Waiting on Wednesday #44

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the link above will take you straight to her post and widget.

I'm back!  It's been 4 months since my last WoW post.  Four months!  I'm not entirely sure how regularly I will be able to do these, but for now I hope to participate often again.  I'm still trying to get back into my personal blogging rhythm, so to speak, so things are still fairly sporadic around here.  Hopefully that will change soon.

This week, the book I am most desperately waiting on is Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers, coming April 2, 2013 from Houghton Mifflin.  I absolutely LOVED Grave Mercy, so I am positively drooling now that I've seen the cover for the next.  Must. have. it!

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.

But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.

Review - The Hallowed Ones

by Laura Bickle
publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
date of publication: September 25, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 320
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.

When I first heard about The Hallowed Ones, I was intrigued yet doubtful.  You see, I wasn't sure just how well a vampire apocalypse would work with an Amish community for a setting.  Then, I began to read and became attached the the main character, Katie, a spirited young Amish girl thirsting for knowledge of what lies beyond the fences of her community.  As calamity begins to befall the outside world, some unexpected dynamics come into play and Katie begins to undergo a transformation that will forever change her view of life.  The Hallowed Ones is an absolutely gripping work of thoughtfulness, horror, and dystopia in its purest sense.  What do you do when you discover corruption in the face of true horror?

Katie turned out to be a very compelling main character.  While those around her expect her to be a good Amish girl and to settle down into marriage with her childhood friend, Elijah, right after her Rumspringa, Katie wants more.  It is her internal fight against these wants that, in essence, prepares Katie for the events about to befall the entirety of the world.  Her resistance of denial is fascinating to observe, especially when compared to the reactions of those around her to the nature of the disaster.  There's everything from corruption to unexpected betrayal amongst this tight-knit community, which makes nearly every event so unexpected.  I really enjoyed the different aspects of human reaction that were displayed within this book.

It didn't take very long for me to be fully convinced of the effectiveness of the story's setting.  In regards to the traditional view of vampires (garlic, can't tread on holy ground, burn in sunlight, etc.), the Amish community in which Katie lives proves to be a novel, perfect backdrop.  What constitutes holy ground?  How vulnerable is it really?  What breaks the fortification that holy ground provides?  All were questions pondered in the story, making the overall plot both mentally stimulating and emotionally exciting.  I was also pleasantly surprised by the return to the traditional vampire traits from the stories of old.  It all made for a horrific, terrifying tone that I simply couldn't get enough of.

While the first few pages made me wonder as to whether the pacing would be good, the time in which it took actions to begin was nearly spot-on.  The Hallowed Ones is a well-paced, well-executed story that is more than capable of grabbing your attention and holding it for hours on end.  Even if you find yourself weary of vampire tales, as I do, you still need to read this book.  If I'm this excited about it, I can imagine that others may be completely over-the-moon when they read it.  The Hallowed Ones is well worth your time and attention thanks to such great characters and its amazing plot line.  You won't be sorry.

Buy The Hallowed Ones at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

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

Review - Grave Mercy

by Robin LaFevers
publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
date of publication: April 3, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 509
source: from the publisher for review
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

What I Thought

Anticipation for this novel has been high ever since I first read the plot description.  I was intrigued by the concept of a seventeen-year-old assassin trained in the deadly arts by a convent.  As if that wasn't enough, the fact that it takes place at the high court of medieval Brittany and is based upon the events surrounding the real-life Anne of Brittany boosted this novel near the top of my must-read list.  Now that I have had the chance to read it, I can gladly say that Grave Mercy lived up to every one of my expectations... and more!

Ismae is, perhaps, one of the strongest female main characters I have had the pleasure of reading in quite some time.  She is born during a time when women are basically sold at a young age in marriage and have little to no choice in what becomes of them.  That she goes from being a victim to being a formidable young woman who can more than take care of herself is a marvel of character development.  Her experiences do leave their mark upon her, however, which makes her all the more complex and easily related to.  Her male counterpart, Duval, is one of my favorite male characters that I have encountered in a while, as well.  While he does hold concerns about Ismae's welfare, he isn't over-the-top with it.  I really liked that Ms. LaFevers made him into a remarkably open-minded young man in a world where so few men would take a woman's theories and strengths seriously.  It was very refreshing and, I must say, the hints of romance were all the more compelling for it! 

The world of this assassin is one filled with both danger and beauty and I simply could not get enough of it.  Having recently learned of my own familial ties to both this time period and era, I quickly found myself drawn into this rich, intricately woven world of politics, intrigue, and betrayal.  The storyline is wonderfully complex and, though I thought I had figured a few things out, the plot twists were nothing short of brilliant and ensured that there was much to take me by surprise.  The overall package reminded me of some of my all-time favorite historical novels and left me feeling similarly excited upon finishing the last page.  This book fully engaged my mind and left me wishing to learn even more about the time and people that inspired it.  This is the mark of a great novel.

The only complaint I have about Grave Mercy is that I have to wait an entire year to read the next book.  It was one of those books that I felt sad upon finishing simply because it was over.  I'm beyond thrilled that there will be 2 more books, however, and can't wait to see what else the world of His Fair Assassin has in store.  If you're a history buff that enjoys a little fantasy in their novels, then you absolutely have to read Grave Mercy.  Even if you're not so interested in history, I still highly recommend this book.  It has made it into my top 5 for the year so far and I can not wait to have a finished copy on my shelves, just so I can read it all over again.

 
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 - 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.

Waiting on Wednesday - November 30, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the image above will take you straight to her post and widget.

Today I have a double edition of Waiting on Wednesday to share.  I couldn't choose just one book this week, so I have picked two!  Both of these titles sound absolutely intriguing and I can't wait until they are available for purchase so I can read them both.

First up is a YA dystopian with... vampires!  Since I've finally started reading vampire novels again and I love dystopian fiction, I thought that this would be an awesome book to read.  My first choice is Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London, which is coming from HarperTeen on May 29, 2012.

From Goodreads:

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.

 My second choice is a YA fantasy/historical fiction.  It takes place in Brittany, which piqued my interest right away, as I have never read a book set there before.  The heroine of this tale is Death's handmaiden, which makes it all the more interesting.  Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers will be available on April 3, 2012 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (aren't they coming out with some fantastic books in 2012?).

From Goodreads:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?