Book Review: In the Shadow of Blackbirds

TITLE: In the Shadow of Blackbirds
AUTHOR: Cat Winters
PUBLISHED: April 2013
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Historical Fantasy, Paranormal
PREMISE: In 1918, young Mary Shelley almost dies but then is brought back and haunted by the spirit of a dead soldier she once liked.
MY REVIEW: I've wavered so much on this book. There are issues I have with it. Mary was kind of a flat character for instance but the story, the writing, and the more complete side-characters more than made up for her. So...ultimately...I'm going to say it was good.
The best thing by far, is the historic details. You guys know I'm all over these historic atmosphere books and Winters does it well. I could vividly picture everything. I wasn't confused for one minute. The research on this time period is fantastic. Kudos writer. Mystery wise...it was okay. Usual paranormal mystery du jour. Not super fantastic, but not horrible. It was interesting enough to get me through the book and I liked the paranormal part of it because it was a genuinely interesting idea.
So issues are here, but I think overall this was a really good debut. I think Winters will be one to watch in the future.
WHO SHOULD READ: The Diviners fans, historical fiction fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five aviator goggles

Book Review: The Program

TITLE: The Program
Book 1 in The Program series
AUTHOR: Suzanne Young
PUBLISHED: April 2013
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Dystopianish
PREMISE: Teen suicide has become an epidemic and the only hope for teens is The Program, where teens get sent to and come back completely different...
MY REVIEW: Like most dystopians lately, The Program was a good idea on paper. In actual execution...it was sort of a mess. This is the first Young book I've read, because honestly I had no real interest in reading her stuff beforehand. This was the first one of hers that sounded like something I could get into. But it just didn't click with me.
This is one of those dystopians you need to read with your brain off. Because if you read it while analyzing it, you'll be bothered constantly by the whys and the hows and the what the hell is this things that are never properly explained. Sometimes dystopians like this can work. In Delirium for instance, we know logically that love being declared a disease will never happen in a million years. But Oliver took that what if and made it a reality by thinking the world through and making it a scary reality. In this one, Young never really bothers to explain things like how on earth teen suicide becomes an "epidemic" (never mind how problematic that whole idea is, considering teen suicide is a real legit issue). If Young had took the time to go into details and give me background, etc. I maybe could have gotten into this more. But no, apparently I'm supposed to care about Sloane and her love troubles instead.
Except the problem is, Sloane? Kind of boring. Her love interest? Also dull. Her second love interest? A douche. I've gone over how tired I am of love triangles so I'll spare you that. I'll also spare you how annoying I find it when instead of focusing on the dystopian things in a dystopian book, authors focus on romantic drama instead because you've heard it all from me before.
But here's the thing: this is me. As a actual story...I guess it works. In a way. I imagine that the same way people managed to get into the Chemical Garden Trilogy people can get into this. Unfortunately for the author if I can't get past your dystopian scenario, then I'm likely not to enjoy your dystopian, no matter how romantic you make it. So I rec this for romance fans who don't read many dystopians. Dystopian fans....I'd go elsewhere.
WHO SHOULD READ: Chemical Garden Trilogy Fans, Eve Trilogy fans, dystopian fans more forgiving of sloppy world building, romance fans who read the occasional dystopian
MY RATING: Three out of Five pills

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2013 Book So Far

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

This week: Top Ten Books of 2013 So Far

Though we could do older books, for people's sake, I'm sticking to ones published this year. You don't need more gushing about Games of Thrones and Looking For Alaska because chances are, you already know about them.

1)Lunar Chronicles Book 2: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer-So far, this has been my favorite sequel (the sequel to Unspoken and the last Daughter of Smoke and Bone book haven't come out yet so this may change). It did everything sequels should do: deftly continue the story, introduce new characters who help the story along, and developed previous characters and plot. I seriously cannot wait for Cress.

2) Heist Society series Book 3: Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter-Carters books are always a favorite. I have no doubt I will love United We Spy coming out in September as well.

3) Bhinian Empire series Book 1: City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster-A fantasy/mystery and one of the more creative YA books I've read in awhile. It saddens me that it hasn't become more popular.

4) The Archived Book 1: The Archived by Victoria Schwab-I know I'm in the minority here, but I loved this book. I guess it was just too quirky for people or something.

5) Finishing School series Book 1: Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger-I loved the Parasol Protectorate series and it's YA spin-off series did not disappoint me. I can't wait for the second book in November.

6) The Madman's Daughter Trilogy Book 1: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepard-Despite a somewhat shaky middle (and a forced love triangle) this book wound up being a rather decent sequel/expansion of sorts on The Island of Dr. Moreau. Considering the evil cliff hanger, I eagerly anticipate the sequel which apparently is going to involve Frankenstein this time. Bring it.

7) Poison by Bridget Zinn-I love quirky fantasy books (hence my love affair with Pratchett and Dianna Wynne Jones) and this fantasy has that in spades and is just plain enjoyable.

8) Unraveling series Book 2: Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris-Unraveling was a surprise favorite from last year and I wound up loving the sequel just as much.

9) Sister Assassins Book 1: Mind Games by Kiersten White-While I maybe didn't love this as much as the Paranormalcy Trilogy (and believed me, I loved that quite a bit), I did still enjoy it quite a bit and can't wait for the sequel.

10) Shades of London series Book 2: The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson-Johnson never disappoints, I loved this just as much as In the Name of the Star, if not more so.

Others I enjoyed that didn't quite make the cut: Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans, Everbound by Brodi Ashton, Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Also Known As by Robin Benway, Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore (literally just finished yesterday), The Essence by Kimberly Derting, Just One Day by Gayle Foreman, Spellcaster by Claudia Gray, Boundless by Cynthia Hand, The Dead and the Buried by Kim Harrington, The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa, Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers, Pretty Girl 13 by Liz Coley, Prodigy by Marie Lu, Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead, Unbroken by Paula Morris, Shades of Earth by Beth Revis, Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi, Altered by Jennifer Rush, Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys, Orleans by Sherri Smith, Icons by Margaret Stohl, 17 and Gone by Nova Ren Suma, Pivot Point by Kasie West, and The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell.

Now you know how hard making this list was for me...

Book Review: Pretty Girl 13

TITLE: Pretty Girl 13
AUTHOR: Liz Coley
PUBLISHED: March 2013
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Contemporary
PREMISE: A girl who was kidnapped returns thinking she's still 13 when she's actually 16...
MY REVIEW: I have mixed feelings about this one. Part of the reason it's taken me awhile to post a review is me trying to figure out if I even liked it or not. At the end of the day, I do think it's a good book. But, it probably wouldn't be like the first book I would read if given a choice.
The thing about these type of books is one has to be in the mood for them. It's very good at exploring emotional things and the character study of Angie is very good and I loved Coley's writing. There were just random things about it that bugged me but those were mostly my hang ups and don't necessarily ruin the entire thing. Like I didn't get the point of the teen drama with the back-stabbing friends. I felt the slut shaming aimed at Angie's former friend and one of her personalities was strange considering what happened to Angie while she was gone.
So...there were great things about it. But there were also things in it that I really just don't understand why the author felt the need to have them (the entire plot with Greg and Liz for instance). But for a first novel, it's not bad.
WHO SHOULD READ: Lifetime movie fans, fans of pschology type scenarios
MY RATING: Four out of Five it's complicated characters

Book Review: Requiem

TITLE: Delirium
Book 3 in the Delirium Trilogy
AUTHOR: Lauren Oliver
PUBLISHED: March 2013
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Dystopian, Romance
PREMISE: Lena deals with the return of Alex who no longer loves her as the world falls apart around them.
MY REVIEW: As everyone knows, endings of trilogies can often be tricky things. There is always that difference between what the reader wants to happen (usually meaning everyone winds up alive/happily ever after) and what the author feels is the right way to end things. Usually that upset can cause massive problems (again, I point to Mockingjay which was a perfectly decent ending but readers kept on wailing about it and still grumble about it to this day. I've given up arguing with people who go "well Hunger Games was good but the third book sucked" because I know that discussion is just not going to end well for anyone). So when the complaints about Requiem came in, I wasn't too shocked and took it with a grain of salt because same things have happened to trilogies before.
This is the one time where I kind of understand why people don't like the ending. It's very...abrupt. I feel if this was a four book series and this led up to the finale then everything would be great and I'd be anticipating that next book something fierce. But this is the final book and the ending...isn't really an ending. It's one of those open endings and I frankly don't really care for those. So yeah, the ending of this is a huge problem. I liked the rest of the book just fine. It continued to be great at showing just how much we need love in our society because that fuels things like passion for things, compassion, and essentially our humanity. I love that this trilogy celebrates not just romantic love but all kinds of love from friendship to family love.
So...not the greatest ending. Trilogy is still good and I love the ideas Oliver explored, and as always, the writing is fantastic. It's just not the best ending to a trilogy I've read. I don't think it ruins the entire trilogy like I've seen some people claim, but it's not the best.
WHO SHOULD READ: those that have read books 1 and 2, Matched fans, Wither Fans
MY RATING: Three and a half out of Five what was that? I don't even know, endings

Book Review: Icons

TITLE: Icons
Book 1 in the Icons series
AUTHOR: Margaret Stohl
PUBLISHED: May 2013
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Science Fiction/Fantasy/Dystopian
PREMISE: Ever since the aliens took over Dol and Ro have been in hiding. When they're discovered, their lives change.
MY REVIEW: This is a tricky book to review. I liked it. I didn't love it as much as I loved, say Beautiful Creatures, but I do think it was good. However it has a writing style/way of telling the story that I'm sure will drive some readers mad. It actually took me some getting used too and I liked the book.
The story is interesting enough. It's maybe not the most original thing in the world, but it's entertaining to a degree and has enough of it's own ideas to not be a rip-off of things. It's fast-paced, there's enough romance and action and it's a good lead in for a bigger series.
It's just one of those that isn't going to necessarily appeal to everyone. Which is probably why it's gotten so many mixed reviews. So I liked it, and look forward to the next book, but I rec it with the knowledge that there's a fifty percent chance that the book won't appeal to you.
WHO SHOULD READ: Beautiful Creatures fans, dystopian fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five alien detention centers

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on my Summer TBR List

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

This week: Top Ten Books on my Summer TBR List.

Well, I have a HUGE TBR list. I've managed to knock a few out this year, but they just keep adding awesome looking books. So for your sake (and mine), I'm going to just do books that are being published this summer (up until September 22nd which means Battle Magic and the second Lynburn Legacy book sadly can't make the list).

1) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman-It's Neil Gaiman. Nuff said. Released today.

2) Abandon Trilogy Book 3: Awaken by Meg Cabot-Me, looking forward to a Cabot book. Who's surprised? Yeah, no one. Released July 2nd.

3) American Fairy Trilogy Book 2: Golden Girl by Sarah Zettel-I loved Dust Girl. It was one of my favorites of 2012. I can't wait for the sequel. Released June 25th.

4) Strange and Deadly series Book 2: A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard-I had a good time reading Something Strange and Deadly last year, plus I love me my steampunk. Add in zombies and it was pretty much a given I would enjoy this series. Released July 23rd.

5) Mythos Academy series Book 5: Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep-Always up for an Estep book. Released July 30th.

6) Starglass by Phoebe North-Pretty Cover, awesome sounding summary. I'm in. Released July 23rd.

7) The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White-White handling Egyptian Gods? Sign me up. Released September 10th.

8) The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black-It's Holly Black. Plus I loved the short story this is based on and can't wait to see its expansion. Released September 3rd.

9) Gallagher Girls Book 6: United We Spy by Ally Carter-I'm torn between epic sadness and epic jubilation that the final GG book is coming out. Released September 17th

10) Raven Cycle series Book 2: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater-Raven Boys may not have been my favorite thing, but it was still damn good and I can't wait to see what comes of waking the ley lines. I have a feeling this one will be more interesting then the first. Released September 17th.

Also looking forward too: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake, Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst, second Hybrid Chronicles book, Dancer Daughter Traitor Spy, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, Still Star-Crossed, and hopefully will finally be reading Bitterblue, the final Sookie Stackhouse book, A Dance With Dragons, and catching up on the Elemental Assassin series and Women of the Otherworld series.

Book Review: The Rising

TITLE: The Rising
Book 3 in the Darkness Rising Trilogy
AUTHOR: Kelley Armstrong
PUBLISHED: April 2013
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Urban Fantasy, werewolves/shifters
PREMISE: Maya and her friends search for answers as they are hunted by the St. Clouds.
MY REVIEW: Once again, I'm stuck not really having much to say about a series that I've reviewed quite a lot. You guys know by now that I'm a Armstrong fan and that I'm basically all over this series.
Wasn't totally thrilled with the ending of the love triangle but since I was always Team Daniel, I'm not hugely upset by it. I'm just bothered by how Rafe basically took the choice out of Maya's hands. That bugs me. At least allow the person in the middle of the love triangle enough respect to let them make up their mind, damn it.
But the love triangle was never a make it or break it thing for me in this series so not a big deal. Other then that issue, I enjoyed the book as always with this series. Especially since we got to see Derek/Chloe.
WHO SHOULD READ: those that have read the first two books, Kelley Armstrong fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five skinwalkers

Stacking the Shelves: June 16th

Sorry this is late, work and Father's Day stuff got in the way.
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga over at Tynga's Reviews that tells people what new books we've gotten over the week.

Bought at Barnes and Noble:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green-Yes, I'm officially on the John Green bandwagon, even if I still wish people (namely literature snobs) would stop acting like he's an anomaly in the YA section. Green is good, but he's not the only good writer in YA like I've seen a few people claim. Green himself would tell you this isn't the case (because he's awesome like that).

Hex Hall spin-off book 1: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins (or Hex Hall book 4. Whichever)-I totally forgot this was coming out! Strange, I've seen next to no reviews for it...

Won in Giveaway:
The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny-Historical fiction debut I won in a goodreads giveaway.

Bi-Weekly library haul:

Goodnight Family series Book 2: Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore-I'm always up for a Clement-Moore book (she's seriously underrated) and I adored Texas Gothic so I can't wait to read this follow up which involves my favorite character from Texas Gothic: Daisy. Bring it.

Pretty Girl 13 by Liz Coley-YA debut I've been meaning to read.

The Engelsfors Trilogy Book 1: The Circle by Sara Elfgren and Mats Strandberg-YA debut/new trilogy that looked interesting.

Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon-YA debut that sounds...interesting.

Wasteland Trilogy Book 1: Wasteland by Susan Kim and Laurance Klaven-YA debut and new trilogy.

The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni-YA debut (seems to be my week for them...) that's a historical mystery of sorts.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters-YA debut that's a historical paranormal mystery thing that sounds like it's made of win.

The Program Book 1: The Program by Suzanne Young-Never read anything by Young before (no interest before) but this one sounded interesting and I've heard good things.

Book Review: I Hunt Killers

TITLE: I Hunt Killers
Book 1 in the Jasper Dent series
AUTHOR: Barry Lyga
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Mystery, thriller
PREMISE: A boy whose father was a serial killer hunts down a copycat killer.
MY REVIEW: This is one of the many books that, had it not been for the blogosphere, I likely wouldn't have bothered to pick up in the first place. I just plain didn't have any interest last year, but these past few months, with the release of the sequel, this book has gained a large following and I've seen it recced right and left and that got me curious. Say what you want about the blogging community, it is good for getting me to look at books I otherwise wouldn't, and for that I do love bloggers (even if we sometimes don't see eye to eye on books).
So is it good? Yes, definitely, but a few things did bug me. For instance, I wasn't crazy about the fact that all the women in the series were victims in some way. Even Connie, awesome as she was (and can we revel in the fact that for once, the female love interest is a PoC?), was routinely manipulated by Jasper and she never really went beyond her role as "I'm the supportive awesome girlfriend". She was a fun character, but she didn't exactly do much and she was probably the best female character in there. That and some plausibility issues made me not love the book as much as everyone else, even if I do think it's a good book.
The main thing for me in this book is the character study of Jasper and how the author goes into the psychology of nature vs nurture, etc. I just love when authors explore characters like this and make you think about the uncomfortable things and Lyga most certainly did that and he did that well. I will definitely be reading the sequel which is out now and apparently made of awesome.
WHO SHOULD READ: Dexter fans, James Patterson fans, those not afraid of gore
MY RATING: Four out of Five knives