Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, mythology,
Hardcover: 369 pages
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Release date: August 29, 2017

Series:  DC Icons, #1

Source: Library

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

She will become one of the world's greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning. . . .

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn't know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

Fans of the recent movie will want to know, where does this book fit in? Well, Diana is a "teenager" in years, for a start. It seems to be pre-movie, but is not in any way connected to the movie or the comic series in chronology. (I've never read the comics, so I'm just taking this from Leigh's info about writing the book that she spoke about once.) This tale takes place in the modern era, finding Diana desperate to be worthy of her sisters and her mother's legacy. Diana is much less sure of herself and rather impetuous, choosing to fight her insecurities through action by rescuing Alia and attempting to reverse her Warbringer destiny. Rather than being sure of her superhuman abilities, here Diana does not fly or cause pulse shocks (or whatever you call it) with her armbands. Instead she is constantly trying to show her skills as a warrior, tougher than average because she's been trained by the best of her Amazon sisters. Even without her more flashy superpowers, Diana shines as she single-handedly manages to keep a horde of gun-toting mercenaries in a chase for miles and then leap aboard an ascending aircraft.

In Diana's relationship with and through Alia, we finally get to see how she navigates female friendship, potential romance, and discovers modern customs and humor as she meets Alia's friends Theo and Nim and her brother Jason. Here Diana gets her first dose of human violence, politics and manipulation all the while adapting to the mythical power of the Warbringer and the entropy towards mass destruction. I loved the characters and Nim, Theo, Jason and Alia come to life just as much as larger-than-life Diana.

It's a very clever, fun book, and while I don't want to give too much away, I will say I was laughing out loud at times and impressed by some astute observations on the behavior of humanity. I also learned a shared fact about Wonder Woman - she prefers Shakespeare's Benedick and Beatrice over Romeo and Juliet, a woman after my own heart! This was a fantastic book for fans of Wonder Woman and will grab teens who're new to the fandom. I loved the twists at the end and the spurts of mythology that almost remind readers of the appeal of Rick Riordan's famous Percy Jackson etc. series.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

Jason: "I'm just saying all those things that make our lives so convenient have a price. Think about the way technology has changed modern warfare. How much courage do you need to launch an air strike from behind a computer screen?"

Nim shook her head, "Alia and I have spent half our lives being bullied. If those asshats think they can scare us into not fighting back, they're in for an education."
Nim held up her right pinky and Alia locked her own finger into it. Alia raised her left hand, and after a moment of confusion, Diana hooked her pinky with Alia's, then offered her other pinky to Nim.
"Are you guys forming a coven?" called Theo, the spare slung over his bony shoulder.
"Bubble, bubble," said Nim with a determined grin.
Alia squeezed her pinkies and felt Nim and Diana squeeze back.
They answered together, "Make some trouble."

Read an excerpt.

Watch the book trailer.

Read More

by Kara at Thursday, February 01, 2018

 DC Icons, Fantasy, Leigh Bardugo, Mythology, Random House Children's Books, Wonder Woman: Warbringer, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: High Fantasy, Mythology
Hardcover: 513 pages
Publisher: Viking
Release date: March 7, 2017

Series:  Rebel of the Sands, #2

Source: Library

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

The sizzling, un-put-downable sequel to the New York Times bestselling Rebel of the Sands, by the Goodreads Choice Awards Best Debut Author of 2016!

Mere months ago, gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she's fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan who slew his own father to capture the throne.

When Amani finds herself thrust into the epicenter of the regime—the Sultan's palace—she's determined to bring the tyrant down. Desperate to uncover the Sultan's secrets by spying on his court, she tries to forget that Jin disappeared just as she was getting closest to him, and that she's a prisoner of the enemy. But the longer she remains, the more she questions whether the Sultan is really the villain she's been told he is, and who’s the real traitor to her sun-bleached, magic-filled homeland.

Forget everything you thought you knew about Miraji, about the rebellion, about djinni and Jin and the Blue-Eyed Bandit. In Traitor to the Throne, the only certainty is that everything will change.

Rebel of the Sands was a New York Times bestseller, published in fifteen countries and the recipient of four starred reviews and multiple accolades. But its sequel is even better.

This did not have second book syndrome! It was fantastic! Only made me love this series even more.

Since book 1, we've discovered that Amani is not human or Gallan at all, but that she is Demdji, a child of a human and a Djinni, and possesses particularly powerful magic over sand. This part of her needs to be kept quiet though as some factions kill Demdji and others sell their body parts for magical talismans. Instead, her skill with a gun helps her hide her magic, as Demdji cannot use their powers if touching metal. Additionally, we found out that Jin is, in fact, the Rebel Prince's half-brother and son of the Sultan. We also see Amani's cousin Shira and her old friend Tamid again. No spoilers here, but it surprised me!

In the first book, there was only hints of magic, but here, with Amani learning to use her Demdji heritage, there's already considerably more. We also are introduced to a real Djinni in the form of Amani's father, and with both, there is more myth and legend that creep up to make an appearance in this book, including more steampunk-like aspects.

This second installment begins with some separation of the events in Rebel of the Sands as her previous adventures were mostly with Jin. Now, Jin is largely gone for most of the book and Amani is more of a leader. On this trip to liberate a city for the Rebel Prince, she finds her long-lost aunt, Safiyah, who eventually betrays her, selling Amani to the Sultan. (Who would do this to their niece?! Too bad her mother isn't around to kick her greedy sister in the pants...) The Sultan has particular interest in Demdji, and he has Amani summon the Djinni who was her father, though she doesn't know why. Why does he want Djinni under his control? However, Amani is still determined to do her part for the rebellion. She is placed in the Sultan's harem and desired greatly by the Sultim, the Sultan's heir, which doesn't leave her in much of a favorable position, especially since the Sultan has taken precautions to keep her captive and obedient. After all, Demdji cannot tell lies. Still, Amani is able to gain some knowledge and allies while being in a pit of vipers...

My favorite part about this read is how Amani gets a chance to change things all on her own, with requested help, but still, she makes the decisions and takes the actions. She becomes more independent and in making her own choices, makes her own messes too. The ending and plot twists will, once again, blow you away.

Read More

by Kara at Thursday, July 27, 2017

 Alwyn Hamilton, High Fantasy, Mythology, Rebel of the Sands, Review, Traitor to the Throne, Viking, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel, Book 1 by Seanan McGuire

Would you like to swing on a star? Carry moon beams home in a jar or would you rather be a......well, I wouldn't finish that question around Ms. October Daye.  It would be just plain rude considering what happens to her at the hands of a pure blood of the Fae.  As bad as that was, she has an even greater concerns in the here and now from some of those same Fae creatures.

Rosemary and Rue is cornucopia of mythological creatures and their quirks all found in and around San Francisco.  We are taken on a tour of the darker parts of the city and meet some of its denizens that are often much more than they appear to be in the light of day (or often even the dark of night.

We get to meet October (Toby) and some of her friends in this the first book of the series.  The problem I had was, we met so many more of her acquaintances and creatures she was familiar with.   It may be that I am so accustom to series like Harry Potter, Dresden Files or Jane Yellowrock where introductions are made on a more limited basis.  It gives me a chance to absorb the new paradigm the author is presenting in the world they are creating.  I am more than willing to believe it's just me and one of my more narrow ways but, if you are trying this series out for the first time, be prepared to meet what feels like the whole family.

 

Read More

by Tynga at Wednesday, September 28, 2016

 fae, Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, October Daye, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Seanan McGuire  Leave your mark

✎

Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas) by Zoraida Córdova

Much like any typical teen, Alejandra (Alex) Mortiz has to deal with typical teen problems: school, fitting in at school, making friends and dating.  Alex has the added complication of being in a family of magic users all of whom wonder why her powers haven't surfaced yet.  Her older sister and younger sister have both had their abilities surface and everybody is looking forward to Alex's turn.  Everybody with the exception of Alex.  What secret does Alex keep that would explain her not wanting her powers?

In Labyrinth Lost, Zoraida Cordóva brings worlds  both magical and mundane to life through the eyes of a young woman at a time when she is learning more and more about life and herself.  Since this is written from Alex's view point, we get to see first hand how she begins to understand life.  The story challenges all of her perceptions her family and the differences between their powers and her situation as well as how she sees her friends and acquaintances.  Not only do we get a better understanding of her motivations but, we also start to understand a little better the one of the people she cares for.

Since this is the first book of what I'll guess to be a series, it is full of exposition without getting bogged down in over-explanation.  I prefer first person narration for these types of books because, just as Zoraida Cordóva does here, we are taught through both dialogue and inner monolog in a way that is understandable and allows the story to flow.  The scenes build well off each other without the feeling of being predictable.  You may not be sure of where you are going next but, once you get there, it makes sense.

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordóva is a magical journey of a young woman's discovery of herself and the world around her. This is a Young Adult book that I would have to put a slight emphasis on the Adult part.  The violence and intense emotional elements are probably a bit much for younger readers.  That's why I would give it a mild PG13.

 

Read More

by Tynga at Wednesday, April 06, 2016

 Brooklyn Brujas, Fantasy amp; Magic, Love amp; Romance, Love and Romance, Magic, Mythology, Netgalley, Review, Sourcebooks Fire, young adult, Zoraida Córdova  Leave your mark

✎

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The Blood of Olympus is the fifth and final Heroes of Olympus book, and boy does the series go out with a bang!

Just as in the previous books, the action picks up immediately where it left off in the book before.  The demigods are still traveling the world in the Argo II with the Athena Parthenos statue, trying to complete their mission in time to stop Gaea from awakening.  Every time Rick Riordan would remind us readers how many days were left, I'd get more and more nervous!  How on earth would these teens get back to Athens in time?  And on top of that, they start hearing about an impending war between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter, and they decide that the statue must get back to Long Island!

This young-YA series continues to impress me.  There are many characters, and many personalities, and much mythology, but I didn't struggle too much to keep up.  (I listened to the first four books on CD, and the first half of the fifth book... didn't realize until I picked up the hard copy to finish the story that there's a really handy glossary of characters and gods in the back of the hard copy.)  The pacing of the series is great; perhaps because Riordan has had practice laying out series?  I never felt overwhelmed with too many characters or plot points being introduced at once.  By the time you reach this fifth book, there are a lot of characters, but they're well-developed, so you feel like you know them.  I also love the "cameos" in this final book!  The Amazons make a brief appearance, for instance.  That's fun.

Speaking of characters being well-developed... the main characters all show remarkable growth through the series, but none of it feels forced.  A few natural relationships form, deep friendships are forged, and all of them mature.  Occasionally, younger-YA or MG books have moments in the ending that feel very "after-school special," but this book didn't.  Riordan trusts his readers to pick up on the growth and changes without being overly explicit.  I appreciate him trusting me like that.

As I mentioned in this review's opening, The Blood of Olympus ends on a huge bang.  It doesn't wrap up overly neatly too quickly.  (It is younger-YA, so it does eventually wrap up pretty nicely.)  There's lingering tension, even after the battle ends.  I won't tell you anything about it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the ending!  It was so right for this series.  I can totally see the readalike comparison to the Harry Potter series as far as writing and action go.  It's hard to describe, but Riordan manages to stage a huge battle with many Greek and Roman gods and demigods, where some campers even end up slain, without being gratuitously gory or descriptive.  It's amazing.

And finally, I both listened to and physically read this book.  (My audiobook checkout expired before I reached the end of the story!)  The narration is done by Nick Chamian, who did the previous four books as well, and he continues his excellent storytelling.  I would definitely recommend the audiobook... except that there's that great glossary of gods/terms in the back of hard copies!  I don't know... that throws a small kink in my audiobook recommendation!  No matter what format you choose, I do recommend that you try this series!

Read More

by Tynga at Thursday, January 28, 2016

 Action amp; Adventure, Disney-Hyperion, Heroes of Olympus, Library, Mythology, Review, Rick Riordan, YA, young adult  5 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!

Read More

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

✎

Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

I absolutely love this series. Anything written by Kelley Armstrong is usually pretty good but Deceptions and the rest of her Cainsville series is amazing. It's creepy and gothic, yet the characters are intriguing and intelligent. I hope this series goes on for a while still because it's fascinating and I feel like there's a lot more to tell.

What's exceptional about this book is that deep down, it's a murder mystery novel with so many paranormal elements. At times, you even start to doubt the heroine, Olivia, wondering if she's imagining everything, wondering if her so called visions are just hallucinations. With her fae blood, she has the ability to read omens and apparently recall long ago event through a collective memory and visions. Her importance to the Cainsville elders was slowly revealed in this book but there's still a lot of mystery surrounding her early childhood and her serial killer birth parents. After three books, we still don't know the whole story behind the murders that happened more than two decades ago but at least we do learn some of the motives behind the killings.

I love the fact that this series doesn't have any werewolves, vampires, witches or zombies. Kelley Armstrong has veered away from the typical paranormal approach. Instead, it has gargoyles, kelpies, hounds, bogarts, fairies and so much more. But these fae are unlike anything we've seen before. They're not all bright and shiny vs dark and spooky, like we've seen in some of the more popular fairy books. These fae are enigmatic, creepy and sometimes dangerous. They all have a second agenda and don't necessarily work together. It's hard to keep track of who's who and their ultimate goal is still unclear. However, one thing is for sure: they have no problem using humans as puppets in their quests.

Kelley Armstrong has perfectly melded Welsh, Cornish and Irish mythology and used its stories to create her own. Her characters have said it themselves; their story isn't a reincarnation or a retelling of the mythological characters. They have been born to play the roles of Mallt-y-Nos, Gwynn Ap Nudd and Arawn. Whether they follow in the originals' footsteps is completely up to them. Like in so many mythologies, cycles must repeat and Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky are stuck in this one, for better or for worse. The three of them form a weird love triangle that I wish a could explain in a few words but it's best if you discovered it on your own. The interactions between the three are so intricate and I admire the author for spending so much time on these little details that don't seem to matter but reveal so much about the characters.

The little town of Cainsville is almost a character on its own and plays an integral part in this series, but it wasn't as important in this book compared to the previous two. However, I love how everything always links back to Cainsville and its fae inhabitants. It might seem like a quaint little town, the Stars Hallow of the supernatural world, but it's creepy and sometimes dangerous. I honestly hope to spend more time in Cainsville in the next book. I feel like it holds the answer to everything.

Kelley Armstrong is a phenomenal writer, keeping you engaged from beginning to end. I'll admit this series isn't made for everyone but I still highly recommend it. Keep an open mind and see for yourself how amazing this story is. It's just too unique to pass up and the secrets are just too seductive to ignore.

Read More

by Tynga at Monday, August 24, 2015

 Cainsville, fae, Fairies, Kelley Armstrong, Mythology, Paranormal, Purchased, Random House, Review, visions, Welsh  7 People left their mark

✎

Written in Red: A Novel of the Others by Anne Bishop

Even after all the excellent suggestions I've received for the next series I should delve into, I took a gamble on a book I happened to find out of pure luck and placement on a website.  I didn't read too deep into the synopsis, which works out well for this book but decided to check it out based on the ratings and not the write ups.  Here's what I found.

Written In Red by Anne Bishop, more than a book about a lost woman looking for her way in the cold.  It's a story of wanting to belong, wanting to be somebody but also a story touched by  greed.  Meg finds herself in the midst of beings known as the Others.  The Others are beings from so many of our myths and nightmares.  The fact that these beings live in a somewhat self imposed segregation makes Megs new job as Liaison necessary.

This is a somewhat unique telling of the story of troubled town and the stranger who came in and changed everything with their mere presence.  The story is constructed well enough that, even though you may feel you see the direction it's going, there are sufficient twists and subtle differences to keep you engaged and entertained.  The chief problem I had with the writing style was that occasionally the I would miss the POV change and wind up confusing the motivation of some characters.  I also could have used a bit more texture as far as the setting was concerned.  I'm starting to see where discomfort can be a great illustration tool for an author.  My feet were sore by time Frodo reached Mordor, by the time Eragon made it out of the Hadarac Desert I was sunburned and dehydrated and by the time Blomkvist and Lisbeth found the killer, I was taking regular restroom breaks (Swedish people seem to love their coffee).

Early on I decided to see this as an early work in the series and so, I placed less importance on the character development.  Most of the more-than-human characters could have shown more of themselves than just the characteristics of their non-human side.  Being constantly reminded that werewolves are 'growly', stubborn and protective can be a bit tiresome after a while.

This is a nice entry into the book series, The Others.  It gives sufficient background and leaves much to be discovered in the future.  I'm hoping the story matures with the characters in the next book in the series since I'll soon be checking that one out soon.   Written In Red is definitely PG13 for violence and language.  I would save this for very mature teens.

Read More

by Tynga at Wednesday, March 18, 2015

 Anne Bishop, Mystery, Mythology, Paranormal, Purchased, Review, ROC, The Others  Leave your mark

✎

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Like the Harry Potter series, the Heroes of Olympus series gets deeper and darker with every book.  The House of Hades is one of the tensest yet!  Fans of action/adventure and mythology will absolutely not be disappointed in this book!

Fans of Rick Riordan will already know that the main characters are all demigods: the children of one human parent and one Roman or Greek god.  Thanks to this lineage, they all have special talents.  Frank can shapeshift into any number of different animals.  Leo can fix nearly any machine, and can also spontaneously combust.  Hazel can conjure precious metals and jewels from the ground.  I could go on...

The House of Hades opens mere minutes after the end of The Mark of Athena.  Pretty much the entire book is split between Percy and Annabeth in Tartarus and the rest of the gang on the Argo II.  But do not fear!  The split storyline is very well done, and I was never lost or confused.  Perhaps because there are multiple characters in each location, they are always talking to each other and mentioning each other by name, to anchor the reader in the correct place.  The point of view also rotates, between nearly all of the main characters.  Again, Rick Riordan does this very well, and I never found myself confused or having to hunt for hints to figure out who was talking.  All of the main characters are so well rounded at this point (this is Book #4 in the series), and each have their own distinguishable personality.   No stereotypes or 2D characters here!  As I mentioned, each demigod teen has a special power that helps the group on their quests.  But also--bonus factor--each teen has an Achilles heel.  This lends to their credibility as "real" teens, and help teen readers identify in the story.  For example, Percy can control the wind and the sea, but he's also dyslexic.  I absolutely love that any reader could identify with any one of these main characters, and could easily imagine themselves on the Argo II with the gang!

I also love the Argo II.  This is a bit of an aside.  But who wouldn't love a flying ship?  I'm prone to seasickness; I wonder if I'd fare better on a ship moving through the air instead of riding the waves...

Along with great, 3D characters, The House of Hades is also chock full of action.  In fact, my only (very small) gripe with the book is the lack of humorous dialogue between the characters.  In the first three books, I would literally laugh out loud at their back-and-forth.  In this book, the action was so nonstop that there was little time for witty repertoire.  Percy and Annabeth are totally trekking through Hell (always referred to as Hades or Tartarus in these young adult books) to try to stop Gaea and the giants from unleashing all the monsters onto mortal Earth.  The rest of the gang is on the Argo II, heading toward the same location to try to help Percy  and Annabeth close the the doors to Hades.  As you can imagine, things are just a little tense.  But the teens rely on each other, work together, and persevere.  The reader will definitely be kept on their toes as danger lurks behind every turn!

A note to the wise:  this fourth book in a series is best read as part of said series.  Someone picking up The House of Hades without any prior knowledge of the world or characters may feel lost.

A note on narration:  I listened to The House of Hades on CD and loved it!  Nick Chamian does such a great job.  He's a new narrator (someone else does the first three books) to the series, but he's spot on.  The cadence is smooth; not too fast and not too slow.  And I never had to fiddle with the volume during the book; it stayed nice and even.

Read More

by Tynga at Thursday, January 01, 2015

 Action amp; Adventure, Heroes of Olympus, Library, Listening Library, Mythology, Review, Rick Riordan, YA, young adult  2 People left their mark

✎

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Deep Blue is the first book in the Waterfire Saga, a series that Disney-Hyperion is heavily promoting and they seem to think that Deep Blue could be the next big thing. I really enjoyed reading Deep Blue and this was such a fun, entertaining read. While Deep Blue is one of the best mermaid books I've read, I don't really think it lives up to the hype and that it has the potential to become a phenomenon. Deep Blue doesn't really deviate enough from other YA books for it to be able to resonate with readers.

Deep Blue is the story of Seraphina whose mermaid world is being threatened and so she is caught in a betrothal with Prince Madhi, a philanderer who Seraphina refuses to fall in love with. When Serafina's home is attacked and her mothered is attacked, she must flee and try to find the 5 other mermaids to save the only world she's ever known. According to a prophecy, only Seraphina and her companions can save the world and themselves from a great and terrible evil.

Serafina isn't a very memorable character and there really isn't much to distinguish her from countless other strong and powerful heroines. I did enjoy reading how music factored into Seraphina's life and how she learned to harness her magical abilities, but other than that Seraphina feels very dry and bland. I really wanted to root for her, but her character is superficially drawn out and there's not much that I really found unique about her. I really felt this disconnect between myself and Seraphina, mostly like due to the fact that this book is written in the 3rd person; I truly wanted to understand her character better, but I really feel like the 3rd person POV was restrictive and didn't allow for much characterization.

I really wanted to understand the mers on Serafina's quest better and I feel their characters were even more flat than Serafina's. It seemed like the other mers were extremely uninteresting and weren't special at all, despite the fact that they were the "chosen ones".  I felt like these characters were more concerned with their hair and boy mers while on the run than actually saving the mer world. The only character who I found intriguing was Prince Madhi,  - breaks stereotypes, sleeps around, has earring, isn't Prince Charming

I feel like one of my biggest issues with Deep Blue was suspending my disbelief; a good fantasy writer makes readers forget about the real world and immerses them completely in a strange, unique world. Donnelly is definitely an adept writer, but I always felt this nagging sense of disbelief when it came down to the intricate details. If Serafina and her fellow "mers" (as Donnelly refers to her mermaid creations) don't have contact with the human world, why do they utilize slang that feels like a watered-down, awkward version of human jargon? I also don't understand how the mers used electrical human technology underwater, which seems like a silly issue but it really seemed to bother me (if they had claimed something ridiculous like it was operated by magic, I would've been satisfied).  I was never all that interested in the world Donnelly had created and if I had, all those gritty details probably wouldn't have bothered me.

Though Deep Blue is being marketed for a Young Adult audience, it feels more childish as if it's better suited for a middle-grade audience. The dialogue in this book is way too simple and feels a bit too cutesy for my tastes; I truly expected Donnelly to write stronger dialogue after hearing so much praise for her novels. The characters truly don't seem to act their age and they seem more like pre-teens than young adults who are on the brink of adulthood.

Deep Blue is an interesting, addicting series opener, but it suffers from a troubling amount of flaws in terms of characterization and writing style. My interest was piqued enough for me to pick up the sequel, but I can't see this being the next big thing. Though Deep Blue is one of the better mermaid books, I don't think it measures up to some of my favorite paranormal books.

Read More

by Tynga at Monday, April 07, 2014

 Disney Hyperion, Disney Press, Jennifer Donnelly, Mermaid, Mythology, Paranormal, Publisher, Review, Waterfire Saga  Leave your mark

✎

Fates by Lanie Bross

Fates by Lanie Bross is a strange book and I'm still a bit mystified by it days after finishing it. On one hand, Fates is poorly plotted and developed, but on the other hand, I couldn't tear myself away from this book. Even though Fates is a mediocre take on mythology, I was still extremely entertained and hopelessly engrossed.

The characters in Fates were merely lifeless shells, and the sad thing is that they had so much potential. I really wanted to care about Corinthe and Luc, but Lanie Bross never really developed her characters enough. Both Luc and Corinthe were so undeveloped to the point where both characters had zero personality and defining characteristics. I never really cared about each character at all and so, I had little to no interest in the plot.

Corinthe's job is to make sure everyone's fates go according to plan and that means killing Luc. If she kills Luc, she can return home to Pyralis Terra, the only problem is that Corinthe has fallen in love. Honestly, I didn't really feel as if Corinthe really wanted to go home and I felt that Corinthe was all talk. The whole plot felt pointless and there really wasn't much of a climax or any rising action; the whole plot lacked any tension.

The world-building of Fates was extremely futile and by the time I finished Fates, I knew even less about Pyralis Terra than when I started. The author throws in random terminology about fates and she never clearly defines these terms. I had so many questions about the world and the author never answered any of my questions at all. The world was poorly constructed and I really didn't understand the point of it all.  I like the concept of a world governed by fate, but it really was executed poorly.

The romance in Fates lacked any movement and I was rather apathetic towards Luc-Corinthe's relationship. Bross gave me no reason to even care about their relationship at all and I couldn't believe that someone would give up their home for a dull guy like Luce. The romance had such a predictable arc and I easily discerned where it was moving right from the start.

The only thing that saved Fates was Lanie Bross's writing style, everything else was very mediocre.  I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there was something I loved about Bross's prose.  Bross has this simple, elegant way of writing and her sentences were a pleasure to read. Her writing redeemed this book for me and it was the only thing that compelled me to continue reading!

Bottom Line:   Fates is a pretty average fantasy novel and the plot, characters and world-building are nothing spectacular.

Read More

by Tynga at Wednesday, January 01, 2014

 Delacorte, Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Lanie Bross, Mythology, Publisher, Random House, Review, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

The Too-Clever Fox by Leigh Bardugo

This novella is publicized as a companion story to Siege & Storm, the second book in The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo. I'm afraid to say though that the link between the story and the book isn't clear at all. The only thing I can see maybe is that this story is about avoiding traps, and that Alina was caught in one unaware in the latest installment.

This novella is actually a fable featuring a fox whose very life was threatened by his own mother right at birth. Already at a young age he had a clever mind and thanks to his wits, he convinced his mother not to eat his ugly scrawny self. He overcame many challenges growing up and his smarts allowed him to slowly become accepted amongst the other forest animals. When a terrible hunter came to his forest, he stepped up to save his friends, thinking he was the cleverest of them all.

The fable was kind of cute and it was a nice way to show how strength of character and cleverness can get you out of many difficult situation. I liked ever more that the very bottom of the story is to show that even if you overcome many obstacles, it doesn't mean that there aren't more on the way, and that you should always remain alert. The poor fox grew cocky and it almost cost him his hide.

A nice lesson is shared by author Leigh Bardugo, but because it is so far removed from the series, I would not really recommend it. It's an ok read, but I don't feel like it brings anything to the table. It's a free novella though, so feel free to check it out and judge for yourself!



 

 

Read More

by Tynga at Friday, November 29, 2013

 Fable, Free, Leigh Bardugo, Macmillan, Mythology, Novella November, Review, The Grisha, Tor Books  Leave your mark

✎

The Last Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

When Jenn came up with the idea of November Novella, I jumped at the chance to read and review THE LAST STORMDANCER before reading the newest book of the series. I fell in love with this series last year when I read STORMDANCER which when, after only one book, Jay Kristoff gained a spot on my auto-buy list.

In my opinion, THE LAST STORMDANCER didn't really do his series any justice and he shouldn't be judged on this novella alone. I also wouldn't read this book as an introduction to the series because even if it’s set 100 year before the first book, there is so much information lacking. I would only use it as a add on to book 1, to gain more background information about Thunder Tigers and Stormdancers, and to learn more about their history, only grazed in STORMDANCER.

Thunder Tigers are griffin-like beasts, while the Stormdancers are the humans that ride upon their back. This novella is about a blind boy who strongly believes that he (or someone from his grandmother's progeny) will save the world from the exploding industrial age that is causing death of so many with the pollution it has produced and will undoubtedly continue to produce. He befriends a Thunder Tiger and together, they set off to stop humanity from causing the death of more humans and other creatures of the world. Political warfare is a major part of this novella as it also tell the tale of twin brothers who fight for the Four Thrones of Shima upon the death of their father, one who wants to end the industrialization, the other who wants to promote it's growth.

Like any good novella, the pace is super fast which keeps you interested throughout. THE LAST STORMDANCER is still a wonderful story despite my overall disappointment with it. It still has all the wonderful aspects the other books have, like historical Japanese stuff, samurais, steampunk, mythology and political warfare. If you're tired of the repetitive Victorian steampunk, this series will definitely bring you on a new ride and entertain you with its cleverness and original concept. A series I highly recommend.

Read More

by Tynga at Sunday, November 03, 2013

 Japanese, Jay Kristoff, Macmillan, Mythology, Novella November, Review, St. Martin's, steampunk, The Lotus War, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

I finally understand what all the hype around this series is! This is perhaps one of the most well done mythological debuts that I have come across in a while. I found it to be a really unique take on the Persephone and Hades myth and the world-building and interpretation surrounding this myth was amazing. The fact that we didn’t have a Hades character and instead had Cole, an Everliving that wanted to take over the throne, paved the way for a widely loved and known myth to become a brand new concept.

The characterization in this one was solid. Nikki was trying to recover her emotions for a majority of the book, so she was unattached to everything but oddly worrisome over where some of her past relationships stand. It was very well done. Cole was fascinating as well because of his dark side that rarely gave way to a glimpse of true feeling even though he doesn’t have a heart. I think that he made the myth all the more real because he was stubborn and focused on the prize: getting Nikki to follow him back to the Everneath at any cost. But I really loved Jack. He never gave up on Nikki despite her disappearance and his love for her is everlasting. He is noble, the way a hero should be. He is the small ray of hope in the bleak world that Cole is trying to create. Yet, somehow, because the novel is mostly spent with Nikki trying to recover her feelings during her six month Return, romance wasn’t a huge part of the plot until the very end. Unfortunately, I see a potential love triangle in the works for book two.

In regards to characterization, I have to say I was disappointed in the roles that Nikki’s father and younger brother played. You would think that after getting a family member back after a mysterious disappearance would have them overjoyed. They accepted her lies about rehab so easily. It seemed that her father was more obsessed with his campaign as Mayor than he was for his daughter’s feelings, and that bugged me because it struck me as odd. As for her little brother, he was there when it helped out and that was it. No more, no less. After losing their respective mother/wife due to a drunk driving accident, you’d think they’d cherish the return of a seemingly run-away-to-rehab recovered drug addict daughter (even though that was all a lie). Instead, the extent of the love is helping out in campaigns and surprise drug tests.

Ashton’s writing is beautiful and her mythological tale was captivating. I loved how she inserted a series of flashback chapters throughout the story to better explain the events and emotions leading up to Nikki’s disappearance during the century long Feed. However, I think that her transition out of the Feed into her Return could have been smoother. Nikki began the book when she woke up in this awesome creepy scene with Shades surrounding her and then she decided to go home, so she finds herself on the floor of a small store and then suddenly begins to remember everything she needs to know about being on the Surface again. Too easy, you know? Aside from that, the pacing was perfect and I’m hoping that Ashton’s attention to detail will give us more mythological answers in book two, like how Everlivings came along and what caused Cole to become one. I want to know more about his backstory since I now have Nikki’s. I’m hoping that book two will take a reverse approach that focuses on him the way book one did Nikki.

All in all, a great read for those looking for a unique mythological interpretation that is not heavy on the romance. This series is one that I’ll definitely be following, especially after that ending! Ashton easily leaves us begging for more because she unfortunately leaves us with several big questions.

Read More

by Tynga at Wednesday, July 10, 2013

 ARCycling, Balzer amp; Bray, Brodi Ashton, Everneath, Fantasy, Harper Collins, Mythology, Review, young adult  2 People left their mark

✎