Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Book Stats:  

Reading level:Young Adult
Genre: Steampunk / fantasy
Hardcover: 567 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release date: September 5th, 2013

Series:  The Infernal Devices #3

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Tynga

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Danger and betrayal, love and loss, secrets and enchantment are woven together in the breathtaking finale to the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices Trilogy, prequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray. Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever. As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army? Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

I am very late to this party. I LOVED Clockwork Prince so much when I read it that I didn't want to read Clockwork Princess right away. I just couldn't face the fact that it was that last book in the trilogy. I was not ready to let go! It was a double-edged knife though because I had a hard time getting back into the story. In fact, I thought the first half was really dragging and it wasn't until Tessa was kidnapped that I finally felt engaged in this last installment. 

There are many aspects I liked and disliked about this novel so I am in a solid grey zone here. First, Tessa... I loved her a lot more in the previous books. In this one she really feels like a damsel in distress and does no fighting what-so-ever despite having some training now. And the romance killed me. I've always thought she should be with Will, and her engagement with Jem never made sense to me. And I won't spoil anything for you, but I am not happy with how things played out romantically. 

On the other side, we FINALLY got answers about Tessa. Who her ancestors are, how she came to be, more info about her clockwork angel and toward the end, she finally used per power. Something she should've done more instead of being a defenseless lady (which she shouldn't be!). 

Will. I love Will and always have. The poor boy is sooo tortured though, sometimes it's hard to read. I loved that he took matters in his own hands though and worked hard toward his goals. I also really like his relationship with Magnus and I wished there was more of it. Those two make quite the pair! 

One of the aspect I loved most is how strong Charlotte is. She is a natural leader and she is caring and compassionate for her shadowhunters. She works really hard to do what is best even if she has no support. The difficult trail in front of her doesn't make her shy away and I command her for that. Despite her own loses, I was happy for her at the end of this novel.

Even though I didn't like this novel as much as I wanted too, the epilogue really kindled my passion for the Shadowhunter world. I feel a urge to re-read The Mortal Instruments series to see if I overlooked the appearances of some of the immortal characters, or if my perspective on some other characters will change now that I know their ancestors.  I haven't read book 5 and 6 of that series yet, so I will pick them up very soon, that's for sure. 

In conclusion, the books in the world are much better than the movie and the TV show. I urge you to pick up 'em up for an entertaining ride! 

Read Chapter One

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by Tynga at Friday, July 21, 2017

 Cassandra Clare, Fantasy, shadowhunters, Simon and Schuster, steampunk, Warlocks, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Dark Run by Mike Brooks

What do you get when you combine Clint Eastwood with Han Solo and Captain Kirk?  Probably something closely resembling Ichabod Drift, captain of The Keiko, privateering ship in Mike Brooks new space opera Dark Run.  This tale combines elements of the American old west, pirates of the high seas and of course space travel.

This is a book that relies heavily on the characters in it.  We spend most  of our time with the central character, Ichabod Drift, and his development sets the pace for much of the story.  The rest of the cast is made of many of the archetypes we expect to accompany a swashbuckling captain who has a reputation with the ladies.  Everything from the brooding and simple-minded muscle to the mysterious first mate to the techie who is only at home with gizmos and computers.  These are always nice touchstones to help the reader into a world that is unfamiliar but, in this case, there could have been a bit more life brought into each of the characters.  Having each match too closely to their job makes them almost seem like 'off-the-shelf' characters too easily dismissed as set pieces.  They really aren't since each has a crucial role to the narrative but, it take a little to long to feel they are more than their job descriptions.

The story itself is largely character driven and suffers some from the underpowered crew.  We start with an established crew of privateers who manage to keep the bills paid while travelling the galaxy.  One day, the captain is given an offer he can't refuse and does not fully explain to the rest of the crew.  This leads to events that but the whole crew to the test.  This along with the revelation of some crew members buried past puts the future of the group in jeopardy.

Dark Run by Mike Brooks is credible start to what could be a very interesting series.  Breathing life into the crew and some timely exposition of their pasts could make for some entertaining reading in the future.  The violence and sex scenes earn this one an R rating in my book.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, July 13, 2016

 Mike Brooks, Netgalley, Review, Science Fiction, Simon and Schuster, Space Opera, Space Pirates  Leave your mark

✎

Icon (The Persona Sequence Book 2) by Genevieve Valentine

This is the second book in this series.  In my review, I may reveal plot points or other items of significant meaning in the plot of the first book.  Those things also known as spoilers.  If you have not started but may have the desire to read this series, don't read this review just yet.  Check out Persona by Genevieve Valentine and then come back and finish this review.

Icon by Genevieve Valentine is story filled with action and political intrigue.  This is the second book in the Persona Sequence.  Set in a dystopian society where the Cult of Personality reigns supreme this series is a study in what it would be like if 'reality TV' where to get too close to politics.  Not as though that could ever happen.

The main character, Suyana Sapaki, gains quite a bit of notoriety, not to mention political clout, from surviving an assassination attempt.  She accomplished that with the assistance of a reporter. The  connection between the two seems to be a bit incomplete, at least as far as one party is concerned.

With this book, I accidentally broke one of my cardinal rules: Never start in the middle of a series especially when it there is plot that lasts through the whole series.  This books makes it particularly difficult  to do this since it rarely treads over old territory from the first book.  This makes tracking the progression of the main characters tricky.  It also hinders the significance of new characters.

The description of the setting was a little less than I would like.  Not only does it breathe a little life into the story but, it can also give a bit of context to those who haven't read the first book or even those who did but need little reminders of some aspects.

Icon by Genevieve Valentine is a very unique vision of political science fiction that could open up this sub-genre of story telling.  It is a more mature read.

 



 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, June 29, 2016

 Genevieve Valentine, Netgalley, Political, Review, Science Fiction, Simon and Schuster, The Persona Sequence  Leave your mark

✎

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Unwind was not what I was expecting. At all. I don't remember now what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. The plot is this, essentially: there's been a civil war in America over the abortion issue, and the end truce was that fetal abortion is illegal, but parents can choose to "unwind" their child at age 13 if they're unhappy with how they're turning out. If a kid makes it to 18, they're safe; no one can be "unwound" after that point. What is unwinding? Healthy teens are portioned out to others for medical or cosmetic needs. Need a kidney? There's an Unwind you can cut open and grab one from. Every single part of the Unwinds is used, so society is told that they're not "dead;" they "live on" in others.

So this YA book was a lot deeper and more thought-provoking than I ever would have thought!

Connor, Risa, and Lev have all been set aside to be unwound for various reasons, and this brings them together into an unlikely partnership to survive. Connor is a "difficult" kid for his parents. Risa is a ward of the state. Lev has been set aside since birth as his family's "tithe" to the program. So there are many issues at discussion in this book! Teens with discipline problems: how they view the situation, how the adults in their lives view the situation, and what the ideal solution is. Orphan rights: even as minors, what are their rights? What decisions can they reasonably expect adults around them to make in their name? When do they stand up for themselves? Religious freedom: at what point should someone outside step in? When the parents are about to sacrifice their child in the name of their beliefs?

Neal Shusterman is such a fantastic writer. Even as I cringed at the issues being presented, I laughed at the characters' witty banter. Even as I feared for the characters' safety and stayed up too late reading, I thoroughly enjoyed watching them continue to triumph over the horrible circumstances in which they'd been placed. Every time I thought the characters might be safe... nope! There's danger at every turn for these three teens on the run. While they are definitely still teens, with very little "life experience," they repeatedly make well thought-out and mature decisions.

I went into Unwind years after it's publication, knowing that it's the first in a trilogy. But the ending really wraps up well! You could stop at the end, but why would you want to? By the end, you're going to be rooting for the teens and will want to know what happens next.

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by Tynga at Thursday, December 10, 2015

 Dystopian, Library, Neal Shusterman, Review, Simon and Schuster, Unwind, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Spider's Trap by Jennifer Estep

A quick warning: Spoilers for previous novels abound in this review! If you're not caught up, you might want to skip down to the giveaway. :)

Gin's in a very different position in SPIDER'S TRAP: she's spent much of the series hunting Monroes and dodging assassins and now she's the queen of Ashland's underworld. "Reluctant" doesn't even begin to describe how she feels about it but her feelings become moot when someone plants a bomb on her friend Phillip's boat while she's on board for a meeting. The would-be assassin's magic is unlike anything Gin has ever faced, and she can help but think it's related to her past, though she can't quite put her finger on it. Nonetheless, Gin being Gin, she goes into full seek-and-destroy mode, to ensure the safety of her loved ones.

The books in the Elemental Assassin have a definite structure to them: Gin meets threat, Gin spends novel trying to defeat threat (usually with at least one attempt that goes awry - at great cost to her person), Gin survives (again, often at great cost to her person). Within this structure, there's usually a lot of nice personal and thoughtful moments, particularly in the past couple novels, where Gin has struggled with being "out" as The Spider and how that affects the people she cares about. In SPIDER'S TRAP, Gin's reflections go in a different direction, taking us back to her early days with Fletcher, which is one of the reasons I really enjoyed this novel. Every few books, we get to dip our toes into Gin's early days -- you can't quite call it an idyllic childhood, can you? -- and these are my favourite stories because we see how Gin became the woman she is. And we get to learn about Fletcher, who I'm very attached to despite the fact that he's been dead for pretty much the entire series. Gin's formative years and her time with Fletcher are always fascinating and SPIDER'S TRAP is no exception. Estep has given us another peek at Gin's younger self, and of Fletcher in his prime, and I loved it. (As an aside, I would happily read a prequel series just about Fletcher with or without teenaged Gin and Flynn.) Without going too far into spoiler territory, I think I can safely say that it was quite fun to have Gin be something of a secondary player in some of the reminiscences. I'm afraid to be less cryptic, so you'll just have to read through the novel to really get what I mean by that!

I have such big love for SPIDER'S TRAP that I could go on and on but I'm very concerned that I'll inadvertently ruin some of the surprises so I think I'll have to sign off now. ;) I'll close by saying that, as ever, Estep has written a fast-paced, action-filled novel that also manages to deliver great character development and pithy dialogue. It's no mean feat to keep a series interesting once it's hit double digits but she's done a fine job. I'm always eager to read the next Elemental Assassin book and SPIDER'S TRAP has truly delivered. It's exciting, satisfying, and will have you hooked from the opening scene. I dare you to read the excerpt linked below and not run to the bookstore to get your own copy!

Read an excerpt

There is a tour-wide giveaway with different prizes depending on region. Make sure you check the Raffelcopter for details. The prizes:

1 winner will receive an entire print set of Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series - all 13 books! (US/Canada only)
10 winners will receive one copy of SPIDER’S TRAP (US/Canada only)
1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card (this is open internationally!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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by Tynga at Sunday, July 19, 2015

 Adult, Assassin, Elemental Assassin, giveaway, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Publisher, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  2 People left their mark

✎

Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

What could be worst than seeing your soul-mate die in your arms again and again? It's the hand Regin The Radiant was dealt when she fell for mortal Aidan the Fierce. She wasn't quite in love yet, but cared deeply for him, and after a night a weakness, when he claimed her in passion, he died in her arms, killed by a dreadful vampire. He loved her body and soul, and swore he'd come back to her. And he did, only to die in a similar fashion every time. Regin is now determined to stay away from her dear Aidan because she can't handle the pain anymore. This reincarnation of Aidan have very different plans for her though...

Another awesome installment in the Immortals After Dark series! Kresley has never been wrong for me with her adult titles (surprisingly I don't really like her YA), and Dreams of a Dark Warrior was another success. This title was a bit different because the hero is actually a bad guy. And I mean, a REALLY bad guy. He is a leader in an organization bound to destroy all Lorekind, and when he captures Regin, it's not to sweet talk her into bed. He does (or commands) unspeakable things to all paranormals, and Regin was no exception. I liked how believable his journey was, and if I had been in the place of Regin I would've told him too little, too late dude! But I guess that Valkyrie is more forgiving than I lol. I actually pitied him in the end, and he worked really hard to earn redemption, so I must give him credit for that.

Regin was radiant *snickers* no seriously, the girl was really shining through with her spunky personality. I loved that she was determined to do the right thing, even if Aidan (named Chase in this reincarnation) was awful. I loved how she kept her head held high in even the worst situation, and has a fierce desire to protect her loved ones. Her interaction with her roommates was fun and endearing and her respect for her berserk ally was commendable.

The plot all takes place in the same location and it's quite a feat to keep things interesting in such a limited location. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, wondering when Chase would give in and remember Regin, or if she would give up and sacrifice him yet another time. The tension between them was excruciating, and that's without mentioning the unbearable sexual electricity. I was wondering when they would jump each others' bones.

One of the aspect I like about Kresley's book is that the time lines on each novel overlap. This story takes place in the same time frame as Demon From the Dark and Pleasure of a Dark Prince. Since Lothaire played a big role in the novel, I am guessing "Lothaire" - the novel, will overlap some as well. I think it keeps things interesting and it's refreshing because it's different from any other series I've read.

Dreams of a Dark Warrior was a very satisfying read, and if you haven't started this series yet, I must ask you, What are you waiting for???

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by Tynga at Friday, July 03, 2015

 Immortals After Dark, Kresley Cole, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Romance, Simon and Schuster, Valkyrie  4 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

✎

Carniepunk by Rachel Caine

This is one of my favorite ways to find new story sources, the anthology.  I know there are some who aren't partial to anthologies but, when they are good, I can't help myself.  It's like a two pound box of See's Nuts and Chews all for me.  In the case of Carniepunk, there are more nuts than anything else.  This is a collection of strange tales that are all set in the creepiest yet alluring place, the carnival.  Bright lights, darker shadows, shifty characters and freak shows are fertile territory for tales of the paranormal or urban fantasy.

This book came with a bit of a surprise in the form of an Elemental Assassin story by Jennifer Estep that I actually liked.  Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with Ms. Estep or her writing style.  I don't know if it was the story or the main character but, for some reason, the first book in the series never appealed to me.  This anthology gave me a chance to see the character in a different light and made me consider trying out the next book in the series.

There are several other stories in the book that had the same effect on me.  Stories of love lost or found, discovery or rediscovery and stories of sacrifice and betrayal all to the tune of a merry-go-round or sideshow barker.  I must admit that I had initial concerns that, with such a distinct theme. I thought there might be too much replication of story line.  That was not the case here.  Instead of story after story of creepy clowns, the book is a patchwork of stories dealing with the dark denizens of the midway.  There's a little bit for everybody: ghosts, demons, and creatures from other planes are in some of the best written short stories of the genre.  I personally would have loved to have seen something from Charlaine Harris or Jim Butcher but, you can't have everything.

This would be a great read around Halloween but, there is quite of bit of language and mature content.  This is a definite PG13 drifting into the R rating at times so, I'd leave this one to the grownups.

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, May 06, 2015

 Anthology, carnival, Purchased, Review, Simon and Schuster, Urban Fantasy  3 People left their mark

✎

Battle of the Ampere by Richard Paul Evans

Battle of the Ampere is the third book in the Michael Vey series.  So this review could contain slight spoilers for the first two books, but I promise no spoilers of this volume.

You won't find any series fatigue in this third volume!  After a narrow escape from the Peruvian Elgen headquarters, the Electroclan is scattered in the jungle.  Not only do they need to continue eluding the remaining Elgen guards and Dr. Hatch, but they also have to survive a grueling trek through the rainforest.  The goal that the Electroclan teens are moving toward: destruction of The Ampere (Dr. Hatch's fancy yacht, and the headquarters of the Elgen) and, hopefully, Dr. Hatch himself.  A little bit more is asked of the reader in this book, as the main characters are split up in a few groups of 2-4 each.  They are all moving toward a rendezvous, but for the first half of the book the viewpoints alternate between a few different characters in different locations.

Another difference between Battle of the Ampere and Book #2, Rise of the Elgen:  romance.  It's still very, very chaste (I think I remember one kiss), but it is there.  Michael spends some serious jungle time with a girl who is not his girlfriend, Taylor, and both Michael and Taylor have to deal with the emotions that brings up.  (No surprise: Taylor's ability to read minds kind of helps cut through any emotional irrationality during the ensuing Discussion of Feelings.)  The first two books in this series focus entirely on action and adventure; this third book is able to include some more emotional development of the characters now that the reader is familiar with the characters' talents (powers?) and situation.  Not only is there the Discussion of Feelings between Michael and Taylor; other supporting characters also have moments of emotional vulnerability.  All of this is really well done.  The emotional growth is more often shown than told, and is sprinkled throughout the book, in between exciting action.  The reader is never left bogged down with feelings, and nothing feels superfluous.

So yes, the ACTION! ADVENTURE! continues.  The Electroclan is still always on the go, trying to take down Dr. Hatch and the Elgen.  To make things more difficult, the Peruvian government has declared them wanted criminals for their "terrorist" activities destroying the power plant.  Yikes.  To recap:  trekking through the jungle on foot.  Dr. Hatch and his private army wants their heads.  The Peruvian government wants their heads.  They must destroy The Ampere.  I wouldn't trade places with them for anything!

A bonus factor in this book series: kids with disability.  The main character, Michael, has a superability: he's literally electric.  But he's also got a disability: Tourette's.  This never ever defines him or slows him down, but it is present and occasionally Michael has to work around it.

My only gripe with Battle of the Ampere is a tiny one:  the very ending.  When I read Battle of the Ampere, I already knew that there was going to be a fourth book.  But still, can we maybe not set up the fourth book so very blatantly at the end of the third?  I listened to this on CD, and I feel like the ending period would have been better placed about 15 minutes prior to the actual end of the book.  But maybe that's just me.

Speaking of listening to it on CD... the narration was fantastic!  I reviewed Rise of the Elgen a few weeks ago, and it's the same great narrator.  He has great cadence, and I never had to fiddle with the volume button.  He kept me totally engaged.  I think the book would be great no matter how you read it, but I do give the audiobook a shiny seal of approval.

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by Tynga at Thursday, December 18, 2014

 Action amp; Adventure, audiobook, Library, Michael Vey, Review, Richard Paul Evans, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Simon and Schuster, young adult  3 People left their mark

✎

Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

Unwholly is the second book in the Unwind trilogy, but I didn't feel like it suffered from "sophomore slump" at all.  (A quick word of warning: there won't be any Unwholly spoilers in this review, but there may be some spoilers for Unwind.  If you haven't read the first book yet, I highly recommend that you check it out.)  This dystopian series has a very, very unique plot to it.  The setting is a future America; an America recovering from the effects of the Heartland War.  This civil war was fought between those who were pro-choice and those who were pro-life.  The final outcome; the final "compromise;" is that fetal abortion is now illegal, but parents have the right to retroactively abort any unruly teens between the ages of 13 and 16.  These teens are not killed outright.  They are "unwound," and 99.4% of their bodies (organs + muscles + skin) are parceled out to hospitals to use on ill or injured people.  So if you have an accident and your leg is crushed, you can just go to a hospital and have a new leg attached.

Unwholly begins a few months after the end of Unwind.  Connor and Risa are still at The Graveyard, and Lev is under house arrest.  In Unwind, we saw a lot of character growth for Connor, and I feel like he's almost an entirely new person in this second book.  He's a great leader, leading by example instead of by order.  The Graveyard is running like clockwork, with more AWOL Unwinds arriving each week.  There are scenes early in the book where Connor is interacting with adults on behalf of The Graveyard group, and the reader can really see his maturity.  Where he was impetuous and rash and self-destructive at the beginning of Unwind, he is now communicative, mature, and reasonably level-headed.  I feel like Unwind Connor would have immediately gone out and started blowing up Harvest Camps, but Unwholly Connor realizes that the fastest, most violent path isn't necessarily the best one.

This book, like the first one, is told from multiple points of view, from both sides of the action.  There are some new characters that really help to advance the story and keep it from feeling like just a "bridge" book in the trilogy.  There's Cam, who is a teen who doesn't exist.  Risa comes into contact with him, and he brings up an entirely new facet to the debate.  (I know: what could possibly get more controversial than the idea of a future where parents can retroactively abort their teens?  You'll be surprised.)  He's another character who shows a lot of growth over the course of the book.  I love how Neal Shusterman introduces him into the story from his own point of view, so the reader isn't able to figure out at first exactly what's going on.  We're just as confused as Cam.  This also allows the reader to make up their own mind about Cam before reading what the world thinks of him.  There's also Miracolina, who is a tithe.  While parts of the story are from her point of view, we don't see too much from her, and by the end of the book she's still determined to be a tithe.  I feel like there's going to be a lot more of her in the third book.

Some folks are nervous about books with multiple points of view; worried that it will be hard to keep track of all the different characters, especially when the characters are in multiple locations.  But Neal Shusterman does this very well in Unwind and Unwholly.  I never once got confused about who was speaking or what side a character was on.  Each chapter is clearly labeled as to who is speaking, and the author weaves in little reminders of setting in each section to remind us of where the character is.  For instance, when the story switches from Risa in Hawaii to Connor in The Graveyard, there's mention of how hot Connor feels sitting under an airplane wing.  A very subtle reminder of where Connor is.

What about the romance?  Practically nil.  If you're looking to swoon, Unwholly is not really the book for you.  But there's ton of action!  And adventure!  And the plot of this book will definitely make you think.

Overall, I give Unwholly two enthusiastic thumbs up.  While I don't think it would work as a standalone, I highly recommend this dystopian trilogy (so far) to both teens and adults.  The well-developed characters and sensitive political debate regarding abortion will appeal to deep thinkers of any age.

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by Tynga at Thursday, November 27, 2014

 Dystopian, Neal Shusterman, Publisher, Review, Simon and Schuster, Unwind, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

A Sudden Light by Garth Stein

A Sudden Light is not just a ghost story, it's a multi-layered epic about the power of redemption and how the past influences our lives in more ways than we can imagine. This is a novel that I carefully read, devouring each and every word and description; A Sudden Light is a slow-paced, but brilliantly told novel with a story that spans generations and is so expansive in scope. This is such a rare coming-of-age novel with an ingenious mystery that's full of surprises,  Garth Stein has written  a splendid follow-up to The Art Of Racing In The Rain.

Trevor's life is on the rocks with his parents splitting up and he sees moving back with his dad to the family mansion as an opportunity to fix up his parent's marriage. Little does Trevor know that Riddell House is occupied by a ghost and is filled to the brim with hushed up family secrets. The ghost has very different wishes for the House than his Aunt Serena who is looking to make a pretty buck off of it.

A Sudden Light is at heart a coming-of-age tale about a boy coming to terms with his sexuality, manhood and the ugly past. Trevor undergoes a major transition from the beginning of this novel to the bitter end and his character makes a huge leap in maturity. Suddenly Trevor is forced to grow up and though he doesn't always handle this well, he makes the best of his crappy situation and becomes the best person he can be.  Trevor doesn't have to take on the trouble of the past, yet he takes on the burden of his ancestors and tries to fix their heaps of errors.

This is a character-oriented novel and so, Trevor's family is put under a microscope for much of this novel. Between the characters who are alive and those that live on in the past, each family member is a hot mess and provide so much entertainment and drama for the reader. If you think you're family is a disaster, wait until you meet the Riddells who just might be the most messed up literary family ever.

A Sudden Light is a stunning literary work that will haunt readers long after finish and leave them with chills. Stein has written a beautifully written novel and this one has the potential to be one of the biggest books of the year.  Those looking for a perfect book club pick or just something truly spectacular should definitely pick up A Sudden Light.

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, September 10, 2014

 BEA, Fantasy, Garth Stein, ghost, Mystery, Review, Simon and Schuster  3 People left their mark

✎

Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep

POISON PROMISE is the eleventh book in Jennifer Estep's amazing Elemental Assassin series and, boy, does it deliver!

For the first time in a long time, Gin's troubles are not directly related to her life as an assassin. Instead, this time around, Gin ends up doing the looking after Catalina, one of her waitresses at the Pork Pig, gets accosted by drug dealers. Of course, things escalate fairly dramatically from there, leading to a dangerous enemy, a whole new side of Bria, and some pretty epic moments, including a standout fight that takes place in a public street.

Personally, I was really interested in the development in Bria's storyline. She's desperately trying to get Burn off the streets and it's become very personal for her. The Bria we get in POISON PROMISE is a far cry from the one we met when she first came into the series, when she was gentler and happier. In POISON PROMISE, Bria is ready to go vigilante to get justice and this newfound ruthlessness was really surprising because Bria is one of the only honest cops in Ashland. On the other side of the coin, though, Bria's sense of justice is incredibly strong so it's not out of character for her to become fixated on bringing the Burn dealer down. She's pushed to her limits by the situation and it's a nice role reversal to see Gin talking her sister down from violence and rash actions.

There's not much doing on the romance front in POISON PROMISE -- but that's a good thing! Gin and Owen are doing well and I'm glad that the focus of this novel was on the Burn storyline, not on tearing them apart as soon as they've gotten back together. They have their stolen moments of romance and it's still really sweet to see Gin have these softer scenes where she can forget about being the Spider and enjoy being in love. I keep hoping that Philip will finally make his move with Eva but I guess I'll have to keep waiting.

POISON PROMISE also advances the M. M. Monroe story arc, giving us some very interesting information. Once you start reading, you'll see what I mean but it would truly spoil your experience to write out what happens. The clues are seeded throughout the novel and it's gotten me very excited to see what Estep has in store for us in BLACK WIDOW. She ends POISON PROMISE in a way that will have you screaming for the next book in the series.

As always, I have nothing but good things to say about this Elemental Assassin novel. You'll love POISON PROMISE, guaranteed.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

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by Tynga at Monday, July 21, 2014

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

✎

Dead To You by Lisa McMann

Lisa McMann never disappoints with any of her books and Dead To You is no exception by any means. Dead To You delivers McMann's signature thrills and writing style to create one of the most mind-blowing thrillers I've read lately. Dead To You will mess with your mind, after reading this book you will feel like the world has suddenly shifted off course. Though this book is essentially a lead up to the shocking finale, I was constantly glued to the page and I was dying to find out how everything would end.

The premise of Dead To You is rather simple, but beneath the surface it's a very powerful book that I absolutely loved. Readers should never underestimate McMann because the plotlines in all of her books are superb and multilayered. Ethan was abducted from his home when he was seven and by some miracle, he has made it back to his family. The only problem is that Ethan is reluctant to address his past and that some of his family members feel weary of him. Will Ethan be accepted into his family? What is Ethan hiding?

A good majority of Dead To You follows Ethan trying to readjust to his life at home and to relearn what he has missed in his absence. McMann furtively snuck in foreshadowing elements that I hadn't realized were there, until I reached the incredible ending. It takes a lot to surprise me as a reader, but I'm still in awe of that ending weeks after finishing this book. You will never see this ending coming and for that reason, it's the type of ending that will occupy your mind long after finishing.

I don't want to say much more about Dead To You because this is one of those books that readers will enjoy if they know less about it. Now that I've finished all of McMann's YA novels, I definitely need to move onto her middle-grade series, The Unwanteds because I've been hearing such great things about that series. Dead To You is a solid thriller that will mess with readers' minds from start to finish and McMann's literary talent shines in this one.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, June 18, 2014

 Library, Lisa McMann, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon and Schuster, Simon Pulse, Thriller, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry

I read Rot & Ruin nearly two years ago and I absolutely loved it, the only problem is that I'm terrible with reading series due to the constant influx of ARCs and shiny books that publishers are churning out. It took a while, but I've finally reunited with Benny Imura and his friends and I truly plan on bingeing the rest of this series by the end of the year. Dust & Decay is a far superior novel than it's predecessor and this time around, the pacing is much quicker. Though I lacked any recollection of what happened in book one, Dust & Decay was absolutely addicting and it was so easy to transition back into this series.

 

Though I love the plot and gory zombie scenes, my favorite aspect of the Rot & Ruin series is the characters. Jonathan Maberry has breathed life into all of the characters in this book and they all have extremely deep personalities that feel genuine. One of my favorite relationships in this series is the brotherly bond between Benny and his older brother, Tom. Benny and Tom have a special connection that is unrivaled by anything I've read recently and I'd love to see more books focus on the unique bond that siblings share. Tom and Benny don't always get along, but Tom still has a urgent, fatherly need to protect Benny from the world and himself. Tom loves Benny more than he will show and watching those two's snarky conversations was a delight.

 

There aren't nearly enough books with diverse characters and it's always special to read in which a person of color is a main character. I love how the Imuras' heritage is Asian, this is such a simple fact but the weight of it is so important given how little representation non-Caucasian characters have in YA literature. Maberry never makes it a big deal that Benny and Tom are Asian, which made the diversity of it feel even more special. It shouldn't feel abnormal when a character isn't White,  the author should make it subtle and feel normal because diversity is what the world needs in literature.

Dust & Decay is yet another great novel from Jonathan Maberry and I'm extremely eager to read the following installments in the Rot & Ruin series. D&D ended on a cliffhanger, so I definitely need to get my hands on the next book as soon as possible! The only good thing about waiting so long to continue this series is that I don't have to suffer a long wait between installments and that I can read them back to back. I absolutely love this series and Dust & Decay is a zombie novel with heart that will leave readers anxious for more!

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by Tynga at Wednesday, June 04, 2014

 horror, Jonathan Maberry, Library, Paranormal, Review, Rot amp; Ruin, series, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon and Schuster, young adult, Zombies  1 Person left their mark

✎

Banishing the Dark by Jenn Bennett

One of the best books of the year, hands down! Jenn Bennett has knocked it out of the park with BANISHING THE DARK, creating a strong, emotional finale for Cady's journey.

I had high expectations for BANISHING THE DARK because Bennett has given us such an amazing journey so far. I couldn't wait to see how Cady would react to the news of her pregnancy, especially on the heels of the foundation-shattering revelations  about her Moonchild abilities. (You may remember  my OMG reaction to BINDING THE SHADOWS.) BANISHING THE DARK picks up shortly after the end of the previous novel and all of the questions that I had  at the end of Book 3 are answered in the newest novel, and then some. I've always said that Bennett is a talented and daring writer and Cady's final book is truly a dazzling finish to Cady, Lon, and  Jupe's  journey.

The main focus BANISHING THE DARK is Cady and Lon's need to master Cady's abilities and keep Cady's mom from taking over Cady's body. She'd be a supercharged villainess with amazing powers and that wouldn't be good for the world, let alone Cady, who would be a prisoner in her own body. They also need to conceal Cady's pregnancy from her mother, in case Mommy Dearest decides to inhabit their unborn child. A complicated scenario, especially when they're missing a lot of the pieces needed to succeed. As always, Bennett has crafted an immensely satisfying plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering how Cady and Lon will get themselves out of this mess.

One of the neat things about BANISHING THE DARK is that Bennett has added chapters from Jupe's point of view. I adore Jupe and this was a real treat. He's such a charming young man and the chapters about him really added to the overall narrative. I don't know about you but I would definitely  read a story told from Jupe's point of view!

BANISHING THE DARK is the final instalment in the Arcadia Belll's story and it's a humdinger! I'm sorry to say goodbye to Cady and her friends but I'm thoroughly satisfied with the emotional journey that Bennett has given us. You can be sure I'll be re-reading this series on a very regular basis.

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by Tynga at Monday, May 19, 2014

 Adult, Arcadia Bell, Edelweiss, Jenn Bennett, Pocket, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  5 People left their mark

✎

Doll Bones by Holly Black

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!

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by Tynga at Wednesday, February 12, 2014

 audiobook, Fantasy amp; Magic, Holly Black, middle grade, Mystery, Paranormal, Review, Simon and Schuster, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎