I loved LIV, FOREVER. The best way I can think of to describe the experience of reading it is to compare it to savoring a luscious piece of exquisite I loved LIV, FOREVER. The best way I can think of to describe the experience of reading it is to compare it to savoring a luscious piece of exquisite dark chocolate. It’s rich, it’s multilayered, and it has a bittersweetness that will bite you back in all the best ways. If you like tantalizing ghost stories, mysterious secret societies, heroes that tear at your heart, and gorgeous prose, then you need this book....more
I <3 this book SO MUCH. Indie has such a strong character arc. She goes from someone I cannot at all identify with to someone who I can't help but rooI <3 this book SO MUCH. Indie has such a strong character arc. She goes from someone I cannot at all identify with to someone who I can't help but root for. There's one particular scene that is just utter perfection. And the whole book is so engaging, I literally took it with me wine-tasting, because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Fantastic read. Great teen characters. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. <333...more
FALLS THE SHADOW is a surprising book. It bills itself as a near-future thriller, and it is—chilling reveals, reversals, betrayals, and bad guys underFALLS THE SHADOW is a surprising book. It bills itself as a near-future thriller, and it is—chilling reveals, reversals, betrayals, and bad guys under every rock. But the surprising part is how thoroughly thought-provoking it is. The moral ambiguities inherent in the premise, as well as the ethical dilemmas the characters face throughout the story, make for some serious enlightenment-salon-style conversation fodder. I found it completely engrossing. The major relationship question in the book is between two sort-of sisters, though there is a lovely romantic relationship introduced as well. And the side characters are a dynamic bonus to the main. Loved this book. I still find myself thinking about it out of the blue, even though I read it a month ago!...more
THE NINJA LIBRARIANS is a rocking middle grade of total win! I loooooove the world the author has set up. It rivals Hogwarts, in my opinion, for sheerTHE NINJA LIBRARIANS is a rocking middle grade of total win! I loooooove the world the author has set up. It rivals Hogwarts, in my opinion, for sheer awesomeness. I mean, a library floating in the ether of space-time with portals into all the ages of the world? Librarians who fight, sometimes with swords!, all acts of censorship ever perpetrated in the history of everything? Sign me up! Against this fantastic backdrop, our intrepid heroine Dorrie becomes an accidental key hand with access through all the portals connected to the library. She races to learn everything she can about the library while trying to find an important item she accidentally stole and then lost. The best part of the book is the action-packed ending, complete with sword fights, surprising reveals, and the fate of the world at stake. Loved this book! It blends the best of swash-buckling adventure with a profound reverence for books....more
OLIVIA TWISTED has stolen a special place in my heart, because the characters are all delinquents, and lord knows I love a good descent-into-delinquenOLIVIA TWISTED has stolen a special place in my heart, because the characters are all delinquents, and lord knows I love a good descent-into-delinquency story. Loosely based on OLIVER TWIST, OLIVIA TWISTED is faithful in all the best ways to the original while branching out into modern-day territory with startling ingenuity. I really liked the way the author handled the split perspective between Olivia and Z as it reveals enough to the reader while still leaving enough ambiguity to make page-turning an imperative.
The bad guys are finding-bugs-in-your-bed-sheets level of creepy. The good guys are like tarnished silver--beautiful in their imperfection. Not one character has escaped the ravages of a thoughtless society, so even though you might disagree with their actions, you can still totally understand where each is coming from. Well, except for that one guy. There’s no excuse for that guy. *shudders*
In any case, I highly recommend OLIVIA TWISTED, especially to anyone who likes their good guys kind of bad. BONUS: For teachers and parents of “reluctant readers”—tell your kids not to read this book, because it will teach them how to become wealthy, badass criminals. (They’ll be reading within the hour.)...more
OTHERBOUND twists a contemporary fantasy and a high fantasy into a thoroughly satisfying pretzel of awesome. What I like best is how unique the story OTHERBOUND twists a contemporary fantasy and a high fantasy into a thoroughly satisfying pretzel of awesome. What I like best is how unique the story is. The plot, the characters, and the setting are all unlike anything I've ever read before, and I've read a metric ton of fantasy. For one of those elements to be unique is impressive. For all three to be unique? That takes work, and vision, and talent. Corinne Duyvis clearly has these things in spades. ...more
BEWARE THE WILD is a gorgeous gothic mystery straight from the swamps of Louisiana. It’s clear the author took great care creating a setting that was BEWARE THE WILD is a gorgeous gothic mystery straight from the swamps of Louisiana. It’s clear the author took great care creating a setting that was a character in itself, because the rich, descriptive imagery just oozed swamp. The setting isn’t the only thing rich about this book, though—the characters are equally as sumptuous. I love that the relationship between siblings takes center stage in this book. It makes the narrative that much more unique in a sea of coming-of-age stories where romantic or parental relationships are at the fore. (Not that there aren’t unusual and intriguing explorations of romantic and parental relationships in this book as well, because there are!) The characters are all so dynamic that it’s hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to choose, I’d probably say the Chevelle. Because I really can’t pick! And besides, Chevelle! ;-) Seriously, though, BEWARE THE WILD is a cicada-chirping, sweet-potato pie-eating, jean shorts-wearing, southern-bayou swelter fest of awesome. I would recommend pre-ordering, because this baby’s going to fly off shelves....more
FAR FROM YOU is, in a word, bittersweet. Don’t go into this without plenty of tissues. But it’s well worth the soul-scorching you’ll get reading it. IFAR FROM YOU is, in a word, bittersweet. Don’t go into this without plenty of tissues. But it’s well worth the soul-scorching you’ll get reading it. It’s about one girl’s search for her best friend’s killer, and all the secrets that are uncovered along the way. And yet to say that is not doing this book nearly enough justice. It’s not really a murder mystery. I mean, it is, but much more of the book is devoted to the emotional exploration of the relationships between the characters. Vignettes from the past are expertly woven in between the plot-driven chapters. These vignettes illuminate the forward action, sort of unraveling a different mystery altogether. I usually LOATHE backstory in a book, but I eagerly looked forward to each glimpse into the past, because of the twists they revealed and the oh-so-good angst. There’s one particular vignette toward the end that is so incredibly beautiful, especially compared to all the dark drama in the chapters surrounding it, that it made my heart ache even more for the complicated characters I’d become really attached to. (You’ll know what I mean when you get there.) Oh, this book. So good. *sniffles*...more
Loved this book. I was thoroughly engrossed and kept wanting to get back to it when I was supposed to be doing other things. BGreat, entertaining read
Loved this book. I was thoroughly engrossed and kept wanting to get back to it when I was supposed to be doing other things. Both main characters had separate and well-paced character arcs. And I really appreciated the heavier themes of discrimination and dealing with fear-based reactionaries. There were a couple of small inconsistencies that kept this from being a 5-star for me, but overall a fantastic, fun, romantic, thought-provoking read with solid writing and character growth. ...more
I can't stop talking about this book. Ever since I read it, it's come up in conversation a dozen times. The content and themes are very relevant to ouI can't stop talking about this book. Ever since I read it, it's come up in conversation a dozen times. The content and themes are very relevant to our current environmental circumstances. It's an extreme version of what can happen if we stay as shortsighted as we are.
However, as gripping as the story itself is, what moved me most about this book were its characters. The boys in this story were incredibly real to me. I grew up with brothers, and reading this was like looking into my own childhood (except without the giant landfill and polluted river). And the choices the characters made given what they were dealing with seemed at once familiar and fascinating. I had a particular moment of 'Whoa--this story is so freaking profound--' when I realized that the boys both loved and hated the landfill--that they thought of it as a heap of stinking, deadly garbage but as THEIR heap of stinking, deadly garbage.
It's a fast read but with lasting impact. I highly, highly recommend it, especially to schools and book clubs. ...more
This book knocked my socks off. To the point where I hunted the author down on Twitter and capslocked her mention feed. A brief transcript of what I wThis book knocked my socks off. To the point where I hunted the author down on Twitter and capslocked her mention feed. A brief transcript of what I wrote:
@ClaraKensie OMFG. NO. WAY. #RunToYou
Then a little later...
@ClaraKensie You are killing me. You are freaking killing me right now. I'm about to strangle certain characters. #RunToYou
Then when I finished the third installment, I almost broke Twitter's DM function with my squee and angst. Poor Clara was a trooper about it. She patted me (virtually) on the head and said "there, there" in a very soothing way.
Seriously, this story totally rules. And the way it's broken up into serialized installments reminds me of a really good television show, like SCANDAL or VAMPIRE DIAIRIES, complete with OMGWTFBBQ endings. You don't want to miss out on this one. It's an emotional rollercoaster that will take what you think you know and twist it completely inside out. Awesome, awesome story....more
Yay for books about teenage criminals!! I, of course, am pretty partial to that particular trope. ;-) But even more than kid criminals, they’re kid crYay for books about teenage criminals!! I, of course, am pretty partial to that particular trope. ;-) But even more than kid criminals, they’re kid criminals with super powers! Who are hunted by the government! I mean, what’s not to love right there? Must I even continue this review? Go. And. Buy. It. Now. I’ll wait.
Got it? Excellent! So now let me tell you (in a non-spoilery way) what you’ve got coming: bullets, badass powers, Hello Kitty, shocking reveals, pithy one-liners, morally ambiguous decisions, car chases, a tiny fluffy puppy, more badass powers, crime, side characters you’ll fall in love with, and did I mention the badass powers?
In short, I loved this book. And now I’m trying to figure out how to camouflage myself so I can steal the manuscript for book 2....more
I loved this book. So much fun. The MC is conflicted, running from things in her past, both self-inflicted and external. But her friendship with famouI loved this book. So much fun. The MC is conflicted, running from things in her past, both self-inflicted and external. But her friendship with famous Lilah Montgomery, a famous musician, is the anchor that holds her together. So when she decides she needs a life-readjustment, she goes on tour with her BFF. The road is bumpy, though, and she learns how to be a support as well as be supported, and she falls for a guy who is sweeter (and smoother) than caramel. He was definitely the highlight for me in the story. I loved the way their relationship unfolded, changing the MC from guarded and pointy, to, well, a little less guarded and pointy. ;-) Great voice, great prose. Loved this book!...more
SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE will always remind me of a wood fire warming a cabin next to a tumbling river. This is largely because I read it on vacation, bSING SWEET NIGHTINGALE will always remind me of a wood fire warming a cabin next to a tumbling river. This is largely because I read it on vacation, but it’s also because reading it reminded me of everything I love about reading. I fell completely head over heels for this book, because I fell completely in love with the characters. Hudson is our knight in shining armor, and all his actions perfectly reflect his inherent heroism (minus the annoying Cyclops/Leonardo goodie-two-shoes complex). Horace wins for the most original sidekick ever—a grandpa who both emotionally supports our hero and funds his missions. Mariella is perhaps the most compromised character, since she is literally a damsel in distress. But she brings tremendous strength to her situation, both while she is under the antagonist’s spell and after she learns the truth. She actually proves to be the strongest of all of them.
This book was different than I thought it would be going in. I’m not sure why, because the jacket flap perfectly describes what’s going on at the outset of the book, and the cover is both lovely and accurate to the story. I guess I was expecting a slightly remote Phantom-of-the-Opera style of story, where you’re much more invested in the Phantom than the singer or her boyfriend. This could not have been further from the case with SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE. The antagonist was powerful, frightening, and even sympathetic at the beginning. But I was entirely captivated by the leads. Mariella and Hudson ran away with this story and my heart. Plus, there are unicorns. Win!...more
From the second you set foot on Phoenix Island, your day is as good as gone. Clear your schedule, because you are going to want to fly through this boFrom the second you set foot on Phoenix Island, your day is as good as gone. Clear your schedule, because you are going to want to fly through this book. This is one of those stories where you need to read your beloved characters to safety. But never fear, you'll enjoy every minute of the ride. Its hard-hitting, spare prose will take your breath away with its profound observations about humanity, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat. The heroes are easy to root for, the villains even easier to fear. It's a must-have in my opinion. ...more
CRUEL BEAUTY is gorgeous, evocative, and thought-provoking. It’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast where “Beauty” is sometimes more beastly than theCRUEL BEAUTY is gorgeous, evocative, and thought-provoking. It’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast where “Beauty” is sometimes more beastly than the “Beast.” It took a chapter or two of getting used to the concept before I figured out where the author was going with it, and then I fell in love with the idea. Of course, Nyx (Beauty) isn’t perfect. That’s what makes her such an ideal match for her opponent Ignifex (the Beast). I won’t spoil the story, but suffice it to say that it is exceedingly romantic in all the deepest, most true ways, especially at the end. I would venture to say that the end is a perfect inevitability that utterly satisfies you even while torturing the hell out of you. It hurts so, so good.
The story is reason enough to buy the book, but it is not the only richness the book offers. There’s also the gorgeous tapestry the author has woven for the world. A parchment sky, a flat world (literally, boats sail off the ends of it), demons that drive people mad just by looking at them. Plus the mash-up of ancient Roman and Celtic religious traditions. Gods of all times defending and punishing our heroes. I’m not even coming close to doing it justice.
In any case, I couldn’t put the book down. I highly, highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, unique world-building, complicated characterization, fairy-tale retellings, and just gorgeously written prose....more
The only thing better than the title THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN WITCHES is the book itself. The creativity of middle-grade authors blows me away. This The only thing better than the title THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN WITCHES is the book itself. The creativity of middle-grade authors blows me away. This book is a sparkling example of the best middle-grade has to offer. Witchling Two and Rupert are adorable and feisty and, as you’d expect from such a creative book, incredibly creative themselves. The stakes are huge for poor Rupert and Witchling Two. Captivity, exile, and no more magic! Horrors! But worse by far is the ever-present threat of...bunnies. *gasp*
I loved both Rupert and Witchling Two, but even better is Mrs. Frabbleknacker, who is beyond evil. She knows just how to torture kids, and clearly revels in every sadistic minute of her torments. I laughed loud and often while reading this book. If this book had a perfect candy pairing, it would be salt-water taffy. Purple salt-water taffy. In lollipop form. :-)...more
Wellll...what can I say? It's crackfic. And every time I open the book, I feel as if I'm whoring myself out to it. But you know....there are worse thiWellll...what can I say? It's crackfic. And every time I open the book, I feel as if I'm whoring myself out to it. But you know....there are worse things. Really. It's probably more accurate to categorize this novel as a martyr-complex invasion rather than an alien invasion, but I don't hate the writing style (it's like air, which is honestly what I prefer when reading crackfic). And I find myself rooting for the protagonist despite her inability to keep herself from getting beaten up (and then fiercely carried/growled over by one of the--get this--TWO leading men) at least every other chapter. Woe! The truth is, though, once I get started, I can't put it down. So Steph must be doing something right. Do I recommend it? To some. Not to anyone without enough of a sense of irony to allow themselves to enjoy it, though....more
I couldn't get over the fact that this book is told almost entirely in back story. I know why the author chose to do it that way. It makes sense for tI couldn't get over the fact that this book is told almost entirely in back story. I know why the author chose to do it that way. It makes sense for the twist she pulls at the end. But for what I thought was going to be a YA adventure story, it turned out to be mostly a love letter to WWII research. If you like reading about WWII-era planes, this is the book for you. If you like reading about a girl spy who infiltrates and outsmarts the Nazis, well, only a few small parts of this book are for you. If you like reading about romance, this book is not at all the book for you. I can't help but think the majority of the hype this book got was from librarians and teachers, not from actual, you know, readers. But this I can say for it: I have no doubt that everything is factually correct....more
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