Category Book Reviews

Jan 15 2014
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Book Review: Sky Raiders by Brandon Mull

sky raidersTitle: Sky Raiders

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: Five Kingdoms #1

Genre: Middle Grade

Release Date: March 11, 2013

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: Cole Randolph was just trying to have a fun time with his friends on Halloween (and maybe get to know Jenna Hunt a little better). But when a spooky haunted house turns out to be a portal to something much creepier, Cole finds himself on an adventure on a whole different level. After Cole sees his friends whisked away to some mysterious place underneath the haunted house, he dives in after them and ends up in The Outskirts.

The Outskirts are made up of five kingdoms that lie between wakefulness and dreaming, reality and imagination, life and death. Its an in-between place. Some people are born there. Some find their way there from our world, or from other worlds. And once you come to the Outskirts, its very hard to leave. With the magic of the Outskirts starting to unravel, its up to Cole and an unusual girl named Mira to rescue his friends, set things right in the Outskirts, and hopefully find his way back home before his existence is forgotten.

sky raiders

The Review:

What a fun new series from Brandon Mull! Sky Raiders had everything I’ve come to expect from this author: truckloads of imagination, epic adventures, and characters who are so relatable they take you back to your childhood. Aside from JK Rowling, Mull is definitely my favorite middle grade author and I’m excited to see every new book from him get stronger and stronger.

As an adult, I definitely enjoyed Sky Raiders because the kids were quick-witted and the overall plot was complex enough to keep me engaged. It’s one of those books that gets interesting right away and really doesn’t let up until the end – perfect for kids who have a difficult time focusing long enough to read. While Fablehaven will always be my all time favorite from Mull, I’m thrilled that I now have another solid story to hand to kids looking for next great read.

As I’ve mentioned, Mull always has a great deal of imagination in the books he writes. I have found that, especially in children’s books, too much imagination can make the story a little too far-fetched and silly for my tastes. In this case, however, Mull created a new world where wacky, random things can be made real through a particular magic called “shaping.” Because this world had a solid set of rules, all the fantastical creations became feasible even if they were sometimes a bit random. Was it still a bit too much? For me, maybe a little; for a  ten-year-old (i.e. the target audience) it was perfect.

Overall, I really enjoyed Sky Raiders – it had many neat elements that I’m sure we’ve only scratched the surface of at this point. It’s one of the main reasons I’m eager to read on in this series – I can’t wait to find out more about the Five Kingdoms!

Recommended Reading: I would be eager hand this book to any kid who enjoys books with magic – especially ones who loved the Beyonders series by the same author. It’s definitely geared towards a younger audience, so I would probably only hand it to an adult if they mention they like middle grade titles.

Other books you might like:

Thank you Edelweiss for the chance to read and review this title!

by Niki Hawkes

Jan 9 2014
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Book Review: Outpost by Ann Aguirre

OutpostTitle: Outpost

Author: Ann Aguirre

Series: Razorland #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

The Overview: Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight. To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out. Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

Outpost

The Review:

Outpost might be my least favorite Aguirre book so far, and that saddens me because I am incredibly fond of this author. The book just didn’t sing to me like her other works have and I was left feeling depressed and wondering if I even wanted to continue on.

Aguirre has always been good at drawing readers in and making them feel like they are part of the story. In this case – a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested world – being a part of it was honestly the last thing I wanted to do. I had a hollow, sick feeling the whole time I was reading it because there were so many awful things happening. I’ve read plenty of gruesome, gory, and disturbing novels in the past but apparently have never read one written engagingly enough to ruin my day. I’ll grudgingly admit that’s actually a great thing from the author’s standpoint – her writing is nothing if not evoking. Even so, there were actually a couple more concrete reasons why Outpost wasn’t my favorite.

Most of those reasons revolve around story structure and plot decisions. The middle novel in a trilogy is usually where momentum starts to build towards some overall story arc. In Outpost, the story kind of just strolled along, maintaining a fairly narrow focus. Never throughout it did I feel like Aguirre was working towards anything in specific and therefore got kind of bored without anything broader conflicts driving the story (there were many excellent, often emotional narrow conflicts, but I feel as though the story could’ve been much stronger with both). Because the characters didn’t have anything to strive for other than just plain survival, it kind of left me feeling like there was no hope. In the first one, they at least had a brighter future to look forward to, but I missed having even a hint of that here.

If I do read on, it will be for love of the characters. I mentioned in my review of Enclave (and probably every other Aguirre review I’ve done) that this author is a master of profound characters. The main protagonists, Deuce, is a wonderfully complicated character because she’s trying to fit in a world much different from the one she grew up in. Not once did Deuce behave untrue to herself in order to fit the mold of a typical teen heroine, and I thought she was absolutely charming. I’m inclined to compare her to Katniss, but I feel that would do Deuce a disservice – she stands strong on her own and didn’t in any way feel like a knockoff. And her conflicts were compelling – she thought about things so differently than I would that it was completely fascinating. Throughout the story, she remained true to her roots while still managing to grow beyond them and adapt – it was awesome.

I should acknowledge that up until Outpost I had been reading dystopian after dystopian for several months running and was on the verge of getting burnt out in the genre. Let’s face it, they are not exactly what you call “uppers.” Outpost was sort of the last straw, convincing me that I needed to read something else for a while. Even so, I am fairly certain I will pick up the final book, Horde, if for nothing else than my love of the main character… Maybe not for a few months though – I still get depressed just thinking about this book.

Recommended Reading: I would suggest this to people who love zombie stories and teen books with an edge. Even though I’m most definitely not on the zombie bandwagon, I think others who are would really enjoy Aguirre’s take on them.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Jan 6 2014
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Book Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

these broken starsTitle: These Broken Stars

Authors: Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Series: Starbound #1

Genre: Teen Science Fiction

Rating: 2.5 stars

The Overview: It’s a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

these broken stars 2

The Review:

I requested These Broken Stars from Netgalley a week or so before its publication date (it had been available for months) for two main reasons: I finally figured out it was a teen sci-fi (which is a new trend I’m loving) and because almost all the book bloggers I follow were raving about it. Usually, word in the book blogosphere is fairly reliable because most of the bloggers are incredibly well read in their chosen genres. Even so, it’s always dangerous to pick up something with high expectations and, for this novel, blown away I was not.

Keep in mind that my taste for books extend beyond the teen genre and I have read and loved many adult science fiction novels – many of which involved humans trying to survive in alien-infested hostile worlds. I think I went into it expecting a world at least somewhat different from our own… and instead was given a landscape practically indistinguishable from any wooded area in the Western United States, and very minuscule alien interactions. The technology was at least futuristic, but nothing truly groundbreaking.

You can see how certain expectations going into a book can really affect your enjoyment of it. If I had gone in wanting a teen love story with a slight science-fiction influence (as I’m sure most readers did) I think I would’ve liked it a lot more. Expectations aside, however, I noted a few other things that could have made the story stronger. For example, the authors spend an exorbitant amount of time having the protagonists bicker at one another. At first, it added a little extra drama to the story, but then the ship crashed (making survival, in my opinion, a much more important conflict) and yet the faux dislike act between Lilac and Tarver continued to be the main arc through most of the book. It came across a bit silly and superficial considering the circumstances and I think it could’ve been toned down considerably without losing any impact.

At least there were some things I really enjoyed about These Broken Stars, the writing style the most prominent of them. It was written in a highly engaging manner that made you want to drop everything and find out what happened next. Once I knew what to expect, I allowed it to take me where it would and really appreciated how seamlessly the story unfolded. I also enjoyed the connection between the two characters (after they finally stopped bickering) and thought their true personalities and relationship was the strongest part of the novel. Each perspective was evoking, allowing you to really put yourself in their shoes and feel what they were feeling.

Overall, I am pretty sure I am mostly alone in my slightly underwhelming appraisal of this book, so if you’re planning on reading it, take my review with a grain of salt. I’ve read at least half a dozen other reviews from people who absolutely loved it – many of whom included it as one of their top ten books of the year.

Recommended Reading: I would hand this book to someone who wants an epic love story; someone who also likes teen books with a bit of action/adventure. For me, it didn’t really capture that sci-fi feel that other teen books like Alienated or even Zenn Scarlett have done, so I would not emphasize that as a selling point.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Jan 3 2014
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The Obsessive Bookseller Takes on a Bookish Q&A

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Hosted by The Mile Long Bookshelf, challenged by Chanzie at Mean Who You Are

How old are you?

27… for a few more weeks.

What books are you reading?

I always have several going at once (just look at my Goodreads profile)

What are you wearing?

This is a creepy question. ;)

One True Pairing?

I think this question is wondering which series I was born to read, and I’d have to say anything by Robin Hobb.

Blogger or WordPress?

I’ve worked with both but prefer WordPress… It’s prettier.

Do you prefer going outside and being active or staying in and reading a book?

you’re really asking the wrong person this, but I will say if I have a choice I prefer to combine the two.

What is the last book you read?

Throne of Glass – it was every bit as good as everybody said it was!

What is the book you’re going to read next?

caliban's war

Caliban’s War, book 2 in Corey’s Leviathan Wakes series… I’m in the mood for a great space opera!

E-books – yes or no?

Definitely – it makes it so much more convenient for road trips and even at work. I’m super anal about the condition of my books, so the ereader allows me to leave them at home where there safe and sound! I will say, if I loved an e-book I always eventually buy it in hardcopy.

Where do you prefer to read?

Anywhere I can recline and put my feet up. Preferably with animals and/or husband snuggled nearby.

Whose blog did you look at last?

Blog of Erised and Speculating on SpecFic

Who is your favorite book blogger?

This is a toughie because I have several that I visit frequently (and love) but two bloggers from the previous question are the ones who consistently blog about the books I’m most interested in.

What do you do when someone tells you reading is boring?

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Who is the last published author you spoke to?

Kimberly Derting… who might be my new hero – she’s hilarious!

Who is your all-time favorite book character?

kahlan_amnell_wallpaper_by_radillacviii-d2yudf9

Hands down, Kahlan from the Sword of Truth series by Goodkind.

If you hated reading, what would you be doing instead?

I’d like to say out playing sports or creating my next artistic masterpiece, but I would probably be watching TV (although I do a fair bit of that now).

How many bookshelves/bookcases do you have? 

12… here’s a few:

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(Aren’t they pretty?)

If you have the choice to meet all of your favorite book bloggers or all of your favorite authors, which would you pick?

Let’s face it, all of you awesome book bloggers out there are a heckuva lot easier to get in touch with than all of my favorite authors… I promise to bring you back some signed copies for some giveaways, though.

Insta loves – yes or no?

It depends entirely on how it’s done. As a reader, I have to be able to see at least a few compelling reasons why the characters are so suddenly drawn together. It also has to make sense within the story – I’m not big on a love story just for the sake of having one. My husband and I came together with a sort of insta love, so I know the draw between two people can be really powerful right from the beginning.

Favorite author?

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Richelle Mead… particularly for her Succubus series. Although I will say I am incredibly fond of Patrick Rothfuss.

What is the number one book on your wish list?

I want a hardcover edition of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss for my collection.

Do you prefer books with female or male protagonists?

It actually came as a shock to me to discover that several of my blogging friends don’t like books with male protagonists. I’m more interested in story and strength of character than gender and have loved books with both male and female leads.

Which is your favorite book to film adaptation?

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The Lord of the Rings, extended editions! Although I will say the way they portrayed Hunger Games and Catching Fire knocked my socks off!

Which do you enjoy writing more – negative reviews or positive reviews? 

I absolutely enjoy the finished product of positive reviews more, but they tend to take five times longer than the negative ones. I feel compelled to get the wording just right to convey exactly how amazing the book was for me.

Who are you going to tag?

I don’t think I’m going to tag anybody specifically for this challenge, but I always love learning more about my fellow book bloggers so feel free to participate!

Jan 1 2014
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Book Review: Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

Sea witchTitle: Sea Witch

Author: Virginia Kantra

Series: The Children of the Sea #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Rating: 3/5 stars

The Overview: Margred is a Selkie – a legendary being of the sea, able to shapeshift into seductive human form. And she has found a human she desires… Burned out from the big city, Caleb Hunter becomes police chief on the peaceful Maine island of World’s End. Then he meets a woman who’s everything he’s ever dreamed of. Their passion is undeniable, irresistible …and it may change the fate of humankind.

Sea witch

The Review:

It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a good old paranormal romance, but after reading several rather depressing dystopians and post-apocalyptic novels, it was just what the doctor ordered: something lighthearted.

I don’t usually read romances for epic world building or complex plot lines, but rather for the mindless entertainment that I let take me where it will. I guess it’s safe to say I go in with low expectations. It sounds horrible, but when I try to hold romances to the same standard I hold most urban fantasies, they always seem to come up short. It’s not that they’re poorly written or anything, it’s just that their objectives and target audiences are just different. They are not supposed to make you think, they are supposed to make you feel while two characters struggle towards their happily ever after. And while urban fantasies and even high fantasies often have relationship development as an integral part of their plots, it is very rarely the overall arc of the story.

Anyway, down to specifics: despite my lower expectations, Sea Witch was actually a pretty entertaining read. There was a good mix of mystery, character development, and romance. It was also fairly steamy – with lots of sexual tension even though the relationship was, shall we say, fast-moving. It helped that I liked the characters (a must in any genre), but was pleasantly surprised by the presence of a decent villain. Although the world building wasn’t profound, it was interesting – having just enough magic to keep me enticed.

Overall, of the romances I’ve read, Sea Change was one of the better ones. Kantra impressed me with her writing, and presented all the typical romance elements in a way that was fun and engaging.

Recommended Reading: I always feel weird recommending romances to customers because you never know who wants the more “wholesome” novels or the more erotic ones… and I never feel like it’s my business to ask (nor do I really want to know). Sea Witch was on the tamer side, say 3/10 on the “steaminess” scale.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Dec 28 2013
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Book Review: Skinned by Robin Wasserman

SkinnedTitle: Skinned

Author: Robin Wasserman

Series: Cold Awakening #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: The Download was supposed to change the world. It was supposed to mean the end of aging, the end of death, the birth of a new humanity. But it wasn’t supposed to happen to someone like Lia Kahn. And it wasn’t supposed to ruin her life.

Lia knows she should be grateful she didn’t die in the accident. The Download saved her–but it also changed her, forever. She can deal with being a freak. She can deal with the fear in her parents’ eyes and the way her boyfriend flinches at her touch. But she can’t deal with what she knows, deep down, every time she forces herself to look in the mirror: She’s not the same person she used to be.

Maybe she’s not even a person at all.

Skinned

The Review:

This is another book that I’ve read before, but it was so many years ago that the second and third books in the trilogy hadn’t even come out yet. I’ve mentioned recently that I don’t often reread books but sometimes it can’t be helped when I want to continue on but there are too many things I’ve forgotten about the first book’s (it really irritates me when that happens – I guess I need to stop reading them before they’re all released #booknerdproblems101). Anyway, because I was on a major dystopian kick this year and kept noticing them sitting pretty in hardcover on my shelves, I decided it was time to give them another go.

This reread was kind of an odd decision because I only mildly enjoyed Skinned the first time around. Here’s the thing, this book is definitely not an “upper” by any stretch of the word, and I found it a difficult read because of the subject matter. There were a lot of elements that were raw, gritty and downright heart-wrenching, and I don’t think my innocent eighteen-year-old self was quite equipped to handle it at the time. This time around, however, I found it completely engrossing. Wasserman used strong imagery and sensations to really make me  feel what Lia was going through. It was superb – I truly felt like I was getting dragged through the mud with the character. I have also learned a lot about writing since then, and can now appreciate it for the beautiful piece of work that it is.

Lia, while not relatable in any way, was totally fascinating and I think that’s why I liked reading about her. It amazed me how much I could be angry on her behalf even though a lot of her conflicts involved her reaping what she had sewn. There was just so many negative things thrown her way… her pain sort of jumped off the page and made me believe that, despite her flaws, she didn’t deserve all she got.

The book also had a lot of great futuristic world building. It was a somewhat cheeky nod to the parts of our society headed down dangerous paths (sort of like the overweight people lounging around the spaceship in the movie WALL-E). I liked that it wasn’t totally unfeasible. In Lia’s world it was clear that not all people led these extravagant lifestyles, just the privileged (which left a lot of room for Wasserman to make it outrageous). It wasn’t preachy by any means, but thought-provoking.

Despite all of the positives, Skinned was still a depressing read. I plan to continue on in the series this time, but there’d better be some sort of silver lining somewhere in the second book or a might have to throw in the towel on the account of too much emotional turmoil.

Recommended Reading: I personally read to escape reality, not to be dragged through the dregs of it, so this one was a stretch for me. Because of that, I would be wary recommending this to other readers even though it had elements that were truly special. This is a book for readers who don’t mind sifting through the grit for some beautiful writing.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes