Category: books

• Book Review: “Drums of Autumn” by Diana Gabaldon

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on March 8, 2015

  Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

  Publisher: Dell
  Published: 1996
  Genre: historical fiction, fantasy, romance, adventure
  ISBN: 9780440224259
  Goodreads: 4.33
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the stone circle and a terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and the father she has never met, she is risking her own future to try to change history…and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past…or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong…

  Claire and Jamie travel from Jamie’s aunt’s plantation in the South upriver to the Carolinas, where Jamie builds a homestead on a vast expanse of land. As his men from the prison years begin to settle, so too does Claire into her medicinal routines. Young Ian has a way with the Native Americans, and while times are by no means easy or peaceful, the Frasers are content for the first time in years. Meanwhile, Brianna and Roger continue their research to find out whether Claire reunited with Jamie, and a discovery from a newspaper clipping dating 1776 proves Claire and Jamie were reunited, but something terrible will happen to them. Brianna takes it upon herself to reunite with her mother, meet her biological father, and keep her heart in one place in time.

  SPOILER ALERT
  Events pertaining to Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and Voyager are within this review.
  SPOILER ALERT

  Reading Gabaldon is an extreme time commitment. When I began this book (late October!), I had a lot going on in my life, and so I would only read maybe ten pages a night. Not even a full chapter. Or even a full scene! But despite how long it took to finish, I can say without a doubt that this is, thus far, my second favorite of the series (first being Outlander, of course).

  It’s also the most unique of the four I’ve read. Drums delves into multiple points of view across time, such as Jamie and Claire building a home in the Carolinas, and Roger and Brianna looking for ways to connect back to Claire. So much happened in this book — homelessness, poverty, plantations and slavery, encounters / fights / friendships with Indians, time travel, love, pregnancy, misunderstandings, illness, reconciliation — that it might be best if I summarize character growth instead of plot.

  Jamie. He’s running a farm, just like he wanted to do at Lallybroch, without a price on his head. He’s relaxed and gentle, while still maintaining a very political, skeptical mindset. We also get to see the fatherly side of him, his protectiveness over the younger generation and how it’s different from what he shows with Claire. I was happy to see him this way. He’s still that adventurous, laughing, fierce warrior Claire met in Outlander, but in a much calmer, settled way. Like a sigh.

  Claire. She manages to be a woman of her original time as well as a woman in history. She adapts easily to the culture (apart from the slavery) and manages to hide her differences very well now. It’s interesting seeing the Native Americans’ reaction to her healing powers. Word spreads about her talent, and the settlers of the area, as well as the Indians, see her as a cross between a good witch and a healer. The lore of the area is like that of Scotland, only with a different sort of superstition. It was neat watching her navigate that territory.

  Young Ian. He always longed for adventure, to be just like Uncle Jamie while living in Scotland, that he adapts very well to living on Fraser’s Ridge. Like his uncle, he has a knack for languages and a natural charisma. He thrives in the New World, and becomes a great asset to Indians and the settlers alike. I can’t wait to read the rest of his story in the following books!

  Roger. Our historian, our musician, our modern, chivalrous knight. He’s passionate and loving and thoughtful, incredibly patient and determined, and fights hard to understand and rationalize time travel. He loves Brianna deeply and throws himself into understanding her family history as well as his own. Poor man went through several ups and downs in this book, and I’m also looking forward to what comes next for him.

  Brianna. She, too, is a determined, stubborn character, an outlander in her own right. She’s deeply conflicted throughout the novel, and even when she has doubts she’ll firmly stick to her decisions. She’s strong and bold, an enigma. I’ve no idea how she managed to handle any of the conflicts thrown her way in this book, and her bravery has me rooting for her in the next ones!

  Drums contained so many echoes and parallels to Outlander. I worried that I wouldn’t like the series as much since we were no longer in Scotland — and I’ll be honest and say Scotland was partly the draw. But Scottish culture made its way to the mountains, and the American lore blends in well. Claire and Jamie’s relationship deepens, and they grow and love one another even more. It’s just beautiful. Watching everyday life come about from extraordinary circumstances…it’s beautiful.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Shadow Scale” by Rachel Hartman (ARC)

  Posted at 6:30 am by Laura, on March 5, 2015

  Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

  Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
  Publishing Date: March 10
  Genre: young adult, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780375866579
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★

  The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways.

  As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

  Civil war breaks out among dragonkind, and Seraphina, as a half-dragon, is responsible for leading the end to the war. Prince Kiggs and Queen Glisselda ask Seraphina to seek out the other half-dragons from her mind garden, to persuade them to work together and fight off the dragons in a powerful way. But while Seraphina embarks on this quest, her mind — as well as many other half-dragons’ minds — is invaded, manipulated, and twisted with altering propaganda. How can Seraphina save herself, her new family, and her kingdom without accidentally harming anyone in the process?

  Hartman is an excellent writer, and takes YA epic fantasy to the next level. I’m really not a “dragon book” reader at all, so it came as a surprise that I enjoyed Seraphina so much. And yet, when comparing the first book to its new companion, I can see why: I liked Seraphina for the historical feel, the language, the universal search for identity and acceptance, and for music. Shadow Scale took it to the next level, with a deep focus on mind control and other half dragons. This book was far more political too, scheming and deceiving, and mostly focused on the quest, the journey Seraphina embarks.

  I’m very torn about this book. I liked learning even more about this world, I liked being reunited with Seraphina, Glisselda, and Kiggs. I liked meeting the other half-dragons and I liked seeing how they worked (and didn’t work) together to end the civil war and begin true peace. But I found myself, at times, bored. It has nothing to do with Hartman and everything to do with reading too many politically-driven YA fantasies in a row. I’m just world-building(ed) out. That, and the idea that someone could poke into my mind and control me just really freaked me out that I literally shuddered during any of those passages. (Great writing on that, Hartman!)

  Fully plan on revisiting this book once it’s out on the shelves. When I’m mentally prepared for high fantasy again.

  Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this book from Random House Children’s Books for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 3 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Top Ten Tuesday: All Time Favorite Books

  Posted at 8:15 am by Laura, on March 3, 2015

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS from the Last Three Years.

  

  Oy. At first I thought this would be easy — just a quick scan of my top five favorites from each year — but now that I think about this more, some of the books listed below didn’t even make my Top Five of 20__ list originally. They stick out to me now, though, in one way or another.

  

  

  

  

  

  The Night Circus || Outlander || The Last Enchantments
  Shadow on the Crown || The Secret Keeper

  Mostly historical fiction, two of them fantasy-based, and all three set in England and/or Europe. Sounds about right for my tastes! Four of these authors were new to me at the time I read them and/or they were debuts, so it’s always exciting to find new people to follow.

  

  

  

  

  

  Fangirl || All the Bright Places || Anna and the French Kiss
  Between Shades of Gray || Prisoner of Night and Fog

  Three YA books are contemporary, speaking to who I am as a person (anxious and nerdy, deeply interested in psychology, giggly and a hopeless romantic), and two are WWII historical fiction but with a different perspective (lesser-known Russian history and through the eyes of a young pre-Nazi). Phenomenal books in their own right, and I’m constantly putting them in readers’ hands.

  What are your top ten favorite books from the last three years? Do we have any overlap?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 16 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, top ten tuesday

• Double Reviews: The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

  Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on February 25, 2015

   

  Double Reviews! As both books are by the same author — and the newest publication is out next week — I felt it necessary to condense the two posts into one. The first section is for the first book, a review for those who haven’t read it; the second section is for the second book, a review for those who can’t wait to read it. If you’ve read the first book or both, I would love to discuss it with you in the comments!

  ~~~

  The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

  Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
  Published: March 2014
  Genre: young adult, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780374384678
  Goodreads: 4.08
  Rating: ★★★★

  As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

  Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

  Kestrel is trapped in a life where she must either marry or join the military. Neither option is appealing. She’s trained in the art of war, and an excellent gambler, but she’d much rather sit at her piano all day. One afternoon at the market changes not only her world but the small portion of the Valorian empire her father, the general, occupies. In one moment, she finds herself in the middle of winning a bid in an auction for a Herrani slave. Little does she know, the slave, Arin, is a spy, and is ready to begin a revolution. But fate has other plans for these two, each one step away in a gamble of crumbling to pieces.

  I was completely uninterested in this book during all the hype last year. But after several nudges from Morgan — “It’s based on Greco-Roman history!” — I gave in. And now I’m ashamed I waited so long!

  This isn’t historical fiction, yet it kind of is. It feels like a part of our own classic history. I couldn’t help but imagine Greece and Italy as the backdrop. Except for the names of the people (Valorian and Herrani) and their customs and culture, there’s nothing else in here that screams stereotypical fantasy, either. No magic, no creatures, no superpowers — just raw human emotion driven by the roles of master and slave, caught in a whirlwind of gambles and revolutions.

  Kestrel was a breath of fresh air. She’s a mediocre warrior, though in no rush to show this to the public. She’s an excellent gambler, quick and intelligent, though she only reveals this while playing society games. Her musical talent, though not appreciated by her society, is phenomenal. This is what drew her to Arin in the first place: the auctioneer claimed he had a beautiful voice (and he does). What makes Kestrel so unique is that this is entirely an introspective novel, both in Kestrel’s (third person) point of view and Arin’s (third person). They’re very intelligent, noting all the potential outcomes of a move and predicting future moves from their opponents. It’s a political game, and it kept me on my toes. Rutkoski brilliantly crafted this novel to make it suspenseful, intriguing, and entertaining.

  “My soul is yours,” he said. “You know that it is.”

  I loved the complexity of Kestrel and Arin’s relationship — or non-relationship, rather. Kestrel is the master, though she struggles with the concept of owning a human. Years ago she freed her Herrani nurse, Enai. Purchasing Arin is a source of inner conflict for Kestrel. She becomes fascinated with him, and forges something akin to friendship. Arin, likewise, is a spy and wants what’s best for his people, but he’s drawn to Kestrel and struggles to keep her out of the plot. He wants to avenge the Herrani, but not if it means harming Kestrel. They save one another, they fight for one another, and yet by doing so their rescues are complicated by the love for their own people and the purpose on their respective side of the fight.

  Layers upon layers of plot and warfare techniques and emotion and loyalty! Kestrel and Arin love one another, but this could also be a strange master-and-slave relationship. It’s fantasy, but it’s based on historical events and texts. It’s political and strategic, but it’s far more mental than physical.

  I can’t describe it. Just read it. Yes.

  ~~~

  The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski

  Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
  Publishing Date: March 3
  Genre: young adult, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780374384708
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

  As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

  Kestrel and Arin have buried themselves in a sea of deception. Arin knows Kestrel isn’t being completely honest with him about her engagement and the treaty he signed — but how could she trust him when he, too, has lied to her? As Kestrel’s wedding approaches, she takes charge of working within the palace walls to discover the emperor’s true intentions, to find a balance of love for her father and Valoria, and love for Arin. Arin, too, seeks dangerous allies with the help of a spy in Kestrel’s court. Just as they feel they’ve learned the truth, the struggle to maintain a dam of secrecy nearly bursts, with deathly consequences.

  “. . . We both know what it means to lie for the right reasons.”*

  First, the plot was more complex, more intricate, and yet much tighter than the first book. This is a blessing, because things really do become even more complicated. It seemed the only truthful person in the entire book was poor Prince Verex, and even then his lies were simply the omission of truth. If Rutkoski added any sort of flowery romance, any additional encounters between Arin and Kestrel, this would have dragged. The plotting (of the book and of all the schemes with Arin, Kestrel, and the emperor) was wonderfully packaged, and I’m glad Rutkoski included what she did and no more.

  “Marry him,” Arin said, “but be mine in secret.”*

  Second, the romantic element was even more heartbreaking. Arin is obsessed with figuring out why Kestrel is engaged when she’d originally had no interest in marriage. He wants to know what he’s done wrong. He throws himself at her, and she’s cold to him. She has to be. Watching that happen — her pain mixed with his sudden humiliation — was just…stomp on my heart why don’t you! But then he makes discoveries, and she makes discoveries, and they try to tell each other about these discoveries, but then there’s misunderstandings, and there’s heartbreak everywhere. GAH! Like Lindsey, I just wanted, for once, for them to tell each other the truth and laugh and smile with true happiness and “smoosh their faces together.” But alas. This is not that kind of love.

  “I believe that the land I won was for you. You are my fate.”*

  There’s another sort of love going on here too. Very small, singular moments of father-daughter affection appeared in the first book. Call it love, call it respect — they were the other’s world. Well, the plot thickens for Kestrel and her father as he continues his work for the empire and she’s trapped behind silks and jewels. This relationship — the one that was meant to be the most honest and pure in Kestrel’s life — is strained and muddied.

  An emotion clamped down on her heart. It squeezed her into a terrible silence.
  But he said nothing after that, only her name, as if her name were not a name but
  a question. Or perhaps that wasn’t how he had said it, and she was wrong, and
  she’d heard a question simply because the sound of him speaking her name made
  her wish that she were his answer.*

  This book will give you all the feels. And none of them will be particularly happy. All the happy feels will be from imaginary scenarios, and remembering that will only make you sob. All the politics will intrigue you and anger you. The stolen moments are filled with love and coded with deceit. And once you think some progress will be made, that happiness is just around the corner, Rutkoski snatches it away from you and crushes your dreams. I loved every second of it (even when I wanted to throw this across the room).

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from FSG for review!

  *Quotes taken from uncorrected proof.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Advance Excitement at a Glance XII

  Posted at 8:00 am by Laura, on February 23, 2015

  

  A monthly meme to keep up with the latest publications, featuring at least two advance copy reviews to look forward to reading.

  March reviews are coming up fast, and I received so many ARCs I couldn’t keep up with it all! A few I had to pass up — Lauren Oliver’s Vanishing Girls (March 10), Nova Ren Suma’s The Walls Around Us (March 24) — but I’ve read some wonderful reviews of those. For now, here’s a sneak peek at a few of the ones I was able to get to for the blog!

  

  The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski
  (Farrar Straus Giroux, March 3)

  The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. 

  This ARC in particular is why I’m posting early for March — the full review for this book, as well as the first in the Winner’s trilogy, The Winner’s Curse, will appear in just a couple days! I’m ashamed I waited so long to read Rutkoski.

  

  The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
  (Bloomsbury / Walker, March 31)

  It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. But when Max moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. 

  You’ve already read a snippet of my thoughts on this book. I can’t wait to share the full review with you!

  Which books are you looking forward to in March? 

  Posted in Advance Excitement, books | 4 Comments | Tagged advance excitement at a glance, ARC, books

• #ReRead2015 Book 1: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

  Posted at 11:14 pm by Laura, on February 22, 2015

  

  Hannah @ So Obsessed With and Kelly @ Belle of the Literati are hosting a new, fun challenge for bloggers in 2015: The Re-Read Challenge! Not much of a “challenge,” per se, because why wouldn’t you want to re-read and re-experience some of your favorites? Sign up and start re-reading!

  Book #1 of 2015: 
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

  

  

  

  WHEN I First Read

  Gosh, whenever the book actually came out in paperback! 2002? I then re-read the book again before OotP, HBP, and DH, and then never after that.

  WHAT I Remember

  I remember loving the international aspect of this book, all the schools coming together. I remember the World Cup and the Dark Mark connection to Crouch/Moody. I remember the sexual awakening aspect with Harry/Cho, Ron/Fleur, and Hermione/Krum. I remember the Yule Ball. Voldemort’s back. “Bring my body back.” “Remember Cedric Diggory.”

  WHY I Wanted to Re-Read

  When I became a beta for Pottermore I wanted to re-read the books after playing the games within each book. Then I fell behind when Pottermore’s GoF came out. That, plus this great opportunity challenge, kicked my butt into gear!

  HOW I Felt After Re-Reading

  Ashamed (how could I forget all the Crouch/Moody connections apart from the potion? Or Rita Skeeter’s involvement in everything as well as her beetle self? Or the Weasley twins’ efforts to build their business? Or that Beauxbatons and Durmstrang brought boys and girls from each school?). Shocked (this really is quite dark! I knew that when I read it as a kid but…whoa). Amused (so many jokes!). Transported (Hogwarts is my home).

  WOULD I Re-Read Again

  Of course! In a couple years. Harry Potter is a classic.

  ~

  What books have you re-read recently?

  Posted in books, ReRead2015, Reviews 2015 | 4 Comments | Tagged books, reread2015

• Book Review: “The Case of the Missing Moonstone” by Jordan Stratford

  Posted at 7:30 am by Laura, on February 21, 2015

  The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency: The Case of the Missing Moonstone by Jordan Stratford

  Publisher: Knopf BFYR
  Published: January 2015
  Genre: middle grade, historical fiction, mystery
  ISBN: 9780385754415
  Goodreads: 3.96
  Rating: ★★★★

  Lady Ada Byron, age eleven, is a genius. Isolated, awkward and a bit rude—but a genius. Mary Godwin, age fourteen, is a romantic. Adventurous, astute, and kind, Mary is to become Ada’s first true friend. And together, the girls conspire to form the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency—a secret constabulary for the apprehension of clever criminals. Their first case involves a stolen heirloom, a false confession, and an array of fishy suspects. But it’s no match for the deductive powers and bold hearts of Ada and Mary.

  Ada finds numbers in everything. It’s how she understands her world. Mary is observant and a romantic, longing for adventure. When the two girls are thrust together, they become a dynamic duo and form a detective agency to help London find and prosecute the real criminals not put in the newspaper Ada reads everyday. Mary and Ada take on a case regarding a missing heirloom, and are able to solve it by discovering loopholes in propriety, the power of logic, and learning from one another.

  When I found this adorable middle grade read pertaining to Ada Lovelace (Lord Byron’s genius computer programming daughter) and Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein), I knew I had to read it. Toss in Percy Shelley, Charles Dickens, and references to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, and I knew I’d be in love! This is Victorian Gothic / early detective fiction for young readers!

  The author’s note regarding the ages and dates of all the characters was definitely a welcomed one. Mary was actually old enough to be Ada’s mother in real history, and obviously Percy was not much older than Mary. In the book, the author took liberties to make Mary, Ada, and Charles roughly the same age (with Charles the only character the accurate age in 1826), Percy their tutor, and Byron long dead. Even with these liberties, Stratford managed to capture these characters in such a way that it truly reflects who they eventually became (or at least how we know them to be). For example, Ada really was a bit of a rude genius, and Percy passionate but somewhat wishy washy. Mary, from what I’ve read, longed for adventure outside her home, but outwardly showed herself to be docile and polite (hence the shock of her book!).

  Anyway, enough with my amazement with the timeline and nods and general Victorian-ness!

  I found myself laughing at least once each chapter. There would be a turn of phrase, a line, an observation, a remark, that would cause me to laugh at the pun or the reference or the characterization. I especially enjoyed reading Ada’s line of logic — like how a guard should let two young girls into Newgate because no one ever begs to be let in, only let out — and Mary’s observational skills coming into play later on. The things Percy would fall for — like following the butler into the distillery and getting locked inside — would make me smack my forehead in exasperation, laugh, and read on.

  Everything fit together nicely, like a neat little puzzle. I’ll admit I was paying more attention to all the Victorian literary parallels more so than the mystery — so solving the mystery of the missing moonstone came as a surprise, and quite clever too. The mystery is easy and intriguing enough that I think young readers will really enjoy it.

  This book is perfect for mystery readers, educators, librarians, and logophiles (who will especially enjoy the puns and dialogue). I can’t wait for the next one, featuring Jane (aka Claire Clairmont) and Allegra! The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency will be an automatic buy for me.

  This qualifies as book #2 in my resolution to read 10 library books in 2015.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, genre: mystery, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “A Wicked Thing” by Rhiannon Thomas (ARC)

  Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on February 18, 2015

  A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas

  Publisher: HarperTeen
  Publishing Date: February 24
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, retelling
  ISBN: 9780062303530
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

  Her family is long dead. Her “true love” is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.

  As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

  When Aurora wakes up to a stranger’s kiss, she’s more than stunned and confused. For her, the last thing she remembers is preparing for her eighteenth birthday. For her, that was last night. But when she wakes to everyone calling her Sleeping Beauty — proclaiming that her curse was lifted with true love’s kiss, that her family and the life she knew is one hundred years in the past, that she is a fairy tale and a savior — it’s overwhelming, confusing, and far more constricting than she ever thought possible. She’s pulled in different directions, all political and a major pawn in multiple schemes. But her kingdom is nothing like it once was. Whom should she trust?

  This looks like a pretty cover promising love triangles and sweetness and poor dialogue and over-the-top scenes. Yes, I’m that judgmental. But let me warn you — you’re not going to get love triangles and sweetness and poor dialogue and over-the-top scenes. Oh, no. No, you’re going to get a raw retelling with beautiful prose and a protagonist whose voice will be difficult to get out of your head. I’m surprised, and impressed.

  Just imagine falling asleep today, right now, and when you wake up, thinking it’s tomorrow, it’s actually one hundred years in the future. Jarring. Frightening. Not at all a fairy tale. Now imagine waking up because a stranger kissed you, and that stranger, no matter how sweet and blushing and kind, claims that it was true love’s kiss and now you must marry. Even more frightening. What does that mean? Don’t you want a say in this? Now toss in four characters pulling you in four different directions, telling you what’s what from the last hundred years, and why an alliance with them is the best thing for the once-peaceful kingdom.

  Overwhelming doesn’t even begin to describe it.

  That’s what I loved so much about this retelling. It takes a well-known and romanticized fairytale and slaps you in the face with reality. Your brain absolutely could not comprehend what was going on, no matter how magical the circumstances. How in the world are you supposed to make any decent decision — personal or political — if you don’t know all the facts? And at the same time, how can you be who you truly want to be if, what felt like a day ago, you thought the curse on you would’ve been broken and you’d be free? How can you be who you truly want to be if storybooks were written about you while you slept, idolizing and glorifying you, trapping you into a neat, pretty box?

  Aurora, in short, is overwhelmed. She was trapped in a tower growing up, away from everyone except guards and family, for fear that Celestine’s curse of a spinning wheel’s spindle would forever harm Aurora. She was also trapped emotionally, for while she was locked away her mother continued Aurora’s lessons on how to behave like a princess — to smile and curtsy and give vague, flattering responses in conversation. She wakes up to a world far more restrictive, shuffled around a new royal family and treated like a prized possession and a pawn. The queen is harsh and unforgiving, forcing Aurora to be seen and not heard. The king is outwardly jovial but, behind the scenes, vicious and ruthless. The prince is sweet but lacks a backbone.

  Stifled, Aurora seeks freedom by sneaking out of the castle and enjoying anonymity in a local tavern, where she learns about a rebellion against the king. Her cover is blown, but she’s offered a position in the rebellion. Not wanting any bloodshed, Aurora is torn when she’s offered another position in a political alliance with another kingdom. This one means bloodshed as well, so she toys with the two evils. But as her wedding date gets closer, she discovers remnants of the curse within — that she’s capable of magic. If the queen or Celestine caught whiff of this, Aurora’s future is doomed.

  Phew.

  What I enjoyed most about this was Aurora’s voice, her complicated thoughts jumbling together — to align with this person or that, and the consequences of it; to discover what happened while she slept; to find a way to be who she really is in a world that shuts her away. It felt…real. Like if it were possible for one to sleep a century away and woke up, how one would react. Mourn for family lost. Mourn for culture lost. Mourn for a kingdom lost. Race to understand this time, this place, these people, their motives. And Aurora’s response to all of this is so very genuine. Her resolution wasn’t predictable at all. She’s not the kind to align with rebels simply because she’s angry with the king — she wants to find an answer without killing. She’s not the kind to align with a boy simply because she likes him. She’s not suddenly “strong” and “rebellious” like so many of our heroines today who throw themselves into something simply because they don’t like what’s going on now. No, Aurora thinks things through.

  This book is a foundation for what’s to come. And I can’t wait to read about her adventure and her decision — and see how that plays out!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from HarperTeen for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 4 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Top Ten Tuesday: Book-Related Problems

  Posted at 7:30 am by Laura, on February 17, 2015

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Book-Related Problems I Have.

  

  Oh, must it only be ten? This is why I created resolutions!

  • I buy books when I have more at home to read. I mean, seriously, let’s get cracking on the books I own and haven’t read yet before spending money on new ones.

  

  • I sniff books and touch the spines of those I own and love. I can’t help it. I try not to do this when other people are around, but I know I’m not alone in this. Just the other day, I caught a customer in the store with their nose literally shoved in the middle of the new Sarah Addison Allen book.

    

  • When I borrow from the library, I borrow more than I can read. It’s just like going to the bookstore. I walk in, see ten books I want to read, think I can read all ten in three weeks, and end up only reading two!

  
  

  • Constantly running out of shelf space. I don’t see this as a bad thing. Just that I need to get another bookcase. And a larger room to put the bookcase. And forge on with the Beauty & the Beast library dream.
  • The Beauty & the Beast library dream. Nothing can compare.

  
  

  • I don’t like packing books. Not because it can be a pain to pack and haul and unpack in the moving process, but because it feels strange putting them inside cardboard boxes and out of sight, no matter how short the time frame.

    

  • I want to go to ALL THE BOOK EVENTS. BEA, YALLfest, YALLwest, author signings, writers’ conferences, book tours, you name it and I want to be there. The problem? Hotel fee, food, travel expenses. Why must things cost money? Why can’t my smile take me places for free? (I’m only slightly kidding.)

  
  

  • When I’m off Twitter for a day, I feel disconnected. Twitter keeps me updated on authors, publishers, editors, bloggers, all things books. If I’ve gone a full day away from it I feel like I’ve missed out on an online inside joke or first-hand news source. (It pays to be friends with a handful of bloggers who always manage to link you up with the latest news. Looking at you, Lindsey, Morgan, Stacey, and Hannah!)

    
    

  • The internal fight of re-reading versus reading something new. Thank goodness this little blogger has an excuse with Hannah’s #ReRead2015 challenge! Sometimes blogging can feel overwhelming, like a pressure to read the newest and most-anticipated books. Honestly, it comes down to not being able to decide what to read next.

    
    

  • There is always a book within an arm’s reach. A Nook in my purse, a book at my bedside table, a book on the couch, and an emergency read in the car. Even if I’ll never get a chance to read when I’m out and about, there’s always a book with my cell phone and chapstick.

    

  What are some of your book-related problems?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 34 Comments | Tagged book hoarding, books, personal, top ten tuesday

• Finding Yourself in YA Contemporary

  Posted at 7:55 am by Laura, on February 14, 2015

  

  YA offers so many great stories across all genres and I’m constantly pulled in. Lately, it’s within contemporary realistic fiction. Why is that? Well, I have a theory…

  As readers, we want to see a bit of ourselves in a story, even when we’re actively escaping our world. How many of you have read a book and loved it on some level because of a shared personality trait with the main character? You didn’t have to like the character, or relate to their situations — in fact, their personal circumstances could be vastly different from your own. But you still feel a connection.

  We want validation of our experiences here and now or from when we were younger. Seeing another character experience something we experienced/are experiencing reminds us we’re not alone.

  So what prompted this post in the first place?

  I just finished reading The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, out in stores the end of March. I thought it would be impossible to top my Book Boyfriend Matt Finch from Lord’s debut, Open Road Summer, but it happened. Max Watson is it. He reminded me so much of my type in high school (and now, let’s be real): well-dressed but slightly dorky, a nerd and proud of it without being condescending (he’s all about Firefly and Quiz Bowl, but he’s not arrogant or a brainiac), a great listener and down for conversations and activities with you and your friends. Just…good, smart guy.

  But before I continue to gush about him, there’s Paige, the protagonist in Lord’s novel. She constantly plans ahead, creates a list of happy things to get her out of her grief, is a bookworm and a bit of a nerd herself, and fancies the idea she could date the charismatic boy in her grade. Um…me. All me. Toss in the fact this book is basically set in my hometown (literally — its rival schools are my high school’s rivals) and I was locked in and in love.

  The reality of YA contemporary fiction: finding pieces of yourself in modern books.

  I’ve said this before about several books, though, haven’t I? That I loved the book because the character reminded me of me. But that’s exactly the appeal of contemporary fiction. Several books come to mind that reveal different parts of who I am and who I was. And I love them dearly for it.

  

  
  Shyness, racing thoughts, writing letters to express emotions. Lara Jean was me at fifteen. I was shy around boys, my thoughts constantly jumping to conclusions, alternate realities, and worst-case-scenarios. Because of that, I always wrote things down. Every little thing that happened each day was written in a notebook, most especially the things I wanted to say to the guys I crushed on.

  
  Nostalgic, not-so-spontaneous, dependable. Allyson was stuck on a big event in Paris while she went abroad and it left her hanging for a year. But that worry and concentration over one particular day is a sense of nostalgia. I’m very much a nostalgic person, especially when it comes travel. And, like Paige in The Start of Me and You, I prefer to have whole weeks planned out. Allyson was the same way. Because of that, she’s seen as a dependable person. I never saw that as a bad thing, but it’s certainly a character trait we share.

  Fandom immersion, social anxiety. Cath was and is me in these respects. While I am better than most introverts in social situations, I’m still sweating and shaking underneath it all. A friend of mine in college summed up this introvert-who-can-work-a-room quality perfectly: “I hate crowds and small talk, it makes me feel sick. But it’s a survival tool. If you told me I had to be the fastest runner in the world in order to get away from that bear, then by God I’m gonna be the fastest runner in the world.” Now put me in a room full of people obsessed with my own obsessions, and this little fangirl is as happy as a clam!

  
  Overanalyzing, awkward, obsessively clean. Anna was like my giggly spirit, tapping into my girly side. But at the same time, she could be very awkward (and recognize it, but still dig deeper, more awkward holes), and she was constantly assessing the tiniest situations. Not to mention straightening things without realizing it. That, right there, is me my entire life.

   

  YA contemporary connects us to others, fictional or otherwise, that remind us who we are and what we can do about our own lives. What steps can we take to achieve our goals? What Would [Your Favorite Character] Do? How would we do something different in a similar situation? The more YA I read, the more I find myself drawn to contemporary fiction because it helps me on my own personal journey — recognizing and accepting my flaws, making sense of my past and forging my future.

  What are your thoughts on YA contemporary fiction? Which character is most like you? Does this happen to you across other genres?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 4 Comments | Tagged books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, personal

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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