Review - Monument 14

by Emmy Laybourne
publisher: Feiwel and Friends
date of publication: June 5, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 294
source: from the publisher; Fierce Reads campaign

From Goodreads:

Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.

Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.

Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

 

From the very first page, Monument 14 succeeds in instilling a sense of foreboding.  The opening words are the epitome of words left unsaid and, upon reading them, you just know that there is a lot of heartbreak on the way.  What ensues is a chain reaction of events that will rock the characters in the story to their very cores and leave you, the reader, shell-shocked beyond belief.  From cover to cover, Monument 14 delivers with trials, tribulations, emotions, and enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The cast of characters that make up Monument 14 are as varied in temperament as they are in age.  From the 5 year old twins to the 18 year old high school seniors, attitudes differ, emotions run amok, and conflicts arise.  Shy, gawky Dean, the narrator and our guide through life in the Greenway in apocalyptic Monument, Colorado, is as flawed as he is endearing.  You can't help but feel for the guy but, at the same time, he does mess up.  A lot.  Unlike characters from other books, however, Dean's mistakes aren't simply a nuisance to the reader.  They add an edge to all of the other things going on in the story and make reading about the situation all the more intense.  Dean's reactions to the various occurrences are nothing short of fascinating and I my attention was definitely held by both his point of view and the events as shown through his eyes.

I don't know what it is about apocalyptic settings that I find to be so intriguing, but the setting for Monument 14 especially delivered for me.  The storyline was captivating and the pace was brisk enough to add a higher level of urgency to the book's atmosphere.  It was so easy to get a sense of who everyone was thanks to the dialog and the descriptions of both the kids' surroundings and the events that take place are vivid.  It almost felt like I was right there alongside them, trying to figure out how to get the pizza oven to work properly and keep the little kids out of trouble (as if I don't get enough of that in my day-to-day life; ha!).

Monument 14 is one of those books that refuses to let you out of its grasp.  I found myself staying awake until the sun started to appear in the horizon because I simply could not stop reading.  I expect I could have finished it in 12 hours if I hadn't needed sleep.  It was that enthralling.  If you're in need of a book with lots of action and the complexities of human reaction, look no further.  Emmy Laybourne's debut, simply put, knocked my socks off.  I'm going to be anxiously awaiting the next book.  I just can't get enough!

Buy Monument 14 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.

Taking a Stand - Why I Joined the Respect the ARC Campaign

Ever since I received my first ARC, I have taken great care to be respectful about the entire process.  If the publisher is generous enough to send me one to review, then you had better believe I'm not going to do anything to essentially thumb my nose at them.  The fact that we as book bloggers have the opportunity to read and review these books early is an amazing thing and is an opportunity I am very grateful for.  Whether or not there is a law regarding the legality of the sale of ARCs is moot.  It's a matter of ethics that we not sell the ARCs that are shared with us.  When ethics fall by the wayside, the community as a whole suffers. 

Last week, I came across an ARC copy of Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock up for sale on Amazon.  I reported it to customer care and it disappeared.  Whether it was pulled or bought, I don't know, but I at least tried to do the right thing.  On Friday, I saw something very disturbing via one of Gennifer Albin's tweets.  Not one, but TWO ARCs of her upcoming release, Crewel, were up for sale on eBay.  This seller not only had placed these ARCs on eBay for sale, but he or she was essentially boasting that they came from BEA.  One was even signed, meaning this person likely stood in line and met the author before turning around and doing such a disrespectful thing.  That is, unless this was one of the people reportedly stealing books from people's tote bags, but that's another matter entirely.  Either way, this is a horrible thing and, unfortunately, it got even worse.  When I clicked on the seller's profile link in order to see if there was a button I could click to report them, I found out that the two ARCs of Crewel were just the tip of the iceburg.  The seller had a stock of 64 books.  Today, they have 42.  Guess how many of those are ARCs.  FORTY OF THEM!  Right there, plain as day, were copies of Black City, Fallen Kingdoms, Origin, Entice, Fathomless, Venom, and several others.  I called eBay and reported this person, hoarse voice and all.  That so many listings are gone now while others are still there doesn't bode well for the likelihood that they were pulled by the site, but I did what I could and, hopefully, others did, as well. 

Does this burn my biscuits?  You bet it does!  Publishers are placing a lot of trust in us when they send us these books.  Such a practice makes a mockery of the publisher/book blogger/librarian/book seller relationship.  Also, what about the authors who worked so hard on that book?  They won't see a dime from the sale of an ARC.  This is a bigger deal than you might think.  How so?  Though she is talking about the piracy of her ebooks, Saundra Mitchell explains it very well with her post about the piracy of her first book: Free Books Aren't Free.  So, what can you do?  Speak up!  If you see it, say something.  Don't stand aside and let it go unchecked.  Whether you see an ARC for sale on Amazon, eBay, or even in your favorite used book store, it's up to you to inform the appropriate people.  If you don't get a response from the sellers, take it to the publishers.  Blatant dishonesty shouldn't be ignored.  I refuse to stand aside while it goes on in our world.

The "Respect the ARC" button above comes from A Few More Pages
The "Respect the ARC" campaign originates from Behind Yellow Eyes, which was down at the time this post was written. 
Also, check out this post by Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic for more words on the matter and some great "Respect the ARC" buttons.

Review - Struck

by Jennifer Bosworth
publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux BYR
date of publication: May 8, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 373
source: from the publisher for review
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads:

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She's survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

I can honestly say that I have never heard of a book quite like Struck.  I couldn't have been more fascinated by the idea of the main character being a girl who has been struck by lightning countless times and has become a lightning addict as a result.  As you might imagine, the concept of a lightning addict makes for a wholly unique character and plot.  Add cults into the mix and you just know you're in for an eerie story with many twists and turns.  Struck, with its apocalyptic setting and hair-raising plot, succeeded in providing a fantastic story and an overall striking reading experience.

Mia is such a fascinating character that I couldn't help but pay close attention to all aspects of her personality and ability.  She has had to deal with much in her life and, unfortunately for her, things are about to get even more complicated.  She deals with her obstacles in a firm and forthright manner that you can't help but admire.  As a result, she is a truly compelling character that never ceased to draw me fully into the story, something which I always appreciate.  As if that weren't enough, the descriptions of both the marks left upon her body by her lightning encounters as well as the abilities she has developed as a result make her all the more a kick-butt character.  I couldn't get enough of reading the story from her point of view.

At first I was concerned about the intensity of the religious extremists that are such a large part of this book.  However, I found that it didn't bother me and only served to add to the intensity of the story, itself.  The cults serve as an example of the dangers of megalomania.  Prophet and his sycophants are truly horrifying, much more so than their counterpart, and gave me several chills throughout the story.  Placing such groups in an apocalyptic setting made the threat all the more sinister and I simply couldn't wait to find out how Mia would handle the situation.  This story is truly one that can suck you in, chew you up, and then spit you back out, leaving you with nothing but total shock.

When all was said and done, Struck proved to be a thrilling, action-packed adventure into the unknowns of both nature and humanity that kept me on the edge of my seat.  Mia's romance with Jeremy was of just the right amount, which proved to fit well into the overall storyline.  The vividness of the characters along with the detailed setting and fresh storyline sets this book apart in terms of originality and execution.  Even if this were to be a standalone book, I would be utterly content.  However, since it is the first in a series, I am very much looking forward to seeing what is in store for Mia, Jeremy, and Mia's family. 

Buy Struck at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

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

Review - A Temptation of Angels

by Michelle Zink
publisher: Dial
date of publication: March 20, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 448
source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance...

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.

What I Thought

Since I received this ARC back in December, I have been highly anticipating getting the chance to read this book.  This is my first experience reading anything by Michelle Zink, so I had no preconceptions whatsoever with regard to what I should expect.  As it turns out, A Temptation of Angels was a great introduction to Michelle Zink's work.  I was treated to an engrossing tale that was every bit as entertaining as it was detailed.

Helen is an interesting character.  She is somewhat reserved when it comes to certain emotions, although she is also stubborn, naive, and caring.  When the book begins, we are introduced to Helen as she faces immediate danger.  Early on, one can begin to get a sense of just who Helen is based upon how she faces her struggles.  It is who she comes to be, however, that I found most intriguing.  While some of her actions may seem foolhardy at best, you have to admire her tenacity and spirit.  Griffin, one of the primary male characters and a source of attraction for Helen, is also an enjoyable character to get to know.  He is debonair, kind, and adventurous all at once, which makes for a great counterpart to Helen, as well as a pretty swoon-worthy male lead.  The character I felt most conflicted about, however, was not Darius, Griffin's sardonic brother, but Raum, the mysterious boy from Helen's childhood.  I didn't know whether I found him abhorrent or someone to be pitied.  Even by the end, he was as much of a mystery to me as when he first appeared in the book.

The construct of A Temptation of Angels is very absorbing.  It moves along at a nice clip and provides enough background information without causing an overload.  The premise is fresh and entertaining and has a nice helping of romance.  However, there is a love triangle involved, which I just don't feel so inclined toward.  For me, it detracts from Helen's decisiveness and the concept of love triangles overall is beginning to wear on my patience.  In the end, however, it doesn't effect my overall enjoyment of the book, nor does it put a damper on my desire to read more.

A Temptation of Angels is a great book that I will not hesitate to recommend in the future.  It is probably high on my list of angel books that I enjoy and I really hope to see more books set in this world in the future.  Michelle Zink has created a wonderfully imaginative take on the battle between angels and demons that will set your imagination alight.  If you enjoy books centered around angels and the theme of good vs. evil, then A Temptation of Angels would be a great choice.

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge via the publisher through Library Thing Early Reviewers. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Illuminate

by Aimee Agresti
publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
date of publication: March 6, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 534
source: from the publisher for review
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

     As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

     Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.

What I Thought

Illuminate, the story of an awkward teenage girl who finds herself in an extraordinary situation, is much more than I had originally expected.  Set against a lush backdrop of glitz and glamor, this story has an exceptional amount of menace and mystery.  The full scope of the situation at hand in this book is something that must be seen to be believed.  This story of self-discovery and danger will have you on the edge of your seat.

Haven is one of those characters that you will find yourself mentally pleading with, berating, and cheering on.  Even in her most frustrating moments, I found myself liking her.  She doesn't easily lose sight of the big picture and lives up to the intelligence she is credited with having.  She is the perfect foil to Aurelia in all her mercenary glory.  Both characters are the perfect example of things never being as they may first seem.

Illuminate did move along at a somewhat slow pace, at times.  Taking place over a 3-4 month period of time, there is much information to digest.  At some points it felt as though there was a bit too much information, making the story nearly come to a grinding halt at inopportune moments.  However, the overall plot is a great one and I really enjoyed the sense of mystery, danger, and glamor that was injected into the story.  I found myself fully drawn into Haven's adventures as she sets out to discover the truth behind the luxurious facade.

Overall, I really enjoyed Illuminate and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to readers who like their paranormal reads chock full of mystery and menace.  Illuminate is a nail-biter with rich imagery and a top-notch main character.  The villains are truly insidious and the development of all of the primary characters is handled very well.  Despite its potentially overflowing information, Illuminate is a fun read that will provide you with hours of thrills, chills, and intrigue.

 
Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Review - Harbinger

by Sara Wilson Etienne
publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR
date of publication: February 2, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 320
source: Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller.

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

What I Thought

By simply reading Harbinger's description, I knew that there would be some creepy elements to the book.  What I wasn't prepared for was the rich detail injected into the story through the use of ancient history and a surprising amount of the supernatural.  All of these details combined made for an eerie, intriguing read that constantly left me guessing and floored me with its final outcome.

Harbinger's setting was both interesting and confusing.  The woodlands of coastal Maine added to the overall creep factor of Holbrook Academy, which is so full of spooky areas that it is difficult to read without a sense of foreboding.  However, some elements of the world in which the story takes place aren't as clear as I would have liked.  There is much mention about a war, but relatively few descriptions of it.  One gets the sense that the struggle is fuel source based, but that's the extent of it.  There is no real indication as to who was involved, what the catalyst event was, or even exactly when it took place.  Another thing that I had questions about was the cooperatives.  I got the sense that they were closed neighborhoods, but little else.  They are frequently mentioned, but not fully explained, which left me somewhat confused as to their importance.

The main character, Faye, is very well portrayed.  It is easily apparent that she is a girl with much inner conflict, which is portrayed beautifully by her inner dialogues and her interactions with her Family (the group of teens which she is placed with in the home).  She teeters on the edge throughout the book, so part of the intrigue is in finding out whether or not she will manage to rise above her problems or succumb to the pressures put upon her by the tyrannical Holbrook staff, as well as her own nightmares. 

The story line definitely has its pros and cons.  The entire concept was thrilling, creepy, and enjoyable.  However, there were definitely a few things that caught my attention and left me feeling puzzled.  The idea of ecological consciousness becomes a big part of the story, but I noticed that Faye wasn't overly concerned about it, at first.  When she arrives at Holbrook, she mentions feeling intimidated by the forest, then practically ignores it as far as something to be concerned about.  It came across as somewhat wishy-washy and I still am not sure of what to think.  However, when Faye does begin to pay more attention to it, her reactions are very intense and observant.  I did like that preservation of natural resources played such a role in this book.  Another aspect of the story that was, perhaps, left unexplained was the source of the Family's red hands.  There are some clues as to what the cause may have been, but no definitive answers, which I found to be a little disappointing, as I had been very curious about that particular event.  I will say that it did punch up the thrill factor and really clued the reader in that something serious was going on.  Overall, it was a very eerie story that I found to be entertaining and interesting.

Harbinger wasn't what I had hoped it would be, but it was a good read that provoked much thought and did a great job at keeping me guessing.  It has great elements of mystery and a definite feel of a thriller.  In spite of a few plot holes, I found that I liked the story and would definitely like to read more by Sara Wilson Etienne in the future.

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

Review - Cinder

by Marissa Meyer
publisher: Feiwel & Friends
date of publication: January 3, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 387
source: from the publisher
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

What I Thought

When I first read the plot description, I was caught somewhere between bewilderment and intrigue.  I am a sucker for a good fairytale variation.  However, I was surprised to see mention of androids and cyborgs.  However, feeling adventurous, I knew that I had to try this book.  I am very glad that I did.  Not only did Cinder satisfy my craving for a unique Cinderella variation, it also piqued my interest in a genre that I typically don't read very often.  That speaks very well for the book, already.

Though I took a little time to warm up to the idea of a cyborg as a main character, I quickly grew to love Linh Cinder.  Not only is she unique, she is also tough, witty, and sarcastic, all qualities that I enjoy in a lead character.  This isn't your mama's Cinderella figure.  Instead of a damsel in distress, Cinder gets herself out of any scrape she gets into on her own and all the better for it.  I found it really refreshing that she didn't need saving by her prince.  Instead, it's up to her to save the prince from a terrible fate, something which I found to be a great change of pace.  That's not to say that Prince Kai is a weakling.  On the contrary.  While he has his doubts about his imminent ascension to the role of Emperor, he is no pushover.  There's no weakness to be found from the main characters, something which I adored about this book.  As for the "bad guys," there are plenty.  Cinder's stepmother and the evil Lunar queen Levana are some of the most infuriating antagonists I've read in quite a while.  I was positively seething when I read about the stepmother's treatment of Cinder.  As for Levana, I wouldn't have been at all surprised to found out that she was the cyborg manifestation of some murderous dictator in disguise.  She was that evil.  You definitely won't be left lacking for in-your-face characters.

The setting for Cinder was probably the biggest adjustment for me to make.  It is very futuristic in an almost bleak way.  You really get the sense that though technology has made vast advancements, these advances have come about as the result of some terrible things.  New Beijing is described as half-way between budding wasteland and bustling metropolis, something I found to be difficult to picture.  It was actually very much a dystopian setting, something that I hadn't quite anticipated.  Eventually, though, I was caught up and it all became an integral part of the story.  I enjoyed every bit of it in the end.

Cinder is one of the most unique variations I have ever read.  When I couldn't stop thinking about the book after I finished reading it, I knew that I had read something very awesome.  Whether you are a fan of science fiction or not, give this one a try.  Marissa Meyer doesn't disappoint with her vivid imagination and detailed world-building.  Cinder gets a 5 hoot rating for its fresh and riveting storyline.

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

Review - Dragonswood

by Janet Lee Carey
publisher: Dial BFYR
date of publication: January 5, 2011
format: ARC
pages: 386
source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Wilde Island is in an uproar after the recent death of its king. The uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is fraying, and a bloodthirsty witch hunter with a hidden agenda whips villages into frenzies with wild accusations. Tess, a blacksmith’s daughter from a tiny hamlet near the mysterious Dragonswood, finds herself caught in the crosshairs of fate when she is accused of witchery and has to flee for her life along with her two best friends.

Not even Tess’s power to see the future can help the girls as they set off on their desperate journey, but she keeps having visions of a man wielding a sword. And when she finally meets him, Tess has no idea how to handle the magnetic attraction she feels for him, or the elusive call she hears from the heart of the Dragonswood.

In this epic romance, an ancient prophecy comes true in a way neither dragon, fairy, nor human would have predicted.

What I Thought

There is nothing quite like high fantasy to get the imagination jump-started.  Dragonswood is a prime example of all that is great about the genre.  Filled with such things as adventure, fantasy creatures, and magic, Dragonswood takes you on a soaring flight into a world where both the remarkable and the dangerous are everyday occurences.  By injecting the fictional Wilde Island into the post-Arthurian Britain, Janet Lee Carey has created a stirring backdrop for a story as harrowing and fantastic as one could ask for.

Everything from the characters to the setting grabbed my attention with this book.  For starters, Tess is an amazing heroine to read about.  Though she succumbs to extreme circumstances and betrays her friends, she proves to be a loyal, strong friend that will stop at nothing to right a wrong and keep her dearest friends alive.  From their escape from Harrowton to their journey into the dangerous and mystical Dragonswood, the girls are in good hands with Tess, who is a born survivor.  When she learns more about herself, she becomes all the more fascinating.  I don't know if she is featured in the companion novel yet, but I certainly hope she will be. 

The fantasy elements were especially entertaining to me.  It doesn't get much better than capricious faeries and talking dragons.  I loved that the dragons were able to hold such an important role in the story, as well as their status as lords.  It all made for a more riveting story.  The lore injected into the story with regard to both dragons and faeries made it all the better.  I was sad when the book ended simply because I wanted to read more! 

If you want a rousing YA high fantasy for your TBR list, I would definitely recommend Dragonswood.  This was my first experience reading a work by Janet Lee Carey and I can safely say that it won't be my last.  Fans of strong characters and vivid settings will want to read this in a heartbeat.  I give Dragonswood 5 hoots and can't wait to buy a finished copy for my shelves.

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

Review: The Little Women Letters

by Gabrielle Donnelly
publisher: Simon & Schuster
date of publication: June 7, 2011
format: ARC
pages: 368
source: from the publisher
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
challenges: Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge

From Goodreads:

Vibrant, fresh, and intelligent, The Little Women Letters explores the imagined lives of Jo March’s descendants—three sisters who are both thoroughly modern and thoroughly March. As uplifting and essential as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Gabrielle Donnelly’s novel will speak to anyone who’s ever fought with a sister, fallen in love with a fabulous pair of shoes, or wondered what on earth life had in store for her.

With her older sister, Emma, planning a wedding and her younger sister, Sophie, preparing to launch a career on the London stage, Lulu can’t help but feel like the failure of the Atwater family. Lulu loves her sisters dearly and wants nothing but the best for them, but she finds herself stuck in a rut, working dead-end jobs with no romantic prospects in sight. When her mother asks her to find a cache of old family recipes in the attic of her childhood home, Lulu stumbles across a collection of letters written by her great-great-grandmother Josephine March. In her letters, Jo writes in detail about every aspect of her life: her older sister, Meg’s, new home and family; her younger sister Amy’s many admirers; Beth’s illness and the family’s shared grief over losing her too soon; and the butterflies she feels when she meets a handsome young German. As Lulu delves deeper into the lives and secrets of the March sisters, she finds solace and guidance, but can the words of her great-great-grandmother help Lulu find a place for herself in a world so different from the one Jo knew? Vibrant, fresh, and intelligent, The Little Women Letters explores the imagined lives of Jo March’s descendants—three sisters who are both thoroughly modern and thoroughly March. As uplifting and essential as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Gabrielle Donnelly’s novel will speak to anyone who’s ever fought with a sister, fallen in love with a fabulous pair of shoes, or wondered what on earth life had in store for her.

Some things, of course, remain unchanged: the stories and jokes that form a family’s history, the laughter over tea in the afternoon, the desire to do the right thing in spite of obstacles. And above all, of course, the fierce, undying, and often infuriating bond of sisterhood that links the Atwater women every bit as firmly as it did the March sisters all those years ago. Both a loving tribute to Little Women and a wonderful contemporary family story, The Little Women Letters is a heartwarming, funny, and wise novel for today.

What I Thought

As you may already know if you are a regular visitor to my blog, I typically review YA books, most often of the urban fantasy, paranormal romance, dystopian, and, more recently, steampunk persuasions. However, I will always have that special place in my heart reserved for classic literature. I also enjoy fresh new takes on these classics and can greatly appreciate a well-written one. While it has been a long, long time since I last read Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, I was intrigued when I saw The Little Women Letters advertised in a Shelf Awareness newsletter. Imagine my delight upon receiving a package from Simon & Schuster containing an ARC for this book! I am glad to say that my enthusiasm did not wane once while I read this book and definitely recommend it for anyone who has read and loved Little Women in the past.

The book's main character, Lulu, really struck a chord with me. She was so very easy to relate to that I was completely engrossed in the book by the end of the first chapter. Lulu is a young woman who is unsure about what she wants out of life. As she tries to make such an important decision on her own (she is a very independent sort of girl), she has to deal with pressures from her prodding (albeit well-meaning) family. I really loved watching her work through her issues and questions through the surreptitious reading of letters written between her great-great grandmother, Jo March, and her sisters. In several ways, Lulu is much like Jo, though she also has issues of her very own to work through. I was left feeling very contemplative at the end of every chapter and had to sit down and think about what I had just read. If you have problems similar to Lulu, she will compel you to think about your own situation, which is a very powerful thing to find in a character from a book.

If you have a different type of personality, there are other characters containing vast appeal in The Little Women Letters. It is full of strong female characters, each with her own unique take on life. Emma, the oldest sister, is a reserved yet funny character who almost always has her head on straight. Sophie is the wilder, youngest sister who has a lot to offer underneath her seeming caricature-like facade. Charlie, Lulu's best friend, is a quiet, humble young woman who is possessed of a generous spirit. Watching these girls discover things about themselves and move through life added so much more to the book and made it all the more engrossing.

There are several themes throughout the book that pertain to women: the women's movement, relationships, balancing duty with fun, friendship, sisterhood, family, and so much more. Reading about the lives of the characters left me feeling both introspective and refreshed. I was sorry to see it end and would have loved to read just a little more about these women.

If you are looking for a new approach to a favored classic, I urge you to give The Little Women Letters a try. Though this book is not YA, it wouldn't be inappropriate for those in their late teens. The writing is funny, touching, and bittersweet all at once and I couldn't have loved it more. I give The Little Women Letters 5 hoots.






Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.