Book Review: Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters

TITLE: Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters
AUTHOR: Suzanne Weyn
PUBLISHED: January 2013
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Retelling (of sorts), Historical fiction, horror, drama
PREMISE: Dr. Frankenstein's two daughters come home to his castle to reclaim their legacy.
MY REVIEW: This book is, like all of Weyn's work, inspired. It's a clever twist. I mean come on, who wouldn't want to read about Frankenstein's kids taking up his work? I know I did. However, also like all of Weyn's work...it feels incomplete.
The murder mystery was nice and all but it sort of feels like the idea was there...but never fully explored to its potential. Writing is okay. I can take or leave Weyn's writing style honestly. It tends to change with each book she does. The characters are okay. The pacing...a bit slow but it's short so that doesn't really matter. Everything was just...okay.
I don't know, I keep picking up Weyn's stuff because the blurb and the premises just sound so awesome like this one did, and then I always wind up feeling like the idea was never fully realized to it's full potential and I wind up being disappointed. Not sure if that's my own fault, or the writers...If nothing else, this makes for a interesting quick library read.
WHO SHOULD READ: Frankenstein fans
MY RATING: Three out of Five stumbling monsters

Book Review: The Fire Horse Girl

TITLE: The Fire Horse Girl
AUTHOR: Kay Honeymoon
PUBLISHED: January 2013
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Historical fiction, drama
PREMISE: Jade Moon is a Fire Horse girl, a girl seen as unlucky in China. When a man comes offering a new life in America, Jade sees her chance to make a fresh start.
MY REVIEW: First I have to say, I don't understand why the publisher said this would appeal to Kristin Cashore fans. This has nothing in common with Graceling, other then the Chinese culture influence. If we're going to rec it to certain fans, I say Joy Luck Club fans are probably more accurate. Now, this was the first book of 2013 that I've read, as well as the first YA debut of the year that I've read (don't count Delusion because I didn't finish it). For a first book of the new publishing year...I was pleased.
I will say Honeymoon's writing style was kind of all over the place. Sometimes there was fabulous description where I could see that this author seriously did her research. Then there was occasional awkward feeling dialogue that didn't feel natural. But for a first book? Not half bad. Jade was a fun character who I liked and rooted for. Wasn't totally crazy that she wound up marrying the guy who was kind of a jerk to her throughout the novel (no, him apologizing and saying he was in love with her all along does NOT make it okay for me) but to each their own. I guess Graceling fans who were super upset about Katsa not being marriage obsessed will like that more then I did.
This was a decent debut. Doubt it will win many awards but for a historical fiction novel you can certainly do a lot worse. I rec this to all historical fiction fans.
WHO SHOULD READ: Joy Luck Club fans, historical fiction fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five fortunes

Book Review: The Darkest Minds

TITLE: The Darkest Minds
Book 1 in the Darkest Minds series
AUTHOR: Alexandra Bracken
PUBLISHED: December 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Dystopian, Urban Fantasy
PREMISE: In a strange turn of events children start to gain powers and fearful adults put them into camps to keep them under control.
MY REVIEW: If there was ever an opposite of the just reviewed Match Trilogy it is this debut. Yes, it's dystopian but it's completely different from Matched in scope, focus, and quality. I'll warn readers now: this book is DARK. I'm not kidding. Where Matched is all light on death and heavy on romance, Darkest Minds is more survival of the fittest and next to no romance. So if that's not your thing then you probably won't get into this very much.
But I personally really dug this. It was unique with a strong X-Men vibe. The writing is strong and for once an author gets the whole show don't tell thing. The world she created is freaky, interesting, and absorbing. Her characters are complicated and often times not nice people. This book was different from what I've read in the dystopian genre lately and it was honestly kind of refreshing.
As I said early, I suspect because of the darkness, this will not appeal to everyone. But if you don't mind that and something a bit more meatier then a love triangle/romantic drama with your dystopian then I really rec this for you.
WHO SHOULD READ: Clockwork Orange fans, X-Men fans, those not afraid of dark books
MY RATING: Four out of Five thumbs up

Book Review: Reached

TITLE: Reached
Book 3 in the Matched Trilogy
AUTHOR: Ally Condie
PUBLISHED: November 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Dystopianish, romance
PREMISE: The Rising starts with Cassie, Ky, and Xander all in the middle of it.
MY REVIEW: Here's the thing about the Matched Trilogy: I don't think it's godawful like I've read some reviewers call it. To be sure, I definitely don't think it's worth all the hype it got. Seriously, if ever there was an example of overhype, this is it. However, it's not the worst thing ever written either. I actually quite like Condie's writing style. I just wish everything else was as strong as her lovely prose.
Technically speaking this book does do the trick. I will say it at least wasn't nearly as dull as the second book, which wouldn't be hard. Unfortunately it's not enough to bring this trilogy to epic heights. Honestly all I feel about this trilogy is ho hum. I just felt like the author never really brought her A game to the table. This was just...all right. It finished it off neatly in a bow but honestly felt half hazard. For one thing, that coup has got to be the cleanest and most boring coup I've ever read about. Literally no one dies? No, the father dying off page in a plague does not count as high stakes, author. To top it off the love triangle is never more forced then it is here. I mean it was bad in the first book, but even now I still wonder what the hell it is about Cassie that makes Xander and Ky so hung up on her because I honestly don't get it. I understand the Gale/Katniss/Peeta thing more then I understand this love triangle.
Honestly this was just...lackluster. I think that is the ultimate problem I have with the Matched Trilogy: it's safe. The author never goes outside the box, I never really believe the danger the characters are in because I know the main three will always be okay, and all the "twists" are pretty predictable. Even the Rising being just another Society was practically a mirror version of the District 13 idea in Mockingjay. If nothing else, it was too similar for me to be really surprised. Honestly if you really want a romantic dystopian series, may I suggest Delirium instead? It's better written, has better thought out characters, as well as a better thought out world. Which is weird considering its premise is less believable then this one.
WHO SHOULD READ: fans of books 1 and 2, Chemical Garden Trilogy fans, Once Trilogy fans
MY RATING: Two and a half out of Five yawns
RATING FOR OVERALL TRILOGY: Three out of Five for a overall lackluster effort.

Ditched Books for January

TITLE: Undeadly
Book 1 in the Reaper Diaries
AUTHOR: Michele Vail
PUBLISHED: November 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Urban fantasy, zombies
PREMISE: Molly tries to be normal despite being a reaper.
WHY I DITCHED IT: So. Much. Forced. Teen speak. Like, OMG you guys. Seriously authors, quit this habit. NOW. Liked the premise of it, didn't care for everything else. By page sixty I was bored to death and annoyed at the same time. I think this is one for younger teens but anyone past middle school will probably feel like they're being talked down too by a author who thinks they're eleven.

TITLE: Blood Song
Book 1 in the Blood Singer series
AUTHOR: Cat Adams
PUBLISHED: 2010
CATEGORY: Adult
GENRE: Urban fantasy, vampires
PREMISE: A body guard becomes a vampire.
WHY I DITCHED IT: Was bored within a hundred pages. Was the basic UF tropes all in one.

TITLE: Delusion
AUTHOR: Laura L. Sullivan
PUBLISHED: January 2013 (us release anyway)
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Historical fantasy, romance
PREMISE: Two sisters who are bored being stuck during the London blitz try to talk two magicians into helping out the war effort.
WHY I DITCHED IT: Honest to god this was a case of "it's not you, it's me". There probably isn't anything really wrong with this book. I just couldn't get into it for some reason.

Book Review: Crewel

TITLE: Crewel
Book 1 in the Crewel World series
AUTHOR: Gennifer Albin
PUBLISHED: October 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Fantasy
PREMISE: Sixteen year old Adelice is taken from her home to be a spinster: a person who creates the world around them.
MY REVIEW: So here's the thing, this book will not be for everyone. I think of it as I think of the show Lost: You will either get it and be sucked into its creativity and enjoy every moment of it. Or you will not get it and be utterly...well lost. So despite loving this I will rec caution and advise you to check it out of the library first to see if it's for you. Unless of course you just want to buy it for its pretty cover for which I totally don't blame you .
The number one reason I got into this book so much was its creativity. Finally, an author thinking outside the box. Yes, there are a few familiar elements here that are tropes in YA dystopian fiction but the author makes them work well which is more then I can say for some of these dystopians I've read. Then there's Albin's lovely lovely writing. I seriously can't gush enough about it. It's great without being overdone. True there is the usual annoying love triangle that seems to be a requirement nowadays but I can overlook it because for the most part this was a great debut.
A few confusing things aside (which I suspect will be cleared up in upcoming books) this was creative, with interesting characters, and great world building as well as really strong writing. I can't wait to read the next one. Also, did I mention that the cover is gorgeous? Seriously, internet pics don't do it justice.
WHO SHOULD READ: fantasy fans, court intrigue fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five looms

Book Review: Confessions of a Murder Suspect

TITLE: Confessions of a Murder Suspect
Book 1 in the Teen Detective series
AUTHOR: James Patterson and Maxine Paetan
PUBLISHED: September 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Mystery, realistic fiction
PREMISE: Tandy finds her parents murdered in their bed and a whole slew of family secrets come out as she investigates her own family members.
MY REVIEW: Patterson books are often a mixed bag for me, particularly when it's ones he's co-written. But this one, I got into. True, like all of his, it's not overly complicated but if you want a good old fashioned murder mystery it does the trick.
I think most of the appeal in this one comes from the interesting family dynamics. Plus there's a promise of ongoing investigations in the future and heaven knows, I'm a sucker for teen sleuths (blame Nancy Drew).
If you're a Patterson fan this book will be right up your alley. If you're a mystery fan, you can probably get into it. It's a decent start on what looks like will be a fun mystery series. Not groundbreaking by any means, but you could certainly do a lot worse.
WHO SHOULD READ: James Patterson fans, mystery fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five sassy teen sleuths

Book Review: Poison Princess

TITLE: Poison Princess
Book 1 in the Arcana Chronicles series
AUTHOR: Kresley Cole
PUBLISHED: October 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Urban Fantasy, Romance
PREMISE: Evie starts having visions of the future and needs the local bad boy to help her out.
MY REVIEW: So I've never read Kresley Cole's adult series before. I picked this up solely because the idea sounded awesome, nothing to do with Cole herself. I will say the idea behind this is pretty cool. The world building and general idea of it, I can totally get behind. Unfortunately Cole's characters and romance I can absolutely not stand and that took away a lot of the enjoyment factor for me.
I'm sorry, when I can't find one character in a book even remotely likable or at least interesting then I find it REALLY hard to get into a book because that means I'm spending time either rolling my eyes or wanting to smack someone. In this case I was rolling my eyes at Evie who unlike Evie from The Diviners or Paranormalcy (seriously, what is with all the Evies in YA fiction lately?) isn't really interesting and frankly isn't very likable either. Then there's the love interest. Oh boy, I honestly don't know where to begin with this guy aside from the fact that he's pretty much a combination of Edward Cullen and Patch from Hush Hush and every other "bad boy" douche stereotype. He was the one I wanted to smack. It isn't helped that the author takes about a hundred or so pages to actually get to the point of the story. A little tip writers: the point of the story should happen within at least fifty pages otherwise people aren't going to CARE. Fyi, teen drama? Not the point of the story unless your book is a drama book which in this case, it is not.
Perhaps as the series goes on, the author will have more brilliant things happening but honestly? I can't bring myself to care enough to pick up the next book because I found myself despising all the characters. While I find completely perfect characters annoying as well, there is something to be said for having your characters have SOME redeeming qualities. From what I can see, these characters didn't have many of those and to top it off they weren't that interesting enough for me to put up with their bs. So maybe it gets better in the second book. But I will leave other readers to find that out for themselves. I for one will not be bothering with it.
WHO SHOULD READ: Kresley Cole fans, House of Night fans, not sure who else
MY RATING: Two and a half out of Five really annoying characters

Book Review: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

TITLE: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Book 3 in the Millennium Trilogy
AUTHOR: Stieg Larsson
PUBLISHED: 2010
CATEGORY: Adult
GENRE: Mystery, thriller/noir
PREMISE: Lisbeth lies in a coma as Blomkvist does his best to gather evidence to help prove her innocence.
MY REVIEW: Every so often the hype machine does get it right which is why I don't totally dismiss hype even if it often leads me to several duds that I would have otherwise never read. This trilogy is an example of how hype can help good books get recognition and I'm sorry but without the hype machine I'm sure this trilogy would have been overlooked in the sea of thrillers that is the adult mystery genre. Because while I love this trilogy, I will admit it's not exactly a ground breaker for the thriller genre.
But it has all those things that made me love the mystery genre in the first place: complex mysteries, complicated characters, social commentary on several subjects, and it actually has something to say. To top it off the character of Lisbeth is one of the best developed characters I've seen in this genre in a long while, male character and female character wise.
Despite a few moments here and there where I felt the book dragged on a bit more then was needed, this was all in all a satisfying conclusion to a involving mystery thriller trilogy. I really am sad Larsson is dead because I would have loved to see what other books he would have had in store for us. But he left behind a great legacy with the character of Lisbeth Salander.
WHO SHOULD READ: Fans of Books 1 and 2, James Patterson fans, thriller fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five kick ass hackers
RATING FOR OVERALL TRILOGY: Four and a half out of Five

Apologies

Sorry for the completely unplanned hiatus. My computer which I thought was fixed was apparently not fixed well. Good news is I have it back and hopefully this will be the last of the computer trouble for this year. If it isn't then I get to exchange it for a new computer. I'll be playing review catch up again for the next week or so including some new books for this year.