Tag: books

• Book Review: “Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon

  Posted at 2:17 pm by Laura, on December 16, 2015

  Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

  Publisher: Delacorte BFYR
  Published: September 2015
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9780553496642
  Goodreads: 4.03
  Rating: ★★★.5

  My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

  But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

  Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

  Maddy is allergic to everything. She only interacts with her mother and Carla, her nurse. Everything other contact must go through a decontamination chamber for an hour and not be sick/have been around sick people, cannot touch Maddy, and cannot introduce new foods or clothes or fabrics to Maddy. No open windows or doors. Shaded spaces. Cleanliness. But then a family moves in next door, and Maddy’s interest in the world outside reawakens. Her curiosity over this noisy, rather abusive family is heightened when their son, Olly, manages to find a way to interact with Maddy. He clearly wants to find a way out of his own cage, and Maddy is the answer. For Maddy, Olly is her answer, too.

  I was drawn far more to Maddy’s experience of the world — seeing everything through her eyes and wondering how much of her life was a ticking clock — than the romance. The romance was a great way to propel her out of her house (talk about an even faster, heart-pounding ticking clock!), but I was not drawn to the romance mostly because I wasn’t drawn to Olly. It seemed real enough, sure, and they discuss whether she loves him because she genuinely loves him or because he’s the only one she’s interacted with — but even still, if it weren’t for the romance, for that enticing slice of the Outside, Maddy wouldn’t have left her home.

  Or discovered all the shocking things after leaving home. *dun dun dun*

  Not only was Maddy’s situation an interesting and unique one — absolutely fascinating, this “bubble baby” scenario — but this book is another good tool to discuss mental illness and the impact it has on everyone outside of the primary individual. YA is loaded with mental illness books through the eyes of the mentally ill, rather than the friend or family member witnessing it and experiencing it from another perspective. Maddy, Olly, Carla, and Maddy’s mother all express and experience love in different ways. It’s amazing how love can inspire or hinder us. Love is worth everything, and everything is worth love. It’s how we act upon it that define who we are in this world.

  Enhanced with the supplementary images, charts, tickets, and IM convos, this novel will send you for a spin across two extremes in environment: experiencing a pristine, glass world, and a world of chaos and vibrancy.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Boundless” by Kenneth Oppel

  Posted at 4:33 am by Laura, on November 30, 2015

  The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
  Published: May 2015
  Genre: middle grade, adventure, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781442472891
  Goodreads: 3.87
  Rating: ★★★

  The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life! When he ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past.

  In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can Will and Maren reach Will’s father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

  The Boundless is the longest train in the world, and it’s taking its maiden voyage across Canada with Will’s father as the driver. Will and his father weren’t always first-class passengers though. Mr Everett was once a breakman, assisting on the railroad  and hopping between cars. He and Will lived through a devastating avalanche, one with events that’s coming back to haunt Will on The Boundless. To save himself before he or his father gets murdered, Will must join the traveling circus on the train before it’s too late.

  There’s something about train stories I find fascinating and incredible. It’s both a stable and moving setting, a character on its own. When you have a train that’s 7 miles long like The Boundless, you know suspense is going to be a part of the story. Any time the train is moving, so is the plot. Any time the train stops, an insurmountable build-up of tension occurs, and you can’t help but hold your breath in anticipation of what’s to come. This book is steeped in Canadian cultural history, so that and the mountains and forests the train zooms past is as much of a character as the train, too.

  Will and Maren, a girl in the traveling circus, are caught up in two different plots that have one ultimate goal: to save or kill Will’s father. They’re busy running from the villains — disguised breakmen angered by events that happened three years prior in the avalanche — as well as nabbing a unique, magical canvas for the ringmaster Mr. Dorian (I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a bizarre Dorian Gray connection…there isn’t). If they can find the canvas, they can save Will’s father. If they cannot, the breakmen just might harm all the passengers on The Boundless.

  One issue I had with the book is how black-and-white the villains were. They’re your standard big bulky bullies with guns and knives and clubs, chasing after children and grunting and refusing to shave or clean up. Gruff, scruffy men. Your typical DANGER, I AM BAD kind of character. I was hoping for something with a bit more depth, so I’m not sure if it’s the thriller part of this novel that prevented the full potential, or if it’s because this is middle grade. However, there was something about this novel I absolutely adored: Will’s love for art. He sketches and paints, he’s an artist with ambitions to study art in school and receive an art education. He’s a sensitive soul with a curious mind in awe with the world around him. While Mr Everett tries to dampen his son’s artistic spirit, saying it’s “feminine” and not “masculine” enough of a profession, Will refuses to listen and chases after his dreams. That was absolutely lovely to read.

  A good middle grade thriller with a dash of magic and a whole lot of great Canadian history. Definitely pick this up if you need a speedy read in the cooler months. Time will zoom by!

  This qualifies as book #3 in my autumn reading challenge.

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

• Thankful For . . . in 2015!

  Posted at 1:36 pm by Laura, on November 25, 2015

  Our family tradition may appear similar to yours. My mother’s side of the family travels from one end of the Midwest to the other to gather at our house for Thanksgiving. We make ham and turkey, stuffing, mouth-watering mashed potatoes, jello-fruit-marshmallows (what in the world is this called?!), and pumpkin pie. My grandparents bring cranberries and an assortment of pies (usually apple or pecan), one of my uncles brings dinner rolls and ice cream, and my aunt, uncle, and cousins bring green bean casserole and macaroni and cheese for the younger (pickier) eaters. We play games, work on jigsaw puzzles, play music, catch up on life, and try to keep the children active so they sleep peacefully on the drive back to their home. Dinner is a short affair, to be honest, but the time together is never long enough!

  It’s that time of year when America pauses and thinks back on what they’re thankful for in the last several months. Say what you want about the history of Thanksgiving and the subsequent events that followed, or how we live in a gimme-gimme, instant gratification, #firstworldproblems society. The heart of Thanksgiving is touching and important, especially during rough and turbulent times such as these.

  This year, I thought I’d share what I’m thankful for and post a book recommendation from what I read in 2015 that features an excellent example of a cast of characters living that life.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  MY SUPPORTIVE FAMILY || It’s been a wild ride this year in the Crockett household, many joys and rough patches and celebrations and disagreements. We always manage to come together and figure things out, supporting one another and challenging each other. I could not be more thankful for the kind of family I have. Without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
  the books featuring strong families . . . Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway / Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling || Emmy’s family is (rightfully) overprotective, but even after their emotional roller-coasters, they love one another deeply and compromise. I’m always impressed with the Weasley family, especially in the opening scenes of the fourth Potter installment. In times of turmoil and distress, they’re always looking out for one another, even Percy the Git.

  MY REMARKABLE FRIENDS IN REAL LIFE || Did you hear what they did for me in September? I still can’t get over it. They’re 100% supportive and encouraging and fun and understanding and a whole host of wonderful adjectives every year. But this year in particular, they really rallied together and permanently established the biggest space in my heart. I fully plan to grow old with these ladies.
  the book featuring remarkable friendships . . . The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord || Paige’s friends are wonderful. They’ve got a range of personalities and interrelationship dynamics and opinions, but they’ll firmly stand by her side and watch out for her, through thick and thin.

  MY FANTASTIC BLOGGER FRIENDS || It feels silly to separate IRL friends from blogger friends, since I probably talk to Lindsey and Morgan and the rest of the book community more than I see my IRL friends. But I have to separate them because it feels great to go to people outside the situations in my life and gain perspective. They’re intelligent women and massive fangirls. You gotta have an outlet for that energy and enthusiasm!
  the books featuring unique/unlikely friendships . . . Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee / A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis || Sammy and Grace are thrust into unique, terrifying, dangerous situations. If it weren’t for those scenarios, they would not have met the ragtag crew that quickly become their closest companions. I’m a firm believer than some of the strongest friendships arise from unique life events!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  THE BRITISH BEAU || Because duh. The feels. He makes life better than fiction!
  the books featuring a heart-pounding romance . . . Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier / The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan || RED AND SORCHA FOREVER. BEX AND NICK FOREVER.

  LIVING A STABLE LIFESTYLE || In light of recent world events, I’m thankful and grateful to be living in a permanent home with a roof over my head, lots of food stored away to eat, and a comfortable, warm bed. While there’s terror and turmoil domestically and internationally, and threats are all around, I can’t help but remember what I’ve been blessed with in my life. I can only hope to one day provide such safety and comfort to another.
  the books featuring rocky, uncertain times . . . At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen / Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman || The protagonists in each of these books endure war-torn hardships, fear, and unstable lifestyles. It makes for great fiction, but we must remember that these lifestyles are still very real for large populations of the world.

  MY CAREER IN THE BOOK INDUSTRY || From my awesome boss and managers to the talented clients and book-hungry customers, I’m incredibly thankful to be employed in this economy. It’s also a blessing to be employed in an area you love. Bonus points for that!
  the books featuring interesting employment . . . Beastly Bones by William Ritter / A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott || Abigail stumbled upon her career with Jackaby as a detective’s assistant, and she thoroughly enjoys it. Especially when her new career blends with her passion for paleontology. Same thing happens to Julie when she arrives in Hollywood. She wants to be a screenwriter, but becomes an assistant to an actress, and a whole host of wonderful opportunities open up to her.

  What are you thankful for in 2015? What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions with friends and family? Are there any books that you think have similar messages or examples of what you’re thankful for?

  Happy Thanksgiving!

  May your day be filled with love and cheer!

  Posted in books | 1 Comment | Tagged books, personal, recommendations, thankful for, thanksgiving

• Book Review: “Velvet Undercover” by Teri Brown

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on November 16, 2015

  Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Published: October 20
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction, mystery
  ISBN: 9780062321275
  Goodreads: 3.71
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Samantha Donaldson’s family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, mathematics, and complex puzzles, hoping to make him proud.

  When Sam is asked to join the famed women’s spy group La Dame Blanche, she’s torn—while this could be an unbelievable adventure, how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes she can’t refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

  Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known only as Velvet. Deep undercover in the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Sam must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Sam find Velvet before it’s too late?

  Samantha is a knack for languages and mathematics, skills her father taught her ever since she was a little girl. She is approached after a competition by a member of MI5, and offered a position within a secret women’s spy group La Dame Blanche. With her intelligence and skill set, she could be an asset to her country in this endless war. But once Samantha reaches Berlin and is immersed in the kaiser’s court to find and rescue another agent under the codename Velvet, she realizes there are more conspiracies, lies, and hidden agendas than she could ever comprehend.

  Safety of any kind is just an illusion.

  My mind is blown. Samantha Donaldson is a wonderful character to narrate this intense journey. She’s intelligent and quick, similar to Hermione Granger, but she has a sense of warmth and empathy that reminded me so much of Gretchen in Anne Blankman’s Prisoner of Night and Fog. There are several layers and threads and plots in this book, and Samantha’s wicked-fast brain is able to see the evidence before her and tries to bring the clues together like solving a code. Her moments of weakness as a spy are quickly realized — and I was very grateful to see that she did slip as often as she did (we’re only human! And she’s only seventeen!) — and her strengths create heart-pounding scenes and urgently move the plot along. She’s the star of the novel through and through and kept me on the edge of my seat!

  “…people are human beings no matter where they’re from.”

  WWI — its purpose, its beginnings, the endless years, the advancements in warfare technology, and everything that comes with spying at the turn of the century — was an absolutely perfect and frightening setting for this. The future of the world felt palpable as well, with the distrust of the Germans and the rocky foundation of figuring out whom to confide when news begins to travel so quickly. If I were a teacher, I could easily create a whole lesson around Velvet Undercover (WWI); Prisoner of Night and Fog and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke (Germany 1930s); Book Thief, Code Name Verity, and Between Shades of Gray (WWII); and The Boy on the Bridge (Cold War).

  I feel as if I’m losing who I really am. 

  Imagine being a spy! You could be caught at any moment, tortured and/or put to death instantly. You could find your information rather quickly (in which case, is that good or bad? Is it valid?) or it could take ages and require an immense acting stamina. How do you know the people you’re informing are telling you the truth, that they’re on your side? Or, on the other hand, how do you know the people you’re obtaining information from is on your side? Who is an innocent civilian versus another spy? The blending of information and personalities takes a toll on Samantha, and watching her come apart at the seams (much like Cassie did in Tana French’s The Likeness as an undercover cop) can only give us a glimpse into the true horrors of that position.

  You must read this book.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Top Ten Tuesday: Book-to-Movie Adaptations

  Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on November 10, 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-to-Movie Adaptations I’m Looking Forward to/Still Need to Watch.

  

  I cheated a bit and chose some book-to-TV selections as well, because why not.

  Looking Forward to Seeing

  Mockingjay Part 2 || The Danish Girl || Outlander Season 2: Dragonfly in Amber

  Sherlock Season 4 || Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

  Still Need to Watch

  Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug || Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

  Testament of Youth || Brooklyn

  And for #10: A Rewatch

  The Book Thief, because snow and books.

  In conclusion, I adore Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Alicia Vikander. I see nothing wrong with this.

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 7 Comments | Tagged books, movies, top ten tuesday

• Book Buying Habits

  Posted at 9:37 am by Laura, on November 2, 2015

  In lieu of an Advance Excitement at a Glance post for November*, I wanted to discuss one particular book buying habit I’ve formed over the past few years. Some might say it’s an addiction, others a compulsion. I personally think it’s a product of working at a bookstore + a literary agency + blogging all happening roughly at once. Nice discounts, free ARCs, and the need to share enthusiasm with the world. Alexa talked about this before, how once she entered the blogging world her book-buying habits amped up.

  Well, I’ve definitely noticed this issue in my own home. You know you have a problem when your TBR bookcase is starting to double-spine and double-stack. It’s like solving a really difficult Tetris puzzle when trying to cram one more newly acquired book on there.

  

  There’s a word for that. “Tsundoku” is a Japanese word for books you buy but don’t read. I’d like to point out that I do read books off my TBR bookcase, but the number packed in there is roughly a book a day for about a year.

  Why do I buy so many books?

  Because the jackets promise greatness? I don’t know! I think a large part of my compulsive buying has to do with my knowledge of the industry. The whole “when you see it, buy it” philosophy in retail rings so true with bookstores. Unless it’s constantly selling as front- or mid-list, the majority of new releases will end up in back-list and have to be ordered online or from the warehouse. I don’t want to do that. Call me lazy, call me crazy, but I do not like waiting for books!

  

  Swap “presents” for “books” and that’s me in a nutshell.

  But why do I buy books when I know I don’t have the space for them? It’s not easy for me to part with books, read or unread. If I don’t enjoy a purchased book enough to keep it, I automatically donate it or resell it. The books I keep are ones I want to read again, books that meant something to me at a certain time in my life. They’re like photo albums: full of memories. So when an unread book is on my bookcase, I’ve already read enough reviews about it, read the jacket enough throughout the year to confirm my potential enjoyment, that I have difficulty weeding those out, too.

  (Hmm…I really ought to join Alexa and Hannah’s Picky Pledge. Or adopt Kelly’s TBR Culling method.)

  Why do I collect editions?

  Many of you already know I collect Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and all the Austen novels. I’ve started collecting Kate Morton, The Night Circus, Laini Taylor, and Anne Blankman as well. When a book means something to me — I love the series, I enjoyed the writing, I read it at a time when I absolutely needed that book — I will look up other editions. If any of them are attractive, I tend to start buying them and creating lists. It just…happens.

  

  Brontës and Austen are classics. They’re brilliant works of fiction, and each mean something to me that other classics do not. And because they’re classics, there are new editions from every publisher imaginable all the time! If I’m on the hunt for an excellent hardcover, a rare copy, a particular imprint, or a unique printing of one with illustrations, I will turn it into a game when I walk into bookstores (chain, used, rare, independent): which edition will I find today?

  Recent publications with varying focus. Sometimes publishers have such different ideas on what the cover of a book should look like that I can’t help but agree with all of them. Night Circus is an excellent example of this. The hardcover and paperback US editions are different from one another, but still have that black, white, and red theme. Look at the covers around the world and they all carry that color scheme, but focus on different aspects of the story, while still using a paper-doll-esque look. It’s so intricate and exquisite! I want them all!

  Harry Potter. Need I say more? There are so many cool editions from all over the world! My bank account would cry if I collected them all, so I mostly stick to US and UK editions of anniversary sets, cool covers, or neat illustrations.

  What about galleys and completed copies?

  My purchasing habit when it came to reading an eARC was rather simple: if I really enjoyed it, I would buy the physical copy when it came out. About half the eARCs I’ve read ended up on my bookcases. That’s a lot of hardcovers!

  But what about physical ARCs? I came across this issue shortly after attending BEA. Several of the galleys weren’t in their final editing stages, so having the final copy would be great. But then again, the essence of the story is still there, galley or barcoded copy. Why not save money and keep the galley as is, start a collection of that (in a weird way)? Then again, support the author and buy the finished copy, right?

  

  HELP!

  What do you do after you’ve read an ARC, galley or digital? Do you even buy the final edition at all? If you buy the final edition, do you wait another year or so for the paperback? Or, if you’re even more of a bargain hunter, do you wait to find it in a used bookstore or at a heavily discounted price? (Can you tell I’m trying to figure out what I should do with my galley ARCs? *wink*)

  What do you do?

  How do you make your purchasing decisions? Do we share similar buying habits? Are our thought processes similar or vastly different? Leave a comment and share your thoughts! Part of me wants to know I’m not the only one, and part of me wants to fling myself into another’s method to form a new and healthier purchasing habit!

  

  *In case you were interested, I’m looking forward to the publication of Da Vinci’s Tiger, Dangerous Lies, and Until We Meet Again. Have you read these? Which books are you looking forward to in November?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 7 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book hoarding, books, bookshelves, discussion, personal

• Book Review: “Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times” by Emma Trevayne

  Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on October 28, 2015

  Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times by Emma Trevayne

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  Published: May 2014
  Genre: middle grade, historical fiction, steampunk
  ISBN: 9781442498792
  Goodreads: 3.65
  Rating: ★★★

  Ten-year-old Jack Foster has stepped through a doorway and into quite a different London.

  Londinium is a smoky, dark, and dangerous place, home to mischievous metal fairies and fearsome clockwork dragons that breathe scalding steam. The people wear goggles to protect their eyes, brass grill insets in their nostrils to filter air, or mechanical limbs to replace missing ones.

  Over it all rules the Lady, and the Lady has demanded a new son—a perfect flesh-and-blood child. She has chosen Jack.

  Jack’s wonder at the magic and steam-powered marvels in Londinium lasts until he learns he is the pawn in a very dangerous game. The consequences are deadly, and his only hope of escape, of returning home, lies with a legendary clockwork bird.

  The Gearwing grants wishes—or it did, before it was broken—before it was killed. But some things don’t stay dead forever.

  Jack adores mechanical things. He takes apart clocks just to see the insides, and puts them back together in pristine order. His mother does not find that interesting, but an older man with strange glasses does, and implores Jack’s mother to allow him to take Jack as an apprentice. Little does Jack know that this man is an accomplice for the Lady of Londinium, and when Jack stumbles through a doorway into the smoky, clockwork city, he finds he’s the center of a dangerous plot.

  What a creative, whimsical tale. It reminded me a bit of Alastair Grim’s Odditorium with its steampunk elements and curious protagonists. I am not sure what I was expecting — despite the publisher’s summary stating it exactly on the jacket — but I enjoyed Jack’s adventure and character growth. This is a tale about a child who wanted nothing more than to be accepted and loved for his curious mind, but then then received it by way of dark intentions. It makes the last line of this book all the more powerful.

  All in all, this fits the bill for the kind of MG books I enjoy. One or two things irked me a bit and knocked down the rating, but they’re so nit-picky it’s almost not worth mentioning. Trevayne is an excellent storyteller, but the writing style took a while for me to fall into. That, in turn, influenced the pacing and plot of the story. While I really enjoyed Jack’s scenes with the mechanic and his wind-up girl (my favorites are with them, actually!), I itched for adventure and the Gearwing. By the time the Gearwing entered the picture, the plot sped along and raced to the end.

  If you’re looking for a standalone historical fantasy that makes for a quick read, Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times is an enchanting book that you must try. Maybe you’ll fall more in love with the writing style, and sink so deeply into the book that Jack’s predicament and the tragedy of the Gearwing hits you right in the feels.

  This qualifies as book #2 in my autumn reading challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, review

• Mini Reviews IV

  Posted at 7:12 am by Laura, on October 15, 2015

  Mini Reviews

  Quick, bite-sized reviews of fast, enjoyable reads!
  A penny for thoughts, a snappy two-cent reflection! 

  

  A Little in Love by Susan Fletcher

  Publisher: Chicken House
  Published: August 2015
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780545829601
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: Paris, 1832. A girl lies alone in the darkness, clutching a letter to her heart. Eponine remembers being a child: her swing and the peach tree, and the baby brother she loved. But mostly she remembers being miserable. Taught to lie and cheat, and to hate the one girl, Cosette, who might have been her friend. Now, at sixteen, the two girls meet again, and Eponine has one more chance. But what is the price of friendship—the love of a boy?

  Mini Review: Eponine’s story in Les Mis is probably my favorite, only because life is both wonderful and tragic for her. She manages to find love and passion in the midst of hatred, hunger, and revolution. A hopeless romantic to the core. Fletcher’s book shares Eponine’s childhood up to her death, her life with a cold, harsh family and how she is both jealous and admiring of Cosette. She’s a complex character, and through Fletcher’s simple writing Eponine manages to convey so much emotion. You want nothing but love for this poor creature.

  This qualifies as book #7 in my resolution to read 10 library books in 2015. 

  The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray 
  Published: March 2010
  Genre: middle grade, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780061791109
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must eliminate their canine tendencies. But who are these three wild creatures? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance’s holiday ball? 

  Mini Review: This felt like a child’s version of Jane Eyre meeting Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Wood occasionally talks to the reader, explaining grammar and offering nuggets of wisdom as little asides, before diving back into Penelope’s journey with the three wild children on this vast estate. What I loved most — and found a great deal of humor in — was Penelope’s teaching method for the children (Pavlovian method, anyone?), and how the children worked so hard to be tame while Lady Constance falls to pieces and turns wild. This is an excellent autumnal read, too, and it ends right at Christmas. A quick read, entertaining, and I’m curious to see what’s in store in the next book!

  This qualifies as book #1 in my autumn reading challenge.

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

• Book Review: “Ice Like Fire” by Sara Raasch (ARC)

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on October 12, 2015

  Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Publishing Date: October 13
  Genre: young adult, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780062286956
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★.75

  It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

  Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

  Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

  As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world.

  Winter is free, but there’s a price to pay for the assistance from Cordell. While that is difficult enough, Meira and Mather must come to terms with their new roles in the kingdom: her a queen, he a soldier. Meira’s instincts are that of a soldier, and she’s furious when Theron unearths Primoria’s lost chasm of magic and tells his father, the king of Cordell. Meira can feel the magic surge through her, and she knows the safety of her kingdom is best kept with the chasm locked away. Under the guise of searching for the key to unlock the magic, Meira seeks assistance from nearby kingdoms to loosen Cordell’s grip on Winter and greed for magic.

  Though the book suffered from second book syndrome, I did enjoy it. Not as much as Snow Like Ashes, and not in the same way. While Snow Like Ashes (I’ll refer to my review of that book several times throughout this review) felt like a breath of fresh air in YA fantasy, Ice Like Fire felt a bit more run-of-the-mill, with the complicated world, the magic, the war, the deception, the harried heroine, and the two vastly different love interests. It was not a bad book. In fact, it was a great read all on its own. But because Snow Like Ashes was so incredibly beautiful and already felt like a stand-alone, this book fell flat in comparison to its predecessor.

  Meira was a different character. In my first review, I called Meira “strong-willed, determined to find her place, anxious to prove that she has a purpose for the restoration of Winter, funny, insightful, emotional,” that it was “so wonderful to read about an independent warrior-lady who’s not all about sacrifice,” and that “she felt real.” Take those little nuggets, and take them far away. Her world has turned upside down now that she knows she’s the royal child, the one with the crown, the queen of her kingdom. She’s not trained for politics but for battle. However, that does not explain why her personality shifted so much and in three short months. The shift between the books and the “I must sacrifice everything” mentality keeps her at a distance from the reader.

  The dynamics of Mather and Theron shifted. Political moves were made in the first book to bring Meira and Theron together, but their relationship always felt more like lust than love anyway. I wasn’t too concerned. Mather and Meira are more right for one another, and inevitably, with their switch in station, they would have several rough patches in this book. But there was something about the way Meira treated the two of them that I disliked. It was as if she was using them for her own emotional gain. A weakness, yes, but it was almost done heartlessly, and she’s not a heartless character (old or new Meira). The love triangle, which wasn’t much of one in the first book (and therefore I was a happy reader), felt forced in this one.

  I’m positively torn. I enjoyed the read. The world-building is still lush and the tone was a realistic shift from the first book. Establishing freedom and maintaining liberation are two different political moves, and this was successful in Ice Like Fire. When I think about it as the second book or compare it to its first book, I’m a little saddened. Nicked off quarter of a star for that reason only. I will definitely read the final installment, because I will not give up on Meira or Winter!

  Thank you, Balzer + Bray, for providing this book for review!

  This book fulfills 5 of 7 #ARCAugust reads.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Lake House” by Kate Morton (ARC)

  Posted at 5:35 am by Laura, on October 7, 2015

  The Lake House by Kate Morton 

  Publisher: Atria Books
  Publishing Date: October 20
  Genre: adult fiction, historical fiction, mystery
  ISBN: 9781451649321
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Living on her family’s gorgeous lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, clever, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented fourteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure…

  One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest son, Theo, has completely disappeared. Vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined, leaving their estate as empty as their sunken hearts.

  Nearly sixty years later, having enjoyed a long, successful career as an author, Alice is now eighty years old and living in London. Theo’s case has never been solved, though Alice still harbors a suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate—now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked and sets off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone…yet more present than ever.

  Alice Edevane is a mystery writer in the making, plotting out stories and taking notes in a tiny journal she carries with her everywhere. But she could never conjure — let alone solve — the mystery that would plague her family for the rest of her life. The youngest Edevane, Theo, disappears in the middle of a massive Midsummer’s Eve party, never to be seen again. Generations later, Sadie Sparrow, a London detective on leave for overstepping boundaries in a child abandonment case, stumbles across the estate in Cornwall while visiting her grandfather. The mystery of the missing Edevane fills her mind, bringing her right to award-winning mystery writer A.C. Edevane’s doorstep.

  First off, all hail Kate Morton. Lindsey, Morgan, Jessie, Katie, and I had a wonderful readalong with this book. Feel free to browse #KMflails! Morton delivers a fantastic novel yet again, only more intricately plotted, more points of view, more timelines than ever before. While House at Riverton and The Secret Keeper are still my favorites, Morton would never disappoint me.

  The surprise narrator of the story was Eleanor, Alice’s mother. She was a surprise because, well, she’s not mentioned once in the publisher summary. Yet her part in the mystery is key, and she’s an incredibly intriguing character. Her own growth across the book was palpable, and my heart ached for her, the poor mother with the missing boy. What a fantastic storyline for her. Pay attention to Eleanor!

  Alice’s narrative, at least in her teen years, was rather irksome. She reminded me of Briony in Atonement — self-entitled author-in-the-making, devising up plots and stories behind every individual and muddling it within a crime scene. I nearly wanted to wring her neck when her young narrative popped up. But older Alice? Quietly hilarious and witty. She’s that sassy grandmother I’m sure everyone wants in life. I nearly envisioned her as a modern day Agatha Christie.

  Sadie’s narrative was frustrating at first — why is she on leave? why does she feel guilty? who are these people she keeps mentioning? what do they have to do with the case that got her into trouble? why does the Edevane story bother her so much? — but, as Morton always does, you’re brought around to understand all the hidden layers when Sadie feels its appropriate to expose them.

  I can’t say too much without exposing the mystery. But this is a classic Morton piece, where a family mystery tied to a beautiful home all come together in the end. It’s never picture-perfect, but it’s bound to break your heart. It’s such a joy to experience reading all these parallel narratives and how that interconnect up to the final conclusion. I’m looking forward to this hitting the shelves!

  Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this book from Atria Books for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 3 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fiction, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, goodreads, review

• 

• 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!

• Search the Blog

  Search for:

• Currently Reading

  

• Book Review Rating Key

  ★★★ — It’s good
  ★★★★ — It’s great
  ★★★★★ — OMG LOVE!!!

• Recent Posts

  • MSWL for 2026
  • Favorite Reads of 2025
  • Deal Announcement: Nina Moreno, YA Romance
  • Deal Announcement: Sharon Choe, YA Fantasy
  • Deal Announcement: Hanna R. Neier, MG Historical/Contemporary