Epic (Chocolate) Fantasy

Feed by Mira Grant

2012-03-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Feed
Mira Grant
Newsflesh Trilogy #1
Published 2010 by Orbit

Bite-Sized Review
I really, really loved this book. It's emotional, clever, fast-paced, actually meaningful, and all-around excellent, and I can't believe I waited so long to read it. Why haven't you started yet?

King-Sized Review
Feed is the exciting, brilliant story of a team of blogger-journalists who are selected to follow the campaign of presidential hopeful Senator Ryman. As they get to know the senator and his ideas, they find themselves in full support of his candidacy, but it seems there's someone else out there whose opposition to the senator's policies threatens them all. And in a world where the Kellis-Amberlee virus has created the potential for anyone to become a zombie, threats become a lot more real.

There are a few things you should know before reading this book:

1. Feed is not a zombie book. It has the potential to become a zombie series, but for now it's not about averting the zombie apocalypse, and it's certainly not about how zombies have feelings too. The zombie apocalypse has already happened, and Feed just happens to take place afterwards, when the world has changed. What this book is is a political thriller. No, don't go away. I know, if you're reading this blog you're probably not the type of person who regularly picks up those kinds of books. Neither am I. Just trust me. You want to read this one.

2. The world is entirely believable. Everything from the way zombies were created to life after the Rising is spectacularly conceptualized and explained. From the paranoid testing before you can go anywhere to the laws that arose from the presence of the infected, there were no glaring inconsistencies, no transparent plot devices. If an outbreak of something like the Kellis-Amberlee virus occurred, it seems completely reasonable that people would react in just the way they have in the world of Feed. Fortunately for your sanity, it's less gruesome and terrible than the reactions in World War Z, but then, as I said, Feed isn't a zombie book, while World War Z is. Their both quite believable, and they both work perfectly for the kind of stories they want to tell.

3. Feed has brilliant characters. Shaun and Georgia, in particular, are characterized perfectly and complement each other better than you can imagine. Shaun cracks jokes and pokes zombies with sticks, Georgia stoically reports the facts, just the facts. The combination is ideal for a lot of reasons, mainly that it makes for a balanced narrative, because while Georgia is the narrator, Shaun is never far from her or her thoughts.

4. Feed is suspenseful, funny, and brutally emotional. The suspense arises from a conspiracy that our faithful bloggers uncover while following the presidential campaign of Senator Peter Ryman, and it's well done. It's not perfect – the revelations don't come as a huge surprise at any point – but it works, and it's where the zombies come in. If zombies aren't scary, you're doing it wrong. So there's that, but it's the emotion that really gets you. If you're not in tears at the end of this book, it's possible that you don't have emotions. Or that you have retinal KA. But you might want to get that checked out.

Quality: Excellent
Enjoyability: Outstanding

Feed is similar to:
World War Z by Max Brooks

Stars of Historical Fantasy

2012-03-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

The "Stars of..." series is a feature I'm doing here at Epic (Chocolate) Fantasy to highlight the best books in different areas of the fantasy genre. Say you want a book about shapeshifters or wizards or mythology, or maybe you want to read some political or heroic fantasy. Stop by here every Thursday for the foreseeable future, and I'll have recommendations for you! Click on the book covers for links to the first book in the series and on the series name for a list of the books in it on Goodreads.

If you think there's something I missed in this category, feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments! I haven't read everything out there, obviously, and I'd love some recommendations myself.

Series are alphabetical by author.

Stars of Historical Fantasy

Historical fantasy falls into two categories, which I've decided here to call other worlds and alternate histories. For purposes of this posts, "other worlds" means that the books take place in worlds that clearly reflect an existing historical time period, but the names have been changed: France is Terre d'Ange, or Byzantium is Sarantium. Alternate histories are books that take place in our history, with real historical names and figures, but change the timelines and, of course, add some kind of magic.

I thought about putting some steampunk fantasy on this list, but I decided not to because a, I've only read 1.03 steampunk fantasy series (Infernal Devices and one-fifth of the first book of The Parasol Protectorate) and they didn't have the scope I was looking for in this kind of post. But if you've read one that you think should be on here, be sure to let me know!

Other Worlds

Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Legacy
3 trilogies, completed

Don't let the description of this series fool you. These books are far more about politics and manipulation than sex (though if kinky sex scenes bother you, fair warning. It's got 'em.) I absolutely love the complexity of the characters and plot, and the world, which is a loose re-imagining of medieval Europe, is fascinating. This series is most excellent.

Kate Elliot

Crown of Stars

Another sort of alternate-universe medieval story, Crown of Stars focuses on a prince with an unusual heritage and a peasant girl who has a way with fire. It can be a little slow at times, but I love the feel of these books. They could also fall into the good versus evil category.

Guy Gavriel Kay

The Lions of Al-Rassan
Stand-alone

With a world evocative of medieval Spain just before the Reconquista, Kay manages to depict the effects of civilizational conflict on individuals. Featuring themes of love, family, war, faith, and loyalty, The Lions of al-Rassan is a spectacular novel filled with vivid imagery and characters who seem to step off the pages into your heart.

The Sarantine Mosaic
2 books, completed

Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favorite writers. I just adore his writing. And The Sarantine Mosaic is one of my favorite stories. Based on a reflection of Byzantium, both books are filled with wonderfully lyrical political chess.

A Song for Arbonne
Stand-alone

Filled with Kay's characteristic lyrical prose, A Song for Arbonne is both exciting and profound. It takes place in a fascinating reflection of medieval Europe.

Under Heaven

Stand-alone

Under Heaven takes place in an alternate-universe version of ancient China, which alone sort of makes it worth reading. It's about love and honor and power, filled with nuances and difficult choices. Kay never fails to impress.

Alternate Histories

Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis
Double Edge
4 books, completed

Imagine if the sidhe were interested in the British line of succession. That's what happens in the Double Edge series, which takes place before and during the reign of Elizabeth I. It's an interesting period and a fun series, with lots of both historical references and literary license.

Naomi Novik

Temeraire
6 books, ongoing

The Temeraire books are about the Napoleonic Wars, but with dragons. Now I love dragons, so I found these impossible to resist. They're quite adventurous stories that take you all over the early nineteenth century world, and though they're occasionally a bit slow, they're definitely worth checking out. And they have dragons.

A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison

2012-03-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

A Perfect Blood
Kim Harrison
The Hollows #10
Published February 21, 2012 by Harper Voyager

Bite-Sized Review
While it wasn't quite as amazing as Pale Demon, and there were a few oddities and loose ends, A Perfect Blood was a good book to continue the magic of The Hollows, filled with excitement, danger, and what has definitely been established as one of the best UF worlds out there.

King-Sized Review
**SPOILER WARNING: Contains minor spoilers for A Perfect Blood**

First things first. I really enjoyed this book. I love how Rachel has evolved over the course of this series, and she's probably the only character who can get away with doing things that are really dumb and annoying and still make me love her. There was a lot of Trent in this one, which was fun – he's changed quite a bit, too – though Rachel's complete obliviousness did occasionally make me want to scream.

The storyline in A Perfect Blood was definitely interesting – a magic hate group, HAPA, is trying to get demon blood to use for their spells, so of course the IS wants Rachel, the world's only demon not bound to the ever after, to fix the problem. Though this is the first we've seen of hate groups in The Hollows, most of the major urban fantasy series have them, and they do seem like something that would emerge from this kind of world, so it's good that The Hollows finally caught up with the rest. There was, however, quite a bit more Kim Harrison could have done with HAPA other than just use it to provoke Rachel into making a necessary decision. The group's backstory was rather bare, there were intra-organization conflicts that were never really explained or resolved, and in comparison with, say, the Lighthouse Keepers in Magic Slays, their goals seemed limited as well as irreconcilable with their mission.

That general feeling of incompleteness was a staple of A Perfect Blood. None of the loose ends or issues were large enough to detract terribly from my enjoyment of the book, but A Perfect Blood just didn't seem as polished as it should have been. Things like Al's reaction to Rachel's appearance, the sudden appearance of Wayde, the "men-who-don't-belong," and Marshal's sudden reappearance just didn't quite fit. They could have been tied up much more neatly and believably, but instead they just seemed sort of random and out of place.

For now, I'm okay with these issues. The Hollows has always been one of my favorite UF series and continues to be enjoyable. Plus Pale Demon was easily my favorite book of the series, so I'm confident that we're getting there. A Perfect Blood wasn't as good as Pale Demon, but definitely was fun, exciting, and overall a great read, and it was wonderful to see Rachel finally accept who she is and all the power and responsibility that comes with that. I can't wait to see what she does next.

Quality: Acceptable
Enjoyability: Excellent

The Hollows is similar to these series:
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

2012-03-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Finnikin of the Rock
Melina Marchetta
Lumatere Chronicles #1
Published 2010 by Candlewick Press

Bite-Sized Review
Finnikin of the Rock is a reasonably good epic fantasy, but not a great one. It lacks the feel of an epic, and surprisingly doesn't compare to Marchetta's contemporary novels. It's worth a read, particularly if you're a romance-focused person, but it's not at the top of the list.

King-Sized Review
I find it rather odd that I like Melina Marchetta's contemporary novels better than her fantasy. In general, it's the other way around; contemporary bores me, while fantasy is my sandbox. (Mess with it, and I'll hit you with my trusty plastic shovel!) I like epic, in the sense of 10,000 page quests to save the world. So having discovered to my shock that I actually loved Saving Francesca, when I realized that Melina Marchetta had written fantasy books as well, I expected to be even more thrilled with those.

Not so much.

Finnikin of the Rock was a decent book with decent characters and a decent story. But it wasn't stellar. I didn't keep reading it late into the night and break my rule on not writing reviews immediately after finishing because I couldn't stop thinking about it. There wasn't anything really special about it.

First, there's the plot. An exiled youth has to return to free his people and save them from a tyrant usurper. This is a workable start, if not particularly unique. And overall, the storyline is good but, with one notable exception, never really surprising. Oddly, the interesting parts – Finnikin's time in prison, seeing the Guard, getting back into Lumatere, are glossed over, while more attention is devoted to the interactions between Finnikin and Evanjelin, making the story feel less epic than an epic fantasy should. But stories don't have to be paradigm-shifters to be good – I've enjoyed plenty of trite repetition for other reasons.

The problem is, most of those other reasons fail to meet expectations in Finnikin of the Rock as well. I never really felt connected to the characters. In the best books, the characters step off the pages and come alive in your imagination. Both Saving Francesca and Jellicoe Road achieved that impressive feat, but in Finnikin of the Rock, in comparison, the characters felt more like paper dolls: flimsy, swept away in an errant gust of wind. The most substantial of them, Evanjalin, was the focus of the story but never the one holding the camera. It would have been interesting to see the story from her perspective, but it was mainly Finnikin's head where we resided, with occasional shifts to various other, more minor characters that often seemed a bit out of place.

I did enjoy the romance, though at times it seemed melodramatic. It was still the most fleshed out and enjoyable part of the story, which makes sense, since it seemed to be the most lovingly crafted storyline. Maybe if you like romances more than I do, you'll enjoy this book more as well.

Although this review sort of looks like a list of grievances, Finnikin of the Rock is actually a pretty good book. The writing is lovely, the story is reasonable, and the characters are likable, if bland. But when you start reading expecting outstanding and end up with acceptable, it's a bit of a disappointment.

Quality: Acceptable
Enjoyability: Acceptable

Finnikin of the Rock is similar to:
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

Check this out!

2012-03-05T21:00:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note – my friend Jen from At Random is doing a giveaway of some adorable monster bookmarks she made.

Aren't they cute? Don't you want some? You should definitely head over there and enter. And while you're at it, check out her posts! She has lots of great stuff!

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

2012-03-05T17:15:00.001-05:00

A Million Suns
Beth Revis
Across the Universe #2
Published January 10, 2012 by Razorbill (Penguin)

Bite-Sized Review
A Million Suns was an absolutely enthralling read, one that was highly enjoyable despite a few glaring plot holes. This series is definitely worth a read even if you're not a scifi fan!

King-Sized Review
A Million Suns swept me up and wouldn't let go until long after I turned the last page. Even more so than Across the Universe, it was an extraordinarily compelling book. Unlike many second books in trilogies, A Million Suns is obviously no filler, but a very exciting story.

However, wonderful as it was to read, A Million Suns is not without its flaws. The most critical was the scavenger hunt the entire plot rested upon, which never really seemed necessary. Supposedly Amy would need time to accept the answers she needed to find, but I was neither surprised nor shocked at what the clues, in the end, revealed. There is no obvious reason why the information couldn't have been imparted clearly, and then the characters could have taken all the time they spent hunting for clues and dealt with all the other things going on. And when they finally did find the information, they just sort of dismissed it and went on with their plans, so after all that buildup, it wasn't very climactic. This issue undermined the very premise of the book, which was annoying, though it clearly didn't ruin the story for me. (Sorry for all the obliqueness. I'm trying to be spoiler-free!)

Second, despite being raised for it, Elder is really not a very good leader. Granted, the other half of the story rested on this fact, but he didn't really have a good reason for keeping his role on the ship. He didn't like being the leader, and the only explanation for not giving it up might be to protect Amy. However, the leadership dispute ended up being the better of the plotlines, so I can't complain too much.

Having multiple first-person points of view doesn't always work, but once again it's very effective in Amy and Elder's case. They were both a bit whiny in this book, but since they had good reason to be upset, it wasn't nearly as irritating as some other books. The two of them make very good main characters: different enough to make their separate narratives distinct, but alike enough to have more or less the same goals.

Overall, although it had a few plot holes and some glaring unanswered questions, A Million Suns was even more addictive than Across the Universe. I can't wait to see how Beth Revis will wrap things up in Shades of Earth.

Quality: Acceptable
Enjoyability: Outstanding

A Million Suns is similar to:
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Acorna by Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball
Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon

Sunday Series Spotlight #9: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

2012-03-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

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I love this blog and sharing my opinions on books with people. I've really enjoyed getting recommendations from others, and I hope a few people have found good books on here too. But as much as I love the books I've been reading, there are many books I read before starting the blog that I want to share too! That's why I decided to start the Sunday Series Spotlight and tell everyone about my old favorites.

You're welcome to share your own favorite series...es... –just grab the button and leave a link in the comments.

This week's spotlight is on Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan!

After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning: His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There's little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus.

These books are hilarious and great stories as well. I've always been a big fan of mythology, and I love how Riordan worked so many stories and creatures from Greek myths into his books. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the perfect blend of ancient myths and the modern world. And how could you say no to a book with chapter titles like "In Which I Become Lord of the Bathroom"? These books are definite must reads for fans of J.K. Rowling, Diana Wynne Jones, and Garth Nix.

Have you read the Percy Jackson books? Do you plan to?

The Painted Boy by Charles de Lint

2012-03-03T13:15:00.002-05:00

The Painted Boy
Charles de Lint
Published 2010 by Viking Juvenile

Bite-Sized Review
The Painted Boy was an unusual YA urban fantasy, with realistic characters and a fascinating world and story. I definitely recommend it if you're interested in trying something different.

King-Sized Review
Everything about The Painted Boy, except for the characters, feels much older than most urban fantasy. There are shapeshifters, yes, but they're "cousins," not werewolves. I think their connection to the land might come from Native American stories; it does remind me a little of the walkers/avatars from Mercy Thompson. The age of the story also gives it a depth that YA paranormal books often lack.

The Painted Boy follows the journey of Jay, a seventeen-year-old boy who's also a yellow dragon, as he discovers his place in the world, and more specifically, in the town of Santo del Vado Viejo, where he wound up by closing his eyes and pointing at a map. Santo del Vado Viejo is a barria under the thumb of a gang run by a man known as El Tigre, who senses what Jay is before they ever meet. Most of Jay's journey is an inner one, but there's quite a bit going on in this fascinating tale.

The characters in this book are well-rounded and realistic, the kind of people you could believe actually existed, with strengths and weaknesses and real personalities. Jay's uncertainty mixed with his attraction to Anna and his stubbornness made him a great main character, while Rosalie's optimism and faith in Jay provided the perfect balance for Anna's anger. All of the characters had their own stories that quite clearly only brushed up against what's written in the book, which made them feel alive.

Quality: Excellent
Enjoyability: Good

Stars of Myths and Fairy Tales

2012-03-02T20:25:00.000-05:00

Series are alphabetical by author.

Stars of Myths and Fairy Tales

Finally! A little late, but here are some great contemporary retellings of myths and fairy tales, or at least some books that include aspects of mythology. I'm noticing an interesting trend as I write this post; most of the adult books aren't a specific retelling or adaptation, but include a wide variety of myths in their respective worlds, while more of the YA books are straightforward retellings of either fairy tales or the Core/Persephone myth. Though they do have a distinct lack of pomegranates.

Adult

Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels
5 books, ongoing

Kate Daniels is one of my favorite series. Kate is funny and strong and badass, but she has weaknesses too, and she really cares about her friends. And Curran is perfect for her – they're my favorite couple. All the characters in this series are vivid and believable, the stories are exciting, and I can't wait to see what happens next. This series brings in a lot of different mythologies from all over the world.

Jim Butcher

Dresden Files
13 books, ongoing

The Dresden Files is one of the most brilliant series out there. Harry Dresden, wizard, is full of wit and heroism, and must work in a complex, detailed society of magic and magical creatures. This is one of the few series that's still going strong in its teens, and I love every minute of it. While mythology isn't as prevalent here as in Kate Daniels, you'll still find a few old gods wandering around.

Kevin Hearne

Iron Druid
3 books, ongoing

Yet another amazing and hilarious series. Atticus, last of the Druids, gets himself into quite a bit of trouble but always tries to do the right thing. Actually, though, my favorite character is his dog, Oberon, who cracks me up every time. Gods and goddesses are a part of Atticus's everyday life, and he deals with them accordingly.

Neil Gaiman

American Gods
Stand-alone

This unusual story attempts to define the spirit of America through ancient myths stranded in modern times. Gripping and often slightly disturbing, American Gods is no comfort read. It's the kind of book that makes you wonder whether there's a higher purpose in life and whose stories we're really living anyway.

Anansi Boys
Stand-alone

Anansi Boys is another tale that explores what ancient gods might be like if they lived in modern times. This time Gaiman brings in African deities like Tiger and Anansi to tell a different story of what makes a person whole.

Robin McKinley

Deerskin

Stand-alone

Deerskin is a retelling of a more obscure fairy tale, also called "Deerskin". There are parts that are disturbing and sad, and parts that are amazing. Mostly it's about a girl and her dog, and how she works with animals in general.

Sunshine

Stand-alone

If you've been around here a while, you probably already know that Sunshine is one of my favorite books, since I mention it in every other meme. Sunshine is a very loose retelling of "Beauty and the Beast." It's very different from most vampire books, mostly because the vampires in it are not misunderstood heroes. And Sunshine's not trained in any martial arts or combat magic – mostly just baking. I really, really love this world, and all the characters have great depth. As a huge fan of McKinley's writing style, I'd have to say this is one of her best books. I only wish there were more to go with it.

YA/MG

Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed
1 book, ongoing
My review of Starcrossed

Starcrossed features warring Houses of Greek demigods, whose heritage makes them want to kill one another on sight. Despite a slow start, it's an excellent first book, and I can't wait to see what happens next in the series. Helen and Lucas are a great leading couple, lacking a lot of irritating traits of many YA characters.

Meg Cabot

Abandon

1 book, ongoing
My review of Abandon

Abandon, a loose retelling of the Persephone myth, is a fun read. Although the heroine, Pierce, has her shortcomings, being in her head is entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the way the myth was modernized and the manifestation of the Furies in this one.

Aimée Carter

Goddess Test

1 book, ongoing
My review of The Goddess Test

The Goddess Test is another Persephone story, this time requiring the main character, Kate, to pass a number of tests as part of a deal for someone's life. While it's a little slower than I normally like, The Goddess Test has likable characters and an interesting, if slightly problematic, premise.

Marissa Meyer

Lunar Chronicles

1 book, ongoing
My review of Cinder

Cinder's scifi reboot of "Cinderella" provides a fascinating start for a new series. The execution is good, though not amazing, but there's definitely room for growth in this series.

Robin McKinley

Spindle's End
Stand-alone

Along with a couple other retellings of "Beauty and the Beast," Beauty and Rose Daughter, Robin McKinley wrote a "Sleeping Beauty" novel, Spindle's End. Of her YA fairy tale books, Spindle's End is my favorite – I even wrote a fun essay on it once in college. While it definitely makes some changes to the original story, on the whole I'm in favor of them, and it's a great story.

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Olympians/The Heroes of Olympus

5 books, completed and 2 books, ongoing
My review of The Son of Neptune

The Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus are extremely fun and funny stories about demigods. They're the kind of kids' books that are great for anyone, with many creatures and stories from Greek mythology woven into the books.

Kane Chronicles

2 books, ongoing
My review of The Red Pyramid

The books in the Kane Chronicles are pretty similar to the Percy Jackson series, but with Egyptian mythology instead of Greek. While I don't think they're quite as good as the originals, and they're basically the same story anyway, it is quite interesting to learn about the less ubiquitous Egyptian pantheon.

Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races
Stand-alone
My review

The Scorpio Races reinvents another obscure legend: water horses that eat people. While the horses are central to the story, though, it's more about people and a place. The Scorpio Races is filled with Maggie Stiefvater's standard beautiful prose and with wonderful characters who make the book come alive.

Have you read any of these? Do you have other suggestions for the list?

DNF: Evernight by Claudia Gray

2012-03-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I started reading Evernight by Claudia Gray, and at a certain point, I just couldn't finish it. That's how annoyed I was with this book. I'm not saying I never stop reading in the middle of a book, because it happens, but it's very rare, especially when I've already gotten through half of it. Unfortunately, even though I have no problem reading other people's DNF reviews, when I think about writing one, it makes me feel slightly uncomfortable, like that sticky residue feeling on your hand when you lean on that stain on the counter from where you spilled the lemonade three weeks ago and didn't really clean it properly. Okay, now I feel like I need to clean my kitchen.

Anyway, luckily for me, my friend Alison over at Winged Reviews read Evernight as well and had almost exactly the same reaction, and she actually did finish the book, so I feel no guilt whatsoever about sending you over to her review to give you an idea of what we both thought of the book. Plus now we can feel justified because our opinion is supported. Hooray self-congratulations!

Have you read Evernight? What did you think?

Goodreads Catch-Up Readathon Wrap-Up

2012-03-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

I'm doing another read-a-thon! After having lots of fun with the 24-hour Read-a-thon in October and the Wicked Winter Read-a-thon earlier this month, I just had to sign up for Once Upon a Chapter's read-a-thon when I saw it. It's theoretically for people to catch up on their GR reading challenges, but I'm just doing it for fun, since I'm already at least ten books ahead. But after this I'll need a review-a-thon, because I'm already four reviews behind! Ahhh! I do have a whole lot of library books to read, though, so this will be a good way to get all those done before I have to return them.

You can still sign up, just click the button! The Thon starts tomorrow and runs through March 1. I'll just be updating this post with each day's reading and such.

Day 1 (Friday)
Books read: 2
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones by Brandon Sanderson
Pages read: 633

Day 2 (Saturday)
Books read: 2
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Pages read: 514
Total pages read: 1047

Day 3 (Sunday)
Books read: 1.25
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Pages read: 245
Total pages read: 1292

Day 4 (Monday)
Books read: <1
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Pages read: 183
Total pages read: 1475

Day 5 (Tuesday)
Books read: 1.5
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison
Pages read: 786
Total pages read: 2261

Day 6 (Wednesday)
Books read: 0.33
Feed by Mira Grant
Pages read: 195
Total pages read: 2456

Day 7 (Thursday)
Books read:

Feed by Mira Grant

Pages read: 388

Total pages read: 2844

Wrap-Up

This was a nice little read-a-thon to join. I read seven books and 2844 pages. All of them were decent at worst, and most of them were really pretty great. Thanks to Stephanie for hosting, and see you all next time!

Review Copy Cleanup

2012-03-01T20:34:00.000-05:00

I've just signed up for the Review Copy Cleanup Challenge, hosted by Nyx Book Reviews and Books, Biscuits, and Tea. The RCC runs the entire month of March and is dedicated to getting through that stack of review books that may or may not be from your overindulgence in NetGalley. Click the button to sign up yourself!
It's already March and time for the challenge to start, so here are the review books I have:
Moonstone series by Marilee BrothersWhite Witch by Trish MilburnStarters by Lissa PriceSlide by Jill HathawayGoddess Interrupted by Aimée CarterThe Green Man by Michael BedardRoyal Street by Suzanne JohnsonThe Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerryDark Magic by James SwainLies Beneath by Anne Greenwood BrownDust Girl by Sarah ZettelSeraphina by Rachel Hartman

**For regular readers, Stars of Myths and Fairy Tales will be up tomorrow. I was going to do it today, but then I read Feed, and then I couldn't do any more thinking. So stop by tomorrow for that.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

2012-02-29T22:23:00.000-05:00

Abandon
Meg Cabot
Abandon #1
Published 2011 by Point

Bite-Sized Review
Despite a few storytelling flaws, Abandon was a highly enjoyable book with a rather rambling narrator.

King-Sized Review
Pierce was a normal high school girl: a little distracted, maybe not the best student, but normal. Then she died.

Now she's moved to her mom's hometown, trying to start a new life, trying to fit in. The only problem is him. He keeps showing up, sometimes to save her, sometimes to annoy her. Pierce just wants him to leave her alone until she realizes there's someone out there who never wanted her to come back, and most definitely wants to send her back to the Underworld.

Abandon is loosely based on the myth of Persephone, which, for whatever reason, is currently a popular one to retell. However, it's not much like The Goddess Test, the other Persephone-based book I've read, and personally, I prefer Abandon: it has more action, a more appealing romance, and a less morose MC.

While there is plenty of action in Abandon, most of the story is the product of Pierce's internal monologuing. Fortunately her thoughts were much less irritating than some other YA characters I could name, though she did have something of an angst issue and a tendency to blame her problems on her death and revival and/or other people, which was a little wearying after a while. But otherwise, her perspective on her new home was often funny, and the slow revelation of her history was suspenseful without being overdone.

The romance between John and Pierce wasn't spectacular, but it could have been worse. There was a bit of an element of insta-love, but they spent enough time angry at each other that it all managed to balance out in the end mostly. John could have used a little more of a story, particularly one in his own words; the hearsay about his past was interesting, but it's clear there's more to the tale. (And if there's not, there should be.) But hallelujah! No love triangle!

Abandon is, unfortunately, by no means a self-contained story. The ending would have done better for a chapter than a book, and it was frustrating to have so many things unresolved on all levels of the plot. However, I enjoyed Abandon, and will be looking forward to the next book.

Quality: Acceptable

Enjoyability: Good

Abandon is similar to:

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

2012-02-28T16:45:00.000-05:00

Jellicoe Road
Melina Marchetta
Published 2008 by Harper Teen

Bite-Sized Review
Jellicoe Road is emotional, beautiful, and touching. Everything about it feels real enough that you could imagine these characters existed in reality, somewhere just down the road, around the bend. For that alone, I most definitely recommend it.

King-Sized Review
After being abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road, Taylor was never really close to anyone. Now the leader of the school in the annual battle between the students of the school, the town's youths, and the visiting cadets, Taylor juggles war games and the personal issues brought forth by her guardian Hannah's sudden disappearance. As she unravels stories from the past, Taylor begins to learn about her own present.

I'm always a little surprised when I find myself loving contemporary novels that have nothing to do with magic or saving the world. But I've found that Melina Marchetta is a wonderfully reliable source of such books, capturing her readers' attention with strong characters and enthralling writing. Fortunately, Jellicoe Road, like the other Marchetta books I've read, is more about a person and her family than romance, making it a much better YA contemporary than most.

As I’m coming to expect in anything written by Melina Marchetta, the characters in Jellicoe Road are vivid, and the narrator, Taylor Markham, even more so. The first-person present narrative, which I don’t normally appreciate, lends an immediacy here that works very well for the emotion of the story. Taylor's lonely, confused character is clearer in how she thinks than what she thinks, and Marchetta does an excellent job showing the former as well as the latter.

Before you read this book, you should probably know that the first quarter or so is confusing. It will all make sense in the end, but until you get further into the story, all the references to territorial wars and cadets and tactics and the secret meetings are a bit bewildering. This may be a flaw or a strength. Yes, it's irritating, but at the same time it is once again a reflection of how Taylor thinks and her nature, which is much more central to the book than the territory wars, comes across most clearly in these pages.

However, later in the book is when everything really begins to click. Marchetta skillfully weaves the mystery of the past into the narrative of the present, and when all the answers are finally revealed, they feel natural, like they should have been obvious all along. The romantic elements are realistic and sweet without being overwhelming. This book has the best kind of ending, one that leaves hope in its wake, but says the story isn't quite finished yet.

Quality: Excellent
Enjoyability: Excellent

Jellicoe Road is similar to:
If I Stay by Gayle Forman

The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

2012-02-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Broken Kingdoms
N.K. Jemisin
The Inheritance Trilogy #2
Published 2010 by Orbit

Bite-Sized Review
The Broken Kingdoms is even better than the first book, with more exciting events and characters and the wonderful voice of Oree as the narrator. A great read for anyone interested in more personal, emotional epic fantasy.

King-Sized Review
Ten years after the events of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, which are still unknown to most of the population, a dead man appears in Oree’s yard. Although he never speaks, she gives him a place in her house while she goes out to the market daily to sell her statues and carvings – unique for being the work of a blind woman. But all this is normal for Oree, until someone starts murdering godlings.

The Broken Kingdoms was faster-paced and more exciting than The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Shadow is much more vivid and alive than the Arameri upper city, Sky, that was the setting of the previous book, and it most definitely showed in the writing. The Broken Kingdoms had no long stretches where nothing happened or slow introductions to the political system, which made it much more action-packed than The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

Aside from a few really awkward transitions (which did make a little bit of sense at the end but still bothered me), Oree’s voice was completely compelling. The perspective of a blind woman was unusual, and her magic was truly fascinating, particularly because it was a secret she didn't entirely understand herself. The magic system in The Inheritance Trilogy doesn't have the carefully planned structure of that of The Wheel of Time or The Kingkiller Chronicle, but that adds a bit of mystery to the story, and there is no deus ex machina to ruin the beauty of the uncertainty.

The Inheritance Trilogy is different from your average epic fantasy in that, while its events have a huge impact on its world, the story has a much more personal feel and limited locations. There are no great quests or really much traveling at all. What changes Yeine and Oree make seem to happen almost by accident, as a byproduct of what they're actually trying to do, but in the end they always make a clear choice. This sort of style makes for an extremely absorbing read, and I'm really looking forward to the last book.

Quality: Good
Enjoyability: Excellent

The Broken Kingdoms is similar to:
Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Sunday Series Spotlight #8: Vampire Academy

2012-02-26T10:48:00.002-05:00

<a href="http://neverbakeinblack.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/katsch9/SundaySpotlightFinal.jpg" /></a>

You're welcome to share your own favorite series...es... –just grab the button and leave a link in the comments.

This week's spotlight is on Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever...

Vampire Academy was the first YA series I read after Twilight, and I was so relieved to find something with actual characters and plot. VA is exciting, touching, romantic, and action-packed. While it's certainly clear that the characters are in high school for most of the series, it isn't as angst-ridden as a lot of the YA books I've read more recently. Richelle Mead writes books that are always fun to read, and I can't wait to see what happens to the VA secondary characters next in The Golden Lily.

Have you read VA? Do you plan to? Let me know what you think in the comments!

In My Mailbox #6

2012-02-25T13:42:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, and it's an opportunity to show off all the books we've gotten!

I do my IMMs every other Saturday. Here are the books I've gotten the past two weeks. I've put myself on a book buying ban for the foreseeable future, so these were all at least technically free.

From the winning and wonderful Wendy
Wages of Sin by Jenna Maclaine
Grave Sins by Jenna Maclaine
Bound by Sin by Jenna Maclaine
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Thank you Wendy! You're so awesome!

From NetGalley
Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter
Dark Magic by James Swain
White Witch by Trish Milburn
The Moonstone Series by Marilee Brothers

Thanks to Harlequin Teen, Tor, and Bell Bridge for these books!

Free downloads from Smashwords/Amazon
The Other Slipper by Kenechi Udogu
Pride's Run by Cat Kalen

From the library
Reaper by Rachel Vincent
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent
If I Die by Rachel Vincent
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

What's in your mailbox?

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

2012-02-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Alloy of Law
Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn #4
Published 2011 by Tor

Bite-Sized Review
The Alloy of Law was fun to read and a fascinating look at the future of the Mistborn world. I definitely recommend if for fans of intricate magic systems and/or fantasy-mystery.

King-Sized Review
The Alloy of Law takes place three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy. While that seemed a bit short for the amount of technological advancement their society experienced, the setting, sort of an Old West reflection, was new and interesting. Fantasy books tend to be set either in ancient history or Middle Ages equivalents or in some re-imagining of the modern world. If The Alloy of Law's setting were in our history, technologically I'd put it at somewhere around the early twentieth century, mainly because of the advent of trains and electric lights, which is unusual and allows for some interesting mixes of technology and Allomancy and Ferurchemy, the metal-based magics of the Mistborn world.

The story begins when Wax, a lawkeeper in the wild Roughs, must return to the city of Elendel to accept his place in the nobility. He almost succeeds in putting aside his past, and is even tentatively betrothed, when he finds himself involved in trying to stop the schemings of an unusually skilled robber band. With the help of his old friend Wayne, a con artist and kleptomaniac, and his fiancée's relative Marasi, a student of criminology, Wax must find the thieves before they can succeed in their plans.

For most of the book, I thought the plot was a bit simplistic. (There's only one thing going on? Cue gasps.) It's different from your average high fantasy in that it has a smaller scope, more like urban fantasy than epic fantasy, and while it was entertaining, I kind of wanted it to be more. And then I got to the last thirty pages or so and realized that I actually had only the smallest idea of what was really happening. I have concluded that Brandon Sanderson is a brilliant writer. There had better be more from these characters or I will be tripping over loose ends everywhere I turn.

Wayne was easily my favorite character. The way he could simply "steal" another person's accent and mode of speech was fascinating, and Wayne himself was just full of wit, particularly when mocking Wax. The lawman-turned-lord had a strong sense of duty that was occasionally slightly tiresome, but when he returned to his old ways, I was hooked. Once Wax started hunting down the Vanishers, he became a much more intriguing and likable character. Also entertaining was his complicated interest in Marasi, who was a sympathetic mix of intelligence, determination, and uncertainty.

There were mostly just tantalizing hints and tidbits of what legend made the characters of the Mistborn trilogy. The bit of a cliffhanger at the end made closing the book painful – why wasn't there more? I think I've wanted more stories from every series Sanderson has written, and The Alloy of Law was certainly no exception.

Quality: Excellent
Enjoyability: Excellent

The Alloy of Law is similar to:
Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Stars of Mythic Fantasy

2012-02-23T09:48:00.001-05:00

Stars of Mythic Fantasy

A mythic fantasy is a traditional fantasy where gods and goddesses feature heavily in the plot, particularly in regards to their role in society or their treatment of humans. Most of the time, the deities are invented by the author, though occasionally you'll find gods and goddesses from ancient cultures in alternate universes. It's not the same as mythological fantasy, which I'll do next week, so you won't see any contemporary fantasy on this list. It's a pretty short list this week, but these are all favorites of mine, and I highly recommend them!

Marion Zimmer Bradley

The Firebrand

Stand-alone

This Trojan War retelling features Kassandra, daughter of Priam. It's really quite interesting, and I managed to accidentally learn quite a bit from it, which was helpful when reading The Odyssey for school. The Firebrand is a great read, especially if you're interested in ancient Greek stories.

Trudi Canavan

Age of the Five

3 books, completed

When Auraya is chosen to become a member of the White, the five high priests and priestess, she doesn't expect the ascension to come with so many questions. Trudi Canavan is a great storyteller, and Age of the Five builds a fascinating world where nothing is as it seems. I loved the story here, and the world is brilliant.

David Eddings

The Belgariad
5 books, completed

The Belgariad is completely ridiculous, and as such is terribly fun to read. I'm not entirely certain it's a self-aware sort of absurdity, but it doesn't really matter. It has all the horribly stereotypical elements of a heroic fantasy/Bildungsroman – no really, every single one – but somehow it's all so fun that I read it again and again. The story revolves around humans fixing the gods' mistakes, sort of.

The Redemption of Althalus

Stand-alone

Althalus has to save the world from an evil god and his sorcerer minion, with the help of a cat. If you've read one Eddings book, you've pretty much read them all, but that doesn't stop them from being fun time-wasters. They're the candy of the epic fantasy world. The Redemption of Althalus is light, funny, and predictable, making it an entertaining read for a lazy day.

Jennifer Fallon

The Demon Child Trilogy
3 books, completed

Plotting, plotting, everywhere. The Demon Child trilogy features warring gods, supposedly extinct mythical races, and lots of divine interference. These books have great characters, a highly intriguing plot, lots of maneuvering on a massive scale, and a rich and fascinating world, among other positives. I've reread the series and the prequel trilogy many times, and enjoy them every time. R'shiel, Brak, and Dace are some of my favorite characters.

The Tide Lords
4 books, completed

What happens to an immortal who wants to die? That's the basic question the Tide Lords series explores, a question that happens to encompass kingdoms and even an entire world. It particularly fascinating because I wasn't sure, even at the end, whose side I was on (though I was sure whose side I wasn't on, which would have helped if there were only two sides).

N.K. Jemisin

The Inheritance Trilogy
3 books, completed

A very long time ago, there was a war between gods. This war left most of them chained in the hands of the human Arameri, who used their own powers and those of the gods to rule the world. Until Yeine came to Sky. There's so much to say about these books that I'm not sure where to start. Their history is just amazing, and they're quite different from most epic fantasy, with more personal stories with grand scope. They're really quite fantastic.

Guy Gavriel Kay

The Fionavar Tapestry

3 books, completed

The Fionavar Tapestry was the first series by Guy Gavriel Kay that I read, and I absolutely loved it. It's sort of like The Chronicles of Narnia for grown-ups, but so much more vivid and profound. I love Kay's lyrical writing style, and the world he built here is beautiful, filled with myth and legend, heroes and monsters. The Fionavar Tapestry is an amazing story that I've read over and over again.

Have you read any of these? Have any more suggestions? Let me know what you think!

Top Ten Books I'd Rescue

2012-02-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted weekly by the lovely ladies at The Broke and The Bookish.

This week's topic is supposed to be "Top Ten Books I'd Quickly Save If My House Were Going to Be Abducted by Aliens," but I think if my house were going to be abducted by aliens (can a house be abducted?), I'd stay there and meet them, as long as they weren't bent on humanity's destruction or something. Aliens! That's exciting! What kind of reader would I be if I didn't want to see how that story turned out?

So instead of abducted by aliens, I'm going with "get flooded" for this one, since I grew up in Florida and we get a lot of hurricanes. (Option 2 would have been "fall into a sinkhole.") And is it cheating if I say I'd take my Kindle?

10. Furies of Calderon and Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher

These are the first two books of the Codex Alera series, one of my favorites and lots of fun. I absolutely adore this world and it's characters. I have the rest of the books on my Kindle, but I need the first two!

9. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

I have an entire shelf dedicated to Harry Potter. I have the first book in German and Spanish as well as English, not to mention all the extra little books that have come out. I also have some books about the mythology in HP and a whole collection of newspaper clippings about the series. Yes, I spent most of my childhood obsessed with these books.

8. Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay

These books are seriously amazing. There's intrigue and betrayal and love and byzantine plotting. And also chariot races. Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favorite writers, and these books are some of his best work.

7. Medalon, Treason Keep, and Harshini by Jennifer Fallon

Another old favorite, the Second Sons trilogy is exciting and fun and one I've read many, many times. I love all Jennifer Fallon's books, but I think these are my favorites. The plot is brilliantly complex and the characters are entirely believable.

6. Sunshine by Robin McKinley

This is one of those books that I somehow manage to mention at least once a week because I love it so much. I've read it so many times that it's in danger of falling apart. Next to the cover you can see my copy between two other, much less worn Robin McKinley books. This is because Sunshine is my #1 comfort read, which is a little weird since there is so much blood, but there are also cinnamon rolls and chocolate cake, so that's pretty comforting.

5. The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

If pressed to name a single favorite book, this is the one I'd pick. It's beautiful and brilliant and the last 50 pages make me cry every single time. (And there have been quite a few times. Definitely at least four.) I love, love, love the characters and their friendships. This is such an amazing novel.

***********************************************************

All of the above books would make me sad to lose, but I could replace them without much difficulty. They're readily available in bookstores, and honestly I'd probably just get ebooks if I lost them for some reason. The next four, however, would be a lot more devastating to lose, because this is my autographed collection:

4. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

About a week after Clockwork Prince was released, I managed to go to a signing with Cassandra Clare and Michelle Hodkin, which was fun, if over-blessed with excited tweens. Fortunately I managed to grab a seat with the over-20 crowd and had a great time. I also happen to think Clockwork Prince is the best Cassie Clare book thus far, and I'd be really disappointed to lose it.

3. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Before I went to the Cassie Clare/Michelle Hodkin event, I had only vaguely heard of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, but I figured, why waste a chance to get the book signed? I'm so glad I did it; The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is absolutely enthralling and I love it.

2. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

I didn't personally go to this signing, but my friend Jen of At Random was awesome enough to send me a personalized copy of Touch of Power. Sadly, I haven't managed to read it yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to it!

1. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

I really, really love all Maggie Stiefvater's books, and if you've read her blog at all, you know it's hilarious. Well, she is even more hilarious in person. I was thrilled when she came to the bookstore right near me when The Scorpio Races was released, and she was awesome. Also, I love the book.

What books would you rescue? Leave a link in the comments!

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

2012-02-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Vanish
Sophie Jordan
Firelight #2
Published 2011 by Harper Teen

Bite-sized Review
Vanish had just the right combination of readable writing style, zero plot, and hate-able characters to be incredible entertaining to rant about. If you're going to read it, make a friend read it with you so you can vent your frustration together.

King-sized Review
In order to write this review, I had to translate my definitely-not-appropriate-for-a-review comments from reading Vanish with some friends into coherent and (semi-)professional statements. And it was not easy. Much as I wanted to like this book, because the draki are quite an interesting and original concept and Sophie Jordan's writing style makes for a quick and easy read, my utter contempt for every one of the characters ruined any chance this book had for success.

Jacinda, our incredibly selfish main character, drove me insane. She was whiny, wishy-washy, useless, needy, and every other unfortunate trait of YA heroines without any of the good qualities that might make up for it. She spent the entire book (and the last one too) wanting to be somewhere she wasn't or have something she didn't, and as soon as she got what she wanted, she started complaining again about how she wanted to be back where she was before! Somehow she just sort of stumbled into decisions and then convinced herself that they were the right choices. Then, later, she tripped into the opposite decisions and rationalized those choices. And on top of that, she treated both of the boys who loved her like crap on the bottom of her shoe. She had no sympathy or compassion or anything for Cassian no matter what he did, except, oh, when she randomly decided to make out with him.

Poor Cassian. Not that I actually liked him, but it just doesn't seem necessary for him to be so hurt by the obligatory YA paranormal love triangle. I don't like love triangles, and I especially don't like them when the heroine seems determined to be as cruel as possible to everyone involved and then act like it's not her fault. Will, Jacinda's actual True Love For Ever And Ever, was barely present in this book (which, as I alluded to earlier, meant that Jacinda moaned approximately every other page about how she wished Will were there, only she couldn't have him, only she just had to be with him, only...etc.).

Unfortunately, Jacinda wasn't the only awful character. Her mom, who was not exactly a favorite in Firelight, suddenly experienced a complete transformation into a distracted alcoholic, which was neither necessary nor helpful in any way. Tamra, who actually had the potential to be interesting, was noticeable mainly in her absence.

On top of all that, there was very little actual plot in this novel, as it served almost entirely as a bridge to cross from book 1 to book 3, which only meant more emphasis on Jacinda's whining and vacillation. The lack of real story meant that every little problem Jacinda ran into was blown way out of proportion and the blame unconvincingly laid at anyone else's feet. The plot of this book could have been mercifully fit into a much shorter story, but instead we got stuck with Vanish.

So after all that, you probably think I hated this book. Well, okay, I kind of did, but it's a fun hate. Have you ever watched a really awful movie just to make fun of how ridiculous it is? Reading Vanish was a little bit like that. I don't regret reading this book at all because I had so much fun ranting about it on GR with my friends, several of whom shared my opinion. If you read this book, I definitely recommend an outlet for the occasional frustrated rant. If you don't have an outlet, I don't think I'd recommend it, though. There's just too much irritation here to be contained by one person.

Rating: Love to hate it. Yes, I made it up just for this book.

Vanish is similar to:
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Sunday Series Spotlight #7: Kushiel's Legacy

2012-02-19T12:02:00.000-05:00

<a href="http://neverbakeinblack.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/katsch9/SundaySpotlightFinal.jpg" /></a>

You're welcome to share your own favorite series...es... –just grab the button and leave a link in the comments.

This week's spotlight is on Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey
*click the covers for links to the individual books on Goodreads*

The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission...and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.

Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair...and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.

Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart-a massive tale about the violent death of an old age, and the birth of a new.

When I first saw this book, I was kind of hesitant to read it, mostly because it sounded like it was filled with kinky sex. Which, okay, it kind of has a lot of, but it actually has an amazing plot and spectacular characters, and it's really really good. Phèdre in particular is complex, fascinating, and a wonderful narrator – unlike most epic fantasy, these books are told in first person and it works perfectly. And the storyline...amazing. There is intrigue and war and intrigue and treachery and did I mention intrigue? This series is absolutely brilliant, and I highly recommend you give it a try.

The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke

2012-02-18T13:11:00.001-05:00

The Last Stormlord
Glenda Larke
Watergivers #1
Published

Bite-sized Review
The Last Stormlord was surprisingly good. I had skimmed a couple of less-than-stellar reviews of it before reading it, but I actually enjoyed it very much and found the setting different enough to make the standard issue plot interesting.

King-sized Review
This book, the first of the epic fantasy trilogy Watergivers, takes place in a realm where water is scarce and must be carefully rationed for survival. In this world, the ruling stormlords bring rain to their people – at least they did. But now the last stormlord is weakening in his old age, and there is no one to take his place. The main characters, Shale and Terelle, each have their own unique abilities that could prove the salvation of their world – or its downfall.

First of all, I really enjoyed this book. I found myself quickly attached to the characters, sympathizing with them in their trials (and there were quite a few of those). I do wish the book had stayed more focused on Shale and Terelle's stories rather than adding in the perspectives of a few secondary characters, because those characters' perspectives actually lessened my sympathy for them.

I loved how well integrated the environment, the political system, and the manifestations of magic were. All of it fit together as though the Quartern really existed, which is more complex than it sounds. Glenda Larke does an excellent job here of creating a detailed, believable world.

The storytelling was, for the most part, just as smooth. As I said, I wasn't a fan of the additional secondary characters' perspectives, but the book as a whole was enthralling and well-paced. Skipping a few months or years here and there worked very well to move the story along to more important scenes without skipping anything crucial or becoming disjointed.

The only real issue I had with this book was its leaders. I found it difficult to believe that the people who ruled the diverse, vibrant cultures The Last Stormlord so vividly painted could be so incompetent. They were really just blind, naive, and kind of dumb for most of the book. There was no good reason that a self-educated teenage boy should be better able to discern plots and plans than leaders with years or decades of experience. However, this was only really an issue in a few scenes, so it didn't detract too much from the overall excellence of the book.

Quality: Good
Enjoyability: Excellent

The Last Stormlord is similar to:
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Medalon by Jennifer Fallon
Priestess of the White by Trudi Canavan

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

2012-02-17T20:36:00.000-05:00

My Soul to Save
Rachel Vincent
Soul Screamers #2
Published 2009 by Harlequin Teen

Bite-sized Review
My Soul to Save wasn't quite as great as My Soul to Take, but with an increasingly interesting world and lovable characters, was still leagues better than lots of other YA supernatural tales.

King-sized Review
In My Soul to Save, the second installment of the exciting Soul Screamers series, Kaylee must once again investigate a supernatural danger – this time threatening actors' and singers' souls.

My Soul to Save, while not quite as compelling as My Soul to Take, nevertheless shared the previous book's irresistable tug into its pages. Rachel Vincent's writing is simply spellbinding; no matter what I read from her, like it or not, I don't want to put it down until long after turning the last page.

Some of the suspense in My Soul to Take that related to Kaylee not knowing her heritage was naturally missing from its sequel, and the plot did seem fairly similar. Kaylee again takes responsibility for others' welfare, and while that's admirable, I do wish this crisis related a little more closely to her personally. Yes, it is most definitely a pleasure to read about a teenage heroine who cares about something beyond herself and her boyfriend, and I definitely want this trend to continue, but stories are more emotional when they're told from the perspective of whomever they're happening to. In this case, I didn't feel as invested in the story with the "friend of a friend" connection.

However, seeing more of reaper Tod was definitely a perk. Tod's personality is quite different from his brother's, along with anyone else's. Learning more about reapers and the Netherworld gave the story a little more depth than the last book. There's a lot more to this world than bean sidhe and reapers, and I'm enjoying finding out new things here.

Quality: Good
Enjoyability: Excellent

My Soul to Save is similar to:
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Giveaway Winner!

2012-02-16T11:32:00.000-05:00

The winner of the signed copy of City of Ashes from my 150 followers giveaway is...

Nicola! She has already responded to my email, so I'll be sending her the book soon. Thank you all so much for participating, and hopefully I'll be able to do another one sometime! I look forward to seeing lots of new faces around here!