Bookish in a Box

Movin' to Bloglovin'

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 23:17:00 +0000

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Now you can follow me on Bloglovin'. Either click the link above or look to the top of the sidebar to the right. I know I'm a little late to the game, but...better late than never, right?

Review of Jellicoe Road

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

At age eleven, Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother. At fourteen, she ran away from boarding school, only to be tracked down and brought back by a mysterious stranger. Now seventeen, Taylor's the reluctant leader of her school's underground community, whose annual territory war with the Townies and visiting Cadets has just begun. This year, though, the Cadets are led by Jonah Griggs, and Taylor can't avoid his intense gaze for long. To make matters worse, Hannah, the one adult Taylor trusts, has disappeared. But if Taylor can piece together the clues Hannah left behind, the truth she uncovers might not just settle her past, but also change her future.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Contemporary fans and some of those who aren't

High point: The slow, careful exposition

Low point: When it ended and there wasn't any more :-(

Reader maturity: 13+

Jellicoe Road was amazing! It's rare that a book lives up to the hype (5+ years of it!), especially when it's as polarizing as Jellicoe Road. It seems that bloggers either loved it or hated it. I loved it!

A marriage of simplicity and complexity exists in Jellicoe Road. Taylor is a straightforward character; she says what she means, both to the reader and to her fellow characters. At a distance, she and her story are simple, showing us everything we need to know, but up close, the clean lines of her story begin to tangle and we learn, along with Taylor, that there is much she doesn't know. Melina Marchetta exposes events of 20 years prior with enticing patience, giving the reader just enough information to hazard a guess at a theory over and over again until the end, when all is revealed in the same intentional way. Jellicoe Road satisfied my need for interesting characters, complicated relationships and a tantalizing mystery (or three).

Taylor is one of my favorite YA characters yet. She's bold and no-nonsense with glimmers of compassion and kindness shining through. Her character evolves throughout the novel, yet manages to stay true to the Taylor of Chapter One. She's not like me; I didn't find her "relatable" per se, but she's the kind of book character I'd want to befriend if she came to life.

There are several romantic relationships in Jellicoe Road, and they're as sparse and perfect as the rest of the storytelling. There's no insta-love or even insta-like, just friendships that blossom into something more.

Melina Marchetta masters the art of exposition in Jellicoe Road, from the mysterious identities of The Brigadier and The Hermit to the whereabouts of Taylor's mother. Every word is deliberate, as well as carefully placed. Jellicoe Road is a book I can't wait to revisit. As soon as I finished it, I immediately wanted to read it again!

Title: Jellicoe Road
Author: Melina Marchetta
Genre: YA Contemporary
Year: 2006
Book Source: Won from Words on Paper

Supernatural Saturday Review: Mercy (Mercy #1)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

A fallen angel haunted by her past. Yearning for her immortal beloved. Forever searching for answers.Who will show her Mercy?

Mercy has lost herself. She can’t count how many times she’s “woken up” in a new body, and assumed a new life, only to move on again and again. During the day she survives in the human world on instinct and at night her dreams are haunted by him. Mercy’s heart would know him anywhere. But her memory refuses to cooperate.

But this time is different. When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen year old reeling from the loss of his twin sister who was kidnapped two years ago. Everyone else has given up hope, but Ryan believes his sister is still alive. Using a power she doesn’t fully comprehend, Mercy realizes that Ryan is right. His sister is alive and together they can find her. For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose; she can help. So she doesn’t understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere. But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the dark mystery of his sister’s disappearance, danger looms just one step behind.

Will Mercy be able to harness her true self and extraordinary power in time?

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 3 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Paranormal fans

High point: The body switch

Low point: The chapters between when I figured out the mystery and when it's officially revealed

Reader maturity: 15+

Mercy is the kind of book that unfolds slowly, giving the reader information to postulate theories and keep them reading to see if they're right. About 50% of the book does this really well. However, the first few chapters left me confused and searching to see if I was reading a sequel by mistake. The last few chapters weren't as interesting because I had already figured out Mercy's story and figured out the present day mystery.

Rebecca Lim did a good job placing Mercy in someone else's body. Her confusion and reactions made sense. However, Mercy herself was quite critical of not only the body she inhabited but of the other characters all throughout the book, a trait that significantly diminished my sympathy.

I probably won't continue the series due to the angel theme (I won this copy), but I thought the body-switching/murder-solving aspect was entertaining and well-executed.

Title: Mercy (Mercy #1)
Author: Rebecca Lim
Genre: YA Paranormal
Year: 2011
Book Source: Won from Sarah's Urban Fantasy Blog

Supernatural Saturday Review: Black City

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:14:00 +0000

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Paranormal fans

High point: The neat idea to mix dystopian and paranormal

Low point: The execution of the mix of dystopian and paranormal

Reader maturity: 15+

I had high hopes for Black City. As a combination paranormal-dystopian, it sounded fresh and exciting.

While the idea was certainly fresh, the writing was not. Natalie's mother and Ash were caricatures of the evil parent and brooding boyfriend. There was also a surly ex and obligatory best friend. Aside from the cliches, oft repeated descriptions (e.g. "black bustle dress") and childish main character, I liked the premise. A dictatorship masquerading as a democracy that wipes out 50% of the population as a means to control public opinion? There was so much potential with the endlessly burning buildings, oppressive regime, government secrets and taboo lab experiments, but Black City fell short.

If you'd like another opinion, you can find the Goodreads reviews here.

Title: Black City
Author: Elizabeth Richards
Genre: YA Paranormal & Dystopian
Year: 2012
Book Source: Won an ARC from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Review of Wanderlove

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 3 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Travel enthusiasts

High point: Learning about backpacking

Low point: All the safety issues!

Reader maturity: 15+

Wanderlove isn't good; it isn't bad; in fact, it isn't a novel I feel strongly about at all. There are some books that just aren't for me, and this is one of them. I'm not saying it's "not my cup of tea", but it just didn't speak to me. The writing was fine and the characters were fine and the plot was fine, but none of them moved me to excitement or anticipation.

Part of it is that I spent a great deal of time thinking about what a bad idea it was for Bria to go off with Rowan. She traveled alone, went off with strangers and didn't tell anyone back home where she was. Any one of those could be a recipe for disaster. The point of Wanderlove could be to just close your eyes and leap--and leaps of faith can be fantastic--but in this case, they could also have deadly consequences.

I'm giving Wanderlove a 3 out of 5 because I was interested in the glimpse into backpacker culture, Latin America, and Bria's journey to acceptance. But in the end, my personal preference is for characters who think before they jump.

Title: Wanderlove
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Genre: Teen Fiction - Contemporary
Year: 2012
Book Source: Won from Carolina Valdez Miller

Supernatural Saturday Review: The Girl Who Would Be King

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Separated by thousands of miles, two young women are about to realize their extraordinary powers which will bind their lives together in ways they can't begin to understand.

Protecting others. Maintaining order. Being good. These are all important things for Bonnie Braverman, even if she doesn't understand why. Confined to a group home since she survived the car accident that killed both her parents, Bonnie has lived her life until now in self-imposed isolation and silence; but when an opportunity presents itself to help another girl in need, Bonnie has to decide whether to actually use the power she has long suspected she has. Power that frightens her.

Across the country, Lola LeFever is inheriting her own power by sending her mother over a cliff...literally. For Lola the only thing that matters is power; getting it, taking it, and eliminating anyone who would get in the way of her pursuit of it. With her mother dead and nothing to hold her back from the world any longer, Lola sets off to test her own powers on anyone unfortunate enough to cross her. And Lola's not afraid of anything.

One girl driven to rescue, save, and heal; the other driven to punish, destroy, and kill.

And now they're about to meet.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 1 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Readers of modern day fairytales

High point: How well the author wrote Lola

Low point: Lola

Reader maturity: 18+

File The Girl Who Would Be King under "not my cup of tea." It's not a badly written book, by any means, but I didn't like it.

There's something about this book that I find extremely distasteful, and her name is Lola. The story is told from two points of view--Lola's and Bonnie's--something that wasn't clear to me for several chapters (possibly due to the ebook copy I was reading). So there's that...but Lola makes up only 50% of the novel but sours 100% of it for me.

I like the premise--superpowered women, good vs. evil, archnemeses from birth--but even villains need to have a flaw or trait that inspires sympathy. Lola didn't elicit that from me.

There were some great action scenes and Lola's descent into madness was artfully paced, but I couldn't get past the disgust I felt for her inability to empathize or reason. Brute force isn't the most interesting personality trait.

Quite a few others have enjoyed The Girl Who Would Be King (raved about it, in fact), so I'm linking to the Goodreads reviews so you can see some other opinions. The Girl Who Would Be King just wasn't for me.

Title: The Girl Who Would Be King
Author: Kelly Thompson
Genre: Teen Fiction - Urban Fantasy
Year: 2012
Book Source: Purchased

Review of Pandemonium (Delirium #2)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

"So what was your name before?" I say, and she freezes, her back to me. "Before you came to the Wilds, I mean."

For a moment she stands there.

Then she turns around.

"You might as well get used to it now," she says with quite intensity.

"Everything you were, the life you had, the people you knew... dust."

She shakes her head and says, a little more firmly, "There is no before. There is only now, and what comes next."

After falling in love, Lena and Alex flee their oppressive society where love is outlawed and everyone must receive the "cure" - an operation that makes them immune to the delirium of love - but Lena alone manages to find her way to a community of resistance fighters. Although she is bereft without the boy she loves, her struggles seem to be leading her toward a new love.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Dystopian and YA romance readers

High point: The introspection

Low point: It left a lot of my questions unanswered

Reader maturity: 13+

As soon as I finished Pandemonium, I couldn't wait to read it again.

I enjoyed Delirium, but Pandemonium had a much bigger impact. It showcases Lena's introspective journey as brilliantly as Delirium but with more forward motion and insistence. Lena makes a lot of personal choices that she left to fate or Alex in Delirium. Her growth occurs in painful spurts, and she's alternately angsty and naive in between, a perfectly organic transition from innocence to action.

There were a few plot surprises (I love surprises!), although most of the novel was either [tiny SPOILER] Lena-in-the-woods or Lena-under-the-ground, so the focus was mostly on Lena as a character (as it was in Delirium). So what made Pandemonium so incredible? Crafting intricate characters and a novel that makes readers think is challenging, yet Lauren Oliver excelled. Pandemonium gave me as many things to think about as its predecessor and furthered Lena's journey in a way that makes me incredibly excited for Requiem!

Title: Pandemonium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Genre: Teen Fiction - Dystopian
Year: 2012
Book Source: Purchased

Supernatural Saturday Review: The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:30:00 +0000

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Lovers of faery lore, faery newbies

High point: The vibrant settings

Low point: Meghan's choice of love interest (no surprise here!)

Reader maturity: 13+

To date, I haven't been as excited about the Iron Fey as the rest of the book reviewing blogosphere, but The Iron Queen was more up my alley than The Iron King and The Iron Daughter...mostly.

The Iron Queen featured events that are frequently skipped in other stories. Meghan's growing relationships with Ash (however much I dislike it) and her father, her dwindling relationship with Puck and her drive--and failure--to train to fight make Meghan an accessible and believable (if Faery existed, of course) main character. Those events slow the pace of the novel dramatically but Ms. Kagawa uses the break to fill in plot holes and nurture character development before slowly building momentum. It feels like nothing much happens for the first half of the novel, but I never got bored or lost interest.

Ms. Kagawa's world-building is something I've always appreciated, and she gives the Iron Realm the same attention to detail that Summer and Winter received. Cold and lifeless, without the mischief and passion shared in the other Realms, the Iron Realm serves as the perfect backdrop to Meghan's internal and external conflicts.

The ending, although a tad dramatic for my tastes, was a fine conclusion to Meghan's journey from typical American high school student to Iron Queen. I can't wait to see what else is in store from the Iron Fey.

Title: The Iron Queen
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Teen Fiction - Paranormal
Year: 2011
Book Source: Purchased

Supernatural Saturday Review: Charmfall (Dark Elite #3)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death...

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a junior. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers her undivided attention.

But when a Reaper infiltrates the school, Lily doesn’t forget what she’s sworn to protect. She reaches deep into herself to draw out her magic—and finds that it’s gone. And it turns out she’s not alone. A magical blackout has slammed through paranormal Chicago, and no one knows what—or who—caused it. But Lily knows getting back her magic is worth the risk of going behind enemy lines...

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: YA paranormal fans

High point: Lily and Scout

Low point: The set-up

Reader maturity: 13+

I'd been waiting a long time to check in with Lily and Scout and find out what's going on in the Chicago underground. Short answer: trouble.

It took me a while to start Charmfall because, while I gave Hexbound (Dark Elite #2) a decent review, I remember being disappointed in the characterization and, to a lesser extent, the direction of the story. Charmfall wasn't par for the course--it had a different feel than its predecessors--but it's a good kind of different. I liked the addition of an outside enemy, an uneasy truce and inter-group cooperation.

Charmfall was great at building tension and suspense with plausible red herrings and a great balance between giving the reader enough information to stay invested but withholding enough to stay interested. My only complaint is that the secondary characters seemed to exist only to serve a singular plot purpose rather than enriching the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed Charmfall's story development and am crossing my fingers for a fourth Dark Elite novel. Now that Chloe Neill got me excited about Adepts again, I want to know what happens next!

Title: Charmfall
Author: Chloe Neill
Genre: Teen Fiction - Girls & Young Women
Year: 2012
Book Source: Purchased

Supernatural Saturday Review: Undead Much? (Megan Berry #2)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:32:00 +0000

Megan Berry, Zombie Settler extraordinaire, just wants Pom Squad to trounce Cheer Team in this freakishly funny follow-up to You Are So Undead to Me. But someone's turning coma victims into settler-resistant über-zombies, and everyone thinks it's Megan's fault! Well, except for super-creepy male cheerleader Aaron. (Ew!) Meg's also being stalked by a hot, albeit undead, seer named Cliff. Can Cliff's premonitions help Megan stop a zombies-on-ice deathscapade and discover who's really behind the coma-killer crusade before an entire army of undead rise up? And when Megan's boyfriend Ethan grows jealous of Cliff, will it end their intra-Settler romance?

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Zombie fans who want something lighthearted

High point: The surprisingly deep plot twists

Low point: There's no more after this!!

Reader maturity: 13+

I wish it hadn't taken me so long to get around to reading Undead Much?. I adored the first book in this series, You Are So Undead to Me, but for some reason, I let Undead Much? languish on my bookshelf for over a year. I'm so glad I finally picked it up, though, because it's awesome, maybe even better than the first.

Undead Much? may not have pulled me out of the reading slump I've been in lately, but it definitely managed to avoid being sucked in. From the cover to the title, Undead Much? appears deceptively simple, merely a throwaway book for an afternoon of reading. But, you guys, it's good, I promise!

For starters, the characters are fantastic. There's a whole slew of people in this novel, dead and undead, and Stacey Jay manages to make them all unique. Even the characters that show up only once or twice have distinct character traits that keep them from fading into the background. Character depth and growth are also impressive, especially in a zombie novel, and Megan, Ethan, Monica and Cliff all come a long way in terms of development over the course of 300 pages. Monica's evolution, in particular, impressed me. I can't say much without giving away some plot, but hers is one of the few transformations of its type that I actually find believable.

Of course, there's also tons of action because this is a zombie novel, with Unsettled beings popping up everywhere...again and again and again! There's a good mix of description and imagination in the fight scenes and a sense of urgency that draws the reader into the melee.

Best of all, Undead Much? is a fun book. While I enjoy serious fiction as much as the next reader, sometimes I just want something fun, preferably something fun and worth reading. Undead Much? is it!

FYI: Razorbill decided not to continue the Megan Berry series, and there's a huuuge cliffhanger at the end of Undead Much?. I'm disappointed that I don't get to join Megan Berry on any more adventures, but I still think the first two are worth a read. Just make up your own ending! (There's supposed to be an ebook called Undead to the World that wraps things up, but I can't find it anywhere. :-(

Title: Undead Much?
Author: Stacey Jay
Genre: Fiction - Supernatural
Year: 2010
Book Source: Purchased

Supernatural Saturday Review: Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Fans of Firespell, paranormal and boarding school stories

High point: The complete package

Low point: Archer

Reader maturity: 13+

Spell Bound is a great addition to the Hex Hall family. The premise of these books is amazing (boarding school for "troubled" supernatural adolescents, secret scientific experiments, generations-old family feuds), as is Sophie. While the book blurb may say she's defenseless and at the mercy of her enemies, she's really quite resourceful. Hers is one of the best YA characters I've read about because she manages to be strong, while still being feminine, and smart, yet still accessible. (I can't say that I agree with her choices in men, but...)

Action scenes can quickly fall flat in literature, but Spell Bound pulls them off with aplomb. They're incredibly easy to visualize but with enough detail to cause nail-biting (metaphorically speaking; that would be rather hard to do while reading). Everything and everyone is rich in character and backstory with one exception...or rather, two of them: the guys.

I'm Team Cal, no question, but both Archer and Cal felt very dull to me in the third installment of the Hex Hall series. Sophie's attraction to Archer in Book 1 was understandable, if questionable, and there were some serious sparks flying between Sophie and Cal in Book 2, but Spell Bound actually had me rooting for a guy in a painting! (If you read it, all will be explained. I promise.)

The ending was a fantastic smash-bang mix of action, magic and mystery that I just loved. It's rare for me to get so excited while I'm reading, but it actually made up for the lack of excitement in Sophie's dating life.

Title: Spell Bound
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: Fiction - Supernatural
Year: 2012
Book Source: Purchased

Review of Seeing Redd (The Looking Glass Wars #2)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Alyss of Wonderland's rules has only just begun and already those who prefer chaos to peace are threatening to destroy everything worth imagining. Trailed by newly appointed Royal Bodyguard Homburg Molly, Alyss is doing her best to keep pace with the non-stop demands of being Queen while attempting to evade Molly for a few private moments with Dodge. Alyss's life is already a challenging mix of duty, love and imagining when a series of phantom sightings set fire to an urban myth of her imperial viciousness's return and have everyone...Seeing Redd.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Grown-up fairytale readers

High point: The quality of the re-imagining

Low point: Adult Alyss' bland personality

Reader maturity: 13+

I wasn't a huuuuge fan of Seeing Redd's predecessor, The Looking Glass Wars, but Seeing Redd captured my attention more fully. Alyss' dethroned aunt Redd is a much more interesting villain this time, less All-About-Redd and more Must-Defeat-Alyss. The first novel felt more cold and calculating while Seeing Redd has more whimsy (albeit the war-faring kind) and more Wonderland. Coincidence? I really enjoyed getting to know Hatter Maddigan and Homburg Molly's stories since they were two of my favorites from the first book, as well as Alyss' growth as Queen.

The imagery was fanciful and over-the-top, as befits any story of Wonderland. I was constantly amazed by Frank Beddor's power of imagination. The weapons, defenses and creatures of Alyss' realm are wondrous and plentiful. The descriptions were perfect--giving enough information to clue the reader in to the manner of operation but leaving enough unsaid for the reader to puzzle out through their own imaginative efforts. Fans of The Looking Glass Wars will enjoy Alyss' exploits in Seeing Redd.

Title: Seeing Redd
Author: Frank Beddor
Genre: Fiction - Fairytale
Year: 2007
Book Source: Borrowed from library

Review of Nailed

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:30:00 +0000

One girl. Two guys. Who says three's a crowd? When Mandy takes an unusual summer job-in construction-she has to prove she's just one of the guys. But she gets more than she bargains for being the only girl on the job. The mixture of hot guys, sunscreen, raw wood and testosterone proves to be an elixir she can't protect her heart from. Brooding Boston and flirty AJ find themselves looking at Mandy as more than just a girl who holds a hammer. Mandy soon finds herself not only lost in a whirlwind of a male-dominated world, but also the center of an inadvertently "constructed" love triangle. Mandy must choose between two guys who want her heart. But what's a girl to do when she wants them both?

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 2 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: YA contemporary readers

High point: The messages

Low point: Mandy's cluelessness

Reader maturity: 15+

I really enjoyed Heavenly and A Season of Eden by the same author, but Nailed didn't connect with me as a reader.

While it's great to read about nonconformist female characters, Mandy was frustratingly oblivious and naive. (For example, she wears an actual swimsuit to a construction site and doesn't understand how that could be a problem working with a group of guys.) I like the messages of self-respect, following one's dreams and not settling for the wrong guy, but I couldn't connect with Mandy enough to enjoy it.

Mandy also didn't understand prejudice against women at the work site. While she has a point in that gender shouldn't matter, I found it hard to believe that she had grown up around construction and yet had no expectation of discrimination. My frustration with Mandy aside, her best friend was really fun, and the character of her brother was well-developed as he seesawed between the protector and the antagonist, depending on his mood.

Title: Nailed
Author: Jennifer Laurens
Genre: Fiction - Contemporary
Year: 2008
Book Source: Purchased

Review of The Lady of the Rivers (The Cousins' War #3)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:30:00 +0000

A story rich in passion and legend, The Lady of the Rivers is the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the Wars of the Roses. When Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the duke’s squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the duke’s death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.

The Woodvilles soon achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of their royal York rivals. As Jacquetta fights for her king and her queen, she can see an extraordinary and unexpected future for her daughter Elizabeth: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York. . . .

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 3 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Die-hard history fans

High point: Bringing Jacquetta out of the past

Low point: Very confusing historical setting

Reader maturity: 13+

The War of the Roses is complicated. Even the helpfully-included genealogical charts in Lady of the Rivers weren't enough for me to keep it straight. Wikipedia was even less helpful. so, strike #1 right there, I was confused. Alliances were made and broken in an instant, and it was too much for me to keep straight. It did, however, give me an appreciation of Philippa Gregory's research abilities and made me wonder how anyone in England ever survived.

One of the things that I liked about Lady of the Rivers is how Philippa Gregory took a relatively minor historical figure and brought her to life. As I understand it, not much is known about the real Jacquetta, but the the fictional version is a fascinating creature, both unusually powerful and unusually bold for her time. (She was also unusually lucky!)

Those without an interest in history may find Jacquetta's story dry and factual, but those who enjoy historical fiction (and, perhaps, have a better grasp on English history than I do) would do well to try out this addition to the series on The Cousins' War.

Title: The Lady of the Rivers
Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Fiction - Historical
Year: 2012
Book Source: Won from The Eclectic Reader

Review of Size 12 and Ready to Rock (Heather Wells #4)

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Summer break . . . and the livin' ain't easy

Just because the students at New York College have flown the coop doesn't mean assistant residence hall director Heather Wells can relax. Fischer Hall is busier than ever, filled with squealing thirteen- and fourteen-year-old girls attending the first ever Tania Trace Teen Rock Camp, hosted by pop sensation Tania Trace herself--who just happens to be newly married to Heather's ex-boyfriend, heartthrob Jordan Cartwright. But the real headache begins when the producer of a reality TV show starring Tania winds up dead . . . and it's clear that the star was the intended victim.

Grant Cartwright, head of Cartwright Records, wants to keep his daughter-in-law (and his highest-earning performer) alive. So he hires his oldest son, black sheep of the family and private investigator Cooper Cartwright--who just happens to be Heather's "new" fiancE. Heather should leave the detecting to Cooper. But with a dorm full of hysterical mini-divas-in-training, she can't help but get involved. And after Tania shares a really shocking secret with her, "this" reality suddenly becomes more dangerously real than anyone ever anticipated.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Grown-up fans of The Princess Diaries

High point: Heather is back and as awesome as ever

Low point: I don't know if there's going to be another sequel!

Reader maturity: 15+

If you follow me on Twitter, you may remember how excited I was to find a copy of Size 12 and Ready to Rock in my mailbox. And I was so right to be psyched!!

There's always a little bit of apprehension when picking up a book in a series that was dormant for years, then recently resurrected. In most cases, I would be right to be apprehensive but with Meg Cabot at the helm, my fears were unfounded. I wonder now, post-read, if Cabot didn't plan for more than 3 books the whole time...

In case you didn't know, this is a new book in one of my favorite series, so I hold Size 12 and Ready to Rock to an extremely high standard. Cabot managed to avoid all of the pitfalls I would've expected of the fourth book in a series. The mystery was fresh, with a suitable explanation for Heather's involvement (i.e. why she's involved in yet another mystery); there are a myriad of new characters, as well as the return of some old favorites; and Heather remains Heather, albeit a little older, wiser and more concerned with her relationship, though still as charming as ever.

Cabot delivered a wonderful addition to my shelf of Heather Wells mysteries, and that got me thinking...Do I detect a book #5 on the way?

Title: Size 12 and Ready to Rock
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Fiction - Contemporary
Year: 2012
Book Source: Received for review from publisher

Kindred Review: The Gatling Gun

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Love of reading runs in the family! Today, I'm featuring one of my dad's recent reads.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 boxes

As an aficionado of military arms and a mechanical engineer, I have always viewed the Gatling gun with fascination: a weapon ahead of its time. Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling’s invention has also been used in Hollywood films since 1939, including The War Wagon, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Guns of the Magnificent Seven, and The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Although schooled as a medical doctor, Dr. Gatling found pleasure in mechanisms. Ironically, his main purpose for inventing this powerful weapon was to help shorten the war!

The authors obviously dug deep into the history books before writing this book. The book is generous with illustrations, patents and period newspaper articles. Coupled with official military reviews, as well as those of the actual soldiers using the weapon, the history takes on a tangible significance. However, the authors appeared to have ignored proofreading, as the text is fraught with grammatical and spelling errors. While I enjoyed historical content, it was very difficult to read at times. My copy of the book has been relegated to the coffee-table.

Title: The Gatling Gun
Author: Paul Wahl & Don Toppel
Genre: History, Nonfiction
Year: 1965
Book Source: Received as a gift

Review of The Princess Bride

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:00:00 +0000

A tale of true love and high adventure, pirates, princesses, giants, miracles, fencing, and a frightening assortment of wild beasts - The Princess Bride is a modern storytelling classic.

As Florin and Guilder teeter on the verge of war, the reluctant Princess Buttercup is devastated by the loss of her true love, kidnapped by a mercenary and his henchmen, rescued by a pirate, forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, and rescued once again by the very crew who absconded with her in the first place. In the course of this dazzling adventure, she'll meet Vizzini - the criminal philosopher who'll do anything for a bag of gold; Fezzik - the gentle giant; Inigo - the Spaniard whose steel thirsts for revenge; and Count Rugen - the evil mastermind behind it all. Foiling all their plans and jumping into their stories is Westley, Princess Buttercup's one true love and a very good friend of a very dangerous pirate.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 3 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Everyone

High point: The "good parts"

Low point: The commentary

Reader maturity: 13+

I'd never read this book before. Actually, when I saw the movie, it took quite a bit of convincing on the part of my friends that there was really a book. Short version of this review: Movie trumps book. But movie would not exist without book. Hmmm...

The Princess Bride (the book) is very much like The Princess Bride (the movie): comedic, dramatic and with a distinct narrative style. Book Buttercup is much more annoying and selfish (I never really got that from movie Buttercup). Book Fezzik, however, shows a deeper, more interesting side than just being "the muscle" like his movie counterpart.

One thing I didn't consistently enjoy, however, was the author's technique of interjecting into the fictional Morgenstern's story. I found the commentary very distracting in its tendency to quickly veer off topic. Some of it was amusing, like informing the reader of certain things in advance so they don't get too worked up and the inclusion of Florinese "trivia," but some places seemed to take it a bit far.

It's a great story to be enjoyed by all. Some of the plot points and humor might go over the heads of younger readers, but that's what allows it to appeal to older readers as well as kids who want swashbuckling, Dread-Pirate-Roberts-type fun. If you've only seen the movie, you might be interested in checking out the origin of The Princess Bride.

Title: The Princess Bride
Author: William Goldman
Genre: Fiction - Fantasy
Year: 1972
Book Source: Purchased

Supernatural Saturday Review: Cold Kiss

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 12:30:00 +0000

It was a beautiful, warm summer day, the day Danny died.

Suddenly Wren was alone and shattered. In a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, Wren decides that what she wants--what she "must" do--is to bring Danny back.

But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy Wren fell in love with. His touch is icy; his skin, smooth and stiff as marble; his chest, cruelly silent when Wren rests her head against it.

Wren must keep Danny a secret, hiding him away, visiting him at night, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school, and Wren realizes that somehow, inexplicably, he can sense the powers that lie within her--and that he knows what she has done. And now Gabriel wants to help make things right.

But Wren alone has to undo what she has wrought--even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: YA paranormal readers

High point: N/A

Low point: N/A

Reader maturity: 13+

I spent over a week trying to decide how to write my review of Cold Kiss. The problem is that I can't muster anything other than apathy.

The writing is on par for YA--not too flowery, not stilted. The main character, Wren, is standard YA material--average looks, special abilities, irresistibly attractive to inexplicably mature guys. Her mother is frequently absent; there are family secrets and a love triangle. Overall, it's very formulaic YA. It's good, predictability notwithstanding, but I was disappointed by the feeling of sameness. I had hoped for more from a zombie-ish novel.

Perhaps if I had read this years ago, before I got burned out on vampires and teenage heroines, I'd be more enthusiastic, but as it stands, I don't have strong feelings either way.

Title: Cold Kiss
Author: Amy Garvey
Genre: Fiction - Paranormal
Year: 2011
Book Source: Purchased

Kindred Review: Spoken from the Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Love of reading (and history) runs in the family! Today, I'm featuring one of my mom's recent reads.

The intimate and startlingly candid memoir from one of America's most beloved and private first ladies.
In a captivating and compelling voice that ranks with many of our greatest memoirists, Laura Bush tells the story of her unique journey from dusty Midland, Texas, to the world stage and the White House. Her compassion, her sense of humor, her grace, and her uncommon willingness to bare her heart make Laura Bush's story deeply revelatory, beautifully rendered, and unlike any other First Lady's memoir ever written.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4 out of 5 boxes

No one’s story is theirs alone. In telling the story of her hometown, its people, jobs, economy, history and neighborhoods, Laura Bush told her story. I enjoyed the way she described who she became by describing the influences around her.

The book appeared to be honestly written. Ms. Bush did not leave out or glaze over her father’s drinking and gambling, her husband’s alcohol use, nor the tragic accident that took the life of a friend; yet, she was gracious in writing about those in the realm of politics for whom she did not particularly care.

I enjoyed the book and Laura’s story. While reading it, I was disappointed each time I had to put it down and anxious to get back to it to see “what happened next”. Perhaps it was partly because this is an All American Girl story. She was the average girl growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, yet it was also an American Dream story. She married the future President of the USA and was privileged to meet Kings and Queens and influence initiatives; yet she appears to still be grounded and grateful.

I would definitely recommend as a good read if you enjoy autobiographies and/or history whether you are interested in politics or not.

Title: Spoken from the Heart
Author: Laura Bush
Genre: History, Memoir
Year: 2010
Book Source: Borrowed

Want to Read Wednesday: The Unnaturalists

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:30:00 +0000

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.

[from Goodreads]

With Want to Read Wednesday, I'll be spotlighting books I want to read, whether they've been out for 10 years or won't be released for another 10 months.

Want to Read Wednesday: Breathing Room

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Evvy Hoffmeister is thirteen years old when her family brings her to Loon Lake Sanatorium to get cured of tuberculosis (TB). Evvy is frightened by her new surroundings; the rules to abide are harsh and the nurses equally rigid. But Evvy soon falls into step with the other girls in her ward. There’s Sarah, quiet but thoughtful; Pearl, who adores Hollywood glamour; and Dina, whose harshness conceals a deep strength. Together, the girls brave the difficult daily routines. Set in 1940 at a time of political unrest throughout the U.S. and Europe, this thought-provoking novel sheds light on a much-feared worldwide illness. Hundreds of thousands of people died each year of TB, and many ill children were sent away to sanatoriums to hopefully recover.

This is a masterful novel—both eloquent and moving—that gives voice to those who fought hard to overcome the illness.

[from Goodreads]

With Want to Read Wednesday, I'll be spotlighting books I want to read, whether they've been out for 10 years or won't be released for another 10 months.

Kindred Review: Inside the Oval Office

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Love of reading (and history) runs in the family! Today, I'm featuring one of my mom's recent reads.

In 1940, inventor J. Ripley Kiel was taken by Secret Service men to the Oval Office, where he planted a microphone in FDR's desk lamp and connected it to an experimental sound recording machine. Since that day, almost every president has found some use for recording, sometimes covertly, sometimes not. The tapes and transcripts left behind from this sixty-year recording experiment are a cockpit voice recorder of the presidency, time capsules from crucial moments in American history. During four years of research in the National Archives and Presidential Libraries, William Doyle unearthed scores of White House tapes and transcripts, many never before published. He interviewed over one hundred Oval Office insiders, Cabinet members, and White House aides, from FDR's personal secretary to Henry Kissinger. Inside the Oval Office is the result, a flesh-and-blood drama of the presidency in action.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4 out of 5 boxes

Politics is not of great interest to me, but history is. I was pleased while reading this book to find it contained much more of the history of the White House than the politics. The author gave a synopsis of each president‘s executive style. This was not to create a political discussion, but to explain how each person utilized the rooms in the White House according to personality or need and to explain what each one taped and why. Because of these tapes we have a piece of history preserved in time.

The White House is a transient home to our Presidents and their families. I enjoyed reading how each family created a home there for 4-12 years and then turned it over to the next occupant with either grace or grudge. The book belongs to my husband. He asked me if I had read it and I had not because I didn’t think it sounded interesting, but I’m glad I gave it a try. Well written, never dull. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in history or bibliographies.

Title: Inside the Oval Office: The White House Tapes from FDR to Clinton
Author: William Doyle
Genre: History, Nonfiction
Year: 2002
Book Source: Received as a gift

Review of Book of a Thousand Days

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:30:00 +0000

When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years for Saren's refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.
As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. But the arrival outside the tower of Saren's two suitors--one welcome, and the other decidedly less so--brings both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.

With Shannon Hale's lyrical language, this forgotten but classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm is reimagined and reset on the central Asian steppes; it is a completely unique retelling filled with adventure and romance, drama and disguise.

[from Goodreads]

Rating: 4 out of 5 boxes

Target Audience: Fans of sweet romance and historical fiction

High point: Dashti's wit and charm

Low point: Lady Saren was really quite annoying

Reader maturity: 13+

Book of a Thousand Days is a positively enchanting story. Though it took me a few chapters ("days" in fictional time), it soon won me over with its charm and unique story.

I had no idea being locked away in a tower could be so dramatic! But Dashti's wit and tales of muckers, as well as her mistress' insistence that she take on a noble identity, enliven their stay. The threads of this tale are delicately woven. The mysteries are solved in due time, and the romance is one of my all-time favorites. In a case where the reader knows more than the characters, the reader is rooting for a happy ending. Some might consider the pace slow, but I thought it deliberate, giving each element its time to develop and shine.

Book of a Thousand Days is a beautiful story based loosely on Mongolian myth that brings folklore and legend to life.

Title: Book of a Thousand Days
Author: Shannon Hale
Genre: Fiction - Fantasy
Year: 2007
Book Source: Purchased

Want to Read Wednesday: What's Left of Me

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

[from Goodreads]

With Want to Read Wednesday, I'll be spotlighting books I want to read, whether they've been out for 10 years or won't be released for another 10 months.

Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (Bookish in a Box) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 17:33:00 +0000

I never figured on writing one of these since my short absences have been more likely to go unnoticed if I didn't announce them. This time, however, I'm looking at a two month hiatus so I thought I'd deliver an explanation.

I love reading and reviewing. This break is not because I'm tired of reading or because blogging doesn't interest me anymore. This break is because my offline life is about to get really busy. Normally, I would schedule posts in advance, but real life has been really busy for a while now, and I'm all out of reviews. My posting schedule has been stressing me out (I was trying to complete the 100+ in a year challenge, and since I'm so busy, it was sucking the fun out of reading and reviewing) so for the next few months, I'll read what I can, review what I can and call it good.

Hopefully I'll see you around!