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  • Category: Reviews 2016

    • Book Review: “The Queen of Blood” by Sarah Beth Durst

      Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on December 6, 2016

      28595041The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst

      Publisher: Harper Voyager
      Published: October 2016
      Genre: fantasy
      ISBN: 9780062413345
      Rating: 
      ★★★★

      Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

      But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

      With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.

      Renthia is ruled by a queen who governs the spirits of the land and keeps the humans safe within the vast forest. If she ever loses her control, the spirits wreck havoc and destroy everything in sight. Daleina witnessed this as a child, a survivor of a vicious attack against her small village on the outskirts of the kingdom. She survived because she, too, held power over the spirits. Several girls who show an affinity, like her, are sent to the academy to train to become heirs, to take over the throne when the current queen dies. When Daleina is chosen by Champion Ven to train in the forest, several more attacks on villages take the kingdom by storm, and it’s up to them to save the land against its true enemy.

      Don’t trust the fire, for it will burn you.
      Don’t trust the ice, for it will freeze you.
      Don’t trust the water, for it will drown you.
      Don’t trust the air, for it will choke you.
      Don’t trust the earth, for it will bury you.
      Don’t trust the trees, for they will rip you,
      rend you, tear you, kill you dead.

      I can’t help but think this book is the equivalent of The Hobbit as the future books in this series is to Lord of the Rings. A novel of adventure and magic and epic world-building, a novel hinting at so many wonderful things to come, shedding light on what is going to be — without a doubt — a fantastic, atmospheric series.

      This contained so many elements I love about fantasy. There’s a school to teach young girls how to control their magic (or affinity, the ability to call upon and command nature’s spirits), the enemies of the novel are of the natural world (wood spirits, air spirits, earth spirits, water spirits, much like the woods in Uprooted was terrifying), there’s a quest without it being one entirely drenched in violence*, and the atmosphere is full of mythological, fairytale qualities. It feels like a real place, like something I’ve known of since childhood but never fully grasped, much like Hogwarts or Middle Earth or Narnia. And with Durst’s writing, I can believe it is real.

      *The spirits are quite violent in this novel. Six in particular encase heirs in wooden spheres, crushing them to dust. Being in the mind of one particular heir when this happened really made me cringe. But what I mean by “without it being entirely drenched in violence” is that this is more of an adventure, it takes on a more emotional quality to it without a thirst for bloodshed. Daleina’s focus is on unity and understanding. She knows the spirits are malevolent, but she knows they like to destroy and build, and she commands them to create more often than she demands violence. She redirects their energies into something positive, and her efforts are explored throughout the novel. Swordplay, armies, and mindless warfare are not found here!

      One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the matriarchal monarchy. A human queen rules the land but, primarily, controls the spirits. She is chosen from a pool of heirs by the spirits themselves. She can be married or single, she can have children or none, she can be of any age as long as she is a recognized heir with the affinity. Such a beautiful concept! A lineage entirely based on magical strength rather than blood-lines or warfare.

      There are moments of humor dispersed throughout, along with friendships, camaraderie, familial love, adventure, terror, wonder, and awe. So much was packed into this one novel, no doubt a prologue to the stepping stones of The Queens of Renthia series. I am eager to read the upcoming installments!

      fof-button-2016This qualifies as book 13 of 10 library books in 2016.

      This qualifies as book 7 of 5 of the “Flights of Fantasy” Challenge, hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books and Rachel @ Hello, Chelly.

      Posted in books, Flights of Fantasy, Reviews 2016 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, flights of fantasy, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review
    • Book Review: “A Constellation of Vital Phenomena” by Anthony Marra

      Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on November 17, 2016

      18428067A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

      Publisher: Hogarth
      Published: February 2014
      Genre: literary fiction, historical fiction
      ISBN: 9780770436421
      Rating:
      ★★★.5

      In a small rural village in Chechnya, eight-year-old Havaa watches from the woods as Russian soldiers abduct her father in the middle of the night and then set fire to her home. When their lifelong neighbor Akhmed finds Havaa hiding in the forest with a strange blue suitcase, he makes a decision that will forever change their lives. He will seek refuge at the abandoned hospital where the sole remaining doctor, Sonja Rabina, treats the wounded.

      For Sonja, the arrival of Akhmed and Havaa is an unwelcome surprise. Weary and overburdened, she has no desire to take on additional risk and responsibility. But over the course of five extraordinary days, Sonja’s world will shift on its axis and reveal the intricate pattern of connections that weaves together the pasts of these three unlikely companions and unexpectedly decides their fate.

      When Akhmed finds his neighbor’s daughter, Havaa, hiding in the woods with a bright blue suitcase, her takes it upon himself to see to her freedom and care. They hike to an abandoned hospital, where an overworked ethnic Russian, Sonja, treats the sick, dying, and wounded. Sonja, however, has a difficult time welcoming the two into her life. But across five seemingly ordinary days, Akhmed, Havaa, and Sonja’s lives become irrevocably interconnected, past and present coming together in one pivotal moment.

      What a remarkable novel.

      Marra’s writing was accessible and commercial while still powerfully beautiful and literary. The characters — varied as they were and with drastically different life experiences from our own — were easy to relate to. It’s easy to find at least one character to follow closely and eagerly anticipate their next chapter. The focus on the characters and the human story was appreciated, as the book highlights a tumultuous political moment in recent Chechen history. Marra could’ve easily bogged down a reader with facts and figures.

      That said, I wish there would’ve been a bit more information at the beginning of the novel to “set the stage” more, as I wasn’t aware of the struggles between Chechnya and Russia (granted, at the time this was happening, I was a child/selfish teenager).

      Compelling read, emotional, shocking, heartfelt, and powerful. An experience to read. Best to go in not knowing too much about this one!

      This qualifies as book 12 of 10 library books in 2016.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: historical fiction, review
    • Book Review: “Nine Women, One Dress” by Jane L. Rosen

      Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on November 14, 2016

      27245903Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen

      Publisher: Doubleday
      Published: July 2016
      Genre: women’s fiction
      ISBN: 9780385541404

      Rating: ★★★★

      A charming, hilarious, irresistible romp of a novel that brings together nine unrelated women, each touched by the same little black dress that weaves through their lives, bringing a little magic with it.

      Natalie is a Bloomingdale’s salesgirl mooning over her lawyer ex-boyfriend who’s engaged to someone else after just two months. Felicia has been quietly in love with her happily married boss for twenty years; now that he’s a lonely widower, she just needs the right situation to make him see her as more than the best executive assistant in Midtown Manhattan. Andrea is a private detective specializing in gathering evidence on cheating husbands—a skill she unfortunately learned from her own life—and can’t figure out why her intuition tells her the guy she’s tailing is one of the good ones when she hasn’t trusted a man in years.

      For these three women, as well as half a dozen others in sparkling supporting roles—a young model fresh from rural Georgia, a diva Hollywood star making her Broadway debut, an overachieving, unemployed Brown grad who starts faking a fabulous life on social media, to name just a few—everything is about to change, thanks to the dress of the season, the perfect little black number everyone wants to get their hands on…

      It all begins with one Little Black Dress. From the moment a shy Southern model is pushed into the limelight, this particular dress becomes a smashing hit and changes the lives of eight other women who wear it.

      I really enjoyed this novel, told in multiple vignettes from a variety of perspectives outside of the nine women who get their hands on this one particular black dress from Bloomingdale’s. After reading Lauren’s review, it was apparent this would be a treat to read, and perfect for the approaching holiday season.

      Of all the vignettes, I liked Natalie’s the most. She’s a simple Bloomingdale’s salesgirl who was asked by a movie star and his agent to step in as a red carpet date last minute. Fueled by rumors of the star’s sexuality, Natalie agrees, believing this would be the perfect way to get back at her ex and not fall for the star. Little does she know…

      There’s also a sweet storyline between Arthur, a lawyer, and Felicia, his longtime secretary. One nosy Bloomingdale’s employee purposely messes up Arthur’s order, and the dress is sent to sweet Felicia instead of Arthur’s snobbish girlfriend.

      From an Instagramming millennial to a longtime pattern-maker for a phenomenal fashion designer, this dress touches the lives of several people. A quick and charming read, you’re guaranteed to find a storyline to hook you in through the end.

      This book qualifies as book 11 of 10 library books in 2016.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 6 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review
    • Anthology Review [1]: Middle Grade

      Posted at 4:55 am by Laura, on November 5, 2016

      What better way to expose yourself to other writers than to read anthologies? Anthology Review is an effort to read the anthologies in my personal library while also reading snippets of new-to-me authors’ writing.

      This month’s topic: Middle Grade

      27154693Mystery & Mayhem edited by Katherine Woodfine

      Publisher: Egmont UK
      Published: May 2016
      Genre: middle grade, mystery
      ISBN: 9781405282642
      *Rating: 
      ★★★.14

      Twelve mysteries. Twelve authors. One challenge: can YOU solve the crimes before the heroes of the stories?

      These are twelve brand-new short stories from twelve of the best children’s crime writers writing today.

      These creepy, hilarious, brain-boggling, heart-pounding mysteries feature daring, brilliant young detectives, and this anthology is a must for fans of crime fiction and detection.

      Read 7/12 stories, with six of those receiving 3 stars or more. DNF’d 5/12 stories.

      Previously Read Authors: Robin Stevens, Katherine Woodfine, and Frances Hardinge

      Frances Hardinge’s poison mystery was very Dickensian in nature, featuring a grimy, foggy London, the street urchins lingering near the docks, and the death of a sketch artist/painter. She writes Victorian England so well, you could easily imagine yourself reading a novel written by a Victorian author, not a modern one! She’s a classic, and so is her short story.

      Katherine Woodfine shared a mystery from the point of view of one of her primary characters in the Clockwork Sparrow series, and it was such jolly good fun (*wink*) to go on a quick adventure with them. My familiarity with her characters certainly assisted in my enjoyment of the short story.

      Robin Stevens surprised me — in a good way! — but not taking this opportunity to share a mystery from one of her primary characters in the Murder Most Unladylike series. Instead, she wrote from a new character’s perspective and masterfully dropped little clues here and there, ones that are barely discernable unless you’re a natural observer and perfect young detective in the making. I liked seeing her use her skills with different characters and settings.

      New-to-Me Authors I Should Read More: Elen Caldecott, Harriet Whitehorn, Susie Day

      Elen Caldecott’s characters came from her Marsh Road series, and I’m convinced I’ll like that series just from this little glimpse of the characters. Though the mystery felt like an afterthought, the characters were fun and I loved the atmosphere!

      Harriet Whitehorn’s story felt a little rushed (expected for a short story!), but I thoroughly enjoyed how Christie-like it felt. I’m eager to read more by her and see how she develops her stories to a novel-length format.

      I really enjoyed Susie Day’s voice, and how observant the main character was. Though I think I needed to know a bit of French to catch on to the clues, it was such a quick, enjoyable read I nearly devoured it. More from Day, please!

      ~

      Have you read this anthology? Have you read another anthology in this genre or category that you’d recommend?

      ~

      *ratings are based on the average rating per rated short story

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 0 Comments | Tagged anthology, book review, genre: middle grade, genre: mystery, review
    • Book Review: “Leave Me” by Gayle Forman

      Posted at 3:30 am by Laura, on November 1, 2016

      28110865Leave Me by Gayle Forman

      Publisher: Algonquin
      Published: September 2016
      Genre: women’s fiction
      ISBN: 9781616206178
      Rating: 
      ★★★★★

      For every woman who has ever fantasized about driving past her exit on the highway instead of going home to make dinner, for every woman who has ever dreamed of boarding a train to a place where no one needs constant attention–meet Maribeth Klein. A harried working mother who’s so busy taking care of her husband and twins, she doesn’t even realize she’s had a heart attack.

      Afterward, surprised to discover that her recuperation seems to be an imposition on those who rely on her, Maribeth does the unthinkable: She packs a bag and leaves. But, as is so often the case, once we get to where we’re going, we see our lives from a different perspective. Far from the demands of family and career and with the help of liberating new friendships, Maribeth is finally able to own up to secrets she has been keeping from those she loves and from herself.

      Maribeth Klein is too busy to notice all the symptoms she’s experiencing point to a heart attack. During an annual doctor visit, Maribeth is sent straight to the hospital for an emergency bypass surgery. When she’s discharged under strict orders to not overexert herself, her family seems to think not being in the hospital is the equivalent of being well — and her stress levels rise exponentially. So she does the unthinkable: packs up and runs away. But as Maribeth finds the peace she so desperately needed, how will she ever go back to her family after what she’s done?

      I began this book when my mother went into the hospital this month, and ended it when she came home after her prolonged stay. While I’m not a mother, having had to deal with house and home, errands and bills, dog and cat care, an already ailing father, and two jobs, I’d like to think I have a smidgen of an idea of what Maribeth experienced pre- and post-surgery. In fact, I think just about any working woman can relate to Maribeth’s experience.

      She felt so caught out. She’d thought she’d done everything right.
      She spent her entire life making lists, following through,
      keeping everything in check, all to make sure this kind of thing
      would never happen.

      And look where it had gotten her. Just fucking look.

      In so many stories, disappearing parents are painted as the villain. We hardly hear their excuse as to why they left the family, and when we do it’s at the very end of the novel. As readers we have only an ounce of sympathy for them. Why? Because as a general rule, parents should not leave their children.

      But Maribeth does. She leaves life’s obligations behind to start fresh. Gayle Forman introduces us to a very relatable and sympathetic character — hardworking, driven, compassionate, and extremely tired — with the first third of the book dedicated to her daily experiences pre- and post-bypass. We know what it’s like to be Jason, her husband, relentlessly hopeful and optimistic that her homecoming from the hospital means she’s well. We were once Liv and Oscar, the sweet twins that are still young enough to throw tantrums and not understand just how much words and actions can truly hurt. Maribeth’s voice in her family is completely lost, and stress levels rise to a point where the fantasy of packing up and leaving all responsibility behind becomes a reality.

      Now what?

      She was in free fall now. And it wasn’t killing her. In fact,
      she was beginning to wonder if she might’ve had it backwards.
      All that fixating on the fall…maybe she should’ve been
      paying more attention to the free.

      Maribeth’s journey to Pittsburgh and all the people she meets — adorably funny college neighbors Todd and Sunny, sweet cardiologist Stephen and his dark history, and enthusiastic birth-mother-hunting Janice — help her calm down, revitalize, reevaluate, and heal inside and out. I fell in love with Forman’s writing all over again, and every step of Maribeth’s journey felt sure, raw, and honest. I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation of all her decisions, and simultaneously relaxed, like I was leisurely catching up with an old friend.

      In short, I will follow Forman for the rest of her career, hands down.

      And forever and always thank my mother for all she’s done for our family.

      This book qualifies as book 10 of 10 library books in 2016. Challenge completed! 

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review
    • Book Review: “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne

      Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on October 6, 2016

      25883848The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

      Publisher: August 2016
      Published: William Morrow
      Genre: adult fiction, chick lit
      ISBN: 9780062439598
      Rating: 
      ★★★★

      Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
      2) A person’s undoing
      3) Joshua Templeman

      Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.

      Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

      If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.

      Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

      Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman are the assistants to the co-CEOs of Bexley & Gamin, recently merged publishing houses with two very different ideas of how to run a business. From the very start of their jobs, Lucy and Joshua try to one-up the other in every aspect of their job — until an announcement is made for a new promotion, and only one of them can have it. The stakes are higher, and soon the line between love and hate is blurred, and there’s more at risk than a swanky office.

      A few weeks ago I asked Twitter what they were reading, and how I needed a book to dive into and break out of my reading lull. My client Nina recommended a “funny workplace rom-com,” and after I looked it up I knew I had to get my hands on it. A debut voice a la Kinsella set in the publishing industry? Yes, please. In the midst of reading it, I found other elements that I knew would be appealing to several blogger friends. Soon this book exploded across Twitter and Instagram and Goodreads. If that doesn’t convince you to pick it up, then maybe read on for the review…

      I enjoyed this book. It was like candy for the brain. Intelligently written, funny, with fully-fleshed main characters. Their backstories — Lucy’s childhood on a strawberry farm, Josh’s history with his medically-inclined family — enhanced the experience and really gave the characters the depth they needed to further explain their desires and motivations for the promotion.

      There’s a tension between Josh and Lucy that starts as colleague rivalry, moves into frustration, then secret, romantic glee. The entire story is told through Lucy’s perspective. It’s clear she doesn’t want Josh in her life, but it’s also clear to the reader from the get-go that Josh is into her. These two experience a whole range of scenarios together, at work and otherwise, that demonstrate their compatibility. Thorne was great at not shying away from all the details, never fading to black or glossing over scenes. It was like experiencing these few weeks with/as Lucy as they came up for her, no holds barred.

      That said, there were so many moments I wanted to dive into the book, shake Lucy, and tell her she’s reading each and every little situation wrong. She’s simply not seeing the signs — but after working for the merged B&G for a year with the particular attitude and sass Josh gives her, it makes sense she would see him in such a negative light. But that’s my qualm with hate-to-love relationships. Not a huge fan of them because of one character’s obvious feelings and the other’s blatant blindness. But it kept the plot moving!

      If you’re looking for a Sophie Kinsella-esque book set in a bookish office and lots of sexual tension, this is the one for you!

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fiction, genre: romance, review
    • Book Review: “First & Then” by Emma Mills

      Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on September 28, 2016

      23310751First & Then by Emma Mills

      Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
      Published: October 2015
      Genre: young adult, contemporary
      ISBN: 9781627792356
      Rating: ★★★★

      Devon Tennyson wouldn’t change a thing. She’s happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon’s cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn’t want them: first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

      It’s Devon’s senior year, and her counselor is pushing hard for her to be more active in her school for the sake of college applications. But Devon likes being exactly where she is: somewhere in the middle of the popularity pool, best friends with Cas, a high school football fan, and general friendly person. When her awkward cousin Foster arrives after a family crisis, Devon’s plans for senior year derail. What’s more, the school seems to be obsessed with new football star Ezra, and he has taken a liking to the surprisingly athletically-inclined Foster. Devon and Ezra’s lives soon become intertwined, and senior year is starting to become something wholly unexpected.

      I should not have been wary about this Pride & Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights retelling/expansion/-inspired novel. But I was! I couldn’t help it. I’m not interested in football, classic retellings tend to not do so well with me (except for this year…I’ve actually been doing pretty well with them!), and the cover actually made me think this was going to be some sort of tragic sob-fest. I’d heard Foster was potentially autistic, and that was another red flag to me too (unfortunately these characters are treated as if they’re weak, and I loathe that!).

      So when I opened up to the first chapter and immediately connected with Devon’s voice, I knew I had nothing to worry about. Mills is a gem of a writer. Devon is snarky, witty, sassy, and it’s so easy to fall in friend-love with her. Her voice alone demonstrated the perfect execution of “show, don’t tell” when it came to her friendliness with others in the school, how she was something of a chameleon while still being effortlessly DEVON. Her journey to finding other things to beef up her college applications — topics for her essay, stuff to pad her resume — felt just right for her, rather than forced. And, as an extra bonus, they kept her connected to football!

      Ezra’s character was just the right balance of friendly and broody. The best part was that he was broody for a very good reason, one that advanced the plot and added some heft to the story. Foster, likewise, is so authentic, fun, young, a great contrast to Ezra and Devon’s personalities. Almost like a bouncing puppy standing between the two of them at times, Foster just saying what’s on everyone’s minds, with Ezra frowning and Devon scolding him on proper social etiquette.

      The parallels to Pride & Prejudice actually felt like a mixture of that and Sense & Sensibility. Mills was able to make this book feel like Austen without sticking to any one particular plot. Reading it, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities (without pinpointing which Austen story it belonged to, except that it FELT SO AUSTEN) and acknowledge that this book was wholly unique on its own. If Austen wrote YA today, Mills nailed it.

      The only thing I wanted more of was the rest of Devon’s senior year! How did everything work out?! Mills, why must you torture me like Austen did?!

      rock.

      This book qualifies as book 13 of 12 of the “Rock My TBR” Challenge, hosted by Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler, in an effort to read more books off my overflowing TBR bookcase.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review, rock my TBR
    • Book Review: “The Gilded Cage” by Lucinda Gray

      Posted at 12:37 pm by Laura, on September 16, 2016

      22718751The Gilded Cage by Lucinda Gray

      Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
      Published: August 2016
      Genre: young adult, historical fiction, gothic
      ISBN: 9781627791816
      Rating: 
      ★★★.75

      After growing up on a farm in Virginia, Walthingham Hall in England seems like another world to sixteen-year-old Katherine Randolph. Her new life, filled with the splendor of upper-class England in the 1820s, is shattered when her brother mysteriously drowns. Katherine is expected to observe the mourning customs and get on with her life, but she can’t accept that her brother’s death was an accident.

      A bitter poacher prowls the estate, and strange visitors threaten the occupants of the house. There’s a rumor, too, that a wild animal stalks the woods of Walthingham. Can Katherine retain her sanity long enough to find out the truth? Or will her brother’s killer claim her life, too?

      Katherine Randolph knows how to shoot, ride horses, and help out her guardians around the Virginia farm with her brother. But becoming an heiress and a lady in English society? Much harder than it looks. Just when things begin to look up after a ball held in her new home, Walthingham Hall, tragedy strikes Katherine in every respect. Her brother is murdered, her most trusted servant is shot, her dog is mangled, and something — or someone — is lurking around the estate. But no one believes Katherine’s accusations, and rumors of a Beast sound insanely plausible…

      I was entertained more so than impressed, and that is perfectly fine. The book did its job! Gothic cliches abound in this one, particularly the romantic Gothic, and I ate it up with a spoon.

      One of the biggest things I noticed about this book was the number of stark contrasts and dualities (hey, Gothic!). This begins in 1820s Virginia, and Katherine is a born and bred American girl. To travel to 1820s England, and reprise the role of an English heiress, is vastly different from what she’s used to. 1820s America and 1820s England are two very different realities and societies, class distinction aside. When Katherine arrived in England, she makes the brilliant observation that she belongs with the servants — not because she doesn’t feel like an heiress, but because she has the life skills and sensibilities most suited to the working class. Her identity lies with them, not in propriety, manners, and dull dinner parties.

      One of the biggest tropes in the romantic Gothic is a series of suitors or love interests, even just passing fancies. Oh, Katherine. She has many. Only one is the stronghold throughout, but my gosh. The events of this book take place across two weeks (roughly), so this was a bit of an eyeroll. (I still loved it though. I’m a sucker for anything Gothic, even its cliches.)

      What really kept me on the edge of my seat and nearly bumping this to four stars was the last 75 pages. The twist made me bite my nails in anticipation. Because it was thrown in here — no worries, the twist made sense! — I found it unexpected and wondered constantly what would happen next.

      In short, I loved the cliches, albeit predictable, and found the mystery to be chilling and spooky. The writing was absolutely lovely to sink into. If you’re looking for a book to devour some autumn night, this is the one.

      This book qualifies as book 9 of 10 library books in 2016. 

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, review
    • Book Review: “Ghostly Echoes” by William Ritter (ARC)

      Posted at 5:20 am by Laura, on August 19, 2016

      28110857Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter 

      Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
      Publishing Date: August 23
      Genre: young adult, fantasy, historical fiction, gothic
      ISBN: 9781616205799
      Rating: 
      ★★★★

      Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.

      Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

      Jenny and Abigail are working on a decade-old murder case that, after recent events, is more urgent than ever to solve. The hitch? It’s Jenny’s case on her death, and she is having trouble accessing her memories. Just as Jackaby is about to call off their efforts, another gruesome, eerily familiar murder hits New Fiddleham. Abigail, Jenny, and Jackaby race against time, science, and mythology to solve the two seemingly-intertwined cases before it’s too late.

      This is quite possibly the most heart-pounding book in the series yet. Jenny takes the center stage in this novel, just as Abigail did the last. Her case connects to multiple murders thanks to the Moriarty figure from the previous books. And, since she’s ghost and has not passed on to the other side, the characters are thrust into a different kind of mythology: the after life (complete with Charon and everything!).

      My favorite part about this book is that it also relies heavily on science, revolution, and the industrial age. When Jenny was alive, her fiance was an inventor, a creator, a fascinated scientist eager to thrust New Fiddleham into the new age. He was recruited and befriended by like-minded individuals, all who met their untimely deaths as well. Fantasy and science collide, and a touch of insanity drives Abigail, Jackaby, and Jenny to the brink.

      I’m eager for the fourth book, which will no doubt cover Jackaby’s personal and mysterious history. Once again, Ritter delivers an excellent installment to a series, one that links the previous mysteries to the current one, with the current mystery adding a whole new layer to what will be a promising and explosive conclusion. I am so happy I fell in love with this Whovian, Sherlockian, genre-bending series! It’s so unique and thrilling to read.

      Thank you, Algonquin, for providing this book at BEA for review!

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, review
    • Mini Reviews VIII

      Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on August 15, 2016

      6449290The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow

      Publisher: Algonquin
      Published: February 2010
      Genre:
      adult, fiction
      Rating: 
      ★★★
      Summary: 
      Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I., becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy. With her strict African-American grandmother as her new guardian, Rachel moves to a mostly black community, where her light brown skin, blue eyes, and beauty bring mixed attention her way. Growing up in the 1980s, she learns to swallow her overwhelming grief and confronts her identity as a biracial young woman in a world that wants to see her as either black or white.

      Mini Review: Durrow skillfully created a character who walks the fine line of diversity in 1980s Oregon. Rachel struggles to understand what it means to be biracial after having grown up in a home where race was never discussed. Mixed in with Rachel’s bildungsroman is a mystery regarding the death of her mother, and the ways the community came together for Rachel and her family across the years. Touching and eye-opening, this is a portrait of a young girl and society’s views of race, gender, economic standing, and physical beauty.

      2967752The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

      Publisher: Europa Editions
      Published: September 2008
      Genre: adult, fiction
      Rating: 
      ★★★ 
      Summary: 
      In the center of Paris, in an elegant apartment building inhabited by bourgeois families, Renée, the concierge, is witness to the lavish but vacuous lives of her numerous employers. Outwardly she conforms to every stereotype of the concierge: fat, cantankerous, addicted to television. Then there’s Paloma, a twelve-year-old genius. She is the daughter of a tedious parliamentarian, a talented and startlingly lucid child who has decided to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. Paloma and Renée hide both their true talents and their finest qualities from a world they suspect cannot or will not appreciate them. They discover their kindred souls when a wealthy Japanese man named Ozu arrives in the building. Only he is able to gain Paloma’s trust and to see through Renée’s timeworn disguise to the secret that haunts her.

      Mini Review: The only proper way to describe this novel is “indulgent.” Renée and Paloma are both highly intelligent people, but while Renée sees the world with humor and wit, Paloma (yes, stereotypical) fails to see any beauty to make life worth living, and can sometimes be a pompous, pretentious bore (she’s precocious too (all the p-words!) but gosh…more pretentious than anything else). I enjoyed Renée’s observations of the world around her. When the Japanese man arrives, a plot appears and drives the book forward. But until then, sit back and people-watch with these two characters.

      These books qualify as books 7 and 8 of 10 library books in 2016. 

       

      Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 3 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, mini review, review
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    • 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 knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!
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