She wants the hero, not the man … no matter what she says.

Title: Some Like It Wicked

Author: Teresa Medeiros

Publisher: Avon Books

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 372

Release Date:  August 2008

Part of a Series: Book 1 of a duet

Source: Public Library

Premise: (taken from back cover)    Some Like It Dangerous

Highland beauty Catriona Kincaid cares nothings for propriety – or even her own safety – when she storms the grounds of Newgate Prison. Determined to return to Scotland and restore her clan’s honor, she seeks the help of Sir Simon Wescott, a disgraced nobleman and notorious rogue. She is prepared to offer him both wealth and freedom, but she never dreams the wicked rake will be bold enough to demand a far sensual prize.

Some Like It Seductive

Simon is shocked to discover the tomboy he met long ago has blossomed into a headstrong temptress. Although he’s sworn of his dreams of becoming a hero, he can’t resist playing knight errant to Catriona’s damsel in distress. Both adventure and peril await them at her Highland home where they will risk their lives, to vanquish her enemies … and risk their hearts to discover a passion beyond their wildest dreams.

Review: (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT)

As my first foray into the world of Medeiros’ heroes and heroines in 1800s England, I found myself feeling a bit perplexed by Some Like It Wicked.

Catriona Kincaid is definitely a character you can sympathesize with: her parents were killed by the ‘redcoats’ when she was a child; she’s separated from her beloved older brother, for her own safety (of course); and she’s living with a catty older cousin, an aunt that doesn’t really understand her and an uncle who refuses to acknowledge their Scottish ancestry – an ancestry that she fights to hold onto. When we first meet her, she’s reading in her family’s stable where … her cousin – a rather forgettable character, really – is about to have sex with one Simon Wescott.

And their meeting is one for the ages, I tell you. 

 ”As it was, she could only bat wildly in the air as she tumbled headfirst out of the hayloft and crashed into the imposing back of the man preparing to settle himself between her cousin’s pale, shapely thighs.” – Some Like It Wicked, pg. 5

You’d think it’d be awkward after that, wouldn’t you? Especially considering Simon’s 24, and Catriona’s a mere 15. But no, from that moment until Simon’s departure, they cover a wide range of topics: from how to have sex, the history of her family, what it means to have honor, marriage, and being a hero. And it only halts because he suddenly remembers she’s a child. To be honest, I was a bit torn between amusement and disbelief. Fast forward five years and Catriona an unmarried woman, still at ‘war’ with her relatives, and seeking out Simon for his help. On the not-so-subtle condition they get married and go to Scotland.

I’ll admit, Some Like It Wicked had some seriously laugh-out-loud moments between Simon and Catriona, mostly because of their back and forth banter. Wit. Or whatever you want to call it. And the scene where she first propositions him in jail wasn’t as awkward as I thought it was going to be.  Quite the opposite really. It flowed naturally. As do a lot of their conversations. But,

I don’t know if I would call what they have with each other ‘love’. Not really. Especially not from Catriona’s end, what with all the newspaper clippings she’s been collecting of him since they first met. Seems more like obsession than love. It’s like Simon seems to think on a 24/7 basis: she’s in love with the ideal of him as a hero, and not him. Honestly, I didn’t feel the chemistry. (Which is why the big confession scenes/epilogue completely puzzle me.) And I’ll be honest, even Simon wasn’t all that interesting. He was raised by a man that didn’t want him, his mother left, he joined the Navy to get away, only he wasn’t really cut out for the ‘hero’ thing, and has since fallen into his cups and gambling.

I feel like I’ve heard it all before. And the story was more concentrated on Catriona anyway, which is all fine and dandy, cause like I said, Simon was kind of boring.

Another aspect that bothered me was the fact that, despite the whole point of the story being Catriona finding her brother, we get absolutely no sightings, a multitude of letters at a totally convenient time, and last lines at the end that make me want to pull my hair out at how ridiculous they make the entire book  before that seem. I mean, come on! You mean, she goes to find her brother, doesn’t, marries Simon, has a litter of kids with him – who all seem older than two, three! – and then suddenly, ‘oh no! My brother!’ and only then ’cause he’s on the chopping block?

*facepalm*

Even the ‘villain’,  Eddingham, seemed random. Like he belonged to a different story. He wasn’t much competition for Simon, though, I’ll admit, I wanted to know about him. For some reason, I was kinda hoping Simon didn’t show up on time just so she would have to marry Eddingham. Oh dear, that sounds terrible, but it’s true. And because he felt out-of-place, the ‘climax’ showdown between him, Simon and Catriona was a huge disappointment. It was too rushed. Unbelievable.

And don’t get me started on her brother’s ‘band of merry men.’

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s good writing, and the dialogue’s quick and natural, but… the plot and the characters fell short for me. I’ll probably try my luck with the ‘sequel’, Some Like It Wild with Catriona’s brother, Connor. Hopefully that’ll be better. I give this a

C.

When Death looks like Kurt Cobain, you can’t help but sit up and pay attention…

Title: Hunger

Author: Jackie Morse Kessler

Publisher: Harcourt Graphia

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 174 (paperback)+ author’s note

Release Date:  October 2010

Part of a Series: Book 1, Riders of the Apocalypse

Source: Public Library

Premise: (taken from the back cover) “Thou art the Black Rider. Go out thee into the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl form the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home – her constant battle with hunger and the struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go to places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life and to face the horrifying effects of her awesome new power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power – and the courage to fight her own inner demons?

Review:

Hunger, though, a fast-paced read, is an engaging combination of the legend of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the struggle seventeen-year-old Lisabeth encounters with anorexia. She’s an ordinary teenager, bombarded not only by the media’s expectations but also by her parents’ precoccupation with her weight; that is, until she is entrusted with a set of ancient scales by a delivery guy one night. Suddenly, it is not only her hunger she has control over, but also those in parts of the world that aren’t as developed as her own. She is now Famine, the Black Rider.

It’s an incredible journey we bear witness to as Lisabeth mounts her steed and is confronted by the fact that just because she can starve herself, doesn’t mean she should. Not when there are others who don’t have that choice because there is little to no food. And she can thank Death for this, the Horsemen who’d handed her the scales and who has an affinity for appearing to her in the form of Kurt Cobain and …

 … who provides the comedy within the novel with his unexpected appearances and one-lined quips, a novel that could’ve been grimer without him. Ironically, enough. (And no pun intended). Pestilence, another Horsemen, is the most philosophical of the four; providing the crucial scene for the change that occurs in Lisa as the novel progresses; he’s one of those characters you can’t imagine not being there. And then there’s War, the other female Horseman, whose fiery, blunt and every bit as hot-tempered as I imagine Ares, the god of … you guessed it… War to be. She forces Lisa to make a decision, she’s the final straw.

And it’s brilliant.

Needless to say, each respective Horsemen completely embodies their namesake. Fits the personality who’d expect; well, except Death. I mean, Kurt Cobain? A surprise delight doesn’t begin to cover it, but I suppose he has to have a sense of humor to continue being who he is.

What’s truly moving about this is Lisabeth’s development. There’s a subtle change in how she views her relationship with her best friend, who suffers from bulimia, with each new interaction after she’s performed her duties as Famine each night. It’s fitting that, it’s not disgust that crosses her mind but rather understanding, a sense that this is wrong. But’s she’s not judging because she’s seen both sides. What I especially loved was how those changes in her thoughts carry over to her conversations with her boyfriend, her former best friend who worries about her and, most importantly, her mother.

Especially poignant is that heartwrenching moment between them. Lisabeth’s voice seeps into you, the panic, the disgust, the rage, the pain. But just because she’s seen different doesn’t mean, it’ll all be okay now. And that’s what I love most about Hunger: those final chapters. The strength that Lisa finds, the reality that isn’t not okay … and it’s not going to be okay for a while.

It’s not too short; not too long. It’s not too vague, but it’s not too blunt either. The issue isn’t shoved into your face, but rather, Kessler allows you to form your own opinion, to feel what Lisa does as she moves on her journey. This is truly an unforgettable, smart, original tale.

I give it, an

A.

Wizard’s First Rule: People are stupid.

Title: Wizard’s First Rule

Author: Terry Goodkind

Publisher: Tor Fantasy

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 573 (for the show tie-in paperback, 2008)

Release Date: 1994

Part of a Series: Book 1, The Sword of Truth

Source: Public Library

Premise: (taken from back cover)  

A legend begins.

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, Richard Cypher encounters a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, in his forest sanctuary. She seeks his help… and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In their darkest hour, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword – to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed … or that their time has run out.

This is the beginning. One book. One rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

Review:

(I’m doing things a bit differently with this one,  so bare with me. Having the show’s adaptation in my head as I read the book is to blame. I will be including my thoughts on the adaptation, cause it doesn’t feel complete without doing so.)

Third time’s always the charm. At least that’s how I see it. I started reading this mid-season two of the show inspired by it, Legend of the Seeker, two years ago. In comes real-life obligations and I have to stop. Take two, I get marginally further than I did the first time, but only marginally. Again, returned to the library unfinished. Cue my third attempt earlier this year and I was wracked with a determination to finish it that I haven’t felt with a book in a while.

Challenge accepted. And defeated this go-around. ^_^

Wizard’s First Rule begins with Richard Cypher, a woods’ guide in his early twenties, who lives in the Westlands and is reminiscing on the recent murder of his father. In the midst of his thoughts, he is bitten by a mysterious plant, spies an ominous cloud and right after, a young woman runs across his vision,  a group of men hot on her trail. From then, things go from bad to worse for Richard. (After all, like Richard firmly believes, bad things often come in threes.) He is anointed the Seeker by his wizard friend, Zeddicus Z’ul Zorander, and is under the protection of Kahlan Amnell, the Mother Confessor from the Midlands sent to find him. He is told he must find the Book of Counted Shadows (he has it memorized) and the three Boxes of Orden (rare and powerful magic), in a courageous ploy to thwart Darken Rahl’s plans to put everyone in the world under his tyrannical control.

The world building of Wizard’s First Rule is a definite highlight. It’s perfectly straightforward, and details of it are revealed as Richard learns them during his mission. If it’s relevant it’s told. (Though, if it’s not, it’s still told.) There are three territories: the Westlands, The Midlands, and D’Hara. The former is separated from the Midlands by a magical boundary and the residents have no knowledge of magic, unlike those in the Midlands who live everyday with it. D’Hara’s on the other side of the Midlands. The Midlands are home to beings such as the Confessors (who are revered and who are the final say in their judicial system. They have to power to know when others are lying and can enslave a man with a single touch), and the wizards. D’Hara is home to the Mord-Sith, women who are trained in the art of torture and who have their own set of magic. It’s all rather straightforward – though, I’ll admit the show helped me keep all of this straight. (As does the map in the front!)

You get completely ensnared in their world.

Goodkind tells the story through varying points of view – in fact, he “head-hops” frequently, which is both an upside and downside. Richard, Kahlan, Zedd and Darken Rahl all have their say - and monologuing – in the story. Sometimes it’s repetitive, sometimes it takes away from the surprise (especially Rahl’s, but that might be a personal bias since I’m not typically fond of getting the villain’s perspective.), and sometimes it’s just entertaining.

It’s your basic story of good versus evil. We’ve seen it a million times. Complete with the archetypes everyone’s familiar with. Zedd is the wise wizard. Kahlan is the love interest. Richard is the hero that will continue on no matter what’s thrown at him. Demmin Nass is the villain’s equally sadistic, yet not as devious sidekick. Darken Rahl is the villain that will stop at nothing to achieve his ends. The journey too reads familiar. At first Richard is disbelieving/reluctant when told of his role in the world, accepts it when his friends are in danger, overcomes every obstacle with a renewed determination to carry on, uses wit, yadda yadda yadda. It’s a bit formulaic. But entertaining, nonetheless.

As a spoiler, it is fraught with violence and other disturbing … uh… aspects. (I became physically sick at one point.) But that adds to the realism, dare I say, of a journey like this. And the violence isn’t described in one line or one paragraph; one particularly … poignant display lasts chapters. They will stay with you.

As for the characters, the most important part of any novel in my opinion,

I’ll be honest. I didn’t care much for Kahlan.  The Mother Confessor is a strong, formidable female character who does away with the typical damsell-in-distress role. Except… she cries an awful lot. And hesitates at crucial moments. Yes, the times are hard, the enemy isn’t a cakewalk, but she cries a lot. Her back and forth internal monologue about whether or not she should tell Richard what she is becomes increasingly annoying. And tedious. She said it once, we get it. She’s briefly redeemed for me in the final chapters.

(In comparison to the show, I prefer Bridget Regan’s portrayal. Formidable, heartful, strong, and vulnerable … without so many tears.)

Richard is … Richard. He is just, loyal, full of wit, thoughtful, heartfelt. He thinks. He plans. He considers the consequences … most of the time. He wasn’t as self-righteous as he comes across in the show, and a lot more philosphical. He’s honorable. One of my favorite … uh… ‘arcs’ in the 573 pages was his dealings with the Mud People. (Who were cut from the show, sadly, fyi.) 

Zedd, like Richard, is Zedd. I mean, come on, the first time we actually meet him he’s standing on a boulder, naked, hugging a chicken to his chest and staring at the sky. How’s that for a first impression? It doesn’t get any … weirder or better than that. I missed him when he wasn’t in a scene. 

Darken Rahl, I have to say, is seriously toned down in the show. The villain within these pages is completely unrecognizable from what I’d seen. He’s sadistic. (Ugh, that scene with the boy and the bowl!!!) He … Now, he’s an unforgettable character. He commands dragons, he doesn’t hide his schemes. He’s take-charge. If he wants something done and it isn’t done to his standards, he’ll leave his sanctuary and do. it. himself. He’s active. Yet, his claim for world dominion is the same; he wants to rule to bring peace to the land. Is that head-scratcher, yes, but it makes since, especially when it’s revealed by Zedd’s telling of what a wizard’s first rule is. (“People are stupid” is just the beginning of it.)

And then there’s the side character that is, perhaps, more memorable than Rahl and that is Mistress Denna, a Mord-Sith whose scenes with Richard are the most intense of the novel.  You’ll find yourself cringing, tearing up, and cursing. In fact, akin to that, what I enjoyed aboutWizard’swas how all of the minor characters made a difference to the novel in some way. They weren’t there one moment, and then completely forgetten about for the rest of the novel.

But, there are certain parts to the novel that I found myself either skipping over or rolling my eyes at. The long-winded descriptions were the number #1 reason why I ended up skimming pages when I realized they were coming up. It felt very Frankenstein-esque  in that regard. They could’ve been done without, honestly. If you start by telling me they’re in a forest, you don’t need to go into immense detail about how this tree looks, how that river flows, why that plant looks strange. I get it; it’s a forest. There’s trees. Maybe a river. And there’s no doubt rocks. No further detail is necessary. Especially when after an omniscient narrator tells me it’s a forest,  and then one of the characters proceeds to describe how it’s different from this other forest they’ve been in.

Ah, the dialogue. It went hand-in-hand with the times of the novel – swords and horses and vast lands – but, again, it was a bit repetitive. And the length of the novel itself … there was so much going on at times I’d hoped I was near the end. It felt like it could’ve been more than one book. Like it could’ve been split. And finally the last aspect (I know, finally, right?) …

… the so-called romance between Kahlan and Richard. I don’t know if it was romance that I was getting from their interactions. Or even love to a certain extent. Maybe more of a heightened friendship. It wasn’t exactly out of place, in my opinion, but I wasn’t … feeling it. If that makes any sense. There’s that need to protect each other, sure, but love … I don’t know if I would call it that in this book.

(Now, in the show, if you don’t call what they have love, I don’t know what you would call it. )

*shrug*

Overall, I recommend this to any fans of fantasy novels and those that have seen Legend of the Seeker and want to know if the book series is actually worth reading. It is worth giving a shot. But it’s definitely not a read for everybody, though it is a solid read. It’s not my typical reading venture, but it was entertaining and I give it an

A.

Happy Reading! Until next time!

Oh!

P.S. I am a huge  fan of Legend of the Seeker. (Obviously). I was hooked from the moment I stumbled upon the episode “Home” while channel-surfing one random Sunday years ago. (Although, technically, I saw bits of  “Denna” before that. Ah, the joys of channel surfing.) I recently reconnected with it on Hulu, the first season anways, and I finished Wizard’s First Rule on the heels of finishing that season.  Of course, I found myself comparing the two mediums as I read. What they included, what they didn’t, the difference between the characters portrayed on screen and on the page … I’ve gotta say, Legend of the Seeker not only improved on the bits of the book I didn’t like/didn’t make sense to me, but it clarified on what was confusing. And I enjoyed the way they started the series a lot more than how the book introduced to the world. While I can’t call myself a “fan” of the book series just yet, Legend of the Seeker is a damned good adaptation. Note the word ‘adaptation.’ And like with the book, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

From the closet to the floor …

How would you explain spending an entire day thinking it’s Thursday, even though everyone around you swears that it’s not? Even better, jumping out of bed after realizing your alarm had gone off ages ago, hurriedly scarfing down breakfast, and heading to a meeting … only to run into a friend who has to bust your bubble and tell you it‘s tomorrow? That you’d come over 10 miles for nothing?

Off, maybe? Well, however, you would describe it, I did just that this past week. Been feeling ridiculously out of it this past month, actually.

Boredom’s a bitch.

(I’ve played well-over 220 games of Hearts in the past week and a half. I kid you not.)

Seriously.

As is laziness.

I don’t know how others can do this – have an extended vacation spanning more than a week. How other students can take off an entire year.

I’m losing my frickin’ mind. And I’ve just barely overcome two months in. September can not come fast enough in my opinion. (Kinda makes me wonder how I’ll survive after I graduate. o.O)

The job search is a bust, mostly, because I haven’t been feeling any motivation to continue looking. Reading’s become tiresome. Writing’s a chore (damn, thought I’d never say that). The internet sucks. The tele is useless … if it wasn’t keeping me threadbare sane. There’s only so much sitting around the house a person can do. Everything fun requires money of some sort (library trip = bus fare; further outings require gas.)

*sigh*

Is this a self-pity rant? Sure, let’s go with that. I’m just …

tired.

All the damn –

*sigh*

On a more positive note, I finished my first short story in … months a week ago. Well, it’s actually more of a drabble, really, but it’s something. Currently untitled. Kinda spiralled on it’s own after a friend of mine (Priscilla Shay. Who is awesome. Check out her blog listed on the right. —————————————->) gave me the prompt: pants.

Yes, that’s right. Pants. Now, you sit there and ponder that one. Here’s a snippet:

“It had started in the closet and ended on the floor.”

*cackle*

Until next time!

It’s all a game of chess…

Title: Lord Loss

Author: Darren Shan

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Genre: Children’s/Young Adult (?)

Pages: 224+ Excerpt to Demon Thief

Part of a Series: Demonata, Book 1

Source: Public Library

Premise: (Excerpt taken from the back cover)

The door feels red hot, as though a fire is burning behind it. I press an ear to the wood – but there’s no crackle. No smoke. Just deep, heavy breathing and a curious dripping sound. My hand’s on the doorknob. Inside the room, somebody giggles – low, throaty, sadistic. There’s a ripping sound, followed by snaps and crunches. My hand turns. The door opens. Hell is revealed.

Grubbs Grady is about to learn three things: The world is vicious. Magic is possible. Demons are real.

Review:

Darren Shan knows what he’s doing when it comes to horror. When it comes to sending that chill of fear down your spine.

Usually.

His Cirque du Freak series is tied for the spot of my top series ever; it’s right up there with Rowling’s lovely Harry Potter. So, needless to say, I had extremely high expectations for his second series, the Demonata. Perhaps a bit too high. I fawned all over Cirque …

… but, I, all-about, yawned at Lord Loss. It starts off intense, really gets the heart pounding in the first chapter, “Rat Guts.” (Charming,I know). We get a clear snapshot of who Grubitsch “Grubbs” Grady is: a teenage boy who enjoys pranking his sister, hates history, doesn’t understand his parents’ obsession with chess, and who, all in all, is just looking for a good time. It starts off with, what appears to be, a routine trip to the principal’s office, this time for being caught smoking on campus. His parents, of course, are angered (his mom more than his father), and their interactions with Grubbs are pretty much mundane, relatable to anyone who’s fought with their parents. He, then, proceeds to pulls the most disgusting prank that I’ve ever heard of, on his sister. (This is where the title comes in, folks!) Cue more lectures, grounding, and a talk with his sister.

Then comes the moment previewed on the back. His parents/sister leave for the night to attend a ballet, Grubbs sneaks out, mulling over the strange talk he’s overheard between his father and his mother, only to return home to find the bodies of his family. Suddenly everything he’s ever believed about the world is turned on its head. It’s the best part of the book, I find. (Well, that and the ensuing … confrontation that occurs in the succeeding chapter.)

Lord Loss ties together the game we all know, chess, with the Demonata, a group of demons with whom Grubbs’ family has a long history with. As well as magic and werewolves (if that tidbit seems like a spoiler, it’s not I swear.), which is fine. That works. There’s a sense established to it. But,

It drags. My, oh my, does it drag. Now orphaned and grief/shock-stricken, Grubbs is instititutionalized for months, and then is placed under the guardianship of his father’s brother, Dervish. It speeds up in some places  – often places I was interested in – and slows down, almost to a stop in others (those I was not interested in). Now living with Dervish in a lavish mansion, Grubbs meets a boy, Bill-E, who shares his theories on the truth about his uncle. (Not what I was expecting either. It’s all so … mystery-ish.)

I could go on, but that’d ruin a lot of the plot. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like the … well, the opening scenes, Dervish, the gore (it does not skimp on this!) and the demons we meet that belong to the Demonata. Ah, and the final confrontation. Dervish was the character I was most intrigued by … until about halfway through the novel. I’ll be honest: Bill-E’s theories  about the man and the subsequent chases he and Grubbs undergo were boring, meant to intrigue but failed. They bogged down the story and made me lose interest in Grubbs as a character. He didn’t have enough… heart, after meeting the kid. Actually, no I take that back. He regained his heart as a character in the final confrontation. But his development was rather shaky, abrupt. Unsatisfying. Speaking of,

Grubbs. His name annoyed the hell out of me. Absolutely annoyed the hell out of me. (This is most definitely a personal thing. I couldn’t take him seriously.) As did Bill-E’s name. For the spelling alone. The more he talked, the less I took to him. Another side character I didn’t care for was Meera. She didn’t really do anything. (Well, actually, if she did, it was more ‘behind the scenes’ and off Grubbs’ radar.) But,

The titular character, Lord Loss was chilling. Devious. Sadistic. Yet sophisticated. Hilarious without being comical. I wanted to know more of his story. More interaction with him and Grubbs. His familiars, Vein and Artery were typical. Expected. Indistinguishable from one another. Not much of a highlight either.

Will I continue on with this series? I’m still debating. Lord Loss was not what I expected. It dragged, yet felt rushed. Too rushed. (Having not realized this before …) I found myself, near the end, wondering how this could possibly have a sequel. (Then I realized, each book was a different character.) Might I go on, just to see if there’s more of a connection between the books than there just being a Demonata? Maybe. In time. For now, I’m disappointed and rate this a,

C-.

Until next time!

It’s hard to keep a secret when it’s written all over your body …

Title: Willow

Author: Julia Hoban

Publisher: Penguin Group

Genre: Young Adult (YA)

Pages: 329

Part of a Series: No

Source: Public Library

Premise: (taken from blurb at the back)

Seven months ago on a rainy March night, Willow’s parents drank too much at dinner and asked her to drive them home. But they never made it – Willow lost control of the car, and both of her parents were killed. Now the only way she knows how to survive and control the pain is by secretly cutting herself. But when Willow meets Guy, a boy as sensitive and complicated as she is, she finds it hard to keep the secret that’s hidden all over her body.

Review

I just have to say, “I love fanfiction.” Why, you ask? Because if it wasn’t for that happy medium I frequent daily, I probably would not have picked up this lovely, hauntingly beautiful novel. If not for countless authors citing Willow as the inspiration, or as the basis for their own fanfiction, I might not have even heard of it.

And that would’ve been a damn shame, because this YA is heartbreaking. Bittersweet. Emotional.

It’s been seven months since the crash that killed her parents, since the car she was driving lost control, and her life was changed irrevocably. As Willow states constantly, “She will never been anyone’s daughter again…”.

Hoban takes a controversial subject – cutting – and, through Willow’s fragile voice, reveals a fraction of the reasons why someone would resort to harming themselves. Willow’s faced an indescribable loss during one of the most confusing times in a person’s life. She’s lost. She’s raw. Unsure of anything and anyone. Cutting is the only way she can survive. Feeling physical pain in so much easier than dealing with the emotional.

Her talks with Guy reveal as much.

And that’s what I adored most about this YA. The characters and their relationships with one another. It gave the sense that not only could any (and all) of this happen, but it is. And there’s so much more to it – the cutting, in particular – that outsiders to the situation might not understand. It’s all about relating, this novel. All about dealing with change. The complexities of an issue. How there really isn’t such a thing as something being just black and white.

Guy was one of those male protagonists that you can only hope isn’t cookie-cutter. Think about it. Girl has tragic history, isn’t dealing with it well, bam! a guy comes along and changes all that, saves her life and they fall in love, and live happily ever after. He’s just so perfect, so understanding, so… too good to be true. We’ve all read about one of them at some point. Well, Guy deviates from this. Sure, he’s patient, understanding and sensitive. But he’s also dealing with his own issues. He can – and does – get pissed off. He panics, gets annoyed, threatens, yells. He, like Willow, felt real. And! for a plus side, he reads. Some of the most obscure books are in his head, then all those others most people can go on living their whole lives without touching. He. Reads. (As does Willow! Which was a pleasant touch to her character.)

The other major relationship that was handled extraordinarily well was the one Willow has with her brother. Her several-years older brother whose taken her in, despite the fact that his apartment is small, he’s recently gotten married and he has a newborn daughter to take care of on a college professor’s salary. Throw in the fact that he too hasn’t fully dealt with his parents’ deaths and a boatload of miscommunication between him and Willow and, there you have it: a sibling relationship on the rocks. The most gut-wrenching scene of the novel takes place at the dinner table.

As for other aspects of the novel…

The side characters were solid; not too flat, but not so well-rounded that they stole the scenes from Willow. Well, when they were present and Willow was forced to interact with them. There’s a particularly poignant scene at a restaurant that stands out toward the end. The romance between Willow and Guy is also commendable: it’s innocent with a level of maturity that you don’t find – or at least, I haven’t seen  – in the YA genre much nowadays. It wasn’t just there. It was presented as  the natural course for them to take – and, thankfully, it was not shoved in our faces at every moment. It was… charming.

All in all, Willow by Julia Hoban is one of those reads that’ll stick with you. Heartbreaking. Emotional. Hopeful. Bittersweet. I give it – though my sister disagrees with me completely on this – an,

A.

 Happy Reading! Until  next time!

Just for a second…

Title: The Marbury Lens

Author: Andrew Smith

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Genre: Young Adult (YA)

Pages: 358

Part of a Series: Book 1

Source: Purchase; Borders

Premise: (from the inside jacket)

Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lens, he sees another world called Marbury.

There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But’s he’s trying to kill them.

Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind.

Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay.

But, it’s not.

Review: (Beware, this is one of those long ones…)

Parental Advisory. Not for the weak-stomached. The light-hearted. Those with delicate sensibilities. Those easily offended by certain four-letter words. Those not able to deal with situations like kidnapping, attempted rape, bashing, dismembered corpses, cannibalism, underage drinking/sex, and other carnal activities. If you are, please move along. This is not the book for you.

Oh, you’re still here? Alright then. Good. You’re in for one hell of a ride. And I’m not even sure where to start.

(I’ve been trying to review this for weeks and what I have in mind to say still doesn’t seem sufficient enough to describe how much of a, excuse me, mind-fuck this book deals you. Amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it. Epic seems like an insult.)

Am I hyping this book up too much for you? Tough, can’t be helped. *shrug* Anyway, so…

… Jack.

Jack is Jack. An average sixteen-year-old born from not-so average circumstances, separated from his parents, living with his grandparents, and frequently involved in the usual teenage debauchery of parties, drinking, and just having fun with Connor, his best friend. (And best in every sense of the word, I swear they don’t came any more loyal than Connor does. *grin*) He’s not thinking about his future, not dwelling on the past. He’s firmly planted in the present. He truly is the typical teenager. Until the day he’s kidnapped and surviving becomes his number one priority so he can make it to his future.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I must have spent ten-twenty minutes staring at the cover and rereading the inside jacket when I first picked it up at Borders all those months ago. Put it back on the shelf. Picked it up again. Left. Picked it up again. And after hitting page 47, that feeling came back ten-fold.

I have never been so terrified for a character as I was for Jack. Gut-wrenching fear that brought tears to my eyes at the horror of his kidnapping, at what goes on during that kidnapping, at the frickin’ injustice. Andrew Smith makes you care about Jack that much. There’s something about the voice that flows from the pages.

The style’s very blunt, very in-your-face. Unapologetic.

And so is Connor. His best friend. One of the truest friends a guy can have. (Or anyone for that matter, I wanted him as my best friend as the story went on.) It’s one of the most intense friendships I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Does he act without thinking about the consequences? Yea, sure, he’s unapologetic about what he does, thinks or says. What comes will come, with him. He doesn’t care what you think about him, which made him all the more appealing. His reactions are down-to-earth, matter-of-fact. Which makes what happens between him and Jack in Marbury so… riveting.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself there.

Jack survives his kidnapping, but the trauma that that’s left with him opens the way for the insanity that visits him later while drinking in a pub in England. With the man with the strange glasses. Glasses that are given to him, that push him into Marbury. An alternate reality where he’s exists, on the brink of death, in charge of taking care of two younger boys, Ben and Griffin, where he must fight for survival. Where he might be one of the few people left in the world. Where he must run from the one person he never thought he’d have to run from: Connor. All he needs is to put on those goggles and he’s there, with no way of knowing how much time has passed in the real world.

Suddenly, he’s not sure what’s up or down. What’s real and not real. And what follows is an addiction unimaginable. He’ll never be the same again.

I was sucked in. Completely and utterly sucked in. The characters – Jack, Connor, Seth, Ben, Griffin – are brilliant developed. You see them spiral, see them get back up, grow. You watch Jack in the moment. They have experiences you can relate to – little ones, obviously, the big ones you dare not even dream of relating to them. They feel and you feel with them.  The descriptions are visceral. It’s not just a book. It’s an experience. It’s unforgettable. One of those truly original tales. A blend of coming-of-age, sci-fi/fantasy, horror, mystery, suspence.

I’ll admit though, until I learned of the impending sequel, the final page left me disappointed. But! I’m telling you about it now, so, don’t be too pissed if you do happen to give it a shot. *grin* That’s not all. It’s not the end. But, on the other hand, it was one of those ending that leave it open to the possibility of it just… ending there. Makes you think. Marbury Lens is a fantastic novel about, as the inside jacket says, “the nightmarish outer limits of what trauma can do to our minds and our bodies.”

It’s a given recommendation – sorry, if I laid it on a bit thick, here, I can’t help it – a worthwhile novel. A total gem.

A++

Trying not to cry myself…

Title: Cryer’s Cross

Author: Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Genre: Young Adult (YA)

Pages: 233

Part of a Series: No

Source: Public Library

Premise: (From inside jacket) The small town of Cryer’s CRoss is rocked by tragedy when an unassuming freshman disappears without a trace. Kendall Fletcher wasn’t that friendly with the missing girl, but the angst wreaks havoc on her OCD-addled brain.

When a second student goes missing – someone close to Kendall’s heart – the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall’s not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing call out to her and pleading for help, she fears she’s losing her grip on reality.

But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school – messages that could be only be from the missing students who used to sit there – Kendall decides that crazy or not, she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t act on her suspicions.

Something’s not right in Cryer’s Cross – and Kendall’s about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

Review:

I do judge my books by their covers. Fact. This one is particulary creepy: the aged, isolated desk under a spotlight, the surrounding darkness, the deep, deep scratches. It’s just eerie. I couldn’t help but stare at it when I first picked it up and when I was done. It screams ‘horror.’

McMann’s style of writing is very much the same in Cryer’s Cross as it is in her Wake trilogy: minimalistic and fast-paced, told in present tense, and everything is shown rather than told. It works; it makes the novel a quick-and easy-read. 

But that’s not what I was expecting.

The tagline for the story is, “The smaller the town, the bigger the secrets,” and that alone reads like a thriller, a mystery with a possible dash of horror. (Small towns are constantly the site of horror in genre fiction, right?), and while this is true, Cryer’s Cross proved to a letdown in that execution. Hugely.

I wasn’t scared. At all.

It’s told through the eyes of Kendall, a high school senior suffering from OCD and commitment issues. While I enjoyed her as a character, and found that her OCD was handled brilliantly with regard to the processing of a trauma, and while it was nice to see her character develop, I found myself feeling detached the longer the story went on.

From Kendall.

And from the story itself.

Strange things are happening in this town. Children are disappearing. Desks are scratched with mysterious messages. Kendall is hearing voices. And yet, no one is doing anything. At all. No one’s talking about these kids. Understandable, the town has secrets, right? Why talk about what they’re trying to hide? Yet, I still expected some chatter about them outside of Kendall being the one to bring them up. Yet, while that reality disappointed me, I was still invested.

I was still trying to figure out the mystery. See if I could solve it for myself before the grand climax.

Before the revelation.

The first half of the novel played out very well: suspenseful, tension-ridden, mysterious. But after Kendall’s best friend, Nico, has been missing for a week, the focus shifts from the the disappearnces to …

whether or not Kendall should get with – in plainest terms – the new transfer student, Jacian.

Really? There are pages and pages about soccer, the harvest, her life coming to an end because Nico is not there. Fine, that’s great. It shows Kendall developing, trying to come to terms with the possibility that she very well might not see Nico again. She’s real. But…

The suspense died the moment Jacian invites Kendall home with him. Jacian has changed from an aloof, ‘bad’ boy with anger issues to… a less aloof boy with soccer issues. (Don’t ask. From the moment he’s introduced, I found him to be a very flat character, cookie cutter, almost Gary Stu-ish.) It completely changed the tone of the novel.  It went from being a mystery seeped in town secrets to being a question of whether or not Kendall is betraying Nico by having feelings for Jacian.

*cue eye roll*

Honestly, the romance is apart of McMann’s novels – those I’ve read anyway – but, unlike in the Wake trilogy, the ‘romance’ here was unnecessary and, in my opinion, did absolutely nothing to further the plot. Develop Kendall as a character, sure, give us a bit more insight into her mind, sure, but develop the plot, no. It caused the story to drag, instead, and is one of the, if not the, major downfall of the story.

At this point, I wasn’t scared. (Then again, I wasn’t scared before this either.) But I was no longer turning the pages in anticipation. I finished it because a) I wanted to know what the numbers (oh yes, those numbers 100, 35) meant and b) I felt compelled to finish because it was so short.

Yet, there was aspects of the novel’s second half  – when the mystery did come back to the forefront – that Ienjoyed: as Kendall questions her feelings for Jacian, her need to find Nico for herself increases leading to a brilliant and frightening climax. Kendall’s battle with insanity is very well-done. Kendall herself is a highlight. It is eerie how the truth ‘comes out.’

Overall, I have to say I was very disappointed in Cryer’s Cross, and can’t find it in myself to recommend it. I give it a

D.

And the honors go to…

2011 was a year of sporadic reading. When I didn’t have anything to do, I did everything but read. When I had impending projects due, I read like nobody’s business. Most of the time, on the bus. Strange, yes, and I didn’t manage to complete my reading goal for the year. Yet, at the same time, I read some great books – some I’d been wanting to read for ages, others that were pleasant surprises, and others I hope never to lay eyes on again. Let’s get started,

Top Reads of 2011

1. Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

One of the most unforgettable reads of the year. More to said about it in a later review. But first, just look at that cover. It’s what attracted me to it – the story on the inside jacket came second – on my last ever visit to Borders. Creepy, right? Don’t you just want those goggles? ^_^

2.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

After saying “Oh, I’ll get to it later” for ages, I finally did. And man, do I regret not doing so a LOT sooner. There are no words to describe this series, besides the much-overused EPIC. Granted, although, I find the first book in the trilogy to be, hands down, the best, I recommend all of them to everyone. I couldn’t put down any of them once I started. Is anyone else as hyped for the movie this March as I am? ^_^

3. Trace of Fever by Lori Foster

I am a sucker for the Foster’s alpha men.

So, it’s not surprising that out of all the romances I read in 2011, this was the most cohesive and memorable one for me. Not only were the characters well-developed, the plot fast-paced and action driven, but the romance… worked. It was believable, not too-rushed.

As for the cover, I much prefer the model on “When You Dare,” but this one’ll do.

4. Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

 I can’t say this is much of a surprise. The twist  alone makes the book worth it. It’s a real doozy, that one. ^_^ There’s a reason she’s one of my favorite children’s authors, and this new series just solidifies that.

(For a more in-depth review, see elsewhere on this blog.)

    Disappointing Reads of 2011

1. Intertwined by Gena Showalter

I am a diehard fan of Showalter’s adult romances, ask anyone. So, naturally I decided to branch out into her YA market.

Sadly, I was not impressed. While it had its moments and the two leads were developed and interesting, the plot, side characters and overall cohesiveness of the novel fell short.

  2. Fakie by Tony Varrato

I had no expectations going into this one. Mostly, because, before picking it up at my campus library, I’d never heard of it. Then, I saw the tag on the back about it being a NYPL Pick for Reluctant Readers, and my hopes for it grew. Yes, it stood up for what it was meant to do: get teens into reading something they otherwise wouldn’t have. I can appreciate that. Honestly. But, it doesn’t do much else. I had so many questions by the end of it, and I thought the protagonist, who had so much potential, was left underdeveloped by the end.

 3. Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon

With all the hype surrounding this author and this series, I had high expectations for Night Pleasures. For me, it didn’t live up to any of them.

I’ll be honest, I can’t even remember who was in it, the world she presents to us, or what happened in it.

Perhaps, I’ll give it another shot later on.

Pleasant Surprises of 2011

1. Silver Phoenix/Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon

I picked this up on a whim. Purely based on the gorgeousness that is the cover. It’s a beautiful blend of Chinese mythology, culture, and tradition with a story of a young girl searching for her place in the world. She gets more than she expected in this exciting tale of love, discovery.

It’s sequel is also just as great a read, providing more to the backstory of just who Silver Phoenix is.

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

If not for my brother recommending thisto me – and me, being nosy, sifting through his stuff and discovering it – I probably would have never picked up this series. Not because it’s for children – ha, as if that’s a reason at all – but because it seemed so… not interesting. But, since then, I’ve read them all, save for the last, and laughed. The antics of the kids in this series are for the kid in all of us. It’s all about reminiscing. C’mon, we’ve all done some of what Greg and his friends find themselves doing.

3. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

I love Edgar Allan Poe. Absolutely adore the man and his work. So when I saw this, I just had to read it. The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death… it’s all in here. Little did I know, I was in for the long haul once I started. I could not put this book down for the life of me. It’s an engrossing, imaginative tale about the power of stories. And those who tell them.

I can’t wait for the sequel out this year.

And lastly, as you already know, manga takes up a lot of my reading when I have free time. Simply because it’s quick to read, not so easy to get my hands on, but *shrug* I manage. 2011 was my year to finish reading manga I’d started back in high school, for the most part, although I did branch out and start some new ones. Here are my top five picks of the year, ranging in genre from shojo to seinen.

Top Manga Reads of 2011

1. Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi

Hands down this was the most enjoyable manga I read all year. Granted I didn’t finish it ’til early last week (the library took forever to get volume 26 to me when I already had 27 to the end stacked on my desk). I laughed til I cried, I laughed ’til I couldn’t breathe… I just laughed my ass off. Period. Between Ranma’s dense-ness, Ryoga’s hopelessness, Akane’s abuse, Happosai’s perverted-ness, and the battle between Ranma and his father, I couldn’t not laugh.

By far, the funniest manga I’ve EVER read, and the undisputed winner of 2011. (Though I’ll admit the end kinda pissed me off because it was too open-ended.) I’m not quite sure how to move on from this one…

2. Dogs: Bullets and Carnage by Shirow Miwa

Holy shit. This manga defines ‘badass.’ I found it randomly while browsing the shelves of the library branch I was forced to frequent when my neighborhood one closed down for a month. From the prelude, vol 0, I could tell why this is considered a Viz Classic. It’s set in post apocalyptic Japan in a time where the police don’t do shit to reestablish the peace, when human beings are being experimented on, and when whoever has the quickest hands – swords, guns, and the like – rule the streets.

3. MPD – Psycho  by Sho-u Tajima & Eiji Otsuka

I’ll be honest. I have yet to finish this. (Granted it’s an ongoing series, but still). I don’t have the stomach for it. Literally. The mangaka believes that society has become far to desensitized to violence around us – thank you, tv, video games, music, and film – and he sets out to truly test this ‘reality.’ It’s meant to be shocking. And holy shit, it is. It makes me sick to my stomach – I can’t tell you how many times I had to set it down – but it’s Smart. Innovative. Brilliant. The fact that it deals with one of my favorite psych areas of study -Multiple Personality Disorder, hence the title – is just an added plus.  Perhaps this year, I’ll gain the courage to move past volume 3. 

4. Red River by Chie Shinohara

 I ended high school, having only gotten to volume 12, so finally finishing it after all these years was a relief.

It is hands down my all-time favorite manga. Why? It blends history with the mangaka’s creative license to make it fit into the story she’s trying to tell. And she does it brilliantly. There’s action, romance, mystery, suspense (her cliffhangers killed me)… the list goes on. A well-crafted manga that is unforgettable.

It’s just a shame that they still have yet to make it an anime.

And there you have it, my favorites – and not-so favorites – of 2011. Hope I was able to share this small list of some great titles. Until next time!

Ja mata!

And so it begins…

Yea, so this sentiment’s almost two weeks late, but who cares?

Happy New Year, everyone! (All you imaginary ghosts who actually read this blog, hello!)

After a very food-filled, fun-filled, memorable two week holiday, it’s time to get things rolling again. I had a much needed vacation and have returned well-rested and…

…I’ll be honest, a bit bored.

Lord knows how I’m going to get through the next seven-eight months ’til I move and start classes at another university. @_@

But *cough* anyway, that’s a bit aways, and in the meantime, get ready for reviews, reviews, and more reviews! (With everyday happenings here and there, prompt responses and the like, of course.)

2011 was a so-so year for me. I learned more about myself, rekindled some past passions, procrastinated like crazy, and decided what I wanted and took the first steps toward getting there. This year’s going to be all about moving forward. No more looking back. No more regretting.

All about living life!

But enough about that, eh? The next few posts (up throughout this week) will be a list of my favorite books of 2011, my not-so-favorite, and those that had potential but fell short. Along with a list of my favorite artists of the year, my favorite manga, my favorite shows, and my favorite movies of ’11. Then it’s back to reviews!

Until then,

Ciao! Ja Mata! Shalom! Adios! Aloha! Laters!