Jan 1 2013

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Overview: In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue–Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is–she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

The Review:

If you couldn’t tell from my blog’s focus over the last few weeks, I’ve been extremely hooked on the teen books, particularly the dystopian genre (I blame Partials). As Divergent is one of the best-selling novels in that category, I knew it had to be bumped to the top of my priority list.

Set in a society divided into five distinct factions, one young girl must make a decision that will change her life forever… and that’s just the beginning! Admittedly at first, it was a tad slow. I wasn’t terribly invested in the story because it read like a lot of other books on the market. Then somewhere in the middle, I’m not quite sure what happened but I suddenly found myself unable to stop reading. Exhausted beyond belief and sick with an awful cold to boot, I managed to keep myself awake an extra couple of hours to finish the book.

There were several elements that I liked about this story. I’ve mentioned before that I really enjoy books where the characters learn new skills, and the training that the main character goes through was interesting, intense, and fun to read about. The pacing was also great, and I thought the second half of the book really took me on a snowball’s ride to the end. Surprisingly, my favorite element of Divergent was the love story. Granted it wasn’t the biggest element of the plot, but I found the relationship that developed between the two characters to be incredibly natural in its progression throughout the story. I was pleased because I’ve rarely seen it done so well in the teen genre. It provided a lovely balance to the harsh realities the girl faced, and put the book near the top of the charts for me.

Recommendations: While there are many other dystopian novels that are appropriate for younger teens, I would probably only feel comfortable recommending this one to the 16+ crowd. There many elements that younger readers might be a little too… mature. As always, use your own discretion.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Matched by Ally Condie
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Partials by Dan Wells
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (I didn’t care for this book but because so many people liked it, I feel okay including it in this list. Divergent was actually sort of like what the Maze Runner could’ve been with less false tension and a lot more action.)

Dec 30 2012

Your Pick for Nik! – December’s Review!

Title: Warbreaker

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

Characters: My favorite element in Sanderson’s works are always his characters. They are dynamic, interesting, and you can tell they’ve been developed over a long period of time. For novels written in third person, there is surprisingly a great deal of in-depth personal exploration that usually only comes with first person novels. He somehow managed to give us that fantasy feel while sharing that inner dialog that always makes me feel more invested into the characters’ futures.

After reading Mistborn, I’d always wondered why it was the characters were my favorite element. The magic systems and overall story were strong enough to contend in their own right, but when recommending the series to customers, I always talk about how enjoyable the characters were to read about – even the unlikable ones. After reading Warbreaker and the annotations after each chapter, the author clued me in as to why this is: his characters take action. Inner thoughts and development are indeed good for a story and they let you infer motives and tendencies, but many authors send their characters through inner struggles through most of the book before they finally overcome them to make something happen. Sanderson gives you that inner turmoil, but makes his characters act on them regardless of hangups. That, (along with their obviously well-developed personalities) is why I rave so much about them.

Pacing: ironically, although the characters were making decisions and advancing their own personal stories, it was a rather slow read. This was deliberate on the author’s part, as he mentioned in his annotations that he likes slower-moving books, but it still drug in a couple of places for me. That said, I was never bored. And as odd as it sounds, as soon as I began reading the annotations at the end of each chapter, the story really took off. Perhaps it was because my level of investment into the story had just increased, but likely it was because it gave me a lot more to think about, whether it be storyline or the writing behind it. I also don’t remember a single scene that didn’t either advance plot or reveal character, so overall I think it was a success.

World Building: Anyone who has ever seen my house (or for that matter, ever spent a bit of time with me) knows how much I love color. The idea that there is a world and magic system totally devoted to and focused around color makes me immensely happy. Sanderson always managed to subtly draw my attention back to the vibrant shades and hues that run rampant in this world. It was a delightful contrast to the drab settings I normally picture while reading fantasy, making the story that much more exotic and vibrant. Needless to say, the visual elements the author described in Warbreaker were highly evoking and I appreciated the picture he painted. (there’s your bad pun for the review… you knew it was coming.)

In any of Sanderson’s works you can tell he spends a lot of extra time developing his worlds. From the semi-tropical settings to the viable yet opposing religious systems, it was all very well-conceived. The ideas were excellent and thorough, but the most notable element was the way the author wove this information into the story. Creating a totally new world in fantasy is difficult to do without “info-dumping” on your reader, and I am in awe at how seamlessly he managed to convey loads of information about this place up-front without drawing attention away from the story. Many subtle drop-in details were used, but most of the information we found out through conversations and behaviors of the characters. As this is something I struggle with in my own writing, I found it very helpful to see it done so well.

Writing: While the book contained an excellent example of world building, it also had many other elements of writing that I found insightful. In fact, for any budding authors out there, I highly recommend studying this book to improve your craft. The epub version of this novel (available through bn.com) contain the author’s annotated notes after every chapter. They not only provided extra information on the story as a whole (making it that much more rich and vibrant) but also let us have an inside look at the developmental process that goes into writing a good fantasy novel. Sanderson even provides several suggestions and tips for making a good story even stronger. It was really interesting to read a passage then get the author’s first-hand account of what moods he was going for, what characters he hoped to highlight, and how the scene advanced the plot.

While not everybody approaches writing in the same way, it’s helpful to see inside someone else’s creative process to get a feel of how much work goes into developing a great story. This brings me to my final point: writing, at least good writing, is a lot of hard work. Sanderson, who is by all accounts setting himself up a legacy in this genre went through several drafts and considered thousands of feedback notes before settling on this final product. I admire that constant strive for perfection and I also realize that good fantasy takes hard work, dedication, and time, even for the professionals. If you are working on a novel, don’t let endless hours of rewriting and editing discourage you – your work will show and it will only get stronger.

Overall, this pick was a great read, and one that I’m especially grateful was chosen. I not only enjoyed it, but found inspiration to advance my own novel. I am eager to pick up The Way of Kings next, as at least a dozen people have told me it’s their favorite Sanderson.

by Niki Hawkes

Other Books You Might Like:

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham
Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass
Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke
Legends of Eli Monpress by Rachel Aaron

Now Let’s Discuss!

I had a lot of fun composing this review, but I’m most looking forward to hearing what YOU think:

What are your overall impressions/ratings of the book?
What were your favorite elements?
Who was your favorite character?
Did you predict the plot twists before they happened?

Dec 29 2012

Your Pick for Nik! – January’s Selection!

Thank you for your votes!

This month’s winner is… “Falling Kingdoms” by Morgan Rhodes!

A thorough review for this title will be posted on February 1, so there’s plenty of time to pick it up if you want to participate. I am super excited to read this one and look forward to hearing what all of you thought about it as well! :)

For more information on this feature click here.

Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for the review and discussion of December’s Selection: “Warbreaker” by Brandon Sanderson.

“If you think reading is boring, you’re doing it wrong.”

Dec 28 2012

Your Pick for Nik! – January Nominations!

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite book in the feature: Your Pick for Nik!

Thank you for all the votes I’ve received so far. “Falling Kingdoms” by Morgan Rhodes is currently in the lead, but there’s still plenty of time to make your vote count!

You have until 10:00 pm (MST) on December 29th to make your selection. I will be revealing the winning book shortly after!

If you’re new to my page, here’s how it works:

Your Pick for Nik! a book club where I turn over control of my reading list toyou!

Each month, I will nominate 5 to 10 titles from my TBR list and YOU will choose which one gets featured. It can be one you’ve already read and want to discuss, one you want to read but wish to see my feedback first, or – and this is my favorite part – you can read it along with me!

Just click on the link below to view my 10 nominees for January. Simply vote for your favorite, and let the best book win! On Saturday the 29th, I’ll announce the winner. Come the end of the month, I will post a thorough review of the chosen title – and hopefully find out what you thought of it as well!

January Nominations!

Dec 27 2012

Your Pick for Nik! – January Nominations!

As we’re only a few days away from closing out this month’s selection (Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, 12/30) I figured it would be a good time to reveal next month’s nominations!

For those of you new to this feature, Your Pick for Nik! is a monthly book club where I turn over control of my reading list to you!

Here’s how it works: I will nominate titles from my TBR list and YOU will choose which one gets featured. It can be one you’ve already read and want to discuss, one you want to read but wish to see my feedback on first, or – and this is my favorite part – you can read it along with me!

Depicted below are my 10 nominees* for January. Simply vote for your favorite, and let the best book win! At 10:00 pm (MST) on Saturday the 29th I will announce the winner. Come the end of January, I will post a thorough review of the chosen title – and hopefully find out what you thought of it as well!

To cast your vote, just leave a comment indicating your chosen title – and may the best book win!

January’s Nominations:

Title: Falling Kingdoms

Author: Morgan Rhodes

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined: Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct. Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making. Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield. Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword… The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Title: Death’s Daughter

Author: Amber Benson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Overview: Calliope Reaper-Jones so just wanted a normal life: buying designer shoes on sale, dating guys from Craig’s List, web-surfing for organic dim-sum for her boss… But when her father—who happens to be Death himself—is kidnapped, and the Devil’s Protege embarks on a hostile takeover of the family business, Death, Inc., Callie returns home to assume the CEO mantle— only to discover she must complete three nearly impossible tasks in the realm of the afterlife first.

Title: Mistress of Dragons

Author: Margaret Weis

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: Welcome to the Dragonvarld… In Mistress of Dragons we are introduced to a world where political deception, greed, and avarice have lead to a violation of the “hands off” policy of the Parliament of Dragons concerning the affairs of men. Indeed that violation threatens more than policy and order it threatens the freedoms and survival of the entire human race.

Title: Touched by an Alien

Author: Gini Koch

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Overview: How can a sexy marketing manager join forces with an Alpha Centauri male in Armani to save the planet-using hairspray, a Mont Blanc pen, and rock n’ roll? Easy… She’s Touched by an Alien Marketing manager Katherine “Kitty” Katt steps into the middle of what appears to be a domestic dispute turned ugly. And it only gets uglier when the man turns into a winged monster, straight out of a grade-Z horror movie, and goes on a killing spree. Though Kitty should probably run away, she springs into action to take the monster down. In the middle of the chaos a handsome hunk named Jeff Martini appears, sent by the “agency” to perform crowd control. He’s Kitty’s kind of guy, no matter what planet he’s from. And from now on, for Kitty, things are going to be sexy, dangerous, wild, and out of this world.

Title: Eve & Adam

Authors: Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: In the beginning, there was an apple – And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal. Just when Eve thinks she will die – not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy. Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect . . . won’t he?

Title: Holder of Lightning

Author: S.L. Farrell

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: Seventeen-year-old Jenna had led a peaceful life, herding sheep and tending crops, until the night she picked up a small but strangely alluring stone that would change her entire future. For what she held in her hand was Lámh Shábhála, the master stone of legend which could reawaken all the other stones of power and bring magic back to the world. And there were many among the nobility who would risk anything, including murder, to claim Lámh Shábhála for themselves.

Title: Dragonmaster

Author: Chris Bunch

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: Young Hal Kailas is a runaway and a pauper, living hand-to-mouth in a kingdom where peace is by no means certain. But Hal has a dream. In his even younger days, he had the awesome experience of bonding with a young dragon-and the memory of the beast’s great strength and power consumes his every thought.When war finally comes, the most daring and ruthless of men will ride these fearsome dragons-monstrous weapons of war that rule the sky. Few men are strong enough to bend a dragon’s will, but Hal, who has reason to think he may be one of them, will prove to be the greatest Dragon Master of them all.

Title: Green

Author: Jay Lake

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: Her exquisite beauty and brilliant mind were not enough to free her from captivity. That took her skills with a knife, plus the power of a goddess. Born in poverty, in a dusty village under the equatorial sun. She does not remember her mother, nor her own name—her earliest clear memory is of the day her father sold her to the tall pale man. In the Court of the Pomegranate Tree, where she was taught the ways of a courtesan…and the skills of an assassin…she was named Emerald, the precious jewel of the Undying Duke’s collection of beauties. She calls herself Green.

Title: Wither

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Genre: Teen Fiction

Overview: What if you knew exactly when you’d die? By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males born with a lifespan of 25 years, and females a lifespan of 20 years—leaving the world in a state of panic. Geneticists seek a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

Title: Foreigner

Author: C.J. Cherryh

Genre: Science Fiction

Overview: A mesmerizing new tale by the bestselling author of Serpent’s Reach. In the 300 years since humans lost the war to the alien atevi, humanity has traded advanced technology for peace and a remote island refuge. Then the sole human allowed to enter into atevi society is marked for an assassin’s bullet.

*Overviews taken from bn.com

Dec 22 2012

Coming Soon: Requiem

Title: Requiem

Series: Delirium Trilogy #3

Author: Lauren Oliver

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Release Date: March 5, 2013

Not sure if I would like this series or not, I started skimming through the first chapter of “Delirium”… then soon found myself curled up on a chair, engrossed in the story. It has one of those memorable plot lines that sticks with you long after you’ve finished. I highly recommend these if you enjoyed the “Matched” trilogy by Ally Condie or even “Divergent” by Veronica Roth. Get excited because the final book of the series comes out in a few months – I can’t wait!

If you are new to this author, here’s some information on her previous works:

Title: Delirium (Delirium Trilogy #1)

Overview: They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now, I’d rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

Title: Pandemonium (Delirium Trilogy #2)

Overview: I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, pushing aside thoughts of Alex,pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school.
Like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead. But the old Lena is dead too. I buried her. I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Extras:

Title: Hana (Delirium Novella)

Overview: The summer before they’re supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss. But on the surface, Hana must be a model of perfect behavior. She meets her approved match, Fred Hargrove, and glimpses the safe, comfortable life she’ll have with him once they marry. As the date for her cure draws ever closer, Hana desperately misses Lena, wonders how it feels to truly be in love, and is simultaneously terrified of rebelling and of falling into line.

Title: Annabel (Delirium Novella)

Release Date: December 26, 2012 (ebook)

Overview: Lena Halloway’s mother, Annabel, supposedly committed suicide when Lena was only six years old. That’s the lie that Lena grew up believing, but the truth is very different. As a rebellious teenager, Annabel ran away from home and straight into the man she knew she was destined to marry. The world was different then—the regulations not as stringent, the cure only a decade old. Fast forward to the present, and Annabel is consigned to a dirty prison cell, where she nurtures her hope of escape and scratches one word over and over into the walls: Love. But Annabel, like Lena, is a fighter. Through chapters that alternate between her past and present, Annabel reveals the story behind her failed cures, her marriage, the births of her children, her imprisonment, and, ultimately, her daring escape.

Title: Raven (Delerium Novella)