Review Rewind: Shatter Me (AKA an ode to ADAM)

by Tahereh Mafi

Read: November 2011
Publisher: Harper/Harper Collins
Source: Purchased book
Category: YA - Dystopian

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Tahereh Mafi’s writing is an art form. Her style is utterly unique and her descriptions and endless metaphors are meant to be savored. I even loved the strike outs. However, I read one reviewer who thought that the writing was so beautiful that it distracted from the story, and I could see how that could happen. I definitely agree that at times I wanted to pay attention to how Juliette is saying something, instead of what she is saying. I don’t know if that’s really a criticism on my part, but it definitely lends to multiple readings – one for plot/content, one for admiring the way Mafi writes. 

I loved Juliette. She is someone who has not had an easy life. She has been shunned by her parents and everyone she’s ever met because of what she can do. She can’t touch anyone without hurting them (can you even imagine that?). And yet she has an overwhelming goodness about her. She doesn’t want to harm others. I really enjoyed watching Juliette begin to open up and accept who she is, finding strength within herself. I also can’t mention Juliette’s goodness without talking about Adam. Oh I LOVED Adam. After being treated like a plague for her entire life, Juliette finally has someone who will stand up for her. Someone who will do practically anything to make sure she’s safe. Everyone needs a champion and that is what Adam is for Juliette. 

And then there’s Warner. He’s an excellent VILLAIN. He’s wonderfully complex and delightfully psychotic. At times I felt sorry for him, and at times I wanted to shoot him in the head. He also made me love Adam more: for being the opposite of Warner. Though Warner does get Juliette in a way, he doesn’t understand her nature. Adam sees Juliette’s desire to love and save mankind despite what has been done to her, while Warner sees her as a tool for power and gain. He also has an unhealthy obsession with Juliette. Warner is smart, completely unpredictable and never to be underestimated. 

The first and second halves of the book are very different from each other. The first half is very internal. When the novel begins, Juliette has been locked in solitary confinement for 264 days. She hasn’t seen or spoken to anyone in that entire time. She also has a curse/gift that she doesn’t understand and that she fears – along with everyone she’s ever met. Although still dangerous, there is more humor and life in the second half of the book. The introduction of James and Kenji do a lot to ease tension. I LOVED both of them. They also bring out another side of Adam from the beginning of the book where he spends his time as either an unemotional soldier or emotional support for Juliette. The transformation that Juliette begins to make throughout the latter part of the story as she starts to stand up for – and accept – herself is beautiful to watch. 

Juliette’s journey throughout the novel is well thought out and realistic for her circumstances. I mean, can you even imagine never being able to touch anyone? Parents who are disgusted by you? Being in solitary confinement for almost a year? Her insecurities and confusion, the fact that she second guesses herself are all very reasonable, as is her fascination and naïveté in her relationship with Adam. I totally get it. 

I actually really liked the direction that the story takes at the end; and I am looking forward to finding out much more the next book. 

Rating: 5 Stars
Love Triangle Factor: None*

*I wrote this review before all the Unravel Me buzz started. I have since clued into the fact that a love triangle is probably coming. And I want to take this moment to profess my undying love for ADAM. You all know how I feel about love triangles (especially ones that start mid series), so I am VERY wary about this. And also a bit sad, because I LOVED Shatter Me and Adam and Juliette so much. Honestly, I had a major temper tantrum when I became aware of this possibility. BUT I have not read the second book in the series, so I cannot say anything for certain.

Son of the Shadows

by Juliet Marillier
Read: September 22-25, 2012
Published: June 17, 2002 by Tor Fantasy
Source: Library book (I'd like to purchase this series, though)
Category: Adult - Historical Fantasy
Series: Book 2 in Sevenwaters

Beautiful Sorcha is the courageous young woman who risked all to save her family from a wicked curse and whose love shattered generations of hate and bridged two cultures. 

It is from her sacrifice that Sorcha's brothers were brought home to their ancestral fortress Sevenwaters, and her life has known much joy. 

But not all the brothers were able to fully escape the spell that transformed them into swans, and it is left to Sorcha's daughter Liadan to help fulfill the destiny of the Sevenwaters clan. Beloved child and dutiful daughter, Liadan embarks on a journey that shows her just how hard-won was the peace that she has known all her life.

Liadan will need all of her courage to help save her family, for there are dark forces and ancient powers conspiring to destroy this family's peace--and their world. And she will need all of her strength to stand up to those she loves best, for in the finding of her own true love, Liadan's course may doom them all . . . or be their salvation.

Son of the Shadows is book two in Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters series. Although each book is its own story, this review will contain some SPOILERS for book 1. If you have yet to read Daughter of the Forest, read my glowing thoughts HERE. 

In Daughter of the Forest, Sorcha's path was straight - complete the task, rescue her brothers. Although difficult, what she had to do was clear, and Sorcha did not question her path. She was eventually rewarded for her heart-breaking experience and settled with Red at Sevenwaters, where life in the forest has been peaceful for nearly two decades. But the fey are getting restless and this time it is Sorcha and Red's daughter Liadan who is the subject of their attention. As before, her entire family will be torn and tested in the process. 

Liadan's journey through Son of the Shadows is not so straight and clear as her mothers' was. Though Liadan is as strong and courageous as Sorcha, she is not as willing to follow directions blindly or to play the fairies' games. This was one of my favorite qualities about Liadan - that she asked questions. She also knows her own heart and mind, and is not easily swayed by others wishes for her. That isn't to say that Liadan doesn't struggle with her decisions or never makes mistakes. She does both of those things, but it is how she keeps fighting and facing life head on that made me love her.

How can we fight if we don’t understand it?

Though in this world men hold the legal power, Juliet Marillier creates a heroine that possesses inner strength that makes her equal if not stronger than the ruling men. I've really like the way that women have been portrayed in this series as smart and wise, and haven't fallen into the trap of making rash decisions that put them in difficult situations that could have been avoided if they would only THINK first. 

There were a few times in this story where I was sure that Liadan would trust the wrong person or do something foolish that would get herself in trouble. I was surprised and very pleased to find that she did not do those things. Trust is a big theme in this story: Because you've known someone longer or are related to them, does that always mean you should trust them? Can you build a relationship with someone you don't trust? Liadan follows her heart and her instincts in whom she trusts, and that sets the course for her journey through this book. 

I love how Daughter of the Forest weaves into this story. Characters come back, and previous decisions made have consequences in the future. There are also some very moving scenes in Son of the Shadows, which involve beloved characters from book 1. Although I don't often cry when reading books, Ms. Marillier again succeeded in making me weep. 

Ms. Marillier excels at the subtle but sweeping romance. In Son of the Shadow she creates two characters who are vastly different from each other, but that form an unbreakable bond.  Despite circumstances that very much put them at odds, Bran and Liadan are willing to do anything for each other. Although he at first appears to be a poor candidate for Liadan's affections (and she for his), there is a beautiful strength and truth to their relationship. You don't want to miss him!

Cliffhanger Scale: Low. I love that each story is complete in this series, but they work together as companions. 
Love Triangle Factor: None
Rating: 5 stars

Feature and Follow Friday

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly feature hosted by 
Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read

Visit as many blogs as you can and comment, 

you follow them, they follow you and so on and so on.

This is my first Feature and Follow Friday! Thanks to Heather @ The Flyleaf Review for introducing me to the fun.

Q: What book do you think would make a great Halloween movie? Please explain in graphic detail of goriness...

Scary movies aren't really my thing, and I can generally handle them better in print than on the big screen. But if I could pick one, I'd go with The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. The book takes place in modern day London and stars a southern girl named Rory who's gone abroad to study. It's amusing to watch her learn to fit into her British boarding school, and I like when horror movies have a bit of humor in them as well. But there is also a killer on the loose who is recreating Jack the Ripper's murders. We get to see each murder in quite a bit of detail, which is both fascinating (because they really happened) and gruesome. There is lots of gore, including intestines spilling out, and the added creepiness of this also being a ghost story. 

What book would you like to see on screen as a scary movie?

Tiger's Destiny

By Colleen Houck

Read: October 2012 
Published: September 4, 2012 by Splinter
Source: Library book
Category: YA - Fantasy
Series: Book 4 in the Tiger Saga

With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.  It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestsellingTiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all. (From Goodreads)

Tiger's Destiny is Book 4 in the Tiger Saga, which began with Tiger's Curse. This review will contain SPOILERS for the other books in the series. Also, I'm not going to spend time outlining the characters and plot of this story, but Kelsey, Ren and Kishan, as well as all the other regulars are back again.

I want to apologize in advance for the fact that this is going to sound more like a rant than a review. But I just couldn't take it anymore.

I did not like this book. And it all comes down to the fact that I LOATHED the heroine Kelsey. She's never been my favorite, but in this book she reaches a new low. I repeatedly had violent thoughts about her, and kept sending my friend texts saying things like  "I want to punch her in the face." Of course it is all my fault, because this is a series that I clearly should have abandoned long ago. It's also one that on further reflection, I'm embarrassed to have rated previous book so highly. Because Kelsey's behavior hasn't really changed since the first book, and I should not have been surprised at how she acts in the fourth book of her series. Also it has a LOVE TRIANGLE OF DOOM. The kind that gives triangles a bad name. And you all know how I feel about those to begin with. 

Let me back up a minute and talk about what I did like about this book and the series as a whole. I love when it is clear that a series was written as a unit, and the closer you read it, the better you can see the individual threads from each book weaving together. This is that kind of series. Small details and bigger elements have come around, and I love seeing that happen.  But maybe that's a problem with these books as well. Because the characters' actions have been so closely structured and choreographed through the series, I think there's no longer any emotional truth in them. I don't mean that there isn't any emotional drama in these books, because there's a lot of that. It's that the series has been so calculated and tightly woven that nothing about how the characters act towards each other seems real or believable anymore. 

Another aspect of this series that I've enjoyed is the mythology from different cultures. It is clear that Ms. Houck does a ton of research when writing her stories. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in the drama of Kelsey and her horrid love triangle that I couldn't concentrate on the rest of the story or the different mythology. This is unfortunate, because there are some good (and also sad) things that happen outside of Kelsey's drama. 

Kelsey is one of the most selfish, self centered heroines that I have ever encountered. In this book we finally learn some of the reasons for her previous behavior towards Ren and Kishan. Most notably Kelsey finally owns up to why she's chosen one of them over the other, when clearly she in love with the one she didn't pick. Though Kelsey's reasoning made sense, I could not sympathize with her, because of how much her behavior has hurt those around her. And she NEVER apologizes. She continually blows off the feelings of the brothers. Honestly, I was pretty convinced through the majority of this book that she has a mental disorder that prevents her from being able to understand anyone else's feelings but her own.

It is no secret that I detest love triangles, and this is one of the worst that I have endured. I understand that when there is a triangle, one person is going to be heart broken eventually. However, it's the way that Kelsey "chooses" but still holds onto both brothers that upset me. She picks one, but can't let go of the other. Granted he doesn't want to let her go either, but she is always all over him as well. And I will reiterate, that she chose the WRONG brother. I don't mean that she didn't pick the one that I like better, I mean that she didn't pick the one that she loves more.

Guys, I have known since book one who Kelsey loves the most and that has never changed. So it is painful to watch her with the other guy. ESPECIALLY, when the right one is free and available and waiting for her. I just couldn't handle it emotionally. I guess I can't put this all on Kelsey, because Ren and Kishan both enabled her. Kelsey doesn't want to give up either of them, and she leads them on for books. AND THEY LET HER. I wish they had called her out on her behavior. I honestly was hoping that the guys would give up and get over her, because I have no idea why EVERYONE keeps falling for her.

I think what I was most upset with Kelsey about in this book is that she completely disregards BOTH Ren and Kishan’s feelings. One tells her how much she's hurting him by choosing the other one. Instead of listening, she blows him off and is completely uncaring about his feelings. Then the one she picks senses her indecision and repeatedly asks if she wants to take a step back, but she says "no, I want to move forward." Essentially, she's hurting them both of them that way. 

Even though I was satisfied with the direction that this story finally took, I was never happy with Kelsey's behavior. I never thought that she was truly sorry for how she acted, nor did she ever realize the pain her selfish behavior caused Ren and Kishan. I wanted to see that anguish in her. And because I didn't get that, I still felt uncomfortable and unsatisfied in the end. There just weren't enough repercussions for how she acted. I also felt like the ending was rushed. After an entire book of turmoil, the way it all tied itself together went too fast for me. 

This is not even the end of the series. There is apparently a fifth book called Tiger's Dream. I have no idea what it is going to be about, but I'm determined not to read it.  

Cliffhanger Scale: Low
Love Triangle Scale: HORRIBLE
Rating: 1 stars

Lucid

by P.T. Michelle
Read: September 2012
Published: July 9, 2012, self-published
Source: Kindle purchase
Category: YA Paranormal Romance
Series: Book 2 Brightest Kind of Darkness

Once Nara combines her prophetic ability with Ethan’s power to outsmart Fate at his own deadly cat-and-mouse game, she’s more determined than ever to help Ethan learn the meaning behind the raven sword tattoo that suddenly appeared on his back after their confrontation with Fate.

During her quest to uncover the tattoo’s secrets, Nara enlists the help of some new friends and discovers her own surprising connection to Ethan.

While Nara digs deeper into the mystery, her desire for answers leads her down a dangerous path full of powerful and ruthless enemies. Swept into an age-old battle, Nara quickly learns that keeping one’s enemies close can be a necessary evil, making an intangible enemy she can control far more preferable to the human enemies she can’t. (from Goodreads)

Lucid is the second book in P.T. Michelle's Brightest Kind of Darkness series. I loved the first book, but didn't review it. If you're new to this series, check out Asheley from Into the Hall of Book's thoughts HERE. I will recap some of Brightest Kind of Darkness. Be warned of SPOILERS if you haven't read it yet. 

In Brightest Kind of Darkness (BKoD) we meet Nara Collins. Every night she dreams exactly what is going to happen to her the following day. Nara has been dreaming her future for so long that it is normal for her. She also knows she's not supposed to interfere in the events she sees. But when Nara dreams about a school bombing that will hurt her friends, she decides to take action and change her future. Her decision sets in motion the events on BKoD, which culminate in a battle with fate that she ultimately wins (for now). 

We also meet Ethan Harris in BKoD, a boy who for some reason never shows up in Nara's dreams. He has his own powers, absorbing people's dark thoughts and nightmares when he comes into physical contact with anyone. He also has a large raven sword tattoo on his back, which inexplicably showed up one day on its own. Because of the darkness of his "ability," Ethan was loner until he meets Nara (I love that there is a very concrete reason why he originally comes across as a broody bad-boy). Although Ethan and Nara's powers are different they also compliment each other. The two of them make a great team, and Ethan sees Nara as a bright light (Sunshine) in the darkness he is constantly facing. In BKoD they build a friendship that turns romantic, and in Lucid they are a definitely couple. 

However, when Lucid begins, Ethan has gone home to Michigan to fix his relationship with his parents, which fell apart when he began to get his powers. An admirable task, if that's what he was actually doing (I'm skeptical - you'll have to read the book to form your own opinion. It's too much of a spoiler to talk about why I think that).

With Ethan gone, Nara meets Drystan an exchange student who is also drawn to Nara. He practices parkour, has a hot accent and an ability of his own. Though I didn't like that Ethan was gone so much of Lucid, I really liked getting to know Drystan. But before you think this is going the way of the dreaded love triangle, it is clear through the book who Nara is in love with, and so far I am not worried. Drystan encourages Nara to learn self defense and seems to be a more open person than either Ethan or Nara. He also provides some great romantic tension. 

While I did enjoy Lucid, I had some problems with the story. Also, with Ethan gone for most of the book and with few of the many lingering questions answered, it very much felt like an interlude in the overall story arc. Nara especially got on my nerves in this book. Several bad things happen to her, and it is clear that they are connected. But she just keeps going off on her own and not telling anyone about it. I like that Nara's her own person, but I don't like when characters take unnecessary risks and keep crucial information from each other.

In Lucid we get a lot of similar plot elements as the first book, especially in terms of Nara tempting fate by changing future events.  And she spends a great deal of time researching ravens. While some of that was interesting, I honestly didn't understand how researching the bird would help Ethan figure out what was going on with his tattoo. However, I do get that for Nara it was also about staying connected to him.

Too many people were keeping secrets in this story, especially Nara from Ethan and Ethan from Nara. At the end of Lucid we are left with a lot of questions, and several new plot lines, but not many answers. I wish a few more elements had been cleared up before new questions were introduced. 

Despite my problems with Lucid, there are some great moments in this story (don't worry, Ethan and Nara's relationship does heat up a notch) and several interesting revelations. I love Ethan and Nara as a pair, and am eager to see how Drystan plays into the mix (as long as that doesn't mean a triangle). I hope the next book features answers, instead of more questions. Also, Ethan and Nara need to be more honest with each other for their relationship to move forward. Hopefully, the secrets they've been keeping (ahem Ethan), don't hurt their relationship in the future. Even with my reservations about Lucid, I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

Cliffhanger Scale: Mild/Medium, No mortal danger, relationships are settled. But LOTS of questions left unanswered. 
Love Triangle Factor: None so far (hope it stays that way!)
Rating: 3 stars*

*I still love the series, there ARE some good moments in here, and I have high hopes for the next book. 

Top Ten Bookish Confessions

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Tuesday REWIND: Top Ten Bookish Confessions

I missed this week and I thought it was so much fun to see everyone else's confessions!

1.) I am horrible at keeping track of bookmarks. I take the marker out of my book put it down, and can never find it again. Even if I don't move from the spot I was reading. 

2.) I read the entire Twilight saga in 4 days. I could not concentrate on anything else, and I LOVED the series. EVEN Breaking Dawn. But when I tried to reread the books, I discovered that Bella is the most annoying person ever. I know this series is the butt of so many jokes now. But it was really the beginning of my love affair with YA, and I'm not ashamed.

3.) I prefer to read series all together in one chuck, or as many books are released. I get panicky about leaving my characters in the middle of a story. But I've actually been doing less of this recently. And I have survived (so have my characters). 

4.) Unless I'm so into a book that I pick it up at every free moment that I have, I prefer to read when I have a big chuck of time ahead of me (at least an hour is preferable). 

5.) I get very emotionally involved in my characters' lives. I've been known to not be able to sleep if I have to stop reading in the middle of an intense plot line, and to waking up feeling very anxious. Or to getting agitated with whomever is interrupting me at a crucial moment (I have to remind myself that what's going on around me has nothing to do with book world.). The more emotionally involved I am in a story, the faster I read it. 

6.) I prefer to read one book at a time. I don't like to cloud my brain with multiple story lines. 

7.) I generally don't like love triangles, books with a lot of flash backs or parallel story lines (i.e. switching back and forth between two completely separate stories). But I have found books that I love with all of these features. 

8.) I almost always finish a book if I'd started it. I think I could count on one hand the number of books or series that I have DNF'd. But for the ones that I've determined that I won't be reading, I've often looked up online to see what happened later in the books. 

9.) About the time I was in my Boxcar Children reading phase as a child, my mom started making me insert classics or "worthwhile books" into my personal reading. Thus I still feel guilty if I read too many fun books without adding a classic in the mix. 

10.) Many of my standard reading habits have changed since I became a blogger. I've read multiple books at a time, I participated in a read-along where I read a book slowly over a few weeks, I've broken up the reading of book series, and I haven't read an official classic this year. Although that doesn't mean I haven't discovered a new classic. Time will tell. 

The Assassin's Curse

by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Read: October 3-4, 2012
Published: October 2, 2012 by Strange Chemistry
Source: Kindle purchase
Category: Fantasy

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her. 

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be. (Taken from Goodreads)

The Assassin's Curse is an adventure. Thievery, pirate ships and swords abound. When Ananna of the Tanarau's parents try to marry her off to a rival pirate clan, she runs away. Not happy about her escape, the rival clan sends an assassin after Ananna to finish her off. Things don't quite go as planned for either of them.

Ananna is a pirate and a fantastic heroine. She is spunky, knows how to wield a sword, steal anything she needs and climb the rigging on a ship. Her language is unpolished and she's a bit rough around the edges. But she's intelligent, honest and has excellent intuition. I really enjoyed being inside Ananna's head.

Naji is the assassin sent to kill Ananna for running away from her impending marriage. He is a skilled in the art of killing, trained in dark blood magic and university educated. But for all his deadly abilities, Naji is emotionally vulnerable. He has a disfiguring scar on his face that he tries to hide as much as possible. He is also secretive, and is not always a great judge of character (well one character in particular, whom I loathed). 

I love seeing the human side of characters who have nefarious jobs, and enjoyed getting to know Naji. (Although a different story and person, reading this book reminded me of Valek from Poison Study, who is a pack rat in addition to being an assassin.) I also loved watching  Naji and Ananna interact. 

Ananna and Naji are nothing alike. But they are forced to work together. Though they aren't happy about this arrangement, it's clear that each has something to offer the other. They compliment and contrast each other's abilities very well and truly become equal partners on their journey. Their relationship shifts from enemies to acquaintances to friends to maybe something more, as they slowly build an emotional connection through their shared circumstances and purpose. But the more part is subtle. 

The scenery of The Assassin's Curse is richly drawn. I could feel the temperature changes from desert heat to nighttime cold and see the landscape and colorful people that Ananna and Naji encountered. However, I wish we'd been given a bit more information about the larger world. It seemed to be high fantasy inspired by the Arabian Peninsula (I kept thinking Prince of Persia or Aladdin - for setting, not for cheesiness). I would have loved to have a map that outlined the larger setting. The characters visit a lot of places and I wanted to visualize and map their journey with them. 

The Assassin's Curse is a fun ride. I enjoyed following Ananna and Naji on their adventures. But my biggest issue is that it felt like half a story. Like a tale told over the campfire, split into two nights - with the second "night" (book) not released yet. We were finally getting some answers when it ended. I'll definitely pick up The Pirate's Wish when it releases. But I wish I didn't have to wait so long for it!

Cliffhanger Scale: Medium. No mortal danger, but story is incomplete. 
Love Triangle Factor: It's complicated (not everyone's feelings are clear yet)
Rating: 4 stars

Alice in Zombieland

Alice in Zombieland
by Gena Showalter
Read: October 1-3, 2012 (a great read to welcome October!)
Published: September 25, 2012 Harlequin Teen
Source: Kindle purchase
Category: YA - Paranormal Horror*/Romance 
Series: Book 1 in White Rabbit Chronicles

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies…. (take from Goodreads)

Alice goes Down the Zombie Hole.

I should have listened to my father. He warned me over and over never to go out at night, never to venture into a cemetery and never, under any circumstances, to trust someone who wants you to do either.

When Alice Bell's family is killed in an attack outside of cemetery one night, she learns the hard way that her father had been right about the monsters that come out at dark. In a moment her world changes drastically, new school, new home and new rules. Alice - now called Ali - will avenge her family and learn to fight the creatures that destroyed her world. 

Alice in Zombieland is an exciting read with lots of action, zombie killing and a kick-butt heroine. The story starts off a bit slowly, and Alice is understandably depressed and confused after she looses her family. But once the plot started moving - especially after Alice meets bad-boy Cole and begins fighting zombies, it was a wild ride until the end. 

Alice in Zombieland is not a retelling.
I've read a few reviews that cautioned readers not to compare this book to Alice in Wonderland, and I encourage you to do the same. Although there was a white rabbit, and the chapter titles reference the original book, Alice in Zombieland is not a retelling. It does however, take on the spirit of its inspiration with the idea that in an instant, Alice Bell goes from being a sheltered semi-normal girl to discovering that there's an entire world of frightening and fantastical beings that are all around her. And once her eyes are opened, she can never go back. 

Don't call her Alice.
Alice Bell, or Ali as she dubs herself after her parents' death, is the type of girl that looks harmless on the surface but has a strong interior, and is not afraid to get her hands dirty in a fight. Thankfully we get plenty of examples of her toughness and fighting skills. It's also clear that the author worked hard to make her sound "teenagery" (I know that's not a word). Ali's voice is chatty, and her tone, cultural references and punctuation of words is clearly supposed to mimic teens. I found this to be annoying at first, and questioned whether her voice felt authentic or manipulated. But as the story moved along, Ali really grew on me. She began to seem more natural, and I found her to be quite amusing. I like that she was gutsy, honest with the reader and not willing to put up with anyone's crap. 

Great world building on a micro scale. 
Although this isn't my favorite zombie lore, the story did a good job at describing who the zombies were, how they functioned, and ways to fight them. We get this information in a few info dump parts of the book, sections that were explained and justified because of Ali's inquisitive nature. Thankfully, I am also a naturally curious person so I could definitely see myself asking lots of questions too. I actually get annoyed when main characters don't do enough asking, so I was pleased to see that Ali wasn't one of them. 

Weak world building on a macro scale. 
The entire novel takes place in a small area of Alabama, and though I liked the setting, we don't get any sense of how big the zombie problem is. Is it affecting the entire country? Or just this state? The characters indicate that it is a huge problem - and about to get bigger. But If so, how have the attacks been kept quiet? (I know this is sort of explained, but not enough for me to be satisfied.) Wouldn't there be more unexplained events on a larger scale? Suspicious law enforcement or medical staff? I'm hoping that the scope of the novel broadens a bit in the next books, and some of these questions are answered. 

Ali makes a new friend.
I really enjoyed Ali's friendship with Kat. I wasn't sure about Kat at first, but she became one of my favorite people in this book. She is funny and quirky, providing a lot of the lighter moments in the story. But she's also loyal and honest, and a deeper person than she first comes across. 

Ali also meets a boy.
Alice in Zombieland also has a strong romance portion to it, and it's pretty insta- (there is an explanation for this). Cole comes across at first as they typical dangerous bad boy. But under that exterior, there's a seriousness to his character. It is clear that he has a purpose that drives him, and I really respected him for it.  Although Cole seemed more mature than a 16 year old boy, I forgave some of that because of what he has faced down in life. I liked Cole, though he didn't grab me like some love interests do. 

At first, Alice and Cole's relationship has a lot of standard YA characteristics: mysterious guy, confusion and angst. But eventually, I was pleased with how the relationship between them developed. Alice is not afraid to question Cole's motives, and although the attraction is instant, there's definitely a sense that the two want to get to know and trust each other first. I was also surprised with how many positive messages there were about relationships (both friendships and dating) and even sex. Both are talked about in a smart way, which was a pleasant surprise. Although a fun book, it is not just fluff.  

My thoughts in a short form.
Alice in Zombieland started off as a slow read for me. I wasn't sure whether I liked the characters at first, and it took a while to get to the zombie action.  But I ended up really enjoying this story. It was fun, gruesome in places and the characters had surprising depth to them. I do hope there's more world building in the next book, but I'm excited to see what happens next. 

Cliffhanger Scale**: Low. It's clear the book is part of a series, and that bigger things are coming. But this particular story wraps itself up well, and there are no new revelations at the end. 
Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Rating: 4 stars

*I'm horrible at categorizing books, so this may not be accurate.
**I'm going to start rating cliffhangers too! I haven't come up with an official system yet, because I wanted to get a feel for how they rate first. 

Quintana of Charyn: US Cover Reveal

I'm very excited that my first cover reveal is the third book in a series that I adore. I will say it twice in this post: If you have yet to read the Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta - starting with Finnikin of the Rock - you need to fix that ASAP! 

Quintana of Charyn 
by Melina Marchetta

Release Date: March 12, 2013
Publisher: Candlewick
Pre-order: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository 

Synopsis: (Skip this part if you haven't read the other two books in the series)

"The climactic conclusion of Printz Award winner Melina Marchetta’s epic fantasy trilogy!

Separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect, Froi and his companions travel through Charyn searching for Quintana and building an army that will secure her unborn child’s right to rule. While in the valley between two kingdoms, Quintana of Charyn and Isaboe of Lumatere come face-to-face in a showdown that will result in heartbreak for one and power for the other. The complex tangle of bloodlines, politics, and love introduced in Finnikin of the Rock and Froi of the Exiles coalesce into an engrossing climax in this final volume."

If you're longing for more (like I am!): 

Read the prologue of Quintana of Charyn on Melina Marchetta's website.

See the beautiful review written in verse by Jo at Weartheoldcoat. 

I really like that the cover of Quintana of Charyn matches the other two US book versions in the Lumatere Chronicles - Finnikin of the Rock and Froi of the Exiles. Also, each weapon is a great reflection of the person holding it, especially Quintana's, because she's a fair bit more savage than Finnikin and Froi (actually I would never use that word to describe Finnikin). Quintana's expression also does a great job at capturing who she is. In that picture, I think she's saying, "If you mess with me and mine, I will cut your heart out." I wouldn't want to get in her way. 

If you haven't read these books yet, you need to pick them up NOW!

Code Name Verity

By Elizabeth Wein

Read: July 9-16, 2012

Published: May 15, 2012, Hyperion 

Source: Library book (future purchase)

Category: YA - Historical Fiction

I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.

That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine — and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden interrogating me again.

He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France — an Allied Invasion of Two.

We are a sensational team.

Code Name Verity is the story of Maddie and Verity, a pilot and a wireless operator from Britain. On a mission to France, their plane goes down. One of the girls is captured by the Nazis. The other's status is unknown. What were they doing there? And will they survive?  

"It's like being in love, discovering your best friend."

What shines most in this story is the friendship between Maddie and Verity. It is a strong positive relationship set in a terrible time in history. The girls are two very different people, both because of the classes they were born into, and in their personalities. In fact, they probably would never have met without the war. But what they become together is astounding. I love books about pockets of brilliant light in a dark time. When goodness comes out of extreme circumstances. Maddie and Verity are that light, and they are strongest together. 

Not only is the storytelling excellent and the plot engaging, but it is clear that Code Name Verity was thoroughly researched. I felt like I learned something about what it would have been like to be involved in the British war effort. For me, the more authentic the story feels, the more real it becomes. I became very emotionally involved in Verity and Maddie's lives, partly because they felt possible. Like, this could have happened.  

It's best to go into Code Name Verity without a lot of information, which is why I've tried to not say much about the story. The book does start of a bit slowly and is confusing at first, but it quickly became a story that I couldn't get away from. I'm still thinking about it, especially whether or not I could have done what the characters did. Would I have made the same choices as them?

Code Name Verity is one of those stories that feels like it should be important to read. I foresee it as being a future classic. READ IT NOW!

Love Triangle Factor: N/A - There isn't really a romance, only the possibility of one - or maybe there is and it's just subtle. But as I said in my six degrees, there is a kilt wearing Scot who is not to be missed. 

Rating: 5 stars

The Raven Boys

by Maggie Stiefvater
Read: September 18-20, 2012
Published: September 18, 2012 by Scholastic Press
Source: Purchase (also signed by author!)
Category: YA
Series: The Raven Cycle, Book 1

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. (This is only part of the description. It's long. If you want more, go HERE)

I have a secret to tell you. Sometimes, I think that Maggie Stiefvater writes her books just for me. She crafts her stories exactly how I want an author to write them - slowly building characters, revealing them from different angles and perspectives. Her stories are complexly layered, and feel like a puzzle that the reader gets to put together piece by piece. I LOVE reading books written this way. 

Take Gansey for instance, we meet him first as a spirit through Blue's eyes in the graveyard, but then we get his own perspective, see him described by Adam, and again by Blue when she meets him in person. Every detail we read about him - from his Topsiders to his preference for organic applesauce to the name of his car - adds a layer of complexity. 

We see not only Gansey this way, but all of the characters in book. And sometimes the reader doesn't know they've gotten a piece of the puzzle until later. When it clicks into place, it's a triumphant feeling. Ms. Stiefvater excels at this method of writing.  

The Story: 
The plot of The Raven Boys is complex to break down and best to go into without much information. But basically, Blue's been told all her life that "If she were to kiss her true love, he would die." Then in a graveyard one night she meets the spirit of Gansey, a wealthy boy who goes to a local private school. Seeing him there means that 1) He's going to die within the next year, and 2) He's either her true love or she kills him. Soon after that night, Blue meets the real Gansey and his three friends. She is drawn into their lives - and they into hers. Together they embark on a mysterious quest that combines ley lines and Welsh kings (among other things).

If that doesn't sound exciting, The Raven Boys also features helicopters, guns and fast cars. As well as many surprising revelations that had me picking my jaw off the floor.

The Setting:

The simple answer is that The Raven Boys is set in present day in Henrietta, Virginia. But there is a certain timelessness and otherworldliness to the story despite the fact that they carry cell phones. I'm not sure I can articulate how Ms. Stiefvater achieves this (except to say that she does something similar in The Scorpio Races, though that is a historical setting), but I think it added to the mystery and mood of the book, and I really loved the feel of it. 

The Characters:

(Part of the fun is discovering them for yourself, but I will give you a small glimpse of the main players)

Residents of 300 Fox Way:

Blue has made it her mission in life to avoid the private school boys and to never fall in love.

Maura, Neeve, Calla, Persephone and Orla, are Blue's mother and family respectively (some related, some not). They're all psychics, but that's where the similarities between these women end. 

The Aglionby (Raven)Boys: 

Gansey is the determined leader. 

Adam wants to make something better for himself.

Ronan is more than just a bad boy.

Noah watches from the periphery.

One of the best parts about The Raven Boys is the friendship between the four boys. I loved watching them interact with, and care for, each other. It gets even better when Blue meets them and starts to become part of their world. Blue's eccentric family is pretty awesome as well. I love that EVERY single character in this book is uniquely and richly drawn. 

The Pacing: 

The first half of The Raven Boys was a bit slow as we got to know the setting and the players, and also because some pieces of the story feel disjointed. But the second half really picked up with surprising revelations and much more action. If you haven't made it to the halfway point and are feeling discouraged, I encourage you to keep reading! I promise that the pieces will fit together.  

It's important to remember that this book is the first of a four part cycle. Not everything is resolved, and we meet a lot of characters. It takes time to find out who they are and why they're all here. But that is part of the magic of Maggie Stiefvater's writing for me. I'm excited to see where this story goes. I have a feeling the next one will read much faster.

The Love Story: 

The Raven Boys is the beginning of the cycle, and the book is very much about characters meeting and getting to know each other (don't worry there are some sweet moments and peeks at a deeper romance to come). A few crushes develop, but as Maggie Stiefvater herself said, the romance so far is fairly "amorphous." I was actually really pleased that the love story develops slowly, especially because it is part of a four book series and constrained by the fact that Blue can't kiss anyone (or they'll likely die). 

I will admit that when I started the book, I assumed that the identity of Blue's true love was a given. But as I read the story, I discovered that it wasn't actually immediately clear. Even so, by the end of this first cycle I'm certain enough of his identity that Ms. Stiefvater would need to work hard to dissuade me (she's quite capable of this). However, that doesn't mean that the characters themselves are as convinced as I am.  

The Cliffy:
When The Raven Boys ends, the players are not in mortal danger or in the middle of a major action sequence, therefore I wouldn't call it a true cliffhanger. The action for this story wraps itself up, and the characters are all in a safe place (for now). However, not all the plot-lines that have been introduced are resolved. Also, there are a few revelations at the very end of this book that bring up new questions, and set the reader up for what is to come.  Basically, the ending made me excited to get my hands on the next book, but not stressed about the current state of the characters and the story. 

Love Triangle Factor: It's complicated - not enough information yet. 
Rating: 5 stars

To read about my fantastic evening meeting Maggie Stiefvater at the Cambridge Public Library, go HERE.