{Mini Reviews} Witches, Vengeance, Truths, Music & Sinking Towns

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger-a boy who seems to fade like smoke-appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know-about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget.

Well, that was just creepy enough to give me nightmares every night while I was reading it. It's not the jump out and scare the bejeezus out of you, though...it's the kind of eerie story that sneaks up on you, digs down into your subconscious and makes you start seeing and hearing things when left to your own devices. Or it did me, anyway.

I've had this book on my shelf for ages. I'm a huge fan of Victoria Schwab's work, so I don't know why I resisted picking this novel up until now, except that I do tend to focus more on newer releases these days rather than backlist titles. Luckily, I have a great friend who just got a copy of the book and did her very best to make me jealous that she was starting this book, and I caved to peer pressure. But peer pressure from bookish friends is rarely a bad thing.

This entire story just had this ethereal quality to it, most especially Cole, the love interest. I sometimes forget how great Schwab is at creating romance because her stories are so full of, well, everything else that it doesn't matter if there's a romance at the heart of the story or not. But I so very much appreciated the relationship between Lexi and Cole, especially because Cole was an outsider, ostracized simply because he was not from Near and also because their entanglement develops in spite of the fact that another boy in town thinks he's already laid claim to Lexi and her future. What a horse's ass.

But this story takes place in a time when the men did the hunting and the women tended to the meals and the children. Lexi may not have many options in a village so small, but she knows what she doesn't want. And that's to be trapped. Her father made sure to teach her hunting and tracking and the stories of Near, and so she's pretty well-prepared to take care of herself. But she's the only one who thinks so.

I really enjoyed this book of witchcraft and windy moors and nights that sing you out of your bed. It was enchanting and utterly captivating but also haunting and eerie, to the point that I had to make myself stop reading right up until bedtime if I didn't want to dream of witches made of loamy earth or see things skulking in my peripheral vision when I got up in the middle of the night to get a drink. Even so, it was a lovely fairy tale, done in the vein of the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson and I'll be recommending it from here on out.

Revenge is worth its weight in gold.

When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

I never intended to read Vengeance Road. I couldn't even make it through Bowman's Taken. And I'd already ready Walk on Earth a Stranger and Under a Painted Sky, both of which were YA westerns centered around the Gold Rush, so I felt I had little use for another, especially coming from an author I'd already had a bad experience with. But people kept raving about this book, and it was always checked out from the library, and I assumed there must be a reason for it.

There are definitely some similarities between the three books: murdered parents, vengeance, girls dressing as boys. But I think this book was the most violent of the three, and on one hand, I want to applaud it for some great shoot-out scenes, but on the other...it did nothing to make the story better than the other two. I try not to compare books, instead allowing each book to stand on its own, but I also feel like the release of all three of these books in the same year was purposeful, and so maybe it's a little fair to make comparisons.

Amy Rubinate narrated this audiobook, and while I don't dislike her narrative style, it can be over-the-top at times. This is the first time I've heard her speak in the vernacular of the period, and it wasn't terrible.

Vengeance Road definitely has the prettiest cover of the three, but that's not enough to make it my favorite. I'm also not sure how I feel about a sequel in the works, since this book ended on a pretty satisfying note. I don't know if I would have liked this book more or less had I read it before the others, but I do know that as it stands, this was my least favorite.

A long, hot summer...

That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.

But sometimes, unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to question her sheltered life.

Is it really always better to be safe than sorry?

It's not summer without a Sarah Dessen...or two.

I'm slowly plodding my way through her backlist -- while throwing a re-read in here and there -- and I'm discovering new favorites along the way.

Her love interests are always terribly sa-woon-y, but Wes is definitely among my favorites. And I loved the catering crew, too. Might be one of my favorite casts of characters from her books, period. :)

Funny story...I heard someone say spinnerbait at a family gathering recently, and my first thought was HATE SPINNERBAIT, even though I'm almost 99% sure they were talking about fishing. ;0)

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything" — at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.

This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong.

Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

Thanks to my library, I've really been making it through some Sarah Dessen novels. I think there are only two or three that I haven't read yet. But I've read all of the ones I really wanted to get to. Including this one, which was high on my priority list because so many mention it as a fave of Dessen's novels.

And I understand why. With the focus on music and secrets and sisters and holding it all inside, this novel is entirely relatable. It definitely rivals The Truth About Forever for my fave Sarah Dessen novel. Plus, it's always nice to get glimpses of characters you know from her other stories.

As always, #hatespinnerbait. :D :D :D

What if your town was sliding underwater and everyone was ordered to pack up and leave? How would you and your friends spend your last days together?

While the adults plan for the future, box up their possessions, and find new places to live, Keeley Hewitt and her friends decide to go out with a bang. There are parties in abandoned houses. Canoe races down Main Street. The goal is to make the most of every minute they still have together.

And for Keeley, that means taking one last shot at the boy she’s loved forever.

There’s a weird sort of bravery that comes from knowing there’s nothing left to lose. You might do things you normally wouldn’t. Or say things you shouldn’t. The reward almost always outweighs the risk.

Almost.

It’s the end of Aberdeen, but the beginning of Keeley’s first love story. It just might not turn out the way she thought. Because it’s not always clear what’s worth fighting for and what you should let become a memory.

I live in a small, rural town on the edge of a major river. And I could see the events of this book playing out similarly where I live. The fight against turning the town into a lake would start out strong. Residents would rally and pretend that everything would go on the same as it always had, knowing it would all come to an end eventually, understanding that the battle was already lost before it had begun.

Despite that, this novel was still uplifting when it came down to it. Keeley was one of those unlikable characters that I just couldn't help but like. Because she makes mistakes. Because she's genuine and inevitably remorseful and just trying to do what she thinks is right. Yeah, she's selfish. And she turns a blind eye to everything until it's too late. But that's what makes her real and makes her realize what she really wants and needs.

This was the first Siobhan Vivian book I've read, but I have a feeling I'll be checking out her backlist soon.

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, erin bowman, historical fiction, Just Listen, mini reviews, reviews, sarah dessen, the near witch, the truth about forever, vengeance road, victoria schwab, wild west

SYNC Summer 2016: Week 8 #AudiobookSYNC16

Summer is officially here, so you know what that means! SYNC recently announced the list of audiobook pairings up for grabs this summer, and today kicks off week eight of the program for 2016. Here's what you can grab through Wednesday of next week...for free!

This week's YA title is Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan, performed by Nicholas Robideau and a full cast for Full Cast Audio.

This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.

This week's other title is Donny's Brain by Rona Munro, performed by Paul Fox, Jared Harris, Siobhán Hewlett, Moira Quirk, and Sophie Winkleman for L.A. Theatre Works.

The acclaimed Scottish playwright Rona Munro has created a remarkable story about a man who wakes up from a car crash with brain damage. Now, he sees the world as the person he was three years ago, when his life and loves were in a very different place.

An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance featuring:

Jared Harris as Donny
Sophie Winkleman as Emma
Siobhán Hewlett as Trish
Moira Quirk as Flea
Paul Fox as Al

Donny’s Brain is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series featuring science-themed plays. Major funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, to enhance public understanding of science and technology in the modern world.

The only books I've ever read by David Levithan are Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which he collaborated on with John Green, and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, which he co-wrote with Rachel Cohn. I thought both of those were pretty cute, though, and I'd like to check out something that's just his. Boy Meets Boy seems like a good place to start. =) =) =)

Will you be picking up either of these titles? Remember, they're only available through Wednesday, and new titles will be put up on Thursday for download. To download this week's titles, just click here to be taken to the SYNC download page.

I hope you take advantage of this program. I've been doing it for the last several years, and I've had the opportunity to listen to a ton of great audio for free.  If you've never tried audiobooks before, it's a great opportunity to do so without the obligation of buying one that you might not enjoy.  And if you love audiobooks, well, it's a great time to stock up on some titles you may have missed or discover new ones.  Win/win.  =)

Happy listening!

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Labels: 2016, audiobooks, freebies, promotions, summer, sync

We ❤ Audiobooks and Here's Why

We're a little late with this post, but better late than never, right? :P We've discussed our love of audiobooks at length here on the blog over the years, but our devotion to this media continues to flourish. All summer long, we'll be sharing the current week's free downloads over at SYNC -- a great program providing free young adult and classic audiobooks -- but we also wanted to do our thing and wax poetic about the beauty of listening to a novel.

Jen: Audiobooks make a long day go faster. They make chores less mundane. And, to some extent, they help me maintain my TBR, or at least keep it somewhat manageable. I also really like audiobooks for the re-reads that I just don't have time for. Whether it's a re-read/listen of a favorite series or to refresh my memory before the next installment in a series or just to re-listen to a favorite contemporary to get myself out of a funk, audiobooks are my go-to solution. I enjoy listening to audiobooks so much that I sometimes invent more stuff to do so that I can finish listening to a book, foregoing actually reading a physical book.

April: I have a 45 minute drive to and from work. That can get tiring, but with Audiobooks, I almost look forward to driving to work. Almost. lol. It makes it less painful. Also, I do a lot of filing at my job. Filing is tedious, but I look forward to doing it because it's an excuse to get back to my book while on the clock.

Jen: A truly great narrator makes me forget that I'm even listening to a book. I love when I get so swept up in a story that I don't notice I've already done the thing I was doing when I pressed play, though maybe I should pay a little more attention when I'm driving, lol. But I just adore a narrator who does more than read the book to me. I want different voices for all of the characters. I want accents. I want a narrator who emotes. What I do not want is a narrator who is breathy or shrilly or just plain ridiculous in their performance.

April: I'm not too picky about Narrators. As long as they don't have annoying voices, then I'm good. But I guess a good narrator for me is one that sounds like how I feel the main character would sound. Not too old or too young. One that really gets into the character.

A couple of years ago, we went all out and suggested tons of our favorite audiobooks, but we've listened to quite a few since and have some new ones to recommend, besides our old stand-bys. :D

Jen: I think the audiobook I've listened to the most is The Scorpio Races, coming in at seven times. I would recommend it to anyone even considering listening to audiobooks for the first time. It's a brilliant story, and the narration is just fantastic.

As for newer recs, man that list is endless. I'm always discovering new listens, especially with the library literally at my fingertips. However, I did purchase the Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima at the end of last year, and I've already listened to the whole series twice now. It's amazing and heartbreaking and utterly captivating. It made it that much easier for me to spend the money on the audio for her newest book, too. =)

For newbies who are looking for a suggestion that might make them love listening when they're predisposed not to, here are some that I've recently loved, as well as the sequels, where applicable:



Of course, feel free to check out the last post we did on audiobooks for other, backlist titles that we've loved.

April: Some of these are on Jen's list as well, but she recommended them so that makes sense. Illuminae might be my favorite Audiobook ever. I was so sucked into that book, and the narration is so on point. I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it is. Don't let stupid audible reviews discourage you about "Censoring bad words" Because that's just part of the book. It's not an edited narration. I almost didn't go with the audio because of those reviews and I'm so glad I ignored them and just tried it.

This year I also listened to all of the Twilight books. I know, I know... And I even started a post on my thoughts, but I still haven't finished writing it. While the audio books aren't the best.. I did enjoy re living the phenomenon. I've always wanted to do a re read, but no time for physical books. So the audio worked out well. I plan to listen to the Host this year since that's a fave of mine.



Jen: Oh, damn. How did I forget Illuminae?!? I only JUST got it again from the library so I can refresh my memory and start Gemina. :P

Are you an audiobook aficionado? Tell us some of your favorites, the best narrators, the narrators you avoid, etc. We're always looking for recs ourselves. =D

Happy listening!

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Labels: audiobook month, audiobooks, discussion, favorite narrators

{WOW} A CROWN OF WISHES by Roshani Chokshi

"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...








's Pick:



Title: A Crown of Wishes
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Series: The Star-Touched Queen, book #2
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: March 28, 2017

The new novel follows Gauri, the younger sister of the titular Star-Touched Queen, on her harrowing quest for freedom.

When Gauri, the princess of Bharata, is captured by her kingdom’s rivals, she can only find help in Vikram, the cunning prince of an enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with royal life, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. They set aside their differences and team up to compete in the Tournament of Wishes, wherein the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

OMGOMGOMG! That cover is a thing of beauty. Like, I LOVED the cover for The Star-Touched Queen, but this thing is maybe even more gorgeous! And I love that it's a companion, not a true sequel, so we get to follow Gauri on her adventures this time around. And I really, really hope that's Kamala on the front. I miss that bite-y demon horse! =D =D =D

Check out the excerpt revealed yesterday on EW!!!

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, fantasy, favorite authors, favorites, girl power, grabby hands, must-read, roshani chokshi, st. martin's press, the star-touched queen