Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

December 21, 2011 by 7 Comments

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 400
Source: Netgalley | Received ARC from publisher
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. – Goodreads

Review:
Despite this being a fairytale retelling, Marissa Meyer succeeded in making Cinder a refreshing read. There were some familiar elements included throughout, such as the ball, but Meyer kept her story moving forward with sci-fi technology, a plague-ridden New Beijing (and world), an evil Lunar queen, and some political intrigue. I was hooked from the first page and this is a series I will eagerly look forward to with each installment.

We’re all familiar with the original fairytale so it should be to no one’s surprise that our main character, Cinder, lives and works under the control of her stepmother. The difference here, however, is that Cinder is a cyborg, which only adds to the many reasons Adri dislikes her. Instead of being super depressed and mopey, though, Cinder is very much an individual with her own hopes and aspirations. Even as things fall apart around her — and they really do — she keeps herself collected and motivated. I can easily appreciate the kickass ways from other YA heroines, but what I loved about Cinder is that her fierceness was a lot more subtle.

The side characters were great, too, and elicited strong reactions from me. Iko, Cinder’s android friend, was hilarious and I loved each of her scenes. Cinder’s relationship with Peony, her younger stepsister, was one that definitely tugged at my heart strings. Adri, the stepmother, was a character I disliked for mistreating Cinder, but her reasons felt very real to me. In a weird, twisted way, I could maybe understand where she was coming from. As for the Lunar queen, Levana…YIKES. Creepy, creepy and I can’t wait to uncover more details about her and the Lunar people.

Then, of course, there’s the love interest in the form of one Prince Kai. The book is light on the kissing and other romance-ish stuff, but that didn’t stop me from growing attached to the scenes between him and Cinder. I loved the development between the two, how sweet it was, and how their friendship only continued to grow based on mutual respect. I also — surprisingly — enjoyed the shift to Kai’s POV. I’m usually one to scrunch my nose when these changes happen in other books, but the third person narration, as well as the further insight into his character, definitely helped in this case. Kai carries a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and it was tough having to see him deal with very difficult situations. Above everything, though, he’s a good leader and, even when I found myself screaming “Nooooo!!!!” at him, I had to admire his actions and how dedicated he was to his people. Welcome to the fictional boyfriend list, Kai.

The upcoming books in the Lunar Chronicles will introduce other fairytale characters: Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and Rapunzel. They, along with Cinder, will come together to fight against Levana. Sounds cool, right? Meyer wove a unique, creative story here and I’m looking forward to seeing how she continues to spin these familiar stories and characters into something new and exciting. This is definitely a new favorite series for me and I urge you to pick up Cinder when it is released on January 3rd!

Cinder Audiobook

Cinder is also available on audiobook through Macmillian Audio. Check out the clip below!

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Book Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

December 15, 2011 by 5 Comments

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 502
Source: Purchased Copy
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart. – Goodreads

Review:
With just Clockwork Angel, I already vastly preferred Cassandra Clare’s The Infernal Devices books to her Mortal Instruments series. The setting, the characters, and all the details just seemed to appeal to me more and this second installment, Clockwork Prince, was easily one of my most anticipated books of 2011. Boy, did it deliver! It would be very easy to make this entire review a love letter to one James Carstairs so, to avoid that, I will give my thoughts on each of three main characters:

Will: What a source of conflict for me! While I am adamantly Team Jem, I would be lying if I said that Will didn’t have his own pull on me. My heart breaks for him because of his misery and then it swells when he allows himself to be without restraint. Even though he can be, at times, selfish and rash, he’s a good person and such a devoted friend. His friendship with Jem is always a highlight, the two characters being a perfect balance to the other, and this book in particular displayed the length of love and respect that Will has for Jem. Gah, these two boys. It’s difficult to be happy for one when it undoubtedly means the other will break.

Tessa: I love her! She’s never one to back down and always puts on her brave face no matter the circumstance. I loved seeing her confidence and I’m still so excited to see her grow to her full potential as she continues to uncover the secrets of her past. Though some additional bits of information were revealed in this book, her identity is still very much a mystery. Then, of course, there’s the love triangle. I obviously have my preference, but it’s still easy to relate to the conflict that Tessa feels. It’s a love triangle done right with impossible choices to be made.

Jem: MY FAVORITE, MY PRINCE, ETC. I already fiercely loved him in Clockwork Angel, but this book had me wanting to tattoo I LOVE JEM to my forehead. Alright, maybe that’s too extreme, but my love for him definitely rose to new highs. His goodness was something I was already aware of, and he perfectly displayed that again in this book, but it was fantastic to peel back more of his layers: his insecurities, his anger, his desperation… Oh, and there was also some hotness in the middle of all of this. I was in a mental state of CAPS LOCK and “!!!!!!!!!!!!” Um, yeah, Will who? (Kidding…sort of.) Jem’s kind heart, his sweetness, hotness, and all over loveliness has made him one of my favorites ever and I will raise hell if anything awful happens to him and/or certain characters hurt him in any way. My heart would not be able to handle it, but I am already preparing myself for the worst in Clockwork Princess.

Clockwork Prince was an amazing sequel to the first book and, although I do love me some action scenes, I like that character development was at the forefront here. My attachment to these characters only grew and it’s going to be a torturous wait for Clockwork Princess. On one hand, I want to see how it all concludes, but on the other, as mentioned above, I’m preparing myself for the worst. One way or another, there’s heartbreak ahead and someone will have to hold me.


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Book Review: The Catastrophic History of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg

December 12, 2011 by 10 Comments

The Catastrophic History of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg
Release Date: February 21, 2012
Publisher: Dial
Pages: 400
Source: ARC from Dial/LibraryThing
Rating: ★★★★☆ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Brie’s life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn’t love her, and the news breaks her heart – literally. But now that she’s in heaven, Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend knows a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost – and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there’s Patrick, Brie’s mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul who’s been D&G (dead and gone) much longer than she… and who just might hold the key to her forever after. With Patrick’s help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she’s ready to move on… but how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces? – Goodreads

Review:
In The Catastrophic History of You & Me Brie dies from a broken heart at the tender age of fifteen. Dramatic? Yes, but Jess Rothenberg expanded this somewhat silly-sounding storyline into a heartfelt novel that tugged at my heart strings.

“I don’t love you” are the words that bring Brie’s life to a screeching halt. While this simple sentence could be damaging enough for anyone, for Brie it breaks her heart in two — literally. The book follows Brie into the afterlife as she goes through the five stages of grief. There were certainly depressing parts throughout, and it was easy to feel the anger and loss that Brie went through, but Rothenberg also managed to infuse humor and charm. The chapter titles taken from songs (“The Cheese Stands Alone”, “I Was Walking With a Ghost” being examples) were a delight and Brie’s relationship with Patrick, her guide in heaven, was wonderfully paced and developed.

The book not only delved into Brie’s personal mourning, but it also gave a look into the life of her loved ones following her death. The dynamic of her family was completely shaken up and I think Rothenberg was able to grasp the loneliness and isolation that many can feel after the loss of someone. In addition to that, Rothenberg touched on the “glue” that holds friends together. Brie’s group of friends was absolutely loyal and I loved getting a look at their bond. Strong friendships are always a highlight for me in my reads and that was definitely present in this book. Finally, there’s Jacob, the boy who broke Brie’s heart. It was easy to grow fond of him as Brie thought back to their relationship, but just as easy to feel the rejection from his initial confession. Still, it was made clear that he, too, greatly suffered from Brie’s death and that he carried so much guilt. Rothenberg didn’t simplify any of the character’s emotions and instead made all of them, and their relationships, fully layered.

Overall, I found this to be a quirky, charming read that managed to capture the honesty of love, loss, forgiveness, and all the other gory bits of life (and death) and growing up. Jess Rothenberg offers a refreshing voice to the YA genre and I will definitely look forward to what she writes next!


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Book Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

December 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 404
Source: Purchased copy
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. – Goodreads

Review:
My relationship with Maggie Stiefvater’s books is a strange one because there’s so much dread involved. I know, right? Weird. Allow me to explain: I read Shiver way back when and simply adored her prose and the book’s conclusion. As a matter of fact, I adored it so much that I decided that I didn’t want anything to ruin the ending for me and, to this day, I have yet to read Linger or Forever. Every time I think about finally giving them a go, I end up putting them back on my shelf. So, when I read that The Scorpio Races was a standalone, I was so excited that there wasn’t a possibility of a similar experience and, plus, the synopsis sounded absolutely amazing to me. I eagerly looked forward to its release, pre-ordered it, the whole nine yards…and then the reviews began to trickle in. A few lukewarm reviews began to pop up and I found myself in the similar state of dread that I feel when I consider reading Linger and Forever. I was worried over how it would turn out, that it wouldn’t reach my initial expectations, so I kept bumping it down on my TBR pile. I shouldn’t have worried because I loved it so much that the conclusion left me wanting to weep.

The Scorpio Races is set on the island of Thisby where flesh-eating horses, known as the capall uisce, rise from the ocean every fall. Men who decide to participate in the Scorpio Races train with their selected capall uisce with the goal of winning some fame and money. This a dangerous game to play, though, as the capall uisce are not animals that can be controlled and there are many participants who don’t even make it to the actual races.

Kate Connolly, aka Puck, decides to enter the Scorpio Races in attempt to keep her older brother, Gabe, on the island longer. She’s the first female to enter the competition and, despite the expected criticisms that she receives, she’s driven and has so much spirit. At first I was a little frustrated that she was entering with her common horse, Dove, but all it meant was that she had to fight harder. And she did.

Sean Kendrick is the four time winner of the Scorpio Races and somewhat of a horse whisper when it comes to the capall uisce. Although he’s not a man of many words, he still managed to have such a presence throughout the course of the novel. His bond with Corr was beautiful and, though I loved Puck and cheered for her, it was Corr and Sean that had my heart.

The romance between Sean and Puck is a slow one, but that did not detract from their chemistry in any way. I was so pleased with their development, how they came together, and the moments that they shared. The swoonage may have been understated, but it was definitely there and I loved every second of it.

The side characters were just as memorable. The three standouts were 1) Gabe, Puck’s older brother, whose actions lead Puck into the races, 2) Finn, Puck’s other brother,who was the cutest and most adorable ever, and 3) Mutt Malverin. Mutt who made me rage and who has earned a spot in my “Characters I Hate” list. Truly, I hate him.

Then, of course, there’s the capall uisce. Stiefvater made these creatures come alive for me. It was easy to feel the respect, reverence, attachment, and fear that many of the characters felt for them — especially the fear. There’s one particular scene that had my eyes bugging out because it was so terrifying. Even thinking about it now makes my stomach drop, ugh.

Now, to the conclusion. It was so beautiful and so perfect that, yes, I had to hold back a sobfest that threatened to erupt out of me. Just like the majority of the book, it was quiet and understated, but it evoked SO MANY FEELINGS. This book, that ending..a definite all-time favorite.


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Book Review: Larkstorm by Dawn Rae Miller

December 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Larkstorm by Dawn Rae Miller
Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Self-published
Source: ARC from author
Rating: ★★★★☆ 
Buy It: Amazon | Smashwords

In the years following the destructive Long Winter, when half the world’s population perished, the State remains locked in battle against the Sensitives: humans born with extra abilities.

As one of the last descendants of the State’s Founders, seventeen-year-old Lark Greene knows her place: study hard and be a model citizen so she can follow in her family’s footsteps. Her life’s been set since birth, and she’s looking forward to graduating and settling down with Beck, the boy she’s loved longer than she can remember.

However, after Beck is accused of being Sensitive and organizing an attack against Lark, he disappears. Heartbroken and convinced the State made a mistake, Lark sets out to find him and clear his name.

But what she discovers is more dangerous and frightening than Sensitives: She must kill the boy she loves, unless he kills her first. – Goodreads

Review:
On first glance of the summary, I expected Larkstorm to be like the normal dystopian fare that is so popular nowadays. I was looking forward to seeing how Dawn Rae Miller would make her storyline fresh and unique, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the different approach she took with her book. Many dystopian elements are present in the story, but magic, the factions that broke apart because of it, and an unbreakable friendship are very much the central focus here.

After the Long Winter, the State has fought against the Sensitives, aka those with special powers. But not all is as it seems! I really liked the way Miller depicted the two groups at the forefront. On the surface they were initially given the usual “good” and “evil” characterizations, but as Miller peeled back the layers of her story, it was revealed that all of their motivations and actions weren’t so clear cut. Lark was a very relatable main character and I appreciated the internal conflict that Miller had her go through in regards to Beck, her family, and her other friends. I was just as equally unsure of who to place my trust in and that made for an engaging read!

Although it was made clear that Beck and Lark have a strong connection, and that they would go to many lengths to protect each other, I do wish there had been a deeper development between the two. The circumstances of their situation made sense of the distance they had to keep, but I felt that Beck was mostly on the outside and that I didn’t get to know his character as much as I would have liked. Still, in the moments the two did share, I did enjoy their chemistry. I found myself mentally willing them to break the rules just a little more for my sake and, while it didn’t quite happen in this installment, I hold hope that Miller will push them a further in the next one.

Larkstorm will be released on December 6 and it will be available on e-book via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and, I’m sure, other retailers. I will update this post when I have the links. If you’re looking for a different direction in your dystopian reads, definitely give this a go!


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