This topic is in no way, shape, or form even close to what it was supposed to be (Top Ten Characters I’d Have Lunch With) because my Top Ten Favorite Character Names and Top Ten Female Characters Who Inspire Me lists pretty much covered everything I wanted to say on the subject. Therefore, I am taking a personal angle this week by naming the:
Top Ten Books I’m Taking on My Cruise!
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
Ruins by Dan Wells
A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison
Havoc by Ann Aguirre
In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis
Shaman’s Crossing by Robin Hobb
Gauntlygrym by R.A. Salvatore
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
October 21, 2014
All of these titles are on my Nook, which is why this post is significantly different than my Top Ten Books on My Fall 2014 list coming up in a couple of weeks. I have been beating myself up for months for not having read some of these titles, so the fact that I am limited to just what’s on my Nook while on vacation actually has me excited that I stalled on reading them for so long. Our Alaskan cruise is going to be amazing (pictures to come), and I’ve somehow managed to save some of the best books to take along!
Have you read any of these? Which one should I start?
The Overview:Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king’s army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince’s guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can’t prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.
The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she’s sworn to protect?
The Review:
I picked up Defy kind of on a whim because I came across it at the library while planning for my upcoming trip to the Vegas Valley Book Festival in October. You see, Larson is scheduled to be at that event, and I’m trying to read all of the books that sound interesting before going. While Defy was definitely on my “books I’m interested in” list, it wasn’t near the top… but now I’m thinking maybe it should’ve been.
Every once in a while I’m lucky enough to pick up a book that fits my mood perfectly at that moment. I enjoyed Defy thoroughly while I was reading it (which is arguably the most important part), but when I examined its elements critically afterwards, several objections arose. Normally reflection just reinforces the opinions I formed while reading, but in this case, it kind of knocked Defy off its pedestal.
Defy takes a common story – a girl forced to take on the guise of a boy to survive – and presents it in slightly different way. Larson did what many other authors trying to execute this plot point did not – she made it feasible. First of all, Alexa was not a meek little waif but a tall, young woman graced with handsome enough features to pull off the ruse. She also had a twin brother, which went a long way towards completing the illusion. Add to all of that her powerful swordsmanship and fighting skills, and you have a combination for a very interesting take on a tired story. I really liked Alexa, even in though I feel she let herself slip out of “character” a few too many times. Maybe if she’d lost her deception pretense for any other reason than “boy troubles,” it wouldn’t have bothered me, but because she let herself be swayed by the opposite sex so often, I lost a little bit of that strong, independent’s character I fell in love with at the beginning. I’m hoping she gets some of that self-worth back in the second book because I know she’s got it in her.
I liked Larson’s world and her conflicts but, as with Cass’ Selection trilogy, I don’t think they’d hold up very well to close scrutiny. In fact, this is the number one objection I’ve read from my fellow reviewers. While I see their point of view (and don’t disagree with their assessments), I have to say none of the objections got in my way of enjoying the story while I was reading. I had such a fun time with this book, and I think that goes to show that a book doesn’t have to be perfect to be good. Larson’s focus may not have been on world-building, but her focus on characters, specifically relationships, was strong enough to keep me entertained.
Although, even the relationship deserves a disclaimer. I absolutely adored the relationship Alexa had with one person, but kind of hated the immature infatuation she had with another (those of you who are squeamish around love triangles should look away now). I love books where I can see the appeal of both male leads as potential mates but didn’t get that here. For me, there was only one clear winner for Alexa, and if I’m honest I will be reading on to see if that’s how the story fleshes out (although, I have a sneaking suspicion we are going to have a Jacob/Edward situation on our hands). We’ll see I guess.
So here’s my question: do I rate the book based on how it made me feel while I was reading it (close to 5 stars) or do I rate it based on my assessment of the book after I was finished (closer to 3 stars). I think the only thing to do is stop over-thinking it and just take an average of the two – a 4 star rating – and call it good. Overall, I really like Defy and felt its strengths outweighed its weaknesses. It had a similar qualities to the amazing books below, but I don’t have complete confidence behind my recommendation of it to others. I’d say if you go in expecting a light, fun read, you’ll probably enjoy it. I will definitely be seeking out Larson at the VVBF and have already purchased a hardcover copy to get signed.
Hosted by The Obsessive Bookseller and Apathy and Rhetoric
The Escape Reality Book Club is monthly feature where members take turns nominating the Young Adult titles they most want to read. We started it because we love geeking out about books, and knew a lot of other people who liked to too. This is a very low-pressure book club where anybody is invited to join. All you have to do isclick hereto be directed to our official Facebook page and asked to join the group. We host meetings here in Southern Utah, but all of you out-of-towners are invited to participate in a facebook book club meeting (which I will host if anyone shows interest).
September’s Nominations (via Mary):
This Song Will Save Your Life
Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.
Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.
Fangirl
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan… But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words… And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
These Broken Stars
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? Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.
Eleanor & Park
Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.
Eleanor… Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough…Eleanor.
Park… He knows she’ll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There’s a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises…Park.
Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.
Out of the Easy
It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.
The Coldest Girl In Coldtown
Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
While putting together this recap I had a revelation: although I wrote a ton of reviews this month I didn’t actually post that many of them. You see, I’m going on vacation for two weeks and decided to try my hand at scheduling posts… And now I have figured out why that method doesn’t work for me – I end up neglecting what I’m supposed to be publishing now in favor of what’s going to happen later. Oh well. At least I don’t have to worry about anything while I’m on my cruise. :-)
While I didn’t go totally hogwild this month buying books, I still somehow managed to knock my Read 4, Buy 1 challenge back several weeks. As it sits, I have about twelve books to read before I can start working towards my next book purchase. I have no one to blame but myself… and those really awesome Barnes & Noble coupons. I was tempted to just say “Happy August to me – here are some extra books!” which I’m totally within my rights to do (because I make the rules for my own challenge and that’s one of the perks). However, this reward system has been working so well for me this year that I decided I’m going to actually “earn” the books I splurged on this month before I let myself buy more. Don’t panic!! I have a two week cruise coming up where I will have ample time to read and very few opportunities to purchase books. :) Here’s a look at what I picked up this month:
Hardcopies:
I love the books I acquired this month. A couple of them were bargain splurges, but the real gem is my signed copy of Fool’s Assassin by Robin Hobb. It’seasily one of my favorite books EVER and I am tickled to add it as a beautiful hardcover to my collection. I also thoroughly enjoyed Defy, and will be chasing down the author at the Vegas Valley Book Festival this October to get it signed. And you all know how much I loved The Girl of Fire and Thorns, so I had to have these short stories… it really wasn’t a choice.
Library:
March this year is the first time since I was twelve that I have taken advantage of my local library. You see, after working for a bookstore for eleven years, I got used to the convenience of buying all the books I wanted to read at a discounts and being able to check out hardcovers (although, I tended to just buy everything). I am a very flighty reader, so I was concerned that I would check books out from the library and end up returning them unread because I never got around to them. While that has happened with a few, I have actually managed to get through almost everything else. This surprises me. Anyway, I’ve already read Perfected and will definitely be adding it to my collection (as soon as I catch up with my reading challenge of course).
That’s it for me this month! All-in-all, not a bad haul. :-)
The Overview:Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion’s people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy — before it’s too late?
Having just finished Defy last week, I can say with certainty I am excited to read Ignite! What a shame I have to wait until January. I enjoyed Defy thoroughly despite the fact that there were a few elements that wouldn’t hold up the close scrutiny. It just goes to show that a novel doesn’t have to be perfect to be highly entertaining. I haven’t written a review for Defy yet, but it’s definitely getting a higher rating. It actually had a lot of similar appeal to Throne of Glass…
As a side note, I picked up Defy because a) I wanted to read it (a given) and b) Larson is scheduled to attend the Vegas Valley Book Festival… you better believe I’ve already purchased a copy to have her sign – much love! :-)
Title: Defy
Title: Ignite
The Obsessive Bookseller 