In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.
On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves from April at Sim~Sational~Books (actually won this a couple of weeks ago but finally checked my email and got around to downloading it :P) Cloaked by Alex Flinn from a HarperTeen Twitter giveaway
So, so, so excited to read both Destined and Spell Bound. Both are the conclusions of two series that I've adored. Haven't heard much buzz on Destined yet, but I've read some very mixed reviews of Spell Bound. I'm crossing my fingers that I'm not disappointed. If you've read any of these, what did you think?
As always, share the goodies you found in your mailbox this week in the comments below. I can't wait to be jealous of your haul! :D
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?
I loved this book soooooo much, and I almost thought I wasn’t going to get to read it until it was released. (I have a bit of an impatient streak, and so I might have cried myself to sleep, had that been the case.) I think I requested a copy every way possible, and being a somewhat green-behind-the-ears blogger, I assumed I WOULD have to wait. But lo and behold, I actually ended up with my very own ARC, thanks to @HMHKids, and I could have kissed their feet for their generosity.
You see, this is EXACTLY the kind of book I fall in love with. The kind that stays with me for days, weeks, even months later, begging to be re-read and discussed, shelved and re-shelved. It is YA historical fiction. It is romance. It is action-packed. It is everything I had hoped it would be and more.
I can’t imagine not loving a book about assassin nuns. Honestly, can you? There is no easing into this story. From the very first page, you are thrust immediately into Ismae’s story, meant to feel as she feels, see as she sees. It’s disconcerting at first, but wow, does that first chapter pack a punch! And then Ismae is propelled into a world she’d only heard stories of. She is now a daughter of Death and must be at Death’s beck and call. This new life not only opens her eyes but her heart, as well.
Ismae is conniving, quick-witted, and if you’re smart, she is to be feared. She knows all manners of killing, and you’re as likely to face her poison as her knives. This young woman is a trained assassin, and she is VERY proficient at the tasks set before her by Death himself, or at least by his emissaries. After the upbringing Ismae suffered, and the future she was sure to endure, this new path seems fitting. And yet, Ismae’s heart is not cold. She still manages to develop friendships with the other girls training at the monastery before she is sent out on her mission.
The love story…it’s the kind I adore. They hate each other. They work together toward a common goal. Someone saves the other’s life. You totally saw it coming, but it seemed like the characters didn’t, and then BAM! They came together and somehow, they had both known, without truly knowing the other’s feelings. I just love it when a romance works out that way. Yes, they held each other at arm’s length forever, but there were hints. And it was enough.
Coming in at 549 pages, this book is long by normal YA standards. But it never felt long. I read it in four days, but had there been no interruptions—like sleep, work and eating—I would have read it straight through. (And people might have found me a little more pleasant. I loathe the waiting to get back to a book I’m thoroughly enjoying, and people can sense this, even if they don’t know why.)
So, in case you didn’t catch it the first time, I LOVED this novel. I’m excited for the second in the series, although the synopsis makes it seem as if it is told from the point-of-view of one of Ismae’s friends from the monastery. Not that I didn’t like that character, but I fell hard for Ismae and Duval, and I’m not sure I’m ready for their story to be over. I don’t hate companion novels, but I never love them as much as the first installment. But for Ismae’s sake—and her fellow maidens of Death—I’ll definitely give it a try.
After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close...
But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.
So, as per my recent promise to myself, I didn’t read the synopsis of Spellcaster, though having read the first novel, Spellbound, when it came out last year, I had a general idea what it was about. I liked Spellbound well enough that I wanted to continue the series…or at least I thought I did.
I found Shultz’s sophomore novel to be rather tedious and terribly predictable. I had planned to have it finished before the release date, but other books called to me in the interim in a way that this novel simply didn’t. When considering the premise of Spellcaster, and the series as a whole, it should make for an entertaining story, but I was never drawn into it. I thought there would be witchcraft aplenty and we’d follow Emma and Angelique as they studied spells together and put them to use. Instead, it was almost a repeat of the first novel, with the bad guy trying to rip Emma and Brendan apart again, partly because of jealousy and partly due to a homicidal rage not often found in your average prep school teenager.
Once again, I’m left feeling that the author has a character generator that delivers up stock characters, and she simply added a few of her own touches in order to call them her own. I felt this way about the main characters and supporting cast in the last novel, but I had hoped that they would be more developed in this latest installment. The dialogue didn’t get any better either. It’s horribly immature and though the setting of the story is New York, the dialogue read as if I were hearing a conversation between two girls from “the Valley”.
The second half of the book was better than the first as the characters delved a little further into practicing witchcraft as they tried to figure out who was trying to harm Emma and how they could stop this nefarious person. But between the obvious plotline and the odd switch in POV – from Emma to Angelique for two chapters out of 19 – the second half simply couldn’t redeem the novel.
The only thing I really enjoyed about this book was the love story. There’s no love triangle. There’s no intense guy who’s pushing the girl he loves away in order to protect her. Just two reincarnated soul-mates who find each other in every life, only for the girl to die once they fall in love. But they’ve broken that curse and can now love each other freely. And they do. It’s sweet and innocent and even though it’s the second novel and they’ve been through hell together, he’s not pushing her to take their relationship further, though he’s been around the block a few times. Simply put, it’s refreshing.
I wanted to love this book. I’ll settle for not hating it. And for being able to say that I actually finished without throwing my Nook across the room. (Thank goodness!) I'm not sure if there are going to be any more books in this series. I'm also not sure that if there were, I'd continue the series myself. The story is interesting enough, I suppose, but I feel comfortable with the way that this book ended, so I wouldn't be put out if I didn't read it any further. And that's saying a lot because I really hate to start something that I'm not going to finish, especially books or series of books.
Title: Dearly, Departed Author: Lia Habel Series: Gone With the Respiration Publisher: Del Rey Publication Date: October 18, 2011 Source: purchased - Christmas present from my BBS
Love can never die.
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?
The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.
But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.
In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.
I love zombies. I love romance. So, offering me up a zomance (can we PLEASE coin this term?) is like offering a fat kid cake…I couldn’t say no. Not that I would have wanted to. Add to that the steampunk elements and the fact that my book soul-mate bought this novel for me as a Christmas present, and I am SOLD.
I liked that I was able to read in my English accent starting off, but that ability gradually fell away after Nora was abducted, as did all other decorum. Prior to the abduction, the setting was a new-Victorian era establishment, where the residents had decided that times were better, more civilized during the Victorian time period, and after the collapse of everything they knew, they adopted the etiquette and policies of that particular era, when it was clear that some type of order was necessary. While the Victorian theme died away of its own accord – though it does rear its head again later – the steampunk aspects continued to present themselves, by way of zeppelins and motorized carriages, etc.
The world-building in Dearly, Departed, was for the most part, pretty impressive. Habel has combined several genres in this one 467-page book and makes it seem almost effortless. It isn’t a romance parading itself around in corsets in order to consider itself historical fiction, nor is it a paranormal thriller that tries to distract you with automatons or any manner of futuristic, steampunk components. Dearly, Departed is any one of those things at any given time, and it is not ashamed of that fact, nor should it be.
Something I did have difficulty with, at least in the beginning, was the sheer number of POVs in this novel. It would be one thing to switch between the main character and her zombie love interest. But by the end, I believe I counted five, yes FIVE, differing points-of-view. It did grow tiresome at times and seemed rather unnecessary at others, but in the end, it did add something to the story to read all five characters’ versions of the events. Though it would have made the story more interesting and less easy to dissect had there been fewer viewpoints to point everything out.
This book is about zombies. I know, most people love ‘em or hate ‘em. I fall into that first category. I like them gross and disgusting and chasing after our heroine, as in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. But I also love their softer side, the one where they try to grow a conscience again, like R in Warm Bodies. Fortunately for me, Dearly, Departed has BOTH kinds of zombies. Apparently, in the very beginning of zombie-ism, before the Laz takes full effect, you’re faced with a choice. Eat brains or simply try to survive with your new disease without feasting on the flesh of your fellow man. Oh, you’re still going to look gross once infected, but there are options for you if you decide to shy away from the human all-you-can-eat buffet that is New Victoria.
I loved this book. I found the story highly entertaining, and I enjoyed that zombie-ism and its derivation and resulting aftermath are almost immediately disclosed to Nora, that she’s not yet another clueless heroine, as in so many other YA novels. She knows what she’s getting into, and though she has some reservations at first, she becomes pretty accepting of her situation, all things considered. And I love that this acceptance ultimately leads to her romantic feelings for Bram and vice versa. She’s a girl. He’s a zombie. They know they have limited time together because of this. And still they move head-first into a star-crossed zomance. (That is so going to catch on, I’m telling you…)
Dearly, Departed was so many things. It asks for some suspension of belief, but what it’s lacking in believability, it makes up for in heart. This novel was fun and light-hearted, but it was also action-packed and showed just how easily a man could be corrupted. I think it’s got something for everyone, but I think my fellow zombie aficionados will definitely enjoy it.
Rating:
This review was originally posted/hosted by the lovely Michele at A Belle's Tales. Big thanks to Michele first for gifting me this amazing book and also for allowing me to review it on her blog!
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.
Title: Black Heart Author: Holly Black Series: Curse Workers Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry, an imprint of Simon Schuster Publication Date: April 3, 2012 Source:Southern Book Bloggers ARC tour
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.
But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.
I read the first two books in the Curse Workers series on my Nook, but when Random House offered up the audiobook for White Cat for free last year, I couldn’t pass it up. And I loved it. But while I was reading Black Heart, the final (*sniff*) book in the series, I couldn’t help but hear Jesse Eisenberg as Cassel Sharpe in my head. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Honestly, it’s probably more of a reason for you to listen to the audio yourself. ;0) Eisenberg really added a layer of nerdy hotness to the character of Cassel, and after hearing the audio, I saw this character in a whole new light.
Black Heart got off to a bit of a slow start for me, but once those two brothers were back to their conning, manipulative ways, I was back on board. Even though there’s still some animosity between Cassel and Barron because of the events that transpired in Red Glove, they’re still up to their old tricks, and I loved it. I loved seeing them working together again, even if they are both overly suspicious of each other.
I also adore Cassel. He is so self-deprecating and hard on himself, and you just can’t help but hope that he gets his happy ending after all. He may not be taking bets from his classmates at prep school anymore, but he’s definitely still playing the game. He’s just out to catch much bigger fish in this book.
The world of the curse workers is still dark and criminal and, well, creepy, and there is still so much Cassel has to learn, especially with Lila’s mob boss father courting him and his alliance with the Licensed Minority Division. But Cassel’s not stupid. He knows that both sides of the law want him for one thing: the unique nature of the curses he can work. Now he just has to decide which side is the right one for him.
The open-endedness of the novel was perfect and left me wondering if Black might consider writing more to the series one day, but I won’t hold my breath. Even with the hints she dropped, and some of the twists she threw into the story, and even considering the things she left unresolved, I still feel like this book was the best possible way to end this series.
Here’s a quote from p. 179 of the ARC – subject to change, as is the nature with ARCs – that I think just about sums up Cassel. It’s a conversation between Cassel and Daneca, one of his school chums:
“Maybe it’d help if I put my cards on the table. Tell me what Barron said, and I’ll tell you the honest truth. This is a one time offer.”
“Because tomorrow you’ll go back to lying?” she asks.
“I don’t know what I’ll do tomorrow. That’s the problem.” Which is one of the truest things I have ever said.
Rating:
And now a short trailer for your viewing pleasure:
And now here's the part where I get to gripe about the cover makeover the series underwent between books two and three. I liked the old covers better. The End. :0)
Title: Goddess Interrupted Author: Aimee Carter Series: Goddess Test Publisher: HarlequinTeen Publication Date: March 27, 2012 Source: Netgalley
Kate Winters has won immortality.
But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.
Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.
As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.
Henry’s first wife, Persephone.
I loved The Goddess Test, the first book in this series. So much so that I speed-read it and didn’t take a single note, and I never even wrote a review for it. The shame! I may go back one day and re-read it and review it properly, but for now, just know I adored the mix of mythology and romance and everything else about it…especially the yummy Henry.
Goddess Interrupted, however, left me scratching my head at times and completely freaking out at others. A whole summer has passed, with Kate and James in Greece while Henry continues with his Underworld duties at home. So, you’d think it natural to expect some romance and canoodling upon Kate’s return, right? Guess again. The bad guys have other plans for Kate, and so almost from the first page, Kate is thrust once more into the action, betrayal, and sacrifice that is the Underworld.
Speaking of betrayal, I’m not usually an advocate for love triangles, but I really like how Aimee Carter handled not one but two potential love triangles in this book: the Kate – Henry – Persephone triangle and the Henry – Kate – James triangle. Yes, Kate has earned immortality and is now married to Henry. But if you’ve read the synopsis, you already know that Persephone will make an appearance in Goddess Interrupted, and if you read The Goddess Test, you already know that Henry will probably always carry a torch for her. He may have married Kate, but it’s hard to let go of your first love. And then we have James. Clever, funny, too-caring James. I think it was pretty obvious in The Goddess Test that he had fallen for Kate. Well, after a summer together, it’s even more obvious that he’s in love with her. And no matter how much he would like for her not to return to Henry at summer’s end, Kate has already made her choice…hasn’t she?
I admire the fact that the author included her heroine’s love interest as the focal point of one of the love triangles. Usually it’s our protagonist who has to deal with two suitors, and true, that is the case in this novel, but the issue at the heart of the main triangle is whether Henry’s newfound love for Kate can ever overcome what he once felt for Persephone.
The characters definitely kept things interesting, as did the bad guys. What does it mean when an author can write such an awesome nemesis that he can become just as enchanting as the love interest? It must mean that Carter writes excellent characters because at times, I found myself liking not only Persephone (gasp!) but also Cronus, the King of the Titans and enemy to the gods of Olympus. I love how developed the characters are in this series, but I do have to admit that this second installment was lacking a little on the mythology-side. We got a heavy dose of it in The Goddess Test, but it was less prevalent in this book, much to my disappointment. The mythology was one of the elements I loved best in the first book.
I really enjoyed Goddess Interrupted, just not as much as The Goddess Test. Of course I missed the mythology aspect, but I also felt that Kate was too trusting and showed less strength of character than she did in the first novel. And the occasional sweet moments between Kate and Henry seemed almost non-existent, as well. I’m sure that will all change after the cliffhanger we’re left with at the end of the novel, though. The last third of the book really picked up and set the pace for the next book, inevitably leaving me wanting more. (And, yes, the irony of coveting the next book in the series when the one being reviewed hasn’t even been released yet is not entirely lost on me.)
So, to summarize: action? Check. Romance? Check. Cliffhanger and story that will leave you wishing for the next book? BIG FAT CHECK. I’d definitely recommend this book – and the series – to anyone who loves a well-written story with a little romance and a side of mythology.
Rating:
Also, don't forget to check out The Goddess Hunt, the novella set during the summer between The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted. You can get it from your ebook retailer for $1.29: Amazon | Barnes & Noble.
I couldn't find a trailer for Goddess Interrupted, but while I was searching, I ran across my friend April's (of Sim~Sational~Books) Sims trailer for the first book. Behold the awesomeness:
Okay, guys, so this isn't the easiest thing for me to do, but it needs to be done. I know my husband is tired of adding shelves in my office, and truth be told, there's not really any room to add any more. I've expanded as much as I can. So, if I want to add any more books to my collection, I have to weed some out. Sad, but true. Otherwise, every book I read from now on has to be an ebook. And as much as I love my Nook, I still love the smell of a real book, the feel of turning real pages, and the sense of accomplishment when you shut a book at the end and sigh that final sigh of contentment. Or, as in some cases, throw the book across the room and scream in frustration. Either one doesn't work well if you're reading an ebook.
So, I'm clearing off some shelves to make way for more books. And you guys will reap the benefits. Not a bad deal, huh? I debated and debated how to separate the books for this giveaway. There are nineteen books in this giveaway, afterall:
Do I do three boxes of books, approximately six in each one? Or, since the majority of what I'm clearing out is vampire-related, do I do a vampire box and an other box? In the end, I succumbed to my practical mind and decided that shipping two boxes was plenty, so here are your choices:
The VAMPIRE box:
And the EVERYTHING-BUT-THE-KITCHEN-SINK box:
With the VAMPIRE box, I got a little over-zealous with my book-buying when I first got back into the whole reading thing, when I was pregnant with my daughter. So, I caught a few clearance items at Borders and, even though I hadn't read all of the previous books in a series, I imagined I would, so I bought the clearance books, regardless of the fact that they were books 5 or 7 in a series that I hadn't started or had barely begun at the time. I have since discovered that I either don't have time to start the series or I just can't fathom finishing the series because of the books I have read. Make of that what you will, but regardless, this bodes well for your bookshelf, should you win.
The EVERYTHING-BUT-THE-KITCHEN-SINK box is more ecclectic in taste. There are a couple of ARCs in there, though the finished copies are already out in the wild. There are also some books that were given to me, but that I never had any intention of reading. But I think that there's a little something for everyone in this box. And who knows? I may even add a couple more books to it. I'm feeling generous this week. :)
Enter to win one or the other or both. Makes no difference to me. But the same person will not win both boxes. And without further ado:
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.
For Review:
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth, from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via Netgalley Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via Netgalley Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne, from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via Netgalley
Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein, thanks to the awesome Michele at A Belle's Tales -- this was part of her and Katertot's awesome package of presents to my Katiebug for her 4th birthday...we love you both SOOOO much!!! :D
So, what was waiting for you this week in your mailbox??
I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
In My Mailbox #25
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.
For Review:
Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen from HarlequinTeen
Destined (Wings #4) by Aprilynne Pike from Harper Teen
On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves from April at Sim~Sational~Books (actually won this a couple of weeks ago but finally checked my email and got around to downloading it :P)
Cloaked by Alex Flinn from a HarperTeen Twitter giveaway
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
So, so, so excited to read both Destined and Spell Bound. Both are the conclusions of two series that I've adored. Haven't heard much buzz on Destined yet, but I've read some very mixed reviews of Spell Bound. I'm crossing my fingers that I'm not disappointed. If you've read any of these, what did you think?
As always, share the goodies you found in your mailbox this week in the comments below. I can't wait to be jealous of your haul! :D
Friday, March 30, 2012
Review: Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers
Author: R.L. LaFevers/Robin LaFevers
Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?
I loved this book soooooo much, and I almost thought I wasn’t going to get to read it until it was released. (I have a bit of an impatient streak, and so I might have cried myself to sleep, had that been the case.) I think I requested a copy every way possible, and being a somewhat green-behind-the-ears blogger, I assumed I WOULD have to wait. But lo and behold, I actually ended up with my very own ARC, thanks to @HMHKids, and I could have kissed their feet for their generosity.
You see, this is EXACTLY the kind of book I fall in love with. The kind that stays with me for days, weeks, even months later, begging to be re-read and discussed, shelved and re-shelved. It is YA historical fiction. It is romance. It is action-packed. It is everything I had hoped it would be and more.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Review: Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz
So, as per my recent promise to myself, I didn’t read the synopsis of Spellcaster, though having read the first novel, Spellbound, when it came out last year, I had a general idea what it was about. I liked Spellbound well enough that I wanted to continue the series…or at least I thought I did.
I found Shultz’s sophomore novel to be rather tedious and terribly predictable. I had planned to have it finished before the release date, but other books called to me in the interim in a way that this novel simply didn’t. When considering the premise of Spellcaster, and the series as a whole, it should make for an entertaining story, but I was never drawn into it. I thought there would be witchcraft aplenty and we’d follow Emma and Angelique as they studied spells together and put them to use. Instead, it was almost a repeat of the first novel, with the bad guy trying to rip Emma and Brendan apart again, partly because of jealousy and partly due to a homicidal rage not often found in your average prep school teenager.
The second half of the book was better than the first as the characters delved a little further into practicing witchcraft as they tried to figure out who was trying to harm Emma and how they could stop this nefarious person. But between the obvious plotline and the odd switch in POV – from Emma to Angelique for two chapters out of 19 – the second half simply couldn’t redeem the novel.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Review: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Author: Lia Habel
Series: Gone With the Respiration
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: October 18, 2011
Source: purchased - Christmas present from my BBS
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?
The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.
But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.
In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.
I love zombies. I love romance. So, offering me up a zomance (can we PLEASE coin this term?) is like offering a fat kid cake…I couldn’t say no. Not that I would have wanted to. Add to that the steampunk elements and the fact that my book soul-mate bought this novel for me as a Christmas present, and I am SOLD.
I liked that I was able to read in my English accent starting off, but that ability gradually fell away after Nora was abducted, as did all other decorum. Prior to the abduction, the setting was a new-Victorian era establishment, where the residents had decided that times were better, more civilized during the Victorian time period, and after the collapse of everything they knew, they adopted the etiquette and policies of that particular era, when it was clear that some type of order was necessary. While the Victorian theme died away of its own accord – though it does rear its head again later – the steampunk aspects continued to present themselves, by way of zeppelins and motorized carriages, etc.
The world-building in Dearly, Departed, was for the most part, pretty impressive. Habel has combined several genres in this one 467-page book and makes it seem almost effortless. It isn’t a romance parading itself around in corsets in order to consider itself historical fiction, nor is it a paranormal thriller that tries to distract you with automatons or any manner of futuristic, steampunk components. Dearly, Departed is any one of those things at any given time, and it is not ashamed of that fact, nor should it be.
Something I did have difficulty with, at least in the beginning, was the sheer number of POVs in this novel. It would be one thing to switch between the main character and her zombie love interest. But by the end, I believe I counted five, yes FIVE, differing points-of-view. It did grow tiresome at times and seemed rather unnecessary at others, but in the end, it did add something to the story to read all five characters’ versions of the events. Though it would have made the story more interesting and less easy to dissect had there been fewer viewpoints to point everything out.
This book is about zombies. I know, most people love ‘em or hate ‘em. I fall into that first category. I like them gross and disgusting and chasing after our heroine, as in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. But I also love their softer side, the one where they try to grow a conscience again, like R in Warm Bodies. Fortunately for me, Dearly, Departed has BOTH kinds of zombies. Apparently, in the very beginning of zombie-ism, before the Laz takes full effect, you’re faced with a choice. Eat brains or simply try to survive with your new disease without feasting on the flesh of your fellow man. Oh, you’re still going to look gross once infected, but there are options for you if you decide to shy away from the human all-you-can-eat buffet that is New Victoria.
I loved this book. I found the story highly entertaining, and I enjoyed that zombie-ism and its derivation and resulting aftermath are almost immediately disclosed to Nora, that she’s not yet another clueless heroine, as in so many other YA novels. She knows what she’s getting into, and though she has some reservations at first, she becomes pretty accepting of her situation, all things considered. And I love that this acceptance ultimately leads to her romantic feelings for Bram and vice versa. She’s a girl. He’s a zombie. They know they have limited time together because of this. And still they move head-first into a star-crossed zomance. (That is so going to catch on, I’m telling you…)
Dearly, Departed was so many things. It asks for some suspension of belief, but what it’s lacking in believability, it makes up for in heart. This novel was fun and light-hearted, but it was also action-packed and showed just how easily a man could be corrupted. I think it’s got something for everyone, but I think my fellow zombie aficionados will definitely enjoy it.
Rating:
This review was originally posted/hosted by the lovely Michele at A Belle's Tales. Big thanks to Michele first for gifting me this amazing book and also for allowing me to review it on her blog!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
In My Mailbox #24
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.
For Review:
The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting, courtesy of Souther Book Blogger ARC tours
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2) by Kady Cross, from HarlequinTeen via Netgalley
Black Hole Sun by David MacInnis Gill
Oppression by Jessica Therrien
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
*I put up the links to these ebook deals on Friday. Please see the Uncovered - 3/23/12 post for direct links.
Anything interesting in your mailbox this week?
Friday, March 23, 2012
Uncovered - 3/23/12
Book Covers Revealed:
Awesome Book Trailers:
Ebook deals:
Other interesting things I discovered:
The Dystopian Timeline to The Hunger Games [INFOGRAPHIC] on Goodreads
Hunger Names - Click on the picture to be taken to the site and find out what your own Hunger Name is. :)
What awesome things did you find on the internetz this week?
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Review: Black Heart by Holly Black
Author: Holly Black
Series: Curse Workers
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry, an imprint of Simon Schuster
Publication Date: April 3, 2012
Source: Southern Book Bloggers ARC tour
But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.
I also adore Cassel. He is so self-deprecating and hard on himself, and you just can’t help but hope that he gets his happy ending after all. He may not be taking bets from his classmates at prep school anymore, but he’s definitely still playing the game. He’s just out to catch much bigger fish in this book.
The world of the curse workers is still dark and criminal and, well, creepy, and there is still so much Cassel has to learn, especially with Lila’s mob boss father courting him and his alliance with the Licensed Minority Division. But Cassel’s not stupid. He knows that both sides of the law want him for one thing: the unique nature of the curses he can work. Now he just has to decide which side is the right one for him.
The open-endedness of the novel was perfect and left me wondering if Black might consider writing more to the series one day, but I won’t hold my breath. Even with the hints she dropped, and some of the twists she threw into the story, and even considering the things she left unresolved, I still feel like this book was the best possible way to end this series.
Here’s a quote from p. 179 of the ARC – subject to change, as is the nature with ARCs – that I think just about sums up Cassel. It’s a conversation between Cassel and Daneca, one of his school chums:
“Maybe it’d help if I put my cards on the table. Tell me what Barron said, and I’ll tell you the honest truth. This is a one time offer.”
“Because tomorrow you’ll go back to lying?” she asks.
“I don’t know what I’ll do tomorrow. That’s the problem.” Which is one of the truest things I have ever said.
Rating:
And now a short trailer for your viewing pleasure:
And now here's the part where I get to gripe about the cover makeover the series underwent between books two and three. I liked the old covers better. The End. :0)
Monday, March 19, 2012
Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
Author: Aimee Carter
Series: Goddess Test
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Publication Date: March 27, 2012
Source: Netgalley
But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.
Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.
As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.
Henry’s first wife, Persephone.
Speaking of betrayal, I’m not usually an advocate for love triangles, but I really like how Aimee Carter handled not one but two potential love triangles in this book: the Kate – Henry – Persephone triangle and the Henry – Kate – James triangle. Yes, Kate has earned immortality and is now married to Henry. But if you’ve read the synopsis, you already know that Persephone will make an appearance in Goddess Interrupted, and if you read The Goddess Test, you already know that Henry will probably always carry a torch for her. He may have married Kate, but it’s hard to let go of your first love. And then we have James. Clever, funny, too-caring James. I think it was pretty obvious in The Goddess Test that he had fallen for Kate. Well, after a summer together, it’s even more obvious that he’s in love with her. And no matter how much he would like for her not to return to Henry at summer’s end, Kate has already made her choice…hasn’t she?
I admire the fact that the author included her heroine’s love interest as the focal point of one of the love triangles. Usually it’s our protagonist who has to deal with two suitors, and true, that is the case in this novel, but the issue at the heart of the main triangle is whether Henry’s newfound love for Kate can ever overcome what he once felt for Persephone.
The characters definitely kept things interesting, as did the bad guys. What does it mean when an author can write such an awesome nemesis that he can become just as enchanting as the love interest? It must mean that Carter writes excellent characters because at times, I found myself liking not only Persephone (gasp!) but also Cronus, the King of the Titans and enemy to the gods of Olympus. I love how developed the characters are in this series, but I do have to admit that this second installment was lacking a little on the mythology-side. We got a heavy dose of it in The Goddess Test, but it was less prevalent in this book, much to my disappointment. The mythology was one of the elements I loved best in the first book.
I really enjoyed Goddess Interrupted, just not as much as The Goddess Test. Of course I missed the mythology aspect, but I also felt that Kate was too trusting and showed less strength of character than she did in the first novel. And the occasional sweet moments between Kate and Henry seemed almost non-existent, as well. I’m sure that will all change after the cliffhanger we’re left with at the end of the novel, though. The last third of the book really picked up and set the pace for the next book, inevitably leaving me wanting more. (And, yes, the irony of coveting the next book in the series when the one being reviewed hasn’t even been released yet is not entirely lost on me.)
So, to summarize: action? Check. Romance? Check. Cliffhanger and story that will leave you wishing for the next book? BIG FAT CHECK. I’d definitely recommend this book – and the series – to anyone who loves a well-written story with a little romance and a side of mythology.
Rating:
Also, don't forget to check out The Goddess Hunt, the novella set during the summer between The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted. You can get it from your ebook retailer for $1.29: Amazon | Barnes & Noble.
I couldn't find a trailer for Goddess Interrupted, but while I was searching, I ran across my friend April's (of Sim~Sational~Books) Sims trailer for the first book. Behold the awesomeness:
Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop
Okay, guys, so this isn't the easiest thing for me to do, but it needs to be done. I know my husband is tired of adding shelves in my office, and truth be told, there's not really any room to add any more. I've expanded as much as I can. So, if I want to add any more books to my collection, I have to weed some out. Sad, but true. Otherwise, every book I read from now on has to be an ebook. And as much as I love my Nook, I still love the smell of a real book, the feel of turning real pages, and the sense of accomplishment when you shut a book at the end and sigh that final sigh of contentment. Or, as in some cases, throw the book across the room and scream in frustration. Either one doesn't work well if you're reading an ebook.
So, I'm clearing off some shelves to make way for more books. And you guys will reap the benefits. Not a bad deal, huh? I debated and debated how to separate the books for this giveaway. There are nineteen books in this giveaway, afterall:
Do I do three boxes of books, approximately six in each one? Or, since the majority of what I'm clearing out is vampire-related, do I do a vampire box and an other box? In the end, I succumbed to my practical mind and decided that shipping two boxes was plenty, so here are your choices:
The VAMPIRE box:
And the EVERYTHING-BUT-THE-KITCHEN-SINK box:
Sunday, March 18, 2012
In My Mailbox #23
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.
For Review:
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth, from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via Netgalley
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via Netgalley
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne, from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via Netgalley
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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