Review - Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

by Kerstin Gier
publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
date of publication: October 30, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 368
source: publisher
series: Ruby Red Trilogy

From Goodreads:

Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

Picking up where Ruby Red left off, Sapphire Blue at first suggests that things are going to progress in much the same manner as before.  Gone, however, is some of Gwen's carefree spirit.  She has been through a lot and it really starts to show in Sapphire Blue.  What I as a reader am not so sure about, however, is whether or not I like where things are going.  There are certain themes that I simply can't enjoy that are starting to crop up in the series that I sincerely hope don't come to fruition.  I don't think I could take it.  I will share those concerns with you as well as the things I enjoyed today.

Gwen.  What do I say about Gwen?  While she still has much of what made her such a great main character in Ruby Red, she is starting to fall victim to that most dreaded theme in YA:  the so-called bad boy.  More often than not, bad boy is code for jackass, which is unfortunately the case for Gideon.  This is probably one case where I would welcome a love triangle just in hopes that Gwen might come to her senses and kick Gideon to the curb.  Unless she falls for that pesky little gargoyle, however, that isn't likely to be the case.  While Gideon has his moments where he isn't completely heinous, there are also points that made me want to reach through the book and slap him on the back of the head a la NCIS.  When you spend more time outraged by the love interest than the villains, you know there's a problem.  Other than her penchant for questionable love interests, however, I enjoyed Gwen's reactions to the experiences she had.  Each trip into the past provided a lot of entertainment and really played up the sparkle of her personality.  I sincerely hope this doesn't go away in the next book, as it is definitely a favorite.

Just when I thought I couldn't enjoy the settings more, Gier pulls off scenes that are beyond all those that came before.  I was especially impressed with Gwen and Gideon's trip back in time to a party that occurred during the Rococo period (at least, I'm pretty sure that's the right one; it's been a few weeks).  As just one example of the vibrancy of Gier's world-building, let me just say that picturing this time period I am only vaguely familiar with was a breeze thanks to the great care taken in describing everything from the dress to the architecture.  That this was accomplished without an overload in information is simply great.

I am still holding out hope for the final installment in this series.  Though I remain not sold on the romance aspect of this story, the world-building and intrigue manage to make up for it.  If you enjoy a good time travel narrative, this series is definitely worth your attention.  With such vivid imagery and just the right amount of tension, Sapphire Blue was able to resist the sophomore slump and leads me to believe that there is still much to look forward to in Emerald Green.  So long as I don't feel compelled to rant and the world building remains as well-done as before, I will be a very happy reader.

Buy Sapphire Blue at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This advance review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Sweet Evil

by Wendy Higgins
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: May 1, 2012
format: paperback
pages: 453
source: purchased

From Goodreads:

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Sweet Evil is a book that I have heard much about since it was released late this past spring.  Though it is a theme that I have seen often in books, the premise of Sweet Evil was enough to pique my interest and led me to buy a copy soon after its release.  I had some worries going into the book that I would find more about the story objectionable than I would find to be enjoyable.  Fortunately, Sweet Evil delivered with an entertaining story and some surprisingly steamy moments.

Anna Whitt turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable character.  While at first I feared she would prove to be a Mary Sue type of character, she surprised me with some unexpected layers that gave her character a nice amount of depth.  Her friendship with Jay reminded me a lot of a friend of mine and made me smile, which was a very nice touch.  It was Kaidan, however, that left me with "meh" feelings.  There comes a point when the bad boy character becomes just too much to handle.  While his character brought an important element to the story, I just fail to find the bad boy type all that appealing.

The hidden world in which Anna finds herself immersed is an immensely intriguing one.  On the surface she lives in a small town just outside Atlanta.  Beyond the visual scope of everyday humans, however, lies a much darker world inhabited by frightening beings bent on leading humanity astray.  Where there is dark there is light, however, and I found the ways in which the light were included to be very appealing.  When you include the background for both sides, you have an engaging book that makes for a great reading session.

Even though I am not as much of a Kaidan fan as others who have read and enjoyed this book, I found Sweet Evil to be a fun weekend read all the same.  With such a good main character, a sinister hidden world, and a classic conflict, Sweet Evil makes for a very nice reading experience.  I, for one, plan to continue with this series and look forward to finding out what will happen next.

Buy Sweet Evil at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Anew Blog Tour - A Review

Welcome to StNC's contribution to the Anew blog tour.  Huge props to Kelly at InkSlinger PR for another well-orchestrated blog tour.  Be sure to check out her site to find out more about what she does and what else is coming up!

Today I have for you a review of Chelsea Fine's Anew, first in the Archers of Avalon series.  Anew was actually published last year, so it was a lot of fun to discover a new book that I missed out on initially in all of the holiday hubbub.  Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more reviews and lots of great content, and don't forget to take a peek at the second book, Awry.

by Chelsea Fine
publisher: Acacia Publishing
date of publication: December 7, 2011
format: paperback
pages: 385
source: from the publisher for review

From Goodreads:

Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery...until she met a boy with a familiar voice.

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past...might just be the death of her.

Anew is a book that, somehow, escaped my notice last December, despite having a description that proved appealing.  As you can see in the synopsis above, there are intriguing elements such as an amnesiac 17 year old, fleeting hints of a past well-hidden, and mysterious boys that are somehow tied to her.  A little magic and a curse promise to provide a good read for those looking for something out of the ordinary.  In many ways, Anew did provide this.  However, there were also a few bits that fell short and left me with much to ponder.

Scarlet is an interesting character in that she has absolutely no idea who she truly is or where she came from.  When she awoke in the forest of small-town Avalon, Georgia, all she knew was that her name was Scarlet Jacobs.  Her feelings of not belonging make her a character that you immediately feel for and her penchant for sarcasm appealed to me very much.  She has a great dynamic with her best friend, Heather, a girl with a veneer of superficiality but a surprisingly keen perspective on Scarlet's nature.  Heather's loyalty and protectiveness to Scarlet are admirable traits while her drama queen tendencies and well-paced banter with Scarlet made for some very entertaining moments.  In that department, I was well-pleased.  However, there was a feeling of something missing.  While Scarlet has an independent streak, I would have loved to see even more backbone.  There's nothing like a sassy character with a fantastic ability for knowing exactly what needs to be done.

I really enjoyed the premise for Anew.  The concept of a centuries-long curse with such a lingering, devastating aftermath is what really piqued my interest.  While the details were a little maddening in the slowness with which they were revealed, it truly does make for a great storyline.  There is one aspect of the plot, however, that I had some trouble with: the Archer brothers and the love triangle that exists between them and Scarlet.  There are pros and cons about the brothers that shouldn't be discounted.  On the one hand, the brothers are a great contrast for each other and each brings their own personality, motives, and methods to the table.  On the other hand, they tend to bicker like an old married couple.  What I found especially irksome was Gabriel's excessive use of the term "evil" for his brother, Tristan.  I get that he does not agree with his brother's approach to the problem at hand, but it doesn't speak well of Gabriel, himself, that he is willing to accept it should it deliver the desired result.  To sum it up, I found it distasteful that he was willing to profit from the very thing he turned up his nose at.  It was a bit too wishy-washy for my taste and left me with undecided as to whether or not I found him to be an enjoyable character.

In the end, Anew provided some really fun reading.  The plentiful banter was amusing and enjoyable and the dynamics of the curse were very intriguing.  Though I am not sold on the love triangle aspect, I do recognize enough potential in the brothers to keep an open mind.  If you're looking for something a little out of the ordinary, Anew would be a good pick to try out.  With magic, romance, and with, it makes for an entertaining, fun read that leaves you wanting to know more.

Buy Anew at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.  

About the Author

Chelsea lives in Phoenix, AZ where she spends most of her time writing young adult fiction, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs.  Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks.  She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.

 

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Review - Revived

by Cat Patrick
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
format: hardcover
pages: 336
source: from the publisher for review
score: 3.5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

Right away you know that Revived is going to be quite interesting.  The first chapter opens with Daisy in the midst of dying.  This isn't the end of Daisy, however.  We soon find out that Daisy is different than the majority of kids: she can be brought back from the dead and be a living, breathing girl all over again.  Since she can't exactly show back up around town when so many saw her die, she and her guardians make another move that will wind up changing Daisy's life in many ways.  What ensues is a story full of mystery, intrigue, espionage, love, and heartbreak.  

Daisy has been on the move for so long that she has become a bit of a loner.  I felt for her as it struck me as a lonely existence.  In spite of this, however, she seems amazingly well-adjusted and has a great voice as a character.  Her dialog is so engaging that the pages fly by quite easily.  Her burgeoning friendship with vivacious Audrey and her budding romance with Audrey's brother, Matt, round out the most frequently seen characters.  I enjoyed all 3 of them, though I felt that Daisy shared her secrets with Matt too soon, making her perhaps a bit too naive.  Over all, though, it's a nice cast of characters that make for a smooth read.

The aspect of the book that I was the least sold on was the background.  It is lacking in further information on the who, how, what, and why involved in the making of Revive.  While you're reading it doesn't register so much, but once you put the book down there are so many questions left without answers.  Also, the threat didn't really strike me as especially urgent.  I think it's partly due to the delivery and partly the lack of information on the culprit once they are apprehended.  Knowing a motive would have been great, too.  

In spite of its flaws, Revived proved to be a fun read for a rainy Saturday afternoon.  With great character interactions and its premise, Revived is worth checking out.  I'm glad that I finally had the time to read it.  I will warn you, however, that if you are prone to becoming very emotional you will need tissues on hand.  A particular part of the book hit me pretty hard due to a past event in my life, so it's something to keep in mind.  If you're looking for a book that's a little bit sci-fi, a little bit romance, you may want to give Revived a chance.

  

Buy Revived at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher.  No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.