'd: because this is a mess. It didn't work for me in so many ways. The writing style, the imagery... no. Nothing happens.... etc. Read: 150/272 pages. Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.
Britt
Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't
prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought,
wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an
unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin,
accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these
men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.
In exchange for
her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set
off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her.
The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling
evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in
uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.
But
nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping
secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is
confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?
BLACK ICE is New
York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic
thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of
Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…
DNF'd: I knew this one was a longshot going in and I gave up before halfway. Read: 185/392 pages. Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes
Plum
Sykes beguiling debut welcomes readers to the glamorous world of Park
Avenue Princesses, the girls who careen through Manhattan in search of
the perfect Fake Bake (tan acquired from Portofino Tanning Salon), a
ride on a PJ (private jet) with the ATM (rich boyfriend), and the
ever-elusive fiance.
With invitations to high-profile baby
showers and benefits, more Marc Jacobs clothes than is decent, and a
department store heiress for a best friend, our heroine known only as
Moi is living at the peak of New York society. But what is Moi to do
when her engagement falls apart? Can she ever find happiness in a city
filled with the distractions of Front Row Girls, dermatologists,
premieres, and eyebrow waxes? Is it possible to find love in a town
where her friends think that the secret to happiness is getting invited
to the Van Cleef and Arpels private sample sale? And how is she going to
deal with the endless phone calls from her mother in England demanding
that she get married to the Earl next door?
With enormous wit and
an insider's eye, Sykes captures the nuances of the rich and spoiled in
a heartwarming social satire, featuring a loveable "champagne bubble of
a girl" who's just looking for love (and maybe the perfect pair of
Chloe jeans).
DNF'd: this was trying to be witty and satirical and all it succeeded at was being extremely grating. Read: 75/320 pages
Nevada
Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective
career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case.
Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest
rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.
Then
she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire
with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or
surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with
Rogan to stay alive.
Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs
Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone
other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can
be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.
