REVIEW: I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells (John Cleaver #1)

My Ratings:

5/5 stars
PG-16: Disturbing content and images; some violence; thematic elements involving serial killers; recommend for mature audience.

My Review:
Ain't gonna lie. I Am Not A Serial Killer is on the dark side. It's macabre and morbid; I now know more about the embalming process than I ever knew I didn't want to know (closed casket funeral for me, thanks); it slams you front and center into the mind of a sociopath and, well,

It's absolutely fantastic.

I don't do horror. I don't do slashers and I really don't like scary stories -Alfred Hitchcock thrillers or Shyamalan's The Village is about how high I go on the intensity scale, but Wells has created something compelling and significant here that I could not put down. I started reading at 10pm and didn't let go til I finished around 5am. More impressive, I slept like a baby afterwards. No nightmares here, thanks! I'll, uh, let you decide for yourself how that rates me on your Disturbed scale after you read what is, as far as I'm concerned, a narrative masterpiece.

You want character driven stories?
THIS IS A CHARACTER DRIVEN STORY!

You want amazing character depth and first-rate point of view?
THIS HAS AMAZING CHARACTER DEPTH AND FIRST-RATE POINT OF VIEW.

These are two major traits that will get a book a permanent place in my heart, and I Am Not A Serial Killer has both in spades. I don't even know where to begin.

My Review -The Video!

John Wayne Cleaver is a sociopath. He can't empathize; he doesn't understand emotions; he doesn't experience emotions on a normal level. Worse than that, he possesses several key predictors of serial killers. He knows he possesses the predictors of serial killers and fears that fate for his future. But the skill of Dan Wells' pen is evident because of HOW EASILY I was able to relate to, understand, and empathize with John. He is portrayed expertly as a sympathetic teenager fighting against a horrific burden -a burden that happens to be a desire to cut people open and examine their guts. And I cared about him. I understood. Even if I couldn't relate personally, I understood John.

You have to understand and recognize what a truly masterful job Wells has wrought in creating this character! I still can't get over the fact I not only finished this book about a serial-killer-obsessed, sociopath teen -I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series.

I was enraptured. And, yeah, okay, maybe slightly disturbed by that fact.

I'm intentionally not going into the plot for fear of spoilers; I went into this knowing very little, and I think that's the best way to experience it, and so that is my gift to you. But just so we're clear? As much as I'm raving about the amazing character and narration, the plot is just as deserving of praise. There are really no disappointing qualities here.

I Am Not A Serial Killer is also funny -albeit in a twisted, morbid kind of way. (Am I showing too much of my dark side?)

Bonus? The book doesn't have any swearing or smut and -even when dealing with the grisly events- the descriptions are more straight forward than slasher/gory.

This story is unique, raw, challenging, and beautifully written. Wells manages a good balance between John's own removed emotions toward the terrible deaths and the gravity and reverence with which the other characters treat them to still make it respectable. And he uses this contrast as a building block for both John's character depth and development!

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I PROCLAIMED MY LOVE OF ALL THINGS CHARACTER? Do you need another reason to give this a try?

Speaking of, it's time to introduce my...

Don't be alarmed. This is a new thing. I'm taking it out for a test drive.

John Wayne Cleaver definitely takes home gold in the Most Interesting Character category, but my favorite is Dr. Ben Neblin. He almost wins hands down for this quote alone:

"You are always in control of your own destiny, and you are always the one who makes your own choices -no one else."

Truer words were never spoken, and when you're dealing with material as heavy and real as this does, it's important -nay, vital- to make such a blatant and brutal distinction as to who must stand responsible for the reprehensible actions not only in this story, but in the reality beyond it.

I did waffle back and forth on whether to rate this four or five stars due to the mature content but I realized I had no qualms about this book outside of the question of age range. Plus, I really, really loved it. Therefore -for mature and responsible audiences- this gets a whopping 5 out of 5 stars.

Are you intrigued yet?

REVIEW: The Prince of Korin by Melody J. Bremen

Prince Endomer of Korin is not a hero. Nor does he want to be one.

He spends his days in the royal library, poring over old manuscripts, studying archaic languages and playing chess. He’s never been like Krollis, his fearless twin brother, who is an expert swordsman and hunts wild beasts in the forests.

When an army of vizzens, the fearsome old enemy of Korin, attacks from the east and Krollis disappears, Endomer is left in charge of the country. He struggles to find a way to save his people while his soldiers are dying and his citizens are forced to flee. As he fights to gain the respect of the palace court, he discovers a threat coming from within the palace walls. There is no one he can trust.

He isn’t only fighting for his country – he’s fighting for his life.

Fans of Megan Whalen Turner and Jennifer A. Nielsen will enjoy this story of political intrigue and betrayal.

via Goodreads

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. And boy I'm glad I did!

The Prince of Korin hit that wonderful sweet spot of being exactly the book I wanted at exactly the right time and I love everything about it.

Bremen's tale opens on twin princes, brothers who are polar opposites -and neither know which is to be heir to the throne until their fast-approaching fifteenth birthday. Instead of going the route of rivalry and discord, bookworm Endomer and adrenaline-junkie Krollis have become estranged by their vastly different interests and personalities -a route that, in Bremen's favor, was probably not as easy to write and far, far more interesting to read about.

There's not a drop of sorcery in this tale, but it turns out Bremen didn't need any magic but her own words to tell it. Reminiscent of the master Gail Carson Levine, Bremen spins her tale of fantasy politics, intrigue, treachery, murder, and the rise of an ancient powerful enemy from the eyes of Endomer, a woefully unprepared bookworm of a prince, clever if a little naive, thrust suddenly under the burden of it all.

An easy and enjoyable read for its fast pace and almost effortless flow, The Prince of Korin is a character-driven story with a perfect balance of mystery, action, and intrigue. As the threat of war tears across the country, Endomer is expected to lead his people through the crisis, to either live up to or break under expectations.

Our view is an intimate one as he struggles to find his place, battle his own self-doubt, earn the respect of the court, and -perhaps my favorite of all- find a way to connect with his brother. Their relationship grows and blossoms as they come to understand one another for the first time, to appreciate the others obvious and not so obvious strengths and weaknesses -and not at all in the way you'd expect.

While not unpredictable, The Prince of Korin is still immensely enjoyable and kept me up into the wee hours of the morning.

I'm still trying to decide whether my favorite character is Endomer -bookworm power!- or the intimidating bodyguard Baclen, for his gruffness, tough love, and irreverent sense of humor. As a pair, at least, they're impossible not to love!

"You'll be fine," Baclen said.
I shook my head. "I can't even get on a horse without someone helping me."

"I'll help you get on your horse."

Somehow, I could still smile. "That's reassuring."

REVIEW: The Dragon of the Month Club by Iain Reading

2/5 stars
PG for a frightening fairy tale villain said to cut off children's thumbs.
Recommend to children getting into fantasy.   
 

The Dragon Of The Month Club is the exciting first installment in a new book series that tells the story of Ayana Fall and Tyler Travers, two best friends who stumble across an extraordinarily magical book and soon find themselves enrolled as members of a very special and exclusive club - The Dragon of the Month Club.

On the thirteenth of every month a new dragon conjuring spell is revealed and the two friends attempt to summon the latest Dragon of the Month. The varieties are almost endless: Air Dragons, Paper Dragons, Fog Dragons, Waterfall Dragons, Rock Dragons, Tree Dragons - not to mention special bonus dragons for all the major holidays, including a particularly prickly Holly Dragon for Christmas.

But one day when a conjuring spell somehow goes wrong Ayana and Tyler find themselves unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical world of adventure based on the various books scattered all across Tyler's messy bedroom. Traveling from one book-inspired world to the next with nothing to rely on but their wits and a cast of strange and exotic dragons at their disposal they must try to somehow find their way home again. (via Goodreads)

The Dragon of the Month Club is a fun adventure story for kids, though older or more particular readers may find it a bit bland. While the premise is interesting, the story is mostly fluff -just cute and sometimes silly fun.

Kids will like exploring the worlds of other books along with Ayana and Tyler, though they will likely not be familiar with most of them. Sherlock Holmes -Tyler's literary hero- is the most recognizable in the company of Frank Herbert's Dune, an underrated and super creepy villain of German fairy tales, and a whole little world springing out of Chinese folklore. The Chinese folklore bit was my favorite, though it was a sluggish point of the book plot-wise.

Reading is creative with the dozens of dragon types he comes up with for Ayana and Tyler to conjure every month. Wooden dragons, paper dragons, fog dragons -with their wits and this variety, Ayana and Tyler can conjure a dragon to help them out of most of the scrapes they find themselves in. Mostly, these were creative solutions to their problems, but occasionally they felt a little contrived. The dragons themselves are adorable -almost as adorable as Tyler's crush on Ayana.

As far as crushes in middle grade fiction go, I'm pretty picky, but Tyler's crush on Ayana is a solid win for me because it mostly takes the form of Tyler recognizing the emotional pain Ayana's in and caring so much for her he just wants her to be whole again. While it does talk about Ayana's anger over her father's leaving, what initially felt like good character depth and the foundation of an arc petered out without offering up any real substance on the matter. I've no doubt Reading plans to pick up this arc in the next book, possibly carrying it over the whole series, but without any attempts at resolving or advancing this depth made the book weak in the character department.

The writing and style can be stiff and inflexible, which makes it a tough read for me. For the amount of plot and story, the book is also a bit dense, which could make it a tricky read for others as well.

This first installment feels more like an introduction to the real story Reading wants to tell, rather than a full story on its own. While Tyler and Ayana make their way through this magical mish-mash world, neither of them are asking the really interesting questions I am: Where did the dragon of the month club book come from in the first place? Who made it? Is there a reason it came to Tyler and Ayana, or was it random? Are there other books and other kids out there with the same book? But Tyler and Ayana take the magic book -and the whole adventure- easily in stride without dwelling on these kinds of questions and it makes the story feel a bit flat and unrealistic.

While Ayana and Tyler get into their fair share of adventures and dodge a few brief antagonists, the apparent villain of the series isn't introduced until the very last page, so I feel a bit robbed by the cliffhanger.

While I'll be skipping the rest of this series, I have no qualms about passing it along to any of my younger niblings, either.

Don't miss my interview with Iain Reading!

REVIEW: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

The Road to Ragnarok continues...

4.5/5 stars
PG-13: for sexual references, some language, violence
Recommend to fans of Norse mythology, villains, antiheroes, and/or Loki
Note: This is an original novel and in no way associated with the character in Marvel comics or movies.

Loki, that’s me.
Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version, and, dare I say it, more entertaining.
So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role.
Now it’s my turn to take the stage.
With his notorious reputation for trickery and deception, and an ability to cause as many problems as he solves, Loki is a Norse god like no other. Demon-born, he is viewed with deepest suspicion by his fellow gods who will never accept him as one of their own and for this he vows to take his revenge.
From his recruitment by Odin from the realm of Chaos, through his years as the go-to man of Asgard, to his fall from grace in the build-up to Ragnarok, this is the unofficial history of the world’s ultimate trickster. (via Goodreads)
 

"Now it's his turn."

This simple catchphrase did the trick. It both intrigued me and made me wary. The biggest failings -and most common versions- of villain origin or perspective stories is that the villains are made out to be 'misunderstood heroes' only by changing the other characters and events of the story so drastically as to make the original version incompatible. I really, really hate that. If you're going to do a villain story, have the decency and skill to make the villain interesting or sympathetic without changing the details of the original, okay?! (I'm looking at you, Fairest of All and Maleficent; looking at you.) And if someone decides to tackle Loki's story -well, that could be really good or really, really bad. Either way, that catchphrase made sure I couldn't rest until I knew which it was.

I don't know if I've maybe mentioned this before, but I'm a little (a lot) obsessed with Loki. As of Thor: The Dark World and Loki: Agent of Asgard I've become obsessed specifically with his potential redemption arc story lines.

The Gospel of Loki is not one of these. It is both an 'origin' story of the God of Mischief and a retelling of the bulk of Norse mythology from Loki's side. Initially, I had misgivings because Harris is also the author of Chocolat, a book I enjoyed until the ending absolutely ruined it for me. But I needed more Loki after Agent of Asgard.

And, my dear fellow readers, I'm happy to report that THIS IS THE KIND OF ORIGIN STORY I CRAVE.

Loki, as depicted by Harris, is a compelling and sympathetic character I can't help falling in love with. He's witty, sly, clever, and irreverent; misunderstood, misused, spiteful, and lovable. Harris masters his voice, which feels both familiar and unique. Loki starts out neither villain nor hero and -by the end- he doesn't completely fall into the villain category because his foes aren't quite heroes themselves. Every character here -from Odin and Thor to Frigg and Heimdall- is more gray than black or white. Even watching Loki descend closer and closer into bad guy territory, I never stopped being on his side.

"Basically, never trust anyone." -Lokabrenna | The Gospel of Loki, pg 62

The Gospel of Loki -or Lokabrenna- is broken into books, which are then broken into the many 'lessons' Loki learned throughout his involvement with the other Norse gods. I don't know a lot about Norse mythology but I did recognize quite a few of the tales recounted here. Harris does a fantastic job -in voice and in story- shifting these tales into Loki's point of view and then seamlessly piecing them together into a larger tapestry of Loki's history. With each step Loki takes closer to unleashing Ragnarok, I couldn't stop cheering for him, crying for him, and wanting him to win. On the verge of releasing the Norse Armageddon, Loki still made sense to me. I understood his motivations and his frustrations so well I couldn't really blame him for it -that is what I crave in a book. 

This is an entertaining read, equally hilarious and gut-wrenching, masterfully woven from beginning to Ragnarok. When I first finished it, I really, really wanted a sequel, because there's so much potential for one, and I want to see so much more with this character. But I finally convinced myself that it actually could be the perfect and that it didn't need a sequel. AND THEN I FOUND OUT THIS IS A PREQUEL!

 

The RUNE series has two books already, published in 2007 and 2011.

But wait.

THERE'S MORE

THE GOSPEL OF LOKI IS GETTING A DIRECT SEQUEL NEXT SPRING!

I'm in love, you guys. In love. This is one of those moments that the book fairies have smiled down at me and said, "You know that crazy thing you wished for, that you thought wouldn't come true in a hundred years? Well here it is."

At least I'll have some more Loki shenanigans in Thor: Ragnarok to tide me over until then.

1 day to Ragnarok!

What's your favorite book based off mythology or folklore?

The Road to Ragnarok

Don't miss a post!

Back in Black + Road to Ragnarok
Comic Review: Loki: Agent of Asgard  

Review: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris  

Rewatching Thor  

REVIEW: Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #2)

Fool Moon
Author: Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Crime

My Ratings:
4/5 stars
R for strong language, violence, some gore, disturbing images, sexuality.
Recommend to fans of hard-boiled detective stories with a flair of the fantastic; clever use and meshing of mythologies.

Like the sound of it but not the rating?  

Try these similar YA titles instead!  

Jackaby by William Ritter  

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud  

Lockwood & Co. also by Jonathan Stroud  

Don't miss my discussion post
'CHAUVINISM VS. CHIVARLY: A HARRY DRESDEN CASE STUDY'!

Summary (via Goodreads):
Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work--magical or mundane.
But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.
A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses--and the first two don't count...

The Review:

A few years ago, I DNFed the first book of this series, Storm Front, despite an interesting concept and good story because it had way too much sexuality for my taste. That's always disappointing, right? I decided to give the second book of the series a chance for a couple of reasons. One, because I've gotten better at compartmentalizing when I read, skipping over the stuff I don't like so I can enjoy the stuff I do. It's a constant balance. But the big reason is because my friend Mage really enjoyed this series for its use of mythologies (something we discussed often) juxtaposed with the modern world.

I'm so glad I gave Fool Moon a try because I really kind of loved it. Mage was right; Butcher has a great way of using and meshing mythology and the modern world. What I love most is how many mythologies Butcher uses, implying in-story that ALL mythologies are true, instead of cherry-picking them or creating his own take on it. In a weird way, this actually makes Fool Moon feel more realistic. In this book, Harry Dresden is faced with a werewolf problem, but he quickly discovers it isn't just a werewolf problem. Butcher uses four different versions of werewolf from mythology and folklore and uses them as separate 'classes' of werewolf. Hello, ensuing chaos! So we have a lot of furry beasts running around this story.

Butcher's magic system, too, is an eclectic array of mythologies, folklore, and wizardry; everything from the Faerie courts to potion making to summoning lesser demons. And behind the mythology, we also have an interesting magic community at play. Though it lives secretly in the dark corners of the world, this magic community isn't in hiding from persecution or in fear. Instead, it's the 'real world' that refuses to see it as anything more than outdated mythos. As Dresden puts it, the rest of the world has bought into their new religion of Science, which effectively blinds them to any logic or proof of the magical that might touch their lives.

Fool Moon is full of gruesome murders, shady customers, hidden agendas, and great characters. I particularly love Murphy; police lieutenant of the Special Investigations Unit and someone who doesn't take any of Harry's crap, Murphy is a kick-ass female character I can get behind. She is tough as nails and quick on her feet. She and Harry rarely see eye to eye, but they (usually) find a way to work together -and I LOVE their banter.

Harry Dresden, despite his powerful wizard skills, is still kind of an Everyman when it comes to facing down terrifying evils; he wants nothing more than to run away, but he possesses such a strong determination to do good and fight evil, that he'll do it no matter what, and I am a sucker for this quality in heroes. I like, too, that Harry's attempts at chivalry in trying to keep the women around him out of danger might actually be more of a character flaw born of trust issues, because those chivalrous acts keep landing people in danger. People like Susan, his girlfriend/not girlfriend, who investigates the magic side of the world for a tabloid magazine; and people like Murphy, whose sole job is to protect innocent bystanders from the creatures in the shadows that Harry knows so well. I like this for Harry as both a strength and a flaw because chivalry is a good quality and one I highly respect and appreciate, but trust is a better one. Butcher has pitched these two strengths against each other and it demonstrates a thin line that Harry is walking, between 'protective' and 'overprotective', between strength and flaw. I'm very intrigued to see where Harry goes from here.

Which brings me to the last character I want to mention, Gentleman Johnny Marcone. Marcone is a gangster extraordinaire. Marcone is slime; I know that. I applaud Harry for never giving him the time of day, but still deigning to save him from the jaws of death. But I'm also intrigued by Marcone. I blame this on my love of The Blacklist's Raymond Reddington (talk about a character crush!), but I want to know more about Marcone and, more than anything, I want to see Harry forced to team up with him for a whole book to solve some nefarious magical goings-on.

To sum up Fool Moon, I say it has some fantastic characters, a gritty hard-boiled detective story, and a fantastic dose of dark mythology woven in.

I'm definitely reading forward in The Dresden Files for now and I'll keep you apprised.

DON'T MISS MY DISCUSSION POST
'CHAUVINISM VS. CHIVALRY: A HARRY DRESDEN CASE STUDY'!

AUDIO REVIEW: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Heartless
Author: Marissa Meyer
Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Publisher: Macmillan
Genre: YA Fantasy

Ratings:
3.5/5 stars
PG-13 for some violence and disturbing images
Recommend to fans of Marissa Meyer, Alice in Wonderland, any retellings/branch offs/additions involving Wonderland, tragedies, and villain origin stories; people who don't mind love triangles.
Narration: 4/5 stars



             Summary:
Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans. (via Goodreads)

The Review

Though well-told and possessing a good story, clever uses of traditional Wonderland elements, fun worldbuilding, and great characters, I had a hard time getting through this one because of the love triangle. Ugh. I really, really hate love triangles.

Initially, I liked the main character Catherine. She's a likable, lovely character, who lives for baking despite it's being an improper pastime for a lady. She's easy to sympathize with, too, because she's set upon by her busy-body mother, who wants her to find a rich husband and get through a single day without covering something in flour! It's no wonder Catherine feels she can't tell her parents what she longs for and dreams of: to open her own bakery. I liked Catherine because really she wants so little -a bakery, for goodness' sake! She just wants to make and sell cakes and pastries and tarts!- and I wanted her to have that more than anything.

What I loved most about Catherine, though, was how Meyer wrote her in the beginning as such a sweet, likable, innocent young woman -but every once in a while, when she's so boiling mad or frustrated, she says or thinks something and I went 'Aha! There's the Queen of Hearts!'

The love triangle was rather infuriating. At first, it was fine. It's the plot of the story -does she choose the King or Jest? Why and why not?- but the middle of the story became so bogged down in this hysteria of emotions as Catherine is floundering between the two of them and between her dreams and her parents' expectations that I WANTED TO TEAR MY HAIR OUT! Meyer tried to compensate for the prominent love triangle by adding in some intrigue, Jabberwocky attacks, and a mystery, all of which is good and really adds to the story, but most of these elements were not capitalized upon during this boggy middle, which made it even worse. While I was impatient to figure out what the Jabberwocky was after and why Hatta seems to despise Catherine so much, Catherine was focused solely on her love woes.

Catherine, who starts out as a really great character, quickly went downhill for me because she won't grow a spine. I didn't mind that she was a fairly meek character; what I didn't like is that she won't speak up for herself, that she lets her mother and the king walk all over her, that she leads the King and Jest on without actually acting on any of the promises she makes them, AND THEN SHE PLAYS HERSELF AS THE VICTIM, moping and complaining that she has no control over her life! The most infuriating thing is that she doesn't notice this in herself, even at its most extreme.

However, there's a flip side to this. As much as Catherine grew to infuriate me with her fickle nature and her tendency to refuse to act and then blame others for her problems -or worse, to act and then blame others for the consequences of those actions- these are the exact traits that eventually form her into the Queen of Hearts. 

Now can you see my dilemma?! One of the key things I didn't like about this book is exactly what makes it such a great villain origin story! Meyer knew exactly what she was doing when she wrote Cath.

On the note of villain origin stories, I gladly give Marissa Meyer a standing ovation because she did not fall into the trap so often seen of late, of casting the 'villains' in the role of misunderstood heroes (al a the film 'Maleficent' and Valentino's 'Fairest of All'). What she gives us in Catherine is a young woman who starts off a mostly good person, but because of how her life turns out, she comes to rely on her flaws. Meyer makes the Queen of Hearts a sympathetic character, but she's no less of a villain for that.

Despite how downright infuriating I found Catherine at many points in the book, I've come to terms with that because this is an excellently-crafted character arc and a great story. My biggest complaint was that boggy middle of the story; I almost DNFed it there, because ugghh love triangles. While I'm glad I suffered through that to the chilling finale, I don't know that I would re-read this.

While not as good as her Lunar Chronicles, it's definitely another feather in Meyer's cap. Because of the prominent love triangle, it simply wasn't my, well, cup of tea.

Speaking of the Mad Hatter... Meyer's version -the rather haunted and bitter Hatta- was, by far, my favorite character in this book, and I bemoan that he didn't have a larger or more prominent role in the story. If she writes a Hatta prequel I will be lining up for that book.

What did you think of Heartless?

What's your favorite adaptation of Alice in Wonderland?

ARC REVIEW: The Supes by Matthew Pritt

The Supes
Author: Matthew Pritt
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Genre: YA/Superhero fiction
Pub date: April 10, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ratings:
3/5 stars
PG-13 for violence, including animal mauling. There wasn't much until the climax, but those last chapters were intense
Recommend to newcomers of the superhero fiction genre; fans of Sky High and other underdog stories

Summary:
Slip Stephenson has the lamest super power of all time. His father, a world renowned Super, can turn himself invisible, but Slip has never managed to do anything more than turn himself an underwhelming shade of black.
According to the rules of the School for Underage Power Enhancement and Refinement (SUPER), Slip has to pass his final test by the end of this year or he must give up his superpowered dreams and live as a regular civilian. He spends his senior year studying with five other nearly useless would-be Supers. Together, they must work as a team and overcome their watered-down powers if they want to make it in the world of superheroes.
As this ragtag group comes together, they notice that strange things are happening in the Super world. A mysterious villain has set up base next to Slip’s school, and famous and powerful Supers are turning evil. To protect the ones they love, Slip and his team must take matters into their own hands.
Can Slip and his newfound friends unravel the mystery? Will they be able to take on fully-powered supervillains? And will they be able to save the world?

The Review:

On the whole, The Supes is a fun story with some great quirks on the genre, despite characterization flaws.

While the basic plot is something we've seen before, The Supes has plenty of twists to keep things interesting -some predictable, some not. But what really takes the cake for me was Pritt's ability to come up with some pretty whacked out powers and I seriously respect how he well is able to use them in the story. Unlike Sky High, which serves as a decent peer story-wise, the 'lame' powers of Slip and his team don't come together just to solve the single problem/villain of the story. Instead, these Supers work on developing their powers into something that will be useful in the long run.

But can we talk about some of these ridiculous powers? Because I love them. So much. There's Sugar, the girl who can talk to squirrels; her father can turn into a squirrel, but her mother's human, so she wound up part squirrel. She has squirrel feet. And skin flaps under her arms, like a flying squirrel. Talk about inconvenient. Felicia is in a similar situation; she's almost human, expect for the gills. She can't breathe oxygen and is therefore water-bound and stuck with the unfortunate nickname 'Fish Tank'. Our main character Slip can't turn invisible like his dad (only black), but his brother might be worse off. He's got the turning invisible part down, but he can't see when he does.

Not only does Pritt saddle his characters with inconvenient and crazy-sauce abilities, but he uses them creatively and as great story devices. I feel like he was simultaneously poking good fun at the superhero genre and hitting it with a dose of reality that served the story well. Because if superheroes did exist, of course there would be some of these Supers stuck with in-between abilities. I think Pritt has found a clever niche in the genre.

My favorite power featured in this book has to be those of The Mind Writer, whose every word takes up permanent residence in the listener's brain. I love it because, on the surface, it didn't seem that impressive to me. To be completely honest, when this character was introduced, I thought it was kind of lame. But when that character pointed out that she had to watch every single word she ever said, because those words would never ever be forgotten, it exploded into one of the most interesting super powers I've seen. Plus, like so many of the other abilities, Pritt uses it to its greatest advantage.

My one great disappointment with this book was the amount of flat characters. I didn't feel like most of them stood very well on their own. Together, Slip and his six teammates have a great dynamic that capitalizes well on the underlying theme of teamwork, but on their own I didn't get a great sense of their personalities, aside from maybe Sugar and Hopper.

Slip especially lacked this needed depth and, for the main character, this was disappointing. I wanted a better sense of him because he had the potential of being a good character. I loved that everything goes wrong for him, but I wanted more depth from him to really feel the impact of it as a reader. So much of his story was told from an arm's length perspective, instead of the in-your-face, up close and personal depth I love, and I therefore had a hard time connecting with him. He's got plenty of good qualities and flaws -he's a nice guy, yet because of bad experiences has a tendency to expect the worst of people- but he lacks refined characterization to really bring him to life.

The Supes leaves a few things open-ended for a potential sequel, but it wraps up the story nicely so there are no gaps or cliffhangers.

Al a The Mind Writer, what is the most interesting down-side
of any super power you've seen?

REVIEW: Potions in the Pizza by Mikey Brooks (The W.H.O. Files #1)

Potions in the Pizza
Author: Mikey Brooks
Series: The W.H.O. Files
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Genre: Mystery/Fantasy
An ARC copy was provided by Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Ratings:
4/5 stars
PG: several kids are placed under spells by witches
Recommend to middle grade readers, especially fans of Hocus Pocus and school mayhem stories

Summary:

10­-year-­old twins Ethan and Emmy’s parents have never told their kids what they do for a living. Then just before Halloween, while their parents are away on an emergency business trip, Ethan, Emmy, and their best friend Jax discover a HUGE secret: could the twins’ parents actually be . . . witch hunters?

Meanwhile at school, a new team of glamorous lunch ladies arrives on the scene, serving meals that taste way too good to come from a school cafeteria. There’s only one logical explanation: they’re witches, and the meals they serve are spiked with a dangerous potion! Why have witches come to Roosevelt Elementary? Where have Ethan and Emmy’s parents gone? Can it be a mere coincidence that their parents left just as the witches arrived? Whether they’re ready or not, Ethan and Emmy have only one option if they want to save their school and find their parents: become witch hunters themselves. (via Goodreads)

The Review:

I loved this book! It's just a fun, fantastic blast, and I didn't want to put it down.

Right off the bat, the characters got my attention. The Orion Twins are so lifelike and fun I got pulled right into the story. Emmy is a firecracker, ready to take on any bully that picks on her brother, but she's also a mess of emotions and sarcasm. My gosh, she's got a tongue on her. But the adults in the story don't give her any leeway for that, which I loved, so Emmy gets to be brutally sarcastic (like so many ten-year-old girls), but she also gets put right back in her place, so she doesn't come off as a brat. Brother Ethan is meeker and more reserved than his sister, but we soon discover he's no sissy; he prefers to put his brain to work on a problem than, say, jumping onto its back and hitting it, like another Orion I could mention. Kids will relate easily to both Emmy and Ethan. I absolutely love them, as characters and as siblings. Their dynamic is great, constantly jumping between infuriating each other and adorably being the other's greatest protector or confidant. They have to work together despite their opposing flaws, strengths, and weakness. Along the way, they learn to appreciate new things about each other, and that's the best kind of sibling story. ^_^

Their best friend Jax -a history buff and bottomless pit- his parents, and the enigmatic teacher Miss LeBeau nicely round out the vibrant cast for the adventure. I especially love how larger than life all these characters are; they could step right out of the pages and I wouldn't be surprised.

The mystery in the story is good for middle graders; older readers might find aspects predictable, but the vibrant characters and fun story are more than worth it. It's a quick, fun read -perfect for Halloween, but still great for any time. I've got to warn you: readers will want to dive straight into the next one. I can't blame them! I myself feel a bit like Zuko in the Dragon Catacombs:

I didn't want this book to end. There's still so much I want to know and I can't wait to learn more about the W.H.O. and what's next for the Orion twins.

While Emmy and Ethan get their first adventure wrapped up and under their belt (and tutu), some questions are left unanswered for their second adventure which, of course, leads us to the most important question of all.

WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING?

Potions in the Pizza is a great opener to a new series that kids are sure to love. In the post-Harry Potter reading world full to the brim of magic schools and predestined wizards, it's a fun twist to find a book from the side of the witch hunters, a la Hocus Pocus.

Have you read Potions in the Pizza?

REVIEW: Chocolat by Joanne Harris

Chocolat
Author: Joanne Harris
Publisher: Penguin/Random House
Genre: Magic Realism/Literary

Ratings
2/5 stars
PG-13 for domestic violence, sexual content, language
Recommend to: Due to an ending in direct conflict with its own theme, I probably won't recommend this to anyone.

Overall Impression
While I loved the quirky, eccentric characters and the luxuriant writing style within this book, it resolves in a hypocritical conclusion that taints the supposed theme of uniting people together. And no matter how much you enjoy a book, an unsatisfactory ending can ruin the whole of it.

Summary

Greeted as "an amazement of riches ... few readers will be able to resist" by The New York Times, Chocolat is an enchanting novel about a small French town turned upside down by the arrival of a bewitching chocolate confectioner, Vianne Rocher, and her spirited young daughter.

The Review

By page 9, with the line 'Old habits never die. And once you've been in the business of granting wishes, the impulse never quite leaves you.' I was hooked. Hooked. In my mind, our heroine Vianne Rocher took on the image of a subtle fairy godmother, just trying to spread a little good in the world, and I fell quite willingly into these pages.

I love the quirky characters: Old Armande with her childish glee and impish rebelliousness; Luc with his stutter and journey of self-confidence; Roux; Anouk; Josephine; I loved them all. Chocolat blends the small-town eccentricities and happenings of Gilmore Girls with an easy vein of magic realism that tastes reminiscent of The Night Circus.

They're all interesting characters, with their own quirks and demons to overcome, but the one who most intrigued me was the nemesis in the frustrated and misguided priest, Francis Reynaud.  Chocolat is told from dual perspectives between he and Vianne, so we become quite familiar with him, his own struggles, his frustrations, and his flaws. As the story unfolds, we are fed bite-sized pieces of his backstory and the events that led to his current state. He intrigued me. He was broken, misled, trying to do the right things for all the wrong reasons and utterly failing, so I was watching his development pretty darn close.

Heavy issues and topics are gently courted on the luxurious comfort of fresh chocolates, which were described so vividly that I almost didn't need to have a box of them at my side while reading. (Almost, I said. Almost.) There is tragedy and its aftermath, self-doubt, domestic violence, the sorrow of death and the joy of life, but all told in a lighthearted lilt that keeps it from ever becoming too heavy. It is, fittingly, so like the chocolate Harris describes:

...the brief resistance of the chocolate shell as it meets the lips, the soft truffle inside...There are layers of flavor like the bouquet of a fine wine, a slight bitterness, a richness like ground coffee; warmth brings the flavor to life...  -Page 298

It's an interesting story and beautifully told, but!

The ending was in direct conflict with the unifying theme of the story, which destroyed the 'light hearted, feel-good' vibe I'd had up to that point.

My main issue with Chocolat is that what seems to be a story unifying a town divided by their beliefs -a story of righting wrongs, repairing relationships, self-awareness, and mending wounds- turns out only to unify the outcasts together against the town's supposed 'villains', completely destroying the theme of unification.

The town of Lansquenet doesn't come together. Its people don't overcome their differences and become stronger and happier for it. The status quo is merely overturned, building up the confidence and strength of the outcasts and granting them rule over the previously accepted class, who in turn become the outcasts. There aren't any reconciliations between the two groups, even within families, and that's what I expected to see. I waited the entire book for the characters of the town to find some common ground and start fresh and they don't. Instead, the townspeople merely swap out one bigotry for another and Lansquenet isn't any more united or better off as a whole than it was before.

I had hoped Chocolat would be a wonderful story of overcoming differences to join opposing sides together, but it disappointed, leaving as an aftertaste not just the luxury of divine chocolate, but the sour pinch of prejudice.

This does, however, lead to some interesting discussion on my Book vs. Movie comparison coming in March, so don't miss that!

The Sunday Post 001

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

 Last Week on the Blog 

Thursday Quotables feat. The Blacklist: The Beekeeper (No. 159) Meme

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? | January Wrap Up Meme

Worth Watching | Powerless TV

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson Review

The Blacklist: The Beekeeper (No. 159) by Steven Piziks Review

 This Week on the Blog 

Comics Mini Review Wrap Up Review/Wrap Up

The Blacklist: The Gambler (No. 148) Comic Review

Thursday Quotables feat. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff Meme

 Internet Shenanigans 

ALL THE BONUS POINTS TO STUDIO C!

One of my favorite shows, a sketch comedy from BYUtv called STUDIO C, appeared on Conan Tuesday night and they were great.

I'm so happy Studio C is getting so much recognition because they deserve it. I hope there are bigger and better such moments coming your way. Congrats, you guys!

 In Real Life 

The best happening this week had to be playing laser tag. My friends and I love laser tag yet somehow forget this and only ever play once a year. Man, I love laser tag.

Excitement! Daring! Fun Exercise!

And yeah. Okay. It's fun to play secret agent but who doesn't enjoy that every once and a while?

Second place goes to a work-related success. For those who don't know, I work as a clerk at a public library. This year, a co-worker and I are instigating a library-wide Adopt-A-Shelf program. It went live this week and we already have people signing up. Success!

 New Additions 

Thanks to my local thrift store:

• The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson Hardcover, sans jacket cover, but the illustrations more than make up for that!
• Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George I've read the first book of this series and just needed this excuse to get to the rest.

Thanks to barnesandnoble.com:

• The Blacklist: The Arsonist (No. 123) Graphic Novel
• Twelfth Doctor with Guitar POP! I adore 12 and his sonic sunglasses and his electric guitar. I couldn't resist!

 Random 

I've started haunting The Blacklist Wiki. I haven't done this with a show since Avatar: The Last Airbender -and I was obsessed with Avatar, guys. You have no idea how much. (Unless you've read this. Then you have an idea.)

While there's no chance of my writing fanfiction for The Blacklist, there's a good chance [more] show discussion/talk is coming to these here parts.

You've been warned.

  What's new with you?