Book Review: Magic Under Stone

TITLE: Magic Under Stone
Magic Under Glass Book 2
AUTHOR: Jacelyn Dolamore
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Fantasy, Faeries, Romance
PREMISE: Nimira and her clockwork prince travel to his home to discover a way to try and break him out of his curse.
MY REVIEW: So I was one of the few to read Magic Under Glass a year or so ago despite Bloomsbury's dumb decision to whitewash the cover. For the record, I didn't break the boycott about not buying it. I checked it out of the library because I believe it's unfair to not give the writer a chance because writers don't make the decisions ultimately about the covers of books. I thought it was definitely creative and I think Dolamore is one of the more imaginative writers to come along in the past few years.
My feelings about the sequel are...a little less enthusiastic. I still love the authors imagination and the plot was decent enough, I just found I liked Nimira a lot less then I did before. Honestly, I swear I don't remember her being nearly this annoying in the first book or did I miss that in favor of "ohh creativity!"? Possible. I mean I sort of get her motivations but still her "woe is me" act was really really trying my patience.
Other stuff was just...okay. I kind of hope this ends here and the author moves on to brighter shinier things because I feel this was a good place to leave it. So...decent book but not as good as the first.
WHO SHOULD READ: those that have read Magic Under Glass
MY RATING: Three out of Five spell books

Book Review: Timeless

TITLE: Timeless
Book 5 in the Parasol Protectorate series
AUTHOR: Gail Carriger
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: Adult
GENRE: Steampunk, urban fantasy, werewolves, vampires
PREMISE: Alexia is forced to go to Egypt at the bidding of a royal who shows interest in her daughter.
MY REVIEW: I've been a fan of the Parasol Protectorate series for...gosh over a year I think. I pretty much fell in utter love from the get go and my love has not wavered one bit through to the end of the series, despite some shakyness in book 3. This series is an example of how genre fiction can just be downright enjoyable even if it's not the best literature in the world. Sometimes enjoyability can trump everything. I mean, there's a reason shows like Castle and Revenge are so popular. I love these shows in question but mind-bending tv they aren't. Although Revenge does have its wtf moments that make it worth it. Plus the wonderous character that is Queen Victoria.
So it's a little sad for me that this series is ending. Or sort of ending I guess because apparently there's going to be a spin-off series and Carriger has a YA series coming out next year that takes place in the same universe but earlier and I for one cannot wait because it sounds all sorts of awesome. So at least there's that. But even if there wasn't more coming, this would have been a decent ending. You get the sense that things are changing and that Alexia has come to an ending of sorts. It's satisfying (and I must say I'm really happy about Lyall/Biffy even if part of me will always want Akeldama/Lyall or Akeldama/Lyall/Biffy. But this is good too so no complaints).
So in conclusion the usual fun, entertaining, and enjoyable experience that I've come to expect from this series and from Carriger. Can't wait for the rest of the books. I want them NOW.
WHO SHOULD READ: those that have read books 1-4, steampunk fans, Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman fans, fans of snarky books, Jane Austen fans (no seriously, this series is literally what Austen would be writing today, I'm telling you).
MY RATING: Four out of Five pimped out parasols

Book Review: Spider's Bite

TITLE: Spider's Bite
Book 1 in the Elemental Assassin series
AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep
PUBLISHED: 2010
CATEGORY: Adult
GENRE: Urban fantasy
PREMISE: Gin is a assassin who always does the job, no questions asked but then she gets asked to do a job that doesn't smell right from the beginning...
MY REVIEW: I became a big fan of Esteps YA series Mythos Academy last year (and I plan on reading book 3 soon, I promise...it's burning a place on my Kindle as I type) so I thought I'd give her adult series a try. Luckily her adult books are just as enjoyable and entertaining as Mythos Academy was. Granted I didn't love it nearly as much because well...Gin is kind of hard to like, but in a realm full of look alike UF series, this one does stand out and is memorable.
While as I said, Gin is a difficult character to get a handle on, she is still one of the more fascinating ones to me. I definitely get that this woman is a assassin, she doesn't feel like she's just saying "I kill people and am badass" but then proceed to melt instantly at the hands of her love interest and become a big ole softy like so many so-called badass "heartless" women. But she also has the character that similar heroines like Anita "I judge every woman who isn't me" Blake totally lack: namely you like her dispite her flaws because along with the flaws she also has charms. Along with Gin, there's a interesting mystery, a surprising twist at the end, a somewhat turbulant and complicated relationship with the male lead, and it has Estep's charming and readable writing style.
In the case of this series, I give it a thumbs up. I'll definitely be picking up more of these books in the future (after I get caught up on Mythos Academy though). Estep is fast becoming a favorite author in the UF genre. I hope she sticks around.
WHO SHOULD READ: Fans of Mythos Academy, UF fans
MY RATING: Three and a half out of Five badass female assassins

Book Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars

TITLE: For Darkness Shows the Stars
AUTHOR: Diana Peterfreund
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Science Fiction, retelling, romance
PREMISE: Basically a retelling of Persuasion with science fiction flair.
MY REVIEW: For Darkness is pretty much exactly what it advertises: It is Persuasion retold in a science fiction setting. I picked it up for this idea and that idea is exactly what I got. So there isn't anything really wrong with it persay...I was just not blown away by it. Partly that is my own fault I guess. I love Peterfreund's Killer Unicorn books which were so wonderously creative and well done that I think maybe I built this up in my head a bit.
To be sure this is just as well written as those books. I love Peterfreund's prose and style of writing. The world is clever in the way that it does still talk about the issues that people seem to forget were apart of Persuasion. Everyone always focuses on the romance aspect of Austen but Austen did some very sly social commentary in her books as well and I often feel modern adaptations lose that in favor of "OMG, ROMANCE!". This is one of the few adaptations I've read that remembered the other issues that this book covered.
Still though...I can't really give it huge points for originality. It doesn't deviate from the main story of Persuasion, it didn't give me insight that I didn't have before so...it was nice. It just wasn't mind blowing and considering the author I was a tad disappointed. It is a very good adaptation though so I give the author credit for that.
WHO SHOULD READ: Romance fans, fans of Persuasion, Jane Austen fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five stars in space

Book Review: Spellbound

TITLE: Spell Bound
Book 3 in the Hex Hall Trilogy
AUTHOR: Rachel Hawkins
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Urban fantasy, adventure
PREMISE: Sophie and co. deal with a takeover by the headmistresses of Hex Hall.
MY REVIEW: It's always sad when a fun trilogy like this one comes to an end. But if it must at least it's done in satisfying ways like this particular trilogy. True, I am a little upset about the Cal thing (but as it opened the doors for Cal/Elodie... so.I'm over it) and one or two things were predictable (the ending of the love triangle for instance. Much as I was rooting for Cal I knew it was going to be Archer. At least Archer isn't a douche so I guess it's an improvement) but as a whole this was a good ending and a great lead in for the spin-off series that Hawkins is apparently planning.
Most satisfying is seeing Sophie just growing up and getting stuff done. Sophie's journey has been a fun and fullfilling one and as I've said one of my main wishes for trilogies/long book series is for characters to have growth. It doesn't even have to be huge growth just as long as they're at least a LITTLE different from when they were introduced in book 1. Sophie is different but she's also still got all the qualities that made me love her in book 1.
All in all this was a satisfying and fun conclusion to a solid series. I am going to miss Sophie and co (especially Jenna who thank god is alive). I can't wait for the spin-off series (please please be about Sophie's younger cousin. She was awesome) as well as whatever else Hawkins has in store for us. This author is here to stay and I couldn't be happier.
WHO SHOULD READ: Those that have read books 1 and 2, witch fans, Percy Jackson fans, Vampire Academy fans, Buffy fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five badass witches

Book Review: Soulbound

TITLE: Souldbound
Book 1 in the Legacy of Tril series
AUTHOR: Heather Brewer
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Urban Fantasy...I guess? Fantasy?
PREMISE: A girl who discovers she's a Healer who aren't taught how to fight decides to take matters into her own hands.
MY REVIEW: Here's the thing, I liked the general message of this book. Girl saying hell no to a stupid authority rule that is dangerous and fighting against the system? Hell yeah, I'm all over that stuff. There's a reason I love the Tortall series so much after all. For that I give Brewer a huge thumbs up. She's right: there needs to be more kick-ass girls in YA. However, I guess you could say I just didn't care for her execution of this idea.
Mostly this suffers from what I call tropesville. Practically everything in here has a feeling of deja vu and I feel like I've read this story a million times before and in much better ways. That would be fine if the characters were in some way interesting but...they aren't. Kaya kind of annoyed me, and I was done with Trayton the minute he was all "no, no, no, you can't fight! That's absurd! How dare you try to take care of yourself!"Plus the world building makes utterly no sense to me. I question the urban fantasy thing because I honestly have no clue if this is a total fantasy world or a world like Harry Potter where it's in our world, but this stuff is going on and we don't know it. That's....a problem. Plus the soulbonds vastly annoy me. God authors, enough with the mystical soulmate stuff already. Especiallly problamatic soulmate stuff like this one.
On one hand this is entertaining as hell. I like the message of the book. But on the other hand...the writing and plot is very poor. I say this one is a library read only.
WHO SHOULD READ: Vladimir Tod fans, those wanting a kick-ass heroine and don't mind sloppy sloppy SLOPPY world building
MY RATING: Three out of Five swords



Book Review: Body and Soul

TITLE: Body and Soul
Book 3 in the Ghost and the Goth Trilogy
AUTHOR: Stacey Kade
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Paranormal
PREMISE: Alona and Will deal with the consequences of Alona now being in a comatose girls body.
MY REVIEW: I have a deep fondness for the Ghost and the Goth Trilogy. True, some of the world building is iffy and the ending of this could have maybe been a bit better but it was still a pretty solid ending for the trilogy and was logical. But first and foremost: this trilogy is just plain enjoyable. It's also well written to boot and has good solid characters. So I give the trilogy as a whole a thumbs up.
My favorite in all of this is mostly Alona. I just love her. The author takes the pretty bubble-head cheerleader stereotype who is often made the villain of the YA genre (usually because she's pretty and gasp!cares what others think) and stomps it into the ground. Bless. You all know from past reviews how much I tend to loathe this trope. Finally the blonde cheerleader is given depth and personality. Alona is deeply flawed yes, but we are given reasons for her flaws and she manages them and actually grows past them. Same with Will who while not quite as well developed for me as Alona, is still given growth. The Will and Alona of the end of book 3 are vastly different from when they began in book 1. In the end that's what I want most from books series: for characters to grow and change. The plot is also given a satisfying conclusion.
All in all this is a solid ending for a solid entertaining trilogy that I'm really going to miss. But Kade has a new series coming out next year so it's not all bad.
WHO SHOULD READ: Those that have read books 1 and 2, paranormal romance fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five mediums

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Older Books

This is a weekly meme hosted by the girls over at The Broke and the Bookish .

This week: Top Ten Older Books You Don't Want People to Forget About

I am defining older books as books/book series that started five years or longer ago if anyone is curious about the criteria.

1) Harry Potter series by JK Rowing. Well, with the movies it's doubtful this series will ever be forgotten but I'm putting it on here anyway. Harry Potter has done so much for reading as well as childrens/YA and I do actually feel it'll be one of those timeless series that will be handed down the generations.

2) The Tortall series/Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce-Technically this is cheating because they're two series but they're written by the same author and are both wonderful series I wish every fantasy fan would read. At the very least everyone should pick up Sandry's book and Alanna: the First Adventure. These books are what got me into reading the fantasy genre during middle-school. The books are still ongoing and still just as solid as when they started.

3) The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede-Why more people don't know about this wonderful series about Cimmorone, a princess who LIKES dragons and doesn't want to be rescued thank you very much, I do not know.

4) The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle-One of the best adult fairytales out there. You probably know the movie better and while I like the movie just fine (it actually follows the book fairly well despite the unneeded addition of musical songs) it doesn't hold a candle to the book.

5) The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot-Please ignore the Disney movies which are nothing like the series. The PD books are fabulous character books and hilarious to boot. I don't enjoy contemporary novels as a rule and Cabot is one of those who made me give contemporary YA a chance.

6) Beauty by Robin McKinley-Still one of the best fairy tale retellings out there and one I tend to judge all fairy tale retellings by.

7) His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillup Pullman-A trilogy I wish more people would give a chance. Damn movie that screwed it up. Damn church making people afraid of it.

8) The Young Wizards series by Diane Duane-One of those series that very few people seem to know about which is a darn shame. It's a fabulous blend of fantasy/sci-fi and was another one of those series that got me into reading during my middle-school years.
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9) The Diary of Anne Frank-Read even if you don't read non-fiction or aren't a history buff or whatever excuse you've come up with. Everyone should read this at least once.

10) The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi-One of my favorite books growing up about a girl who goes on a overseas voyage and gets caught up in a mutiny and becomes a sailor.

Honorable mentions I considered but didn't make the cut for reasons (mostly: not as good, or very little chance of being forgotten): Animorphs series, Baby-Sitters Club series, Nancy Drew series, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Artemis Fowl series, Lord of the Rings series, Where the Sidewalk Ends, all the classics, To Kill a Mockingbird, American Gods, Stardust, The Giving Tree, Where the Wild Things Are, all Judy Blume books, Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Princess Bride

Monthly Book Picks for October

All the books released in October that I hope to eventually read.

Middle-Grade:

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George-Because I'm always up for a George book.

Heroes of Olympus Book 3: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan-Even though I still need to read The Son of Neptune and the last Kane Chronicles book...

YA:

Crewel World Book 1: Crewel by Gennifer Albin-Interesting looking YA debut.

Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant-Sounds like it could be cool.

Montefiore's Goddaughter by Elizabeth Brooks-debut that looks really interesting. Plus, gorgeous cover.

Beta book 1 by Rachel Cohn-Looks interesting.

Breathe by Sarah Crossan-Interesting looking dystopian even if I get the feeling the love triangle will be highly annoying.

Hush Hush Book 4: Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick-Hush Hush is my shame read series. I read it. But I'm ashamed I read it because the books...aren't good. But they're damn addicting. It's a sickness.

Dark Star by Bethany Frenette-Superheroes. Hells yeah. It's about time someone did teenage superheroes in YA. I'm amazed this isn't a larger genre.

Caster Chronicles Book 4: Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margeret Stohl-One of my favorite series is coming to an end ;sad face; However, Kami does have a new series coming and there's the BC movie in February so it's not all sad...

Juliet Immortal book 2: Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay-Kind of don't want Romeo to be redeemed because I found him one of the more interesting characters in Juliet Immortal and I feel if he's redeemed all his interesting aspects will disapear but I'll still read.

Mystic City Trilogy Book 1: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence-Looks like it could be cool.

Innocents by Lili Peloquin-Gothic mystery. I love me my gothic books.

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski-Secret society book. I'm a sucker for those.

Dustlands Book 2: Rebel Heart by Moira Young-Dustlands was a favorite last year. Can't wait to read the sequel even if the writing style will be forever annoying.

Adult:

Agent of Hel book 1: Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey-New UF series and we all know I'm addicted to this genre.

Toxic City Book 1: London Eye by Tim Lebbon-Cool looking new dystopian series.

Dani O'Malley book 1: Iced by Karen Marie Moning-My favorite Fever character is getting her own book. ;insert fangirl squee;

Book Review: Arise

TITLE: Arise
Book 2 in the Hereafter series
AUTHOR: Tara Hudson
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Paranormal, romance
PREMISE: Amelia and co. return and try to get answers for things.
MY REVIEW: Honestly...I still don't have much to say about this series. It is what it is. Not horrible but not really great either.
The sequel doesn't really do much in terms of convincing me this series is great. It's basically more of book one. Amelia is still as bland as ever as is Joshua though it is nice to have a relationship that isn't unhealthy even if the relationship is still as boring as rocks. Really all I can say about this series is it doesn't suck. But it's not fabulous either.
So I still shrug at this. I'm not sure if I'll bother to read book 3 next year. I may just because I believe it's the last book.
WHO SHOULD READ: Those that read Hereafter and liked it.
MY RATING: Three out of Five shrugs