Review - Cold Fury

by T.M. Goeglein
publisher: Putnam Juvenile
date of publication: July 24, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 313
source: from the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers

From Goodreads:

Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.

  
Upon first meeting Sara Jane Rispoli, one might think they aren't going to be treated to such a gutsy character.  Such a misconception is not bound to remain for long, however, as Sara Jane's past is recounted, revealing a girl tougher than anyone around her can possibly know.  In this action-packed thriller, perseverance is everything as one teenage girl takes on a shadowy band of corrupt authority figures, a jealous uncle, and quite possibly the eeriest villain I've encountered in a book this year.  I can only say that I was wrong to think that Cold Fury would be a slow, convoluted book.  It turned out to be anything but!

If I were to sum up Sara Jane in one word, that word would be "backbone."  Beneath her quiet exterior lies a fiery core that is capable of more than Sara Jane herself even realizes.  As she takes on all those who would seize or harm her, the full extent of not only her strength, but her intellect shines through, making her a very intriguing character to follow.  She isn't perfect by any means, but her strength makes her a compelling character, nonetheless.  Such an intelligent, determined, and loyal main character is one well worth reading about.

The pacing of Cold Fury worried me in the beginning as I slowly waded through the narrative of Sara Jane's early years.  However, things soon picked up and the information learned during that narrative proved to be very useful in understanding all that was going on throughout the rest of the book.  In addition to pacing, Cold Fury has some exemplary settings.  The numerous Capone doors (a really clever means of escape) and the unpredictable streets of Chicago made for such a fantastic backdrop.  Each one fit the actions and tones of the story perfectly.  I couldn't wait to see where Sara Jane would find herself next.

Cold Fury is one of the more action-filled books I've read this year and I'm very glad to have had the chance to read it.  It made for a perfect change of pace from my typical fantasy/dystopian/supernatural reading habits, a very important thing for someone in a bit of a reading rut.  If you have a fascination for spy or mob movies, you should definitely check out Cold Fury.  With its imposing main character, action, and unique settings, you're sure to find something you like in the pages of Cold Fury.  Trust me when I say that you won't be bored.

Buy Cold Fury at the Following Locations

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

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

Review: Legend

by Marie Lu
publisher: Putnam Juvenile
date of publication: November 29, 2011
format: ARC
pages: 336
source: from the publisher for review
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

What I Thought 

I wasn't exactly sure what to think of this book, at first.  I started out in a state of confusion due to some rather illogical events that take place.  It is a given that Day is involved in actions against the government.  However, I am pretty sure that a chunk of ice dipped in gasoline would not wield a flammable ice ball.  I am fairly good in science, but just to be sure I asked my husband, who knows a lot more and has a scientifically-based degree.  He confirmed my thoughts on the matter.  However, I digress.  What I am trying to say is that there were several examples such as this in the book that threw me off and distracted me from becoming immersed in the story.  This held true for much of part 1.  It wasn't until I began to read part 2 that I became more satisfied and willing to continue with the story.

The world in which Legend takes place is a fractured, corrupt place that leaves little for those not working within the government.  What was once the United States has split up to become warring factions seeking dominance, land, and who knows what else.  It is a truly troubling place and very alarming in the grand scheme of things.  The level of corruption present is horrifying and the lengths some individuals are willing to go for personal success is sickening.  This is the world in which June and Day must exist.  Though from starkly different backgrounds, the two have much more in common that at first meets the eye.  It all comes down to where and how each was raised.  I enjoyed the duality of these characters as much as I enjoyed their differences.  They played very well off each other, which definitely helped me get past my earlier complaints with the story.  The plot surrounding them, while slow to gain momentum, was an intriguing one.  The Trials all 10 year olds must face sound harrowing, unfair, and, once again, corrupt.  Several of the other covert workings of the government are truly horrifying and left me feeling very angry at those who knew what they were doing and lacked the decency to care about it.  This book is most definitely capable of drawing out a reader's emotions, as well as their interests and more ponderous leanings.

Even with my mixed feelings, I wound up enjoying Legend in the end.  The relationships between the characters are well-portrayed and the idea behind this society is an interesting, if not intimidating, one.  I would definitely say that Legend is a worthwhile read, so long as you stick with it if you, too, find you are having difficulties with the first half.  The details improve exponentially the more the plot progresses, leading me to believe that the second book in this series will be even better.  I will be looking forward to seeing what Day and June will have to endure next.  If their ways of handling things are anything like they were in Legend, book 2 is going to be stellar.  

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.