Recent Read: Shadow Magic

Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan

A lowly woodcutter's son, Thorn has been enslaved for breaking the law. He thinks he's got it pretty bad until a mysterious man in black purchases him, a man who he discovers is the executioner of House Shadow. Now on his way to Gehenna, the land of darkness, he's pretty sure he'll be stuck cutting up corpses for the oven. He imagines that Lilith, the new ruler is a troll with warts and green skin, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Lilly was never supposed to rule Gehenna. She's a young girl who must take the throne after her family is mysteriously murdered. She comes from a long line of powerful sorcerers, but not only do the powerful glory days of magic seem to be a thing of the past, women are not allowed to practice sorcery. Even though she desperately wants to practice magic and rule on her own, she is being pressured to marry into power and protection.

As you might suspect, Lilly and Thorn are thrown together in an exciting and often humorous adventure that involves murder, necromancy, magic and an enormous bat named Hades. I felt the same kind of enjoyment reading this story as I did reading Harry Potter. It's a page turner with humor, appealing characters, and lots of charm.

Recent Read: Circus Mirandus

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

“You promised me a miracle…and I have believed through all these years that if I had need of you, you would come. 
…I need you now.”

All his life, Micah Tuttle has heard stories of the wondrous Circus Mirandus, to which his grandfather, Ephraim, gained entry as a child, with a fish caught in his boot acting as a ticket. The circus is a sort of dream world, home to various magical acts and shows, like the Amazing Amazonian Bird Woman, who flies like her exotic birds, and The Man Who Bends Light, a master of illusion who can bring his audiences to shores of an Antarctic iceberg or to the depths of the Amazonian jungle.

But now Grandpa Ephraim’s health is declining, and Micah’s crotchety great aunt Gertrudis is now running the house. When Micah finds out that his grandpa Ephraim has written to request fulfillment of a miracle promised to him by the Lightbender years ago, Micah is sure that the miracle will save his grandfather. With the help of an unexpected new friend, the academically-minded Jenny Mendoza ( “Lightbender…I guess that’s a stage name?” ), Micah sets out to find Circus Mirandis, track down the Lightbender, and save his grandfather with a miracle.

This story was as magical as the circus for which it is named. Micah is trapped in an impossible situation. Aunt Gertrudis is caring for the grandfather he loves, but in the process she suffocates them both, forbidding all talk of magic and often barring Micah from even seeing his grandfather. But just as the desperation of Micah’s situation is palpable, so is the wonder and magic of Circus Mirandus. Micah, in spite of everything, does not doubt or falter. He follows in in the footsteps of Grandpa Ephraim, always pushing ahead, always believing.

Debut author Cassie Beasley alternates chapters about Micah’s and his quest with those about young Ephraim. The characters are well-drawn, the magic world enchanting, and the writing lovely. Also, those illustrations by are a nice addition, contributing to the feel of this novel. It's a celebration of that childlike ability to believe and hope. This is the one to beat. I’m already routing for it to win the Newbery.

Recent Read: The Thickety: The Whispering Trees

I want to review the excellent second novel in the Thickety series, but I don’t want to spoil anything that happens in Book 1, which is a nearly impossible task. This is one of the best and most exciting new children’s fantasy series. So if you haven't, go out and get The Thickety: A Path Begins.

In The Thickety: The Whispering Trees, Kara and her little brother Taff are alone in the darkness of the Thickety, and Sordyr, the evil forest demon, is after them. They have no choice but to trust Mary Kettle, a witch infamous for the ease with which she traded children’s lives for her own magical gain. The only way out, Mary tells them, is to get past Imogen, once a girl, now more of a monster. (And I'll leave it at that, so as not to give away much of this or the last book.)

White maintains the momentum and excitement of the first book throughout the second. This one is a little more like a quest. Kara faces different challenges as she learns to use her gifts and navigate the morality of this magical world. I was constantly amazed by White’s creativity—the creatures (and magic and evils) he invents are oftentimes beyond my wildest imaginings. Once again, White concludes this portion of the story, while still opening a door to the next chapter in what will be a four-book series. I can't wait for the rest!

Recent Read: The Thickety: A Path Begins

The Thickety: A Path Begins by J. A. White

As the children of an executed witch, Kara and her little brother Taff are shunned by their small, secluded island community, for there is nothing more evil than witchcraft. Kara knows and believes this too, until a mysterious bird guides (or lures?) her to a grimoire, full of magic, power and, perhaps, ties to her mother.

The title refers to the black forest that rules a significant portion of their little island. The Thickety is home to nightmarish creatures, black trees, dark magic, and the evil Sordyr. The Children of the Fold, as the island people call themselves, follow the teachings of Timoth Clen, a man who eradicated magic from their world many years before. By strictly adhering to the cardinal rules of his cult-like religion, the villagers can protect themselves from evil (and each other). The rules are: 1. Never use magic. 2. Never enter the Thickety.

In one fell swoop, Kara violates both of these rules and opens a sort of Pandora’s box in the form of an insidious and magical grimoire.

Sinister. That’s the word to describe this gripping children’s novel. Despite the size, format and illustrations, this is a dark story, not for the feint of heart. White does not shy away from pure, unadulterated evil in this tale of power, addiction, and truth. But this is one of the reasons it’s so good. It’s a unique and complex story, full of excitement. The language is both evocative and concise. As the title suggests, the path begins here, and I was left both shocked and eager to see what happens next. One of my favorites of 2014.


Book 2, The Thickety: The Whispering Trees, comes out March 10, 2015.

Recent Read: Salt & Storm

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

Avery Roe is one in a long line of witches on Prince Island. She wants nothing more than to take her place as the next witch, but her mother has trapped her with a curse, preventing her from learning her grandmother’s magic. When Avery has a dream foretelling her own murder, she becomes desperate to break the curse so she can unlock her magic and prevent her death--so desperate that she reaches out to a tattooed islander boy with strange magic of his own.

This is a story that feels rich with history and atmosphere. Prince Island is home to a whaling community that regularly seeks charms and spells from the Roe witch to protect them at sea, keep their lovers faithful, and protect their wares and goods. I loved the world and magic that Kulper has invented here. She not only composed beautiful, rich descriptions of the place, she effectively created a sense of history, tradition and folklore.

As readers, we feel and see with Avery--including her biases. But I didn't realize this until later when it becomes clear that Avery's world is more complicated than she thought. I was surprised by some of the developments in this book.

The love story was a bit lacking--told more than shown, underdeveloped. And the pace started to lag a bit in the middle. But overall it was very good. I loved the atmosphere, the feeling of history, the interesting twists, and the magic itself.


Salt & Storm comes out September 23

Recent Read: The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Kestrel’s father, a famed general in the empire of Valoria, has given her a choice: marriage or the military. She possesses a strategic prowess desirable in the military, and her best friend’s brother would marry her in a heartbeat. But in truth, she wants neither option. Instead, she finds herself drawn to her slave, Arin. As her feelings for him grow, she talks with him, confides in him, unaware that he is planning to overthrow her people and reclaim what once belonged to him and his people.

This was an interesting read—in part because I was on the fence for at least half of it. It takes a while to get going. There are some inconsistencies in the world-building that irritated me, some characters’ decisions and behavior didn’t totally make sense. But by the end I was more or less sold. Once it did get going, I was hooked. There was enough originality in it to feel new. And the ending leaves the characters in quite a state. It sets up the rest of the trilogy for lots of tension and difficult decisions. I’m very interested to see what happens next.

The idea of the winner’s curse and how Rutkoski used it in the story was great. It’s first used when Kestrel bids an exorbitant amount of money in order to win the slave she can’t resist. But it comes into play more than once later in the story in heart-wrenching ways. Yet (surprisingly) it never felt contrived.

Recent Read: Paper Valentine

A serial killer is murdering middle school girls the quiet city of Ludlow. But that’s not the only thing on Hannah’s mind. She’s being haunted by her best friend who died six months ago.

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff was a great read. It immediately got me interested—she’s haunted by the ghost of her best friend? And her best friend essentially starved herself to death over a period of years? And there’s a murderer in town? I was intrigued and invested in just a few pages. Much of that is thanks to Yovanoff’s writing and the talent she has for giving you a lot of meaning and information in few words.

The mystery drives the plot, building slowly to a nail-biting climax. But equally, if not more, intriguing is the relationship between Hannah and her dead best friend, Lillian. Existing as the worst version of herself, Lillian follows Hannah around, making it impossible for her to move on or find out who she is without Lillian. Meanwhile, Hannah finds herself drawn to one the local delinquents, who she trusts more and more, even as she wonders if he could be behind the murders. As Hannah navigates through a world of ghosts, and absent best friends, romantic delinquents, and cruel murders she starts to learn more about who she is and what she’s made of. This one is fast, page-turning, eerie, and satisfying. And how 'bout that cover?

Recent Read: Eat, Brains, Love

 

Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hart

Jake is a low-key stoner who likes to play video games in his basement, until he morphs into a flesh-eating zombie during lunch in the school cafeteria and devours a large number of his classmates. Soon he’s on the run from the government with the hottest girl—now zombie—in school.

Well, turns out it takes a clever title & cover spoofing Eat, Pray, Love and a funny first few pages to get me to pick up a zombie book. I was always repelled by the idea of zombies, but I actually enjoyed this book. Though I know next to nothing about zombie mythology, I thought this one had an interesting take. The story is told from two perspectives. First there’s Jake: he and Amanda both contract a zombie virus (STD, if you must know), which causes them to launch into a “necrotic” (aka zombie) state when overcome by hunger. But the rest of the time, they’re normal kids with consciences and awareness and unusual healing abilities, struggling to survive in a country where the government wants to hunt them down and destroy them. The story is also told from the perspective of Cass, a young psychic who works for the government helping track down the people-eating monsters by following their one-track necrotic minds. Only she starts to question the morality of the projects within her department. So, you can see that it’s the human story that makes it an enjoyable book.

The book is a great combination of humor, action, suspense, with a touch of romance. But I warn you—though it looks like a stand alone, it is not. 

A lot of fun.

Recent Read: Grave Mercy

Ismae is rescued from a horrifying arranged marriage and delivered to the Convent of St Mortain, where she learns she is a daughter of Death himself. She is trained in the arts of deception and assassination so she can carry out His will, that is, end the lives of traitors. When she leaves on a mission to the high court of Brittany, she becomes embroiled in the politics and dangerous treachery of the nobles there. Will she be able to carry out the orders of the convent when what they see conflicts with what she herself sees?

In Grave Mercy, Robin LaFevers has written some top notch young adult fantasy. The plot and mythology were well-developed. I really liked the pagan-catholic mythology--it was interesting and unique. There was a lot of intrigue and mystery, some action, and a rather romantic romance (it hits a lot of buttons and avoids insta-love). It was an exciting page-turner. And though it’s part of a series, it is a self-contained story that works just fine as a stand alone. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Recent Read: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Tana wakes up in the bathroom of a friend's house after a high school party. She emerges to find a massacre of all of her classmates and friends, their blood drained by vampires that are nowhere in sight. The only one still alive is her sleazy ex-boyfriend who's been bitten and a slight vampire chained up on the floor. She narrowly escapes the bloated vampires responsible with her ex and chained vampire in tow. Unsure if she herself has been infected (when bitten, a victim is infected, but only after the victim drinks human blood will he turn into a vampire), she makes her way to the nearest coldtown, a quarantined city for vampires. Tana has a plan, but the risks are high, and she may never be able to return to the life she knew.

Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is no warm and fuzzy tale of vegetarian vampires. The danger is palpable in this fast-paced and grisly (in the best possible way) story. Tana is a clever and appealing heroine--someone who sees the monstrosity of vampires for what it is, as opposed to others who idealize and seek after the glamorous lifestyle they've seen on TV. It's this aspect of the story--the eerily familiar way the teens fantasize about another life and create communities through social media to explore, document and share that fantasy (and reality)--that gave me chills and brought some unexpected depth. In the saturated genre of young adult vampire novels, Holly Black has written something that feels fresh. It's an interesting mix of supernatural, horror, and even a bit of dystopia, and it's wholly enjoyable.

 

Happy Halloween

Recent Read: Jinx

  In the Urwald you grow up fast or not at all. By the time Jinx was six he had learned to live quietly and carefully, squeezed into the spaces left by other people, even though the hut he lived in with his stepparents actually belonged to him. He had inherited it after his father died of were wolves and his mother was carried off by elves.

And thus this imaginative adventure through the dangerous forest called the Urwald begins. In this place where trolls, witches, and werewolves abound, the only safe place to be is on the path or in a clearing. So when Jinx's stepfather takes him off the path, into the depths of the Urwald, Jinx knows why--he's to be abandoned and left to the creatures who live there. But a wizard named Simon interrupts them, offering to purchase Jinx. And though Jinx has heard nothing but dark tales of evil wizards, Simon feeds him and keeps a roof over his head. Living with Simon, Jinx starts to learn about his own magical powers--his ability to see thoughts and listen to the trees of the Urwald. But when Simon performs a particularly powerful spell on Jinx, he feels completely betrayed and strikes out on his own to search for what was stolen from him.

What an imaginative world Sage Blackwood has created in his middle-grade debut, Jinx. Ok, let me give you one detail of this book to start: The witches travel by butter churn. The sound of a witch traveling by butter churn? "Ker thump, ker thump." Jinx "could just make out the hopping motion of a legless barrel-shape--thrusting a long, straight stick at the ground..." This cracked me up--a pogo stick-like butter churn (which we later find out is custom built to fit around the witch, and has to be replaced as they outgrow them).

This was such an enjoyable read. It was entertaining and humorous. The characters were colorful, appealing and oftentimes a bit eccentric. The story contained many familiar elements, creatures, and characters, but each with a unique and fresh spin. It did not at all feel like something I had seen before. Jinx's magical powers in particular are new and intriguing. Many places and people are introduced but not fully explored, leaving room for many more adventures in sequels to come.

Recent Read: The False Prince

Sage, a spunky orphan, is enjoying his life of thievery, dirt, and avoiding punishment, when a nobleman named Conner plucks him out of his hardscrabble life, along with three other orphans. The cunning Conner reveals that the orphans are in a competition to impersonate the long-lost prince of Carthya. But while Sage isn't sure he wants to give up his freedom or risk committing treason, he might lose his life if he is not chosen.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen was so good. To start, the premise is an interesting and exciting one that pulls the reader in right away. Even though it has a competing-for-your-life set up (complete with training) that's so overdone in a post-Hunger Games publishing world, I didn't realize it until now. In other words, this story comes off as original and interesting (instead of tired). I loved the characters--Sage is wonderfully defiant, clever and charming, with a strong character (despite his sometimes questionable morals). The plot and politics, as well as the relationships are complex and intriguing. This is a smart, fast-paced read I'd recommend to all readers, but especially reluctant ones.

 

Recent Read: The Brides of Rollrock Island

this is definitely the best cover

On Rollrock Island, wives were once conjured from the sea. But those days have past, or so they thought until young Misskaella Prout, a girl whose appearance "harks back," seems to have a connection to the seals of the island. She's ostracized, mocked, and rejected by the villagers and even members of her own family. When she begins to see the makings of humanity in the seals and learns to harness the magic that inhabits her, how will she use it?

Where to begin?

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan was stunning. I fear that any effort I make to champion the virtues of this book will be inadequate. It's so unlike anything I've read. It's eerie, unsettling, atmospheric, stark, rustic, haunting, stormy, fascinating, tragic, with moments of beauty. The language is gorgeous--literary, but she evokes such beautiful, clear images and emotions with rich, unexpected diction. I knew these people and I could smell the sea. I loved the mythology that felt like folklore--or rather felt like what really happened that then developed into folklore. There were many details Lanagan added that created a world that was both realistic and vivid.

Then there's the story itself. We witness the spellbinding (pun intended) development of Misskaella from misfit girl into witch, seeing who she really is, where she comes from, and how she becomes who she becomes. We then watch as the consequences of her decisions unfold in fascinating and often sorrowful ways. The story is told from six perspectives, each giving the reader a different view of life on the island, a different view of development of the story. Frankly, I would have been happy to read a novel about each of those characters. (I was especially sad to see Misskaella's section come to a close.) Lanagan often tells her story by implication, making it even more eerie, and more intense as the reader puts together the pieces and experiences the (often heart-breaking) realization of what happened. There is so much meat in this story. I would love to read this with friends and discuss it. I was especially struck by the depiction of the women.

I will say that this is a book that takes some effort to get into. The first chapter I found a bit confusing (and I'm not entirely sure why it was there), but once I got into Misskaella's narrative, that was it.  Not a book for everyone, I'd say, but oh, it was masterful.

Recent Read: Seraphina

Peace in the Kingdom of Goredd rests on an uneasy treaty between humans and dragons signed 40 years ago. The hyper-rational dragons, who work better with numbers than other beings, often assume human form, living among the citizens of Goredd as teachers, ambassadors, and scholars. As the anniversary of the treaty draws near, the prince is found killed in a typically draconian fashion, and the already existing tensions escalate. Seraphina Dombegh, music teacher in the royal court, finds herself caught between the two sides. At risk of exposing her own perilous secret, Seraphina becomes drawn into the political intrigue and treachery that threatens to destroy the peace that so many have worked so hard to establish.

Hmm, that summary seems inadequate. But I try to keep my summaries sound-bite short so I can pitch them to patrons in a matter of minutes. I was thoroughly impressed with Rachel Hartman's debut novel, Seraphina. From the beginning I could tell that Hartman was not only a skilled writer, but one who had thoroughly prepared and developed her story and mythology. In this intricately plotted story, Hartman weaves together mystery, political intrigue, complicated emotions and relationships, with a sophisticated mythology to form the first volume of a promising new high fantasy series for young adults. With dragons that take human form and think in an entirely foreign way, this is not your typical dragon book. Mature and intelligent like her companions, 16-year-old Seraphina is a thoughtful, likable narrator. It's one of those books that takes a little longer to get into (that and the length may serve as a barrier to some), but the reward for the expository development and detail pays off as readers come to better understand a multifaceted world and fully developed characters. I highly recommend this one. I look forward to the rest of the series.

Watch the trailer:

Recent Read: Splendors and Glooms

For her birthday, young Clara has the puppeteer she saw in the park come perform at her birthday party, accompanied by his two young orphaned assistants. Afterwards, when Clara disappears, it becomes apparent that puppeteer is at fault, but he's nowhere to be found. The two orphans flee north to the home of a wealthy woman, unknowingly walking into a trap set by a powerful witch.

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz is a story reminiscent of a Grimm fairy tale, with setting, telling, and characters so Victorian I could practically smell the fog. I've seen the word "Dickensian" used multiple times in descriptions. It was obvious that Schlitz was painstaking not only in her research, but also in her construction and development of the story and characters. This book is complex--surprisingly so for a children's book. The pacing is slower than most, but the story is intriguing and the rounded characters likable, despite their imperfections. I liked that Schlitz did not shy away from the sinister--this is one of the things that gives it that Grimm feel. (But beware--I think parts of this book would have given me nightmares as a child). I just don't know how much kid-appeal this book has. At nearly 400 pages, it's long (and not Harry Potter, can't-put-it-down long). That combined with the pacing and density of it makes it a hard sell. But I think if you found the right reader, it could be a hit.

Review based on advanced reader copy.

Recent Read: Monstrous Beauty

Plymouth , MA, 1872: Syrenka is one of the unearthly beauties of the sea, half human, half fishy dolphin, frighteningly lethal. Despite the tragic ends of her last love affair with a human, she finds herself drawn to a young scientist in Plymouth, MA who spends his days studying the sea. 

150 years later in modern-day Plymouth, 15-year-old history-buff Hester contemplates the loveless, celibate life she has resolved to lead because of what she is convinced is an undiagnosed genetic condition which causes the women of her family to die within a week of their first child's birth. But when she meets a mysterious stranger on the beach, she feels an overpowering connection that causes her to falter in her resolve.

At his suggestion, she begins to research her family's history to see if she can figure out why the mothers have died and if she can stop the cycle.

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama is a wonderfully gothic story--romance, tragedy, some horror, a smidgen of violence, doomed lovers, curses, ghosts, hauntings. Delicious! I love this kind of stuff!! Plus, it's original. I haven't encountered anything quite like it. Great mythology, nice use of language. There's an interesting historical (and geneological) element to it, as Hester goes through microfilmed newspapers, looks at gravestones, etc to uncover the past. A sense of foreboding pervades the story and helps to create suspense. Though not every revelation is a surprise, I still found myself impelled to find out what was going on and uncover mysteries. There is one rape scene. It's brief, it's not graphic, but it does happen.

Read the prologue and first chapter here.

Release date: September 4, 2012

(review based on advanced reading copy, uncorrected proof)

Recent Read: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

I had to wait a long time to finally get my hands on Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It was worth the wait.

17-year-old Karou is not your typical art student. Her blue hair is natural. Her art school sketchbooks are filled with fantastic chimeras which her friends believe to be imagined, but she knows them as her very real foster family. What she doesn't know is who she is, how she came to be raised in a family of monsters, or why she is sent on errands to collect teeth in exotic locales.

It was the kind of book I wanted to wait to read until I was settled, with no distractions, so I could immerse myself in the world. It's funny, exciting, romantic, sad, complicated, hard to put down. I loved the unique (and occasionally weird) world Taylor's created, which unfolds page by page as mysteries are explained, mythology revealed. The spunky, tattooed protagonist is tough, smart, independent, and very likeable. Plus it's set in Prague, a rich, slightly spooky setting brought to life in such a way that I now have an insatiable desire to go there asap (consider yourself warned). For once, I'm glad to see that I've read the first in a series.

Recent Read: The Scorpio Races

The island of Thisby is home to the deadly Scorpio Races, where Thisby natives bridle dangerous, flesh-eating water horses in a race that inevitably results in the deaths of a few, if not many. In a desperate move to care for her orphaned family, Kate "Puck" Connelly, a lover of non-water horses, defies convention by becoming the first female ever to enter the race. Her competition includes Sean Kendrick, a boy with incomparable gift with the water horses, who lost his own father in the race 10 years ago. Who will win? Who will survive?

There's a lot to love about Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races. For one, there's Stiefvater's wonderful ability to create a palpable sense of place. This was particularly important in this book, as the island of Thisby becomes a character in and of itself. I loved the mythology--majestic and lethal water horses with hints of the interaction of new Christianity and old paganism. Then there are the characters and relationships, which develop slowly. It was refreshing to me to see it happen over time, based on mutual respect, rather than the instant passion soul-mate thing you see so often in YA lit. Because the book takes its time, it's not as gripping or action-packed as you might think considering the fact that it's about killer water horses. So it may not be the choice for reluctant readers. But I think the reward of a believable, satisfying relationship makes the slower pace well worth it. My one criticism would be that it's in present tense. The tense just doesn't seem to fit the story--the feel, the pace, the tone. But in the end, I'm left with a love of Thisby, like the love our protagonists have for the island. I want to go that gloomy cliff-side town and I want to see those horses.

Recent Read: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson is a high fantasy novel about Princess Elisa, a plain, overweight, and lazy second daughter thrown into the spotlight and a position of leadership she was never supposed to bear at the age of 16 as she's suddenly married off to the handsome king of the neighboring kingdom. She also is the chosen one--the bearer of the Godstone and therefore destined to perform a great service for good and for God. But she doesn't understand her mission, her role as queen, or her own strength.

I was impressed by this book. Sometimes young adult fantasy novels are underdeveloped--especially in comparison to adult fantasy. So it was refreshing to read something more complex, without quick fixes or cliches. I love Elisa--she's so human. She struggles with her faith, she gets winded going up stairs, she's unpopular, but she's smart and clever and has a good heart. All of the characters are well-rounded and interesting. The world-building is also fresh and new (it's spanish-influenced, the settings are deserts and jungles, and the magic is religious). Quite good and refreshing in a lot of ways.