Tag Archives: books

Mar 25 2016
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Mini Book Review: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

Title: In a Handful of Dust

Author: Mindy McGinnis

Series: Not a Drop to Drink #2

Genre: Teen Dystopian

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Overview: 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.

The Mini Review:

Not a Drop to Drink is easily one of my favorite YA novels, so I was understandably nervous In a Handful of Dust wouldn’t live up to my high expectations. But it did! And I’m thrilled. :-)

While Not a Drop to Drink was Lynn’s story, this one was Lucy’s. I think I enjoyed Lynn’s POV a tad more, but Lynn is so involved in this novel it hardly mattered. In contrast to the first book, we got to see more world building and how the lack of water affected more than just Lynn’s neck of the woods(which I liked) and that went a long way towards keeping the story fresh and exciting. There were also a couple of moments so poignant I’ll remember them forever. In a Handful of Dust was gut wrenching, beautifully written, and exciting from start to finish; a more than worthy sequel to one of my favorite books. Mindy McGinnis is a wonderful writer and I look forward to devouring anything she writes next (I’m currently working on A Madness So Discreet and am looking forward to The Female of the Species out September 20, 2016 and Given to the Sea releasing sometime in 2017).

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Mar 23 2016
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Coming Soon: The Black Key by Amy Ewing

The Black KeyTitle: The Black Key

Author: Amy Ewing

Series: The Lone City #3

Genre: Teen Dystopian

Release Date: October 4, 2016

The Overview: For too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City have lived in service to the royalty of the Jewel. But now the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power. And while Violet knows she is at the center of this rebellion, she has a more personal stake in it—her sister, Hazel, has been taken by the Duchess of the Lake. Now, after fighting so hard to escape the Jewel, Violet must do everything in her power to return to save not only Hazel, but the future of the Lone City.

Waiting on Wednesday
Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Having loved The Jewel and The White Rose, you can see why I am super eager for The Black Key. This series has many of the elements I loved about The Selection series, but has a bit more world building and a more interesting setting. I also really like the writing style of the author even though it’s so smooth I found myself finishing the book a lot faster than I’d intended (it’s one of those that I wanted to savor). Overall, the story seems to be headed in an awesome direction and, between you and me, October can’t come soon enough!

What book are you waiting on?

 by Niki Hawkes

Mar 18 2016
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Book Review: Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Title: Fire Touched

Author: Patricia Briggs

Series: Mercy Thompson #9

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Overview: Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the Fae. Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched? [Via Goodreads]

The Review:

I love Patricia Briggs and consider her among my all-time favorite urban fantasy writers alongside Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, and Keri Arthur. She’s one of those authors who has been consistently good for so long that her books are on my very short “auto-buy” list. I never worry if I’ll like them or not (I always do) because they are the kind of guaranteed good reads that I’d save for rainy days if I wasn’t so eager to gobble them up the minute they hit the stands. Fire Touched, book 9 in the Mercy Thompson series, was no exception!

All of Briggs’ books have an excellent balance of internal and external conflicts. In every book, the crew has one big problem to solve (usually a supernatural monster of some sort) which leads to a lot of exciting, action-packed scenes. In Fire Touched, the problem, or “monster,” is the Gray Court of the Fae. Now, by this point in the series, Briggs has developed the Fae into a dynamic and complex society that I personally find absolutely fascinating to read about. This novel offers more of a glimpse into their inner workings and politics then we’ve seen before and, as usual, Mercy and Adam are right in the middle of the conflict.

I have to say, as good as the author is at creating engaging broad conflicts for her characters, it’s the smaller, interpersonal conflicts that make these books so much fun to read. Once again I found myself just as immersed in the werewolf pack’s dynamics as I was during the exciting battle scenes (if not more). The characters are all realistic and vibrant, and watching them argue and work out issues with one another is one of my little joys in life. In this book in particular, it felt like the focus was more on these interpersonal dynamics rather than the broader conflict (which I loved), but there were a couple of occasions where the plot seemed a little disjointed. That said, it all came together beautifully in the end and now I’m eager as ever to see what happens next.

As a bookseller who loved recommending titles, the “Mercy Thompson” series was easily my favorite urban fantasy to hand-sell. The story is less intimidating than say, the “Dresden Files” (which I also love) and makes a better first impression than “The Hollows” series (another favorite), and is a lot of fun to read. Now let’s face it, you’re probably not going to be very interested in my review of book 9 unless you’ve already read up to this point. If you haven’t, I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of “Moon Called,” the first in the series. Additionally, I’d recommend the Alpha and Omega series and suggest reading them alongside the Mercy books based on publication date, as the two series start to overlap as they get further along. That’s 13 books (so far) of great storytelling to look forward to! It makes me want to go back and reread them all. For those of you who have read up to this point, if you’re interested in reading more about Thomas and Marsilia, I’d recommend the short story “Fairy Gifts” found in the novella compilation “Shifting Shadows.”

I’d like to thank Berkley Publishing Group, Patricia Briggs, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review a reviewer copy of Fire Touched.

Other books you might like:

 by Niki Hawkes

Mar 7 2016
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Tackling the TBR [9]: March 2016

tackling the TBR

It’s once again time for my favorite feature: Tackling the TBR! There’s nothing I love more than picking out which books to read next, and this slightly organized method of reading has really amped my enjoyment to the next level. Bring on the mantras!

Read the best books first.
&
Life is too short to read books you’re not enjoying.

However you put together your TBR for the next month, the goal is to reduce the amount of obligation in reading and increase the fun.

Here’s a look at how the system works:

1. Identify the titles that take top priority in your TBR.
2. Combine them all in your own Tackling the TBR post.
3. Throughout the month pick from that pile as the mood strikes you.

Here’s what mine looks like:

TBR Tackler Shelf:

I am thrilled to read all of these titles – some of which are second books in series I’ve started within last year and really enjoyed. There’s a lot of urban fantasy in this line up and I have to say, I don’t hate it.

What I did last month:

Of the 10 titles I selected last month, I actually read 8 of them! What’s more, not a single one of them was lower than 4 stars. This year is starting off with a bang!

Now, I can tell you from experience that this Tackling the TBR experiment is so much more fun and rewarding when there’s more than one person (me) participating. Does anybody want to play along?

Even if you don’t specifically use my system, feel free to share your versions of how you manage your TBR pile (and the links to your posts if applicable) in the comments!

Maybe we can help make each other’s systems even better. :)

What books are you Tackling this month?

by Niki Hawkes

Mar 3 2016
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Trilogy Review: Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Morning Star by Pierce Brown

The Red Rising Trilogy
by Pierce Brown
4.5/5 stars

The Red Rising Trilogy is an inspiring, yet heart-wrenching story about Darrow, a young Martian miner (known as a “hell-diver”) who, as a “Red” in a society built around a color caste system, is at the bottom of the hierarchy. Thrust into a covert struggle to fight against the “Golds” (the highest caste) and eliminate the system once and for all, Darrow’s story will evoke you emotionally from start to finish. I will be reeling from this trilogy for quite a while.

There were a lot of things about this trilogy that reminded me of other series I’ve read (and loved). It has the same elements of overcoming oppression and deadly competition that I loved so much about the Hunger Games Trilogy. The characters, environment, dialogue, and overall grittiness of the story was as equally provoking as that found in the Game of Thrones series. Later in the trilogy, the tactical nature of the space battles and other military strategy reminded me of, well, pretty much every epic science fiction I’ve ever read. That being said, it managed to resonate with all these other titles while still being unique enough to stand solidly on its own. Because of that, I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like it.

So, let’s have a spoiler-free look at each book:

Red Rising

As first books go, Red Rising was a strong one. Immediately immersing you into Darrow’s world, it will likely make you feel emotionally invested in his plight within the first few chapters (it sure did for me). Most of the characters introduced in this first book are young, so it was particularly interesting to watch them face challenging obstacles and come into their own convictions. Red Rising takes place predominantly at an elite military academy for the children of the most prestigious Golds, a setting which is easily my favorite part about the first book (if not the series). It boasts plenty of strategy and “game” play, which I liked. The struggle to win and emerge at the top of this training and competition was as morbidly fascinating as it was deadly. The friendships and enemies made here set the stage for the rest of the series. Between the great characters, cool story, and setting, I had a difficult time putting it down.

4.5/5 stars

Golden Son

As the second book in the trilogy, Golden Son held up pretty well. It boasted the same quality of characters, gut-wrenching story line, and use of competition and strategy, just on a bigger scale. While the first book maintained a relatively narrow focus, this one encompassed a much broader perspective, particularly in how Darrow viewed the world. Many of the other color-casts interacted with Darrow (the diversity of which was by favorite element of this book), giving him the much-needed illumination of what this struggle will mean for everyone, and not just the Reds and Golds. There was also a lot more politicking, strategizing, and moving pieces to keep track of, which made the story more dynamic. Overall, I thought Golden Son did an excellent job at broadening the conflicts, thereby setting things up nicely for the final book in the series.

4.5/5 stars

Morning Star

This is the book where, naturally, all the conflicts come to a head. I expected epic battles, huge throwdowns between the heavy hitters, and to have my emotions jerked from one extreme to the other. What I did not expect was the colossal amount of character growth, which took the story from entertaining to almost… personal. It narrowed the conflict for a bit and forced the characters to really analyze their priorities and solidify their convictions within this fight. Morning Star was easily the most powerful of the three books, and it was downright inspiring to watch the characters face their weaknesses, then use that newfound strength to invoke change and inspire others. Pierce Brown did an excellent job escalating the series to these final, breathtaking moments. At the end of the day, I am very satisfied with how the series concluded.

4.5/5 stars

Overall, is the Red Rising Trilogy worth your time? Absolutely! Especially if you liked the gritty, evoking storytelling of series like Hunger Games and Game of Thrones. I can definitely see myself recommending it for years to come. Fair warning though: profanity, violence, and sexual references.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Feb 26 2016
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Book Review: Tarnished by Kate Jarvik Birch

Tarnished by Kate Jarvik Birch

Title: Tarnished

Author: Kate Jarvik Birch

Series: Perfected #2

Genre: Teen Fiction

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Ella was genetically engineered to be the perfect pet—graceful, demure…and kept. In a daring move, she escaped her captivity and took refuge in Canada. But while she can think and act as she pleases, the life of a liberated pet is just as confining as the Congressman’s gilded cage. Her escape triggered a backlash, and now no one’s safe, least of all the other pets. But she’s trapped, unable to get back to Penn—the boy she loves—or help the girls who need her. Back in the United States, pets are turning up dead. With help from a very unexpected source, Ella slips deep into the dangerous black market, posing as a tarnished pet available to buy or sell. If she’s lucky, she’ll be able to rescue Penn and expose the truth about the breeding program. If she fails, Ella will pay not only with her life, but the lives of everyone she’s tried to save…

The Review:

If you haven’t heard my constant ravings about Perfected over the last year, I’ll sum them up: I fricken loved it. It presented the disturbing concept of human “pets” in a way that acknowledged the darker connotations without dwelling on them, therefore allowing the story to focus on the sweet love story. Tarnished is where all of that darkness and grit comes to the forefront, and it was every bit as compelling as it was heart-wrenching.

I really feel as though this is where the story needed to go. Perfected felt innocent because the main character, Ella, was innocent. One of the things I love about this author is her ability to totally immerse you in the character’s point of view. In Perfected, Ella had quite a sheltered view of the world. In Tarnished, any delusions of safety and security Ella may have had are completely stripped away as she faces the harsh (and disturbing) realities of how human pets are treated in the real world. It showcased an excellent growth of character, which is easily my favorite elements to this book. Ella had to come to terms with the darker nature of humanity, and it was inspiring to watch her convictions and sense of self grow throughout the book. Like the love story, it felt organic, and that’s another part of why I love these books so much. There are so many subtleties adding up to profound moments that you almost don’t see them coming.

While Perfected spoke to my heart, Tarnished spoke to my mind. I hope the third book will tie together the best of both. The only thing I didn’t get out of this novel was a clear motive for Missy, a fellow pet who offers to help Ella at what I’d call extreme sacrifice to herself. I kept waiting for her motives to be revealed, good or bad, but was perplexed to note it wasn’t addressed anywhere throughout the entire book. That alone kept me from fully getting behind that part of the plot as plausible and also kept me from really immersing myself in the story. All I’m saying is, some sort of hint or minor indication early on would have gone a long way. Other than that, everything else about this book was superb!

As you can see, I am a huge fan of this series and recommended most often to YA readers who loved Destefano’s Chemical Garden Trilogy and Oliver’s Delirium Trilogy – both of which I thought were beautifully written and evoking stories. If you’re in the market for a teen read without all the fluff, Perfected is the series for you. I definitely limit myself to recommending it to older teens and adults due to the darker subject matter, even though it’s all handled tastefully.

I’d like to thank Entangled Publishing, LLC, Kate Jarvik Birch, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review a reviewer copy of Tarnished.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes