Review: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

Title: The Alloy of Law
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: Mistborn #4
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Genre: Fantasy. Steampunk
Publication Date: November 8th, 2011
Publisher: Tor Books
Rating: A-

Summary:
From Goodreads: Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.

Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice.

One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn, who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

Why did I read this book? Sanderson's Mistborn series is probably one of my all-time favorite fantasy triologies. When I heard that a fourth novel was being published I squeed, then promptly requested the book from the publisher.

Source: Publisher

My Review
One of the most intriguing things about this fourth Mistborn novel is that it’s set about three hundred years in the future from the last book, Hero of the Ages. The characters of the trilogy we’ve come to know and love are legends, myths or religious figureheads (sometimes all three). I wanted to see what Sanderson did with this since one of my favorite things about his stories is the religions he creates and how they integrate into the society. I’m not disappointed with this; there are many nods towards the previous books through the new culture.

The Mistborn world has advanced since the events of Hero of the Ages and now there are trains, guns, and other steampunkish technology. This makes for great entertainment since the magic systems are all based on metals. We see two of the systems featured prominently, Allomancy and Feruchemy. Allomancy is the ability to burn certain metals (by ingesting them) and each metal has its own effect. For instance, burning steel gives the Allomancer the ability to push on metallic objects. Feruchemy uses metal to store power (it’s not consumed in the process). You could use gold to store health, so when you really need it, you can heal yourself.

That’s right, the Mistborn series has not one awesome magic system but three! Although the third isn’t mentioned that much in The Alloy of Law.

Aside from the setting and magic systems, I really enjoyed the plot. It follows Wax and his friend Wayne (yes, that’s really their names), who worked together in the outskirts of town keeping the peace. There’s a very western feel to this story, with hats, dusters, guns and shootouts. It fits the setting very well. Wax and Wayne inadvertently come across a series of robberies and they team up with a character named Marasi to solve the crimes. Wax is definitely the exalted hero type and Wayne was the snarky sidekick. I think I would like to see more of these characters to give them more time to develop, but I feel like the purpose of this novel was to give us more Mistborn and also tell an exciting action-packed story.

Rating: A-
I really loved it. There were so many awesome tidbits such as the references to the past books and even newspaper prints placed throughout the book. It really added to the western feel. I'm not a Wheel of Time fan, so when this came out I was super excited to read it, since I don't know when there will be more Mistborn books. I don't think this is the end though. I loved what Sanderson did with the setting and he created a fun mystery packed with Allomancy and Feruchemy to satisfy me until the next book comes out.

This book is also available by Macmillan Audio, and you can listen to an excerpt by clicking here.

Read more...

Review: Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton

Title: Tooth and Claw
Author: Jo Walton
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: January 6th, 2009
Publisher: Orb Books
Rating: A-

Summary:
From Goodreads: Here is a tale of a family dealing with the death of their father, a son who goes to court for his inheritance, a son who agonizes over his father’s deathbed confession, a daughter who falls in love, a daughter who becomes involved in the abolition movement, and a daughter sacrificing herself for her husband.

Here is what sounds for all the world like an enjoyable Victorian novel, perhaps by Anthony Trollope…except that everyone in the story is a dragon, red in tooth and claw.

Here are politics and train stations, churchmen and family retainers, courtship, and country houses…in which, on the death of an elder, family members gather to eat the body of the deceased. In which society’s high and mighty members avail themselves of the privilege of killing and eating the weaker children, which they do with ceremony and relish, growing stronger thereby.

You have never read a novel like Tooth and Claw.

Why did I read this book? I heard about this book through the Women of Fantasy Book Club. The fact that this is a Victiorian novel featuring all dragons is just too good to pass up. Oh, and it the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 2009.

Source: Bought

My Review
Although when it comes to books, I haven't read many Jane Austen's or Victorian novels (I know Jane Austen isn't Victorian), but I do enjoy them and love the type of humor and situations they describe. Anything to do with manners, society, romance. Anyways, this means that on paper this novel would already be enjoyable to me, but the fact that the whole cast of characters are dragons is just icing on the cake. I think this is something really awesome about this novel - I didn't feel like the dragon thing was gimmicky. I would have enjoyed it were they human, but I enjoyed it even more that they were dragons. I thought the world building was clever. I smiled every time a dragon was described sleeping on their gold. Another aspect I enjoyed is that female dragons are gold-ish colored as maidens, but when approached by males (sometimes just being touched by them), they "blush" and turn a rosy pink. At this point they need to be married, and if not, it's a big scandel. I love how this reflected the real world situation of women in the past where they had to remain pure maidens before marriage.

The only negative thing I experienced while reading Tooth and Claw was that for the first one hundred pages or so I felt that the pace was slow and I wasn't totally absorbed into the story yet. This changed after the characters and plot strings were all layed out and then it wasn't long before I'd completely devoured this novel.

Rating: A-
I really loved this book. I wish more books were like this. I love discovering novels that are clever, well-written and just plain unique. The world building is very strong and enables Walton to effortlessly create a Victorian-like world featuring dragons and their societal problems. I also really appreciated the humor. Definitely recommended!

Read more...

Review: Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress

Title: Beggars in Spain

Author: Nancy Kress
Series: Sleepless Trilogy #1
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 400
Genre: Science Fiction
Publication Date: December 1st. 2004
Publisher: Eos
Rating: A-

Summary:
From Goodreads: Many of us wish we could get by with less sleep. Beggars in Spain extrapolates that wish into a future where some people need no sleep at all. Nancy Kress, an award-winning author of novels, short stories, and columns on writing, has created another thoughtful but dramatic statement on social issues.

Leisha Camden was genetically modified at birth to require no sleep, and her normal twin Alice is the control. Problems and envy between the sisters mirror those in the larger world, as society struggles to adjust to a growing pool of people who not only have 30 percent more time to work and study than normal humans, but are also highly intelligent and in perfect health. The Sleepless gradually outgrow their welcome on Earth, and their children escape to an orbiting space station to set up their own society. But Leisha and a few others remain behind, preaching acceptance for all humans, Sleepless and Sleeper alike. With the conspiracy and revenge that unwinds, the world needs a little preaching on tolerance.

Why did I read this book? It came up as September's pick in Calico Reaction's Book Club!

Source: Library

My Review
This novel is seperated into four parts spanning the years from 2008 to approximately 2091. It follows the story of a group of genetically modified children who were created to not need sleep (called Sleepless), but who are also of superior intelligence than the rest of humanity. By covering so much time, Kress is able to explore their creation, their persecution, their evolution, and everything inbetween. On top of the ideas surrounding genetic modification, there also is the underlying theme of how you treat others and how society should work. This is where the title comes from, to the Sleepless, unenhanced humans are beggars since they cannot begin to compete with them in terms of economic and intellectual power. The question that arises is, should you offer charity to the beggars in Spain?

There are characters that take different stances on how Sleepless should conduct themselves in a world where they are a minority, but in fact control most of the economy. I found the entire novel fascinating, and in particular, I loved following Leisha Camden's (one of the original Sleepless) journey. Kress creates an intricate web of characters that illustrate how nearly 100 years of genetic modification can change our world. I found myself steadily interested throughout the book, but Part IV titled 'Beggars' really catapulted this book into awesome territory for me.

Rating: A-
This is the type of science fiction book I live for - one that offers unique scientific ideas (sleeplessness) and uses that to further ideas on our society. I was absorbed in Kress' view of our future based on these scientific ideas, but also on her ideas about people and what drives us into community or self-preservation. On top of that, I felt this novel had one of the most satisfying and exciting endingsI have ever read. I would definitely recommend this book to others interested in genetic modification, or just looking for a novel that speculates on our future over many years. This books is part of a trilogy, but I don't know if will continue, just because I feel so satisfied with Beggars in Spain as a standalone. We shall see.

Read more...

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Author: Laini Taylor
Series: ?
Format: ARC
Pages: 420
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publication Date: September 27th, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Rating: A

Summary:
From Goodreads: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Why did I read this book? I was midly interested in this book after receiving it at BEA, but what really piqued my interest was all the rave reviews.

Source: ARC from BEA 2011

My Review
This is one of those times where I'm going to have to reign in all my giddy fangirlishness and try and make this sound like a proper review. But I really, really want to squee all over this page but I suppose that's not the best way to get people interested in reading this book...

I would say there are two major things about Daughter of Smoke and Bone which easily makes this an awesome read: world building and the prose. I never heard of Taylor before, but she surprised me with this world she geniusly created. It's set in Prague and centers round Karou, our aquamarine-haired protagonist who loves art and whose adopted family is a set of chimaera. Her father-figure is Brimstone, a creature part man, part stag and who knows what else. Karou often runs errands for him, using the portal of to his workshop as a means to travel around the world. She picks up teeth for him, all kinds of teeth. She doesn't know what he uses it for, but he often trades wishes to clients who bring him teeth of various species. In this world, wishes are like a currency, the lowest being a scuppy, that can only manage something like turning hair a different color.

But this world is hidden from ours and Karou is the only one who seems to know it exists, until she meets another mysterious player, Akiva. Akiva's a seraphim and somehow connected to this other world, but he is also her enemy. The seraphim are at war against the chimaera and so there's natural tension between him and Karou, but they also can't help but be attracted to each other.

I really loved Karou's world as we see it through her life. However, she's been kept in the dark about her past and so have we and much of the story is about her discovering who she is and where she came from. This was expertly done by Taylor who provides a thrilling action-packed story filled with the glamour of Prague and the magic of a world elsewhere.

The only issues I had with this novel is how prominent the romance became after the first half of the book and the fact that the book doesn't really end. We are left to wait for the second book to find out what happens in Karou's story.

Rating: A
I definitely recommend Daughter of Smoke and Bone to readers looking for a magical story. It's a great read for young adults and adults alike. I hope to read the next novel in the series and to get closure on some of the events and also hope to see the romance fleshed out a bit more. 

Read more...

Mega Manga Challenge (9): Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 4 by Hiromu Arakawa

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Demographic: Shonen
Series: Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 4
Format: Manga
Pages: 200
Genre: Steampunk, Adventure
Publication Date: November 8th, 2005
Publisher: Viz
Rating: A

Summary:
From Goodreads: Trapped and injured in a secret alchemical laboratory, Edward Elric is at the mercy of his enemies, Lust and Envy. But they don't want him dead... they have other plans for him. As the laboratory goes up in flames, the brothers find themselves back at square one, with only an inkling of the massive scale of the Philosopher's Stone conspiracy. But then, Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes uncovers a shocking secret...

Why did I read this book? For the Mega Manga Challenge and I've been following the series.

Source: Bought

My Review
Volume 4 in this series was another great read. There's a real quality to the writing and the depth of the story. We have some pretty significant events happening in this volume that spurs the main story forward (I don't want to spoil). We also get great character development. Alphonse has a crisis when it is suggested that since he has no body that perhaps his personality and memories were all fabricated just like a human can be created from a pile of ingredients using alchemy. This leads to him and Ed having a nice encounter between each other and we also see more of how Ed struggles with his guilt for what happened to his brother.

I like where this volume leaves off: the mystery of who in the military is related to the Philosopher's stone, Ed and Al on their way to visit their teacher, and Scar finding sanctuary in an Ishbalan community.

Rating: A
Definitely a must read due to the shocking event that takes place but also for the great character development between Ed and Al. I can't wait to read more!

Read more...

Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James

Title: Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars
Author: Nick James
Series: Skyship Academy #1
Format: ARC
Pages: 380
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction
Publication Date: September 8th, 2011
Publisher: Flux
Rating: A-

Summary:
From Goodreads: A devastated Earth's last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.

Jesse Fisher, a Skyship slacker, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess.

Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn't know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.

Why did I read this book? After reading the premise of this book and finding out it would be available at BEA, I thought I must get myself a copy. I was hoping this to be a young adult dystopia that I could finally be excited about.

Source: Grabbed the ARC at BEA this year.

My Review
Recently I haven't had much luck with the popular young adult dystopias that have been released. It really started to get me down since I wanted to read a good YA dystopia. Then I read The Pearl Wars and that was it.

This debut novel from Nick James really has it all. There's wonderful worldbuilding. About one hundred years in the future, America is unrecognizable. The Surface was devastated by war and now run by a corrupt government while their opposition live in the sky onboard Skyships. Both depend on Pearls, glowing orbs that fall from space and can power a whole city. I mean, doesn't this just sound cool? Not only that, it all makes sense. We find out way more about this future world and where the Pearls come from, which I never saw coming. All the while I was reading this book I just felt like James had thought out and created such a fantastic world that really gave the other dystopias a run for their money.

Other aspects I enjoyed about The Pearl Wars were the main characters. Jesse, a boy attending the Skyship Academy, struggles with self-confidence and his feelings for a girl named Avery. I really liked Jesse even though I thought he was often hard on himself and felt he grew a lot from the beginning to the end of the book. Cassius, on the other hand, has no issue with confidence or self-doubt, but he has his own demons to face. Overall I felt these two were the most fleshed out out of all the characters. In the future books I'd like to see more on Eva, Jesse's kickass friend.

Also, I felt that since this story didn't have such a prominent romance (there's some, but it's not the focus) we really got to experience some great worldbuilding, action and adventure. Not that you can have that along with romance, but it was nice to see a young adult dystopia not entirely focused on a romance.

Rating: A-
Really, this is a great new dystopia along with some great science fiction elements. The ending left me wanting more: more about the characters, the world, and what will happen next. For anyone who's wanted a young adult dystopia with more meat on its bones, this is it. I loved it. I hope that a sequel will be coming out in the near future! 

Read more...

Mega Manga Challenge (6): Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 3 by Hiromu Arakawa

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist

Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Demographic: Shonen
Series: Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 3
Format: Manga
Pages: 192
Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Adventure
Publication Date: September 21, 2002
Publisher: Viz
Rating: A-

Summary:
From Goodreads: Accompanied by their bodyguard, Alex Louis Armstrong, our heroes seek out their closest childhood friend, mechanic Winry Rockbell, to fix their battered "auto-mail" bodyparts. Soon their quest for the Philosopher's Stone takes them to the great central library, where the Stone's formula may be hidden...if the mysterious figure named Lust doesn't get there first! But the secret of the Philosopher's Stone may be even more frightening than the beings who guard it...

Why did I read this book? I just love this series!

Source: Bought

My Review
Note: May contain spoilers from previous volumes.

I think this was a great installment in the series for a couple reasons. First, it adds a lot of depth and really propels the main plot of the manga. Ed and Al have been searching for the philosopher's stone and have come up with nadda until they found a lead through Dr. Marcoh. Apparently he knows the secret to creating a philosopher's stone and has hidden it away, that is, until Ed and Al find it.

Through their discoveries we find out how to create the stone but also how much the governement has been involved in the making of stones in the past. Of course there's a question of morality to go along with this and this is explored in the last chapter when we meet some criminals who were chosen to be experimented on since they had forfeited their lives by committing crimes. What we find out is surprising and also makes us think about the worth of people or the soul (gosh I love this series).

The other great thing about this volume is we meet some great new characters. When volume 2 ended, Ed automail and Al's body was severely damaged and so they make the trip back to their hometown to get fixed up by Pinako ('Granny') and Winry Rockbell. Pinako is an old lady who took in Winry after her parents were killed in the Ishbal war and who also took in Ed and Al when their mother died. Winry is the same age as Ed, I think, and you can see they might have a little thing for each other. Some other great characters introduced are Sheska the bookworm and soldiers Havoc and Ross.

Rating: A-
Overall I think this is a great volume, especially for those who want more of the meat of the story. What and how are philosopher stones created? How is the government involed? What happened in Ed and Al's past and where is their home? I definitely recommend it to readers of the series and even to those who are not (but start at the beginning of course!). If you don't like this volume then you probably won't like much where the story is going.

Read more...

Review: Indigo Springs by A.M. Dellamonica

Title: Indigo Springs

Author: A.M. Dellamonica
Series: Astrid Lethewood #1
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320
Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: October 27th, 2009
Publisher: Tor
Rating: A



Summary:
From Goodreads: Indigo Springs is a sleepy town where things seem pretty normal . . . until Astrid's father dies and she moves into his house. She discovers that for many years her father had been accessing the magic that flowed, literally, in a blue stream beneath the earth, leaking into his house. When she starts to use the liquid "vitagua" to enchant everyday items, the results seem innocent enough: a "'chanted" watch becomes a charm that means you're always in the right place at the right time; a "'chanted" pendant enables the wearer to convince anyone of anything . . .

But as events in Indigo Springs unfold and the true potential of vitagua is revealed, Astrid and her friends unwittingly embark on a journey fraught with power, change, and a future too devastating to contemplate. Friends become enemies and enemies become friends as Astrid discovers secrets from her shrouded childhood that will lead her to a destiny stranger than she could have imagined . . .


Why did I read this book? I read it for the Women of Fantasy Book Club and also for Calico Reaction's August Dare.

My Review

The story is told in a unique way. Astrid is talking to some kind of hostage/police interviewer while she is being detained for suspicion of commiting crimes. The interviewer, Will, tries to find infomation about an enemy, Sahara, who is currently reaking havok with a cult following. He wants info on Sahara, who is close to Astrid, but what he (and we) get is the story of Indigo Springs and what we know as the reemurgence of magic into the world. The story is thus told in the past and present and we get to piece together the situation.

The characters were good. I enjoyed Astrid. She is flawed: somewhat weak willed and easily succumbs to the pressure of others around her. I liked watching her grow and the person she becomes by the end of the book. Sahara is perfectly wicked, although she's portrayed as human enough to garner some sympathy. A breakout character, for me, would be Will, the interviewer, because even though he has a pretty specific role in the story (to interview Astrid and thus extract the story) he really develops as a character. By the end I felt like I knew as much about him as any other character.

The most awesome thing about this book is the magic. Magic is literally blue liquid and can enchant objects. This leads to all sorts of fun (such as a flying carpet) but it is also dangerous. If people come into contact with the liquid it can corrupt and infect them. I found everything about this system well thought out, utilized well and really just plain cool.

Rating: A
I really really, liked this book. I enjoyed reading it all the way through. Never once did my interest wane and I found myself staying up into the wee night to finish it (which is something that rarely happens for me). It has everything I love about what urban fantasy can be. There's characters and a world we can identify with, but there's also the worldbuilding as intricate as an epic fantasy. I cannot wait for the sequel, Blue Magic, to be released next year.

Read more...

Review: Veil of Gold by Kim Wilkins

Title: Veil of Gold

Author: Kim Wilkins`
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 512
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: April 27, 2010, originally July 22nd 2008
Publisher: Tor
Rating: A

Summary:
When an ancient gold bear is found entombed in a dilapidated St. Petersburg bathhouse owned by her uncle, Rosa Kovalenka knows in her heart that this is no random twist of fate. Her former lover, researcher Daniel St. Clair, reluctantly agrees to go to the university in Arkhangelsk to identify the relic.

Along the way he is mysteriously set adrift. Maps are suddenly useless. Automobiles break down and cell phones inexplicably stop working. Lost and exhausted, Daniel stumbles even deeper into the secrets and terrors of the Russian landscape.

Rosa fears the worst when Daniel goes missing and, full of shame and sudden longing, resolves to find him. But to do so means confronting her past and secrets that she has fought to suppress.

In the unknowable, impenetrable Russian forest, Rosa meets an enigmatic wanderer who is full of tales and riddles of times past. He knows tales of a very old bear and the fate of lovers old and new. And he might hold the key to Rosa and Daniel’s future—or the destruction of their world.

My Review

Why did I read this book? This is June's Dare for Calico Reaction's Alphabet Soup book club! That and the fact I couldn't obtain the main selection, so instead of sitting June out I participated in the Dare instead.

What I liked: Well, I never heard of this author or book before in my life until Calico's book club (she's well known in her home country of Australia) and so going into this I wasn't sure what to expect. Boy, was I given a gem! I really enjoyed this story! I can easily say it's a Squee! type of book. You know, one that by the end of it, you're *squee*ing because it was so awesome?

Anyways, I better go into some detail here. There are some very specific reasons why I enjoyed Veil of Gold. First, the characters. There's three main protagonists: Em, cold and unfeeling but very smart, Daniel, kind but insecure and fearful and Rosa, strong and independent and the love interest of Daniel. I thought it was so refreshing that the male character was portrayed as the 'weak' one: insecure and anxious, while the women were tough and confident. Who agonized over lost love? Daniel. Rosa sometimes, but for her it was different. It didn't come from a place of dependance or insecurity. Secondly, I loved the darkness of the story. These characters go through some tough stuff, especially Em and Daniel after they cross the veil. Wilkins isn't afraid to damage her characters and it kept the story unpredictable for me. Also, the use of Russian folklore was fun and added another layer. The way Wilkins blended magic and myth into our world was intriguing and energizing. Finally, I enjoyed the ending. I really didn't see it coming and I was thinking "what just happened?" but in a good way!

What I didn't like: There isn't much I didn't like about this novel, but since I have the section here I'll write some stuff down. The story lagged in some areas but I felt this was minor and not enough to make me not want to read on. My biggest disappointment was Rosa's big secret. I thought it wasn't signficant enough for her to make such drastic decisions (I don't want to spoil it so I'm being vague) and when we find out what's motivating her, I felt like it was a bit of a let down. However, this was just one part of the overall story and I quickly overlooked it.

Thoughts on the cover: Love the cover for it's font and unique color.

Overall Thoughts
Definitely recommended. If you like urban fantasy, Russian folklore/culture or are just interested in something a little different, and a little dark, then this is for you. I hope Wilkins other books are reprinted in North America because I will definitely be reading them.

Read more...

Review: The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

Title: The Iron Duke

Author: Meljean Brook
Series: Iron Seas #1
Format: Paperback
Pages: 378
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk
Publication Date: October 5th, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Rating: A

Summary

From Goodreads: First in an all-new series where seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas.

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

My Review

Why did I read this book? I never read this author before and didn't have much interest in paranormal romance but I just saw great reviews for this novel everywhere and I caved in and bought it.

What I liked: I loved this book! I don't think I burned through a book this fast in a long, long time! I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed with Brook's ability to create romantic suspense between her characters. Yes, the book is mostly romance but there is so much more to enjoy as well. The world is some kind of steampunk world where Europe was devastated by the Horde not long before. There's everything you could want in this steampunk novel: zombies, goggles, crazy mechanical items, and airships. And boy, do I mean airships. I think if there was an add at the back of this book to purchase your very own airship, I would have called it in right then.

Another great part of this book is the characters. The protagonist, Mina, is a inspector who solves crimes by her own insight and wit. I just loved her. She's a flawed character dealing with her own experience with the Horde occupation of England but still manages to be awesome at her job and her relationships with her family. Another character I enjoyed was Yasmeen, the caption of the airship Lady Corsair. We never got enough of her, I think, but I heard she's in the second book and I'm looking forward to that.

What I didn't like: There's very little I didn't like. The only thing that really bothered me was Rhys' (Mina's love interest) preoccupation with possessing things (including Mina). He just seemed to think in that zone so much when he thought about her, that I questioned really want he wanted (did he love her?). Things are resolved by the end, but throughout the story this sometimes jarred my enjoyment of the budding romance.

Thoughts on the cover: I love the colors and layout but can't get past that chest smack-dab in the middle of it. Oh well!

Overall Thoughts

I would definitely recommend The Iron Duke to anyone interested in paranormal romance or steampunk. It's really a great book even if you're just into the steampunk. The romance itself is very, very steamy. Even if you're not hugely into romance I'd say try this one out, because that's how I was before I picked this up and now I'm hooked. I'll definitely be reading more of Brook soon.

Read more...

Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shade

Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Series: Shade #1
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 309
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publication Date: May 4th, 2010
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: A

Summary
From Goodreads: Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

My Review

Why did I read this book? I had heard so many good things about Smith-Ready's writing and a lot of good things about Shade in particular. I bought this book right after Christmas and finally go a chance to sit down a read it.

What I liked: There's a lot to like and love about Shade. First, I was completely absorbed in how original this story is. What would happen in a story about a girl who loses her boyfriend but can continue to interact with him as a ghost? I just liked the premise so much and I thought it added a lot of weight to the theme of grief and how you cope with losing someone you love. While the book is very entertaining I always came back to the feeling that I felt so sorry for Aura and the situation she's in. She has to juggle a ghost-boyfriend who very much still loves her and the attention of a new boy at school while also trying to figure out what happened to her mother. It might not sound like much the way I'm describing it, but Smith-Ready does a great job of balancing a fast-paced plot and heart-wrenching story.

I also loved the worldbuilding and thought it very well developed. People 16 and under can see and talk to ghosts because of a mysterious event that happened called the Shift. As you can expect, this event changes the world in ways such as how crimes are solved. I mean, things can really change when a person who's murdered can testify at their own murder trial. As for the Shift itself, we don't get much answers but I suspect we will as the series continues.

What I didn't like: There's not much I didn't like, really. Sometimes I became fustrated with Aura and her insistance of continuing her relationship with Logan, but I ususally ended up feeling bad and thinking that most people would do the same thing in that situation, so soon after losing someone like that.

Thoughts on the cover: What can I say, my favorite color is purple so I automatically like it a lot!

Overall Thoughts 

I definitely recommend Shade to anyone looking for a great young adult read with a paranormal slant. I really liked it and plan on snatching the next book in the series, Shift, as soon as I can.

Read more...

Review: Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt

Title: Darkship Thieves
Author: Sarah A. Hoyt
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 502
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: January 5th, 2010
Publisher: Baen
Rating: A-

This book is part of the 2011 Women of Science Fiction book club hosted by Dreams and Speculation.



From Goodreads: Athena Hera Sinistra never wanted to go to space. Never wanted see the eerie glow of the Powerpods. Never wanted to visit Circum Terra. Never had any interest in finding out the truth about the DarkShips. You always get what you don’t ask for. Which must have been why she woke up in the dark of shipnight, within the greater night of space in her father’s space cruiser, knowing that there was a stranger in her room. In a short time, after taking out the stranger—who turned out to be one of her father’s bodyguards up to no good, she was hurtling away from the ship in a lifeboat to get help. But what she got instead would be the adventure of a lifetime—if she managed to survive. . . .

I actually finished this book more than a week ago and when I sat down to write this review, I realized this book left a pretty good impression on me. It's one of my favorite science fiction romances to date.

The book is about Athena, who runs into trouble on board her father's ship and manages to escape - only into the ship of a darkship thief named Kit. Athena is a headstrong and brave female heroine that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. She was incredibly real to me and totally kick-ass with realistic flaws. Kit, her love interest, is also just as enjoyable. I loved the interactions between these two. I really liked how the romance was portrayed: it didn't feel rushed or unbelievable. You really grow with the characters. I also really appreciated how the romance didn't turn into an angst fest, like sometimes they do.

The romance isn't the only good thing about this book and if you aren't into romance too much, you shouldn't let my gushing deter you. It isn't heavy. You can completely enjoy this book if you don't mind a bit of romance. One thing that impressed me throughout Hoyt's story was the fact that there's just so much going on in it (and not in a bad way). There's space travel, visiting of other world(s), genetic engineering, and a history shaped by politics and betrayal on Earth. It's really quite interesting and kept me turning the page to find out what else was going to be revealed.

Overall, I think this is a stellar science fiction romance and cannot recommend it enough to those interested in that genre. If you're not, I'd still say give it a try; there's a lot here to sink your teeth into. Apparently there's a sequel coming out this year called Darkship Renegade. I'll definitely be picking that up. A-

Read more...

Review: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

Title: The Curse of Chalion
Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
Series: Chalion #1
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 502
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: February 3, 2003
Publisher: HarperTorch
Rating: A

This is part of Calico Reaction's Book Club - January Challenge.

From Goodreads: A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril has returned to the noble household he once served as page, and is named, to his great surprise, secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is as assignment Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions. but it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion and all who stand in their circle. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge -- an act that will mark the loyal, damaged servant as a tool of the miraculous ... and trap him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death.

So I've finally been able to post a review for this book. I was late in finishing it and then wanted to push it back to fit in the Valentine's day review. Anyways, this is the first of Calico Reaction's 2011 Book Club ('Alphabet Soup') and I think this year has started off great.

This is my second Bujold book, the first being Beguilement. I wasn't crazy about that one; I might have expected a lot due to Bujold's reputation as a great author. Needless to say Chalion exceeded my expectations.

The best way I can describe it is that it's a big, juicy piece of court intrigue plumped up with twists and turns. Which is exactly my kind of book. I can't say much else without ruining the plot, so it might not sound as good as it really is. In my opinion there are two major aspects of this type of "court intrigue" fantasy that makes it a success: great cast of characters and a smart plot. Chalion has both of these.

The cast is fairly large and diverse and represents people from many areas: religion, court, military, men, women, foreigners, friends. I particularly came to like Cazaril, the main character. He becomes a character to root for, which is great, since the plot follows him. I think my admiration of him came when he decided to give up everything in order to help Iselle out of a very bad situation she was forced into. I was surprised because in many books I read, characters, especially protagonists, don't usually make huge, life-changing decisions. It was great to see a character take fate into his own hands and not let the plot resolve itself. He wasn't the only one willing to do this: Betriz had her own plan, and I believed she would have went through with it if Cazaril had failed. I also liked Iselle (the princess) due to her tenacity and strength as a major political power. I loved that she didn't have a nonsense romance that screwed up all her decisions (which happens a lot in other books). As for the plot, it's a great story that has some slow points but the more you read the more you'll be absorbed into the story. There's a lot to chew on.

I should also mention that there's not a lot of magic in this book. Actually, I think the magic is based in the religion which manifests itself as miracles. When a person hosts such a miracle, they are called saints. There's also powers beyond everyone in the mortal world called gods, but we didn't learn very much about them. I heard the sequel, Paladin of Souls has more on that.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will be reading Paladin of Souls in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who likes long fantasy books centered around characters rather than magic or action. It's unique and definitely worth a try. A

Read more...

Review: Zoo City by Lauren Beukes

Title: Zoo City
Author: Lauren Beukes
Format: ebook
Pages: 352
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: December 28, 2010 (US)
Rating: A

From Goodreads: Zinzi has a talent for finding lost things. To save herself, she's got to find the hardest thing of all: The truth.

Going into Zoo City, I didn't know what to expect. This is my first novel by Lauren Beukes, but I have heard great things about her other novel, Moxyland. What I found was a very unique and exciting experience in an urban fantasy world, one I haven't enjoyed as much since I read War for the Oaks by Emma Bull.

The story centers around Zinzi December, a young woman living in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her life isn't going so great, having once had a job as a journalist, she is now writing scam emails to pay back a large debt. Things change when she is approached by a music producer who wants to hire her to find a missing recording artist. You see, Zinzi has a special gift: she can find lost things. Not people, she insists, but she cannot turn down the job, which can essentially pay enough to cover her debt and beyond.

Zinzi can find lost things because that's her ability she manifested when she became Animalled. In the world Beukes has created, something called the Zoo Plague emerged, causing anyone who commits criminal acts (we don't know the extent of the requirements) is bonded to an animal for life. This situation is coined Acquired Aposymbiotic Familiarism and no one really know why or how it works. We are shown very little, mostly through separate pieces of information such as web pages or magazine/newspaper articles.

Zinzi was burdened with a Sloth (and that's what she calls it). One of the fascinating aspects of this novel is realizing and imagining what kind of an effect this sort of thing could have on society. Zinzi murdered her brother and she will forever be seen as an Animalled. Society has shunned these people, creating a whole new social class beneath everything else. Some have even used this to gain fame. It completely changes what we know and think about people; just by looking at someone and seeing they possess an Animal, you know they have done wrong at some point in their past.

The story itself is a noir mystery: the search for the missing young singer, Songweza. We follow Zinzi through her telling of the story while she uncovers a larger plot after some twists and turns. At times, you really lose yourself in the investigation and actually forget you're reading a novel about people with Animals and special abilities. Beukes has the ability to create such an original and fascinating world so subtly I forgot there was any other.

What I did yearn for more was more information on the Zoo Plague: why did this happen? How did it happen? I don't know if we will ever know, and I'm fine with that, but I did wish for more. Overall, I recommend this book for anyone looking for a great urban fantasy not quite like anything else. A

I received a review copy of this book from the Angry Robot Army program.

Read more...

Review: Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

Title: Under Heaven
Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Pages: 567
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Publication Date: April 29, 2010
Rating: A

This book is part of Calico Reaction's Monthly Book Club (December).

From Goodreads: The world could bring you poison in a jeweled cup, or surprising gifts. Sometimes you didn't know which of them it was...

Under Heaven...takes place in a world inspired by the glory and power of Tang Dynasty China in the 8th century, a world in which history and the fantastic meld into something both memorable and emotionally compelling.

In the novel, Shen Tai is the son of a general who led the forces of imperial Kitai in the empire's last great war against its western enemies, twenty years before. Forty thousand men, on both sides, were slain by a remote mountain lake. General Shen Gao himself has died recently, having spoken to his son in later years about his sadness in the matter of this terrible battle.

To honour his father's memory, Tai spends two years in official mourning alone at the battle site by the blue waters of Kuala Nor. Each day he digs graves in hard ground to bury the bones of the dead. At night he can hear the ghosts moan and stir, terrifying voices of anger and lament. Sometimes he realizes that a given voice has ceased its crying, and he knows that is one he has laid to rest.

The dead by the lake are equally Kitan and their Taguran foes; there is no way to tell the bones apart, and he buries them all with honour.

It is during a routine supply visit led by a Taguran officer who has reluctantly come to befriend him that Tai learns that others, much more powerful, have taken note of his vigil. The White Jade Princess Cheng-wan, 17th daughter of the Emperor of Kitai, presents him with two hundred and fifty Sardian horses. They are being given in royal recognition of his courage and piety, and the honour he has done the dead.

You gave a man one of the famed Sardian horses to reward him greatly. You gave him four or five to exalt him above his fellows, propel him towards rank, and earn him jealousy, possibly mortal jealousy. Two hundred and fifty is an unthinkable gift, a gift to overwhelm an emperor.

Tai is in deep waters. He needs to get himself back to court and his own emperor, alive. Riding the first of the Sardian horses, and bringing news of the rest, he starts east towards the glittering, dangerous capital of Kitai, and the Ta-Ming Palace - and gathers his wits for a return from solitude by a mountain lake to his own forever-altered life.

This month's challenge was certainly epic. Epic is story and epic in size; this is one very large tale. It took me a lot longer to read it than I thought.

I've had some previous experience with Kay. My first was when I tried to read the first book in the Fionavar Tapestry, The Summer Tree, and failed miserably twice. I just couldn't get into it. After reading Under Heaven, perhaps another attempt would turn out differently. The other experience involved reading Ysabel and not liking it as much as others have.

Anyways, what I mean to say is that Under Heaven was a much different experience. I was immersed in a story of the Tang Dynasty, built on the foundation of extraordinary characters. This is what held me through the long trek through the retelling (with liberty) of the An Shi Rebellion; I really fell in love with many characters and became attached to their stories. One of these characters is Shen Tai, the one who receives the gift of 250 Sardian horses. Although not the most equipped in society after being away for so long, he really is a clever and direct man whom I really came to support throughout the story. Kay also creates his female characters exquisitely: Spring Rain, the concubine of first minister Wen Zhou and previous lover of Shen Tai. She's foreign, savvy and definitely not the typical submissive concubine one might expect. Another is Wei Song (perhaps my favorite), a Kanlin warrior not afraid to speak her mind and thoroughly capable of taking care of herself in a harsh world for women. Lastly, there's Li-Mei, sister to Tai, who deals with her unfortunate circumstances with grace and dignity.

Another major aspect of the story that I loved was the political intrigue. This comes from my love of historical fiction and I was happy to see it very well done in this historical fantasy. Through Tai we see the maneuverings of the emperor and those close to him and how 250 Sardian horses can change many people's lives. I thought there was a lot of suspense and I found myself often reading on for hours just to find out how it would all turn out.

As you can see, I was really engrossed in this story. I loved diving into it and being immersed in a fictionalized Chinese culture in a faraway time. However, one major problem is that it is very dense, thus requiring a lot of attention and concentration. Kay's prose is pleasant, satisfying and often quite moving, but the story is told from somewhat sporadic points of view. It wasn't enough to make me put down the book, but I wished that the story was more condensed and concise than it was.

I've come to think of this book as a glimpse of another world and time. Sometimes the story goes in different directions. I think ultimately it is an experience rather than a story about a specific person. Read this if you want to be immersed in a different sort of fantasy with large connections to Tang Dynasty and if you have the patience to read the whole thing. There are many instances of greatness in this book that shouldn't be missed. A

Read more...

Review: Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Title: Hunger
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Series: Horsemen of the Apocalypse #1
Pages: 177
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publication Date: October 18, 2010
Rating: A-

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto 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 from 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 her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons? (from Goodreads)

When I first heard of this book what really caught me was the original and clever premise: an anorexic girl is chosen to become the new Famine. I was also curious as to how Kessler would deal with the issue of anorexia since this is a young adult novel and many of her readers may be dealing with some sort of eating disorder. What I found was an incredibly sensitive, real and heart-wrenching story of a girl named Lisabeth and her struggle with starving herself. I was completely engrossed in the story; I really connected to Lisa and found she was so well portrayed I thought she could have been a friend of mine and I was getting a secret glimpse into her life.

Initially I was more interested in the fantasy part of the story, the part about the horsemen. Eventually I realized that it wasn't as important as Lisa's personal journey and her role as Famine would play a part in helping her with her disorder. I think anyone can relate to Lisa since I'm sure everyone has dealt with self-esteem and/or body image issues. I think this book sends a great message to girls who are dealing with these kinds of problems but it doesn't necessarily paint a rosy picture of a girl sailing through her recovery. It's real and raw and I loved that Kessler didn't shy away from the frightening parts of it.

There isn't a huge cast. There's Lisa and her best friend Tammy, who also suffers from an eating disorder, bulimia. I don't have any real experience with these serious issues but I felt that both girls were portrayed pretty convincingly and I really believed their different stories. There's also James, Lisa's boyfriend, who notices something's wrong but doesn't know how to help her. A character I really enjoyed was that of Death, who is part of Lisa's horseman life. He's eerie and weird and says some pretty intriguing things. I hope to see more of him in the future books.

I thought the ending was great. It was just right to provide closure to the story but also not to leave the reader feeling too sad for Lisa. I think it gives hope and encouragement to anyone reading it who is suffering from the same thing.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's quite short but packs a major punch. I think it would be especially great for young women or anyone who is interested in reading about real teenager issues. The next book in the series is Rage and will be out next year. A-

Read more...

Review: Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst

Title: Enchanted Ivy
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Pages: 310
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: October 12, 2010
Rating: A-

Enchanted Ivy is about a teenager named Lily who takes a trip with her grandfather (a Princeton alumni) and mother for a reunion at the Princeton campus. Lily wants to follow so bad in her grandfather's footsteps and become a Princeton graduate. While on campus, she is given a chance to take the Legacy Test. If she passes it will guarantee her acceptance. All she has to do is find the Ivy Key...

Along the way she meets an orange and black haired boy named Tye. She finds out that there are two Princetons, separated only by the gate and opened by the Key. Her reality is challenged when she meets the magical creatures of our Princeton and sometimes terrifying creatures of the other Princeton. As the story unfolds there are many twists in turns including what is wrong with her mother, what happened to her father and who are the Knights of Princeton?

I was really excited to read Echanted Ivy; it's been on my radar for quite a while. When I received it, I was happy to find the book itself is very cute with a very beautiful cover! Normally I don't notice this as much, but I did with Enchanted Ivy!

I really loved the premise of this story. Lily, a smart girl, going to visit her dream university, finds out it is more than what it seems. Being a university student myself and often mesmerized by old college campuses, I really felt swept away just as Lily was. Durst creates a fantastical cast of characters, my favorite definitely being the enchanted gargoyles. Who doesn't wonder if they are really magical creatures? I will never look at them the same again! The beginning of the story starts with the Legacy Test hunt for the Ivy Key. Lily takes us all around campus and meets a boy with orange and black hair named Tye. Everything is very mysterious at this stage and I was eager to find out more about the Gate and the Key.

I was very happy with Lily as a character. She's smart and brave. She's also a strong person; she helps her grandfather with his flower store while also taking care of her mom. Her mom has a mental condition where she is progressively forgetting everything. I really felt like Lily was a sympathetic character without it going overboard; I wanted her to help her mom and succeed.

Another highlight of the novel which I was pleasantly surprised by was the romance. At first I felt like it would come out as a love triangle that's so popular, but eventually the romance took another turn. I was happy to see Lily and her love interest develop that romantic relationship. It wasn't silly or frustrating but charming. And really, who can't love Tye?

The only small nitpick I had was that it was slower near the beginning than the rest. I thought the book really picked up around the middle and I read straight through from there. There were many twists and turns (some I didn't even see coming) and the book really turned out to be more than I could really expect; it is packed with lore, characters and plot. However, this never bogs you down due to Durst's pleasant writing style.

Overall, I definitely recommend Enchanted Ivy for any fans of young adult or fantasy, especially if you're soon to be going off to college. I really hope there is a sequel because I'll definitely be reading it! A-

A review copy of this book was provided by Simon & Schuster.

Read more...

Review: Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Title: Grimspace
Author: Ann Aguirre
Pages: 312
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: February 26, 2008
Rating: A

From Goodreads:

By all accounts, Sirantha Jax should have burned out years ago…
As the carrier of a rare gene, Jax has the ability to jump ships through grimspace—a talent which cuts into her life expectancy, but makes her a highly prized navigator for the Corp. But then the ship she’s navigating crash-lands, and she’s accused of killing everyone on board. It’s hard for Jax to defend herself: she has no memory of the crash.

Now imprisoned and the subject of a ruthless interrogation, Jax is on the verge of madness. Then a mysterious man breaks into her cell, offering her freedom—for a price. March needs Jax to help his small band of rogue fighters break the Corp monopoly on interstellar travel—and establish a new breed of jumper.

Jax is only good at one thing—grimspace—and it will eventually kill her. So she may as well have some fun in the meantime…

Grimspace is a great, fast-paced adventure story staring Sirantha Jax. She's fiesty, smart, and has a few issues. After the crash, she finds herself under the protection of Folly's crew, who also, by chance, needs a jumper. She has lost her memory and is on a mission to find out the truth. On the way she meets a great cast of characters including her love interest, March. There's Dina the tough engineer, Loras the savant, Doc the ship's doctor, and March the pilot. I felt like this whole crew was reminiscent of that of Firefly (which is a good thing). I really thought the characters were interesting and different and offered a lot of banter and tension between each other.

This book reads fast and it helps that the first person narrative is provided by Jax. It's not the easiest ride being in her head, but it certainly adds to the experience. She develops a romance with March that I thought was sweet and not too overwhelming. My only problem was I thought that they seemed to fall for each other seriously in the short amount of time that is spent in the book.

I'm still testing the waters with a lot of science fiction, especially space opera because I tend to find it comes off a bit heavy, but for Grimspace, it's the opposite. It's a great adventure with the right amount of everything. There's action on every page, ending in what is obviously an opening for a sequel.

Overall, this is the perfect kind of adventure story for me. There's a great female lead, a good romance that's not too heavy, and tons of action. I recommend this to anyone interested in those things. I've already bought the sequel Wanderlust and can't wait to get to it! A

You can read an excerpt on the author's website or listen to a sample of the audio book.

Read more...

Review: A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott

Title: A Wish After Midnight
Author: Zetta Elliott
Pages: 258
Genre: YA, Time Travel, Historical Fiction
Publication Date: March 5, 2009
Rating: A
Challenge: Calico Reaction's Book Club - September Challenge (Alternate)

A Wish After Midnight is the story of 15 year old Genna Colon and her turbulent life in Brooklyn, New York. Her days are filled with school (which she is very good at), taking care of her younger brother, Tyjuan, and dealing with her older brother and sister. Her father left the family when they were little; their tiny apartment is crowded with five people. Then Genna meets Judah, a Jamaican boy who teaches her about her African roots and who is also there to support her. Suddenly, she is thrown into a new time: the year of 1863. There she learns about America during the civil war the hard way and exposes us to the daily life of African-Americans, the Irish and American people of Brooklyn 1863.

This book is divided into three parts; the first being about Genna's life in Brooklyn. It is a struggle to say the least. Her family is financially drained, there is the threat of drugs and violence around her, and there are still racial undertones in the city. Genna doesn't fit it as much as she would want to. I thought that this first part of the book was a good way to introduce us to Genna and her life. It also creates and interesting parallel to 1863: there is, surprisingly, still a lot of changes to be made in society. Genna gets an after-school job babysitting for a white woman and ironically, that's the same job she gets in 1863.

The second part is based on Genna's life in 1863 Brooklyn. I personally was more interested in the past part of the story. This is probably because I like historical fiction so much and anything set in the past is attractive to me. I really was fascinated by all the information Elliott crams into one book without info dumping. She not only explores the lives of African-Americans of the time but also the racism against the Irish and the mistreatment of women as well.

I really felt immersed in this story and I think this has to do with the fact that it is told in first person by Genna. I thought it was very emotional and raw and real despite the fantastical premise.

Overall, I really liked this novel and I cannot wait for a sequel! The ending left in a pretty big cliffhanger and I'm really interested to see what happens in the present and the past. Also, I thought Elliott was just expert at creating a world where different characters have different opinions on everything and it serves to teach the reader about issues such as race in the present day and the past. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a gritty novel, a smart young adult read, or even just a great historical tale.

Read more...

Review: Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

Title: Cold Magic
Author: Kate Elliott
Pages: 502
Genre: Fantasy, Alternate History, Steampunk
Publication Date: September 9, 2010
Rating: A
Challenge: The Bookkeeper's Steampunk Challenge

Cold Magic takes place in steampunk world, some of whom have been calling even 'icepunk' because of the mixture of airships, firearms and a frozen landscape. In this world we meet Catherine "Cat" Hassi Barahal, a smart, clever young woman. There is also Beatrice ("Bee"), her cousin, an artist who is equally fascinated by dirigibles. One day, a man by the name of Andevai shows up to fulfill the contract the mage house Four Moons has with Cat's guardians, her aunt and uncle. The oldest Barahal daughter is to be married into the mage house before her twentieth birthday. Before she knows what is going on, Catherine is taken and there starts her journey of finding out show she really is and what is most important to her.

Going into this novel I didn't know what to expect out of the world and magic Elliott had created. The cover is beautiful and the blurb on the back sounds like something right up my alley. One thing I didn't expect was the thoroughly thought-out alternate history. I must admit I couldn't get a hold of the timeline perfectly, but there is mention of Romans and other civilizations from Europe and Africa, all holding their own magical traditions. This book takes place after the Roman Empire in a Victorian-like era. I was really impressed with the mixture of cultures old and new and how this influenced the magical elements of the story.

The story is narrated by Cat. I enjoyed her as the main protagonist because I thought she was smart and pretty strong in a world where women are considered lower than men. One of her main faults is saying things that could get her in trouble (which it sometimes does). I also liked the character Bee, her cousin, who is an artist and a lot more bubbly in personality. I thought that despite their similar ages and situations they really felt like distinct characters. My favorite character would be Roderic, which I won't say too much about him because of spoilers, but I thought he was very entertaining and hope to see more of him in the sequel.

The one character I just couldn't like for most of the book (which could be the goal but perhaps not) was Andevai. He's also the love interest of Cat. He's an arrogant, rude cold mage of the Four Moons House. I felt that Cat was attracted to him from early on, but I just couldn't figure out why at the time since he was just always rude and disagreeable. He somewhat redeems himself at the end, but even then I am still not convinced. He does some growing throughout the story; however, we don't see him as much as I would have expected for Cat to fall for him.

That brings me to the romance in the story. There wasn't as much romance as I thought there would be. Cat does think about Andevai on her journey, but there isn't much explicit romance. I'm guessing things will change in the second book, and I am looking forward to finding out what happens between all the characters in the story.

Lastly, the magic in this world is diverse. There is cold magic of the nobles' mage houses, who rule over the land like feudal lords. Then there is djeliw and bards "who have the ability to manipulate and respect the essence that flows through the spirit world." (p. 79) Blacksmiths use fire; however, we did not get to see this in depth yet. There is also the magic of the beings of the spirit worlds themselves who are a mystery in themselves.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. I loved the world, the magic and the characters. This is the first in the Spiritwalker Trilogy and I felt that it was a great introduction. I want to see more of Cat, Bee, Roderic and also have the what I would call a big cliffhanger at the end of the story resolved. I highly recommend Cold Magic. A

Read more...