I won this book via a blog interview and had NO IDEA how much I was going to love it. It took over my weekend, derailed by own writing, and I didn't wI won this book via a blog interview and had NO IDEA how much I was going to love it. It took over my weekend, derailed by own writing, and I didn't want it to end. My love of history -- and lost times like Hawaii before the annexation -- combine with my love of time travel stories for a twisty, complicated plot line. But mostly I love Nix. She is genuine and good-hearted and although there is a bit of a romantic triangle, her most important relationship is with her father....more
Soul Cutter is an engaging and well-written page turner in the YA horror genre. It's got a little bit of the paranormal romance going on, but I was deSoul Cutter is an engaging and well-written page turner in the YA horror genre. It's got a little bit of the paranormal romance going on, but I was delighted to discover the story is mostly HORROR in a modern but exotic setting. It's about time the YA crowd left Western society and explored the Middle East. I loved the blend of Middle Eastern culture/superstition with modern mores. And I especially loved the that overused Egyptian mythology was absent. The legends here were all new to me -- and riveting!
Yes, I was scared at parts. Yes, I was surprised. Yes, I think you should read it!...more
I read an early draft of this book and loved it then. I loved it again when I read the finished book AND there were some surprises waiting for me! TheI read an early draft of this book and loved it then. I loved it again when I read the finished book AND there were some surprises waiting for me! The changes only made this supernatural mystery romance even better. Can't wait for Jaime Loren's next book!...more
Wow -- what a book! I was captivated from the first sentence to the last. I think Sage must be the trickiest narrator/protagonist I've met since Julie Wow -- what a book! I was captivated from the first sentence to the last. I think Sage must be the trickiest narrator/protagonist I've met since Julie in Code Name Verity....more
Wow -- just wow! I'm sorry I finished it now. I wish there was more to read.Wow -- just wow! I'm sorry I finished it now. I wish there was more to read....more
I admit it; I didn't know how BIG Beautiful Creatures was when I ordered it. When it arrived, I said, "Holy Cow!" and then it sat on my shelf for a loI admit it; I didn't know how BIG Beautiful Creatures was when I ordered it. When it arrived, I said, "Holy Cow!" and then it sat on my shelf for a long time, because I just didn't have the time or inclination to tackle a 600 page book.
Then I finally picked it up and opened it. Guess what? I made time.
Beautiful Creatures is a real treat -- a gothic mystery/romance that mixes historical/paranormal/and romance genres into a lovely package. I especially appreciated the beautiful style of writing, especially since I have recently read too many YA books that are narrated as though the protagonist is texting the reader. There's a little bit of everything here -- witchcraft, vampires, creatures of legend like sirens and seers and incubi, a family curse, a star-crossed romance, small town prejudice, voodooo ... You name it; it's in here.
And the best part is: this incredible mix of elements works because Ethan and Lena are charming. Their passion and their special connection are endearing. Move over Bella and Edward!
I look forward to more from these authors ... and based on the ending, there is going to be more....more
This was a strange book, and not at all what I was expecting. The prologue turned me off so much I put the book aside for a couple weeks and had to foThis was a strange book, and not at all what I was expecting. The prologue turned me off so much I put the book aside for a couple weeks and had to force myself back to it. It wasn’t until Chapt 5 that I really became interested in the characters and the story, although I began to enjoy it after that point.
The prologue hammered me with too many characters and a situation so complex that it confused me to no end. I rather wish the author had not used it as a prologue, but simply inserted it chronologically in the plot where it belonged.
The first couple chapters continued in the same vein, offering expository dialogue that seemed designed to explain the family to the reader. I would rather have had the narrator explain it directly than give it to us in difficult-to-believe dialogue. And Leigh Ann did have a strange family situation: She was half-Cherokee, although she didn’t know it. Her father was slowly succumbing to dementia, and her mother had abandoned the family years ago for a succession of flings with powerful/rich men. Leigh Ann was raised by her older siblings Louis, Teddy, and Viola. The father, while still living, had little authority in the house, and the harridan of a mother showed up periodically to berate her children and hit them with a riding crop (which she carries in almost every scene).
Add to all of this the Civil War, the arrest of the mill-workers by the Northern army, an illicit plan to ransom the mill-owner’s wife and sisters back to him, Leigh Ann masquerading as a boy for part of the novel, and a mystical owl sent by Leigh Ann’s brother – and you have an awful lot of stuff for one 300 page novel. I did care about these characters, but I wish the author had either left out some of these plot strands … or written a longer book that did them all justice. ...more
I'm a longtime Margaret Peterson Haddix fan, starting with her first book Running Out of Time. I still use that one periodically in my fifth grade reaI'm a longtime Margaret Peterson Haddix fan, starting with her first book Running Out of Time. I still use that one periodically in my fifth grade reading class. I have also enjoyed her Among the Hidden series, and I especially enjoyed her recent book Found. I had mixed feelings about Claim to Fame, however.
There were parts of the book that were creepy, and when I realized that the little town of Springdale was not exactly what it appeared to be, I had a quick flashback to the village of Clifton in Running Out of Time. And I definitely appreciated the theme, which revolved around the self-absorbed nature of teenagers and our media-conscious society.
Yet, I found the plot and character development a little uneven. There isn't a lot of suspense to the story, and Lindsay's worst nightmare is nothing more than an elderly neighbor woman who might discover more than she is willing for people to know. The tie to transcendentalism is interesting, but perhaps over the heads of the target audience. I found myself wishing Haddix had taken a different tack to the story - there seemed to be many possibilities that were not fully explored: the safe houses, the inmates in mental hospitals, the founders of Springdale, and the history of Lindsay herself. The supporting characters of Roz and Toby never gelled for me. I would have given them up willingly in favor of other characters tied to the secret of Springdale. ...more
In The Julian Game, a Facebook prank turns into a campaign of online bullying at an all girl's prep school on the Main Line of Philadelphia. I receiveIn The Julian Game, a Facebook prank turns into a campaign of online bullying at an all girl's prep school on the Main Line of Philadelphia. I received an ARC of this book, and before I could read it, my 13 year old daughter disappeared with it -- drawn by the fascinating cover. Luckily, it didn't take long to get it back: she finished it in a single afternoon, completely unable to put it down. As a new Facebook user herself, she was sucked into the subject matter and hopefully came away from the book a little wiser.
Adele Griffin's writing is a pleasure to read -- smooth and vibrant and compelling. There were times when I suffered from serious sentence envy.
Ring leader Ella Parker was a fascinating study in the role of chief bad girl at Fulton. Her quirky and compulsive behaviors -- ritual tapping, gloves, and catch-phrases -- bring a strange depth to her character. Our narrator Raye is believable and sympathetic. We see her making mistakes -- even knowingly making mistakes for the chance at being more popular -- and we sympathize, even while knowing it will all go wrong for her. I loved the ending -- because Griffin does not take the cheap and easy way out (the Hollywood ending where every bad guy gets their comeuppance). The Julian Game ends the way real life problems end ... with one small step toward emotional maturity and lots of new possibilities....more
When we meet Maeve Leahy in the opening chapters of the book, it is clear that she is only half-living her life. She bleaches all color out of her haiWhen we meet Maeve Leahy in the opening chapters of the book, it is clear that she is only half-living her life. She bleaches all color out of her hair, denying her natural vibrant red, and the case to her beloved saxophone resides under her bed, out of sight. She has almost no social life and spurns the advances of men. And she is tormented by the music of a piano playing in her mind, along with a scratchy sound that resembles radio static. Her roommate Kit urges her to see a neurologist, but Maeve knows that these haunting sounds are “remnants of a previous life.”
Interspersed with the narrative of the grown-up Maeve Leahy are glimpses of her life growing up in Maine with her twin sister Moira. Reading these interludes, readers understand just how much Maeve has changed – and lost. Young Maeve is a firebrand, a lively and outgoing child full of life, a musical prodigy. It is her twin sister Moira, with whom she shares a psychic bond, who is the shy, tentative, reflective one.
When the adult Maeve buys a keris, an Indonesian dagger often thought to have spiritual awareness, at an auction house, she inadvertently launches herself on a journey into her own past. The keris reminds her of a blade she lost as a child, and when a book on Javanese weaponry is nailed to her door, she realizes that someone has been following her ever since she acquired the blade. Maeve’s search for meaning in the blade will lead her to Rome – and possibly into the arms of the man she has loved for years. Meanwhile, the interspersed chapters from her past slowly reveal to the reader how shy Moira’s attempts to break out of her timid character ultimately led her to disaster.
Therese Walsh has written a beautiful debut novel, full of vibrant characters who will haunt you. Maeve’s past – her relationship with her sister, her mother, the boy-next-door -- is heart-rending, but so is her present, in which she denies part of her own soul as some sort of penance for past mistakes. We root for Maeve to come to terms with her loss, to open herself to the man she so obviously loves, and meanwhile we read on hungrily, waiting to discover exactly what happened to Moira and what she has “willed” to her beloved sister. ...more
4.5 stars. Scavenger of Souls is a fantastic sequel to Survival Colony 9. The unanswered questions of that book – What are the Skaldi? Where did they 4.5 stars. Scavenger of Souls is a fantastic sequel to Survival Colony 9. The unanswered questions of that book – What are the Skaldi? Where did they come from? Why did Aleka keep her relationship with Querry secret? – are revealed one after the other as a giant conspiracy putting the entire world at risk is unraveled.
Querry continues to be an admirable and worthy protagonist. Thrust by circumstances into a role of leadership, his decisions are always guided by the best interests of his colony, even to the point of self-sacrifice, and even in the face of devastating revelations about his personal history. At some points, I wondered how much more heartbreak Querry could take before he crumbled.
The one thing I missed was the sense of creepiness and horror from the previous book. The scientific premise behind the Skaldi is fascinating, but an enemy explained is not as scary as an unknowable one. The most frightening part of the book is not the Skaldi, but the megalomaniac humans who compound error after error and never doubt their right to make decisions that put mankind at risk. No monster can ever be as terrifying as a human leader with no humility and no doubt in his own greatness. (Today’s political climate made this part of the book even scarier.) Querry, with his guilt and self-doubt and willingness to sacrifice himself, is the kind of leader we need to see more of.
A must read for fans of Survival Colony 9. ...more
This charming novel in verse, set in the early 1960s, brought me to tears numerous times, and I am not normally someone who reads magical realism or wThis charming novel in verse, set in the early 1960s, brought me to tears numerous times, and I am not normally someone who reads magical realism or who likes my “heart warmed.” But Jack is an engaging and endearing protagonist, greatly worried about his father, MIA in Viet Nam, and not at all convinced that spending the summer with his grandparents is going to take his mind off his troubles. Enter Jill, a spunky new friend, who has her own problem – a bully brother – and a one-eyed fish they name Fred. Does Fred really grant wishes when they toss him back in the pond? It’s easy to chalk it up to coincidence … at first.
Jill’s “speak first, think later” attitude makes a wonderful foil for Jack’s more hesitant, thoughtful approach to this possible miracle. He’s read the cautionary tale of The Monkey’s Paw, after all, and knows that simply wishing his father home might result in unintended consequences – especially after Jill’s ill-considered wishes repeatedly throw her life into turmoil. The more wishes they spend on Jill’s ever-spiraling problems, the less they have for saving Jack’s dad … if Jack even finds courage enough to try.
Surprising, delightful, and yes, darn it, heart-warming. Highly recommended. ...more
Ten-year-old Tracy Tam has a hypothesis, based on the slogan of the Santa Commission: “Even magic needs a helping hand.” But her hypothesis is that thTen-year-old Tracy Tam has a hypothesis, based on the slogan of the Santa Commission: “Even magic needs a helping hand.” But her hypothesis is that there’s no such thing as magic at all, only science that is disguised or undiscovered. That’s why she sets out on Christmas Eve to gather evidence for the science behind Santa Claus – that and the little matter of a state science fair with enough prize money to pay for her cousin’s desperately needed operation. But what starts as a science experiment gets wildly out of hand. Why does Santa behave like a mindless zombie? What are the reindeer REALLY? And when Tracy’s unauthorized trip in Santa’s sleigh ends with her being chased off a rooftop by wolves, her “science experiment” puts all of Christmas in jeopardy.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is how scientific principles are employed in an engaging story, while still allowing for the possibility of magic.
An excerpt: “Okay,” Beth said as if the matter was settled. “How about we say it was magic?” “How about we don’t?” Tracy whipped out a tiny notebook and pen and scribbled something down. “I’ve given you my hypothesis –” “And I’ve proven your hypothesis incorrect. When that happens, you need to modify it.” “Modify it to what?” “I gave you an alternative theory.” Beth took Tracy’s notebook and scribbled the word ‘magic.’
Tracy Tam is an entertaining holiday read with a stubbornly scientific protagonist, a smattering of ornery “elves,” a few over-worked and over-worried Santa Command employees, one grieving and angry boy, a little bit of golden magic … and yes, I wiped away a few tears at the end....more
First of all, this book is only just barely science fiction, but within a chapter or two, you won't care HOW the characters manage to travel in time, First of all, this book is only just barely science fiction, but within a chapter or two, you won't care HOW the characters manage to travel in time, as long as they continue to do so.
Secondly, if you want to make it past Chapter One, you have to give up all effort to make sense out of the narrator. He is suffering from extreme "time lag," symptoms of which include auditory and visual disorientation, as well as a tendency to lapse into flowery prose. He doesn't know where the Bishop's Bird Stump is, and you don't know WHAT it is. So forget about it. You're not going to find out what it is until halfway through the novel, and even then, you won't guess WHERE it is.
Just give up trying to figure everything out, lay back, and enjoy the relaxing trip down the Thames, with Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog.) Soon enough you will be completely caught up in this tale of cats (drowned or not?), seances, butlers, penwipers, jumble sales, and antimacassars (I had to look that one up.) By the time Ned recovers his senses, you will be hooked.
I have read this book over and over and loved it every single time, which is more than I can say for The Doomesday Book, which, while also brilliant, was too sad to be repeated. ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Lydon Simonsen’s newest novel, The Second Date, because so much of it was familiar to me – the formal living room that is neI thoroughly enjoyed Mary Lydon Simonsen’s newest novel, The Second Date, because so much of it was familiar to me – the formal living room that is never used, the wooden spoon utilized as a weapon, the horror of a son or daughter bringing home a Jewish date, and the Italian-American Club. For any reader who grew up in an Italian-American community in the 80’s or 90’s, The Second Date is full of stories that are delightful and reminiscent of a time not so far gone. You might even recognize some of the characters!
Sonia Amundsen doesn’t look Italian – and her name certainly doesn’t sound Italian – but she is. No one can understand why Sonia – tall, blonde, beautiful, loving, and intelligent – is nearing her thirtieth birthday and hasn’t yet found true love. Helpful friends and relative set her up on a series of blind dates, which Sonia views as excellent fodder for the novels she writes, but not a likely source of romance for herself. In fact, Sonia has never gone on a second date with any of these men and now views The Second Date almost superstitiously as the hallmark of Mr. Right.
The Second Date is more than just a comedy romance revolving around Sonia’s dating adventures and the advent of the fellow who just might be her perfect match – it is an endearing web of family stories. Simonsen’s narrative wends its way through Sonia’s family history, diverting occasionally into the stories of neighbors and friends. If you grew up in an Italian-American family, you’ll immediately understand the references to “cash dances” at a wedding, plastic covers on the living room furniture, finished basements, and the power struggle over who cooks Thanksgiving dinner. You might just have your own Aunt Gina and Aunt Angie, who can be counted on for rival hysterics at any family funeral, as well as your own cousin Sal, the matchmaker.
And if you aren’t Italian-American, then this book will show you all the fun you’ve been missing. ...more
Growing up in the era of 70's horror films and comic books, Mark Arsenault knows perfectly well that the dark monster lurking within him, struggling tGrowing up in the era of 70's horror films and comic books, Mark Arsenault knows perfectly well that the dark monster lurking within him, struggling to get out, is properly called a "werewolf." Yet, he does not fit all the classic descriptions of a werewolf - "It" wants out all the time, not only during a full moon, and the touch of silver does no harm to him. Also, no part of the werewolf legend can account for the Ghost - a shadowy but familiar figure which tries to guide and educate him - or his occasional glimpses of the future.
The government psychologist who treats him, ever since Mark nearly killed a band of teenage boys who assaulted him, seems to know more than he's telling about Mark's condition. Dr. Simmons offers refuge at a special government camp for "hyper-aggressive boys" like Mark, but "Ghost" keeps warning him that dire consequences will result if Mark agrees to go ...
Shifted is more than a werewolf story. While drawing on some classic elements of your typical werewolf legend, Colin D. Jones's novel breaks new ground in the genre, producing a theory for lycanthropy that incorporates quantum physics and the multiverse theory and even traces its roots back to the Viking ulfhedinn, or berserkers. The result is a taut, well-developed novel that is more science fiction than horror and completely enjoyable by a wide range of readers....more
Bought this book with Audible because I thought my husband and I would both enjoy listening to it on a series of road trips we have planned for this fBought this book with Audible because I thought my husband and I would both enjoy listening to it on a series of road trips we have planned for this fall. I loved, LOVED Superposition by David Walton, and my husband (who is a hard sell) enjoyed it as well. We are 4 hours into listening to The Genius Plague after our first trip, and I'm not only enjoying it so far, I'm impatient because we won't get back to it for 2 weeks!!!
Unless I cheat and read ahead. Which I won't. Probably. Maybe....more
Searching for Pemberley is a historical romance of complexity and depth, with skillfully layered characters that readers will remember for a long timeSearching for Pemberley is a historical romance of complexity and depth, with skillfully layered characters that readers will remember for a long time. Author Mary Simonsen intricately weaves multiple timelines of British history – the Regency era and both World Wars – while exploring three different historical romances.
The first is the courtship of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Narrator Maggie Joyce, a young American living in post-World War II England, visits a Regency-era home that may have been the inspiration for the stately home of Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen’s famous novel. Maggie’s interest in the family who may have inspired Austen’s timeless book Pride and Prejudice blossoms into an enduring friendship with the British couple who have kept and catalogued the family letters and diaries. Through these historical documents, readers are treated to a retelling of the P & P story, with characters and events just different enough from the Austen novel to keep things interesting. Soon, however, we become immersed in the story of the British couple themselves, Beth and Jack Crowell. Beth is a descendent of the Darcy family (here named Lacey) and Jack is the son of her family’s butler. Their class-breaking romance is set against the back-drop of World War I, when a generation of young Englishmen were killed, maimed, or emotionally-scarred by the horrors of war. Add to this a burgeoning love triangle between the narrator herself and two servicemen – a dashing American flyer and a sergeant in the Royal Air Force who may be a descendant of the original Mr. Darcy – and the result is a truly wonderful romantic novel.
I read the original, self-published version of this novel, Pemberley Remembered, and enjoyed it very much. This newer, enriched version, published by Sourcebooks in December 2009, is superior, however, in that it weaves multiple layers of history and romance into a compelling tale and satisfactorily wraps up a narrative that was left open-ended in the original book. Simonsen has created characters who tug at your heart and skillfully paints an emotional picture of the devastation of war. When Jack Crowell, who lost a brother and two brothers-in-law in the first war, reacts to the news that his younger son has been assigned to combat in Burma, I was reduced to tears. However, there were also plenty of joyful and truly funny moments, such as a diary entry in which “Mrs. Bennet” gives advice on the marriage bed to her daughters and a humorous retelling of eldest Crowell son facing a “privacy hole” cut into the bedcovers on his wedding night in Italy.
As the focus of the book gradually shifts from the distant romance of Pride and Prejudice fame to the life-changing decisions of young Maggie Joyce, readers will find themselves swept along on a rich backdrop of history and personable, enduring characters. ...more
Mary Maddox’s tightly woven thriller is a smooth read, with clear vivid narration and fully formed characters. A sadistic serial killer follows his chMary Maddox’s tightly woven thriller is a smooth read, with clear vivid narration and fully formed characters. A sadistic serial killer follows his chosen, teenage victim to a remote lodge in Utah, where she is spending the summer with the owners, her aunt and uncle. When Lisa meets Lu Jakes, the abused and timid daughter of an employee at the lodge, the stalking killer decides that two victims could be better than one. Lu Jakes is particularly interesting to him because she is already dazed and down-trodden. He considers her easy prey. Little does he know that Lu sees things others do not – shining ethereal creatures called Delatar, Black Claw, and Talion.
Writing in third person narration, from multiple perspectives, Maddox has used the clever strategy of placing narration from Lu’s perspective in present tense, while everyone else’s perspective is past tense. This serves to make the text surrounding Lu just a little disjointed from the other scenes – as if she doesn’t quite share the same timeline as everyone else. Are they angels, demons, or the hallucinations of a mentally ill girl? Whatever they are, they are the one thing the killer does not expect from his victim.
Despite the teenaged protagonists, this is an adult thriller, with violence on par with Thomas Harris, and not for the squeamish. It was fast paced, compelling, and yes, frightening. Particularly horrifying to me was the easy way the killer gathered information about his intended victim through online surveillance. I thought the supernatural element in the story could have been more fully developed, but overall, this is an exciting and satisfying suspense novel. ...more
The Clone Codes should have been a fantastic book. The setting and premise are promising – a future world where clones and cyborgs are treated as propThe Clone Codes should have been a fantastic book. The setting and premise are promising – a future world where clones and cyborgs are treated as property and less-than-human. An underground organization, deliberately compared to the Underground Railroad on the nineteenth century, strives to win personal rights for all human beings, and members find themselves declared enemies of the state. Leanna Deberry, a teenage girl clone who was raised as a human, represents the sole proof that second-generation beings are equal to their progenitors.
In my opinion, it’s the style of writing that diminishes this wonderful premise into a 3-star book. In the belief that young readers have no patience, the authors have rushed to dump us immediately into the danger-escape-chase mode, without taking the time to build a setting full of richly drawn characters we care about. I found the writing extremely bumpy at the beginning. I believe that readers delving into science fiction and fantasy need to be given time and space to suspend their disbelief. The book should draw you in gently until you are willing to believe whatever the narration gives you. Instead, while reading The Clone Codes, I found myself saying, “C’mon now! Do you expect me to buy this?”
Throw in some aliens where none are really needed, and include the unfortunate fact that there are few surprises in the book (every big reveal was something that I’d seen coming for a long time) and readers may be left with a disappointment. ...more