The Night Circus is one of my favorite books and unlike anything I've read before or since. It is a staggering debut novel and an intimidating thing to follow up. It's really no surprise that in the seven years since it's publication, Morgenstern has yet to publish a second work.
Just when I've come to terms with thinking perhaps Morgenstern doesn't have a second novel of the same scope in her, I read the description for The Starless Sea. I'm already in love with it.
So far, it seems to possess all the same elements of romance and fantasy that make The Night Circus such an amazing, everlasting book -without trying to capitalize on its predecessor. That's right, no sequel, prequel, or companion novel here. Morgenstern is setting the stage for an entirely unique and new story, this time with the magic locked in a nocturnal circus, but into inexplicable books, hidden subterranean libraries, and a New York masquerade party. Let's hope that The Starless Sea will make a wonderful brother or sister to The Night Circus. I know one thing for sure: with it's title and Morgenstern's record, its cover is bound to be gorgeous.
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.
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."
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.
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.
Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull Fablehaven #3 Author: Brandon Mull Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing Genre: Fantasy Ratings: 4/5 stars PG: Mild fantasy action/violence; monsters, demons, ghosties, and other frightening mythical creatures. Recommend to fans of The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Ever Afters, Artemis Fowl, and their ilk. Good middle grade read, but still enough plot and character development for older readers -like me! Summary: Strange things are afoot at Fablehaven. Someone or something has released a plague that transforms beings of light into creatures of darkness. Seth discovers the problem in its infancy, but as the infectious disease spreads, it becomes clear that the preserve cannot hold out for long.
In dire need of help, the Sorensons question where to turn. The Sphinx has always given sound advice–but is he a traitor? Inside the Quiet Box, Vanessa might have information that could lead to a cure–but can she be trust?
Meanwhile, Kendra and members of the Knights of the Dawn must journey to a distant preserve and retrieve another hidden artifact. Will the Society of the Evening Star recover it first? Will the plague eclipse all light at Fablehaven? Find out in Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague.
The Mini Review:
Darkness has fallen on Fablehaven, thicker perhaps than ever before. When Seth encounters some of the most peaceful creatures in Fablehaven that have turned vicious and evil, he knows something's afoot. Of course, he wouldn't have encountered them at all, if he'd been following the rules. So that's a fun conversation with Grandpa Sorenson. (Hint: We definitely learn what Seth's middle name is.) Surprising absolutely no one, Seth once again dominates this story in my eyes, but he is much more a driving force of this book than in the past. Seth continues to broaden and develop, still struggling with the balance between 'fun' and 'reckless'. I love, love, love the way Mull develops his character. Mull really plays up the role of opposites with Seth and Kendra -which is fantastic and serves the story magnificently. Coming back strong after Seth's key involvement in the last book, Mull continues to push Seth as much as Seth continues to push boundaries as his sister Kendra is ushered deeper into the magical world of the preserves and he's left behind. While Kendra gets to meet the Knights of the Dawn and travel on a dire and important mission to another preserve, Seth is left twiddling his thumbs back home and desperate to prove that he's valuable enough to help solve the mystery of the mysterious plague taking over Fablehaven and -more importantly- that his grandparents can depend on him to do the smart and right thing. The only problem is, Seth seems to keep encountering gray areas where the
'smart' thing and the 'right' thing aren't always the same thing. And that's a thing I love to watch him deal with. But enough about Seth the Magnificent because, while he's getting another decent chapter of character development (and a few special new tricks), Kendra is too, and we get to meet a whole slew of great new characters, including Gavin, Dragon Tamer Extraordinaire! Also, you know, dragons. But most importantly, we get to learn more about my favorite character, self-proclaimed World's Greatest Adventurer and understandable role-model for my beloved Seth -Patton Burgess! I love how Mull works Patton's influence into this story. (FYI, I would LOVE to see some Patton Burgess prequel adventures.)
Mull continues to expand his magical world, as he sends Kendra out to meet with the society behind the preserves and the single hand keeping the Society of the Rising Star at bay. I also love exploring a new preserve, made especially interesting by its local in Arizona and the native creatures that reside there. The story is great, the twists are phenomenal, and the continuing development of Kendra, Seth, and the Fablehaven world make this my favorite Fablehaven books so far.
Ratings 4/5 stars PG for some fantasy violence Recommend for anyone who likes steampunk or dragons or steampunk dragons
The Review
[There will be SPOILERS of the events from the first book, Fires of Invention.] When last we left Cove, super-mechanics Trenton Coleman and Kallista Babbage showed their underground civilization that the outside world wasn't a poisonous death trap of technological pollution. They proved they had been lied to for years. They also proved that inventing wasn't a sin and that machines could be used for great and wondrous things. They learned the true name of Cove -Discovery, once a haven for scientists and inventors. They even killed the dragon that attacked their city. Right.
DRAGONS EXIST.
That was the other little secret they uncovered. Then they managed to kill the dragon that attacked their city. Now, Kallista is determined to find her father, the eccentric and brilliant inventor Leo Babbage, who escaped the city and left another puzzle of clues behind for her to follow. With Trenton's help, they follow Leo's path aboard their majestic mechanical dragon Ladon to a far off city called 'Seattle', dodging dragons of the scales and blood variety along the way. You're sold on this already, aren't you? I don't blame you. I love, love, LOVE this premise so. freaking. much. While just as much of an adventure as Fires of Invention, the intrigue for Gears of Revolution
really kicked it up a notch. Plus, Savage delves even deeper into the
'steampunk' culture with the introduction of the Whipjacks
-technological superior social outcasts with fantastic accents and
slang- and their charismatic leader, the 'dimber damber' Cochrane. (Oh
yep. Loving it.) And once again, Savage regales us with new
inventions and throws in some political and social discord for Trenton
and Kallista to contend with -because obviously dragons aren't enough of
a challenge for them. Gears also takes the world on a darker turn, because the city Trenton and Kallista find next is more brutal, more savage. (No pun intended*) This Seattle has a survival-of-the-fittest mentality unseen in the peaceful Discovery and it's interesting watching Kallista and Trenton deal with this unpleasant jolt of reality. It adds a new angle for them and I like the affect it has on their characters, coming from a city where everyone has enough to eat to seeing a place where some have to resort to desperate methods just to keep from starving. Kallista and Trenton are still awkwardly adorable, since they both relate far better to machines than people (especially each other). They are learning to interact better (which, again, is adorable) but they still need some work on their dealings with others. Which is part of the fun! Kallista comes a little into her own in this sequel. Up to now, she has been dutifully following the clues left behind by her father, but I like that we see a touch of perhaps not exactly resentment, but the idea that these games her father loved to play aren't exactly her cup of tea. I like seeing this side of Kallista and I'm excited to see where it takes her from here. One thing I mentioned specifically in my review for Fires of Invention was the portrayal of Trenton's mother, who disapproves of the machines Trenton loves so much, and of the complicated relationship between them, and I have to say, I love it even more in the sequel. Since they reached a better understanding of each other last book, Savage successfully starts deepening their relationship and I love watching every minute -even though there aren't very many! (Next book, maybe. Next book...) Fires floored me with the reveal of dragons, and Gears wowed me with the further depth of this world. Whereas Discovery had hidden away from the reality of dragons, the city built from the remains of Seattle designed a religion around them. (Whoa is right.) The Order of the Beast is exactly what it sounds like. The core of the religion is a worship of the 'holy beasts' and its role in society is basically the peace they claim to have brokered with the dragons. I would have loved to see The Order of the Beast explored more within the story; I'm a worldbuilding nerd like that. We do get one of these 'Red Robes' as a prominent character and I devoured the tidbits of this whacked out religion he fed us. He also raised some very interesting -and uncomfortable- questions about the nature of dragons. And Kallista is uncovering questions about the dragons on her own. The deeper Savage takes us into his world, the deeper we see the story go and I love this progression! There a couple of great new characters in this book. Aside from the aforementioned Cochrane, head of the motley eccentric Whipjacks, we also get Ander -a member of the dragon-worshiping Order of the Beast who has questionable motives- and Plucky -a young Whipjack with awesome mechanical leg braces who has questionable motives. You might be sensing a theme here. But even with all this fantastic new content, one of my very favorite moments in this book actually involves old faces, specifically Mr. Darrow and his son, Angus. It's not much of a spoiler. So I'm going to tell you about it. As you might recall, Angus isn't much of a fan of Trenton and Kallista. He's actually a bit of a bully, just like his father. Angus has always intrigued me, though, and he's one of the characters who really stuck in the back of my mind. There is a moment in Gears when Trenton finds his path blocked by Mr. Darrow and this happens:
"You're a coward and a fool," Trenton yelled as he ran past. "And one day, your son is going to realize it."
Remember that Trenton isn't much of a people person; I don't feel like this line is spoken out of spite or even that Trenton is lashing out. This is just the truth as Trenton sees it. So why am I so hung up on this? It's a tiny moment. A single line. It's never addressed again and, to be honest, Angus and his father are barely in this story, so it's not that important in the grand scheme of things. But I'm really excited to see the aftermath of this single line. Because it makes me realize WHY I'm so interested in Angus Darrow. This kid has a great core. He has good instincts and qualities -like wanting to protect his people at all costs and vehemently opposing any threat- he just has a bad example in his bully father and has been taught too many lies. What Trenton says here is painfully true. It's exactly why I'm chomping the bit for book 3. Because some day Angus IS going to realize it and that might very well be the day a Great Character is born. That's a day I want to see.
So, Angus:
I loved how Savage ended this book. It's an epic finale and I cannot wait to get my hands on book 3. Gears of Revolution, with its new setting, new characters, and whole plethora of dragons has been a blast. But it's also a build up. The deeper we dive into the world of this series, the closer we get to the really meaty question, and it is waiting for the answer to that that has me on the edge of my seat. Overall, it's a fantastic continuation to the series and even more
fascinating than its predecessor. The whole time I was reading this, my
big recurring thought was: I can't wait to see how that unfold next time! Oh, right. Did I mention that blessedly beautiful AIRSHIP? An ARC of this ebook was provided courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review *Okay. Pun totally intended.
Nevertheless, this is one of my most anticipated reads for the rest of 2016.Imagine* it tucked neatly into the #2 spot on that list of mine, right under Eoin Colfer's Iron Man novel and just above Rowling's Cursed Child. Oi!Don't give me that look! I've been waiting years to read this middle grade adventure. Years! I only started reading Harry Potter in December. So yeah. Mikey Brooks ranks higher than J.K. Rowling. Let me explain. A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to read the first few chapters of Potions in the Pizza. I fell in love with it and I fell hard. It is so much fun, hilarious, and a perfect middle grade adventure. And I've been waiting to find out how it ends ever since. I am so happy this book has finally found a home with Future House. Congratulations, Mikey! But let's face it. My joy is entirely selfish. BECAUSE NOW I GET TO READ IT!
And guess what? You could read it too! Future House is offering ARCs in exchange for honest reviews-details at the bottom of the post.NOW EVERYBODY'S HAPPY!
About The W.H.O. Files: Potions in the Pizza 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. Meet Mikey Brooks Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as an adult. On occasion you’ll catch him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is an award winning author of the middle-grade fantasy adventure series The Dream Keeper Chronicles. His other middle-grade books include: The Gates of Atlantis: Battle for Acropolis and The Stone of Valhalla. His picture books include the best-selling ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures, Trouble with Bernie, and Bean’s Dragons. Mikey has a BS degree in English from Utah State University and works full time as a freelance illustrator, cover designer, and author. His art can be seen in many forms from picture books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with his three daughters and explore the worlds that only the imagination of children can create. As a member of the Emblazoners, he is one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the hearts of children’ (emblazoners.com). >> Follow Mikey on Amazon & Goodreads >> Follow Mikey on Facebook & Twitter >> Visit Mikey’s website If you would like to be notified when Mikey’s book is published, join our Beta-readers list. If you would like to get an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a review of this book, contact Ryan Mendenhall (ryan AT futurehousepublishing.com). For booking school assemblies or classroom visits, media appearances, interviews, and/or book-signings contact Ami Johanson (ami AT futurehousepublishing.com). Contact Ryan Mendenhall (ryan AT futurehousepublishing.com) to request podcast appearances, guest blog posts or other digital promotional opportunities.
*Okay, so you don't have to imagine it. I added it on.
Red The True Story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff 4/5 stars
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Random House Kids for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The third book in Shurtliff's series of 'True Story' novels, RED is just as fun and enjoyable as RUMP and JACK.
In this story, we get to skip back to Rump's old village where his old friend Red has been getting by without him, though she does wonder where he ran off to. After JACK, it's fun to jump back into the part of the world Rump came from. It offers up a lot of questions as far as the series. Will we see Rump again? Is Shurtliff leading up to something? In the future, will we see these separate story lines start to connect on a grander scale?
These questions fuel my excitement for these novels, but for now they remain unanswered.
Red is a tough, spunky young girl, who
doesn't need anyone looking out for her and doesn't mind telling you so.
Also told in the first person, this was a very easy book to fall into
because of Red's spirited narration, especially once she crosses paths with the flighty Goldie who's determined to be friends.
Granddaughter of the Witch of the Wood, Red is strong with magic. Maybe too strong. Where her grandmother is a powerful and competent witch, Red has a hard time making her magic work right. Spells she casts have a tendency to blow up in her face and she's vowed never to use magic again. When her grandmother gets sick, Red resolves to find her a cure.
RED offers us a chance to explore the magic of this world and how it works, as we watch Red struggle with the magic within her. Despite her vow to never use magic again, the magic still exists inside her, giving us an interesting look at the world through its magic.
As expected, Shurtliff not only puts a twist on the classic story, but she manages to cross its path with unconventional elements from a handful of other stories as well, like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Snow White, and -my personal favorite- Beauty and the Beast. This gives further credence to the prospect that we may one day see all these stories merge on a bigger canvas. We already have proof these fairy tales are interconnected; the question now is how interconnected? Along her journey, Red finds personal strength and growth in a satisfactory and engaging story. She will also be faced with a much more serious and mature topic than Shurtliff has heretofore taken on -accepting death of loved ones. Red's goal of finding a cure for her grandmother quickly becomes fixated on finding a way to beat death, because she can't ever imagine a life without her grandmother in it. This is a very heavy topic to take on in middle grade, but Shurtliff handles it well. She doesn't sugar-coat the reality of losing loved ones, but she manages not to depress us at the same time. The book is made all the better by the inclusion and handling of this genuine dread. A great addition to Shurtliff's name, kids -and overenthusiastic fairy tale fans like me- are going to love it just as much as the first two. Check out my reviews for RUMP & JACK Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews
How is it that fairy tale retellings can still be popping up all over the place? Haven't we had enough of those already? The answer is no, because authors like Jen Calonita keep finding ways to make the classics fresh again. Until they can't do that anymore, retellings are here to stay. (And I love it!)
The little twist that makes Flunked so much fun is The Fairy Tale Reform School. Known throughout Enchantasia as the place where all bad kids go, it's run by Princess Ella's not-so-wicked-anymore stepmother, and the faculty includes her two daughters, Snow White's stepmother, a sea witch, and the Big Bad Wolf. When 12-year-old Gillian is caught stealing one times too many, she's sent packing from her family's shoe and into the waiting clutches of these supposedly reformed villains.
Soon, Gilly's suspicions are aroused by odd behavior from the teachers and the occasional gargoyle attack. Mystery starts crawling out of the woodwork as she and her new friend Jax begin investigating the oddities, especially once they learn that the princesses of Enchantasia -and the prey of the faculty's former nefarious activities- are coming to FTRS for a visiting day. Someone is out to harm the princesses, and who can Gilly trust in a school full of former villains?
The idea of a reform school for would-be villains is brilliant. It's so much fun getting to see not only our classic villains, but a band of mischievous juvenile delinquents all in one place.
Gilly has some great character development. Her string of petty thefts that lead to her stay at FTRS are born of necessity. At least, that's what she tells herself. As events push her to examine the lines between 'good' and 'evil', Gilly begins to realize the easy answers aren't always the best. And in a place where would-be villains go to amend their evil ways, Gilly learns what it is to be a hero.
I love Gilly's spunk and sass; it keeps the pages turning and the story upbeat. But I admit my favorite character here was her friend Jax, fellow thief and cocky troublemaker. (It's entirely possible this was born of his striking similarities to Chase Turnleaf, another favorite of mine, since I was just coming off the high of finishing The Ever Afters by Shelby Bach when I started this.)
There are great characters throughout the story, but it really benefits from the inclusion of so many former villains. How many of us love a bad-guy-wants-to-turn-good story? How many more of us obsess over bad guys WE want to turn good? I love seeing the villains used in this new way. It makes the story fun and unique.
Some elements of Flunked were predictable, but it was still a fun romp. A good book for anyone who loves fairy tales, and especially for the younger readers.
When Dawn found
the old cello in the dilapidated barn, she thought she had scored
that jackpot. Now she could join the music class at her new school.
She would be able to practice again. But when she begins to play,
things happen. Magical things. The music of Dawn's cello and her
string quartet draw them into another world.
Using
music as a form of magic is a beautiful and fresh concept in this
genre. As someone who's always loved the idea of playing music, it
gave me goosebumps.While
it did take me awhile to get into this book, it has a great story,
with twists and turns, and a convoluted plot. It would have received
a higher rating, except for a few flaws, the biggest of which was the
occasionally confusing writing style. There is a lot of head jumping
in the narrative and -while I love a good head jumping story- some of
these leaps were not made clear to the reader.
There
is a prologue, set during WWII, before we jump forward to present
day. The prologue is interesting; it concerns several characters
introduced later on down the road. My issue with it is that we didn't
get a good indication of how these characters went from their
situation in the prologue to where they wound up in the present day.
I gleaned the gist of what happened, so there are no serious
repercussions in the book, but it felt like there was a hole in
history.
For
the most part, the characters feel well-rounded and we get to see
different sides of them. Abigail, the haughty popular girl, was
probably my favorite because she had such opposing elements in her
personality.
The
world of Roethagen where the quartet finds themselves had some very
interesting elements, and I like the way that magic can be stored and
used from a pipe system throughout the main city. There seem to be
detailed rules of magic here, and ordinary things like eating a meal
can make you more susceptible to someone's attack, which I found
utterly fascinating. I would have liked to know more about the world,
its history, magic, and social structure but, for all the time spent
here, I never felt familiar with it. This could have been
intentional, since the quartet spends more time trying to find a way
home than learning about the culture, but I would have loved to feel
more a part of this place.
I
did enjoy how much the real world was involved in the story. The
adventure isn't just contained in this other world, but its
repercussions follow the characters back and forth.
This
is a fun story and I'd recommend it for the tween crowd of Brandon
Mull's Beyonders.
Rho has awakened. Its acolytes will tear worlds apart to release their deity from its prison. Any hope of Rho's defeat lies with two people lost in a strange universe.
Kaden and Aren must learn to harness all their unique gifts if they are to rival the god of darkness reborn. They will not fight alone. A brilliant geneticist, a furry dwaro, two less than friendly elves, dragons, and a spunky red-haired computer stand with them. But if Kaden and Aren fail to reach their full potential, all of reality will be devoured until nothing remains but Rho...
Obsidian Threads by Charlie Pulsipher Sci-Fi/Fantasy
4 stars
A few of you may remember the review I did for the first book in this series, The Crystal Bridge, which turned
into a discussion of the sci-fi genre as a whole because this was one
of the first sci-fi books I actually really really enjoyed.
Obsidian
Threads is no different. While the sequel leans heavier into the
fantasy side of the spectrum, it is -like its predecessor- truly a mix
of sci-fi and fantasy. Dragons and AIs. Elves and dwarves and genetic
serums. Nerds and prophets
and ancient gods. The Lost
Shards has it all.
And
remember that wicked, unbelievable cliffhanger Pulsipher left us with
after the first book? I'll set your fears at ease right now -there
isn't another one. This is a satisfying conclusion and totally worth
the wait.
What
I most loved about this book was how beautifully Pulsipher weaves the
sci-fi and fantasy elements together. (Again, the aforementioned
combo of dragons and artificial intelligence.) Additionally,
we get the added dash of medieval politics, genetic
experiments, and (omg) a love triangle.
As you might have noticed in
my most recent review, I'm not a huge fan of the messy YA love triangles,
but this one I like. First, it's not actually 'messy'. Second, it's not
a simpering, whining YA romance*. It's as straight-forward as two
(pretty cool) guys liking the same girl and respecting her enough not to
pressure her and waiting for her to make a decision. There's also the humorous aspect, because neither guy can bring himself to
dislike the other and it totally irks them both.
There
is so much going on in this story, but it's so well-crafted that I
never felt overwhelmed. Not
only is an ancient Prophecy coming to bloody fruition on the world of
Ealdar, not only does the Earth science research compound Omegaphil
start experimenting with forces they don't understand, but we also get the twin gods added to the mix, watching it all unfold below them and constantly
teasing the reader along. All
of these stories and their characters twist and twirl around each
other, never quite fully lining up UNTIL the explosive finale which,
well, I never saw coming.
Mind
= officially blown.
Would I recommend The Lost Shards series to others? You better believe it.
Charlie Pulsipher is a were-hamster and lemur enthusiast living in Southern with his lovely wife and neurotic dog. He writes sci-fi and fantasy, and sometimes both at the same time. He’s obsessed with surviving the inevitable zombie-pocalypse. It’s coming. Tell your friends.
He spends his time away from the keyboard hiking and camping in stunning Southern Utah. He also enjoys woodworking, painting, drawing, and pretending to have super powers.
For those of you following this
blog tour around, welcome! For my usual readers, WE'RE ON THE EVER
AFTERS BLOG TOUR! *hyperventilates*
This has been my favorite series for four years running, so I am beyond excited for the opportunity to share some exclusive content from author Shelby Bach! Sit back and enjoy the music stylings that inspired some of our favorite characters.
EDIT: Because Grooveshark.com has shut down, these handy little playlist icons no longer work. I've put together a YouTube playlist with all the songs mentioned below. Enjoy! -Amanda (5/3/15)
Rory
is a powerhouse with a lot of emotion, so the songs that represent
her feature powerhouse vocalists, loud percussion, and emotional
lyrics. For me, Bastille's "Laura Palmer" and Florence +
the Machine's "Heartlines" are all about following your
instincts in spite of external pressure. Joy Formidable's "Whirring"
and Paramore's "Careful" capture Rory's efforts to protect
her friends and family, whether it is from her own emotions or her
own destiny. "Hero," by Regina Spektor, has to get special
mention—at almost 900 listens, it is the most-listened track on my
iPod: it helped me find Rory's emotional core throughout the series.
I love the lines "I'm the hero of this story/don't need to be
saved" and the way Spektor sings them—wavering between sadness
and determination.
Lena
Lamarelle
Disclaimer:
Although I tried to make sure all songs in this post would meet with
approval from Lena's strict grandmother, the last one in this
playlist doesn't. Skip "That's Alright" for those of you
who want to avoid (mild) cursing.
Lena’s
music starts off lighter and more pop-oriented than Rory’s. “One
Step at a Time” represents Lena’s longing to be a magical
inventor like her famous ancestor, Madame Benne. With Lenka’s “The
Show,” Lena is starting to feel torn between putting in the hours
she needs to become an inventor and keeping up with Rory and Chase,
who don’t seem to need her as much as she hoped they would. “Be
OK,” by Ingrid Michaelson, has a frantic positivity that totally
nails Lena when she is panicking but trying hard not to. The Laura
Mvula tunes represent Lena as she is later in the series—“Can’t
Live with the World” is how supportive Lena can be to her friends,
and “That’s Alright,” which is totally my favorite, shows Lena
realizing that she is in control of her own talents and her
own life.
Chase
Turnleaf
At
the beginning of The Ever Afters, Chase could really “Use
Somebody,” as the song goes. He needs good friends even more
than Rory and Lena, who live with extremely loving (though sometimes
overbearing) families. The line that captures Chase in OneRepublic’s
“Secrets” is “I need another story.” (If you’ve read Of
Witches and Wind,
you know why.) “New Low” captures how much Chase feels trapped by
the lies he tells. “Changing” and “Demons” capture a lot of
the things Chase wishes he could tell Rory, especially after she
finds out about his past.
Rapunzel
Sometimes,
a certain artist completely meshes with my take on a Character. For
Rapunzel , that is definitely Imogen Heap—her songs have a lot of
eerie, beautiful harmonies, and her lyrics are definitely hard to
understand, much like Rapunzel’s dialogue. Actually, you could say
that about all these songs. Mirah’s “Generosity” captures
Rapunzel’s frustration about EAS judging her by her family’s
actions, and “Silhouettes” reminds me of Rapunzel when she makes
peace with her role in Rory’s life.
The
Snow Queen
The
Snow Queen, a.k.a. Solange, is both sinister and lovely, and the
songs that represent her also share those qualities. However,
"Possibility,” with all its lost and haunted hope, represents
Solange in her youth, before she became immortal and started calling
herself “The Snow Queen.” Note: “Après Moi”—with its big
chords and its bloodthirsty self-preservation—helped me define the
Snow Queen, much like “Hero” helped me with Rory. Actually,
they’re by the same artist. That's kind of on purpose. It helps me
remember how much my hero and villain have in common.
Chatty
Chatty,
Rory’s mysterious new friend in Of
Witches and Wind,
doesn’t talk much (you’ll have to read the book to find out why).
A lot of my characterization usually comes through dialogue though,
so I had to work extra hard with Chatty. The music helped.
“Expression” reminded me that you don’t have to use words to
express longing. “Epicy,” “Something in the Water,” and “Salt
Water” both have a hyper, bouncy quality that Chatty gives off—like
she is just about to pull a prank on someone.
I have a feeling I'm not the only one to be listening to these playlists all day long. A couple of my favorite songs are in Chase's playlist, so I guess it's no wonder he's my favorite character of the series.
Pump up the music and get ready for more fun! We've got access to a great discussion guide for Of Giants and Ice. New Leaf Literary is also hosting a BOOK GIVEAWAY for signed copies of the series thus far. Plus, the blog tour continues until Nov 8, and here's the complete list because I know you don't want to miss a thing. (See that Aerosmith lyric I threw in there? Anyone? ...Bueller?)
Shelby Bach was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Charlotte, North
Carolina, but while writing THE EVER AFTERS, she moved almost as many
times as her main character. She came up with the idea for the series
right before she left New York City, and she finished the first book, OF
GIANTS AND ICE, in Montana—the second, OF WITCHES AND WIND, back in
Charlotte. Driving up the West Coast to research the settings for the
third book, OF SORCERY AND SNOW, Shelby fell in love with Portland,
Oregon and settled there. She would love to set up a Door Trek system in her apartment to visit
her family and friends around the country, but she makes do with much
slower and less fictional transportation. These days, while finishing up the fourth and final book, she also works part time for a
real-life afterschool program. It is strangely similar to the one where
her stories are set—except the students study math instead of fairy
tales. Shelby’s Social Media Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Of course I can't resist including the cover for the upcoming fourth (and final *sob!*) installment of The Ever Afters (coming June 30th, 2015). It's so gorgeous, I can't stop staring at it!
If you want to know more about The Ever Afters -or just hear me rave about them- you can also check out the book reviews and other videos I've done for this amazing series. I'm not kidding when I say that everyone should read these.
