Short stories are awesome. They give us in-depth insight into characters, providing anecdotal proof of why some characters are they way they are. They entertain by creating a certain mood or focusing on a singular effect...some instance in a previous body of work (or one to follow) that might have been glossed over or ignored completely in a longer novel.
And so, every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I would like to highlight short stories and novellas set in worlds I've already come to love and learn a little more about some of the secondary characters in my favorite novels. I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects of these short works of fiction, in addition to offering up a mini review of each work.
This week I'm featuring a short story from an anthology focusing on the end of the world as we know it:
Title: 'Til the World Ends
Author: Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre & Karen Duvall
Series: Blood of Eden, book #0.5 (prequel)
Publisher: Harlequin Luna
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon |
Barnes & Noble
Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa
Before The Immortal Rules, there was the Red Lung, a relentless virus determined to take out all in its path. For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden—as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What’s worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she’s beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems...
Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre
After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses, self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside—in the Red Zone—is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they’ll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside... for good.
Sun Storm by Karen Duvall
Sarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms—in the cosmos and beyond. And she’s not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She’ll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.
This week, I'll be reviewing
Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa. Next week, I plan to review the short story by Ann Aguirre, followed the next week by
Sun Storm by Karen Duvall. That's the plan, anyway. :)
Dawn of Eden, prequel to The Immortal Rules, by Julie Kagawa
First, let me say that although this is a prequel to the Blood of Eden series, you don't have to know anything about that series to enjoy it. If you have read
The Immortal Rules, you'll definitely enjoy this short story more because it takes place right at the turning point, when things went from bad to worse, and the characters happen upon a familiar face, one that I didn't even realize how much I'd missed until their identity became clearer. In fact, there were quite a few familiar things, which kind of made this book feel like coming home.
Second, this short story is a bit more mature than a lot of YA, including
The Immortal Rules. It doesn't detract from the story; I just wanted to give fair warning. Actually, the (sometimes graphic) sexuality of the book fits the intensity of the situation. Baser instincts take over when survival is on the line, when your world has been turned upside down and you're not sure whether you'll see the light of another day.
I really enjoyed this short story. I actually had forgotten how much I enjoyed
The Immortal Rules and its post-apocalyptic/dystopian take on vampires and the surviving humans. It was interesting to see how the plague originated and how people reacted to it...and to those that it changed. The reactions were so believable and realistic, with the characters reflecting on losing their humanity along with everything else they'd already lost.
This is a great addition to the Blood of Eden series and has me anticipating
The Eternity Cure even more than I already was. Because as much as I liked the characters in
Dawn of Eden, I am
so ready to return to the aftermath and all the characters I've already grown to care about: Allie, Zeke, and (hopefully) Kanin.
Rating: 
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Review: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Immortal Game, book #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: August 5, 2014
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
I've never read any of Ann Aguirre's adult novels, but I absolutely loved her YA zombie series. The Razorland trilogy was strong from start to finish, so it saddens me to no end that this new series is off to a rocky start. In fact, I almost DNF'd this book, wondering how it could possibly have been written by the same author who wrote Enclave. But since it was written by Aguirre, I kept hoping that the story would turn around and redeem itself.
Unfortunately, that never happened for me. Mortal Danger was very slow to start and very slow to reveal anything of a paranormal nature. But once it did -- sometime after the halfway mark -- I think it was just too much for one book. It's not that there were too many paranormal elements; I just think the author tried to include too many baddies, too many nightmarish creatures to keep track of. I knew some of them from folklore, but others I had little knowledge of, and I don't think the author explained their purpose or intent as fully as she might have done. Also, the "game" aspect between the two immortal companies wasn't fully developed, or at least not to my liking, and though I'm sure it will be expanded upon in future books, I just felt too ill-informed at this point. And it made me wonder how Edie could just jump at this opportunity, asking little of her benefactors, especially as to what their motives might entail and what that would mean to her.
The romance in this novel was overwhelming, too. It felt very rushed and very unrealistic. And it was not at all what I was hoping for. The summary makes Kian sound mysterious and dangerous, and he is those things. But he quickly becomes the object of Edie's infatuation, despite the fact that she shouldn't trust him. I would have much preferred Edie to continue to question Kian's trustworthiness and have him remain an enigma. And not have him so easily reciprocate Edie's affections. It would have been one thing for this to be completely one-sided, but this was full-blown insta-love and it almost completely wrecked this story for me.
The bullying aspect -- and consequently the vengeance scheme -- were well-intentioned, but I think they had the opposite of the intended effect on me. I empathized with Edie's situation, that she had suffered in silence, and I understood her desire for revenge. Where this path all went wrong for me was when Edie all but gave up on her plan. Basically, she got this awesome magical makeover, turned into a completely vain wretch, and forgot everything that led up to her almost attempting suicide and the subsequent transformation. She does infiltrate the clique that made her life hell, and she finds herself becoming friends with them. And then what does she do? She starts sympathizing with them. I get it. She's not a terrible person and no longer wants to exact the revenge she'd been hell-bent on before. But considering that's what the book's synopsis all but promises, I feel a little cheated.
If you can't tell, I was really disappointed with Mortal Danger. It wasn't creepy. There wasn't nearly enough revenge. And the paranormal bits needed to be expanded upon for me to fully appreciate them. I wanted to love this one. I've been anticipating this book since I first knew of its existence. I'm crestfallen that it didn't live up to my expectations. I hate to say it, but I'm not even sure I'll continue with this series.
Monday, June 16, 2014
{Cover Reveal} The 2B Trilogy from Ann Aguirre
What do you think of these covers? Have you read any of Ann Aguirre's other books? Are you as excited as us about this new series?
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Review: Horde by Ann Aguirre
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Razorland, book #3
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Source: ARC from publisher via Christina Reads YA
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Well, that was a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy I've loved from the very beginning. It came full-circle, wrapped up loose ends, answered questions that have plagued the reader for the duration of the series...yes, very satisfying indeed.
I'm going to keep this short for fear that anything I say will spoil things along the way. Also, I hate series finales. I usually put off reading the final book in a series until I just can't stand it anymore because I don't want to say goodbye to the world and the characters I've come to love. But with the Razorland trilogy, I knew the author wouldn't do me wrong. I just had a gut feeling...because of the path Deuce, Fade, Stalker, and Tegan have already taken and because of previous interviews the author has done, I knew she loved these characters as much as I did, and she wanted to give them the ending they deserved.
And though I'm not happy about some of the turns their story took, namely how things end with Stalker, no matter how fitting it was to the story, I am really happy with the end result. Especially when it comes to how the conflict with the Muties/Freaks is resolved and the explanation for their existence. I think I read an interview with the author after Outpost stating that these creatures were never zombies, though I think that's what most readers -- including myself -- had inferred from the beginning, but after reading Foundation, I knew the truth was much worse. I'm so glad to finally understand this world and those who inhabit it.
I really loved the emphasis placed on human nature and how it affects the world around us, too. Whether it was Deuce recruiting for her army or the actions of a small child years ago, human nature played a vital role in deciding the future of this civilization, and at times, it looked like a lack of true human compassion could see things ending badly for all involved.
Deuce's journey was a harrowing tale, and a truly emotional one at that. This series started out about "zombies" and doing whatever was necessary to survive. But it's become so much more over the course of the books. It's about a young girl finding her way in a new and strange world, finding love and friendship and family along the way. It's about the terrors of war and human nature. And above all it's about fighting for what you believe in, no matter the cost. I'm not usually a fan of epilogues, but I can appreciate the one at the end of Deuce's story, especially since it turns out that one of her comrades in arms was responsible for relating her tale.
I love this story and everything it symbolizes, and I can't wait to see what else Ann Aguirre has in store for her readers. By the by, she also wrote a short story featured in 'Til the World Ends, also about a post-apocalyptic world but featuring a different set of characters, though no less heroic. I haven't read the Sirantha Jax books yet, but they are on the shortlist. I am positive I will enjoy anything this author writes.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Teaser Tuesday #81: Horde by Ann Aguirre
• 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!
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Razorland, book #3
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Source: ARC from publisher via Christina Reads YA
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My teaser:
Ah, I adore this couple. They've suffered through so much, and I just know they'll come out on top in the end. They just have to! Oh, and if you're worried about a triangle after that kiss from Stalker in the last book, check out what the author has to say on that. It was enlightening, and I have to say, I totally agree. =)
What are you teasing this week? Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can visit!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday: Horde by Ann Aguirre
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Razorland, 3rd & final book in the series
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
The horde is coming.
Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.
Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.
This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.
Why I'm waiting: First, I love this series about zombies that aren't zombies. It's equal parts intense and wrought with emotion, and each book has left my heart pounding in my chest. I love this author's style of writing and I can't wait to see how she writes the ending of this harrowing tale.
What are you waiting on this week? Feel free to share it in the comments or leave a link so I can stop by!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Short Story Sunday #10: Foundation by Ann Aguirre
And so, every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I would like to highlight short stories and novellas set in worlds I've already come to love and learn a little more about some of the secondary characters in my favorite novels. I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects of these short works of fiction, in addition to offering up a mini review of each work.
This week I'm featuring a prequel story:
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Razorland, book #0.5
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Source: free via Tor's website
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
This is a really short story that takes place completely separate from the other story arcs in the Razorland series. Instead of seeing characters we've already grown to care about, we meet a character that was in the College enclave almost from the very start. This is only a beginning and doesn't provide much new information, but it also doesn't spoil anything for the rest of the series.*
What it does provide is a look at two kindred souls, forced together by fate, and how they forged a spot for themselves in a crumbling and decaying world. Foundation suggests that the world as we know it is ending due to chemical warfare, forcing citizens to suffer a deadly disease or scramble underground to avoid it. Regardless, things don't look good for the human race.
This is obviously not a happy story**, but fans of this series wouldn't expect that, anyway. Those who haven't started this series yet may find that trying out the author's style in this piece, while it's being offered for free, is a good starting point. But I rather liked reading this prequel after I'd already been introduced to the story, though I'm probably in the minority with that sentiment.
*Well, not really. Not if you had the same suspicions that I did about the Freaks/Muties and how they came to be.
**I also feel obligated to note that just reading this short story and revisiting the world created by Ann Aguirre in the Razorland series gave me terrible nightmares last night. But in my opinion, that's the sign of great writing...it invades your thoughts even when you're unconscious. =)
Rating:
Stop by next week for my review of Ann Aguirre's Endurance, book #1.5 in the Razorland series.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Short Story Sunday #8: 'Til the World Ends by Julie Kagawa - feat. Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre
And so, every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I would like to highlight short stories and novellas set in worlds I've already come to love and learn a little more about some of the secondary characters in my favorite novels. I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects of these short works of fiction, in addition to offering up a mini review of each work.
This week I'm featuring a short story from an anthology focusing on the end of the world as we know it:
Author: Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre & Karen Duvall
Series: Blood of Eden, book #0.5 (prequel)
Publisher: Harlequin Luna
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Before The Immortal Rules, there was the Red Lung, a relentless virus determined to take out all in its path. For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden—as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What’s worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she’s beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems...
Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre
After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses, self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside—in the Red Zone—is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they’ll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside... for good.
Sun Storm by Karen Duvall
Sarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms—in the cosmos and beyond. And she’s not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She’ll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.
This week, I'll be reviewing Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre. Time permitting, I'm hoping to get to Sun Storm by Karen Duvall later this week and review it on a future Short Story Sunday post. That's the plan, anyway. :)
Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre
So, I don't know why I was under the assumption that this short story was a precursor to the Razorland series. Maybe it's the names...they seem reminiscent of the ones given to the brats once they were of age. (I was probably thinking of Thimble, right?) At any rate, once I got past the fact that this was a new post-apocalyptic world Ann Aguirre had created, I found it much easier to immerse myself in the story.
In fact, this story flew by once Thorne's character was introduced, which is honestly pretty early on. He plays a rather important role. Don't get me wrong, I really liked Mari's no-holds-barred attitude, but all her plans went out the window the minute Thorne Goodman stepped into her life. Don't expect any big romantic declarations of undying love or anything like that, though. These characters have their own complicated lives to get in order before they can find time for love...though, they would make a very good match.
This short story is a brief glimpse into a dying world, where half the population lives in opulent fortresses while the other half struggles outside the fortress walls, paying "the bossman" for safety. But no one is really safe on the outside. The degradation and squalor of this world is due in part to chemical spills and earthquakes that ravaged the landscape many years before, but the people have done nothing to slow its further decline. And that's sorta where Mari Thistle and Thorne Goodman come in.
I really, really hope that there's a full-length novel planned to follow this short story. The intensity of this story and the pacing both kept me riveted, but the world itself has me intrigued, as well. The colorful cast of characters doesn't hurt either. All in all, this was an explosive story sure to delight fan's of Aguirre's Razorland series. Here's hoping there's more where this came from!
Rating:
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Short Story Sunday #7: 'Til the World Ends by Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre & Karen Duvall
And so, every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I would like to highlight short stories and novellas set in worlds I've already come to love and learn a little more about some of the secondary characters in my favorite novels. I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects of these short works of fiction, in addition to offering up a mini review of each work.
This week I'm featuring a short story from an anthology focusing on the end of the world as we know it:
Author: Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre & Karen Duvall
Series: Blood of Eden, book #0.5 (prequel)
Publisher: Harlequin Luna
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Before The Immortal Rules, there was the Red Lung, a relentless virus determined to take out all in its path. For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden—as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What’s worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she’s beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems...
Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre
After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses, self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside—in the Red Zone—is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they’ll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside... for good.
Sun Storm by Karen Duvall
Sarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms—in the cosmos and beyond. And she’s not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She’ll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.
This week, I'll be reviewing Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa. Next week, I plan to review the short story by Ann Aguirre, followed the next week by Sun Storm by Karen Duvall. That's the plan, anyway. :)
Dawn of Eden, prequel to The Immortal Rules, by Julie Kagawa
First, let me say that although this is a prequel to the Blood of Eden series, you don't have to know anything about that series to enjoy it. If you have read The Immortal Rules, you'll definitely enjoy this short story more because it takes place right at the turning point, when things went from bad to worse, and the characters happen upon a familiar face, one that I didn't even realize how much I'd missed until their identity became clearer. In fact, there were quite a few familiar things, which kind of made this book feel like coming home.
Second, this short story is a bit more mature than a lot of YA, including The Immortal Rules. It doesn't detract from the story; I just wanted to give fair warning. Actually, the (sometimes graphic) sexuality of the book fits the intensity of the situation. Baser instincts take over when survival is on the line, when your world has been turned upside down and you're not sure whether you'll see the light of another day.
I really enjoyed this short story. I actually had forgotten how much I enjoyed The Immortal Rules and its post-apocalyptic/dystopian take on vampires and the surviving humans. It was interesting to see how the plague originated and how people reacted to it...and to those that it changed. The reactions were so believable and realistic, with the characters reflecting on losing their humanity along with everything else they'd already lost.
This is a great addition to the Blood of Eden series and has me anticipating The Eternity Cure even more than I already was. Because as much as I liked the characters in Dawn of Eden, I am so ready to return to the aftermath and all the characters I've already grown to care about: Allie, Zeke, and (hopefully) Kanin.
Rating:
Current Giveaways
A Starry-Eyed Prize Pack!
Subscribe by Email
Follow Via Bloglovin
Follow Jen on Instagram
Jen's Currently Reading
Sabrina's Currently Reading
2019 Reading Challenge
Followers
Search This Blog
Ratings
Twitter
Quotes We ♥
Blog Archive
Labels
About Me
-
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!
View my complete profile