Tag Archives: book

Jun 21 2014
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Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and boneTitle: Shadow and Bone

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series: Grisha Trilogy #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka. Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free? The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him? Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.

Shadow and bone 2

The Review:

I am a YA high fantasy addict. I’m sure of it. I just can’t seem to get enough, and Shadow and Bone was easily one of the most unique ones yet.

It all started with world-building. Actually, it started with an engaging prologue that had me hooked right away, then it dazzled me with world-building. I’m a sucker for desert settings (something which I’ve only just realized about myself), and the busy markets, the flag-topped tents, the “dry docks,” and the caravans were only some of the setting elements that created a really cool atmosphere for this book. Take all of that and add the shadowed white sands of the Fold – a magical dark divide containing flesh-eating monsters called volcra dividing the kingdom from the seaports on the other side – and I’m sold. It was fantastic.

But world-building goes beyond mere settings, and my favorite element was the magic system in the form of colorfully robed Grisha (I love it when things are color-coded, especially in books). The Grisha had many different talents, distinguished by these colored robes, and learning about them was easily my favorite part of the book. There’s even a school for Grisha, one which we get to explore a little. Bardugo definitely hit on several things that trigger my interest as a reader. My only hope going forward is that we get to learn even more about the Grisha because, as interesting as it was, we really only got into surface level stuff in this first book.

And the characters! Alina was incredibly relatable, which went a long way towards immersing me in the story. I liked her, but was also emotionally invested in her. She had a fantastic growth arc throughout the book, physically, emotionally, and mentally, and that’s probably why she was so much fun to read about. I also loved the the dynamic between her and the other characters, specifically Mal and The Darkling… let’s just say she surprised me (in a good way) on several occasion. It was refreshing.

Overall, this is an excellent addition to my arsenal of “awesome teen fantasy books” to recommend and I wish I had picked it up earlier. In any case, now that Ruin and Rising has just been released, I think I waited the perfect amount of time before devouring this trilogy (my apologies to those of you who’ve been waiting a few years, lol). That’s only part of it, though. What finally got me to pick it up was the news that Bardugo was just signed for a new trilogy taking place on one of the island nations within the series. I already kind of knew Shadow and Bone had a desert setting, but the knowledge that I’d be able to travel and explore this world through more books was incredibly appealing. So I hopped aboard the Grisha wagon… and I’m so glad I did! If you like any of my recommendations below, Shadow and Bone should definitely be on your list.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 19 2014
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Book Reviews: Scarlet and The Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

sc:ltTitles: Scarlet and The Lady Thief

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Series: Scarlet #1 & #2

Genre: Teen Fiction

Rating: 3/5 stars

The Overviews: Scarlet: Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

Lady Thief: Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

sc:lt 2

The Review:

Yep – I’m doing a dual review because after two months of trying, I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no way I’m going to get caught up with all of the books I need to review unless I take some drastic measures… and your looking at ’em. It helps matters that these two books were incredibly similar – even down to receiving the same overall rating. I also liked and disliked them for the same reasons. Behold the review:

I am not one for retellings, but this version of Robin Hood won me over. Not only was it clear the author done a fair bit of research, but the spin that she took on its was something I’ve not seen before… it was actually quite brilliant. I loved the characters – everyone from Robin Hood himself (hubba, hubba) to a one-armed sidekick named Much were vibrant and rounded.

One of the twists I actually liked the most was the addition of a love triangle between Scarlet, Robin Hood, and John (don’t cringe, it was actually one of the better ones). There was no doubt in my mind who I thought she should go with, but it was a lot of fun to see her get pulled in different directions. Did the drama between the three go on a little too long? Probably. Was some of the drama a little senseless? Definitely. But the magical thing about this book is that I didn’t care – I just had fun reading it.

Be warned when you pick up this series that there is a slightly distracting use of language throughout the entire thing. Whether it was to create and uneducated feel for her main protagonists, or just to make a statement and stand out with the language, the author went through and replaced every “was” with a “were.” She were this, she were that, the castle were big.… You get the idea. While I appreciate what she was trying to do, I don’t think it actually did more than make me work harder to understand the story. Changing a single word does not make for a successful new dialect, and I thought it would’ve been a lot stronger if she had just spent some extra time adjusting the dialogue of the main character and left the narration alone. As it was, Scarlet spoke intelligently save for that single word. In the whole scheme of things, it’s not a huge deal, and as the author gets further into the story it becomes less noticeable (probably because there’s more dialogue), but it is something to be aware of before diving in.

I love the story of the first book, and indeed thought it could’ve stood as a standalone if it wanted to, but the plot for the second one had me highly interested. I really like the promise it held and the direction it was going in. It didn’t quite explore things as thoroughly as I would’ve liked, but again that didn’t bother me too much because I was genuinely enjoying reading it.

Overall, if you like retellings, this is definitely a book I would recommend. I will be picking up the third and final book in the trilogy, but it’s not one of those I’ll have to have the day it comes out (I say that, but you watch me change my tune as soon as there’s cover reveal, lol).

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 18 2014
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Coming Soon: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

In a handful of dustTitle: In a Handful of Dust

Author: Mindy McGinnis

Series: Not a Drop to Drink #2

Genre: Teen Dystopian

Release Date: September 23, 2014

The Overview: The only thing bigger than the world is fear. Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.

When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.

In a handful of dust

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

 I wasn’t anticipating this one until I read Not a Drop to Drink a couple of weeks ago and absolutely loved it. It was funny, heart wrenching, and all-around amazing and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.I am admittedly nervous about the change in protagonists (mostly because I liked Lynn so much), but I enjoyed the writing style and story so much that I have high hopes it will be just as good.

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 16 2014
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Top Ten Books at the Top of My Summer 2014 TBR List!

top ten tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

 Yay! The time has once again come for me to showcase the books at the top of my reading list. This is by far my favorite TTT topic because it reminds me how many truly amazing books I have yet to experience… a prospect that is incredibly exciting (and daunting, lol)! Without further ado:

Top Ten Books at the Top of My Summer 2014 TBR List!

Oh, man – so many good titles! I almost don’t know which one to start with. I have to thank Nikki over at There Were Books Involved for lending me her ARC of Killer Instinct (best blogging friend ever!) because it was by far the sequel I was most looking forward to this fall… I will probably start with that one because I can’t believe my good fortune. Yes, I know, why haven’t I already read Heir of Fire if I have access to it? I’m still letting Crown of Midnight sink in and I know I’m not going to be able to do anything else once I start it. But then don’t even get me started on how Partials is my all time favorite dystopian and I’ve not yet picked up the conclusion… Or the fact that there is a new unread Mercy Thompson book on my shelf. Gack! Too many books to read and not enough time!

 What books are at the top of your reading list?

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 14 2014
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Book Review: Push by Eve Silver

pushTitle: Push

Author: Eve Silver

Series: The Game #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 2/5 stars

Release Date: June 10, 2014

The Overview: It’s either break the rules or die. Miki Jones lives her life by her own strict set of rules, to keep control, to keep the gray fog of grief at bay. Then she’s pulled into the Game, where she—and her team—will die unless she follows a new set of rules: those set by the mysterious Committee. But rules don’t mean answers, and without answers, it’s hard to trust. People are dying. The rules are unraveling. And Miki knows she’s being watched, uncertain if it’s the Drau or someone—something—else. Forced to make impossible choices and battling to save those she loves, Miki begins to see the Committee in a glaring new light. And then the Game crosses a new boundary, pushes harder into Miki’s and her friends’ lives, and there’s nothing in the rules that can save them now.

push 2

The Review:

I was really looking forward to Push, especially after the awesome direction Rush was headed when it ended. It promised to focus on all the things I enjoyed about the first book and move away from all the things I didn’t. Instead, Push kind of stagnated around all the same issues without much of a story progression at all. Heck, I’d even go so far as to say it regressed a little. I’m disappointed to say it was not the action-packed amazing novel I’d hoped it would be.

I had a lot of issues with the relationship development in the first book – a seemingly smart, independent girl who fawns over a guy despite the fact that she thinks he’s a total asshole – and was hoping the change in direction of the story would get the main character away from that codependent focus. It did not. The first half of the book, which I thought would be packed with adventure and excitement (the good stuff) was like reading one big long soliloquy about how much she hates him, how much she loves him, how much she misses him, and what she needs to do to get him back. Here I am thinking she’d grown enough to stand strongly on her own, but evidently the story couldn’t progress until she smoothed out her love life. Sheesh.

If I had been able to get behind the relationship in the first place, the huge focus on it probably wouldn’t have bothered me so much. I live for a good love story, and even expect it from my YA novels, but in this case, it just didn’t work for me. Even after all this time, I still can’t see a compelling reason why the relationship started and why it’s continuing. It could be just me, though. So if you enjoyed the love angle of the first book, no doubt you will enjoy it here. I just found a lot to be desired.

If this series took place entirely within The Game, it wouldn’t be too much for me. There are thousands of teen drama love stories out there, but only a handful of really cool takes on what it would be like to live in a video game. The concept is still my favorite part of the story, and I think it would have benefited Silver to pour more of her focus into it. As it were, some of the story was set in the alternate existence, but not enough to really progress the main overall conflict of the series (unless the main conflict is the romance, in which case that’s certainly getting enough attention). There was one single ray of hope in the form of an added plot element within The Game – one which I can’t even talk about because it’s a spoiler – and it added a fascinating wrinkle to the story. All I have to say is, if I read on it will be because of that single interesting plot point.

Overall, I hoped for more…. but I seem to be in the minority yet again.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 10 2014
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Coming Soon: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

young elitesTitle: The Young Elites

Author: Marie Lu

Series: Young Elites #1

Genre: Teen Dystopian

Release Date: October 7, 2014

The Overview: I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside. Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her. It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

young elites

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

As I thoroughly enjoyed the Legend series, liking the conclusion a bit more than other popular dystopians on the market, I’m really looking forward to this new spinoff series! It’s taking one of the plot elements I liked the most and expanding on it – what’s not to love?

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki hawkes