Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: It was a free audiobook download from Random House Audio last summer.

Summary from Goodreads:

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they’re all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn’t got the magic touch, so he’s an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He’s noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

Review

I downloaded this on a whim last summer. Random House was offering it as a free download so I grabbed it. I loved that the  curse workers were a known part of society. That’s a big change from the fantasy books I normally read. Normally the “creatures” (for lack of a better word) are hidden within society. They do everything in their power to make sure their lives stay secret.  White Cat lets the workers be a part of the everyday world. Sure, there is segregation and fear surrounding the workers but people still know about them. I would love to see that idea implemented in more fantasy books.

The curse working aspect was really fun. A simple touch can lead to good luck, changing of your memories, or even death? As a reader, I was definitely fascinated by it and how everything worked. There is some explanation for how some of the mechanics of it work but not enough for me. Maybe it’s explained more in the rest of the series? I may have missed it since I was listening to it rather than reading it.

The story was pretty good. Everything was so mysterious. You never knew what was going to happen. I’m a total sucker for mysteries , lies, and secrets so I was hooked. Cassel was a decent character. It’s weird. I think if I had read the book I would have only liked him a bit. He’s a developed character, I could understand him, and he was likeable but there were no sparks. I thought Jesse Eisenberg did a really good job with the book so I ended up liking Cassel more. I think hearing him made him feel like a real person. Thumbs up to you Jesse! I wasn’t too wild about the other characters. For the most part many of them are pretty slimy so I suppose they aren’t supposed to be likable.

Like I said before, Eisenberg did a great job with the audiobook. I liked his voice for the story. For me personally, audiobooks aren’t the best choice for fantasy books though. Fantasy books have lots of details about the hows and whys of that world. I have a harder time understanding and comprehending the book if I’m listening rather than reading about it. Then there’s the fact that I spent over a month listening to this book. I definitely had a hard time remembering things.

The bottom line? I liked it well enough. It’s a bit different than my normal fantasy books. I’ll probably pick up book 2 in the future.

I’ve got a reviews for “White Cat” by Holly Black and “The Mysterious Howling” by Maryrose Wood scheduled for this week. I’m going to show off another book discover for Hidden in the Shelves. Oh! I finally got around to writing another Listed feature. Those are always fun. A new month will be here so I’m going to post the BHA discussion post for Ender’s Game on Friday. I’ve got another post going up on Saturday on YA Indie. It’s a random catch all post about book blogs. I’ll probably post May’s round up on Saturday as well.

Books Acquired

None!

Reading Plans

I’m working on The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle at the moment. I’m liking it okay. I like the quick, witty dialogue. I’m not totally hooked on the story but it’s enjoyable enough.

I’m also reading The Borrowers by Mary Norton. It’s a pretty simple story but I’m enjoying it.

Since this week will be a bit weird I don’t want to start anything that needs a ton of attention to read it. If I finish one/both of those books I’ll maybe pick up Cloacked in Red by Vivian Vande Velde since it’s a collection of story stories or maybe Wool 2: Proper Gauge by Hugh Howey since it’s a novella.

If I can find any time on Friday I’d like to start Ender’s Game but more than likely it will have to wait until next week.

What books did you get last week? Any plans for this week?

I desperately need ideas!

This week: Here’s the second part of the Gateway books discussion. This week I want us to help each other out.

There are 2 ways you can participate.

The first way is asking for gateway books. In your comment, tell us about what books, authors, etc you want to try reading. (Examples: “I’d love to read more Agatha Christie books but I don’t know where to start!” or “I’m trying to read more dystopian books. What do you suggest I try reading?”) Go nuts! Ask for as much help as you want.

The second way is suggesting books to people. Read through the comments of others looking for help. If you’re able to suggest books, please do! I probably won’t be able to help with everything so every little bit can help. (Example: “The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness are my favorite dystopian books. That would be good starting place for you.”)

I’d like to read more historical fiction. Ideally Young Adult or Middle Grade books. I really enjoy Ancient Greece and Rome but am open to other time periods. Any book or author suggestions?

Here are some authors I’d like to try but I have no idea where to go: Eva Ibbotson, Diana Wynne Jones, Robin McKinley.

Your turn!

Genre: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy

Source: Gift

Other books: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Summary from Goodreads:

Now that Charlie has won the chocolate factory, what’s next? Even wilder adventures, that’s what! Join him, Grandpa Joe, and, of course, Willy Wonka for the amazing, intergalactic sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Review

This book takes off right where the Chocolate Factory left us. This should be fun and exciting. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a delightful, fun adventure so continuing the story would be even better! Errr.. not quite.

The Glass Elevator’s biggest misstep is it tries to do a very different story. Suddenly we’re in space and the US government thinks they’re aliens. It just doesn’t work for me at all. The entire space part of the story was really bizarre. There was no build up. It didn’t feel like the first book so I couldn’t get into it. Not to mention it tried to be very fantastical and just went too far.

The second half of the story was a bit better since they go back to familiar territory (the chocolate factory). This half definitely felt more like the first book, which I appreciated. The only problem was it felt like a completely different book compared to the space part of the story. It literally felt like they were two different stories weirdly melded together.

There’s not a ton of character development. It was interesting to see that Charlie’s grandparents were depicted as a little bit horrible since the reader was a bit fond of them in the other book. If you remember in Charlie and Chocolate Factory, the children were horrible, spoiled brats. They did what they wanted to and the bad things that happened to them were because they chose not to listen to Mr. Wonka. Charlie’s grandparents do the exact same thing. Lo and behold they’re in big trouble.

The bottom line? Definitely my least favorite Dahl book I’ve read so far.

This book was read as part of my Roald Dahl Challenge.

Feel free to join in and relive the magic of his books.

When her parents die, teenager Gail Dorjee retreats into an angry, sarcastic shell. She hopes it will ease her pain, but all it gets her is a one-way trip from Kansas to a Seattle boarding school, the elite Osland Academy.

As soon as she arrives, Gail clashes with Diana, the leader of the school’s most powerful clique. The Winged make Gail’s life hell until she find allies: her airhead roommate; a cowardly fellow victim of the Winged; and, bit by bit, Diana’s boyfriend–the seemingly heartless Nick.

Gail soon has bigger problems than Diana. One of her teachers hates her. Glasses shatter and fountains erupt around her. She can’t swear no matter how hard she tries. An unseen force is keeping her on campus. And worst of all, she uncovers a plot that will give one person a precious gift at the cost of thousands of lives. Now Gail and her friends must stop the plot–not just to save lives, but to win a brain, the nerve, a heart and a home in this modern urban fantasy take on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Wrecked by Elle Casey [Free]

Savage Cinderella by PJ Sharon [Free]

Genre: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy

Source: Gift

Other books: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Summary from Goodreads:

The gates of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory are opening at last . . . and only five children will be allowed inside.

Review

Yes, yes, yes. This is exactly why I love kid’s books. Charlie is an incredibly relatable character. You feel his struggles. Not everyone is able to relate to being as poor as the Buckets but Charlie’s anger and frustration about other “undeserving” kids getting the golden tickets is spot on. I know I was angry about it. Dahl was able to paint those children as perfect spoiled brats.

I was surprised at how magical the factory was because I am an adult. What appeals to children doesn’t necessarily appeal to adults. I think I was just in as much awe as I would have been had I read this at 8 or 9 years old. My eyes widened and I started drooling at the descriptions of all the candy. I was definitely a bit disappointed when I came back to reality and remembered that the candies described don’t actually exist. Very sad day.

The story is a bit quirky. Willy Wonka is really out there but he’s not as off putting as Wilder and Depp’s versions of him are. It’s weird and a bit bizarre but somehow I found it all to be pretty charming. I was happy and content with the story.

The bottom line? It’s an absolute classic of children’s literature. Highly recommended.

This book was read as part of my Roald Dahl Challenge.

Feel free to join in and relive the magic of his books.

This was read as part of Book Hoarders Anonymous.

Stop by and chat with us about the book!

The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma

Set in Victorian London with characters real and imagined, The Map of Time boasts a triple play of intertwined plots in which a skeptical H.G. Wells is called upon to investigate purported incidents of time travel and to save lives and literary classics, including Dracula and The Time Machine, from being wiped from existence.

What happens if we change history? The author explores this question in the novel, weaving an historical fantasy as imaginative as it is exciting—a story full of love and adventure that transports readers to a haunting setting in Victorian London for their own taste of time travel.

Thanks Goodreads for the summary. The cover was what caught my eye. It was so shiny and cool looking! I’m not completely sold on the summary so I’ll just be content to drool over the cover.

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy

Source: The Author [Thank you!]

Summary from Goodreads:

Imagine you’re 12 years old and you always dream of greater things. Then imagine that you discover a way to pass through time to a place that you have only ever seen in books and movies.

All is not well in Ancient Egypt and heroes are needed. The peace is set to be shattered by an evil God and a magical amulet is the key to his evil plan. It’s the only thing that stands in his way. JJ Sterling and his friends Linc and Rani are thrust back in time to Ancient Egypt on a daring quest to save history. Back to a time full of action, adventure, mystery and danger – where statues are alive!

In this amazing race against time the three heroes from the future embark on a desperate quest full of deadly challenges with danger every step of the way. Will they escape the nasty Uberdiles that pursue and try to stop them?

Review

The Golden Scarab stands up decently against the other action adventure books out there. You’ve got quests, myths that turn out to be true, and danger. What else could you want? I thought it was interesting that the author took a different style of narration. Many MG books tend to have a  juvenile narrator. There’s nothing wrong with that but it can be a bit off if the author isn’t quite able to capture the right voice. In The Golden Scarab, the author chose to avoid the juvenile narrator route. Instead he treats the reader like an adult. He doesn’t talk down to them but instead treats them as an equal. It’s hard to find that in books.

There was lots of good information about ancient Egypt in the book. I don’t know a ton about Egypt but it seems to me that the author did his research and presents the information in an easy to read and true way. He doesn’t take the Percy Jackson route and twist mythology around to make it easy to understand.

Sadly I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. It’s no fault of the author though. It did have some action, mystery, and a bit of history, all of which I love. I had the same problem with this book as I did with The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. For whatever reason Egypt mythology don’t hold my interest at all.  Because the Egypt stuff didn’t stick with me, I couldn’t completely “click” with the story or the characters.

The bottom line? It’s a fun story. Recommended for fans of the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan!

This week you can look forward to reviews of:  Quest One: The Golden Scarab by S.W. Lothian, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl. I also have another Hidden in the Shelves post scheduled. Saturday we’ll have part 2 of the gateway book discussion. I’d like us to help each other with gateway books. I’m pretty excited. It’s going to be fun if I can get some people to participate.

Books Acquired

Smart Mouth Waitress by Dalya Moon (Kindle freebie)

Wool Omnibus Edition (Wool 1 – 5) by Hugh Howey (Bought; There’s a bunch of buzz surrounding this book. I decided to see what everyone was talking about. I’ve already finished book 1.)

Reading Plans

I’m currently reading Practice Cake by Dalya Moon. I’m not too into romantic comedies but this one is pretty fun and funny.

After that, I don’t know. I should read Night of the Soul Stealer (Last Apprentice book #3) by Joesph Delaney since I haven’t read one of those books in a while. I also really should read The Hound of the Baskervilles since I’ve had it for almost a year now.

I have another post up on YA Indie today. Today’s topic is social media. I talk a bit about sites I as a reader (and a blogger) would like to see  authors on and connect with authors on.

Stop by and leave your thoughts! I’d love to hear them.  Don’t be afraid to share your opinions. They can be very helpful to the authors that stumble across the site.