Tag: genre: fantasy

• Top Five Books of 2015

  Posted at 5:05 am by Laura, on December 20, 2015

  

  The most difficult post: selecting five fantastic books from the 66, as of December 20th, I read this year! Thankfully, the season rewind helped me narrow down my favorites from the year even further.

  

  

  

  A Madness So Discreet || Daughter of the Forest || Into the Dim

  A MADNESS SO DISCREET by Mindy McGinnis is, by far, the best YA book I read this year. Historically set, a close analyzation of mental illness and suffrage, and a thrilling mystery throughout. Also? No romance. YA can be successful without romance, folks.

  DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST by Juliet Marillier because I can’t get enough of Marillier and she needs to be on every top list ever ever ever.

  INTO THE DIM by Janet B Taylor is not available to the public yet (not till March!), nor have I posted a review for it yet (not till February!), but wow. This was the answer to a YA Outlander, with a more scientific/less-fantasy spin.

  

  

  Under a Painted Sky || The Royal We

  UNDER A PAINTED SKY by Stacey Lee grabbed me from the very first line. Simply written, an unusual (“unusual” in that it’s rarely written about) point in American history, with a variety of characters and backgrounds. An absolute joy to read — and I can’t wait to read Lee’s future work!

  THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan is purely my candy choice. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it was an immediate winner for this royal-phile. You could call it my guilty pleasure, if you want. I loved it.

  Honorable mentions: The Lake House by Kate Morton, The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.

  Which books made it to your Top Books of 2015 list?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 9 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, top five books

• 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

• 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

• Whimsical Middle Grade for Autumn

  Posted at 6:30 am by Laura, on September 10, 2015

  

  I was rearranging my packed TBR bookcase (yes, bookcase) when I took a closer look at my MG shelf. The dark colors, the creepy art, the whimsical plot. There’s a trend in my preferences and reading habits for MG, and if it’s not a great boarding school detective story, it’s the “weird” stuff. Not quite historical, not quite fantasy, not quite nightmarish horror, but it could easily fit the bill for all those genres. Think Neil Gaiman’s children’s books, or Tim Burton’s stop motion movies. It’s that tiny bit of salt to add a kick of flavor in my otherwise routine reading habits!

  W H I M · S Y
  [ˈ(h)wimzē/] (n)
  playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor; a thing that is fanciful or odd

  GOTHIC  || dark and picturesque scenery, startling and melodramatic narrative devices, an overall atmosphere of exoticism, mystery, and dread (x)

  

  

  

  

  

  The Night Gardener || The Kneebone Boy
  The Mysterious Howling || Doll Bones || Monstrous

  STEAMPUNK || science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology (x)

  

  

  

  

  Flights & Chimes & Mysterious Times || The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden
  Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms || Heap House

  HISTORICAL ADVENTURE || historically set, an exciting undertaking involving risk and physical danger (x)

  

  

  

  

  The Boundless || Liesl & Po || The Glass Sentence || Rooftoppers

  I don’t see these particular genres translating into my other reading habits. Yes, I enjoy fantasy and historical fiction and a blend of the two, and you know my love for the Gothic. But there’s something about the charm and spark added into the MG books that just can’t be replicated in YA or Adult.

  Seeing these books piling up inspired me to create a fall challenge. Like this summer’s plan to read through more of  the TBR pile and taking on fewer ARCs, I will read more whimsical MG from my TBR shelf. ARCs this fall are unavoidable (thank you, the blessing and curse that is BEA), but I know I can sink into these charming reads during the crisper months!

  Do you have any peculiar reading preferences? Is there a genre you’re drawn toward as your form of ultimate escapism?

  Posted in books | 4 Comments | Tagged books, genre: action/adventure, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade

• Book Review: “Beastly Bones” by William Ritter (ARC)

  Posted at 4:15 am by Laura, on September 8, 2015

  Beastly Bones by William Ritter

  Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
  Publishing Date: September 22
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, historical fiction, gothic, mystery
  ISBN: 9781616203542
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer R. F. Jackaby are called upon to investigate the supernatural.

  First, a vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens, and a day later, their owner is found murdered with a single mysterious puncture wound. Then in nearby Gad’s Valley, now home to the exiled New Fiddleham police detective Charlie Cane, dinosaur bones from a recent dig mysteriously go missing, and an unidentifiable beast starts attacking animals and people, leaving their mangled bodies behind. Charlie calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

  Several weeks after Abigail Rook and her odd employer, detective of the supernatural R.F. Jackaby, solve a strange case, another bubbles underneath the surface. What appears to be kittens turns out to be shape-shifters, and the owner of these poor creatures turns up dead. Meanwhile, police detective Charlie Cane (now Barker) calls upon the duo to help solve a similar murder that occurred around a strange paleontology site on a farmer’s land. As Abigail and Jackaby hunt for a culprit, the finds of the dig soon take precedence and something much larger than they ever expected looms over the case.

  At times Beastly Bones feels like it’s carrying three different mysteries — the strange kittens, the dig, the murders — when in reality, there are two. The first ties the seemingly three mysteries together, and the second involves Jenny, and what’s surely to come in Book Three, tying the three books together. (Ha! Didn’t know there was another mystery underneath in Jackaby, did you?)

  The same wit, humor, and banter found in the first book is back again, only Jackaby takes a more introspective role and lets Abigail shine. She is especially involved in this case due to her background in paleontology. Only what she finds, she’s having trouble believing. Myth and fact collide, and even the famous scientists involved in the case are baffled. The scientists’ rivalry, coupled with an entertainingly forceful reporter, take over the humor end of the narrative, nearly distracting Abigail and Jackaby from the stakes.

  Let’s just say… “Here, there be ___.” Beastly bones, indeed. But how are they tied to the murders (if they’re indeed tied at all)? Something strange is afoot, and that something links back to Abigail and Jackaby’s first case together. But why? And how?

  If you think this wonderful genre-bender is going to be another standalone mystery, then you are wrong. In true Sherlockian fashion, Ritter brings the reader to an explosive ending that will make you want to reread Jackaby and Beastly Bones, because there’s a Moriarty lurking, and it will blow your mind.

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

  This book fulfills 2 of 7 #ARCAugust reads.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• An Odd DNF Scenario

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on August 28, 2015

  We’ve all experienced a DNF — Did Not Finish — at some point. But more often than not, we’ll set the book aside or mark it DNF on Goodreads, and never speak of it again. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad book; it’s just not the book for you. You can rant and rave about the writing or plot or characters or overall content — and maybe it truly is bad — but book bashing doesn’t get you anywhere.

  When I DNF, I mark it on Goodreads, state why it wasn’t for me as short and concise as I can, and let it fade into the background.

  Except with this book.

  Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas is not a bad book. Not at all. That’s not even why I DNF’d. In fact, just about everything I could ever like or want to see was in here in the beginning pages — fairytale spin, intrigue, writing, voice, unique plot, compelling protagonist, and realistic love interest. But if that’s all there, why did I stop?

  That God-awful subjective gut feeling that creeps up even when I’m agenting: It wasn’t for me.

  Even though I DNF’d, that doesn’t mean I won’t promote this. OHMYGOSH am I gonna promote this! You want a behind-the-scenes look at a fairytale? Read this book. How do fairy godmothers know exactly what you want and when you need it? Read this book. Dying for another fairytale spin that’s both unique and familiar? Read this book. And, totally random, but if you’re looking for something that has echoes of Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale…I’d say read this book. (I could be completely off on that, but it had those vibes in the beginning pages and I was fascinated.)

  So here I am, promoting a book I did not finish. I was about a third into the book when I stopped. The merits are obvious, and I can see this being a successful book with a loyal following. If there’s any way I can aid in that, I will do so!

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

  This book fulfills 1 of 7 #ARCAugust reads.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 5 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, books, dnf, genre: fantasy, genre: romance, genre: young adult

• Book Review: “Uprooted” by Naomi Novik

  Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on August 26, 2015

  Uprooted by Naomi Novik

  Publisher: Del Rey
  Published: May 2015
  Genre: adult fiction, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780804179034
  Goodreads: 4.24
  Rating: ★★★.5

  Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

  Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

  The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

  But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

  Agnieszka is worried for her best friend Kasia — it’s clear she’s the one the Dragon will choose to keep in his tower for ten years. He’s not really a dragon, but a powerful wizard that protects her village and the surrounding area from the malevolent Wood. Agnieszka’s life changes when the Dragon chooses her instead, and she’s whisked away to his tower and taught how to explore, grow, and harness her magic, abilities she didn’t even know she possessed. But Kasia is taken into the Wood, and Agnieszka will stop at nothing to rescue her — and the consequences are dire.

  First, hello Polish fairytale retelling. Second, hello malicious forest. Third, hello incredibly vague book jacket that only summarized the first twenty pages instead of what the book is actually about. (The third part I am a little peeved over, and yet I can see why marketing would do such a thing! Uprooted is complex and beautiful and should not be spoiled.)

  I’d heard great things about this book, especially after Gillian @ Writer of Wrongs freaked out about it. Even New York Times and Slate had great things to say, and Twitter was all agog over the “Jane-Eyre-and-Mr-Rochester” romance. So after reading the reviews, watching the freak outs, and staring at the vague book jacket, I decided to give in and read it. It’s nothing like I expected (which I’m only slightly disappointed over) and still tremendously stunning.

  Uprooted has a very classic fantasy feel to it. Novik uses long, lush descriptions of just about everything you could think of — scenery, spell-casting, battles and skirmishes, emotions —  which I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt like I was a part of Agnieszka’s world. Her character was deeply relatable as well, with a quiet, sly sense of humor and immense love for her friends and family. I admired her and cheered her on when she decided to rebel against the Dragon (countless times), when she’d tinker with spells and experiment with variations. Her time in the tower was my favorite, followed by her scenes with the Dragon and with Kasia. Gosh, even when she’s in the Wood on her own, I was enthralled.

  Let me take a moment to discuss the Wood. What a breath of fresh air, a villain that has no face, a villain that is neither human nor creature, but an entity on its own! That’s what I found most frightening about it. The Wood can take whomever whenever it wants, expanding across the land and destroying whole villages. People are trapped inside with no hope of escape, and corruption is inevitable. How intense and original is that? Thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the fantasy!

  But this wasn’t like I expected, as I stated previously. I thought this was going to be a more solitary sort of book. Yes, something would be done with the Wood, but I wasn’t expecting as much traveling as Agnieszka and the Dragon embarked upon, or as much courtly politics or as battle-intensive (gosh, the battles really weren’t splattered across the pages like I’m making it sound — it was just one or two scenes too many for my “I’m not into fight scenes” self). And when the writing is descriptive, well…it can get a little weary in these passages.

  I liked the Dragon (or Sarkan, as we later learn). He was an amusing character, and I know plenty of people who are grouchy and stuck in their ways just like him. But I didn’t love him. Agnieszka’s curiosity and infatuation with him is a completely natural response, but there was no way I could love him. He could be a bit abrasive and insulting, neither of which I find conducive to a healthy relationship, let alone a romance. So while there were some steamy scenes (I’m looking at you, page 353!), I wasn’t in love.

  Please don’t throw tomatoes at me.

  Uprooted is enjoyable, beautiful, intricate, powerful, unique, and magical. It’s the kind of story you want to take some time to sink into and savor.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 8 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, goodreads, review

• Deal Announcement: Tara Sim, YA Historical Fantasy

  Posted at 9:24 am by Laura, on June 20, 2015

  

   

  Deal Announcements feature my most recent deal as an agent and the story behind it. Writers and readers should experience how an agent knows when they’ve struck gold and sign an author, the beginning of the journey to publication.

  I’m excited to finally announce the publication of Tara Sim‘s Timekeeper trilogy!

  In a deal at Skyhorse Publishing’s children’s imprint, Sky Pony Press, Alison Weiss bought world rights to Tara Sim’s debut LGBTQ steampunk trilogy, the Timekeeper. The three-book deal was brokered by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency. The series, set in an alternate Victorian era in which time in each city is controlled by a clock tower, follows teenage prodigy clock tower mechanic Danny. Hoping to save his father, who is trapped in a town outside of London, Danny is also battling a force seeking to destroy all of the towers and stop time. The first book in the series is slated for fall 2016.

  Tara’s story is much longer than mine, but I’m still compelled to share it. It’s not only the first deal I’ve made in my career as an agent, but I also think writers should see an agent’s side of the story. Writers should want an agent to cheer them on 100% from the very beginning.

  Once upon a time . . .

  One early November day, I received Tara’s query. I quickly deduced what kind of book it was — historical fantasy — without her having to state the genre repeatedly: “Set in an alternate Victorian era” (historical fiction, steampunk vibes) and “[Danny’s] apprentice was not a boy but the clock spirit” (gay romance). But what intrigued me was the concept of time. Clocks control time? Literally? Okay. Sure. Let’s see what she’s got.

  Guys, I was sucked in.

  I begged for her to send me the full manuscript, as my requested sample chapters weren’t enough. It was Thanksgiving Day when I read it, and I didn’t want to stop and catch up with my family. No, I wanted to read about Danny and his predicament, about his forbidden relationship with Colton, about the mysterious and heart-pounding bombings across England, making their way to Enfield / Colton’s tower. It was all I could talk about at the dinner table, this manuscript I was reading by this brilliant writer.

  I talked about it so much that day it left an impression. Come Christmas my family asked about the book again. “Did you sign her? Is she your author now?” Believe me, everyone, I was ecstatic to say yes, Tara was my author. She called me a few days prior to accept my offer of representation, so you can say it was a great Christmas gift.

  And the rest . . . is history.

  Congratulations, Tara! You’re going to be a published author!

  Posted in agenting, deal announcement, Update Post | 5 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, personal, Tara Sim

• Book Review: “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by SJ Maas

  Posted at 6:05 am by Laura, on June 15, 2015

  A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

  Publisher: Bloomsbury
  Published: May 2015
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, retelling
  ISBN: 9781619634442
  Goodreads: 4.36
  Rating: ★★★★★

  When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

  As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

  Feyre is a hunter by necessity. Her family depends on her to bring back meat for food and hide for money. But one snowy evening in the woods changes her future forever. The night after she kills a gigantic wolf, a beast arrives at her family’s cottage and drags her into the magical realm of the faeries, a place Feyre has been taught to fear her whole life. But once at the Spring Court, Feyre learns the beast is not a creature, but a High Lord, a faerie named Tamlin. Tamlin shows her compassion, brings her art and peace each day she dwells in Prythian. But an ancient magic haunts Tamlin and hinders his powers, and Feyre is swept up in a deadly game plaguing the faerie lands.

  Move over, folks, because I need a spot on the SJ Maas bandwagon. Though I own Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, A Court of Thorns and Roses ranked higher on my priority list because, hello, Beauty and the Beast retelling! Instead of a beautiful girl obsessed with books swapping her father’s life for her own (and a whole mess of Stockholm Syndrome that I like to ignore), we’ve got an artistically talented and illiterate young woman who chose to spare her family’s slaughter by agreeing to cross into faerie lands for eternity. And the beast? He’s all terrifying when he storms into her home, but the second they cross into Prythian he’s not a person to fear. He’s nothing but kind to her, no masks (well, except for the one permanently glued to his face — part of the curse) or bickering dialogue.

  Tamlin and Feyre really have chemistry. Not love-at-first-sight chemistry, but a steady, growing attraction that is so deep as well as steamy. That’s what made her friendship with Lucien feel genuine, too. No love triangles here. And her connection later with Rhys? I don’t see a triangle on that end either, at least not reciprocated by Feyre, but it made me like Rhys’s character as well when he helped her during the torturous trials.

  Favorite scenes: the starlight pond, the gallery showing, Feyre’s sister Nesta’s reveal, Feyre’s fae maid Alis explaining the curse, the frightening mud scene in Amarantha’s mountain . . .

  I don’t know how to review this book without doing this

  

  There’s action, romance, adventure, faerie lore, retelling parallels, excellent characters, depth and plotting. It’s a book.

  Now, I’ve had this conversation with Morgan and Lindsey before, about how we can’t seem to cast characters as we’re reading but it makes sense in hindsight when we see an actor with those physical features. The characters are hazy, blurred. Well, Kelly solved all of these issues with her excellent ACOTAR casting. Not only do I approve of all those yummy men (especially Shuegs), I also approve of the roles they’d play.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 5 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: fantasy, genre: new adult, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “The Silver Witch” by Paula Brackston (ARC)

  Posted at 6:55 am by Laura, on April 20, 2015

  The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston

  Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
  Publishing Date: April 21
  Genre: adult fiction, historical, fantasy
  ISBN: 9781250028792
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★

  A year after her husband’s sudden death, ceramic artist Tilda Fordwells finally moves into the secluded Welsh cottage that was to be their new home. She hopes that the tranquil surroundings will help ease her grief, and lessen her disturbing visions of Mat’s death. Instead, the lake in the valley below her cottage seems to spark something dormant in her – a sensitivity, and a power of some sort. Animals are drawn to her, electricity shorts out when she’s near, and strangest of all, she sees a new vision; a boatful of ancient people approaching her across the water.

  On this same lake in Celtic times lived Seren, a witch and shaman. She was respected but feared, kept separate from the community for her strange looks. When a vision came to her of the Prince amid a nest of vipers she warned of betrayal from one of his own. Prince Brynach both loved and revered her, but could not believe someone close to him wished him harm, even as the danger grew.

  In her own time, Tilda’s grief begins to fade beside her newfound powers and a fresh love. When she explores the lake’s ancient magic and her own she discovers Seren, the woman in her vision of the boat. Their two lives strangely mirror each others, suggesting a strong connection between the women. As Tilda comes under threat from a dark power, one reminiscent of Seren’s prophecy, she must rely on Seren and ancient magic if death and disaster are not to shatter her life once more.

  Tilda didn’t mean to become a recluse when she moved into the tiny Welsh cottage by the lake. But because she was supposed to share this time with her husband, who died a year ago in a car accident, she’s finding it hard to connect to the new home and people. She stumbles across an archeological dig while out on a run, and is drawn to it by more than simple fascination — she senses a dark power, and strange things begin to happen in her new surroundings. She sees a woman on a boat, a woman as pale and silvery as herself, a woman named Seren who was a shaman of the area around 920 AD, and Seren’s history is Tilda’s future.

  I enjoyed The Winter Witch so much that I wanted to read anything else set in Wales that Brackston wrote. Though magical realism isn’t my thing, I thought I’d give this part-contemporary part-historical novel a try. It’s not what I expected, but I did enjoy it.

  The historical storyline worked for me in some ways and not so much in others. What worked included the pre-Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasion, when Christianity was new and people still embraced aspects of the Old Ways. Magic is a part of life, and people sought shamans for visions, advice, and healing. Seren’s role in the royal court of this small Welsh area is an honorable one. I enjoyed the dynamics and her romantic storyline and her deep love of nature and the connection she had with the water horse in the lake. But aspects of what I just stated I enjoyed were also things that didn’t quite work for me. I liked the romantic storyline, but as a contemporary reader I had difficulty accepting her affair with the prince while he was married to the princess. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the princess and think Seren a little selfish. The water horse was a bit prevalent in this, too, rather than an occasional sighting of a mythical creature. Hold back — the magical realism is showing.

  The contemporary storyline began a bit slowly, and I was quite frustrated with Tilda at first. But she grows on the reader, aspects of her personality waking up and flourishing. It’s as if she’s waking up from her grief, so in the end I enjoyed her character growth immensely. The way she handles coming to terms with her newfangled magical power was amusing and awesome, as well. Her interest in the history of the area, and how she makes logical connections between now and then, was incredibly enjoyable. I loved her interactions with the archeologists, and her time with Dylan made me smile. But again, as her power grew, it stepped beyond what I was expected and entered into magical realism. I have so much difficulty with that.

  Throughout this plot, we’re trying to figure out what happened to Seren, how she’s connected to Tilda, and what exactly is buried in the unearthed grave. The who, what, when, where, and whys of it all drive the story. I had so many guesses from the beginning, but all of them were completely wrong. But by the time it was revealed (about 80% into the book — great timing!), it all made complete sense and clicked into place. Of all the aspects of the story, it was this I was most interested in: connecting the past and present through this grave.

  The Winter Witch was more earth-based magic (it’s all in the plants and winds and animals, no spells or incantations or brews or mythical creatures) with a very realistic historical storyline (a mute marries a drover). I wanted to know more about Seren than Tilda, or at least see this as two separate books rather than two narratives in one. The book was enjoyable, and perfect for someone with a higher tolerance for magical realism.

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

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