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 I would like to highlight some 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. In addition to offering up a mini review of these short works of fiction, I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects.
This week I'm featuring a companion novella from Laini Taylor's
Daughter of Smoke & Bone series:
Title: Night of Cake & Puppets
Author: Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book #2.5
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Publication Date: November 26, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon |
Barnes & Noble
In Night of Cake & Puppets, Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Told in alternating perspectives, it’s the perfect love story for fans of the series and new readers alike. Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her “rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to meet him, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before finally leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy’s not going to know what hit him.
Oh, wow. I didn't think it was possible to love Laini Taylor or this series any more than I already did, but this short story was absolutely adorable. It was beyond cute and sweet and completely romantic. If you've never been swept up in a love affair like this, then this is exactly what you're hoping for one day. Or, at least, you should be.
Zuzana and Mik are some of my favorite secondary characters, and this novella just served to emphasize why they're so beloved. It's been awhile since I first read
Daughter of Smoke & Bone, but honestly, I can't remember a time when it wasn't Zuzana & Mik. It feels like they've always been together, that they've always been part of an ampersand. Which makes their little adventure in Prague even more delightful.
"I mean, who would I be if I'd been raised on milquetoast bedtime stories and not forced to dust the glass prison of a psychotic undead fox Cossack? I shudder to think."
I adored reading from Zuzana's point-of-view. As I said, she's a favorite side character of mine, but actually getting in the Rabid Fairy's head was something else. It was almost as if we were kindred spirits, the way her mind works. And oh, all the trouble she went to in order to actually "meet" Mik! I love her even more now.
"I've seen Zuzana out of her outermost layers at least, at the theater, but I've only known her in winter, so: sweaters, scarves, jeans, boots. Nary a glimpse of ankle or clavicle, those miracles of girl geometry. It's very Victorian, but in the depths of a girlfriendless winter, a glimpse of ankle would probably excite me."
And I felt like I really got to know Mik with this story. He's sweet and perfect for Zuze, but he's also a guy, and he isn't pretending like he doesn't have those "guy nature" type impulses. A fact for which I am very grateful because even worse than a bad boy who only thinks about one thing is a too saccharine-sweet guy who acts like he never thinks about it. Mik is the perfect amount of guy for me...er, Zuzana.
And, oh, the writing! The writing is as brilliant as I've come to expect from Taylor, but maybe it's just been so long since the last book that I've forgotten
just how brilliant it is. I mean, she's got these two kids on a collision course of love, and they're feeling the same things and doing the same things, but both sound completely different as they describe the experience, and there's no lack in originality in how they do so:
Mik: "A little war commences in my brain, "rational self" versus "hopeful self," cage match. I'm not religious; I don't believe in things -- not out of any determination not to. It's more like a default setting: My brain is an inhospitable environment for belief, but I've always said -- and really meant -- that life would be more interesting if those unseen things were real (and dragons, too, please), and of course death would be less of a bummer if there were a heave (hell not so much). I've just never been able to believe any of it. Right now, though, to some small detectable degree, it feels like the pH balance in my mind is shifting. Like my skepticism is being neutralized. Hopeful self is sitting on rational shelf's chest."
Zuzana: "I know it's all brain chemicals -- everything is brain chemicals -- but my excitement and dread feel like tiny wrestlers in my heart right now. I picture Excitement choking out Dread and gently, almost lovingly, lowering his intert body to the ground."
I mean, they're not even describing the same thing here, but they both use the same basic metaphor, and it is delightful. Wait, I think I've used that adjective already, but it's true. Also, they use poetry and Latin and a treasure map, and it's all just so damn romantic. They even made me google lines of a
poem: 'anyone who's woken up to find the wet footprints of a peacock across their kitchen floor.' I mean,
what?
And what it all boils down to is this: these two are just so unbelievably in love, and they have been from the very beginning. There's just no stopping this kind of love, and I hope the elation I feel after reading this short story bodes well for the final book in the trilogy. Pleaseplease
please let Karou and Akiva get an ending reminiscent of Zuzana and Mik's beginning!
the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series
About the author:
Hi! I'm Laini Taylor. I am a writer-artist-daydreamer-nerd-person, and simultaneously a mom-wife-sister-daughter-person. I can do a lot of things at once, like for example: I can sleep and dream and also lie very still, all while also breathing and ever-so-slowly growing ten distinct toenails.
I write books for youngish people, but they can also be read and enjoyed by oldish people, aka grown-ups. You know grown-ups? They tend to be a little bigger and hairier than kids. But not always.
I live in Portland, Oregon, USA, with my husband Jim Di Bartolo, who is an amazing illustrator and who I'm always begging to draw me things, and with our wee droll genius, Clementine Pie, age three.
Find Laini:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Sunday, January 12, 2014
{Short Story Sunday} Review: No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige
And so I would like to highlight some 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. In addition to offering up a mini review of these short works of fiction, I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects.
This week I'm featuring a prequel story from Danielle Paige's Wizard of Oz retelling:
Author: Danielle Paige
Series: Dorothy Must Die, book #0.5
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: November 12, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
This novella, which comes in at 125 pages, was far longer than it needed to be and took me much longer than any novella before it to complete. I was just so bored. I get why this story was released now and why it's important to the series, but all it did was make me question whether I wanted to continue on with the series.
Essentially, here's what I took away from this story: Dorothy desperately yearns for her adventures in Oz, she gets the opportunity to return, finds that she can wield magic on her own, and lets said magic go to her head, turning her into what she once sought to destroy. That all sounds well and good, right, but most of that happens in the last 30% or so. I really could have done without the first 2/3 of the story.
Except that it does help to illustrate that the author is going back to the original story with her retelling and not just focusing on what most people know from the major motion picture. That aspect did impress me somewhat, as did the imagery, even as overdone as it was at times. However, I think that a flashback sequence in the forthcoming full-length novel could have served the same purpose as this novella, which is to show that Oz's one-time savior has succumbed to power and is now a tyrant in her own right and must now be destroyed as those before her were.
I hadn't planned on reading the excerpt from Dorothy Must Die at the end of the novella, having already decided not to read any more of this series, but my curiosity got the better of me. And if it hadn't been for that excerpt, I wouldn't be picking up the full-length novel in April. But as it stands, I'm quite intrigued by Amy's character and her hardships and how her situation compares to Dorothy's from the first time she visited Oz. Also, the tone of the novel, at least what I gathered from the excerpt, is completely different from that of the novella, which is a good thing in my opinion.
This novella is necessary for one reason and one alone: to change the reader's opinion of Dorothy, such that they might actually feel that she deserves to die when the time comes. Dorothy is a beloved character to many people, and I think most would have a difficult time turning against her. But this short story does an excellent job of that. I can't stand her now and if I find out that her perspective is included in Dorothy Must Die, I still may pass on it because I took no enjoyment from reading from her point-of-view. So, if you think you're going to have a hard time despising Dorothy, I'd say this novella would be a good jumping off point for you. Otherwise, save your money for when the real fun begins.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
{Short Story Sunday} Review: Poison Dance by Livia Blackburne
And so I would like to highlight some 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. In addition to offering up a mini review of these short works of fiction, I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects.
This week I'm featuring a prequel story from Livia Blackburne's Midnight Thief series:
Author: Livia Blackburne
Series: Midnight Thief, book #0.5
Publisher: Lion's Quill Press
Publication Date: September 12, 2013
Source: from author for review
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
This. This is what I was hoping for from the last couple of "fantasy" novels I've read. Unfortunately -- or fortunately for this short story -- this novella packs more of a punch than either of the last two fantasy novels I finished, and it only comes in at a whopping 54 pages!
Okay, maybe I'm a bit biased because I do have an affinity for stories that focus on assassins. Still not sure what that says about me, but there it is. At any rate, there wasn't all that much assassining to be had in this book, but even so, the author captured the world of the assassins -- the betrayal, the mutiny, the upheaval -- in a way that almost glorified the role James played in the Assassin's Guild.
In her pitch to me, the author stated that "I'd classify it more as upper YA or New Adult, while Midnight Thief is mid YA", but honestly, I felt no need to make the distinction. I don't want to compare it to Throne of Glass based on the content because even though assassins are pertinent to the storyline in each book, the actual premise is very different in each story. However, based on maturity level, I'd say this prequel story is comparable. Which means the author's full-length novel will be perfect for everyone! Yay!
Basically, in a few short chapters, the author managed to engage my fantasy-side and keep me glued to the pages, wondering how this story will play into Midnight Thief and Kyra's story when that full-length novel is released next year. I'm looking forward to that book even more now, and I'm so glad I had a chance to try out the author's writing with this prequel story.
If you, too, are curious about Midnight Thief and the events that lead up to it, you can check out Poison Dance for a mere $0.99, but the sale ends today, so be quick about it!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
{Short Story Sunday} Forged by Jennifer Rush
And so I would like to highlight some 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. In addition to offering up a mini review of these short works of fiction, I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects.
This week I'm featuring a prequel story from Jennifer Rush's Altered series:
Author: Jennifer Rush
Series: Altered, book #0.5
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Publication Date: December 3, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
This novella was not at all what I was expecting, though that's probably a good thing because honestly, I didn't really want to see how Dani and Sam's relationship developed. I didn't love Anna's character in either of the full-length books, but I much prefer her to the morally ambiguous Dani.
Except in Forged, Dani is just a girl. She's only just entered the program and she hasn't let it change her...yet. And if you're looking for the Sam you've come to know and, well, tolerate, in the other books, you won't find him here. When he entered the picture, I actually thought to myself, Wow, Sam is much more verbose than we find him in later years. That should have been a dead giveaway. Oh, well. C'est la vie.
I never fully bought that Connor was completely evil in the other books. But I also know that I tend to favor the pretty villains, so my judgement may be skewed. However, I really honestly don't think that Connor is pure evil. If this story had been ten or twenty pages longer, I think I might have my proof, but at 49 pages, you don't have a whole lot more to go on.
It was nice seeing the program in its early days, seeing some of the actual training and testing that participants had to undergo before being released into the field. As with the other books, there were a couple of twists that I felt were easy to predict, but also like the previous books, it didn't prove detrimental to the story or my enjoyment of it. In fact, it aided in my anticipation of what Dani was about to face. And I might actually like her a little now because of her reactions.
Check out my reviews for the other two books in the series: Altered & Erased.
Personally, I think the series looks better like this:
Sunday, December 1, 2013
{Short Story Sunday} Review: Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor
And so I would like to highlight some 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. In addition to offering up a mini review of these short works of fiction, I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects.
This week I'm featuring a companion novella from Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone series:
Author: Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book #2.5
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Publication Date: November 26, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Oh, wow. I didn't think it was possible to love Laini Taylor or this series any more than I already did, but this short story was absolutely adorable. It was beyond cute and sweet and completely romantic. If you've never been swept up in a love affair like this, then this is exactly what you're hoping for one day. Or, at least, you should be.
Zuzana and Mik are some of my favorite secondary characters, and this novella just served to emphasize why they're so beloved. It's been awhile since I first read Daughter of Smoke & Bone, but honestly, I can't remember a time when it wasn't Zuzana & Mik. It feels like they've always been together, that they've always been part of an ampersand. Which makes their little adventure in Prague even more delightful.
I adored reading from Zuzana's point-of-view. As I said, she's a favorite side character of mine, but actually getting in the Rabid Fairy's head was something else. It was almost as if we were kindred spirits, the way her mind works. And oh, all the trouble she went to in order to actually "meet" Mik! I love her even more now.
And I felt like I really got to know Mik with this story. He's sweet and perfect for Zuze, but he's also a guy, and he isn't pretending like he doesn't have those "guy nature" type impulses. A fact for which I am very grateful because even worse than a bad boy who only thinks about one thing is a too saccharine-sweet guy who acts like he never thinks about it. Mik is the perfect amount of guy for me...er, Zuzana.
And, oh, the writing! The writing is as brilliant as I've come to expect from Taylor, but maybe it's just been so long since the last book that I've forgotten just how brilliant it is. I mean, she's got these two kids on a collision course of love, and they're feeling the same things and doing the same things, but both sound completely different as they describe the experience, and there's no lack in originality in how they do so:
I mean, they're not even describing the same thing here, but they both use the same basic metaphor, and it is delightful. Wait, I think I've used that adjective already, but it's true. Also, they use poetry and Latin and a treasure map, and it's all just so damn romantic. They even made me google lines of a poem: 'anyone who's woken up to find the wet footprints of a peacock across their kitchen floor.' I mean, what?
And what it all boils down to is this: these two are just so unbelievably in love, and they have been from the very beginning. There's just no stopping this kind of love, and I hope the elation I feel after reading this short story bodes well for the final book in the trilogy. Pleasepleaseplease let Karou and Akiva get an ending reminiscent of Zuzana and Mik's beginning!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
{Short Story Sunday} Review: The Moth in the Mirror by A.G. Howard
And so I would like to highlight some 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. In addition to offering up a mini review of these short works of fiction, I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects.
This week I'm featuring The Moth in the Mirror, an alternate perspective to certain moments in A.G. Howard's debut novel:
Author: A.G. Howard
Series: Splintered, book #1.5
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: October 22, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
I just finished Unhinged, and I wasn't quite ready to leave this world yet, so I downloaded this novella. I'm aware that it should have been read prior to Unhinged, and I completely concur, but it didn't impede my enjoyment of either story any that I didn't read them in order. I should also point out that it's not necessary to read this novella before you pick up Unhinged and that a lot of what's covered in both Splintered and Unhinged is present in this story, just from a different perspective.
With that said, I have to admit that my loyalties have changed with each installment of this story. I love both boys for different reasons, and it's clear that both boys care very deeply for Alyssa, though I think it's clearest in this novella. For that reason alone, I think it's a worthy read. Worth $1.99? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on how much you love this series, I suppose. My other sister -- the one who's the hardcore Alice fan -- begged me for my advanced copy of Unhinged, and so I'm sure she'll be purchasing this short. But if the rivalry between Jeb and Morpheus doesn't have you excited yet, this story might not be essential for your continuation of the series.
Because The Moth in the Mirror is an exploration of the relationship each boy has with Alyssa and what each is hoping for...and what they're willing to give up. Honestly, if you read Unhinged, you'll already have read some of this, just not in the same context. Morpheus wants to know exactly what he's up against when it comes to Jeb, what his motivations, his strengths and his weaknesses are, especially when it comes to Al. So, he takes a ride on the train of lost memories, experiencing pivotal moments from Jeb's point-of-view.
Does this change anything for Morpheus? I'll let you be the judge, either based on your reading of this story or when you get to Unhinged. Either way, the truth is there, in his words but mostly in his actions. Morpheus may not be mortal, but he desires what one mortal has above all else. And despite his single-mindedness, his sheer arrogance, I still want Morpheus to come out on top.
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