Moonhead and the Music Machine by Andrew Rae

Joey Moonhead is just like any other teen... a bit average in grades and popularity.  He has a good friend who's nicknamed Spokes, and crushes on the prettiest girl in school.  Moonhead and the Music Machine follows Joey on his quest to win the school's talent show and the pretty girl's heart.  Along the way he discovers a hidden talent and the true friendship that he has with Spokes.

So what makes Moonhead and the Music Machine unique?  Joey literally has a moon for a head.  When school and bullies get to him, his head can just leave his body and go floating off on adventures in space or the jungle or the deep sea or whatnot.  There's kind of a hidden pun in the description of Joey's demeanor:  he comes across as very spacey!  (Ha ha ha ha ha... I think my job in youth librarianship gives me license to make puns like that, right?)  It's not just him, either:  his parents (who both also have moons for heads) are also very absent-minded about him.  When Joey decides to make his own instrument for the talent show, he just kind of halfheartedly throws things together.  He needs help in order to make a truly functioning "music machine," and this help comes from another supernatural kid:  Ghostboy.  (Yup- he's a ghost.)

Another unique feature to Moonhead and the Music Machine:  it's format.  It's a graphic novel!  It's in full color with bold lines and all text/speech in bubbles to make it "pop" from the artwork.  I especially enjoyed the scenes where Joey and/or his friends are playing music, and how that is represented by author Andrew Rae.  He uses these sorta psychedelic swirls and pops to show the flow of the music, and it really works!  I love it.

The reader doesn't get a ton of insight into supporting characters, but you do get to know Moonhead really well, and it's great to see his character grow and develop.  While I was reading the book, I really thought that I had the ending figured out- boy, was I wrong!  You'll never see it coming, I promise.  It's a good surprise, and you'll have to read the book to find out!

Two thumbs up to this YA graphic novel!

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by Tynga at Thursday, July 07, 2016

 Alien Contact, Andrew Rae, Edelweiss, Graphic Novel, Nobrow Press, Review, YA, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares (second opinion)

I'm the second Tynga's Reviewer to read The Here and Now by Ann Brashares.  For Helen's take on the novel, click here!

The Here and Now takes place in our current time, but the main character, Prenna, is from the future... about 75 years into the future.  She's part of a small group of "immigrants" who have traveled from the future to the here and now because things have gone sharply south- there's a blood plague that's killing millions of people and a shortage of food and runaway inflation of currency.  In order to save her new future she must work to save her current time.

I really enjoy books that involve time travel, like Helen, but sometimes they can get so bogged down in trying to explain the time-space continuum that the plot gets buried.  Not so in The Here and Now!  Ann Brashares does an excellent job of working little bits of information into the plot and dialogue to explain the time-space continuum play without ever having a character awkwardly explaining it all to another, or any lengthy flashbacks.  Even better- it was all understandable!  I'm definitely not a physicist, and I had no trouble following the logic explaining Prenna and her community's presence in our time.

Another great aspect of this book is the character line-up.  They're all great!  Well, I mean, all the good guys are good!  (The bad guys are written well, too.  They're not over-the-top goofily evil.)  I love Prenna and her strength and intelligence, and I love Ethan for his quirkiness and kindness and intelligence.  I love them together, too!  They "fit" together so well.  I agree with Helen's description:  they're "cute."

The writing in The Here and Now is also pretty good.  The pacing was great- I had trouble putting it down, but I was never so tense that I felt anxious.  There are also some letters interspersed in between chapters from Prenna to another character.  (Can't tell you who!  No spoilers.)  I like it when an author mixes things up like that.  Unfortunately, a few plot points weren't really fully explained, and a few other plot points got wrapped up a little bit too tidily.

Overall, a really solid time-travel YA light romance.  I could definitely see myself recommending this one to library patrons.

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by Tynga at Thursday, June 30, 2016

 ann brashares, Delacorte Press, Edelweiss, Review, time travel, YA, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Strange and Ever After by Susan Dennard

Strange and Ever After is the third book in the Something Strange and Deadly series.  For the first two books' reviews, click here:  Something Strange and Deadly | A Darkness Strange and Lovely.  There won't be any spoilers for Strange and Ever After in this review, but there may be spoilers for the first two books.

Strange and Ever After wraps up this trilogy really well!  The characters remain true, and continue to show growth; the setting is awesome; and the pacing feels just right.  Sometimes finales to trilogies or series can feel a bit rushed or even anticlimactic--this wrap-up feels excellently planned.

I definitely recommend that you begin at the beginning with this trilogy in order to truly know the characters.  Susan Dennard doesn't waste any time or words on character descriptions or background before rushing right into plot in this novel.  In fact, Strange and Ever After opens mere minutes after A Darkness Strange and Lovely ends, and the reader is immediately thrown into the midst of the Spirit Hunters clique as they race across the sky in an airship.  (The airship is described to be very similar to a zeppelin.  Very cool.)  I love hearing Daniel and Joseph's Creole accents in my mind as I read, and picturing the lovely Jie.  I love that Dennard doesn't phonetically write out the Creole accent... that style of writing always slows my reading pace!  I appreciate that she trusts her readers to remember who has what accent.  At the outset of this book, I didn't actually care overly much for Eleanor, the main character.  Most of the time I don't end up caring for books where the main character isn't overly likable, but not in this case- in this case, Eleanor undergoes so much believable character growth that I ended up liking her, and the book, all the more for the rough start.  Dennard also gives us character growth in Oliver.  Yes, she manages to write maturity and emotional growth into a paranormal being!   That is talent, my friends.

Not only are all the characters lovable in their own ways, the setting alone would be enough to recommend this book.  Egypt!  The settings for this trilogy keep getting better and better.  Victorian Philadelphia, Paris, and now Egypt!  High society with balls and gowns + steampunk inventions!  Rich history + zombies and magic!  What more could you ask for than an adventure involving crystal pulse pistols used to fight hordes of reanimated mummies?

Finally, I can also say that this finale reads really smoothly in terms of pacing.  I read it in one day and was never bored; never tempted to skip ahead.  I was also never overwhelmed, and never had to reread a passage for missed details.  There was a really well-written huge battle that did not have a predictable end- I was on the metaphorical edge of my seat the whole time!  Then there were great details in the final chapter that let you know where your beloved characters end up.

I would love to see more books from this world!  Ms. Dennard, can we get a spin-off series?

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by Tynga at Thursday, May 19, 2016

 Action amp; Adventure, ancient Egypt, Edelweiss, HarperTeen, Magic, Review, Something Strange and Deadly, steampunk, Susan Dennard, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

John Dreamer by Elise Celine

John Dreamer had a really interesting and unique concept, but failed a little in it's execution.

The book opens when Andy wakes up to find herself in a vast white room with seven chairs.  She notices that one has her name on it, and the style of the chair fits her personality.  One by one, other teens appear in the room, all of whom have their own chairs (with different styles/personalities).  What are they doing there?  How did they get there?  Are they dreaming?  Or even dead?  And if not, how do they get out?  Eventually a very flamboyant guy called simply The Guardian appears and explains just a tiny bit to them:  they are all here to fulfill their dreams.  Then he disappears again.  What on earth does that mean?!?  And what's next?

First (of course), the good!  As I mentioned, this is a totally new-to-me plot.  It doesn't fit neatly into any of the more common YA genres, like paranormal or dystopian.  I suppose I'd call it "psychological suspense light."  I was definitely hooked from the beginning, wanting to know more, just like the characters.  I tried to guess at what The Guardian meant when he told them that they would all fulfill their dreams, and I couldn't.  Also, Andy was kind of an everywoman.  She wasn't overly smart or overly pretty or overly confident or overly shy.   Even the outfit she is described as wearing is average:  a white top with jean shorts and sneakers.  Almost anyone could identify with her.  The remaining six characters covered the gambit from short & nerdy to chubby & shy to an everyman (male)... something for everyone!

A big appeal of the book was the mystery, so I won't tell you what The Guardian means about fulfilling dreams.  But once that part of the story starts to unfold, it is rather neat to see each character's reaction, and what happens when they have attempted to fulfill their dream.

So now the flip side:  John Dreamer was a pretty short, quick read (only 203 Kindle pages), which didn't leave a lot of room for character development.  I felt like all the characters (even the main character) were very 2D.  And I wanted more!  This story was totally interesting, and I would have happily read a longer book with more character development.  Just as with the characters feeling a little flat due to short length, the action also fell a little flat due to the short length.  Again, I would have happily read a longer book if it meant more detail and development of the dreams!  No one is ever going to like every single character in every book, but I think I would have really liked most of these characters... if I got to know them better.

This is kind of a side note, but I would go see this if someone made it into a movie!  The Guardian is just screaming to be on the silver screen.  (I vote for Christopher Walken for his part.)  With Hollywood borrowing so heavily from the book store lately, I hope someone discovers John Dreamer for next year's YA summer flick.

A quick, slightly flawed, but still entertaining read.

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by Tynga at Thursday, February 04, 2016

 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, dreams, Edelweiss, Elise Celine, Fiction, Review, YA, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

Wow... The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is an epic time-bending tale of science and vengeance, along the lines of The Curious Tale of Benjamin Button or The Time Traveler's Wife... but plus some.

Harry is a kalachakra, which means that when he dies, he is reborn with all of his memories intact.  He doesn't ever travel forward through time; he's always born in 1919 to the same woman.  He's not alone; there are a number of kalachakra throughout the world, and they form a support network for each other.  Harry's first ten lives or so are rather uneventful (I mean, other than the fact that at about age 4 he comes into all of his memories and consciousness from multiple full past lives) as he figures out what his "condition" means for him and how to make the best use of his time.  He seems to work through all the grief stages, you know, like anger, depression, questioning, etc.  In one life he even tries to tell another person what is happening to him... it doesn't go well.

After a couple of lives, Harry hooks up with the Cronus Club, the network of kalachakra.  He is able to partake in debates about such things as "why not kill Hitler?"  (No spoilers; you'll have to read the book to find out why!)  I will admit that the first half of the book moves a little slowly.  There is a lot of groundwork to lay, to explain the kalachakra phenomenon, and we get to know Harry.  Would you like a book with character development?  Imagine how much growth and development you can fit into a few hundred years of a character's life!  I enjoyed this part.  The story unfolds in a steady rate without too much dawdling in any one life.  The format is also intriguing; the book is written as Harry August writing his memoirs, so it's like sitting and having tea (Harry is British) with him while he tells his life (lives') story.

Then, about halfway through the book, the reader finds the conflict.  You know the structure of a good book:  set-up, conflict, resolution.  The conflict here is a kicker!  During one early life, an old and dying Harry is visited at his hospital bedside by a young girl, a fellow kalachakra, who has been sent to warn him that the world is ending.  You see, kalachakra have a method of passing information from generation to generation, back and forth in time this way.  Harry is confused by this message, though:  hasn't the world always been ending?  Over the course of succeeding lives, Harry finds out, though, that the problem is that the world is ending more quickly.  Thus begins an exciting chase through time, as Harry pursues a person who is bent on destroying the world as quickly as possible.  Each death gives Harry a failure... and another chance to try again to catch the culprit.

I also mentioned science in my opening statement.  Throughout all of his lives, Harry is instrumental in scientific discovery and advancement.  He walks a fine line between that discovery, and not advancing science too greatly beyond it's predetermined timeline.  (There could be chaos if someone suddenly "discovered" the personal computer in 1950, for example.)  And this--science--is exactly what could bring about the end of the world sooner than later.  I'll admit:  a lot of the science went over my head, but it's ok.  You totally don't have to understand quantum physics in order to grasp the plot of the book.  Under all the scientific tug-of-war, there's the foundation plot of good vs. evil, and a chase through time.

I definitely recommend The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August!

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by Tynga at Thursday, November 12, 2015

 Claire North, Edelweiss, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Redhook, reincarnation, Review  1 Person left their mark

✎

The Ring and the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz

The book's synopsis opens with "Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the Lily Throne, and Aelwyn Myrddn, bastard daughter of the Mage of England, grew up together.  But who will rule, and who will serve?"  Y'all, let me tell you that this book is so much richer than that!  I have a habit of jumping into books "sight unseen" (without reading the synopsis), and I'm so glad I did that with this book.  From that opening line, the synopsis gets a little muddy, before circling back around to Marie-Victoria and Aelwyn's plot to switch places.  That is a (cool but) quite minor part of the story.  Rather, this is a book of political intrigue, magic, alternate history, and courtships.

Told from multiple points of view, the reader gets a very good view of the politics of the time.  The Ring and the Crown is set in an alternate early 1900s England during the Season.  (We all know about the Season from Downton Abbey, right?)  There's lots of balls and dresses and social mores that must be followed.  I always find it slightly ironic how many societal rules there are to follow while the people involved are unabashedly chasing potential spouses.  It's a romantic free-for-all, where people follow all kinds of unwritten rules about who gets invited to which party and which people are allowed to dance with each other or visit each other, all while discussing others' financial statuses in detail behind their backs, jockeying for the best match:  most good-looking + most rich.  No matter how silly the customs of the times seem to us now (I might not be married if I wasn't allowed to approach a man!  The hubby is a bit shy, and I approached him first), I do relish the descriptions of the dresses and the balls.  I would go to one in a heartbeat if anyone offered me a time machine ride!

The Season described in The Ring and the Crown is amped up to eleven:  this year the Queen of England and France (they're joint kingdoms in this alternate history) has announced her daughter and only heir's engagement to the Crown Prince of Prussia.  It's a totally political arrangement; while Marie-Victoria and Leopold have known each other since childhood, they're friends and nothing more.  This marriage will tie the two ultra-powerful kingdoms together.

But there's more!  Not only are Marie-Victoria and Leopold not in love with each other, they are in love with other people.  Marie-Victoria dreams of running away with Gill, a commoner, and Leopold had to break an engagement to Isabelle (who is in turn pursued by a Duke) in order to participate in this new treaty-engagement.  Luckily, Marie-Victoria's best friend is the court magician's daughter and they make plans for her to use glamour to take Marie's place.  This is ok, because Aelwyn really likes Leopold.  To add to the romance and the who-loves-who tangle, there's also Leopold's brother, Wolfgang.  He's free to date around, since he's not the Crown Prince, and he has his eye on an American, Ronan.  That courtship can't be simple either, of course; Ronan is simultaneously pursued by two others.  Is your head spinning?  I didn't find it a struggle to keep up once I was in the story, and I did find a Goodreads review with a very helpful chart if you do get lost.

And for a final plus:  magic!  In this alternate history, magic is very real and very prevalent in Europe.  (The Americans have figured out electricity and have abandoned magic.  They're cool with it but don't use it.)  All the royals keep a powerful mage in their court to help their influence, especially with political maneuvers and battles.  I love how seamlessly Melissa de la Cruz fits magic into the story.  It never overshadows the romance; it only serves to enhance the story.

Unfortunately, I do feel compelled to point out the sheer number of "main" characters and points of views, as well as all the world-building necessary, leads to very little character development.  I finished the book very satisfied with the story, but not really feeling like I knew any of the characters too well.  Multiple sources tell me that this is the first in a series, though, so I'm sure we'll get to know the characters better in the upcoming books.

Overall, I definitely recommend!  I saw it described on Goodreads as "historical romance lite," and I think that's very accurate.  It's definitely YA, so no overly-steamy scenes but lots and lots of courtship.  And the dresses and balls!  And intrigue!  I loved it.

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by Tynga at Thursday, October 22, 2015

 Disney-Hyperion, Edelweiss, Fantasy amp; Magic, Historical, Historical Romance, Love amp; Romance, Magic, Melissa de la Cruz, Review, Thr Ring and the Crown, YA, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

I had really, really high expectations for this book, and I think that influenced my 2.5 of 5 stars rating.  For me, Grasshopper Jungle was solidly middle ground.  When it first came out, I read tons of reviews of it that praised it like it was the New New Testament in high school boy literature, but I just didn't find that to be true.

I don't want to be negative, and I am able to say some positive things about the book.  For example, it is totally 110% a high school boy book.  There's weird monster bugs to fight, a pretty girl to save, lots and lots of talk about body odor and masturbation and sex and balls.  Andrew Smith doesn't shy away from using language, either.  (So you may want to take that into account before giving it to a younger teen.)  All in all, it read very authentic to the sixteen-year-old male brain.  I could absolutely see myself recommending this to an older reluctant reader.

I can also say that this book has really unique plot points.  First, the giant bugs.  While that has been done a number of times in movies and television, I don't recall seeing too many giant-bugs-attacking-humanity plots in books.  Also, even though giant-bugs-attacking-humanity sounds pretty outlandish at first glance, Smith manages to write the novel in such a way that the reader could find themselves nodding, like, "yes, I could see that happening in Iowa."  The whole book reads very contemporary, with a sci-fi element thrown in for added kapow.  Secondly, the main character's sexuality is never established.  This was praised over and over again in reviews when the book was first released.  LGBTQ issues are definitely included in the "we need diverse books" movement, and this book helps to satisfy that.  Austin is very confused about his feelings toward his best friend and his girlfriend throughout the book.  (His best friend is gay and his girlfriend is straight.  He cares deeply for them both.)  Grasshopper Jungle shows a situation where a teen doesn't know their sexual orientation (he's not "fighting" it; he honestly can't decide) and it's ok.  Teens can be a very confused sector of our society, and they need to see themselves, and that confusion, in the books they read.

Now for the unfortunate detractors: language and repetition. Grasshopper Jungle is chock full of s***. Literally. It felt overwhelming, and distracted me from the actual story. I know teenage boys cuss, but this seemed superfluous. It's not just the actual word usage, either. Felt like every page had at least one (if not more!) mentions of horniness and erections. There's also a lot of repetition. Mentioning that his grandfather died while relieving himself in Italy during World War II felt entirely unnecessary the first time.... The fourth time it was brought up, I was way over it.

Overall: interesting, unique premise that has a potential audience... Unfortunately, that audience didn't include me.

Interesting note: I read Winger (same author) and loved it! So don't discount Andrew Smith on the basis of Grasshopper Jungle.

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by Tynga at Thursday, September 17, 2015

 Andrew Smith, Boys amp; Men, Dutton Books for Young Readers, Edelweiss, Giant Insects, Humorous, Review, Science Fiction  2 People left their mark

✎

Fire in the Sea by Myke Bartlett

I downloaded this little gem from Edelweiss forever ago, but I never heard any chatter about it, and kind of forgot, then picked up last weekend.  WOW!  So good!  My library doesn't own a copy, but I plan to suggest it.

Fire in the Sea jumps right into the action.  I read this on my Kindle, I believe I was at 2% when the first mysterious creature from the sea makes an appearance.  From that moment on, stranger and stranger things keep happening to Sadie.  I admired how the author allowed Sadie to recognize that all of the events occurring in Perth are absolutely ridiculous and hard to believe, while still having Sadie roll with the punches, so to say, and take an active part in deciding her fate.  For example, the synopsis mentions that there's a horned beast running rampant in Perth:  unbelievable, right?  Just an escaped bull or something, right?  NOPE.  Not only does Sadie quickly come to terms with the fact there's a beast on the loose, she quickly makes decisions to fight to protect her friends and family.  She's never afraid to stand up for herself and her family.  Even though Jake is really cute and she's feeling him, she doesn't hesitate to tell him off when she perceives that he's committed a wrong.  As the action builds and builds toward an epic finale, Sadie continues to be true to herself, her values, and her family.

I'm sitting here in America reading and reviewing this book, so the Australian author and setting were also bonuses for me.  When you read books by international authors, do you hear that country's accent in your head as you read?  I do, and I really enjoyed listening to the Australian teens!  There were, of course, just a few slang terms that I wasn't familiar with, but nothing that context clues didn't help me decipher.

While Sadie was an incredibly dynamic character, and the plot was super exciting, I had a bit of trouble connecting to the secondary characters.  Sadie's cousins are just barely better than stereotypes, and her grandparents are walking talking cut-outs.  (Her grandfather's a conspiracy theory war vet and grandma is constantly cheerfully offering everyone tea after coming in from the garden.)  At the end of the book a few final pieces fall into place and a few people gain a little more dimensionality, but not enough to be truly thoroughly 3D.

I suppose that's ok, because the reader is really consumed with all the action packed into this book!  I don't think I went more than 3 pages ever without some big fight happening or decision being made.  The mystery of the creatures from the sea, the horned beast, and Jake all unfold at a good pace:  it's never too slow/bogged down, or too fast to keep up with, and it's spread evenly through the book.  The finale really fits in nicely; there was a good build-up to it, so it didn't happen out of thin air, and the ending wasn't obvious, so it was definitely a page-turner!

Overall, I'd give Fire in the Sea 3.5-4 stars.  Can't quite make up my mind.  Loved the action and the main character; struggled with the secondary characters.  Maybe there'll be a sequel someday that fleshes them out more!

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by Tynga at Thursday, September 03, 2015

 Action amp; Adventure, Australian, Edelweiss, Fables, Legends, Myke Bartlett, Mythology, Myths, Review, Text Publishing Company, YA, young adult  3 People left their mark

✎

The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant by Joanna Wiebe

This book is SO DIFFICULT to talk about without spoilers!  So I apologize in advance if anything I write seems a bit fuzzy.  I can tell you that you definitely, absolutely need to read this book.

I will share with you as much as Goodreads does:  Anne Merchant is a brand new student at Cania Christy, a very, very exclusive boarding school on an island off the coast of Maine.  Parents are paying exorbitant amounts in tuition to send their high-achieving teens here, where the fight to be valedictorian seems to be almost life-or-death.  Anne fits it alright; she's definitely smart, and a talented artist.  A few questions are left lingering, though:  how is her lowly funeral-director dad paying the tuition for this place?  Why is she living in a cottage off-campus rather than in the dorms with the rest of the students?  And what's the big secret, that keeps the villagers from interacting with the students?

Right from the start, this book had a deliciously dark and spooky feel to it, and the author never lets the tension slip.  I was glued to it through and through!  Have you been to Maine?  I have, and I can vouch for the coastal islands having an intermittent deep fog that drifts in off the ocean.  I could just imagine Anne waking up in a chilly attic bedroom on the first morning of school, shivering into her school uniform and a coat, and walking toward school.  Can you imagine walking through a deep fog and suddenly coming upon a thick red line painted across the road, marking the territory between school grounds and village property?  That would spook nearly anyone!  And then to arrive at school and find out that none of your peers are friendly or welcoming?  As I mentioned:  delightfully dark.

The setting isn't the only dark part of the book.  You'll definitely start to get the feeling that "something's up" from the near the beginning of the book.  No spoilers, but I will promise that although the jacket cover doesn't mention anything fantastic or supernatural, I will let you know that the novel fits on this blog.  ;)  The plot twists and turns will leave you guessing right up to the end.  The novel is told entirely from Anne's pov, so the reader gets to uncover clues and come to conclusions right alongside her.  Wiebe did a great job with spacing out clues and reveals, and with never allowing Anne to make improbable leaps to conclusions.  As I was reading, I kept thinking "ah ha!" but then by the end of the chapter I'd be surprised again!  All of the surprises, though, fit very nicely into the novel's context, and never seemed too ludicrous.

There was only slight downside to the book, and that was in the female relationships.  There's a bit of a Mean Girls thing going on at Cania Christy.  I definitely say "boo" to girls being catty to each other, but I have to admit it might not be too abnormal among teen girls, especially ones forced to live together.

The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant is the first book in a trilogy, and I'm so glad!  I already have the sequel sitting beside my armchair to read.

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by Tynga at Thursday, August 13, 2015

 BenBella, boarding school, Edelweiss, Fiction, Joanna Wiebe, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Review, V Trilogy, young adult  2 People left their mark

✎

Black Widow by Jennifer Estep

I've had to reduce the amount of time I spend reading and reviewing due to work and one of the casualties of this tragic change was BLACK WIDOW. For the first time in a long time, I'm putting up a review of a Jennifer Estep book long after its release and it feels weird, particularly since BLACK WIDOW is an outstanding book.

As I've said before, series often get stale when they hit double digits but not the Elemental Assassin series. BLACK WIDOW is the twelfth book in Gin's story and it's a very strong entry in the series, with lots of big moments that will keep you hooked from page to page. Why? It's the big confrontation between Gin and Madeline Monroe, the latest Big Bad in the series.

Spoilers ahead for previous novels!

Madeline's been trying her mother's place in both the underworld and glossy high society of Ashland and all of her machinations come to fruition in BLACK WIDOW. With everything set, she also unleashes her endgame against Gin and it's a confrontation that has been books in the making. Madeline's plans are suitably devious and it was gratifying to see Gin go up against a foe who's more than her equal in terms of strategy. None of Gin's previous victories have been terribly easy but she definitely has her mettle and her abilities tested in BLACK WIDOW. The book puts Gin and her friends and family through the wringer, emotionally and physically, and it was an incredibly exciting read.

Because the focus of the book is on the Gin vs. Madeline showdown, there's not a lot of development for other characters. All of the gang are involved in the novel but the focus is fully on Gin and her response to the major gauntlet that Madeline drops, going after everything and everyone that Gin values. Things happen that I never would have expected and it was so much fun (for me). Estep always writes great stories but this might be my favourite book in the series because Madeline's such a great nemesis.

The end of BLACK WIDOW is particularly exciting because it establishes a very interesting shift in the Ashland underworld. As always, no spoilers for BLACK WIDOW here but I will say that it's a thrilling way to wrap up to this chapter of Gin's story.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

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by Tynga at Sunday, June 21, 2015

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

✎

Bobby Ether and the Academy by R. Scott Boyer

I had mixed feelings about Bobby Ether and the Academy.  The main character, Bobby, is 14 and has just discovered that he has special magical abilities.  Within an hour, he has manifested his ability, been sorta kidnapped twice, loses his parents, and is sent to live at a special boarding school for kids with these special abilities.  And that's only the first chapter!

My mixed feelings started with the cover.  I know that you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but look at it--would you guess middle school or high school for that cover?  I would have totally put that cover firmly in the middle grades category.  Turns out this book is 100% high school:  it's got quite a bit of length to it, the main character is 14 and in high school, and there is a scattering of "damns" and "hells" throughout.

My mixed feelings continued with the pacing of events.  As I've mentioned, a LOT happens very quickly.  And the pace never lets up at all.  This would probably be a great reluctant reader recommendation.  The reader cannot zone while reading this page-turner, or they'll miss some of the action.  No lengthy scenic descriptions here!  Bobby Ether and the Academy is character- and action-driven all the way.  However, while lots of action can be very appealing to some, for me it fell a little flat.  I started to feel like the author had a list of two dozen plot points to bring up, and then went back down the list resolving them in the second half of the book.  I can't put my finger exactly on any given moment, but there was a point where the book started to feel formulaic for me, which distracted a bit from connecting to the characters.

Bobby Ether and the Academy is a great readalike recommendation book.  I could definitely see myself recommending it to a youngish teen who has finished the Harry Potter series and is looking for their next read.  The older main character, tougher plot points (Bobby's loss of his parents and some other family secrets), and slight use of language make this a good "what do I read next?" book.  And after the exciting, action-packed finale to the book, I had to go visit the author's website to make sure that there's a sequel!  (There is:  Bobby Ether and the Temple of Eternity.)

I will also say that the magical elements were well done in this book.  I had no trouble believing in how they worked, and they fit nicely into the greater story.

Overall, not a bad book.  Not a great go-tell-all-the-people-to-read-it-now book either.  Definitely not one to judge by it's cover.

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by Tynga at Thursday, June 18, 2015

 Bobby Ether, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Edelweiss, Fantasy amp; Magic, Friendship, R. Scott Boyer, Review, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Putting her foot down and refusing to send shipments of slaves to the Mort was Queen Kelsea's first decision as a Queen, and it might be the one that will destroy her Kingdom. The Mort won't take no for an answer and they are marching on the Tearling to take by force what they think is their due, and Kelsea will have to push them back or die trying.

The Invasion of the Tearling was a great installment and I am happy to say it is not suffering from the second novel curse. The mood of this novel is different, Kelsea is a Queen and has to take decisions as such and stop being a child. She also has to understand and control the power coming from her Sapphires, deal with a new found sexuality and some weird visions/sleepwalking she's been experiencing. To say her plate is full would be putting it mildly, but I really enjoyed watching her struggle and try her best to come out on top. I love that she is now taking her own decisions instead of simply relying on Mace and that she is trying really hard to play it smart. She seeks wisdom that will help her make the best choices and try to control her impulses. She's growing up!

One of my favorite aspect of this novel is Kelsea's visions of Lily. Lily lives in pre-crossing America and we witness her life in first-person narration. We get to see the kind of struggle the pre-crossing people faced, how it came to be so bad, and how some people actually crossed. I found her story really engrossing and I was avidly awaiting Kelsea's next vision. I also love how their stories tied up at the end.

This novel is not action pack. Their are some tense scenes, some violence, but mostly it's a psychological game. All the chess piece progress throughout the novel and we anxiously wait while both Queens play their moves. Also, if you've been anxious to know the Red Queen's real identity, you will be pleased to know that it is revealed in this novel.

The conclusion really is a game-changer and I am anxious for the next installment (no title nor tentative release date yet). I can't wait to see what will happen to certain key characters and I really hope we will see more of Lily!

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by Tynga at Friday, April 24, 2015

 Dystopian, Edelweiss, Epic, Erika Johansen, Fantasy, HarperCollins, High Fantasy, Review, The Queen of the Tearling  6 People left their mark

✎

The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace

The Storyspinner was quite an original tale and I really enjoyed it, even though it's nothing like I imagined it would be when I requested it. With an archer on the novel I really thought the main character would be an epic fighter, a Katsa-like girl with an alpha female presence and I couldn't have been farther away from the truth! Oh Johanna has quite a presence, but it's her art, her stage presence, that mesmerize anyone listening to her tales, not her physical prowess.

The lore is definitely a really strong aspect of this novel. A 'normal' medieval society fighting for a throne on one side of the mountain and mystical soldiers blessed with magical abilities ruling the other side. Things get ugly though when humans try to find and kill the young lost heiress to the throne and the Keepers get involved. The basis of this story is completely different from anything I've read and I really enjoyed it. Add a little gypsy spirit to the mix and you've got quite a great recipe.

One of the down sides, for me at least, to this story is the numerous narrators. There's just too many of them (5 or 6?) to really relate to a particular character and while I understand the author's desire to show many different perceptive, I think it could've been achieved much more smoothly with a maximum of three narrators. That being said, I really liked Johanna's dedication to her family and she impressed me with her strength of character. She was a strong multifaceted lead role.

The plot was engaging but I felt like it was a bit held back because of all the perceptive the author chose to include. I would lie if I said I was riveted to the pages the entire time, because quite honestly, I thought of giving up on this book many times. I'm glad I held on though because I liked the story and the end was a killer. Now I really want to read the next book, and I truly hope the aspects that bothered me will be more polished in the sequel.

All in all, it's a good debut novel, but I think it would've been even better with a little more work in the editing department. You should definitely give it a try though!



 

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by Tynga at Friday, February 13, 2015

 Becky Wallace, Edelweiss, Fantasy, Fantasy amp; Magic, Harper Collins, Magic, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Review, The Keeper's Chronicles, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

The only survivor of her race, Nalia was captured and sold on the black market to become Malek's personal jinni. He mistreated her, hurt her, and yet he is craving her affection. Meanwhile, the leader of a rebel group who clearly hates her is trying to recruit her services to save the oppressed jinnis back in Arjinna. Could he also claim her heart in the process, or will Malek earn the privilege?

Right from the start I'll tell you I have mixed feelings about this novel, and unfortunately for me I can't really pin-point the more negative elements. It took me 3 weeks to read this novel. That's A LOT of time. At times, I thought that I should just give up, but I really wanted to know how the story would end, so I soldiered on. But the weirdest thing is I don't know why I was dragging my feet.

The Jinni theme and the 'For fans of Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone series and Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy' bit was what first made me request this book, and really I enjoyed the lore and the world. It's my first jinni book, and probably not the last since they seem to be popping left and right, but I loved the rich exotic culture Demetrios infused to the story. The middle-east atmosphere (even though the action takes place in Hollywood) was really refreshing. The author did a really great job introducing the jinni's world, their way of living, their culture and gods and the animosity between the dead royalty and the cerf population.

The magic was probably my favorite element. There are four jinni races (pr class if your into RP) and each has an affinity with an element: earth, air, water and fire. Nalia, being royalty, has affinity with all four. I liked that different things could be done with different element and that the wish each jinni could grant was limited by their elemental powers.

The characters were great as well. I liked Nalia and her determination and her dedication to her brother. She is the new Empress because all the royalty died, but she's not interested in power. I loved that she cared for the people around her, and appreciated the beauty of both worlds even though she was raised to think otherwise. Raif was a great prospect and I liked his strength and desire to do the right thing. And Malek, despite his being kind of a bad guy, really caught my attention. I'm convinced there is much more to him to discover and I kind of pitied him. He felt like a like boy craving for mommy's attention at time, despite the fact that he is one of the most influential being on the planet.

I think the one negative aspect I can think of is the pace. I liked almost everything in this book, even the romance, yet it felt like this book was never ending! So I guess it's the one aspect I would've changed.

If the sequel ends up on edelweiss I will read it, but I don't think I would buy it. This novel received a lot of praise, and really, I liked most of it, so you should definitely give it a try. Jinni are definitely a new trend, and this novel is as good a place to start as any :)

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by Tynga at Friday, January 23, 2015

 Dark Caravan, Edelweiss, Fantasy amp; Magic, Harper Collins, Heather Demetrios, Jinni, Love amp; Romance, Review, Urban Fantasy  4 People left their mark

✎

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The official summary is a great introduction to the world, so I won't bother writing one. I don't really agree with the Graceling comparison though (can't comment about The Selection, I haven't read it). The only point it has in common with Graceling is people having special abilities. But in Red Queen, the abilities are a lot more like wielding magic, rather than being extraordinarily talented for something AND the range of possible abilities isn't as wide and is much more predictable then in Graceling. So yeah, The Graceling mention played it's part - it got me to request the book - but it's not a fitting description.

Red Queen is a fantastic debut novel! I really thought I had it all figured out. Poor girl meets rich boy, rich boy pities her and helps her, turns out he is a prince, they marry and she becomes queen. TA-DAM! ... NOT. The strongest and most important element of Red Queen is its unpredictability. 'Anyone can betray anyone' is a motto mentioned many times in the novel, and it's probably the most important and representative sentence of Red Queen. You can never take anything for granted while reading or it'll bite you, just like the characters.

I liked Mare even though she was a little naive despite all the warnings. I understand that she finds herself in a very difficult situation, away from her family, submerged in a world she knows nothing about and had to lie through her teeth for survival, but unfortunately she hangs onto the wrong buoy, hoping not to drown. Cal isn't perfect, and I like that he did his best to serve his people the only way he knew how. I just wished he was a little more daring and courageous in the end. Maven is one cryptic character and I'll have to let you figure him out for yourself!

Victoria tried to play the love triangle trend and it didn't quite work. Mare has a bit of a crush on Cal at first and then finds herself betrothed to Maven. She isn't really in love with neither boys, and use them both to her advantage. There is also a childhood friend orbiting around her, that might have been an option, but nothing major there either. I didn't really care for the romance for that reason, but it might work better in the next installment.

My favorite aspect is by far the lore. I love how social ranking is determined by blood color (reds are slave and silver the elite) and their respective powers. The world is set in a future in which we've destroyed each other in wars and the new world is a blend of great technology and great poverty. The difference between both world is incomparable.

I enjoyed the plot line full of twist and turns, keeping me engaged until the very end. I particularly liked the final battle and I can't wait for the second installment. I want to know what awaits Mare now that so many secrets have been revealed. I strongly suggest you get your hands on this debut!

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by Tynga at Friday, January 16, 2015

 Dystopian, Edelweiss, Fantasy, Fantasy amp; Magic, Haper Collins, Harper Collins, Red Queen, Review, Victoria Aveyard, young adult  6 People left their mark

✎

Ignite by Sara B Larson

Alexa is still by King's Damian side, still his guard even though both their hearts yearn for more. They might have won a battle, gaining control of Antion, but the war is far from being over. Unknown enemies are attacking the King and the border villages, but where should they strike when they don't know the real nature of their enemies?

Ignite is a great sequel to Defy, and even though I enjoyed the first book slightly more (there is something magical about meeting new characters and discovering a new world isn't there?) Ignite didn't bite the dust. There is no 'second book curse' here, what-so-ever. The reality Alexa, Damian and Rylan face is completely different, but no less engaging.

I really enjoyed the interaction between the three main characters now that their reality changed so much. Damian and Alexa wanting each other, but Alexa not wanting to get involved, convinced that she isn't fit for him. Her struggle was heart-breaking and the pain she visibly caused to Damian must have been hard for her to witness. There isn't much of a love triangle anymore because Rylan is content to let Alexa grief her love for Damian, but he is hoping she'll come around, and it's sad to see. He really is like a dejected puppy. The romance takes an unexpected turn though at about 60% of the book, and I won't tell you what, mind you, but I was happily surprised!

The political aspect of the plot kept me glued to the page, more than the romantic story arc, surprisingly. I really liked the mystery surrounding the attacks, and even though the real culprit was obvious, the way to prove it was the challenging part. Their motivations are also quite hazy, even now that I have finished the book, and I can't wait to learn more about this powerful and cryptic enemy.  The two enemy envoys were powerful foes and I'm impatient to discover the repercussion of their actions in the third installment.

The last third of the book left me restless. I was on the edge of my seat, engrossed by the action, and wondering how the heroes would pull through.

I'm sure readers who loved Defy won't be disappointed and if you haven't started this series yet, I urge you to do so. It's a great high fantasy novel, filled with action, love and betrayals. Its epic battles will keep you up late into the night and it'll be worth it!

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by Tynga at Friday, December 26, 2014

 Defy, Edelweiss, Fantasy amp; Magic, High Fantasy, Love amp; Romance, Magic, Review, Sara B larson, Sara B. Larson, Scholastic  Leave your mark

✎

Empire of Shadows by Miriam Forster

Mara enrolled the order to atone for her crimes. When she finally sets out to seek her charge, she has a very idealistic idea of how things should be, and she hits really far from the mark. Even though things are nothing like she had hoped, she finds her path anyway, for better or for worst.

Empire of Shadows is a companion novel to City of a Thousand Dolls, a book I have not read. I usually don't read books out of order and the whole time I was wondering if I was missing anything because I hadn't read the first book. Don't get me wrong, I never felt lost or anything while reading, but it kept bothering me. Until the very end that is. When I realized that Empire of Shadows actually takes place roughly 15-20 years before the events of City of a Thousand Dolls. Now I just want to read CoaTD!

First I have to say that I really liked Mara. She is haunted by her past, but she's determined to atone and she has a fierce desire to do the right thing. She earned my respect with her decision to completely refuse to shift to her Sune form has a kind of punishment, but found a way to be strong as a human, and fight for her beliefs.

An aspect of this novel I particularly liked was the friendship between our fierce Mara and Revathi. It wasn't love at first sight between Revathi and I. She was kind of snobbish and arrogant with Mara at first, but I loved how she did not denigrate the Arvi clan at the beginning,  so I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Turns out I was right! Their growing bond was a star to this story and I loved to see two young girls driving a YA plot instead of the usual love triangle.

Speaking of love, I really liked Emil on his own. His troubled relationship with his father and his brother, his desire to protect the latest, his yearning to be something else than he is destined to. He was very endearing with his actions both toward Mara and Esmer, his Sune friend. What I liked less, is the way Mara & Emil's relationship evolved. I can believe in chemistry, or even instant attraction, but the way they became each others' center of the universe after only a few shared sentences was not believable.

That being said, I really liked the world-building and the plot. Full of mysteries, action and conspiracies, there was plenty to keep me interested the whole time. And the end? LOVED it. The epilogue completely sold me, and as I said in my intro, I now want to read CoaTD!

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by Tynga at Friday, December 12, 2014

 Bhinian Empire, Edelweiss, Fantasy, Harper Collins, Love amp; Romance, Miriam Forster, Miriam Foster, Review, Science Fiction, Shapeshifter, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

BURN FOR ME is epic, and nothing less than what I'd expect from the amazing duo that make up Ilona Andrews! It's the start of what I believe is a trilogy for Connor and Nevada and I see great things in this series.

First of all, I adored the worldbuilding. It's one of the aspects of Andrews' writing that I most appreciate because they always craft such meticulous worlds and the Hidden Legacy world is no exception. I'm going to be a bit lazy and let them set the story, with this bit from the start of the book (excerpt provided by Bewitching Book Tours):

In 1863, in a world much like our own, European scientists discovered Osirisserum, a concoction which brought out one’s magic talents. These talents were many and varied. Some people gained ability to command animals, some learned to sense water from miles away, and others suddenly realized they could kill their enemies by generating a burst of lightning between their hands. The serum spread through the world. It was given to soldiers in hopes of making the military forces more deadly. It was obtained by members of fading aristocracy, desperate to hold onto power. It was bought by the rich, who desired to get richer.

Eventually the world realized the consequences of awakening godlike powers in ordinary people. The serum was locked away, but it was too late. The magic talents passed on from parents to their children and changed the course of human history forever. The future of entire nations changed in the span of a few short decades. Those who previously married for status, money, and power now married for magic, because strong magic would give them everything.

Now, a century and a half later, families with strong hereditary magic have evolved into dynasties. These families—Houses, as they call themselves—own corporations, have their own territories within the cities, and influence politics. They employ private armies, they feud with each other, and their disputes are deadly. It is a world where the more magic you have, the more powerful, the wealthier, and the more prominent you are. Some magic talents are destructive. Some are subtle. But no magic user should be taken lightly.

Amazing, no? It means that BURN WITH ME has political intrigue that reminds me a bit of Game of Thrones, which isn't a bad thing. It also reminded me a little bit of the world that Rachel Vincent created in her Unbound series or the one from Devon Monks new series, if that helps paint the picture for you.  I loved this idea of warring houses and the more feudal political system. Of course, the politics aren't central to the main plot of BURN WITH ME, which revolves around Nevada's hunt for Adam Pierce, but it provides a very interesting backdrop, one that I hope we'll get to explore in future novels.

The magic in this world is also really interesting. If you liked Andrews' Kinsmen stories or The Edge series, you'll be right at home since we see all sorts of non-traditional magical gifts in BURN FOR ME. Nevada's magic is particularly interesting: she can tell when someone is lying. Her power hasn't really been explored because she's been hiding it but I'm sure there are some neat things to come based on what is revealed in this novel. Connor, on the other hand, is one of the most powerful people in the world and his power is incredibly destructive, so he's essentially the other end of the scale. He's so leashed all of the time with his magic because it's pretty much unstoppable when he cuts loose. They're two very different abilities and only the tip of the mountain, if I'm not mistaken.

The romance between Nevada and Connor is a slow burn, much like the one that Andrews created for Kate and Curran. But Nevada and Connor aren't shadows of Kate and Curran -- they're definitely interesting and strong characters in their own right! We get a lot of the story from Nevada's point of view so you'll get to know her really well over the course of BURN FOR ME but Connor's a bit more of a mystery. He's doing the broody, reserved thing for most of the novel but we do see some small windows into his mind, which left me wanting more. He's such a magically powerful person but I don't know how emotionally developed he is, in some ways. I'm curious to see how his interest in Nevada will go from something lusty to something more full of the feels. (This is paranormal romance, after all.)

One of the nice things about this being a series is that we do get this slower build on this storyline, leaving us with a really strong focus on the plot. Nevada's manhunt has some very cool moments, including some ultra fun interactions between Nevada and Adam Pierce. And can I just say, how compelling is Adam Pierce as a character? Andrews excels at creating compelling characters and everyone who we get to know in BURN WITH ME has a little special something, but this guy is ridiculous. He dominates every scene he's in because he's just one of those charismatic bad guys that you can't help but be intrigued by. He's not a good person but there's something about him that wins you over -- against your better judgment. I can only imagine how much fun they had writing his scenes.

To sum it all up: BURN FOR ME is made of win. If you're looking for an amazing story, this is the one for you. If you're looking for a series with a lead couple on a slower burn (like Kate and Curran or Cat and Bones), this is the one for you. If you just want a satisfying, thrilling story, well, you can guess what I'm going to say, can't you? BURN FOR ME is one of the best books I've read this year!

Read an excerpt

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“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army.

Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him.

They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.) They have co-authored two New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and the romantic urban fantasy of The Edge and are working on the next volumes for both.

They live in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

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by Tynga at Thursday, November 06, 2014

 Avon Books, Edelweiss, giveaway, Harper Collins, Hidden Legacy, Ilona Andrews, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Review  3 People left their mark

✎

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

Mortal Heart, final book in the Fair Assassin series, was Amazing - with a capital A. I loved every book in the series, and even though I wasn't particularly fond of Annith in the previous books, this installment turned out to be my favorite!

Annith, the ever talented daughter of Mortain, mastered every art to serve Death as well as she possibly could. If only she would be sent on a mission! With her two best friends already away from the convent she can't wait to go on the field as well, but the Abbess has a different plan in mind. When she is convinced the Abbess isn't acting in the best interest of the girls, she won't let a simple thing such as a direct order get in her way to the truth. Much more truth than she bargained for.

Writing this review is actually very challenging for me because it's hard to find the words to express how much I loved this book without giving any spoilers away! I guess I'll start with the characters. We've know Annith since the first book, and I honestly didn't like her. She came across as a kind of stuck-up-know-it-all and it couldn't be farther from the truth. Mortal Heart opens a window to her painful past and I discovered a huge respect for her along the way. She was ill treated her whole life and in this novel she discovers the shocking truth behind it all. I was simply speechless and the reveals were worst and worst as the story progressed. It really is a wonder she not only survived, but became such a strong and fierce woman.

At some point she gathers her courage and leaves the convent to seek justice and she finds a sexy Hellequin on the way. Hellequins are a bunch of redemption seekers hunting souls for Mortain himself. Balthazar, their leader, is awkwardly but undeniably attracted to Annith and it was just amazing. Balthazar was like a lighthouse in this story and its kind of ironic since he is so dark and brooding. His relationship with Annith was a delight, and my favorite of the three love stories of the series. This sexy specimen holds many secrets and one of them knocked my socks off. I literally reread the passage to make sure I interpreted the facts right!

I don't want to say anything about the plot other than that it is freaking amazing! Mortal Heart is a long novel, but I was completely hooked and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. It's not really action packed, but the mystery surrounding Annith just kept me breathless. I was rooting for her and would've gladly stormed by her side to seek answers.

The time period is one I truly enjoy and LaFevers did an awesome job delivering the story, just as she did for the previous books. Mortal Heart is publicized as the last book of His Fair Assassin trilogy, but I truly hope there is more stories from this world to be written. In fact, the conclusion, fantastic and stunning as it was, lead me to believe there could be a story about the young Duchess in the future. Or maybe it is wishful thinking on my part?

I would conclude this review by urging you to read this series if you haven't picked it up yet. Every book is better than the one before, and the first one was absolutely addictive, so buckle up, you're in for a (horse)ride!

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by Tynga at Friday, October 17, 2014

 Assassin, Edelweiss, Fantasy, Fantasy amp; Magic, Gods, His Fair Assassin, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Review, Robin LaFevers, young adult  5 People left their mark

✎

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

*This review is of the excerpt available on edelweiss. It's  a very long excerpt (took me 2,5 hours to read it, probably a third of the book), and I am extremely thrilled with what I read, so I decided to review it!*

What an awesome world! Magic used to be profusely used to help with all the daily task and support the kingdoms medieval technologies. Until they realized using magic released wraith, a toxic gaz-y substance, in the atmosphere. With its overtime accumulation, wraith is now destroying kingdom after kingdom and to try and stop it, most kingdoms signed a treaty to stop using magic. The Indigo Court refused and were invaded to force them to stop, and that's how Princess Wilhelmina lost her parents and her kingdom in a single night. Ten years later, we follow her adventures as she works toward her ultimate goal, reclaiming her Kingdom and protect her people.

I loved the excerpt and it's killing me that I will have to wait until March 2015 to finish reading this book! I never read excerpt, but when I requested it, I didn't realize that's what it was! And now I am hooked, and dying from anticipation. From what I've seen thus far, the description is true, Fans Kristen Cashore will love this novel! The atmosphere feels a lot like the one in Bitterblue, but Wil has fighting skills similar to Katsa, an enticing mix!

I am a fan of high fantasy so I felt right at home with its historical set up and castle intrigues. What I read promises a lot of action to come and I just love some undercover action!

Black Knife, some kind of shadowy Robin Hood hunting magic users, is quite the mystery as well. I'm giving myself the latitude of speculation since there is much I haven't read. I have a feeling Black Knife is either the Prince or his bodyguard (he is masked), but on the other hand, he would've recognized Wil when he saw her at night, and he didn't, so I kind of am at lost. If you've read the excerpt, do you have any ideas? If you actually read the whole book, please don't tell me!

I can't say anything about the plot or the conclusion because the action just started, but let me tell you that I am excited and I think you should look forward to this novel.

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by Tynga at Friday, October 10, 2014

 Edelweiss, Fantasy amp; Magic, Harper Collins, High Fantasy, Jodi Meadows, Review, The Orphan Queen, young adult  3 People left their mark

✎