Doll Bones promises to deliver a creepy tale about a group of children who go on a journey to return a bone china doll to it's rightful home. Add in the fact that Doll Bones was 2014 Newbery Honor Book and is written by Holly Black, acclaimed author of The Curseworker Series. I thought that I would love Doll Bones for sure, but I was extremely disappointed by it and I felt that Doll Bones is a classic case of wasted potential. Doll Bones really should be a creepy book, but it decides to focus on more the fragile friendships of Zach, Alice, and Poppy than discussing The Queen (the bone china doll that Poppy's enamored with). If Holly Black had decided to concentrate on The Queen more, I have no doubt that I would've enjoyed this book far more.
Don't be fooled by the creepy premise and cover, Doll Bones is a coming-of-age tale about middle-schoolers who are facing growing pains. A good chunk of this book focuses on the relationships that the kids have with their guardians and how it affects their daily lives. If I wasn't expecting such a creepy tale, I definitely would've loved to read about the child-parent relationships.
Holly Black really does an excellent job of creating such life-like, realistic characters. I personally wasn't a fan of the characters because I found their squabbling and drama to be extremely irritating. I also couldn't fathom going on a legitimate quest, I really do think that if I was a lot younger I would've enjoyed this book more. I have experienced middle school drama first-hand and so, I don't really want to read about it.
The plot of Doll Bones was extremely dull, much to my surprise and I had to force myself to continue reading at multiple points. I truly just didn't care about these characters at all or their quest in the slightest bit. I didn't enjoy the direction the plot took and by the time the ending rolled around, I was so happy it was over. Doll Bones isn't a bad book perse, it's just the not type of book for me.
I listened to the audiobook of Doll Bones and the narrator, Nick Poedhl wasn't perfect, but he did keep me interested for the most part. Poedhl did a pretty good job of doing all of the voices and his narration was pretty spot on.I think listening to the Doll Bones audiobook is a great option and it kept me more interested than I would've been if I'd been reading it in print.
Doll Bones was extremely disappointing due to it's very juvenile feel and lack of creepiness. I expected so much more from Holly Black and frankly, I was bored throughout most of the audiobook due to the mediocre, tedious plot-line. Doll Bones is a very hit or miss read, but I hope others enjoy it more than I did!
Today’s post is an interview with the amazing Holly Black! She’s written a couple of very popular series, but today she’s here to talk to us about her latest release, Black Heart!
Black Heart is the final book in the Curse Workers trilogy and I’m totally in love with this world. If you haven’t had the chance to discover it yet, I strongly suggest you seek out the first book.
Read on to find out what Holly had to say about Cassel and her upcoming projects! And make sure to stick around for the giveaway, where you have a chance to win a copy of BLACK HEART, courtesy of the lovely folks at Simon & Schuster!
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1- Male main characters with a first person narration are a rarity in YA paranormal fiction, how did you decide to go down that path?
I wanted this series to feel different from the Modern Faerie Tale books and from Spiderwick, which are all written in third person. Specifically, I wanted the Curse Workers to be more spare and have a little of that classic noir feel. Lots of hardboiled detective novels were written in first person, so I thought that would create some of the tone I wanted. Additionally, with the first book being a memory mystery and with all the cons, limiting the information available to the reader and getting very close to Cassel both seemed advantageous. But most of all, I wanted to push myself and do something I'd never done before.
2- Cassel has a very original way to analyze situations, did you ever caught yourself thinking how he would perceive certain situations of your life?
That's a great question! I find that when I am in the middle of writing a book, I see lots of things from the main character's perspective, so I have thought: What would Cassel do in this situation? Unfortunately, I am too shy to con anyone and most of his other solutions are totally illegal.
3- I truly enjoyed the mafia-like quality of the whole series, would you consider turning it into a TV show if it were proposed to you?
I definitely would. Actually, I would much rather see the Curse Workers books as a TV show than a movie. I think with the complexity of the magic and the number of characters, it would be a really fun series, but would be hard to imagine as a single film.
4- Reviews for Black Heart started to be available in the last couple of weeks, what has been the response so far? Is it what you were hoping for?
I've been really thrilled with the reviews for the series and BLACK HEART just got a starred review from Kirkus, so I'm really pleased.
5- Now that this series is over, do you have plans for a new series?
In 2013, I actually have TWO books coming out. Both are standalones.
The first is a middle grade called DOLL BONES, about three kids -- Zachary, Poppy and Alice -- who go on a journey, despite their own uncertain friendship, to bury a doll that may or may not be made from human bones. It's creepy and fun and it may be the most difficult thing I've ever written. I am really, really proud of it.
The second is a teen novel, called THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN. It's based on a short story I wrote a few years ago and it's set in a world where the sudden spread of vampirism caused the United States to wall off parts of cities, creating "Coldtowns" where humans and vampires live side by side in a lawless and decadent détente. Outside the quarantined zones, people watch videos uploaded from inside with fascination, making instant celebrities of monsters. When only Tana Bach and her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, survive a lockdown party massacre that leaves both of them infected, they have to travel with a half-mad vampire named Gavriel, into the heart of everything that Tana has always feared.
That's the first time I tried to summarize COLDTOWN -- it's hard because I'm not quite finished with it yet!
6- Cassel is one smart boy, how could one manage to prank him on April Fools'?
Well, he's a smart boy, but he can be stupid about girls...
7- Is April Fools' a big deal in your family? Is it common for you to prank your loved ones?
It got several outraged responses, before they noticed what day it was.
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Such awesome answers Holly! Thank you so much for your time and generosity ^^ Can’t wait to hear more about those two new projects!
Curious yet? Here’s more about Black Heart:
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.
But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.
Holly Black is the bestselling author of the Spiderwick series. Her Modern Faerie Tales series is comprised of Tithe, which was an ALA Top Ten Book for Teens and received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews; Valiant, which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Locus Magazine Recommended Read, and a recipient of the Andre Norton Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America; and Ironside, the sequel to Tithe, was a New York Times bestseller. White Cat, the first book in the Curse Workers series, was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book, and ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly,Kirkus Reviews, and BCCB. Red Glove, the second book in the Curse Workers series, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.Holly has also written a collection of short stories, The Poison Eaters and Other Stories. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts
This week I am daring you to read a very unique series: Curse Workers by Holly Black! The first book, White Cat, was released in May 2010 and I fell hard for this very special world and every book since was just as amazing!
White Cat was fan-tas-tic. Holly Black created a world (and an different world history) where workers are known and feared by the public. Politicians are working on law projects to force everyone to be “tested” to reveal their worker potential, and Working is already illegal. Which means Worker families are like the mafia of this book. Organized crime, murders, “missing” people is daily matters. Also everyone is wearing gloves because the Work happens with a hand touch.
What’s a worker you say? Workers each have their own talents (may they work dreams, emotions, luck, memories or death, to name only these) and every time they perform a Work there is a blowback. If you create a good luck charm, the blowback is a share of good luck for yourself. Awesome right? But if you work death, the blowback might be loosing a finger, an hand or even death. Not so cool anymore right?
This series is completely out of the box and its male main character and mafia atmosphere sold it for me. I really hope you will give this series a chance!
Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.
But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.
Cassel isn’t like anybody else, and the things he has to deal with in Black Heart would most likely be to much for any of us. But if he wants some kind of like, then he has to cope with and do the best he can with what he has. His mom is on the loose, his older brother died and he is protecting the murderer, the girl he loves can’t stand to look at him and he’s got both the FBI and the Mafia breathing down his neck. Talk about pressure right? Cassel really strives to be one of the good guys, but it’s no easy feast we you grew up in a crime family.
The Cruse Workers series is one of my favorite because it stands out so much from anything else you can find on the market right now. Holly Black created a very unique world where some people are born with magical abilities laying in their touch. But magic is illegal and the law forces everyone to wear gloves, because you never know! Picture of gloveless girls is even considered porn hehe.
Black Heart, the third novel in the series proved to be as entertaining as the previous ones, and I wasn’t expecting less! The plot is mostly about Cassel walking the fine line between legal and illegal activities. He stroke a deal with the FBI to become one of them but his love for Lila, daughter of a crime lord, stops him from being completely honest with his new employer. Plus, he doesn’t really trust them, even if they are suppose to be the good guys. Seeing him struggle to do the right thing was great and his dilemma was that much more intense because he can’t rely on anyone else to help him. True to herself, Holly provided a story line full of secrets, hidden meanings and surprises to delight her readers.
Character wise, you can’t really go wrong with a guy like Cassel on the pay roll. He is witty and smart, resourceful and oh-so-surprising. You think you know what’s going on in this head of his, but you can never quite grasp what he’s gonna do until it’s right in your face. He gets himself in the worst situations possible to protect the ones he loves, at the risk of his own life, and your heart pounds because you have no idea how he’ll get out of yet another impossible mission. Barron, Cassel’s brother, also surprised me in this book. I never really liked him, but the little things he did between his “I’m cool and I don’t care” acts really brought a new light on him. The relationship between Cassel and Lila also reached new and interesting heights that will likely please you!
One thing I have to mention, is the new design for the covers. I am REALLY disappointed with them. Not only my series won’t match anymore but to new design is general and not relevant to the books. The original covers really captured to spirit of the series. Dark, sophisticated, mysterious, it really had the strong Mafia vibe you feel while reading the book and it was the perfect complement. I really wish the original artwork for Black Heart was available so I could buy it =/
The Curse Workers series is so out of the box that I’m not quite sure in which category it should be filed, but one thing is sure, it must go on your wish list if you haven’t read it yet. Intense with a dark taste of humor, this series promises to take you down unexplored paths.
I don’t know if it’s the official cover yet, but Jennifer at Little Shelf posted a picture and excerpt of Black Heart by Holly Black she received at her signing. Take a look!
In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.
That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.
When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?
Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.
Cassel Sharpe really learnt the hard way the full extend of the maxim “Careful what you wish for”. He used to think he was a normal kid in a family of workers, would’ve done anything to be an insider but what he didn’t know would eventually catch up to him. His brothers have been using his talents for years and wiping his memory afterwards. He uncovered the whole scheme but more people are now lining up to use him as well. And no simple dude next door. The mob and the Feds are both trying to control him. Which one will succeed?
After everything that’s happened in White Cat, Cassel’s life was already pretty lame but everything goes from bad to worst when the Feds drag him from his fancy school to an interrogation room. His brother made a deal with them to mouth off everything – the murders, Cassel’s secret, their mom’s past times – but he was killed before he got the chance to reveal anything. Now the Feds are clear, Cassel will help them uncover the truth – including his brother’s murderer – or else….
I LOVE the Curse Workers series! Holly Black did a fantastic job when she created this unique world, and once again, she delivered! Cassel is a downright awesome character. His personality is colorful from the outside, but he’s so troubled on the inside. How to react when you discover your whole life is a lie? The whole time he is debating moral issues vs consequences and his path is outstanding. I’m in love with the guy! And the kid is so brilliant to. Always finding a way to get what he wants, finding the truth behind the lies and building lies of his own. All the while trying to protect his friends and messed-up family.
Holly did an amazing job of keeping us in the dark the whole time. You see Cassel do this or that, notice one thing over another, but you never know where it’s gonna lead. I’m also a big fan of her writing. This isn’t something I usually notice while reading, but she’s got a very unique tempo and I really like it. Here’s two spoilers free examples:
“What are you doing here?” I ask, turning her roughly toward me, which is maybe not an okay way to behave, but I’m too astonished to think straight.
She looks like I slapped her.
Good job, me. I’m a real charmer.
"Yes," she says sweetly. "I hope you'll think about coming on Sunday. How about I give you the address and you can think about it?"
I pretend to copy down the location of Patton’s stupid brunch. Really I’m just pouring myself a cup of coffee.
The intrigue is simply perfect. And the con Cassel worked at the end? I tip my metaphorical hat to Holly. None of the puzzle pieces fit together until she lays it all out for you and walks you through it. I have to admit I had my doubts about who the killer really was but it was just a guess, because Holly doesn’t let us in onto Cassel’s reflections all the time. Which makes the whole plot that much more intriguing.
Our boy is also surrounded by a great bunch of friends and I really came to appreciate them. Especially his nerdy friend Sam. There’s also a very funky love interest that leaves you no choice but to pray for a good outcome.
Red Glove will grab you by the throat and drag you in a world where everything is a con, everything is a lie and if you hope to survive, you better learn how to figure out the truth. Fast. Filled with action, suspense and treason, the second installment will leave you breathless. Thankfully, Holly treaded a fantastic hero who will make the tension bearable and even force a smile upon your face every now and then.
In conclusion. BUY. THIS. BOOK. You can thank me later =)
One of my favorite excerpt:
A discussion between Cassel and a Fed
“You got that information for me yet?” His breath smells like sour coffee and cigarettes.
“Not quite yet,” I say.
“Have a good march?” he asks. “Get lots of exercise running from the law? Growing boy has got to get his exercise.”
“Ha, ha,” I say.
He grins like we really did just share a joke.
Please note, quotations are from the Advance Reader Copy and may differ from the final edition.
I couldn’t find a product description for that one, but this is the final cover. Richelle revealed it this morning. I am so excited about this title and while I want to read it now and know what happens to Rose & Dimitri, I’m really sad that it will be the end of their story.
Thankfully, Richelle is working on another series, set in the same world, with some characters we already know, to be released in 2012. She even said we might see Rose a bit!
A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns. Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.
Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever. Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend’s Run is famous for them. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight. Brandon may be Celeste’s hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend’s Run.
When Ellie Faneuil first sees Michael Chase, she feels an instant connection. They soon learn that they share more than a powerful attraction: They have powers that are otherworldly. Together they go in search of what they are...and find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict. But will they choose the same side?
Emily Webb is a geek—and happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old movies, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for parties. And she definitely doesn’t start fights or flirt with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that…the same night a classmate—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered. The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. With every nightfall, she gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes; she’s also becoming strong, fast, and utterly fearless. Has she been bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is she becoming something else entirely—something not human? As Emily hunts for answers, she learns that she’s not the only one this is happening to—other teens are changing as well. Who is turning them into monsters, and how many people will they kill to get what they want?
Jillian Conrad never believed in vampires. But she’s just become a living, breathing weapon against them. Attacked by a desperate scientist, she is injected with a serum that was supposed to act as a deadly poison to vampires. And when the scientist is gunned down in front of her, his secrets die with him. Declan Reyes was only half-vampire, but he hates them with all his heart. He knows that the poison in Jillian’s veins could finally destroy the undead kingdom. Also, the serum has had an unintended effect, making her blood irresistible to all vampires—including Declan, whose bloodthirsty traits are driven into a frenzy by her. Driven by duty to protect her and by instinct to crave her, Declan takes Jillian into his shadowy world of blood and battle. But he soon realizes his increasing need for her may be a different kind of hunger…
The last thing Tansy wants to do is move with her family to middle-of-nowhere Texas. But once there, she is immediately drawn into her new home’s disturbing history. Through the lens of her camera, Tansy enters a surreal black-and-white time and finds her life linked to mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the very same house and died as a teenager decades earlier. But the more time she spends in the past, the more her present world starts to fade away, and Tansy must untangle herself from Henry’s dangerous reality before her own life disappears completely.
Sink your teeth into these bite-sized tales exploring the intersections among the living, dead, and undead. The vampires in these stories range from romantic to chilling to gleeful—and touch on nearly every emotion in between. The one thing they have in common? Their desire for blood....
Contributors include: Genevieve Valentine • Steve Berman • Christopher Barzak • Neil Gaiman • Delia Sherman • Garth Nix • Suzy McKee Charnas • Kaaron Warren • Cecil Castellucci • Jeffrey Ford • Nathan Ballingrud • Kathe Koja • Catherynne M. Valente • Melissa Marr • Ellen Kushner • Cassandra Clare • Holly Black • Lucius Shepard • Emma Bull • Tanith Lee
Couldn’t find a product description for that one, but it’s the second book in the Curse Workers series and I really liked the first one and I’m looking forward to Red Glove!
Also, I wanted to let you know that I offered my ARC of The Ghost & The Goth by Stacey Kade for an ARC tour. There are still a few spots available if you want to join! Please visit Good Golly Miss Holly’s blog for details!
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