Book Review: The Jefferson Key

The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry

Four United States presidents have been assassinated—in 1865, 1881, 1901, and 1963—each murder seemingly unrelated and separated by time.

But what if those presidents were all killed for the same reason: a clause in the United States Constitution—contained within Article 1, Section 8—that would shock Americans?

This question is what faces former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone in his latest adventure.  When a bold assassination attempt is made against President Danny Daniels in the heart of Manhattan, Malone risks his life to foil the killing—only to find himself at dangerous odds with the Commonwealth, a secret society of pirates first assembled during the American Revolution. In their most perilous exploit yet, Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt race across the nation and take to the high seas. Along the way they break a secret cipher originally possessed by Thomas Jefferson, unravel a mystery concocted by Andrew Jackson, and unearth a centuries-old document forged by the Founding Fathers themselves, one powerful enough—thanks to that clause in the Constitution—to make the Commonwealth unstoppable.

(From the publisher).

The Jefferson Key was probably about the 6th or 7th Cotton Malone adventure I'd read by Steve Berry. I kind of love these things. Some women read "chick lit" or other similarly mindless fiction to relax and take a break. I read what I like to call archaeological adventure thrillers. Think Dan Brown's Angels and Demons or The Da Vinci Code. I've found a few other authors that I like as well, notably Will Adams, but Steve Berry is the most prolific and usually a sure bet for me.

The Jefferson Key was actually one of my least favorite Cotton Malone adventures because it failed to live up to its potential. Sure it was action driven, exciting, characters were running from mysterious men with guns and finding long lost treasures, all the elements that one would want in a story like this. My real gripe with it was the Oak Island treasure story, infamous in Canadian pirate lore (google it and spend hours being fascinated by all the theories out there), had so much potential to be a really cool treasure to find. But Berry barely touched on it, and the "treasure" story was too far removed from the main action. The best books in this genre seamlessly integrate the two, leading to the ultimate climax where just when the protagonist finds the treasure vault or other cool secret relic, the baddies all come rushing in with guns blazing, ruining the whole thing, before said protagonist needs to go off to save his new lady friend from certain death. 

But regardless, Cotton Malone continues to be a great character to drive these types of stories. He's the right amount of bad-ass ex-federal operative mixed with antique bookseller and lover of history to pull of this kind of tale. I still think that this makes more sense than Dan Brown's Robert Langdon who gets thrust into situations where he would be in desperate need of sophisticated police training just to stay alive. These books are more fun when you're not worried too much about the main characters.  

New and Upcoming Books

Here's a short list of books that are new or upcoming that I'm excited to read.

 1. Home by Matthew Costello

2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Chronicles: Art & Design by Daniel Falconer (movie out in theatres December 14, 2012)

3. A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

4. 419 by Will Ferguson (Winner of Scotiabank Giller Prize 2012)

5. The Wizard of Crescent Moon by Oldman Brook

Review: From Mountains of Ice by Lorina Stephens

From Mountains of Ice by Lorina Stephens

Sylvio spent the past decade banished from Simare's court, stripped of land, ancestral home and title - from Minister of National Security to back-country bowyer. But not any bowyer; Sylvio creates bows from laminations of wood and human bone, bows that are said to speak, bows known as the legendary arcossi.And now, after a decade, he is called back to the capitol, summoned by his Prince whom he suspects is a patricide and insane. His very life is in danger and with it the country he has served through all his days.From Mountains of Ice is a story of love, endurance and the meaning of honour.

This is another book that I have to give a very mixed review to, mostly because the writing was kind of poor, when the concept was strong and interesting. I used to think that all I needed was a good idea to write about and I too could become an author. Books like this make me realize that a good idea isn't enough if you don't have the writing chops to back it up.

What drew me to this novel was the idea of a fantasy setting that was very similar to a real time and place in our world, in this case Renaissance Italy. My favourite Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay does this so well; I really wanted to find another author who could pull off this tricky setting. Stephens doesn't really draw me into the setting and as a result the world seems confused and complicated, with little to ground you in the story.  I often thought that something as simple as a map illustration would have been beneficial, especially as the story gets geo-political.

About a third of the way through the story, finally the action picks up, but it fails to go anywhere.  It wasn't episodic enough for me, more like a long string of events that don't seem to lead anywhere.

I did like the protagonist Sylvio, although he and his wife Aletta were a little too perfect as characters. What I wanted more than anything was more time with them to get to know them better. Carmelo's back story sounded intriguing if only the reader got a bit more of it to explain his actions. This is particularly hard to overcome because the plot rests so much on why he hates Sylvio.

With a rushed ending and next to no plot moments that I can even remember having read the book a few weeks ago, I can't recommend this book.

I received this book for review from Librarything Early Reviewers Giveaway.

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

So it appears that I never uploaded my Divergent review before I went on Holidays. Ooops. But now it will be fresher in your mind as an awesome book to put on your Christmas wish list. Because you really should read it. Especially if you liked The Hunger Games.

Divergent`s closest parallel is really The Hunger Games so its hard not to compare them. Although I think I liked HG better, Divergent was still a great read. But here is the comparison:

Breatrice or Tris is a great heroine, strong and willful just like Katniss, but somehow I found her more emotionally needy and a bit more annoying. 

On the plus side for Divergent there is no silly love triangle which is a bonus because that seems to be done to death in YA fiction already. I`m happy Roth didn`t go there to sell her story.

Another bonus for Divergent is that Four is much more likable to me than Peeta as the main love interest for Tris. He`s downright cool actually, the kind of guy I`m sure I would have been attracted to in high school, but more than a little scared to approach because he`s such a bad boy.  

But overall, Hunger Games was a more compelling read for me because it sucked you into a very tragic and frightening situation a lot quicker than Divergent did. Divergent`s world seemed to be fairly stable actually. The only people who really wanted for anything were the factionless, unlike Hunger Games where all of Panem was suffering. The emotional tension was not as believable or as high in Divergent for that reason.
  
Divergent is a wonderful book, a devour it in a day kind of read. If you read and liked Hunger Games you really should read Divergent as well. I`m really looking forward to Insurgent which came out this past summer. (When I can get to it though my gigantic pile of books to be read).

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Sites/Blogs not about Books

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1. Lainey Gossip 

2. Go Fug Yourself

3. Sleep Talkin' Man

4. deviantART

5. Etsy

6. Tastespotting

7. Demode: Costume in Cinema

8. Two Peas in a Bucket

9. Mod the Sims

10. Style

Back from Vacation

Hello everyone!

Well, I'm back from my wonderful European vacation. My husband and I visited London, Italy and Greece for two and a half weeks. This was one major thing off my bucket list of life experiences. And it was everything I imagined!

I also got to visit the Harry Potter studios just outside of London and they were incredible. If you get the chance to go, it's completely worth it. Attached are some pictures from my visit.

I'm back blogging this week, starting with another Top Ten Tuesday. I'll review a few books that I read before my vacation as well.

Happy Thanksgiving (this past weekend in Canada)!

The Great Hall

Dumbledore's Office Entrance

Drinking Butterbeer (it was delicious!)

Ollivanders

Outside Flourish & Blotts

On Hiatus

Hello everyone!

Just a post to say I will be on vacation for the next two weeks in Europe. First up on the list tomorrow is the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London! I am so excited to try my first Butterbeer.

I'll be back in October with reviews of my vacation reads and some book related pictures from my trip.

~Meg

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Top Ten Books that Make you Think

 

1.  The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis: Although I don't agree with much of the theology in Lewis' Narnia series, I still adore these books. The Last Battle in particular made me think a lot about the nature of religion, and how we can find commonality in different faiths.

2. The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay (Book 1 of the Fionavar Tapestry): This is one of my favorite book series and authors of all time.  Kay's writing is magical. This volume of the series features a very difficult and poignant scene where a character faces his darkest fears and truths about himself, sacrifices himself and is reborn. Kay manages to make you weep for a character you only met a hundred pages or so before, and also take a look at your own selfishness and insecurities.

3. Watership Down by Richard Adams: A seemingly simple story about rabbits that I read as a child. It has stuck with me all this time because of its powerful message of friendship, courage and perseverance in pursuit of a better life. 

4. Grendel by John Gardner: Told from the perspective of Grendel the terrifying monster from the epic Beowulf, this book makes you think about the nature of evil and what life events go into making a monster.

5. The Innkeeper's Song by Peter S. Beagle: I read this long ago and don't remember all the details but the story did make me think about how people can give up everything in pursuit of something they thought they wanted, only to find it and realize it wasn't as great as they thought all along. Especially if that something is love.

6. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers: This semi-autobiographical novel made me think about the fragility of life and at the very same moment the resiliency of life. You can be broken and be at your best place in life at the very same time.

7. 1984 by George Orwell: I know, its cliche, but no one does thought-provoking post-apocalyptic stories like Orwell. 1984 is genius, and will leave you thinking about how our own world is close to Big Brother already.

 

 

Review: At the End by John Hennessy

At The End by John Hennessy

Night 1: 12 billion taken.

Day 1: Confusion.

Night 2: 13 billion taken.

Day 2: Panic.

Night 3: 13 billion taken.

Day 3: The fight for survival begins.

In 2048, the human population borders 39 billion after the termination of the birth control industry, and the realities of overcrowding have sunken into the minds of the world, until billions mysteriously go missing. In the wake of civilization’s collapse, a trio of teenage gamers from Washington struggle to endure. Maggy, a strong-willed intellectual, leads Darrel and Félix, two shy geeks, on an expedition down the west coast, as they try to determine the source of humanity’s downfall.

Let me preface this review by saying that I didn't hate this book. In fact, its a quick read that has some interesting moments that I didn't completely forget about right after I was done reading. And I finished it, so there's that.

The opening of the book is strong. Hennessy creates a pretty cool apocalypse concept of many people simply going missing. I also liked that the story begins during-apocalypse versus post-apocalypse. The main character Darrel (is likeable enough, although perhaps a little too "woe is me" at the beginning of the book. I'm all for letting a character develop into the hero of the story, but it was a little cliché just how pitiful Darrel is when you first meet him. Hard to root for a guy who's so boring. Darrel is also known as "Jelly"...one of the most ridiculous nicknames for a character ever, matched only by the equally stupid "Tortilla" for someone of Latin American origin. You could blame Maggy, the character who gives these boys their nicknames, but I'm putting that responsibility on the author.

Speaking of clichés, all of the clichés were a bit much. It was utterly predictable actually. The teen protagonists set off of their own to battle the alions (yes, you read that right. Aliens who look like lions: Alions), there is mention of a potential love triangle, they get into some trouble and the military shows up to save the day. Only the military can't save the day on their own, but  require the help of four teenagers whose only qualifications for doing any sort of military operations are that they play video games. Sigh.

The only surprising aspects of the story, once it got going, were the parts of the story that really didn't work because they were so out of place. About a third of the way through the book the plot turns into an episode of Criminal Minds: two small girls are kidnapped by the child molester/serial killer type and the teens have to go save them. It was strange.

Redeeming qualities are that in the end it wasn't a love triangle, the action is pretty good actually, and the initial concept was strong. I just don't know if I can get beyond the silliness to recommend it.

Review: The Forever Contract by Avery Sawyer

The Forever Contract by Avery Sawyer

In the very near future, the country is plunged into drought and unrest. Scare resources and constant heat are making life completely miserable. Casey doesn't think she can stand slugging back another gel pack or working one more shift at the wells. Fortunately, there's a solution: anyone over the age of seventeen can sign the Forever Contract and enter a utopian paradise. While people's minds take a permanent vacation, their bodies get warehoused and hooked up to a complex array of sensors and feeding tubes. As Casey's brother says, "You upload your consciousness to the system and you're free to live as long as you want, however you want. No more pain, no more heat, no more awful dust, no more work. Just pure thought. It's what our species has always been meant for. Suffering is for philosophers. Not for me."

Casey's ready to sign--a permanent vacation is just what she needs. There's only one problem: her boyfriend James doesn't trust it.

Told from his and her perspectives, The Forever Contract is a 17,000 word (60 page) novella suitable for readers in grade 8 and above.

Would you sign the contract?

(From the Publisher)

 

This short YA novella is a undiscovered gem in my opinion. Sawyer creates an imaginative dystopian world brought on mostly by lack of water, a severe drought. The powers that be create a virtual reality for their citizens so their minds can live in a place free of suffering, while keeping their earthly bodies in a stasis. Kind of like a voluntary Matrix.

The story follows two 16 year olds, Casey and James, who are faced with the decision of whether or not to enter into the Forever contract and join other family members and friends in the virtual world. You care about Casey and James almost immediately, a necessary feat because of the fast pace of the novella structure. Their relationship is a refreshing break from a string of love triangles found in other YA novels.

Of course, as with all dystopian fiction, the world is never quite what its made out to be, and the twists in The Forever Contract are somewhat predictable, but nevertheless satisfying. When James and Patrick go on a sort of "heroic" rampage near the end I was a little mystified as a reader. I think because of the short nature of the story, Sawyer did not have enough time to set up how scary and oppressive the world really was, and thus the characters come off seeming a little less heroic and a little more terrorist like than Sawyer had intended. My main criticism of the story is actually that there was so much more to tell, it really could have made a wonderful full length novel. Regardless, it was an engaging narrative, with good characterization that left you wanting to hear more of the interesting world the author created.

Top Ten Tuesdays: Fall TBR List

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Here are the top ten books on my Fall TBR list:

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth: I just finished Divergent (read my review later this week) and I loved it! I can't wait to dive into Insurgent.

2. A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin: I need to finish off this series as soon as I have time to dive into another two 1000 page books.

3. The Casual Vaccancy by J. K. Rowling: This comes out on September 27th when I'll be in Greece so I'll have to wait until October to read it. I'm really looking forward to reading something else by Rowling, especially something that is such a departure from Harry Potter

4. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness: I can't believe I haven't read this yet! It'll probably be in paperback before I get around to it. 

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer: Next up on my dystopian fiction list. Cyborg fairytales. Some people have already had enough of this trend by I eat up these books like popcorn.

6. Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate: Another dystopian offering this time about creating a designer boy. Sounds like fun! (October 2, 2012)

7. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan: Codebreaking, conspiracies and mysterious bookstores. What's not to love about that? (October 2, 2012

8. Advent by James Treadwell: Rediscoverd magic and ancient mythology. I received this from the publisher and I'm looking forward to reading it.

 

 

9.  Inheritence by Christopher Paolini: The last in the series that started with Eragon. I have enjoyed the others so I want to finish the series off. 

 

 

10. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood: I love Atwood when she writes in the same style as Handmaid's Tale.

Happy Back to School

Welcome back to a new school year everyone!

I am (thankfully) no longer in school so I was not filled with a sense of dread/excitement last night, like I'm sure many of you were. Although I do kind of miss the structure of starting something new each fall. I don't miss having no time to read for pleasure, and being forced to read only journal articles and textbooks.

This week I'm going to be featuring a few reviews of some YA dystopian fiction that I've read recently. You could call this a small "what to read after The Hunger Games" feature. I'm going to start tomorrow with a review of The Forever Contract by Avery Sawyer (a novella) followed by At The End by John Hennessy and finally Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Today it's the regular Top Ten Tuesday featuring my top ten books on my To Be Read list for this fall.

Thanks for reading!

Something Red by Douglas Nicholas

Something Red by Douglas Nicholas

 Release Date: September 18th, 2012

From debut author Douglas Nicholas comes a haunting story of love, murder, and sorcery. During the thirteenth century in northwest England, in one of the coldest winters in living memory, a formidable yet charming Irish healer, Molly, and the troupe she leads are driving their three wagons, hoping to cross the Pennine Mountains before the heavy snows set in. Molly, her lover Jack, granddaughter Nemain, and young apprentice Hob become aware that they are being stalked by something terrible. The refuge they seek in a monastery, then an inn, and finally a Norman castle proves to be an illusion. As danger continues to rise, it becomes clear that the creature must be faced and defeated—or else they will all surely die. It is then that Hob discovers how much more there is to his adopted family than he had realized.

An intoxicating blend of fantasy and mythology, Something Red presents an enchanting world full of mysterious and fascinating characters— shapeshifters, sorceresses, warrior monks, and knights—where no one is safe from the terrible being that lurks in the darkness. In this extraordinary, fantastical world, nothing is as it seems, and the journey for survival is as magical as it is perilous.

(From the publisher)

Something Red is a story that I was drawn to for its historical fantasy elements. One of my favourite all time authors is Canadian Guy Gavriel Kay who writes with a wonderfully unique blend of real history hidden beneath worlds touched with fantasy. Douglas Nicholas's novel promised to be similar, a blend of history and folklore.

As it was, the story was slow to start and I wasn't sure if I would be drawn into the book or not after the first fifty pages.  The world of thirteenth century England did come alive as we are slowly introduced to the main character of Hob. I didn't feel an immediate connection with Hob, who doesn't seem to fit in among the more interesting and clearly magical Molly and Nemain, and the mysterious Jack, all of whom are initially more intriguing secondary characters. By the time the characters are attacked at the ford, the first real excitement in the story, Hob's heroic nature begins to be revealed.  It's also around this point in the story that you realize the author is building up momentum to an epic ending.

Nicholas does two things exceptionally well in this book. Firstly he does a marvelous job at making you feel trapped in the castle, with an epic snow storm raging outside. You can almost feel the sense of dread along with the characters that something is ensnaring you like prey. The second aspect that is well executed is all the very subtle little clues that were being left along the way that points to the ending. It took me by surprise, and that made it a wonderful read. Something Red also has two quite love stories that are magical in their trusting, simplicity. In the end, its a charming coming of age story for Hob as he grows up to be someone that even he doesn't expect.

Top Ten Tuesdays: Bookish Confessions

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Bookish Confessions
Everyone has at least one bookish confession.  Join us in spilling our deepest held secrets around one of our most beloved pastimes. Everyone has a bookish confession. What's yours?

Here are my Top Ten Bookish Confessions (I don't think I'll make it to ten, but we'll see how this goes).

1. I have on occasion returned a book given to me in order to either pick up one that I really wanted instead, or get a different copy of the book that fits in with the other editions I have of the same series. I can't help that I'm a little picky about my shelf.

2. I do judge what other people read, but only in fun. (50 Shades of Grey readers, I'm looking at you!) I really don't care that you like romances novels more than anything else, or have never read Harry Potter. Okay maybe I care about that last one a little. But seriously I read too many books that aren't marketed towards me to judge other's book choices. I just may give you some grief for them ;)

3. I am always tempted by books that get turned into movies, but I tend not to get around to reading them, especially if I see the movie first. Call it laziness, or whatever you like, after that I just can't be bothered. Besides, reading the book first is always more enjoyable to me!

4. I very rarely let other people borrow my books unless I know that I will see them in the very near future to get said book back, or I know they will treat the book with as much or more respect than I do. As a result, my library tends to stay at home. Maybe I would feel better if I put personalized book plates in all my books and kept my own circulation system.
 

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

A Storm of Swords

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world...

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others--a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords...
(from the publisher)

I finished the third installment of a Song of Ice and Fire last week. The book confirmed for me again that not only is this series one of the best fantasy series ever written, these books are amazing. Period.

I'll review this in two parts with spoilers under the cut so that those who haven't read it yet, or are simply following along with the TV series won't be spoiled.

The action picks up right where A Clash of Kings leaves off. To recap: North of the wall, Jon Snow has left the night's watch in the north to join Ygritte and a group of wildlings. Sam Tarly and the other black brothers have just heard the horn signalling the others are coming to their place on the Fist of the First Men.  In the Riverlands, Robb Stark has been fighting and winning battles against the forces of the Lannisters, but Catelyn has let Jaime Lannister escape with Brienne to trade him for the lives of her daughters. Sansa Stark has been set free of her engagement to Joffrey Baratheon who is now engaged to Margaery Tyrell following the battle of Blackwater. Arya Stark has escaped Harrenhal and is on the run back to the Riverlands. Bran Stark and Rickon avoided Theon Greyjoy's murderous plans and the burning of Winterfell and are both running away in separate directions.

One thing I love about this series are all the complexities to Martin's plotting. You can feel things coming, and sometimes predict events, but there are so many characters and potential paths for them to take that it often surprises you. Characters meet up with each other in ways you don't expect, and when you're sure a character won't be back again, they pop up somewhere new. Martin's also not afraid to kill off major characters, something that is a bit of a spoiler but should also come as no surprise to those who have read the first two books or watched the first two seasons.  But I think the greatest thing about the series is that the motivations of the characters are so real. I love that characters are not black and white, and you can grow to love a character you previously hated and vice versa.

Some characters are relatively quiet in the third book. We hear almost nothing of Theon Greyjoy and little of Rickon Stark. Fan favourite characters get a lot of action, but I found myself falling in love with new ones. And without giving away too much, lets just say that not much, if anything is resolved at the end. That's to be expected though, as the series is only about half way through at this point (knowing Martin, only a third!).

For those who haven't read it yet, please, please start! The series just keeps getting better and really is better than the TV series which is also so amazing. Keep reading under the cut for spoilers.

(Don't) Judge a book by its Cover

It's the last weekend of the 2012 Olympics. Can you believe it's almost over already? I get so inspired by all the athletes accomplishments. I think, if you're anything like me, you walk away from the Olympics with a sense that you can do anything. But then again, I'm also the person who adores the sappy montages and inspirational athlete stories.

I'm also a complete sucker for a beautiful book cover. It's hard to not shop by cover, especially when there are so many books out there competing for my attention. I think covers when done well are also beautiful works of art and design. And they should also illustrate (see what I did there) something of the feel and mood of the book. The cover is the doorway into the story. It's what gets you excited to dive in.

Here are some of my favorite book covers of books I have not read yet but I am excited to based on only the cover!

Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

 

Wildwood by Colin Meloy

 

The Selection by Kiera Cass

 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

 

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

 

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

 Ombria in Shadow by Patricia A. McKillip

 The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

New Releases for Tuesday August 7th

So it's my birthday today. That, along with a holiday Monday in Canada, and of course the Olympics, means I haven't had much time for blogging. But I did get a Kobo e-reader for my birthday which is fun. I'll let you know what I think of it after I've read a book or two on it.

Here's a  list of some of the most interesting titles that came out this week:

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

A riveting, powerful novel about a pilot living in a world filled with loss—and what he is willing to risk to rediscover, against all odds, connection, love, and grace.

Hig survived the flu that killed everyone he knows. His wife is gone, his friends are dead, he lives in the hangar of a small abandoned airport with his dog, his only neighbor a gun-toting misanthrope. In his 1956 Cessna, Hig flies the perimeter of the airfield or sneaks off to the mountains to fish and to pretend that things are the way they used to be. But when a random transmission somehow beams through his radio, the voice ignites a hope deep inside him that a better life—something like his old life—exists beyond the airport. Risking everything, he flies past his point of no return—not enough fuel to get him home—following the trail of the static-broken voice on the radio. But what he encounters and what he must face—in the people he meets, and in himself—is both better and worse than anything he could have hoped for.

Narrated by a man who is part warrior and part dreamer, a hunter with a great shot and a heart that refuses to harden, The Dog Stars is both savagely funny and achingly sad, a breathtaking story about what it means to be human.
(from the publisher).

The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Emma Bannon, Prime sorceress in the service of the Empire, has a mission: to protect Archibald Clare, a failed, unregistered mentath. His skills of deduction are legendary, and her own sorcery is not inconsiderable. It doesn’t much help that they dislike each other, or that Bannon’s Shield, Mikal, might just be a traitor himself. Or that the conspiracy killing registered mentaths and sorcerers alike will just as likely kill them as seduce them into treachery toward their Queen. In an alternate London where illogical magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head, Bannon and Clare now face hostility, treason, cannon fire, black sorcery, and the problem of reliably finding hansom cabs.

The game is afoot…

Courtship and Curses by Marissa Doyle

Sophie’s entrance into London society isn’t what she thought it would be: Mama isn’t there to guide her, Papa is buried in his work fighting Napoleon, and Sophie’s newly acquired limp keeps her from dancing at any of those glittering balls. If it weren’t for her shopping escapades with her new French friend Amélie and a flirtation with the dashing Lord Woodbridge, she would think this season a complete disaster.



But when someone uses magic to attack Papa the night of Sophie’s first ball, her problems escalate, especially when it becomes clear that all the members of the War Cabinet are being targeted. Can she catch the culprit and keep her own magic powers hidden long enough to win herself a match?

 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined. 

Friday Links

More Olympics (because I'm obsessed) and some book love

I love this list of the 10 craziest moments in the opening ceremony this year. I thought the spectacle was great, but this does make me laugh. (Flavorwire)

Olympic athletes are hot. Apparently so are their spouses. Too many beautiful people in one place (Zimbio)

Olympics 101 (Flavorwire)

And finally this amazing list of some weird child narrators (49th Shelf)

Review: Talisman of El by Alecia Stone

Talisman of El

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.
Two Worlds.
Population: Human ... 7 billion.
Others ... unknown.

When 14-year-old Charlie Blake wakes up sweating and gasping for air in the middle of the night, he knows it is happening again. This time he witnesses a brutal murder. He's afraid to tell anyone. No one would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died.
Charlie doesn't know why this is happening. He would give anything to have an ordinary life. The problem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home. He belongs with the others.
(From the publisher)

Sometimes when I read the jacket description of a book it looks like it should be right up my alley, but then when I get it home and take it out to read, it really disappoints. Unfortunately this was one of those times. The middle-grade, almost YA, book promised an interesting plot full of  adventure, fantasy and intriguing characters. All of the foundations for those elements were there, but the delivery was lacking.

The story follows a boy named Charlie who is an orphan, finding his way through one terrible foster home to the next. He has some strange dreams that lead him to meet Derkein, a man who is rapidly aging. Through various plot points that were hard to follow, Charlie, Derkein and two other friends who have little to no impact on the story, find themselves in a dangerous world called Arcadia. Charlie meets an otherworldly race of angels and discovers his destiny.

The plot of the book rolls along at a fast pace. This may be why the story suffered so much. Characters were shallow and often annoying. It's hard to care about what happens to the characters, so plot points and dangers which may have been exciting seemed to come from no where. Often I found myself re-reading sections to see if I missed something. Characters converse about events you feel like, as a reader, you should know about, but there just isn't enough back story or fleshing out of either characters or plot to make sense of it. I enjoy when authors lead you along the bread crumb trail to figure out parts of the future story. In this book you are told so many details that little mystery remains. The ending is obviously leading you towards a second instalment, but it's handled poorly so you're left feeling very unsatisfied as a reader. Overall, a great idea that could have been executed so much better.

**1/2

Centrinian Publishing Ltd, 2012
(I received this book from the Early Reviewers giveaway on Librarything.com)

Top Ten Tuesday

This post is part of the Top Ten Tuesday weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish.

July 31: Top Ten Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

10.  Sansa Stark -Because I don't think she appreciated how awesome it would be to be married to Tyrion Lannister. (A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin)

9. Frodo Baggins - I think 24 hours in the shire would be heavenly. (The Lord of the Rings by. J. R. R. Tolkein)

8. Celia Bowen - For being able to create beautiful illusions and spend a night at the Night Circus. (The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern)

7.  Robert Langdon - You know 24 hours in Langdon's shoes would be a wild ride. Plus the amount of knowledge that man has about the coolest things is amazing. (The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown)

6. Lucy Pevensie - She spends the most time in Narnia. (The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis)

5. Violet Baudelaire - She's smart, inventive and has some great siblings. (A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket)

4. Yvaine - A day as a star. (Stardust by Neil Gaiman)

3. Katniss Everdeen - Knowing she doesn't die in the Hunger Games makes being her for a day more appealing. I'd love to be great at archery. (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)

2. Daenerys Targaryen - You would be the mother of dragons. Come on, its dragons! (A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin)

1. Ginny Weasley - Because being part of the Weasley family would be the best day spent in someone's shoes. (Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling)

   

Olympics: London 2012

So I'm a bit of an Olympic freak. I love the Olympics! Here are some of my favorite pre-games stories and fun crafty things I found around the web this week.

Not Olympics related but these are some of the coolest images of secret subways I've ever seen. I'm imagining Neverwhere by  Neil Gaiman taking place in some of these (Flavorwire).



 
Adorable London Tube map baby bib.


These are great shots of some Olympians (Flavorwire).

Cute Olympic party ideas: A Small Snipet and Parents

 

 Cute Olympic animal note cards. These hippo ones my nephew would love!

New Books this Week

Books that were just released or coming up soon that look good to me!

 This week I'm featuring the follow up to last year's A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, a children's book by Glee's Chris Colfer, and my favorite book of 2012 in paperback.

Shadow of Night

Deborah Harkness

Publication Date: July 10, 2012 by Viking Adult

"Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown"—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of WitchesDeborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.
Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.
Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.
(From the publisher).

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

Chris Colfer, Brandon Dorman (Illustrator)

Publication Date: July 17, 2012 by Little, Brown Young Readers

Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairytales.

The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.
(From the publisher).


And because it was one of the best books I read last year, check it out in paperback if you haven't already read it:

The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern
Publication Date: July 3, 2012 (Paperback) by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

 (From the publisher).

Once upon a time...

I had trouble coming up with an idea for my first blog post. I wanted to start off with an awesome book review from one of the many books I have received from Librarything for early reviewers. It's a great way to find new authors and read up-and-coming books. So I sat down and few weeks ago to read one of the titles I received, The Talisman of El by Alecia Stone. I'll save that review for anther day, but let's just say I was disappointed. Both with the book, and also that my blog plans were not to be. I really don't want to start out reviewing a book I'm not passionate about, because in the end, that's what this blog is mostly about. I love to read, and I want to share the amazing books I've read with others.

So instead of reviewing one book, I decided to make a list of the 5 best books I've read so far in 2012. Some of these are re-reads and some were brand new finds for me. My family were generous in gifting me with most of the 30 odd books I requested for Christmas. I'm still working my way through them.

Best Books of 2012 (so far):

5.  Incarceron  and Sapphique by Catherine Fisher


I began reading Incarceron just before the end of the year, and followed it closely by the sequel Sapphique in January. These books can be described as steam punk-esque post-apocalyptic  young adult fiction. I was attracted to them for several reasons. One of the two settings in the book takes place in what appears to be the 18th century, one of my favorite historical time periods. The book also features the interesting concept of a sentient prison that has control over its captives. Overall the books were well written with engaging characters, although I think the author made the mistake of changing one of the main protagonists too much in the sequel. She became almost unlikeable when you were really supposed to be rooting for her.  Still, they are a great example of the imaginative YA fiction that is every where these days.

4. Wicked and Son of a Witch by Gregory Macguire

If you haven't read The Wicked Years series by Gregory Macguire you really should. Wicked inspired the Broadway musical of the same name, although the book is not a fluffy and fun as its staged counterpart. The books are quite adult in theme and content. Wicked has really prominent political messages throughout, mostly dealing with racism and the nature of evil. Son of a Witch is my favorite of the first two novels because I find the character of Liir, the son of Elphaba aka the Wicked Witch of the West, to be flawed and wonderful at the same time. You want to love him, but Macguire also makes it plain what Liir's shortcomings are. He has a fascinating journey. These were re-read for me and I am looking forward to finishing up the series with the next two titles: A Lion Among Men and Out of Oz.

3. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

When I got a new smart phone in March, I took the opportunity to get all the fabulous e-reader apps, and download all the free e-books I could get my hands on. Anne was one of those classics that I really wanted to re-read. I made several attempts as a child to get into the Anne series, but failed every time. I remember telling my mom that they were just too descriptive and I needed some more plot, please! Now reading them again through adult eyes I can definitely see why I should have loved them! I had watched the Megan Follows movies and Road to Avonlea was one of my favorite shows as a child, so I knew what to expect. Anne does not disappoint. It should be noted that I have a soft spot for spunky red-headed girls in books (Ginny Weasley is by far my favorite. I don't think my husband will let me name any future children after her, though I am going to put up a fight).

2. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

1. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

I am listing these separately although they of course are both part of the hugely popular A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels and the basis for the HBO hit TV series Game of Thrones. As a fantasy book lover, I knew I would like them, but I didn't know just how much. Martin's writing is some of the best I've ever read. He created a world full of the most enjoyable and interesting characters and plots that keep you hooked. I'm listing Game of Thrones as my favorite for a few reasons. Firstly, if you don't enjoy fantasy you should still read this book for the plot alone. Secondly, the fantasy elements are not as prominent as in some other books in the genre. There are dragons, zombies and some magic, but the books read more like historical fiction than fantasy in many ways. But the plot of the first book; well, I don't want to spoil anything but the mystery grips you and doesn't let go. It reminded me of some of the Harry Potter books, the ones with twists and turns and many schemes afoot. ASOIF is much grittier and adult than Harry Potter, and that is another reason it may attract non fantasy lovers as well. I'm currently working my way through the third installment, A Storm of Swords. Warning: these books are very long and you will want to read the whole series once you start so clear off some time in your book schedule.