Review - Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

by Danielle L. Jensen
publisher: Strange Chemistry
date of publication: April 1, 2014
format: eGalley
pages: 469
source: Netgalley
series: The Malediction Trilogy #1
buy it: Stolen Songbird: Malediction Trilogy Book One

From Goodreads:

For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

The premise for Stolen Songbird intrigued me from the very beginning.  After all, how often do you see a book where trolls play a large part and make up about 95% of the cast of characters?  Not often is the answer.  The story of Cécile and Tristan is one full of danger, subterfuge, and heartbreak.  I couldn't help but get lost in the underground world of Trollus and all of its dangers, politics, and strange beauty.  Each chapter was a new adventure and I couldn't put my reader down.  

Cécile was a well-imagined character.  She is impulsive, rash, and stubborn, along with caring and well-meaning.  She does much of what one would expect a character who has been kidnapped to do.  She tries at every opportunity to escape, though some of those attempts are ill-advised and make you question her from time to time.  There are moments where she isn't altogether realistic, however, especially some of her reactions to her captors.  You wouldn't expect someone who has been kidnapped to spend quite so much time considering how handsome this one or that one is, at least as much as Cécile seems to.  From time to time I sincerely wanted to shake her, but fortunately those moments came in small increments.  For the most part, Cécile and Tristan were well-written, easy to relate to characters with great background stories and vivid personalities.

Trollus is a harsh yet intriguing city that kept me captivated from start to finish.  Descriptions of its curse, while somewhat vague, really add an even more mysterious air to the story and its cold yet glittering glass gardens add an ethereal yet lonely backdrop for some amazing scenes.  The citizens of Trollus make it even more amazing, whether they are good, bad, or somewhere in between.  Such an array of horror and beauty is simply fantastic in every way possible.  It really made the story what it is with its rich and imaginative offerings.

Set in an imaginative underground world, Stolen Songbird is a lush story of intrigue, danger, and romance.  Fantasy fans won't be disappointed with this wonderful new offering and will be left wanting more by the time to last page is turned.  I couldn't get enough of this beautifully frightening world and all its denizens.  If you're looking for a story filled with romance and magic, then Stolen Songbird just may be what you're looking for.

Review - Defy by Sarah B. Larson

by Sarah B. Larson
publisher: Scholastic
date of publication: January 7, 2014
format: ARC
pages: 336
source: publisher
series: Defy (#1)
buy it: Defy

From Goodreads:

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Buckle up, because this review may get bumpy.  There were things that I liked about Defy, don't get me wrong.  However, there were also problems with Defy that really left me taken aback.  On the side of like, you have a fantasy element, magic, loyalty, and romance.  On the side of dislike there is insecurity, loss of a sense of self, and, worst of all, rape as a plot device.  Now, if you saw my review of Kinslayer over at Book Brats, you already know my feelings on this topic.  If you haven't, I'll just tell you that it makes me angry.  Super freaking angry.  That being said, why don't we take a closer look at what worked and what didn't in Defy?

As a character, Alexa had a lot of potential... at first.  She is presented as a strong character based upon the hardships she has lived through and the actions she has taken to survive.  Rather than being taken captive by the king for being a girl (more on that later), she chose to shear off her hair and take on the persona of her brother's twin brother instead of his twin sister.  Having been taught to fight by their father, this is an easy persona for her to enact, as it makes the soldiers far less suspicious as to her having another identity.  This is all a great start.  However, it would seem that even Alexa isn't immune to the dreaded love triangle.  Though she thinks to hold her feelings when it comes to the opposite sex in check, she does, in fact, let it affect her.  When her feelings are involved, she slips.  At times, she slips hard, all the time reminding herself that she is supposed to be coming across as a man.  First and foremost, Alexa is a fighter.  When it comes to romantic feelings, however, that seems to almost fall away at times.  It's incredibly frustrating to have this strong female character reduced to a moony-eyed one who seems to forget that she's strong at the drop of a hat.  I don't even know what to do with that.  It left her less sympathetic to me until the very end when she seemed to really start finding herself.  I expect a character with weaknesses.  What I don't expect is a character who falls apart when faced with the fact that she is, in fact, female.  Why can't she be a fighter and a woman at the same time without one affecting the other?

The setting is a complete mixed bag.  On the one hand, there are mysterious magics and lush jungles, a network of hidden caves and rich palaces.  Then, there are the breeding houses where state-sanctioned rape occurs on a daily basis.  What is the purpose, you ask?  That depends on who you ask.  The king in this story will say that it's to bolster his army with new soldiers... every 18 years.  It doesn't really stand up to scrutiny, does it?  Though the kind claims it's to fuel his war machine, a closer look reveals his true purpose: subjugation.  This becomes glaringly obvious due to later events in the story that are too much a spoiler to share here.  I don't know about you, but sex slavery and rape as a plot device is appalling.  There just has to be a better way of showing the king's cruelty than this.  As I said to friends while reading this part, "I just can't even."  As a woman, I found it incredibly offensive.  As a human being in general, I found it equally so.

While I had great hopes for Defy and did manage to find a few things I liked about it, the cons added up until I was just biding my time until the end came to be.  The writing was engaging and illustrative, but the themes used were more than I could bear.  Will I continue with the series?  If I'm honest, I would say it's highly doubtful.  While some of those elements may disappear within the second book, it has left such a sour taste in my mouth that I find myself unwilling to do so.  Life is too short and there are many other books out there I would rather give my time to.

Review - Ironskin by Tina Connolly

by Tina Connolly
publisher: Tor
date of publication: October 2, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 304
source: publisher
series: Ironskin

From Goodreads:

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It’s the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain—the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"—a child born during the Great War—Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn’t expect to fall for the girl’s father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio...and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life—and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have long been fascinated by tales of faeries and mythological creatures.  Those same people will also know that Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books of all time.  When I learned of Ironskin and that it combines two of my favorite literary things, I knew I just had to get my hands on it.  Jane Eyre retold with the twist of faeries?  What could be better?  While I did see many of the elements that gave evidence to its characteristics as a Jane Eyre variation, Ironskin didn't quite turn out as I had thought it would.  It also didn't have as much of the steampunk element as I would have liked.  While it succeeded with an eerie plot surrounding the nature and dangers of faeries in the world the story is set in, Ironskin's incorporation of the story of Jane Eyre left a lot to be desired and proved to be my least favorite element of the book.

When compared to the basis of her inspiration, Jane Eliot is, at first, nearly unrecognizable as a version of Jane Eyre.  In fact, I would hazard to say that the only consistent characteristic the two share is their initials.  Where Jane Eyre is a young woman who deals with the traumatic nature of her past with a reserved nature and no-nonsense personality, Jane Eliot's personality is supposedly comprised largely of rage enhanced by a fae curse.  You will notice I say "supposedly," for Jane Eliot struck me more as an irritable character than an enraged one.  Even during descriptions of her rage burning hot behind her mask, her thoughts were more along the lines of being perturbed.  She wound up being less believable as a character because of it and I just couldn't connect with her at all due to the number of inconsistencies.  Edward Rochart is more recognizable as a counterpart of Edward Rochester, complete with eccentricities and sardonic sense of humor.  His presence in the story, however, was too little to distract from Jane's flaws as a character.  Instead, I found myself more fascinated by the butler (at least, I suppose that is what you would call her) that answered the door upon Jane's arrival than by the other two (precisely why I won't say, as that would be a spoiler, but there is more than meets the eye with her).  Character-wise, Ironskin just didn't capture my complete interest and I found myself wanting for some truly engaging protagonists.

The world-building is the one area that I truly found myself intrigued by.  There is just enough of the Gothic present to provide the settings with that sense of foreboding one would expect of a story about a world brought to the bring of destruction by homicidal faeries with horrific methods of warfare.  From Mr. Rochart's manor home to the dark wood just at its boundaries, there is a distinct sense of danger around every corner, which makes for the perfect setting to read about in a story such as this.  The woods themselves had enough presence to become a character in its own right, which always makes for some entertaining reading.  My only complaint is that they weren't incorporated into the story more than they were.  I think I would have enjoyed Ironskin even more if that were the case.

Though Ironskin fell short in its capacity as a re-telling of Jane Eyre, it still proved to have many entertaining qualities.  My best advice would be to approach this book as though it had nothing to do with Jane Eyre.  If you've read Jane Eyre as many times as I have this tactic may not work, but you might find yourself enjoying the story more.  This is where reading variations and re-tellings proves challenging, for if they veer too far from the original, it is very easy to become hung up on all those little details.  However, I can say that Ironskin still has much to recommend it.  Its world-building is fantastic and the background concerning faeries is truly eerie and, at times, frightening.  If you enjoy novels involving faeries, Ironskin is worth checking out.  If you are more interested in its qualities as a Jane Eyre variation or re-telling, however, proceed with caution.  It pays to be more open-minded.

Buy Ironskin 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 Edelweiss. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

 

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.

Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta Blog Tour

Welcome to another great blog tour stop at StNC, brought to you today by Month9Books!  Today I have the pleasure of presenting a character interview with the namesake of Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta, Gabriel!  This MG debut premiered on February 5, 2013, and is authored by Shannon Duffy.  I hope you'll find yourself caught up in a new read and discover a new author.  Enjoy!

Marla: Hi, Gabriel. Welcome to Starting the Next Chapter! My first question for you is: What is your favorite thing about sharing your story with all of the readers out there?

Gabriel: Hey. Well, there're so many awesome parts of what happened to me and my friends in Valta, but I'm not gonna lie, some of the animals in Valta were really cool. It was fun to talk about that stuff. And, well, I like that people are gonna see how cool my friends are and how we stuck together no matter what...even when things got real crazy.

Marla: What is your best school subject? Which one do you hate the most and why?

Gabriel: Hmmm. Does gym count? Cause I totally like gym the best. Especially soccer! And well, if gym doesn't count, then I think I'll go with history. I like learning about war stuff and things that happened a long time ago. And yeah, I hate math. To be honest I think it sucks. There, I said it. And I just hate it. Math doesn't need a reason.

Marla: Not going to argue with you there. What did you think when you first found the crystal?

Gabriel: Well, first I thought I was gonna drown under the stupid ice, but then thankfully Brent managed to pull me out. And I knew right away it was something really cool or magical cause what kind of rock glows, lets off heat, and hums? I felt like I hit the jackpot and found something really epic...and I was right.

Marla: What has been the hardest thing about your mom's disappearance?

Gabriel: It felt pretty bad, I'm not gonna lie. I mean, I had been bugging my mom to hang out with me at night a lot cause I was kinda freaked out about the dark, so I figured that I was a pain in the butt and maybe that's why she took off. But if you read my story, you'll find out more about that.

Marla: Who has been your best supporter through everything?

Gabriel: Brent and Piper, my two best friends. They're pretty cool about everything and I know we always have each other's back....unlike dudes like Cedric--but again, I hope you read my story and you can find out more about that loser. Oh! And my dog Zigzag is pretty awesome too.

Marla: How would you describe Valta for those who haven't read the book yet?

Gabriel: Valta is beyond sick--if the Divinities are with the empress anyway. It's really bright with the golden dust, and there are lots of cool creatures like flying tigers and talking monkeys. But, the only thing is, you have to be careful cause as many friendly creatures that they have there, they're probably even more dangerous ones--like gruocks, death mongers, shape-shifters, and ghosts....seriously not the kind of things you want to run into in a dark alley or...a dark, creepy Valtan forest.

Marla: This last question is just for fun. What is the strangest thing you've come across in Valta?

Gabriel: This is a funny question cause strange and Valta when Duke Malgor is being a jerk kind of go together. He makes everything sort of strange. But one really weird thing was when me and Brent and Piper got to the Tandem Wood, we found out that the way to get in there was a lot freakier than anything I could have ever imagined. I think it was called the Unseen Boundary or something weird--and it needed magic to get through. Totally epic!

About the Author

Shannon Duffy grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and son, Gabriel. She’s mom to one boy, and several pets. Shannon loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions: shopping. 

GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIAN, Book 2 in the Gabriel Stone series will be available from Month9Books in February 2014!

About the Book

January 1, 2013 from Month9Books

Add it on Goodreads

Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.

Review - Prophecy by Ellen Oh

by Ellen Oh
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: January 2, 2013
format: digital review copy
pages: 320
source: Edelweiss
series: The Dragon King Chronicles

From Goodreads:

The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.

Prophecy came as a somewhat unexpected surprise due to the varied opinions I had been hearing prior to reading it for myself.  Some complaints gave me cause for concern, so I started the book with trepidation, only to find that I was a reader who would likely be one of those to enjoy it.  Ellen Oh's tale of good vs. evil set in a land full of Korean-inspired traits and headed by an extraordinary girl is one that I found to be more than enjoyable.  A book that piques even my firmly non-YA-reading husband's interest and keeps me reading until I finish it within 12 hours is definitely a book to be noted.

Kira is truly a fascinating main character to read about from the very beginning.  Oh doesn't hold anything back and immediately shows you what it is that Kira is faced with from chapter one.  As the story progresses, it becomes readily apparent that Kira isn't just a kick-ass warrior, however.  An especially startling thing is that she isn't respected for her skills, nor is she particularly self-assured.  Instead, shades of a typical 16 year old girl can easily be seen as she struggles with self identity, self esteem, and the need for friends.  It all makes for a fascinating character with plenty of room to grow into her own.  I must say, though, that I dearly hope the same can be said for her young cousin and charge, the crown prince.  His high level of neediness, impulsiveness, and penchant for hero worship combined to make for a secondary character that was a bit too much to take at times. 

I really came to enjoy the world in which Prophecy is set.  From its cities to its countryside, Prophecy is made up of a fantastic array of environments and political situations.  The addition to mysterious legends of saviors, prophecies, magic, and demons round everything out nicely into the arresting story it has become.  As the true nature of the world in which Kira lives comes to light, readers are sure to sit up and take notice. 

The temptation to read Prophecy from cover to cover is definitely there, so potential readers, make note.  Keep the refreshments handy and prepare for a long night if you start reading late, for chances are you will get swept away in Prophecy's spell.  Those looking for an action-packed fantasy with a female protagonist would do well to take a look at Prophecy.  The series overall shows a lot of promise with this thrilling and engaging opener.  Give it a try and see what I mean.  Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.

 

Buy Prophecy 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 Edelweiss. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Wings of Tavea Blog Tour - A Review

Welcome to day 3 of the Wings of Tavea blog tour.  Having had the pleasure of participating in the tour for Wings of Arian, I am pleased to be back again to review the next installment in Devri Walls' epic story of fantasy, adventure, and romance.  If you haven't checked this series out yet, it's a must.

by Devri Walls
publisher: Stonehouse Ink
date of publication: December 11, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 450
source: from the author/tour company

From Goodreads:

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros.

Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

Wings of Arian introduced us to a young girl coming into her powers in a land that had long been devoid of evil... or so she thought.  Now Kiora is in for a real shock as she learns just what is really out there.  In Wings of Tavea, you're in for an even bigger whirlwind than ever before.  If you thought you had seen it all in Wings of Arian, well, you haven't seen anything yet.

Kiora continues to grow so much as the series progresses.  As she comes into her own in both her powers and her knowledge, Kiora becomes an even more formidable character.  Emane is every bit as interesting as he was in the previous installment and I had very little to complain about with him.  It is the introduction of Alcander that really puts a new twist on everything as an entirely new dynamic is introduced to the group.  Even though he's a grump, it's hard not to enjoy this new cog in the machine.

The world of Wings of Arian was an idyllic world with evil lurking where few can see it.  The other side of the gate, however, is the exact opposite.  It is a land teeming with evil with good hiding where few can find it.  It makes for such a stark, imposing landscape, a landscape that creates a wonderful feeling of foreboding.  I became so immersed in the story thanks to this land as I waited with bated breath to see what Kiora and company would do and what would become of them.

I've had such a great time getting to know Ms. Walls' writing.  Being a fan of fantasy, Wings of Arian was just what this reader needed.  Filled with danger, humor, and a nice amount of romance, this book was a pleasure to read.  If you, too, enjoy the fantasy genre, Devri Walls is a good author to check out.  This series is bound to continue delivering with each and every new book.

Buy Wings of Tavea at the Following Locations:

Amazon / B&N

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Review - God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

by Kate Locke
publisher: Orbit
date of publication: July 3, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 354
source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers

From Goodreads:

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.

The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle.

 

Having been a fan of other works by Kate Locke (in the persona of Kady Cross), I was very much looking forward to God Save the Queen in spite of my continuing disinterest in vampire stories (the burn out continues).  In many ways, God Save the Queen was as I expected.  In the areas of world building and plot, this book was right up my alley.  There were, however, things that just didn't work for me.  Both sides of the coin will be covered in this review and I will tell you all about why I was left on the fence about continuing with this series.

Xandra Vardan as a main character left me feeling conflicted.  On the one hand, she's spunky, determined, and capable of much butt-kicking.  What's not to love, you may ask?  For me, the dislike comes in due to Xandra's voice.  I get that the story takes place in London, thus there is bound to be some English slang used.  However, for much of the book it just felt like overkill.  When it gets to the point that one feels intense exasperation every time the main character speaks, that says something.  So far as the remaining cast of characters goes, however, I very much enjoyed the variety (vampires, werewolves, goblins, and humans) and the wide array of personalities.  It definitely helped make up for a not-so-appealing MC.

The world building is probably the most well-done aspect of this book.  While I hesitate to dub God Save the Queen full-on steampunk, it definitely had lovely flourishes of steampunk goodness.  Instead, it has a distinctly urban fantasy feel that worked great with the high level of action and the background for how this world came to be.  I especially enjoyed the sublevels of London where the goblins hold court.  Overall, this is a gritty, dangerous world where you can never quite guess what will happen next.

While I didn't hate God Save the Queen, I also failed to completely win me over.  After following this first installment of Xandra's story, I am unsure as to whether or not I can bring myself to pick up the second book.  While I liked where the story was headed at the very end, I just can't tell if it will continue along the same vein.  I will continue to keep an ear out for others' opinions and decide as I hear more about where things are headed and whether or not the copious use of slang subsides.

Buy God Save the Queen 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 via LibraryThing Early Reviewers. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Scent of Magic

by Maria V. Snyder
publisher: Harlequin MIRA
date of publication: December 18, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 400
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

When I read Touch of Power at the end of 2011, I found myself enjoying a storyline with some wonderful characters and gripping plot but was a bit thrown off by numerous errors in the review copy.  Now that I've read Scent of Magic, however, I think it's time to get my hands on a finished copy of ToP, because SoM completely blew me away.  During a month when I had very little drive to read, Scent of Magic grabbed my attention so completely that I couldn't even think of picking up anything else until it was finished.  It is my belief that reading Touch of Power for a second time can only make it even better in my mind.

Avery grows more and more with each book that she appears in.  She is such a formidable woman that you can't help but enjoy reading about her many adventures.  Her strength also illustrates the terrifying nature behind Tohon's power over her.  That so much sway can be held over her goes to show just how menacing Tohon really is.  Add to that the rapidly improving Kerrick and a cast of fascinating characters and you have the makings of a fantastic story.

The progression of the plot centered around the lilies has become my favorite thing about this series.  As more and more is revealed about their nature and capabilities in Scent of Magic, the more I want to know about these fascinating beings.  The real impact of Peace Lilies and Death Lilies has only just begun to be hinted at and I am already astounded.  I can only imagine what is coming next.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Healer series is my first experience reading Maria V. Snyder's books, but I am completely smitten with them, so I know I will be checking out all of her other books.  With such an amazing story and a diverse cast of characters, Scent of Magic is a must for fans of the fantasy genre.  If you haven't ready anything by Maria V. Snyder yet, I would highly recommend it.  I certainly know I plan to read more!

 Buy Scent of Magic 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 - Wings of Arian

by Devri Walls
publisher: Stonehouse Ink
date of publication: April 24, 2012
format: ebook
pages: 462
source: from the author for review

From Goodreads:

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.
She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

First off, I really need to thank Lindsay from The Violet Hour for pointing me toward this book.  Otherwise, I don't know when I would have heard about it and might not have had the chance to read it when I did.  Wings of Arian is just the sort of tale of fantasy and adventure that I like, plus there is such a nice amount of romance that becoming immersed in the story is simply a matter of sitting down and diving in.  Now that I know this series is out there, I'm sure to be well supplied with great fantasy stories.

Kiora and Emane give the impression of getting along as well as cats and dogs at first glance.  However, as they are thrown together in the dangers and adventure Kiora is to face as a budding magician and soon-to-be heroine, they begin to uncover qualities about each other that changes their dynamic from then on.  Their interactions are well done and engaging and I very much enjoyed reading of their journeys and the discoveries they made in the far reaches of their kingdom.

The world building in Wings of Arian was lovely.  From the verdant forests where Kiora undertakes the first part of her training to the deep caverns of the shape shifters' realm, there are so many wonderful places to experience right along with the characters.  Not only is the world building enchanting, but there is also a cast of characters of every fantastic variety imaginable: dragons, faeries, shape shifters, wizards, pegasus, and more.  All come together to form a great framework of magic and action that is sure to entertain fantasy lovers everywhere.

The only thing about Wings of Arian that gave me pause was the high number of typographical errors and punctuation mistakes.  However, the version I read was a review copy, so I do not know if those problems remain in the finished version or not.  For that reason, I can't fault the quality all that much, especially when the story, itself, is so wonderful.  I feel very glad to be able to look forward to reading the next installment in the series, Wings of Tavea, very soon.  I am eager to find out where Kiora will go and what she will experience next.  Devri Walls has laid the foundation for a fun, magical tale and I, for one, will be following along with enthusiasm.

Buy Wings of Arian at the Following Locations:

Amazon / B&N

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

Review - Stormdancer

by Jay Kristoff
publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
date of publication: September 18, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 322
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

As with most books that come with much hype, people seem to either love or hate Stormdancer.  I knew that my personal tastes in books made for a high likelihood that I would be of the former group, but you just never know.  I should trust my intuition more often, however, as I thoroughly enjoyed Stormdancer for many different reasons.  I've seen the lauds and the complaints, but I have some of my own perspective that best explains why I had such a great time reading this book.  I just hope I can fully capture my thoughts in this review space.

Stormdancer is comprised of a cast of characters that I found to be utterly fantastic.  From Yukiko, the determined girl with a bitter past to Buruu, the grumpy, wise-cracking griffin (known as thunder tigers in the book), it is impossible to not be absorbed into the tale.  Each character has their own distinct personality, voice, and motive, all of which serve to fully form them within the reader's mind.  There is enough humor, emotion, and passion to keep a reader fully entertained.  These characters are more than capable of taking you along on their journeys.

When it comes to the way in which Stormdancer is written, there seems to be much difference of opinion between readers.  I can't speak for others, but I can share my observations and what I came away from the book with.  The way in which the story is laid down and the characters speak may be a bit difficult to grasp, at first, but I did notice that soon a certain rhythm began to emerge that made a lot of sense due to the type of story being told.  The way in which Yukiko and Buruu communicate is fascinating and I had a nice little pondering session to myself wondering whether Buruu actually understood the words being said by those around him or whether the two were speaking their own language, as it were.  I know what I think, but in the end, it is up to you to decide.  The setting is so completely vivid that I could easily picture every inch of this desolate country in my mind.  The descriptions given for the damage done to the land is conveyed very, very well.  It is difficult not to be affected by such a thought.

To sum it up, Stormdancer is one of those books that, when you put it down, makes you say, "Whoa."  I won't tell you how many surprises Jay Kristoff has embedded in Stormdancer, nor will I tell you at what part of the books these surprises occur.  Suffice it to say that I absolutely didn't see it coming, which is always so much fun.  If I'm not able to guess what will happen by the half-way point, I'm a very happy reader.  If you want a book full of action, awesome characters, writing that is almost lyrical in its narration, and one bad-ass griffin, then you definitely NEED this book.  Go.  Pick up Stormdancer.  You know you wanna.

Buy Stormdancer 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 - Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas
publisher: Bloomsbury USA
date of publication: August 7, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 416
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

There are some books that just grab hold of your attention and won't let go.  There are others that rekindle diminished interest in particular subjects or genres.  There are also books that cause you to lose sleep because you just can't stop thinking about how great it was.  As I came to learn, Throne of Glass is all 3.  Every single bit of hype this book has received is very much well-earned and I am so glad to have read it, even if I did stay up all night reading and finished it within a 10 hour period (those pesky meals cut into reading time, after all).

Celaena Sardothien is one of the most amazing female characters I have had the pleasure of being introduced to.  From the very beginning, you can see that she is fierce, sarcastic, and fearless, all of which are great qualities in an assassin.  It's obvious that she has a strong will as evidenced by her strong will and resilience.  To have survived the things she has is proof positive that she is a force to be reckoned with.  The leading males in the story, Prince Dorian and Captain Westfall, each have their strengths and weaknesses that make them fascinating to learn about.  Where Dorian appears to be conceited and abrasive on the outside, inside he is a sad young man with little to no say in his future.  Captain Westfall, on the other hand, is enigmatic, churlish, and difficult to figure out.  Once you do, though, it's hard to dismiss him, which is a nice quality to see in a character.  When they take you by surprise when you least expect it, it's an awesome thing.

This story is truly an epic one.  It could last for several installments and I would be happy to read every single one.  The action and events seen within are nothing short of gripping.  The threats Celaena encounters and the way she deals with them are captivating.  I say captivating because I really was reluctant to put the book down at all due to the driving need to see what would happen next.  The settings range from horrific (the mine), to spectacular (the palace), to spooky (the passages).  They really set each scene with vivid descriptions and thorough attention to detail.  Each is explained so well that picturing each one is wonderfully easy.  This is storytelling at its best.

There are some spectacular books coming out this summer, and I can vouch that Throne of Glass is one of the best.  If you are a fan of fantasy stories and kick-ass heroines, you can't do better.  With fascinating characters, awesome backdrops, just the right amount of tension, and a fantastic plot, Throne of Glass ensures you will have a great reading experience.  Get yourself to your local bookstore quickly.  Throne of Glass is a must-read that would be well-placed at the very top of your TBR pile.

Buy Throne of Glass 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.