Early 2015 Quickie Reviews

Okay folks, starting 2015 off with some fantastic reading!  I went on a beach vacay with my momma and we spent the entire time beaching it and reading (my favorite kind of vacation)!  I read quite a few books during this time and most of them were fantastic.  Here's a quick rundown:

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - this was one of those books that's been sitting on my TBR forever and I FINALLY got around to it!  So glad I did - what a fascinating woman-centered look at a well-known Old Testament family. 4.5/5 stars.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - what a unique dystopian literary fiction novel.  The book jumps between the past and the present illustrating the differences between society before and after the Georgia Flu.  Fascinating characters and imagining of a desolate American landscape. 4.5/5

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - Gorgeous!  I absolutely loved this book - great characterization, lovely prose, unique take on WWII, etc.  Definitely read this if you haven't done so already! 5/5 stars

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen - y'all know I love me some SAA so I was really excited to read her latest - and it didn't disappoint!  This book is actually a sequel of sorts to her popular Garden Spells.  It was fantastic to get involved with the Waverley family again.  This novel was all that readers expect from SAA: cozy, Southern, foodie, magical realism goodness! 4/5 stars

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - this book is being called the new "Gone Girl" so I thought I'd give it a try and it was great!  Gotta love a good unreliable narrator thriller :) 4/5 stars

Paper Towns by John Green - such a fun book and I wanted to read it before the film comes out.  Loved the cast of characters and I think it could actually make a good movie too!  4/5 stars

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - this was actually my least favorite of all of my reads.  It could be because I wasn't a fan of the characters (especially the parents) - as often that will cloud my opinion.  Unfortunately, it just didn't live up to the hype for me.  3/5 stars.

Aaand, I am partway through another book but as I'm still not finished I'll leave it off the list.  Phew!  Lots of reading!  Anyone have any beach vacations coming up?  If so, what books do you plan to bring along?

Latest Review: The Rosie Project

Summary Blurb:
An international sensation, this hilarious, feel-good novel is narrated by an oddly charming and socially challenged genetics professor on an unusual quest: to find out if he is capable of true love.

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

The Rosie Project is a moving and hilarious novel for anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of overwhelming challenges.
 

My Blabberings:
I really loved this unique and nerd-tastic romantic comedy!  This book was definitely a page turner, the atypical characters compelled me to find out what quirky thing would come out of their mouths.  My connection with both Rosie and Don was immediate - I loved these two misfits!  Don made me smile with his misunderstanding of people and Rosie was tough but vulnerable too. The Rosie Project was unlike most chick-lit books I've read thanks to the strength of the main characters.

This book helps the reader realize that sometimes, even with heavy preparation, we don't know what we want.  Recommended?  Absolutely!  Why should you read it?  Characters that you will be rooting for on the edge of your couch and laugh-out-loud funny to boot!  If you liked the movie "Stranger Than Fiction" or enjoy watching "The Big Bang Theory" you will like The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

4/5 stars

Latest Review: Gone Girl

Goodreads Summary:
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

My blabberings:
I know, I know, everyone and their aunt's neighbor has already read and reviewed this book.  Nonetheless, I wanted to just add my two cents into the mix.  I was really hesitant to read this book for one main reason: friends and reviewers repeatedly stated that the main characters are awful people.  Once I heard that I was certain I would hate the book.  It has rarely occurred where I've read a book with despicable characters and still liked the book.  Apparently I have to identify with a character in order to really care about their story...who woulda thunkit?  Anyways, I had already decided that I would just let this book be a buzz-generator that I skipped.   

However, the Btown Booksters thought differently and it was picked for one of our recent reads.  I purchased the novel with trepidation and sat down in my couch nook to read a few pages.  I looked up from my book sometime later and realized I was already several chapters in (this is not a rare occurance).  I ended up finishing the book in two days.  Not, as many others have stated, because it was so compelling that I read through the night, but because I had procrastinated and had exactly that long to finish before our next book club meeting!  That being said, it was a really compelling book, it was just as twisty turny as you would want a suspense novel to be.

Now, to get to my point of contention, the characters...were they so loathsome that I couldn't like the story?  Not exactly.  Was a character or characters absolutely heinous to their very core? Yes.  Once I closed the back cover of the book, I looked over at my husband with wide eyes, shuddered, and said, "whoa."  A novel that can evince that kind of reaction at its culmination must mean that it's good, right?  I don't really know how to answer that question.  Yet, I can say that I was surprised that I didn't loathe this book as I did the character(s).  Suspense isn't my favorite literary category, but I did enjoy the novel and won't be so quick to pass over a book because I'm certain I won't like the characters.

4/5 stars

Latest Review: The Lost Art of Mixing

Goodreads Summary:
National bestselling author Erica Bauermeister returns to the enchanting world of The School of Essential Ingredients in this luminous sequel.

Lillian and her restaurant have a way of drawing people together. There’s Al, the accountant who finds meaning in numbers and ritual; Chloe, a budding chef who hasn’t learned to trust after heartbreak; Finnegan, quiet and steady as a tree, who can disappear into the background despite his massive height; Louise, Al’s wife, whose anger simmers just below the boiling point; and Isabelle, whose memories are slowly slipping from her grasp. And there’s Lillian herself, whose life has taken a turn she didn’t expect. . . .

Their lives collide and mix with those around them, sometimes joining in effortless connections, at other times sifting together and separating again, creating a family that is chosen, not given. A beautifully imagined novel about the ties that bind—and links that break—The Lost Art of Mixing is a captivating meditation on the power of love, food, and companionship.

My Thoughts:
Never before have I felt like I could taste an author's descriptions of food.  Yummm...my mouth watered throughout this book!

The Lost Art of Mixing is a sequel to Bauermeister's delicious The School of Essential Ingredients and picks up right where last left the characters.  For those who haven't read the first novel, you will still find this book to be appealing; however, you will be more invested in the characters and their stories if you read The School of Essential Ingredients.  I love that we got to catch up with Chloe, Lillian and Isabelle and look at the next chapter of their lives.  This book also introduced some new and incredibly endearing characters who have engrossing lives. 

The Lost Art of Mixing focuses on the intertwining of food and memories.  The overarching theme in each of the character's stories is overcoming past memories that are obstacles to a more fulfilling future.  If you like cozy, character-driven foodie fiction, then this book is for you!

4/5 stars

Other Reviews:
Book Chatter
Life in the Thumb

Latest Review: The Book of Atrix Wolfe

Booklist Summary:
Driven by a formless fury when the prince of Kardeth refuses to halt his invasion of the kingdom of Pelucir, the great mage Atrix Wolfe creates a fearful hunter, "a warrior with no allegiance but to death." But the ensuing massacre of both armies and the king of Pelucir appalls the mage, and he flees to the mountains to live in wolf form among wolves until, 20 years later, the queen of the Woods demands that he seek out her daughter, who disappeared at the time of the great bloodbath. The ensuing story involves aspiring mage Talis Pelucir, son of the slain king, and Saro, a young, mute scullery maid in the castle of Pelucir whose background is unknown. Steeped in medieval legends of the wild huntsman, living trees, and shape changers, McKillip's tale is decidedly atmospheric, complex, compelling, and filled with rich imagery.

My Thoughts:
This is the first book I've read from the much-lauded Patricia A. McKillip and I really enjoyed this YA Fantasy tale!  The author's writing is very lyrical yet she still manages to be concise and convey a complex story within a slim novel.

I loved the magic and dark sorcery that permeates the book.  Throughout reading this novel you are biting your nails - wondering how the story will end and the characters restored after one awful instance of dark magic.

Fans of Robin McKinley will likely love The Book of Atrix Wolfe (and I'm guessing other McKillip books too).  This novel has mystery, magic, romance, sympathetic villains, unlikely heroes, and fantastic settings - who can resist?  Highly recommended to fantasy fans!

4/5 stars

Latest Review: Shadow of Night

Goodreads Summary:
Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.
 

My thoughts:
This series has a really wide appeal but for those who are unused to reading fantasy, be aware that this is similar to epic fantasy novels in both length (it's a doorstopper) and in complexity of plot.  Yet, as she has proven before, Harkness goes well above and beyond traditional paranormal fantasy fare.  The historical elements were fascinating.  The past was richly described and obviously well-researched.  The book largely took place in the past but occasionally flipped back to the present to keep the reader abreast of new developments while Diana and Matthew are gone.

Shadow of Night was difficult to get into at first with a confusingly large amount of characters being introduced (including Matthew's "School of Night" friends) but the action really ramped up by about 15% into the book (I had an eGalley so I have to go by percentages).  Soon, I could not put it down - which poses a problem when a book is as lengthy as this one!

There were quite a few relationship hurdles that needed overcome between Matthew and Diana.  While this was fine at first, after awhile it began to grate on me a bit.  Luckily, I think the author was getting these issues all out of the way so that the last novel is all action.  Harkness will not disappoint fans of the first book A Discovery of Witches and despite having my critical "third eye" open, I did not find much fault with Shadow of Night.

Overall: I enjoyed the first book in the series a bit more (but that's not unusual for me) yet this is a solid second entry into the All Souls trilogy and I can't wait for the final installment! 

4/5 stars

*Disclosure: received galley via publisher

Latest Review: You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

Goodreads Summary:
Sweet, bookish Neve Slater always plays by the rules. And the number one rule is that good-natured fat girls like her don’t get guys like gorgeous, handsome William, heir to Neve's heart since university. But William’s been in LA for three years, and Neve’s been slimming down and re-inventing herself so that when he returns, he’ll fall head over heels in love with the new, improved her.

So she’s not that interested in other men. Until her sister Celia points out that if Neve wants William to think she's an experienced love-goddess and not the fumbling, awkward girl he left behind, then she’d better get some, well, experience. 

What Neve needs is someone to show her the ropes, someone like Celia’s colleague Max. Wicked, shallow, sexy Max. And since he’s such a man-slut, and so not Neve’s type, she certainly won’t fall for him. Because William is the man for her… right?

Somewhere between losing weight and losing her inhibitions, Neve’s lost her heart – but to who?

My thoughts:
**Beach Read Alert!!**
I actually read this much earlier in the year when I came across it after reading a lot of praise for Sarra Manning's Unsticky.  I just happened to find a paperback copy for cheap and I'm sooooo glad I did!

Title and cover notwithstanding, this is above and beyond just any old chick-lit!  Now, the basic elements of the plot are pretty average romantic fare but what makes You Don't Have to Say You Love Me stand out is the realistically flawed characters.  You love and completely sympathize with the awkward and inexperienced Neve.  Also, the reader quickly realizes that the seemingly shallow Max has a lot more going on than what's apparent on the surface.  Oh, and the chemistry...sizzling!

Something else that I really liked about this book is that Max and Neve challenge each other to become better people by forcing the other to get over some serious self-esteem issues.  Often in chick-lit self image issues are one-sided (usually it's the woman with the problems) so it's refreshing to see that both of the characters need to get over some major hurdles.  Anyways, if you liked Bridget Jones or are just looking for some good summer fluff, I highly recommend this book!

4/5 stars

Other reviews:
The Allure of Books

Latest Review: Partials

Super Shorty Review, Kick-butt Heroine Edition Vol. 2
AKA my visual review of Partials by Dan Wells

I have recently read several heavily reviewed books lately, all of which happen to have thoroughly awesome female main characters (hence, the above title).  Rather than lump my similar sentiments with what's already out there in the blogosphere, I thought I'd give y'all a quick visual summation of my opinion.  Be on the lookout for one more super-shorty review this week!

Summary:

And who/what caused all of these problems?  The "Partials" (part human, part robot)...or did they?

My thoughts:

4/5 stars

Other Reviews:
Into the Hall of Books
Rhapsody in Books
Jenn's Bookshelves
The Allure of Books
Good Books and Good Wine
Pure Imagination
The Book Smugglers
(see, I wasn't kidding about the heavily reviewed part!)

Latest Review: I Capture the Castle

Goodreads Summary:
I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle's walls, and her own first descent into love. By the time she pens her final entry, she has "captured the castle"; and the heart of the reader; in one of literature's most enchanting entertainments.

My thoughts:
First of all, I must say that Cassandra is one of the most endearing narrators I've ever come across in fiction!  She's intelligent, spunky, and refreshingly honest.  The rest of the cast of characters in I Capture the Castle are so much fun too!  My favorites are quirky Topaz (the stepmother) and the dependable and handsome Stephen.  Dodie Smith keeps the reader guessing as to Cassandra and Rose's romantic endeavors and it is truly a pleasurable reading experience!

 I loved that the ending is not tied up with a neat little bow and the expected "happily ever after."  Overall, I really enjoyed this little character-driven gem!  Recommended to fans of Jane Austen or to those who like historical romances.

*Sidenote: I Capture the Castle was made into a movie (that boasts a pretty decent cast), I looked it up and saw that it's featured on Netflix streaming.  I added it to my instant queue and plan on watching it soonly (see the trailer below)!

 4/5 stars

Foodie Fiction Review: Bittersweet

Goodreads Summary:
Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life... and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last...

My thoughts:
The beginning...well, it makes you think that this is just a fluff piece of contemporary YA literature.  But it's not - don't be fooled.  Hudson's world is extremely complex - divorce, guilt, familial duties, and money worries.  But most importantly, she's doing a bit of soul-searching...figuring out the all consuming question of "where is my place in the world?"

The middle...well, for awhile there I was really mad at Hudson and my view of her slipped lower and lower.  Why was she being such an ignoramus about her life?  Why was she being such a bad friend...and while I wanted to dislike her - her faults are what make her a real and well-rounded character.

The ending...well, the ending is wonderful.  It's a reflection of teen life with no ridiculous promises of something beyond reality.  Nobody's becoming a superstar or dying a heroic death...it's just authentic.

Throughout the story...well, I loved the arc of Hudson's growth that the reader witnesses.  Another thing that is magnificent?  Each chapter title is named after one of Hudson's cupcake creations followed by a truly delectable description.  Want some examples?  Good, I'll gladly oblige.  How about:

Chapter 3: No One Wants to Kiss a Girl Who Smells Like Bacon, So I Might as Well Get Fat Cupcakes..."Double-chocolate cupcakes served warm in a sugar-butter reduction; piped with icing braids of peanut butter, cream cheese, and fudge; and sprinkled with chocolate chips"

Chapter 7: How to Appear Outwardly Cool While Totally Freaking Out on the Inside Cupcakes..."Chilled vanilla cupcakes cored and filled with whipped vanilla buttercream and dark chocolate shavings, topped with vanilla icing and a sugared cucumber slice"

Chapter 23: Liar, Liar, Cakes on Fire..."Chocolate cayenne cupcakes topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and heart-shaped cinnamon Red Hots"

Also, I just wanted to say...why isn't this a YA favorite?  While my blog is not YA-centric...I do follow several YA blogs and I just wanna say - where were you guys on this one??  I'm just joking...a lot of gems can escape our eyes.  But y'all, you should seriously check this one out if you're in the mood for a wintery, foodie, contemporary YA novel - you won't be disappointed! 

4/5 stars

Foodie Fiction Review: The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Goodreads Summary:
In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world—no matter how out of place they feel.

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. Such as, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? And why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew—a reclusive, real-life gentle giant—she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.

Everyone in Mullaby adores Julia Winterson’s cakes—which is a good thing, because Julia can’t seem to stop baking them. She offers them to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also in the hope of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Flour, eggs, milk, and sugar . . . Baking is the only language the proud but vulnerable Julia has to communicate what is truly in her heart. But is it enough to call back to her those she’s hurt in the past?

Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

My thoughts:
Well, first off, it should be noted that I love all Sarah Addison Allen books...and since this was my first Allen novel, it holds a special place in my heart.  The Girl Who Chased the Moon has the highest element of magic in all of Allen's books (Garden Spells being a close second) so if you are a reader who cannot suspend disbelief...this might not be a novel for you.  However, I love the mystical bits - especially when mixed with the comfy elements of baking and BBQ!  One character has the ability to sense out sugar (thank goodness that is not a real ability because if I had it, my sweet tooth would be out of control)!  

Each character is endearing yet complex (they all have issues to overcome) which makes the reader want to discover what is behind the mysteries of Mullaby and it's residents all the more.  If you're looking for a fun, fluffy, romantic romp with some Southern foodie elements - look no further!  Highly recommended.


4/5 stars

Feb. Foodie Fiction Review: The School of Essential Ingredients

Goodreads Summary:
Reminiscent of Chocolat and Like Water for Chocolate, a gorgeously written novel about life, love, and the magic of food.

The School of Essential Ingredients follows the lives of eight students who gather in Lillian's Restaurant every Monday night for cooking class. It soon becomes clear, however, that each one seeks a recipe for something beyond the kitchen. Students include Claire, a young mother struggling with the demands of her family; Antonia, an Italian kitchen designer learning to adapt to life in America; and Tom, a widower mourning the loss of his wife to breast cancer. Chef Lillian, a woman whose connection with food is both soulful and exacting, helps them to create dishes whose flavor and techniques expand beyond the restaurant and into the secret corners of her students' lives. One by one the students are transformed by the aromas, flavors, and textures of Lillian's food, including a white-on-white cake that prompts wistful reflections on the sweet fragility of love and a peppery heirloom tomato sauce that seems to spark one romance but end another. Brought together by the power of food and companionship, the lives of the characters mingle and intertwine, united by the revealing nature of what can be created in the kitchen.

My thoughts:
One of the coziest, most wonderfully warm books I've ever read.  Of all the foodie fiction novels I've read thus far, this is my favorite.  I remember reading it in one sitting and being so surprised that this novel drew me in as much as it did.  You easily care for all of the characters in the book and getting to see how the cooking class is a catalyst for change in their lives is delightful!

Don't be surprised if this book has you rushing to your stove to whip up some food yourself!  In fact, I would highly recommend having something savory and delicious simmering while you read this novel, it will only enhance your reading experience.  This is the ultimate feel-good foodie book, highly recommended!

4/5 stars

Latest Review: Midnight in Austenland

Even better than Austenland!  This fun novel comes out today!

Goodreads Summary:
When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies. 

Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?  

The follow-up to reader favorite Austenland provides the same perfectly plotted pleasures, with a feisty new heroine, plenty of fresh and frightening twists, and the possibility of a romance that might just go beyond the proper bounds of Austen's world. How could it not turn out right in the end? 

My Thoughts:
Shannon Hale takes on both Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park in this fun romp!  If you've read Austenland you'll know that Hale does a great job at creating light-hearted modern takes on classic Austen novels.  She accomplishes this and more with Midnight in Austenland!  Hale had me biting my nails on the edge of my couch with all of the fun plot twists and turns.  I enjoy modern spins on either Northanger or Mansfield, as they are often overlooked for their more popular counterparts (shout out to P&P and S&S!).  Mansfield Park happens to be one of my favorite Austen novels so I really enjoyed Hale's updated version.

I highly recommend this not only to Austen lovers but to anyone in the mood for a fun and lighthearted mystery/romance!

4/5 stars.


*Disclosure: received a free ARC for review from the publisher

Latest Review: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

Goodreads Summary:
Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death and her family's bloody history.
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Yeine will learn how perilous it can be when love and hate - and gods and mortals - are bound inseparably together.

My thoughts:
This is not your average epic fantasy novel!  Political intrigue mixed with deities and humans - sign me up!  I've read some reviews where people have disliked the whole Gods/mortals aspect of the novel...I guess if that's the case then don't read this book.  I'm not sure what these individuals were expecting, but the entire storyline is about the Enefedah (Gods) and mortals.  Otherwise, I've seen nothing but well-deserved praise for this series!

I found The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms a bit difficult to get into at first.  I'm not sure if this was just my own reading frame of mind or if the first-person narration threw me off a bit.  Either way, the reader is floundering around along with Yeine in the beginning of the book.  While there is much foreshadowing, I was a bit lost (like Yeine) until I got further into the novel.  Once I got to the meat of the story I was hooked!  I definitely did some late-night reading with this chunkster. 

I really loved Yeine as a main character.  She was very easy to relate to and (thankfully!) was not a whiner - despite having some very tough circumstances thrust upon her.  I thought all of the characters were extremely well-drawn and my two favorites had to be T'vril (Yeine's only human friend in Sky) and Sieh (the child-like Enefedah).  I love that most of the characters in this book are neither entirely good nor bad (with the exception of the horrible Scimina).

Bottom line: I highly recommend to fantasy readers looking for something a bit different and to open-minded readers intrigued by a Gods/mortals storyline!

4/5 stars

This fulfills my Fantasy entry for the Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge as well as my Mount TBR Challenge!

Latest Review: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Goodreads Summary:
“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

My Thoughts:
This was the Btown Booksters December choice and I loved it - adorable contemporary Christmastime romance!  Perfect book to read for the hols.

This story really reflects current young folk culture...jeebus that makes me sound like an oldie :)  This book has hipsters, nerds, over-eager friends and everything in-between. 

I connected more with Dash over Lily (odd because I'm probably more similar to Lily).  I loved Dash's snarky attitude.  I suppose I identify with his critical demeanor more than Lily's overly innocent mindset - although I totally agree with her Christmas-loving nature (still, Halloween is better)!  Overall, it's a fun romantical holiday read that's akin to watching one of those well worn feel-good Christmas movies ("Love Actually," "It's a Wonderful Life," etc.).  I highly recommend this to those looking for a holiday read...completely endearing!

4/5 stars

Super-Shorty Reviews

My reviewing these days has just gone by the wayside...if I don't review a book immediately after I've read it then my motivation slowly wanes.  To remedy this slightly, I'll quickly shoot off some super-short reviews :)

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Goodreads Summary:
Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My thoughts:

• I liked it even better than Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss!
• If you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss (and are planning to) you may want to read it first as this book has spoilery characters from Anna in it.
• Adorable.  I loved both main characters in this book and their endearing quirks.
• If you like John Green, you'll probably like Stephanie Perkins.
• Read this if you're in the mood for a great contemporary YA romance :)
• 4/5 stars

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (sequel coming soon!)

Goodreads Summary:
Shades of Milk and Honey is exactly what we could expect from Jane Austen if she had been a fantasy writer: Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is an intimate portrait of a woman, Jane, and her quest for love in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality.

Jane and her sister Melody vie for the attentions of eligible men, and while Jane's skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face. When Jane realizes that one of Melody's suitors is set on taking advantage of her sister for the sake of her dowry, she pushes her skills to the limit of what her body can withstand in order to set things right--and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

My thoughts:

• If you're like me and love a) Jane Austen and b) fantasy - you will be smitten with this book!
• I adored Jane and liked the fact that she was admirable for her mind and skill rather than her looks.
• It was a fantastic and quick read with a lovely ending.  It's perfect as a stand-alone novel, but to my delight there is a sequel called Glamour in Glass coming out in April!
• 4/5 stars

Phew!  There we go, sorry for the abbreviated nature of these reviews but at least now I'm a bit caught up.  Coming soon - reviews of Dash & Lily's Book of Secrets and The Stupidest Angel.

Latest Review: The Sugar Queen

Goodreads Summary:
Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds it harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother…

Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey’s clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she’s going to change Josey’s life—because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey is soon forgoing pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding.

Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicably appear whenever she needs them, and—most amazing of all—has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush.

As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time—even for her. It seems that Della Lee’s work is done, and it’s time for her to move on. But the truth about where she’s going, why she showed up in the first place—and what Chloe has to do with it all—is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey’ s fast-changing life.

My thoughts:
As is true with all Sarah Addison Allen novels, I loved this book! This story has a very fairy-tale feel to it which is magnificently magical!   

The characters and setting are fantastic as usual.  I could empathize easily with both Josie and Chloe.  I've had my shy (and plump) moments in life and experiencing Josie's painful insecurities just makes her all the more endearing.  Chloe, while quite different from Josie, is also easy to feel an affinity with due to her love of books.  This reading experience is not unlike slowly savoring a sweet treat...you enjoy every second of it and when it's over, you just want more! 

Recommended to:

• Those who like magical realism books
• Those who like slightly romantical fluffy reads
• Those who can empathize with a shy and slightly overweight candy-lover
• Those who enjoy fairy-tales

4/5 stars

Latest Review: The Poison Throne

Goodreads Summary:
This is this year's most exciting crossover title. A Friend. A Father. A Kingdom. Which one would you sacrifice? This compelling trilogy of court intrigue, adventure and romance is a winning combination of imagination, powerful storytelling and magnificent characters. Fifteen-year-old Wynter Moorehawke returns home after a five-year sojourn in the bleak Northlands. All has changed in her absence. Wynter is forced to make a terrible choice: stay and bow to the King's will, or abandon her ailing father and join her friend Razi and the mysterious Christopher Garron in their efforts to restore the fragile kingdom to its former stability. But this changed kingdom is a dangerous place, where all resistance is brutally suppressed and the trio constantly risk assassination, torture or imprisonment. Atmospheric and intriguing, it evokes an enchanting and convincing other world - love, treachery, jealousy, tenderness, war, wisdom and court life are all vividly depicted. Set in a fantastical medieval Europe, "The Poison Throne" is a gothic tale of intrigue, adventure and romance which draws the reader in from the very first sentence and doesn't loosen its grip until the last.

My thoughts:
When I first started this book, I wasn't sure about it...the reader is thrust right into this fantasy world with little explanation.  It felt a bit strange to me to have no introductory world-building to make me more comfortable in this reading space.  However, as the story progresses your immersion begins to feel more complete and before you know it, you are completely engrossed!

Loooove Wynter!  Yay for another non-whiny strong female protagonist!  Razi and Christopher are wonderful characters as well and I anxiously flipped pages to see how these friends fare.  In fact, as soon as I finished the book, I immediately went to the library and picked up the sequel The Crowded Shadows.

If you are a fantasy-lover, enjoy strong characters and like tales of intrigue you'll love this book!  Highly recommended.

4/5 stars

Latest Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Goodreads Summary: 
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. 

Elisa is the chosen one. 

But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will. 

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. 

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
Most of the chosen do.

My thoughts:
I loved Elisa!  She was so easy to relate to and not at all unreasonably whiny (like many female protagonists seem to be).  Maybe one of the reasons that's true is she's not a skinny pretty girl who somehow has confidence issues but she's spoiled and fat (and knows it).  This is the first time I've ever read a fantasy adventure book with a plump heroine - how refreshing! 

All of the secondary characters are also well-drawn.  The desert scenery was vividly depicted and was as integral to the story as its characters.  There is much love and loss in this book and the pages fly by with the action-packed plot.

It is interesting to note how the author deals with skin-deep beauty.  While it's not overt, pay attention to how those that flaunt their attractiveness fare compared to those who are scarred or hide their beauty.  I can't say more without possibly being spoilery so I'll leave it at that!

If you like fantasy books, adventure stories, and/or a bit of mysticism than you will thoroughly enjoy this book!  Highly recommended.

4/5 stars

Review Catch-Up: Anna and the French Kiss, The Restorer, and The Iron King

Here are some super-shorty reviews of recent reads!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Goodreads Summary:
Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My Thoughts:

• Read it all in one sitting
• While it's a really cute love story - that's not the best part of the book.  The best part is the quirky and fun writing...a bit like that of John Green.
• For me personally, I loved that Anna is a movie-blogging wannabe film critic...I know the feeling :)
• 4/5 stars

The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

Goodreads Summary:

My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims—lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

My Thoughts:

• Super-fun...read it in a flash!
• Love Amelia and her unique profession of cemetery restoration.
• Devlin is one sexy and mysterious dude
• The book left me wanting much more...good thing it's just the first book of a new series (the sequel, The Kingdom, is expected to be out April 2012)!
• 4/5 stars

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Goodreads Summary:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home. 

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. 

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

My Thoughts:

• Another fast read :)
• If you're a lover of fairytales this is right up your alley!
• I'm not totally in love with the characters yet...but there are plenty of sequels allowing me to get to know them better.
• 3.5/5 stars