Review - Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society by Ally Carter
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 352
Publisher: Hatchette Children's Books (UK), Hyperion (US)

Summary: When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre... to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria... to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's (very crooked) history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Great for fans of: Leverage (TV) and White Collar (TV).

Thoughts: Even though this is the first Ally Carter book I've ever read, I've been a fan of hers for eons. I like her blog, her twitter and, just, the fact that she went out and pitched "I've got a book about teenage thieves a-la-Ocean's-Eleven, but with a proper gender distribution" to a publisher. And then I loved the fact that people went out and bought it.

So, when I picked up Heist Society, I knew I would enjoy it. What I did not expect was the four-hour reading marathon that would ensue as soon as I picked it up.

I didn't just "like" it. I loved it.

Ally Carter has a writing style that is deceptively simple. She jumps from country to country, character to character, scene to scene, with the skill of a professional storyteller. She manages to weave in the main character's complex back story (complete with heists, a dead parent and billionaire BFFs) into an already-tricky heist plot. Ally Carter shows and doesn't tell. Colour me impressed.

As for her characters, all I can say is: L-O-V-E. I was skeptical at first that there would be any emotional depth to this book... but there is. Lots of it. The main character is a tough, smart, savvy girl, but she is still damaged in a way that you can relate to. She's not perfect, but she's is trying really damn hard. I absolutely adored her.

Of course, the most important part of this novel is the heist. It had to be superb; it had to be believable; and it had to be pulled off by teenagers. A tall order, but one that Ally Carter met with flying colours. I won't give anything away, but suffice to say that she succeeded!

Bottom line? Heist Society is a smart, slick, and surprisingly-moving novel. Pick it up!

Note about the UK edition: There were a number of unfortunate typos in my copy. Usually this really pisses me off, but I was too distracted by the genius of the writing to fuss too much. Hopefully this will be something that's cleared up in the next printing.

Review - River Marked by Patricia Briggs

River Marked (Mercy Thompson #6) by Patricia Briggs
Goodreads / Librarything

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 326
Publisher: Orbit (UK) Ace (US)

Summary: Being a different breed of shapeshifter - a walker - Mercy Thompson can see ghosts, but the spirit of her long-gone father has never visited her. Until now, on her honeymoon with the Alpha werewolf Adam. An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-and innocent people are dying. As other walkers make their presence known to Mercy, she must reconnect with her heritage to exorcise the world of the legend known as the river devil...

Review: This book has confirmed what I long thought to be true: Patricia Briggs is incapable of writing books I don't like.

I was in a real reading slump when I picked up River Marked. Almost every book I picked up left me with a desire to send letter bombs in the mail - and there seemed to be no cure in sight. I thought: "If Briggs can't get me out of this funk, no one can." And sure enough, she did.

River Marked was absolutely stellar. It was really different to the previous Mercy books, as Mercy and Adam spent 90% of the time away from home with strangers. I adored this for two reasons: 1) it was a chance for us to see how Mercy and Adam's relationship would work outside of their comfort zone. 2) it was a completely natural, realistic thing for a couple to do. Too often authors will stick to a particular group of characters or a certain location, because that's what people want to read. Not Briggs. She'll take two of your favourite characters, toss them somewhere brand new, and make you love her for it.

That said, though most of the book was spent on the road, Briggs did sneak in a few fan favourites: Bran, Stefan and Jesse all put in some rather solid appearances. Thank God, as I really needed to check in on them after Silver Borne.

So, along with the fantastic exploration of Mercy and Adam's relationship, River Marked also introduced a bunch of Native American mythology... which I loved. I read stories about Coyote and Raven when I was a girl, so seeing their stories incorporated into River Marked was a dream. Without giving away too many details... I also really liked how Briggs dealt with Mercy's family history. Maybe other readers will find it a bit iffy, but I thought she handled it all very well.

You can also see the beginnings of a bunch of new plot lines in River Marked; I am positively twitching with impatience with the need to find out what Briggs has planned! I was starting to worry that she was wrapping up the Mercy series, but I can picture at least 5 more books worth of content she can cover after this.

Bottom line? A stellar - albeit, very different - instalment in the Mercy series. If you are looking for a UF series that can hold up six books in, look no further.

Cover Note: I've used the US cover for this post as I absolutely loathe the new UK covers. The covers are actually what kept me from reading this book for so long - I just couldn't stand the idea of buying the UK version! Only reason I bought it in the end was because I spotted it at Oxfam. Will need to get the US cover on bookdepository one of these days...

Review - Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre

Doubleblind (Sirantha Jax #3) by Ann Aguirre
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 310
Publisher: Ace Books

Summary: Sirantha Jax isn’t known for diplomatic finesse. As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, she’s used to kicking ass first and taking names later—much later. Not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.

And Ithiss-Tor council meetings aren’t the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover, March, is frozen in permanent “kill” mode, and his hair-trigger threatens to sabotage the talks—not to mention their relationship.

But Jax won’t give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and the flesh-eating Morgut, an alliance with Ithiss-Tor may be humanity’s only hope. Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job…

Thoughts: There were so many things I loved about Doubleblind, I hardly know where to start. While this was an unmistakably Jax book, it was extremely different Aguirre’s previous books. There was less action and a lot more talking. And while that may sound anticlimactic, it was, if anything, even more nerve-wracking than guns-blazing action. Why, you ask? Because it was all politics – old-school, world-saving negotiations with assassination attempts and violent demonstrations. It was The West Wing on crack in space. It was glorious.

And to top it all off, all this glorious political action took place on Ithiss-Tor. When I first read Grimspace, I was rather floored by the entire book… but Vel just knocked my socks off. He only appears in the last, say, 50(?) pages of the book and in that time became one of my very favourite characters. So getting to visit the home-world he left behind? Well, nothing could have made me happier.

In Doubleblind, Aguirre reveals a lot about the Ithiss-Tor, Ithorian culture, and – best of all – Vel’s past. If I hadn’t loved Vel before, Doubleblind would have sealed the deal. He is such a noble, loyal, brilliant individual – and his relationship with Jax is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. He cares about her so deeply, in a way that completely defies traditional values. He’s an alien – an insect-like, long-living, practically Vulcan alien. And yet, I adore him. You will too.

Doubleblind also includes an extremely traumatised March. This is not at all the man we met in Grimspace: he’s senselessly violent and pretty much soulless. Aguirre handled his changed interaction with Jax spectacularly – although, I admit, my attachment to the two of them together began to wane in this book… I’ll just leave it at that.

Bottom line? Best book since Grimspace. Pick up this series if you love 3D characters and complex plots.

Review - If I Die by Rachel Vincent

If I Die (Soul Screamers #5) by Rachel Vincent
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Received for review from publishers 

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 342
Publisher: MIRA Books

Summary: The entire school’s talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr Beck. That is, everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee’s no ordinary high-school junior. She’s a banshee — she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah — it’s a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee’s going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine — her boyfriend’s needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr Beck…before he discovers they aren’t quite human, either.

But Kaylee’s borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life. Anything.

Thoughts: If I Die was my favourite Soul Screamers novel, hands down. Rachel Vincent resolved all my complaints, "beat my head against the wall" feelings, and shoot-Nash-in-the-face desires in one tidy little novel. How? Well, she gave Kaylee a gigantic wake-up call in the form of imminent death. *grins* Oh, the joy.

OK, I realise that makes me sound rather evil. But let me put it this way: when a character literally has no reason to hold herself back, she has the chance to let out her true self. And the "true" Kaylee? She's rather brilliant. You see, finding out she is about to die frees Kaylee... it frees her from Nash, from her father, from her schoolmates, and - most importantly - from herself. So when I say "finding out she is about to die is the best thing that ever happened to Kaylee", I really do mean it in the very best of ways.

Now, other than telling you that open-eyes!Kaylee is featured in If I Die, I can't really say much more without spoiling the book for you. In short: the villain was horrifically genius, Tod was swoon-worthily brilliant, Nash was ludicrously screwed-up, Kaylee's Dad was adorably protective, and Sabine was, well... Sabine. *sighs happily*

Bottom line? It is worth reading the first 4 books of the Soul Screamers series just to read If I Die. Seriously. Hell, just consider the first 4 books a very, very long prologue.

Finished the book already? Check out my interview with author Rachel Vincent for her thoughts on the series post-If I Die. She gave me some fantastic answers - read it if you are longing for something to tide you over until the next book!

Review - Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells

Silver-Tongued Devil (Sabina Kane #4) by Jaye Wells
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Received for review from publishers (Netgalley)

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 432
Publisher: Orbit

Summary: Spoilers for the first 3 books! Life is looking up for Sabina Kane. Now that her scheming grandmother is dead, the threat of war has passed and the rulers of the dark races are about to sign a treaty to ensure ongoing peace. Her relationship with sexy mage Adam Lazarus is strong and all her friends are around her. Even her magic training is progressing further than she ever expected. The only two dark spots in her otherwise settled life are her guilt over her sister Maisie's fragile mental state and Sabina's own sinking sense that she's got unfinished business with Cain, the mysterious cult leader she let get away months earlier.

When a string of murders rock the New York dark races community and threatens to stall the peace negotiations, Sabina finds herself helping to find the killer. Her investigation leads her down troubling paths that have her questioning everything - and everyone - she knows. And the closer she gets to the murderer, the more Sabina realises this is one foe she may not able to kill.

Thoughts: Silver-Tongued Devil was brilliant. I expected great things from Jaye Wells, but truth is that Green-Eyed Demon left me wondering where she could go with the series. Everything had ended so happily that I couldn't really work out why Wells needed two more books.

The reason? Because there is no such thing as a happy ending, not even in fiction! In real life, people don't just go from being a ruthless assassin for 50 years to being a warm-hearted softie overnight. And in real life, love and friendship aren't the only ingredients to lasting relationships. So while Sabina might want to ride into the sunset, that wasn't going to happen any time soon. And to honest, I am so very grateful for that!

Let's start with Sabina. She's one of my favourite characters in fiction, she is a take-no-prisoners woman who has a panache for violence. It's fabulous and depressing at the same time. But in the third book in the series, it felt like she was trying to be someone she wasn't. Luckily, that attempt is dealt with head-on in Silver-Tongued Devil. Not only did she deal with her own demons, she dealt with the way people around her were treating her too. *cough* Adam. *cough*

And while all the inter-character relationships were fantastically done, it was the gargantuan plot twists that made this book stand out. Jaye Wells is not afraid to "go there". She made some pretty big revaluations in this book and made her characters suffer through pretty horrific consequences because of them. What was especially gratifying was the way the plot built on existing scenes - Wells has been laying the groundwork for the events of Silver-Tongued Devil over the entire series. Now that? That's a real writer.

While the first half of the book was good, the second half was fantastic. The pace and the plot just grew more and more intriguing with each page - I found myself thinking about the book whenever I'd put it down. This book made going about my day a very frustrating venture, as all I wanted to do was read!! The only reason it isn't getting 5 stars? Well, it's not quite as funny as its predecessors. Other than that, it was perfection.

Bottom line? Silver-Tongued Devil was everything I didn't even know I wanted. It was a gripping installment to an already brilliant series. Go forth and read it!

Early Review - Pure by Julianna Baggott

US cover

Pure (Pure #1) by Julianna Baggott
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Dystopian Young Adult
Received for review from publishers

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 448
Publisher: Headline (UK)
Release date: February 2nd, 2012

Summary: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters... Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Thoughts: I wanted to wait for this book to come out before I raved about it. Honest to God, I planned on waiting. Because, really, I loathe it when people rave about books that aren't available for puchase. But in this case, I just couldn't keep it all in. This book is fan-bloody-tastic, and I need to share.

Pure is quite possibly the most terrifying YA novel out there... which is saying quite a bit. The Hunger Games was terrifying, as was Blood Magic and The Replacement. But the very premise on which Pure is based is so horror-film terrifying that it has to take the cake as the scariest YA book I've ever read.

Ok, so how do I explain?

Well, Pure is set in a post-apocalyptic world. But unlike a lot of books, it isn't set 50 years after the apocalypse - this end-of-the-world is in living memory. And the people suffering hurt all the more because they can remember the time when they weren't in pain.

Pain, you ask? Well, that's an understatement. Pure is set after a nuclear explosion has decimated the world. But the problem isn't with the casualties of death, it's with the pseudo-scientific effects of the radiation. At the time of the attack, people were merged with their surroundings. By surroundings I mean objects, animals, trees, dirt, and even other people. They fused together and everyone became, well, everyone else.

To say that this event made people less-than-friendly is an understatement. While the fused survivors are to be pitied, they are also the most fearful characters I've read in a long time. I found the whole premise utterly realistic and utterly haunting. Pure held me captive.

The reason, however, that Pure isn't getting 5 stars has to do with the nitty-gritty character business. While I surprised myself by enjoying the multi-narrator style, there were things I found a bit too coincidental. Not to mention that some of the relationships in the novel felt rather... rushed. Unfortunately, these inconsistencies kept me slightly apart from the main characters. My hope is that I grow to understand them more in the next novels!

Bottom line? Pure is an original, steampunk-esque take on dystopian fiction. It's the stuff of nightmares and you're going to love it.

Review - Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Science Fiction Young Adult 

Rating: 4.5
Pages: 272

Summary: With a past too terrible to speak of, and a bleak, lonely future ahead of her, Aerin Renning is shocked to find she has earned a place at the most exclusive school in the universe. Aerin excels at Academy 7 in all but debate, where Dane Madousin - son of one of the most powerful men in the Alliance - consistently outtalks her. Fortunately Aerin consistently outwits him at sparring. They are at the top of their class until Dane jeopardizes everything and Aerin is unintentionally dragged down with him. When the pair is given a joint punishment, an unexpected friendship - and romance - begins to form. But Dane and Aerin both harbor dangerous secrets, and the two are linked in ways neither of them could ever have imagined...

Thoughts: There is only one thing I hate about this book: it's too damn short! I could have kept on reading Academy 7 for another 500 pages - it was just that good.

Don't be fooled by the cover: Academy 7 is Science Fiction YA. But like all good Science Fiction it is about so much more than space, it's about character. And even while it is all about character, it's also about politics, and intelligence, and standing up and thinking for yourself. Academy 7 managed to weave a complex world behind the main narrative - a world both believable and intriguing that would have kept me hooked even if I hadn't liked the main story. It's part what makes any book great, but in Academy 7 it is what made it brilliant.

While there was a romance between the two main characters - Aerin and Dane - Academy 7 wasn't about them getting together... it was about them getting over the misery that had been their lives. Both Aerin and Dane reminded me, in a way, of Katniss from The Hunger Games. Neither one of them wanted to open up to each other, but life brought them together to do just that. I love it when characters need to overcome real emotional obstacles... when their bond with another character develops out of the mistrust that everyone feels for strangers. Aerin and Dane were complex individuals, and watching them grow together was just beautiful...

I also loved how intellectual this book was. Academy 7 is an institute that brings together the brightest minds in the galaxy, and it shows. Aerin and Dane are there because of their extraordinary intelligence, and Anne Osterlund lets it shine through the pages. Here's what I mean:

Aerin was reminded frequently over the next two months that Dane was still exasperating: the way he drilled her on the small points of an argument, then turned and argued the flip side against her in class; the way he refused to use certain openings in combat, claiming that to do so went against his sense of moral conduct; the way he managed to let others’ snide remarks slide past him as if they meant nothing. If Aerin had been asked at the end of their second term to describe Dane, the first word she would have used would have been maddening. She would also have added stubborn, intelligent, and, to her surprise, funny. His sense of humor, couched in irony, took her a while to appreciate, but it was also bluntly honest; and, by the start of Academia’s damp season, she found herself looking forward to his unvarnished opinions on every topic from flight paths to Ausyan philosophy.

There were no pedestals in Dane’s world. No crystal vases to be treated with supreme care. No heroes. But there was a constant willingness to take out a topic, test it, shake it apart, mix up the pieces, and test them again.

Perhaps that’s why he spends time with me, Aerin found herself thinking one afternoon as she negotiated the Great Hall’s uneven stairs on her way to report for work. Because I haven’t made up my mind about this part of the universe.

- Chapter 14, Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

In case you hadn't gathered, I just loved this book. There were a few flaws, mainly due to the short length of the novel. I think Anne Osterlund had enough plot to fill at least 100 more pages and it was a shame to see some pretty key scenes rushed into a few pages. But the somewhat-uneven pacing is not enough to distract from the sheer brilliance of this novel.

Bottom line? Academy 7 is a stunning, emotional, and realistic novel. I adored the characters, the verse, and - hell - even the villains. When I say YA fiction can be astounding, this is the type of novel I'm talking about!

Note: Academy 7 reads as a standalone novel and will likely remain a standalone. Although Anne Osterlund envisioned the book as the first in a trilogy, there aren't any plans to publish any more in this series (although, please, someone tell me I'm wrong about this!). It's depressing when I think about it...

Review - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Paranormal Young Adult / Modern Fantasy
Received for review from Hodder and Stoughton

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 448

Summary: There once was a young artist called Karou who drew tales of monsters and demons that delighted and enthralled those around her. But she has a secret, a secret that ties her to a dusty subterranean chamber, where her beloved guardian brokers dark deals in a place that is not here. A place that is Elsewhere. Living with one foot in each world, Karou has never really known which one is her true home.

Now the doors to Elsewhere closing . . .

Thoughts: I was expecting great things from Laini Taylor, and I got them. I got them in spades. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is probably the most unique paranormal Young Adult novel I've ever read. Absolutely everything took me by surprise: the characters, the universe and - amazingly - even the romance.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone starts off in Prague, narrated by multi-lingual, blue-haired, and tattooed Karou. In between trips to gothic cafes and studying at an art school, she tries to keep up a secret life in a magical world. And before you start imagining Diagon Alley, let me clarify. Karou's other world is filled with body parts and bizarre creatures, it is rough around the edges and dark in the centre... dark but not evil, per-say.

US cover

While there are plenty of more detailed reviews out there, you really should not know more than that. Because past the introduction? Everything goes haywire. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a book about angels and demons, but it is also not about angels and demons. It is about forbidden love, but it is about so much more than forbidden love. It is a book that takes every stereotype you've ever loathed and turns them into something magical and utterly unique. I was stunned by how Laini Taylor could make me accept things that - only ten pages before - I would have thought utterly implausible or unjustifiable. It turns out, all I needed was a stellar author guiding me!

The only thing that keeps me from giving this a full five stars - and there really is only one thing, this novel is almost perfection in writing - is the central romantic relationship. While I loved both characters individually, I wasn't completely sold on them together. I think I just need some more time to become enamoured with the two of them together... something the next novel should accomplish!

One final note: Brimstone. Brimstone, Brimstone, Brimstone. He was the one and only character that made me tear up in this book, and just thinking about him gives me a lump in my throat. Apparently I have a thing for tender-hearted father figures who show little-to-no emotion - and if you do too, you'll love him just as much as I did. ♥

Bottom line? Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a book about wishes and monsters, hope and betrayal, love lost and love found, teeth and smoke. Read it.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is out today in the UK. Go get a copy!

Summer Shorts - Fantasy Magazine: Catherynne M. Valente

Art by Laura Diehl.

Summer Shorts is weekly feature of short story/novella reviews, posted every weekend of July and August, 2011. Every week has a different theme - be it featuring a specific anthology, a particular genre, or a great author.

Last week I reviewed two stories from the special YA edition of Subterranean magazine, and this week I'm featuring another wonderful magazine... Fantasy Magazine, the sister publication to Lightspeed. Fantasy Magazine features some absolutely extraordinary authors and also has audio versions of their fiction available as podcasts. All the ones I've heard have been extremely well read, so if you are looking for some new audio fiction check out their itunes page!

The Wolves of Brooklyn by Catherynne M. Valente

(Available here - Valente is the author of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and other novels.)

Thoughts: The Wolves of Brooklyn is an extraordinary story... there was something about it that I both loved and hated. I'm not sure what it was exactly but, like everyone else in this story, it had something to do with the wolves.

Valente's tale is rather simple, in a way. One day, wolves turn up in Brooklyn. They don't talk or heal diseases, but neither are they your Yellowstone variety canid. They are huge, magical wolves that control the city and everyone in it. They are simultaneously loved and feared... because, yes, they do eat people on occasion. It's an extraordinary concept.

But the idea unnerved me. I love wolves and loathe stories that set them up as the villains. However, The Wolves of Brooklyn never really defines the wolves as good or evil... they just are. The wolves are a force of nature beyond everything else in the tale. It is unnerving and stunning all at once. And to have this amazing concept directed by such a talented writer... well, it completely transported me.

Bottom line? Valente delivers a true modern fairy tale. The Wolves of Brooklyn is a Grimm's Fairy tale set in a twenty-first century world: gorgeous, unnerving, and utterly realistic.

Favourite Quote:

I asked one of them once. She’d followed me home from the F train—what I mean is she’d been all the way down on the platform, and when I got off she trotted up after me and followed me—me, specifically. And I turned around in the snow, the fucking snow that never ends, and I yelled: Why? Why are you here? What are you doing? What do you want? I guess that sounds dumb, like a scene in a movie if this were happening in a movie and DiCaprio or whoever was having his big cathartic moment. But I wanted to know so badly. And she—I noticed it was a she. A bitch. She bent her head. God, they are so tall. So tall. Like statues. She bent her head and she licked my cheek. Like I was a baby. She did it just exactly like I was her puppy. Tender, kind. She pressed her forehead against mine and shut her eyes and then she ran off. Like it hadn’t even happened.

Summer Shorts - Patricia Briggs

Summer Shorts is weekly feature of short story/novella reviews, posted every Saturday of July and August, 2011. Every week has a different theme - be it featuring a specific anthology, a particular genre, or a great author.

Last week I reviewed two stories from the fantastic on-line science fiction magazine Lightspeed. This week, I'm reviewing two fantastic tales - one novella, one short story - by one of my favourite authors: Patricia Briggs.

If you don't know Ms. Briggs, you should remedy that immediately! She writes the fantastic Mercy Thompson series - which features werewolves, coyotes, the best vampires ever written, mechanics, trailers, and some scary, scary fey. Both of these stories are set in that verse.

Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs

(Novella featured in the On the Prowl anthology.)

Thoughts: So, I started reading Cry Wolf - the first novel in Briggs' series about Anna and Charles - and remembered that there was a story that came before the novel: Alpha and Omega. I put the book aside at page 50, and picked up Alpha and Omega. And now? Now I am trying to work out new ways to say "wow".

Patricia Briggs is an amazing writer. She writes stunning, character driven novels without having to go over-the-top with the style of her prose. This talent transcends into her short stories flawlessly. Alpha and Omega tells the story of the first meeting between werewolves Charles (Samuel's brother, if you read the Mercy Thompson series) and Anna. Anna has been the victim of her alpha and her Chicago pack, who changed her against her will, raped her and kept her at the edge of starvation. Needless to say, she is not in a good place when we meet her.

Knowing that, how on earth could Briggs consider throwing her into a relationship with Charles, whose wolf immediately chooses Anna to be his mate? Instant mating for an abuse victim? How is that supposed to feel realistic? Well, Briggs manages. Aiding her in the plot development are the jumps between different points of view. Unlike her Mercy novels, Alpha and Omega is told by both Anna and Charles - so we see how uncomfortable they both are with the new connection. Knowing that Charles is truly a stand-up wolf makes it easy to root for him.

Bottom line? While Alpha and Omega is the first installment in Briggs' Anna and Charles series, it wraps up well. There's no need to read Cry Wolf afterwards but I am certain you'll want to!

The Star of David by Patricia Briggs

(Short Story featured in the Wolfsbane and Mistletoe anthology.)

Thoughts: Oh, Ms. Briggs. I absolutely love you and wish you didn't have to eat or sleep so that you could spend dedicate more of your life to writing. *pines*

So, The Star of David. First off: it is (mostly) narrated by a man - a werewolf man. It's the first time I've ever read anything by Briggs not narrated by a woman and it wasn't until I'd finished that I realised that there might have been a difference. There isn't. Briggs rocks any gender. Second thing you should know: while it is set in the Mercy/Alpha and Omega verse, it stars all new characters. If you've never read any Briggs, you can read The Star of David and not worry about a thing.

There's a tonne of action, emotional drama, and character angst in The Star of David. It's a much shorter tale than Alpha and Omega - a real short story. And yet Briggs still manages to get more than enough in. I'd love to meet David again in one of her other novels (although I might have and just don't remember). He's a mercenary, sure, but he is also such a delicate puppy under all that fur.

Bottom line? Another brilliant tale by Patricia Briggs. Her werewolf series is an absolute gem - short stories included!

Next week... stories from the special YA edition of Subterranean Magazine!

Summer Shorts - Zombies vs. Unicorns

Welcome to Summer Shorts, a summer feature of short story/novella reviews, posted every Saturday of July and August, 2011. I am going to try to have a different theme every week - be it featuring a specific anthology, a particular genre, or a great author.

 Last week I reviewed some great Kelley Armstrong stories, and this week I've read and reviewed two stories from the infamous anthology Zombies vs. Unicorns.

The Highest Justice by Garth Nix

(standalone story featured in Zombies vs. Unicorns)

Thoughts: I feel as though I got the "wrong" thing out of The Highest Justice.  Nix was probably aiming to impress upon the reader how unicorns represent a higher, well, justice. Their purity of form being the physical manifestation of righteousness - dispensing out justice even when it is rather gruesome.  I have no idea where he was going with his zombie so, needless to say,  I didn't get it.

And while his unicorn idea is a great one, I can't say it carried me through this particular tale.  No matter how many invisible, violent unicorns appeared - nor how many flesh-eating members of the royal family tried to take a bite out of people - my overwhelming impression of the plot was one of "meh".

So what did I "get" out of The Highest Justice?  2,000 words of pure, unadulterated fantasy - complete with kings guards, royal betrayals and quite a bit of horseback riding.  Coming straight out of reading The Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, I'd been wondering what high fantasy YA novelists were out there... apparently I need to start reading some Nix!

Bottom line? A refreshing bit of high fantasy - Garth Nix may be worth further investigation.

Favourite quotes:

Jess drew her sword and kicked her palfrey into a lurching charge. She caught the surviving bandit just before he managed to slip between two thorny bushes, and landed a solid blow on his head with the back of the blade. She hadn’t meant to be merciful, but the sword had turned in her sweaty grasp.

Purity Test by Naomi Novik

(standalone story featured in Zombies vs. Unicorns)

Thoughts: Oh my goodness, this was brilliant! Naomi Novik really needs to set up shop and teach other YA writers how to deliver a short story, because Purity Test?  It had everything I could possibly want from a tale!

First off, it was funny as hell. I was reminded of Shrek, only with unicorns instead of donkeys and, er, more awesomeness. If I had highlighted all the quotes I wanted to share, the entire story would have been life jacket-yellow.  As such, I managed to restrain myself:

“Where did you come from, anyway? Like, Fairyland or something?” The unicorn turned its head and gave her a blue-eyed glare. “Yes. Fairyland,” it said, dripping sarcasm. “Fairyland, where the fairies and the unicorns play, and never is heard a discouraging—”
-
The unicorn brightened, which Alison had to admit was something to see. “Are you a lesbian? I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count toward virginity.”

Don't you just want to read it right now? I sure would have after that!

Second reason for Purity Test's awesomeness? Pacing and editing. Introducing new characters, a new universe and describing the plot? It's a hard thing to do in only a few thousand words. A lot of novelists, quite frankly, can't do it. It doesn't make them bad writers, just bad story short writers. Naomi Novik, it turns out, is both a fantastic novelist AND an amazing short story writer. She throws us straight into the plot, a provides 3D characters and a hysterical universe to enjoy.  I was left wanting another story, but not a continuation of the one I'd just read.  Per-fect.

Bottom line? Novik had be at the first sentence and kept me enthralled until the very last line. Zombies vs. Unicorns is worth buying just for this story!

Review - Temeraire by Naomi Novik

Temeraire (Temeraire #1) by Naomi Novik

Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Fantasy / Alternative history

Rating: 4.5 stars

Pages: 352

Summary: When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future–and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.

Thoughts: This book was absolutely, positively lovely.  It's elegantly written, in that detached-yet-emotional style I'd attribute to Jane Austen (in other words, Novik adopts a style that ordinarily makes me yawn).  But, despite the style, this novel really really worked for me.  Novik doesn't go out of her way with flowery text - instead she keeps true to the Napoleonic period she is writing in, and allows the characters to speak for themselves. 

And what characters.  Laurence is not exactly the warm and cuddly type.  His strict, rule-abiding nature (along with his tendency to be outraged by the slightest breach in protocol) at first made him rather hard to relate to.  He is a product of his environment - a symbol of the age, and whatnot.  But as he grows closer to his dragon Temeraire and meets the fascinating cast of characters that make up the Bristish aerial fleet, he starts to loosen that stiff upper-lip of his.  It was wonderful to see him come loose, while keeping all the gentlemanly qualities with which he was raised.

I also loved the aerial fleet.  I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but I had been afraid that they would be the same upper-crust and bigoted types that made up Britain's historic armies.   That's one of my main problems with historical war novels - even though I know they are depicting things in a certain way in order to be historically accurate, that doesn't make it PC.  Novik had the advantage of being able to logically insert a more "modern" group of armed forces into history.

But what really carries this book is the bond between Laurence and his dragon Temeraire.  It is an extraordinary, beautiful relationship that made me gush more than any romance could have.  It's a difficult relationship to describe, as Novik's dragons aren't pets but neither are they "equals" to the humans that become their captains.  Since they can speak, they can become a captain's best-friend as well as their constant companion. There's little room for family or relationships when you captain a dragon, yet you would want for nothing.

I found myself thinking about this book whenever I wasn't reading it.  Imagining what the characters were getting up to, and dreaming of their future endeavors.  It was a rare pleasure.

Bottom line? If you're looking for detailed fantasy/alternative-history novel, Novik is a must.  If you're looking for a fantastic novel about dragons, Novik is a must.  If you're literate, Novik is a must.  Just don't be put off by the formal style!

Review - Wake by Lisa McMann

Wake (Dream Catcher #1) by Lisa McMann
LibraryThing / GoodReads

Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal - but not your typical take on it!)

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 224

Summary: For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can’t control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.

Thoughts: This was such a stunning novel. Within only a few pages I knew I was in good hands with Lisa McMann - her style is rather minimal but extremely poignant. Some authors need to write a hundred words to describe their characters, McMann only needs eight.  I was simply stunned by how much raw emotion she could create.  I simply didn't know it was possible to write a slow-burning, tense, mystery novel (with a believable romantic element to boot) without falling over the 100k word count.

I was also surprised by how gritty this book was. Although there is a real paranormal aspect to the novel, it is extremely realistic. Wake is a novel about a girl living in spite her paranormal abilities, not because of them.  They are far from the most interesting thing about her and, while they are an important part of the mystery, the novel would be just as fantastic without them.  How many paranormal books can you honestly say that about?  I, for one, am not sure my beloved Darkest Powers trilogy could have held up without the necromancy and werewolves!

If you're anything like me, you will be through this book in a blink-and-a-half, and not just because of its length.  I was reading this thing while standing in line at airport security.  I can't say it was forcibly removed from my hands - but pretty close.  I grew to really care about Janie, and was just desperate to read more more more about her.

Bottom line? Lisa McMann has made my "Authors I trust no matter what" list with only one book.  Wake is everything a Young Adult novel should be.  Read it!

Review - Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Enclave (Razorland, Book 1) by Ann Aguirre
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Apocalyptic Young Adult
Received for review from Macmillan US
Debut 2011 Author - Released today!

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 272

Summary: In Deuce's world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed 'brat' has trained into one of three groups-Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms.

Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember. As a Huntress, her purpose is clear--to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing's going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade.

When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce's troubles are just beginning. Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn't like following orders. At first she thinks he's crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don't always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth.

Thoughts: Some authors are just born better than others. Call it a natural selection or literary Darwinism, but I have found it to be one of those undeniable facts. They sit a cut above their piers, and make you glad to be a reader. Enclave is the third Ann Aguirre book I've read, and it confirmed what I suspected: she is one of those authors.

In case you were wondering, Enclave is a zombie apocalypse book. There are a lot of dead bodies, a few crazy!backwards!gangs, and people who will try to eat you. But that being said, it is a very different take on the whole thing. In fact, I could probably go into a whole spoiler-filled debate about whether or not Enclave should be called a zombie apocalypse book... but you'll have to read it to see what I mean.

Okay, so on to the goodness. I absolutely adored the two main characters - Deuce and Fade. For starters, both of the characters are basically adults.  Life has made them grow up fast, and there's little time to sulk about it.  A century ago, it was completely normal to raise children at the age of 15 - so it's only logical that we'd fall back into the habit post-apocalypse. Both Deuce and Fade have embraced their responsibilities and are all the stronger for it.  Deuce rather reminds me of Rose from the Vampire Academy series (only about 15 years more mature) in the sense that she puts protecting others first. It's inspiring to read and I hope more YA authors (*cough* and adult authors *cough*) consider writing more responsible!mature!characters. As Enclave proves, they can be just as entertaining.

Even though there is some romantic tension between Deuce and Fade, there are many more important things that take precedent (like survival, and whatnot). Not to mention the fact that, despite being hardcore warriors in their own right, they are pretty innocent when it comes to the whole romance business. It's a different world, and that kind of intimacy is something that couldn't stay alive. As readers, of course we know what to look out for, but seeing characters who do not even know what a family is... well, watching them start to develop one on their own is amazing.

Aguirre also hits on a few issues that I think some people will really be... um... shocked by? That's not the right word... let's just say she includes a few plot twists later in the book that may have you up in arms. We have all gotten rather accustomed to some things being labeled as badbadbad - unforgivable under any circumstance. But sometimes self-preservation is more important than justice - occasionally a person can do evil things for an apparently good reason.

I'll leave you to ponder that one.

Bottom line? Ann Aguirre will rock the YA world. She absorbs you into her novels and pulls twists out of places you didn't even know existed. I'll be buying the hardcover.

Review - Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre

Wanderlust (Sirantha Jax #2) by Ann Aguirre
Bookdepository / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 312

Summary: Sirantha Jax is a “Jumper,” a woman who possesses the unique genetic makeup needed to navigate faster than light ships through grimspace. Jax has worked for the Farwan Corporation her entire career. But now the word’s out that the Corp deliberately crashed a passenger ship, and their stranglehold on intergalactic commerce has crumbled—which means that Jax is out of a job.

She’s also broke, due to being declared dead a little prematurely. So when the government asks her to head up a vital diplomatic mission, Jax takes it. Her mandate: journey to the planet Ithiss-Tor and convince them to join the Conglomerate.

But Jax’s payday is light years away. First, she’ll have to contend with Syndicate criminals, a stormy relationship with her pilot, man-eating aliens, and her own grimspace-weakened body. She’ll be lucky just to make it to Ithiss-Tor alive…

Thoughts: Ann Aguirre is one of those authors who can make me cry like a baby, keep me on tenter-hooks during an action sequence, and make me drink coffee at 4am so that I can keep reading. The only reason this book isn't getting 5 stars is because it falls slightly short of it's predecessor Grimspace - but not by much.

Everything I love about science fiction is in this book. The familiar-yet-different worlds, species with bizarre cultures taking the lead - it's like Star Trek meets Firefly meets, well, Ann Aguirre. This woman can write action and drama and romance, all while developing a stunning universe for her characters to play in.  Although there isn't quite as much mind-blowing action and drama in this book (although I don't see how that would have been possible, given how much happened in Grimspace) there's still a whole ton of it. I am constantly amazed by just how much plot Aguirre can pack into the pages!

I loved that Vel, who had a brief but essential part in Grimspace, returned for Wanderlust. He is not just alien in his appearance but in his attitude, and something about that makes me want him to love Jax. If any of you watch The Good Wife, the relationship between Jax and Vel is rather like that of Alicia and Kalinda. Vel is just so otherworldly and aloof, you never know quite how he'll react. But when he does act in Jax's favour? It makes it that much more meaningful.  As for Jax herself, she really grows into herself and her relationship with March in this book. She is one of my very favourite characters - nitty, gritty, kick-ass, and screwed up. And let me just say that the scenes between her and March? They made me cry without making me want to kill either character (quite a tough job!).

Unfortunately, there was one reveal towards the end of the book that had me thinking "seriously?". It was just a bit too cliche and threw me slightly off-kilter for what would have otherwise been a fantastic ending.

Bottom line? A fantastic sequel in a fantastic series.  I'd recommend Ann Aguirre's books to anyone who wants their books both character-driven and plot-driven - Wanderlust has both in spades.

Review - Dark Life by Kat Falls

Dark Life by Kat Falls
Bookdepository / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Young Adult / Science Fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 304

Summary: Ty has lived under the ocean for his entire life. Following global warming and the rise of the seas, his family joined an underwater community in hopes of living in the new frontier of the ocean floor. But When Ty meets Gemma, a girl from "topside", who is searching the seas for her brother, she quickly makes his life very complicated. Together Ty and Gemma face dangerous sea creatures and venture into the frontier town's rough underworld as they search for her missing brother. But the deeper they dig, the more attention they attract, and soon Ty and Gemma find themselves being hunted by a gang of outlaws who roam the underwater territories causing havoc, and who seem to have eerie abilities. But Ty has a secret of his own, living underwater for his entire life has meant he has also developed a "special" power. Can he keep it a secret from Gemma and his family or is it time for him to finally tell everyone the truth?

Thoughts: I adored Dark Life. Lately, I've been reading books that have been on my wishlist for eons and have turned out to be extremely disappointing. (The Body Finder is a fantastic example of a book I was in lust with - and like most superficial relationships, it fell apart upon actually reading it.) So, my high expectations for the Dark Life were worrying.

But Dark Life lived up to every expectation. It's science fiction only, instead of space, we've colonised the ocean. The book follows some sort of apocalyptic disaster - the opening of the novel has Ty swimming around what seemed to be the ruins of New York City. But, society had moved on, and the apparent overthrow of the modern world is old news.

Dark Life has action, cool underwater gadgets, a couple of quasi-paranormal abilities and a dash of romance. All the perfect ingredients for a brilliant YA novel. But what made me love it were the things that you aren't thrown at you. Dark Life deals with some pretty serious social, scientific and political issues without seeming preachy. In fact, they are so subtly handled, they can almost be overlooked in favour of the action.

I love, love, love that. Of course, books which wrap up with a take-away message can be great - but I adore the ones that make you stop and think, whilst gently nudging you in a particular direction. Dark Life is that kind of book.

Bottom line? Faaantastic! Read Dark Life if you are looking for something fun yet thought-provoking. Ooh, it also has a male narrator! Isn't it sad that that is rare enough to warrent excitement?

Summer Shorts - Dangerous (Darkest Powers) by Kelley Armstrong

Summer Shorts is a weekly feature on Dead Book Darling, reviewing great short stories every Saturday through July-August 2010.

Dangerous (Darkest Powers Story) by Kelley Armstrong

Rating: 4.5 stars

Free online story! Click here to read the story on Kelley Armstrong's website.

Thoughts: This brilliant Darkest Powers story tells us how Derek and Simon got to Lyle House. Considering Derek is insanely smart, I had been wondering how he managed to get himself and his brother locked up. Armstrong does a fantastic job explaining the circumstances. It's rather tragic and rather wonderful - and, best of all, it's in Derek's POV.

Oh, Derek. *sighs* *gets misty eyed* Ahem.

Anyhow, this story is a hundred pages of epic brotherly love. Honestly - Derek and Simon could give the Winchesters (Supernatural TV) a run for their money. They had such fabulous interplay between them - both trying to protect each other (usually Derek was the only successful one) whilst bantering non-stop. It is fabulous.

Now, I expected to love Derek in this - and trust me, I did - but what I wasn't expecting was Simon. Oh, Simon. He desperately wants to keep his brother with him, and tries so damn hard to make Derek admit to what he wants. Not that he succeeds - Derek is as stubborn as a mule. But while I understood the extent of Derek's love for Simon from the DP trilogy, in Dangerous we see just how much Simon loves his brother back: an awful lot.

Bottom line? You absolutely must read this. Although, even though it is set before The Summoning - make sure you read that first. It will make the experience 100x better.

Kelley Armstrong is currently writing another online short story in Derek's POV set between The Summoning and The Awakening. It is called Divided and is currently a WIP. Check her blog to see for regular updates!

Review - Seven Sorcerers by Caro King

Seven Sorcerers by Caro King
Bookdepository / Amazon UK
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Middle Grade
Pages: 352

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Nin had never liked Wednesdays, but this one took the biscuit. On this Wednesday she woke up to find that it was raining buckets and that her brother had ceased to exist. Ninevah realises she is the only person to remember Toby because whoever took him is about to make her disappear too.

Enter Skerridge the Bogeyman, who steals kids for Mr. Strood. With his spindle, he draws all memories of Nin out of her mother's head. Nin escapes to the Drift, the world that her new friend Jonas and Mr. Strood inhabit. But the Drift is filled with the fabulous and the dreadful; tombfolk, mudmen, and the spirits of the seven sorcerers who once ruled the land. What is the secret of the Seven Sorcerers, and will Nin and Toby escape their fate at the House of Strood?

Thoughts: I loved this book.  Truly, madly, deeply loved this book.

Seven Sorcerers is that first real Middle-Grade novel I have read since, well, I was in middle grade.  And I am so glad I got such an amazing reintroduction to the MG section of the bookstore!  Seven Sorcerers is filled with rollicking adventure, humorous villains, entertaining sidekicks and some epic I'm-doing-this-out-of-love sacrifice. It kept me entertained for hours - and I was genuinely sad when it ended.

Seven Sorcerers takes a new spin on the magical and mystical.  There are bogeymen and vampires, and all sorts of other nasties.  Our little heroine, Nim, is spunky and full of character - even as her entire life is stolen from her, she still plucks up the courage to try to do something about it.  OK, maybe she's not your average 12-year-old, but with King?  I totally bought it.

When I think about Seven Sorcerers, the only comparison I can come up with is Harry Potter.  Now, I am a big HP fan - so a book has to be pretty damn brilliant for me to compare it to JK Rowling's works!  But both King and Rowling write first-and-foremost about a universe, and then the characters inside it.  And like Rowling, I get the feeling that King knows every last inch of her verse.

I can't wait to get started on the sequel Shadow Spell!  Also, I wanted to give a shout-out to the artist for the novel.  There are some gorgeous illustrations at the start of the book that really set the tone of the novel.  Beautiful work!

Bottom line?  This MG book is one for all ages.  If you are looking for an adventurous novel you can't put down, look no further!

Review - Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Bookdepository / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Librarything / Goodreads

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 352
Genre: High Fantasy (although it has been promoted as YA - I really don't think it is...)

Summary: Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight — she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme, and in her case horrifying, skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace — or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Thoughts: Graceling reminded me of Poison Study - only with better writing.  And considering how much I loved Snyder's book, I'd say that's a pretty big compliment.  The novel was so well crafted and, honestly, I am astounded that it is Cashore's first book.

Katsa is a complicated character.  She's a rather tortured heroine - her killing Grace made her emotionally isolated, and was exploited by her none-to-kind uncle.  On the other hand, her romantic lead Po, had his head screwed on the right way.  Sure, he had some emotional baggage, but he was stable.  Strong.  Secure.

And for some reason, I still found him swoon-worthy.  That takes serious literary mojo.

But let's not forget: this is high fantasy.  While the romance is important - the universe takes centre stage.  As in all good fantasy novels, the world of Graceling is as familiar as it is magical.  The kingdoms are corrupt, their leaders cruel, and the gracelings (those with magical powers) exploited.  But, of course, there is good in every world.

Despite my love of the novel, it did fall short in a few respects.  I felt like the main villian wasn't at all developed - we got a lot of answers to the "what?" but none to the "why?".  But besides that minor complaint, Graceling was perfect in every way.

And by the way, Kristin Cashore?  I have yet to forgive you for making me cry on the tube.

Bottom line?  Brilliant, beautiful book that you will fall right into.  If you are a fan of Maria V. Snyder, this is a definite must - hell, it's a must for any reader!

(BTW, if you are looking for a book that is not a first-in-the-series, here it is! Although there is a companion novel, everything gets wrapped up in this book.)

Review - Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2) by Richelle Mead
Bookdepository / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Librarything / Goodreads

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 336

Summary: It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians--including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks....This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

Thoughts: Frostbite is a fantastic follow-up to Vampire Academy.  The second book in a series is usually filled with flaws, but not in Mead's case.  Action-packed, and emotionally gut-wrenching, this series is a definite must for YA and Vampire fans.

Rose does not have the ideal life by a long shot.  Her gender and genetics give her limited options in the vampire world.  Rose can't be with the man she loves without sacrificing her best-friend, and even if she makes the "correct" choice she won't ever have anyone of her own to love.  It's all very depressing, but she does the very best to make the most of bad circumstances.

Rose really matures in Frostbite, but not by choice.  After the trauma she is put through in this book leaves her no choice but to make the "grown-up" decisions.  In a way, I miss the more naive Rose from the first book, the one who looked forward to being an adult and fighting the Strigoi.  Watching Rose lose that optimism was terribly tragic.

Wow, I have made this sound like the most miserable book in history.  READ IT ANYWAYS.  What I love about Mead is that she never introduces her characters fully formed - they always have plenty of room to develop.  And watching that process?  Heartbreakingly brilliant.

In retrospect, I am amazed how much Mead fit into such a small book. Compared to the rest of the Vampire Academy series, Frostbite is a sliver of a book. But so damn much happens in it!  Mead deals with the epic Dimitri/Rose tragedy, Rose's addiction to being bitten, Lissa's ever worsening condition, the introduction of Rose's mother, and a whole new (vaguely Chuck Bass-like) character.  It's actually quite impressive.

Bottom line?  The Vampire Academy series just keeps getting better.  Mead actually seems to have a plan for these characters, and I really can't wait to see how it ends!