When a Book Makes You Violent...In a Good Way

Title: These Ruthless Deeds
Author: Tarun Shanker, Kelly Zekas
Series: These Vicious Masks, book #2
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication Date: March 14, 2017
Source: galley received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

England, 1883. Still recovering from a devastating loss, Evelyn is determined to use her powers to save other gifted people from those who would harm them. But when her rescue of a young telekinetic girl goes terribly wrong, Evelyn finds herself indebted to a secret society devoted to recruiting and protecting people like Evelyn and her friends.

As she follows the Society’s orders, healing the sick and embarking on perilous recruitment missions, Evelyn sees her problems disappear. Her reputation is repaired, her friends are provided for, and her parents are newly wealthy. She reunites with the dashing Mr. Kent and recovers the reclusive Mr. Braddock (who has much less to brood over now that the Society can help him to control his dangerous power). But Evelyn can’t help fearing the Society is more sinister than it appears...

I absolutely adored the first book in this series, so I was beyond excited to start reading These Ruthless Deeds. And it was a pretty great sequel, if not but a little predictable.

Here's the thing: the prologue made things so obvious to me. I like when a prologue teases things to come, but I still want to be relatively surprised when it comes to fruition. So, maybe skip that? Also, it was ridiculously easy for me to guess who the mysterious villain was, despite the red herrings. I almost wanted to be wrong because of how sure I was.

Still, there's never a dull moment for these 19th century would-be superheroes. Evelyn is being forced back into her role as debutante, but she still flouts decorum at every turn, especially in her duties for the Society. I love that this girl questions everything, even when everyone else is basically telling her to let it be. Evelyn is a true heroine, even if things don't always rarely go accordingly to plan.

There weren't nearly enough swoons for me in this sequel, though there are all manner of declarations of love. But, seriously, one kiss? Ugh, and the love triangle...don't get me started on it. Because I legitimately like both guys. I think I'm probably pulling for the one who won't make the cut, but that's my cross to bear.

Oy, and then that ending! It basically took everything awful that happened in book one and multiplied it by 100 to leave us with the most maddening ending ever. I kind of wanted to throw the book while simultaneously wanting to re-read it ten more times while I wait for the next book. So, while I didn't like this sequel quite as much as the first book, I maintain that any book that can make me want to cause bodily harm after reading it has effectively done its job. ;0)

GIF it to me straight:

 

About the authors:

Mild-mannered assistant by day, milder-mannered writer by night, Tarun Shanker is a New York University graduate currently living in Los Angeles. His idea of paradise is a place where kung-fu movies are projected on clouds, David Bowie’s music fills the air and chai tea flows freely from fountains.

His first novel, These Vicious Masks, co-written with Kelly Zekas, will be released by Swoon Reads / Macmillan on February 9th, 2016. It is the first of a trilogy.

Find Tarun:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Tumblr

Kelly is a writer living in NYC. YA is her absolute favorite thing on earth other than cupcakes and she has spent many hours crying over fictional deaths. She also started reading Harlequin romances at a possibly too early age (12?), and still adores a good historical romance.

Find Kelly:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

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Labels: historical fiction, kelly zekas, macmillan, reviews, special abilities, tarun shanker, these vicious masks

The Banter is Worth All THESE VICIOUS MASKS They're Wearing

Title: These Vicious Masks
Author: Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas
Series: These Vicious Masks, book #1
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Jane Austen meets X-­Men in this gripping and adventure-­filled paranormal romance set in Victorian London.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they’re not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared.

This was JUST what I was in the mood for when I read it. (And honestly, still is what I'm in the mood for.) Special abilities. Banter. Snark. A heroine who just. Will. Not. Give. Up. Two handsome fellas, both vying for her attention. Fancy balls. Chase scenes. Missing sisters. Reputations damaged beyond repair.

It's hard to believe there was ever a time when I thought I didn't really like historical fiction. Sure, I've read some that I've loved -- and some, not so much -- but it's never been my go-to genre. Until lately, that is. I've read three or four in the past month alone, and I am hooked. I think it's the propriety and decorum that I'm drawn to -- and the fact that most heroines attempt to flout those rules, just as Evelyn does in These Vicious Masks.

Whereas some historical fiction novels are more thickly rooted in all of those stuffy old rules of society, the characters in this story are more likely to throw all manner of propriety out the window. It doesn't help that they all have special abilities that it's already a hindrance for them to hide. So, really, this was bound to happen. And included in those powers is the ability to heal, the ability to sway one's thoughts, and the ability to discern the truth. Nifty, right?

I loved all of the characters in These Vicious Masks...except maybe the villains. They're all hiding something. They're all protecting someone. And because of the nefarious lengths some will go to -- all in the name of science -- their world is about to be turned completely upside down.

In other words, this book was FABULOUS. Fun. Exhilarating. And the type of book I just love to read cover to cover, with no interruptions. There's no cliffhanger, not really, but this is most definitely only the first book in what will be a very fun and exciting trilogy.

GIF it to me straight:

About the authors:

Mild-mannered assistant by day, milder-mannered writer by night, Tarun Shanker is a New York University graduate currently living in Los Angeles. His idea of paradise is a place where kung-fu movies are projected on clouds, David Bowie’s music fills the air and chai tea flows freely from fountains.

His first novel, These Vicious Masks, co-written with Kelly Zekas, will be released by Swoon Reads / Macmillan on February 9th, 2016. It is the first of a trilogy.

Find Tarun:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Tumblr

Kelly is a writer living in NYC. YA is her absolute favorite thing on earth other than cupcakes and she has spent many hours crying over fictional deaths. She also started reading Harlequin romances at a possibly too early age (12?), and still adores a good historical romance.

Find Kelly:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

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Labels: favorites, historical fiction, kelly zekas, macmillan, reviews, special abilities, tarun shanker, these vicious masks

Audiobook Review: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Title: Poison Princess
Author: Kresley Cole
Narrator: Emma Galvin, Keith Nobbs
Series: The Arcana Chronicles, book #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: October 2, 2012
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side...

Poison Princess could've been great.  As it stands, I'm not sure if I liked this story or not. It was so confusing and convoluted and there was so much miscommunication. And it's probably one of those rare books (for me, anyway) where it would have made more sense had I read the text instead of listening to the audio simply because there was so much going on.

One of the things that bugged me the most was that the reader never learns the cause of the apocalyptic event that nearly wipes out all life on the planet.  We only see glimpses of it through Evie's visions, and even then, they're not reliable because Evie is too preoccupied with her own sanity to give the visions any credibility.  Speaking of, could Evie be any more dense?  She asks plenty of questions throughout the story but never the right ones.  It was infuriating and made it that much harder to connect with her as a character.

It doesn't help that I was immediately put off by Evie's immaturity and lack of experience when it came to boys.  For example, in the very beginning of the novel, Evie admits to promising her boyfriend that she would sleep with him when she turns 16 if they're still together.  This is her way of keeping him interested because he apparently has roaming eyes, and she's afraid of losing him.  What?!?  That is not okay!  Purportedly, Evie is attractive and popular, a cheerleader and queen bee-type, so I'm sure there is someone else for her, someone who treats her better.  But even if there's not, never in a million years is that okay!

My next point of contention is ole Jack, who likes to refer to himself as such.  My problem isn't actually with his character because even though he is flawed in ways you don't want to know, at least he's always honest.  He never said he was a good guy or that he'd rescue Evie from the hell she's found herself in or any of those chivalrous declarations that most YA heroes make when in this situation.  No, my problem with ole Jack is Evie's immediate hatred toward him, despite not knowing anything about him.  Despite drooling over him and  practically describing him as sex-on-a-stick.  Because really, is insta-hate any better than insta-love?

In spite of generally disliking all of the characters and the "romance", the tarot aspect kept me intrigued.  I didn't really know much about tarot going into this book, and I still don't really understand it now, but the story focuses on the Major Arcana, or the 22 trump cards without suits.  According to the synopsis for this novel, there are 22 teens linked to each trump card and they are to fight "the ultimate battle between good and evil".  Each teen has a special power or ability related to the card they represent in the Major Arcana, and I'm assuming it's going to help them in this epic battle. Yeah, I didn't see much of that storyline in this novel, but it's the first in the series, so I guess we're building up to that.  Had the story focused more on that and the apocalypse and less on Evie's neurosis and her ever-changing feelings toward ole Jack, I might have enjoyed it more.

As I mentioned before, I might actually have liked this novel better had I read it instead of listening to the audio.  Emma Galvin was great as the narrator...except when she was voicing Evie, but maybe that was the point.  Evie was portrayed as selfish and naive and immature, and that's exactly how she sounds on the audiobook.  I'm not sure how to rate my agitation due to that fact.  The narrator does a great job with all of Jack's Cajun phrasing and French vocabulary, though.  What I didn't get was why there was a separate narrative at times for the man that Evie is relaying her story to.  Why did he get his own POV?  (And why can't I remember his name?!?)  That's not the fault of the narrator or the audiobook, but it felt unnecessary to include this perspective, even after knowing his relation to the story.

This was my first Kresley Cole novel, and I'm sure it won't be my last because my curiosity will get the best of me, and I will have to find out what happens to Evie and the rest of the Major Arcana.  Regardless, I am not impressed...not after all of the raving for this book and her adult novels.  I just didn't see whatever those readers apparently saw.  If I had reviewed this immediately after listening, I would have given it 2 stars.  A week or so ago when I was trying to remind myself about the book and characters in order to review it, I might have given it 3, maybe 3 1/2 stars.  Now that I've gotten my rant out of the way, I feel like it was somewhere in-between.

Favorite Quotes:

“Matthew, exactly how psychic are you?”
“So psychic that other psychics should be called Mattics.” 

“At that, the initial mrowr pfft pfft I'd felt transformed into I will cut a bitch.”

“If you touch me like that again, Evangeline,” he began in a husky tone, dropping to his seat once more, “in the space of a heartbeat, I will have you off this bike and onto the closest horizontal surface. And I woan be picky, no.” 

Rating:   1/2

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Labels: audiobooks, kresley cole, magic, reviews, simon schuster, special abilities, tarot, the arcana chronicles

Teaser Tuesday #35: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week's teaser comes from the following book:

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: The Darkest Minds, book #1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: December 18, 2012
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When Ruby wakes up on her tenth birthday, something about her has changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her--East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

My teaser:

"Uh, no thanks.  I read Lord of the Flies.  I know how this works--everyone starts dancing around the fire and painting their faces and worshipping a decapitated pig head and then someone gets hit by a boulder and plummets to their death--and, surprise, it's the fat kid in glasses."  Liam started laughing, but even I could see how uncomfortable Chubs looked.  "I think I'm going to play it safe and go read--and, hey, there's Ruby!  You two can enjoy the degeneration of human decency without me."

-- 70%/Loc 3698 of galley

I like this kid, whoever he is.  I'm just getting started on this novel, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to enjoy it from what I've read so far.  And there are a ton of positive reviews for it, so I'm optimistic, though I'm not going in with super-high expectations.  I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.  :-)

So, what are you teasing this week?  Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can visit!

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Labels: alexandra bracken, disney hyperion, special abilities, superpowers, teaser tuesday, the darkest minds