Perfect 4 Halloween -- Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Title: Drink, Slay, Love 

Author: Sarah Beth Durst 

Pages: 385 pages
Genre: Comedy/Horror/Supernatural
Source: e-book

Overall: 5/5 A vampire book like no other 

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops. 

Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quikcly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast-- as the entrees. 

The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends- especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache- to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do? 

More info:

Goodreads

   A short and sweet review for Halloween that's slowly creeping up on us. Looking for a unique vampire book? Keep reading!       

This book promised unicorns, and boy, did I get unicorns. In fact, I think I got too much unicorn! At first when the unicorn appeared in front of Pearl, I was like “wow! Where did the unicorn come from?” When Pearl was stabbed, I thought there was going to be blood and gore and… rainbows? Well, I didn’t get any of that. And that’s what I loved so much about this book! That although it may just look like any other stereotypical vampire book, it was not. This book was unique.

          In the beginning of the book, Pearl was a blood-sucking, unrepentant character. But then, she was stabbed by the unicorn and suddenly she felt bad about serving her new friends to her family (and the vampire king of England) on a silver platter. I mean, the transition alone was something beautiful and amusing. When her family was invited to host the Vampire King of England’s feast, Pearl was expected to enroll in high school to make friends so that she could lure them into becoming the main meal. But Pearl became a vampire like no other after being stabbed by that unicorn… she was immune to sunlight and she was able to see her reflection.  Were these weird symptoms the only thing keeping her alive, or were they something else entirely?  Her whole world changed and everything she was taught by her parents, suddenly had a new meaning. This book mainly displayed Pearl’s transition as a vampire entering high school like any ordinary human being.

          I thought this book was right up my alley. Over the years, I’ve learned to love vampires. But can you love vampires and unicorns at the same time?!? The story line was uniquely put together and gave the book its insightful humor. The romance was light, which was the way I liked it. I mean when you think of vampire books, the first things that come to mind are romance, love, blah blah blah. But like I said before, this is no ordinary book. 

Character Analysis 

Pearl- Pearl was hands down, my favorite character. She was perky and so full of life (LOL because she is a vampire… she is dead)! You know sometimes, I wish I could just be like her and enjoy the sunlight for once instead of being huddled up against my computer all day. It was really different to see a vampire walk out into the sunlight.

Evan- The book didn’t talk much about his appearance but from Pearl’s swooning, I could totally infer that he was… H-O-T hot! I would’ve liked to see more of him throughout the book. I felt like to got more Jadrien than Evan.

Bethany- In the end, I kind of liked her more than I did in the beginning. In the beginning, I just felt like she was an annoying character. But in the end… she was just like punch, kick flippity, flapping awesome.

Book Review: Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan

Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars :star :star :star :star :star

Copy: Hardcover Barnes & Noble Exclusive Ed. (owned)

Publisher: Disney / Hyperion Books

Date of Publication: October 7th, 2014

Awards: Won the Goodreads Choice for 2014 Best Middle Grade / Children's Book

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake. The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.  The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.  

*** :star SPOILER-FREE REVIEW :star***

My Review

*If you don't want to know anything about the characters or plot of the entire series why are you reading a review of the last book  i think it's impossible to review a final book without discussing characters or plot, if someone discovers how—dish it.

It's fitting that it's taken me this long to sit and write a review for this. It took just as long for me to stare at the newly arrived book (a week or so after it released); and finally pluck up the courage to read it. You may think this is weird…after all, I was excited to read it. But it was more than that.

This is the very last book of the Heroes of Olympus series.  The series that I've fallen in love with, and that I have to say is my favorite series tied with Harry Potter. I don't say that lightly. It's a series that, if you follow the blog, you know I follow and ship for Percabeth (the romance between two main characters that develops in the first series (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)).

Perhaps it's because I'm a self-professed enthusiast for all things mythology, not just Greek, but Roman, Egyptian, Persian, and everything else from Norse to Indigenous mythologies. It's just so much fun! Especially with this series, and how this author takes these larger than life figures from mythology and doesn't shrink them or make them too different. They are still gods. BUT, a lot of the myths are re-told by Riordan in a way that is actually…believable. Believable is the word I need to say because when you read this series, the explanation of the myths and how they fit into todays world of gadgets/teenagers + attention deficits is actually quite brilliant and magical.

I know I like to think myths are real sometimes. So let's say (for a moment) we indulge in that fantasy. Say Greek Gods were real and they had their own Roman counterparts [since Roman gods basically took their ideas from the Greek gods and tweaked them to fit their culture]. *Aw, Rome, you know I ain't mad at cha* :k But yeah, say they were real and had their own counterparts somewhere else like in Rome. Gaea (aka, mother earth) waking-up and nosing around after all these millennia being asleep is making things go whacko. That's the plot of this spin-off in a nutshell.

Now that you know what I'm fangirl-ing about, I can tell you (fans and not-yet-fans alike) why this book made me so happy (..yet incredibly sad) :c

The sad part:

I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO BE OVER. You all know how it feel to have those "few" series,  no I mean really….1 or 2 cremè de la cremè of the series crop that just *shines bright like a diamond* That is what Percy Jackson is to me. It's just that series that keeps me warm inside when I'm in a life slump and just feel like everything sucks.

The Happy Part(s)

-ACTION-PACKED (but not over packed). I admit I was a bit scared there would be too much action in this, as it's the final book in a series that is a spin-off of a series. Ultimately settling once and for all the Prophecy of Seven. 

-SO. MUCH. HAPPY FEELS. 

-Characters, Characters, Characters: (with plenty of snark + badass-ery in a variety of forms)
Of course I gotta hand it to Riordan, it's tough to finish a series where there are SO MANY amazing CHARACTERS That just…everyone loves. People have their favorites! I just love Percy (duh) Annabeth (yep) but I also have a soft spot for Leo. He's just so lovable and reminds me a lot of my brother. I liked how he was so different. In fact, I can't even compare him to any other MG/YA male hero. But more on that maybe below. I don't necessarily wanna go on a detailed character run-down, but I have to say a few things: 

Percy : the confident, snarky, heart of a lion hero

AND

Leo: the self-deprecating, genius, tinker, softie

…if you don't know this series I'm hoping these brief descriptions can help you picture just the kind of juxaposition I'm talking about here. This is just two of the male characters. There is Frank and Jason ..of course we can't forget NICO either.

Nico, I was so concerned about him  during and after House of Hades and in this book he was just, wonderful. I really love Nico and I was worried a bit about his welfare throughout the book, but I do love how he handles things (in general) and I liked how he had developed a brother sister bond with Reyna. Which brings me to...

The girls! well, they are all hella awesome. I felt like the last book was more about Piper and I really do love Piper. Hazel is also really developed in the last few books. Annabeth really formed close friendships with all the girls, and I loved the scenes with her and Hazel in this book.

Saying Goodbye is hard
I mentioned I put off reading this because I just didn't want to let go. So, I was definitely dreading the end. I didn't want any spoilers so I just stayed off of twitter and avoided the reviews like the plague (except Melanie's I just had to look at yours but I swear to god i had my hands over my eyes…even tho I totally knew she wouldn't have any spoilers in her review).

Riordan has my grown-ass peek-a-boo reading and shit.

Only Riordan can have me THIS careful to avoid spoilers. I was sure there would be some awful ending and I'd have read it on twitter by accident and ruined my life.

I could forever write about this book, but I won't do that (to you). Let me just say: this was an excellent final book. I felt like it had just the right amount of action and character development. I do wish I had some more time with different characters, but I realize that is kind of impossible hard because it would feel disjointed with too many different POVs and I don't want to be greedy  because I had Percy for so like 5 books and yeah. I would've like more from Nico's POV though, and I really really really hope we get a glimpse into the future in some form or another (like a HP type thing). But, knowing Riordan I bet that he will write a short story and include it in his upcoming series or some shit like that.

I'm gonna miss these characters. I'm already planning to re-read this series. It's the best mythologically-based young adult/middle grade series I've ever read. The combination of Greek and Roman mythology in this Heroes of Olympus series was simply genius and I am a fan for life of Rick Riordan.

I recommend this book to everyone who likes mythology and great storytelling. 

-Diamond

Book Review: Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

Exquisite Captive (Dark Caravan Cycle #1) by Heather Demetrios
Source: eARC via Harper Collins | Edelweiss
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars :star :star :star :star
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray
Date Published: October 7th, 2014

Forced to obey her master.
Compelled to help her enemy.
Determined to free herself. 

Nalia is a jinni of tremendous ancient power, the only survivor of a coup that killed nearly everyone she loved. Stuffed into a bottle and sold by a slave trader, she’s now in hiding on the dark caravan, the lucrative jinni slave trade between Arjinna and Earth, where jinn are forced to grant wishes and obey their human masters’ every command. She’d give almost anything to be free of the golden shackles that bind her to Malek, her handsome, cruel master, and his lavish Hollywood lifestyle.

Enter Raif, the enigmatic leader of Arjinna’s revolution and Nalia’s sworn enemy. He promises to free Nalia from her master so that she can return to her ravaged homeland and free her imprisoned brother—all for an unbearably high price. Nalia’s not sure she can trust him, but Raif’s her only hope of escape. With her enemies on the hunt, Earth has become more perilous than ever for Nalia. There’s just one catch: for Raif’s unbinding magic to work, Nalia must gain possession of her bottle…and convince the dangerously persuasive Malek that she truly loves him. Battling a dark past and harboring a terrible secret, Nalia soon realizes her freedom may come at a price too terrible to pay: but how far is she willing to go for it?

My Review

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I've been gunning for more young adult fiction that deals with the Middle East. Anything really, from its vast mythology (which I feel has been left relatively untapped) to just using the setting or having a character(s) speak the languages of Arabic/Farsi. I read The Fire Wish earlier this year and liked it. I was eager to read this one because it seemed to have more mature themes.

Wanna see what Nahlia, Malek, Leilan, and Raif look like?
 Check out my post where I casted the characters.

I finished this book over a week ago and had so many thoughts it was difficult to pound out a review. I did, however, have to get my images from my imagination onto the blog somehow so I did a post where I casted the characters. (see link above). It was a lot of fun, and I got so much positive feedback it gave me energy to write this review. :O

Here's the thing about this book: There are many polarized reviews/opinions out there about this. I feel like I need to write a few points to help you decide (if you were on the fence) about reading this.

The things you need to know or consider when reading this book

It reads more like New Adult - There are adult themes in here. If you're looking for a young YA book and don't care for adult or new adult, just walk away from this. It's not all light and fluffy, it's dark as shit. In fact, I agree with Wendy who mentioned that she thinks this would've done well as a NA book.

There is abuse - There is emotional abuse (and some physical too). The physical isn't what you may think, but stuffing someone into a tiny space for months on end (her bottle), where she could barely breathe definitely constitutes as abuse in my book.

There is NO love triangle - I can address this later, but just...no. Those who think there is either didn't read far enough? or maybe they didn't understand the dynamic of the relationship. Think: Stockholm syndrome.

---

If any of those things are problematic for you, just walk away. It ain't gonna work. If you like darker books, don't mind tortured characters who are struggling with some major shit, then just be prepared. This is a book with A LOT of stuff going for it. I ultimately do think it pulled it off, but that's not saying I didn't have any hangups (because I did).

Although I'm Middle-Eastern, I don't get over-eager when I about about to read a book that contains ME mythology/ideology/setting. *why* ..because I'm almost always disappointed. If the author is from the Middle East, then -maybe- I'll be impressed. Even then, I don't hype myself up. It just doesn't happen. It's a complex and old culture and it varies (seemingly slightly but significantly to us) from country to country. While trying to relate to one group you may inadvertently be pissing another group off.

Thus, don't go into this book thinking this is an amazing retelling of Arabian Nights. Or that it portrays Middle Eastern mythology to the T. It doesn't. I don't even know why they said that on the cover, it's more like a novel with some flavoring from Arabian Nights. That doesn't mean it doesn't do a damn good job giving a feel for the culture, especially the sub-culture that exists in Los Angeles.

I live in Los Angeles. There is a HUGE population of Middle Eastern people here and while reading this I kept thinking "Oh my God!!! I wonder if that place is based on "The Spot"?" (It's a hookah place in Encino, where everyone goes to just dance and "be seen" and appraise each other.) It's definitely a place where if Raif and Nahlia danced--everyone would stare and gossip about it for a long time. It probably isn't based on that, because there are sooo many similar places here. Basically anywhere there is tea, hooka, loud music, and a late closing time (the place I frequent is open until 4am).

Demetrios got a surprising amount of things right in  Exquisite Captive. Surprising to me because  wasn't expecting that. Even on the cover, the writing on the cuff is in Arabic. [She consulted some friends and kind of made up her own phrase which fit the book. (I know because I asked around, googled it, checked her website, and finally had to stalk ask her) lol]

There are a few Arabic words sprinkled throughout too. I don't speak Arabic, But the letters are pretty much the same as Farsi (Arabic has additional letters/versions of certain ones that we don't really use, but have to learn when learning Farsi). I was happy to see Arabic in the lines of a YA book. I wish there were more. There are some awesome words and I think the language she did create was so similar to Arabic/Farsi that it gave the desired effect. I just wonder, is creating a new language for a novel/series easier than learning the language and including it? (future discussion post, anyone?) :P

The characters:

 I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Notice I didn't say "like" haha. I enjoyed the characters and their development. There is a character you will hate, so keep that in mind. He's also a main one, so yeah. Each character has flaws, especially Nahlia, Raif, and Malek. Nahlia is chained to her past and kind of stuck in her present by being Malek's genie.

Which leads me to my hypothesis (with research from my nonexistent doctorate):

Nahlia suffers from PTSD.
Is this stated in the book? No.
Can I substantiate this? Yes. (but this review is long enough so I'm not going to include all the quotes. if you're curious though--email me.)
Is this what the author intended? I have no idea.
(Remember when I stalked asked her? Turns out she has done research/work with PTSD before, So it is def plausible).

It makes sense though. She has constant flashbacks to the past. Nahlia's past was beyond rough, she went through crazy stuff. (Think: Iron Trial in the beginning with all the dead bodies..) If you don't get that ref, just trust me, it's bad. Her flashbacks are why so much of the book goes back and forth into the past. Once I figured assumed that about her, I became a lot more tolerant of her as a character.
I notice many people didn't like this back and forth but if you think about it, your main character is a woman suffering from PTSD (undiagnosed) who is living with (circumstances suggest forever) her "master" who is a sadistic man with multiple personalities. If you read the book you know how this is confirmed. Sometimes he's kind and part of him (one personality) really loves her/ believes he does. :L The other part though, damnnnn. :v

Nahlia has to figure out why she is responding to this type of abuse and behavior. She (obviously) doesn't get that right away. She also has to understand she needs to open up and be honest about herself. She does this, all while figuring out how to save her brother and evade who/whatever is hunting her.

I was quite taken how well Nahlia was portrayed; in the sense that she was a woman who is very old, in a beautiful body, but who was always trained to be stony and that she could never love. It's no wonder then that when she starts to get a conscience she'd feel shame.

Does it sound like I'm making a psychological analysis? :$
I kind of am. But you know what? I had fun doing that with this book. The author, whether she intended to or not, accurately portrayed the mental illnesses that the characters have in this book. The results of war, death, abuse, and slavery are far reaching and don't fade with time. This book illustrates that point in a meaningful way.

Raif, the leader of the revolution, enters Nahlia's world and brings with him a seer for a sister and Nahlia's personality deepens when faced with her past actions. Raif's initial reaction to Nahlia can be explained by his psychological state. Raif was a jerk to her and just plain mean. Then again, when you consider how he grew up and that her people were responsible for the death of his father and friend, it makes sense. OF COURSE he will say to himself and others that he hates her.

The element of mystery and fantasy was not lost on me either. The world that was created lie right on top of our own, and even dealt with human trafficking. The slave trade discussed in the book is actually based on human trafficking in our world today, and was intended to bring awareness to the issue. I love that idea, and even though it may be painful to read or you may want to judge and say "how could so and so do this" you have no idea what it would feel like to be a victim of human trafficking, the constant abuse and rape, etc. Especially for as many years as Nahlia and those around her.


I was pissed about the ending, but I'm over it...I just felt it could have been executed better. I would have liked it to be a little more spaced out--it felt rushed. I felt like one character was just included to keep tensions high. I don't know. That was the only reason I wasn't sure whether to rate it 3 or 4 stars. Ultimately, I think now that I've had time to digest it, the ending didn't ruin the book.

I would recommend this book for older readers of Young Adult and people who enjoy New Adult and even Contemporary [all inside a hugely fantastic and unique mythological world].

-Diamond

Book Casting: Exquisite Captive by @Heather Demetrios

So I just finished a Exquisite Captive. It's caused SO many different feelings and thoughts that it's taking me a bit to digest how I can review it (and include all my reactions). I really liked it. There were parts though that were very difficult (I'll expand in my review) and while I'm trying to reflect I couldn't help googling pictures to find matching faces for the characters.

-Why-

....Um, because I have no free time and while I should be writing my statement, I'm doing this. Don't judge me. I'm stressed. Hence the pre-review post where I show you all the cool pics I found that remind me of these characters ;) [oh and btw if you click on the image it'll take you to the site where I found it.]

EXQUISITE CAPTIVE 

BY: Heather Demetrios

My casting of this book..

Nahlia

 a jinni with powers. a traumatic past and present. 

an emotionally abusive master. Last Ghan Aisouri alive.

-Malek-

Master of Nahlia. Doesn't age. Wealthy and unscrupulous. Always wears a suit.
(He may be handsome, but he's an A$$hole..) 

-Raif-

Free. Leader of jinni Rebellion.

Focused on his goal, but needs something from

Leilan 

Nahlia's only friend. Artist and green-eyed jinni.

I JUST REALIZED I DIDNT CAST RAIF's sister!? Ahh ok Heres the picture I had for her.

----------

Have you read the book? What do you think of my casting? Comment below with your thoughts!

-Diamond

And the winner is...

I'm here to announce the winner of the recent giveaway for a hardcover copy of:

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

I LOVED this book! It has everything: alternate dimensions, fantasy, and a smart cast of characters with amazing settings

[Click HERE for my review]

CONGRATULATIONS

SIMONET HODGES! :party

Didn't win? 

STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING GIVEAWAYS :rainbow

NEXT UP: Mid-Winters Eve Giveaway starts December 21st

Any suggestions for what books you'd like me to offer? I have some ideas but 

if you leave a comment I'd love to hear your suggestions!

-Diamond

Book Review + Giveaway: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray (US)

A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) by Claudia Gray
Source: Hardcover via HarperTeen
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars :star :star :star :star :tup
Published: November 4th, 2014

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined. A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure. 

My Review

*I received a couple of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

During a time of my life when I am beyond overwhelmed and have zero time to read, this book lured me away from grad school apps, working full time, and family issues-- just so I could dwell in it's amazing multi-dimensional glory. 

The cover of this book is what initially intrigued me. Immediately I shelved it on my "cover-lust" shelf on Goodreads and then once I read the blurb I felt I NEEDED to read it. The topic of alternate dimensions is one that fascinates me. Although it may be common in the adult sci-fi genre, I feel that within YA it's scarce. This is perhaps because it's such a difficult  thing to pull off. All the inevitable questions that come from creating a world where the MC jumps between dimensions need to be answered without taking away from the story. To be able to address these questions and set up a world where the feasibility of it is less sci-fi, more "advanced tech" is something that Claudia Gray actually pulled off. 

The beginning was the "slowest" part for me. I saw slow only in comparison to the rest of the book. We jump right in to a familial situation at the peak of despair. The main character, Marguerite, is dealing with the sharp grief of losing her father. Sharper still, he seems to have been murdered by a close member of the family (one of their live-in interns). The suspect, Paul Markov, seems to have done the deed and jumped to another dimension to escape. Despite this set up, the book doesn't have the cold and clinical atmosphere that sci-fi often leaves with me. 

Marguerite joins Theo, the other intern that her parents took in years ago to help them with their research. Theo and Paul are like brothers, but Paul's betrayal cuts too deep and leaves Theo with the determination to chase him across dimensions and demand and answer and then-- Paul's death. Marguerite catches him and demands to go with him, her youth showing when she doesn't think to leave a note or explanation to her grief-striken mother or sister, Josie. Although, her mom, a brilliant physicist figures it out pretty quick. ;) Marguerite is the black sheep of the family. She is an artist among physicists; but she is far from ordinary, far from unintelligent.

Each universe was incredible. The detail and atmosphere was conjured up so quickly by Gray that within a single page I already had a picture of what Marguerite was seeing. It was such a wonderful escape to travel to these alternate dimensions with Marguerite. She went from her own dimension (aka our world now) to a society extremely more advanced than our own. I loved the cool tech in this one, and how you could talk and receive messages by pushing a button on your ring and a screen would show up in front of you. My initial concern: what happens to Marguerite of that dimension when our Marguerite jumps into her dimension? Gray explains this fairly easily and believably (at least, I thought so) by saying how that dimensions Marguerite would simply be "asleep" and would wake up when she jumped out. Any action or consequence that occured while she was checked out-- well, Marguerite of that dimension would have to deal with whatever was done.

My favorite parts of the novel occured when Marguerite follows Paul to Tsarist Russia. There she is actually a princess because her mother didn't marry her dad. Instead she married a Russian man and became royalty. Marguerite has completely different siblings, and her life as a princess is ...different. Paul is her guard in that dimension. Paul Markov in the Russian dimension was very dreamy. I felt their romance developed naturally.

I also need to add that I had read some reviews that criticized the book because Marguerite is hunting down her father's killer and hopping dimensions only to fall in love. That the romance somehow took away from the book. I feel I need to respond to this: I am not a big romance reader. More than once I have been known to dislike a book where the romance plays too dominant a role, but only when the plot suffers. I think it's important to say that this is not the case with this novel. The plot is only further enriched by the romance. As for those of you with concerns this is a love triangle book. DO NOT FRET. I can't say anything more, but it's not that type of thang. It makes sense when you read it. Marguerite is a smart young woman who braves the unknown to find out exactly who killed her beloved father and why. Along the way she really does discover what was hiding in her heart.

I can't wait to read the sequel. I have no idea what the premise will be, although I'm betting on the alternate dimensions and that the Firebird will be involved. I recommend this novel to anyone who finds the theory of alternate dimensions fascinating. Those of you who want a brilliant novel that centers around a smart and independent woman, with a historical and also futuristic feel-- you need to read this book.

Giveaway! 

The giveaway is still going on!
US ONLY HARDBACK COPY

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Graphic Novel Review: Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles By John Green

Sherlock Holmes: Hound of the Baskervilles by John Green
Source: eARC* via Netgalley | Dover Publications
My Rating: 1 of 5 stars :star
Publication Date: November 19th, 2014

The intrepid detective and his faithful assistant take on a supernatural challenge in one of Arthur Conan Doyle's most popular mysteries. This graphic novel's original illustrations accompany an easy-to-read account of Holmes and Watson's investigation of a family curse. Readers will be irresistibly drawn into the search for a giant spectral hound that haunts the fog-shrouded moors. This Dover Graphic Novel Classic offers readers ages 8 and up an exciting introduction to a time-honored tale. Expertly abridged and packed with dramatic illustrations, this version offers a streamlined narrative that retains all of the storytelling essentials.

My Review

I'm a known graphic novel lover. I love the mix of a good story with brilliant illustrations. I also recently read Sherlock Holmes for the first time, and loved it. So I was eager to read this form of The Hound of the Baskervilles when I saw it, because hello, graphic novel! I figured the amazing drawings could make a great story even greater.
Unfortunately, for me this whole thing fell short in pretty much all the ways it matters.

1. The Text - The text was EXTREMELY simplified. Something was lost when they tried to edit it down to size. I realize this is a difficult thing to do. However lately I've read a lot of really great graphic novels based on classics/long stories and they seem to do it effectively and seamlessly. *shrug*
2. The Graphics- Big problem here, people. Code Red, abort! Abort! >.< Seriously though, this was very "meh" for me. Admittedly, I'm one for color in my graphic novels. This is actually why I don't often read Manga, I miss the color. So maybe part of this is due to my preference for color, but that's only part of it. 
3. The Graphics - The graphics were also just very blah and boring. Sherlock and Watson were drawn very stylistically old fashioned and in a way they have been depictred for, like, a hundred years. *yawn* If you want kids or whoever to pick this up, you got to put a spin on this a little bit. Do SOMETHING different (anything!) with the looks of the main characters. If I wanted to see this story drawn in the way it's always been drawn I would pick up a battered copy with illustrations (they have those, you know). It would look the same. 
4. The Ending - The ending seriously moved this from 2 stars to 1. That's a lot, and it's because it was as serious WTF moment for me. The last page had more text than any of the other pages had. It was rushed. It was confusing. It was clearly there to quickly tie the story together to fit the allotted page number or whatever. It made the novel even more choppy. 

So those are the reasons I didn't care for this graphic novel version of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Save yourself some time and read the original version while watching the BBC version played by the glorious Benedict Cumberbatch. 

*A copy of this graphic novel was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

-Diamond 

Promo & Giveaway: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray (US)

A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU

HarperTeen – November 4, 2014

ISBN: 978-006227896

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows 

users to jump into multiple universes—and promises 

to revolutionize science forever. But then 

Marguerite’s father is murdered, and the killer—her 

parent’s handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul—

escapes into another dimension before the law can 

touch him. Marguerite refuses to let the man who 

destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul 

through different universes, always leaping into 

another version of herself. 

To accomplish her goal, she must learn how each world works, and confront the many 

people she has the capacity to become. But she also meets alternate versions of the 

people she knows — including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly 

familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul’s guilt—as well as her own heart. 

And soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is far more sinister than she 

expected.

 

A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU explores an amazingly intricate multi-universe where 

the truth is elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.

About the Author

Claudia Gray began her writing career with the EVERNIGHT

series: four YA novels set in an eerie gothic boarding school. The

EVERNIGHT books received critical acclaim from national

media, earned Claudia the title of New York Times bestseller,

and jumpstarted her career. She is also the author of the

popular and highly praised SPELLCASTER series.

Though she has worked as a lawyer, journalist, disc jockey, and

extremely poor waitress, she currently writes full time. She

resides in New Orleans.

Follow Claudia Gray on Twitter @ClaudiaGray

Giveaway!

Hardback copy of A Thousand Pieces of You
US Only

Copy was provided by HarperTeen, shipped by myself.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schultz

Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schulz
Source: Hardcover via Disney-Hyperion
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars :star :star :star :star 1/2

Twelve-year-old Jocelyn dreams of becoming every bit as daring as her infamous father, Captain James Hook. Her grandfather, on the other hand, intends to see her starched and pressed into a fine society lady. When she's sent to Miss Eliza Crumb-Biddlecomb's Finishing School for Young Ladies, Jocelyn's hopes of following in her father's fearsome footsteps are lost in a heap of dance lessons, white gloves, and way too much pink. So when Jocelyn receives a letter from her father challenging her to avenge his untimely demise at the jaws of the Neverland crocodile, she doesn't hesitate-here at last is the adventure she has been waiting for. But Jocelyn finds that being a pirate is a bit more difficult than she'd bargained for. As if attempting to defeat the Neverland's most fearsome beast isn't enough to deal with, she's tasked with captaining a crew of woefully untrained pirates, outwitting cannibals wild for English cuisine, and rescuing her best friend from a certain pack of lost children, not to mention that pesky Peter Pan who keeps barging in uninvited. The crocodile's clock is always ticking in Heidi Schulz's debut novel, a story told by an irascible narrator who is both dazzlingly witty and sharp as a sword. Will Jocelyn find the courage to beat the incessant monster before time runs out?

My Review [with GIFs!]

This is the tale of Jocelyn Hook. She's the 13 year old daughter of the infamous Captain Hook, whom she doesn't know. Jocelyn's mother is dead, and her father is obviously busy doing pirate-y plundering and doesn't have any interest in raising a daughter. So that responsibility falls to her grandfather, who is having an incredibly difficult time of it. After many wild encounters and "disgraceful" behaviors, her grandfather finally gives up and sends Jocelyn to Miss Eliza Crumb-Bittlecomb's Finishing School for Young Ladies.  Jocelyn has a horrible time at the finishing school. Catty girls who are snobby and completely different than her mar her days. Her only friend is the cook's boy, Roger. He loves adventures and they hole up together reading about pirates and ships and dream about having their very own adventure someday. That comes sooner than they might think, but in an altogether different manner that they imagined.

When things got really bad at the school, Jocelyn received her first letter from her father. Too bad the letter informed her of his death. He died at the jaws of the Neverland crocodile and details her inheritance in the letter: she is to kill the crocodile and avenge her father's death. With that awful news and the promise of adventure, Jocelyn flies to Neverland.

Jocelyn soon meets my favorite character of Neverland -- SMEE! I was so happy Smee was in this novel. He's just how I pictured him to be from the stories of Barrie and the Disney movie I love so much. Jocelyn entreats Smee to find the best crew available to journey and kill the crocodile. Unfortunately, only a rag-tag crew actually enlists when they find out the Captain is a girl. We have a man who wears two eye patches, a man who puts his arm under his shirt and pretends he only has one arm, and other hilarious would-be pirates with zero experience. But, Smee is happy to be serving under a Hook. Especially one who so reminds him of the late Captain (in more ways than Jocelyn suspects).

This is when the novel really gets good. I just loved how Jocelyn took charge of each situation and went along with the adventure even if it wasn't the adventure she pictured. Roger became one of the Lost Boys (yes, they're in here too!) and unfortunately doesn't remember her at all.

Tinkerbell is Peter Pan's annoying fairy, but we don't see much of her or Pan. We do see the fairy court though, and Jocelyn meets one very special fairy prince who I hope gets to reappear in the sequel. I actually loved that we see more of the secondary characters of Peter Pan. We don't meet Wendy and her brothers, but Wendy is alluded to in hysterical ways. I found Captain Hook's side of things to be more interesting, anyway.

Tiger Lily and her tribe are only one of the many groups of natives that reside in Neverland. Neverland is always changing, and people from all time periods come and go. It's a really cool concept, and I loved the exploration of that. Ever since Captain Hook died, more and more pirates have been migrating into Neverland, and staking claim. Some are trying to find Captain Hook's lost treasure. But Jocelyn Hook didn't see it in the trunk of what her dad left her. That doesn't stop an evil pirate from trying to capture Jocelyn, though.

Oh, and I can't forget the mermaids. Schultz kept them as vain, snobby, and horrible as always. There is one particular scene that I really liked that included the mermaids. I won't give it away, but if you read the book (you do plan on reading the book, right?!) you'll know which one I mean. ;)

I just can't tell you how impressed I was with this story. It's a fantastic debut. I felt like it was authentic with the original story AND the Disney adaptation. I felt like I was getting a new story, and that was important to me.

 Jocelyn is a lovable, flawed, non-girly character with a lot of moxy. I really really hope there will be a sequel, and I think there could be with how things ended. I found myself surprised, angry, and I even teared up a teeny bit at the end! This book was just so loveable.

I recommend this book to: lovers of fairy tales, lovers of Neverland, and strong female characters. I think those of you who aren't usually big on middle-grade will enjoy this novel. It definitely is middle-grade, but it's so enjoyable that if you are in the mood for a really good book that happens to be light and adventurous, you won't do wrong by picking this one up. :tup

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

-Diamond

Book Review: Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire

Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire
Source: eARC via Netgalley | Candlewick Press
My Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars :star 1/2
Published: September 9th, 2014

Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father has been dead for years. One of her brothers has been conscripted into the Tsar’s army, the other taken as a servant in the house of the local landowner. Her mother is dying, slowly, in their tiny cabin. And there is no food. But then a train arrives in the village, a train carrying untold wealth, a cornucopia of food, and a noble family destined to visit the Tsar in Saint Petersburg — a family that includes Ekaterina, a girl of Elena’s age. When the two girls’ lives collide, an adventure is set in motion, an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, a prince traveling incognito, and — in a starring role only Gregory Maguire could have conjured — Baba Yaga, witch of Russian folklore, in her ambulatory house perched on chicken legs.

I'm not usually one to build books up too much before reading them. I just try not to. My opinions and views can be so different from others sometimes. I love some of the well-liked and popular series, and hate others. I guess we all do. I do have my favorite authors, usually established after years of reading and liking their books. Like Anne Rice, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, and Gregory Maguire. Yep, Gregory Maguire is on the list of top ten authors. I have read and loved his Wicked series numerous times since I was in high school. I like how his writing creeps up on you, you suddenly find yourself crying over a character you thought you hated and didn't care about.

So when I saw he was releasing a middle grade stand alone book, I squee'd with excitement! I requested the ARC, got it, and was SO happy I couldn't wait to start. Plus, it historical fantasy based on the Russian folklore and fairy tale of Baba Yaga. I was so sure it was going to be brilliant, I hadn’t really thought of any other possibility. That’s why there's no easy way of saying this. I was extremely disappointed in this book. It didn’t live up to my expectations at all. I'm going to try to spell out why:

- The pacing was horrendous. I can’t even tell you how bad it was. The first 1/3 of the book, nothing happened. It was so boring I wanted to slam my head against the wall. Look, I read books fast. I read YA and MG books in one day if they’re good. If they’re not so good, I read them in one week. I can’t remember the last time it took me 30 days to complete a middle grade novel. I’m embarrassed that this is supposed to be one of my favorite authors.

- It didn’t feel like a middle grade book. The vocabulary was incredibly advanced. I had to look up a few words. I don’t think I’ve ever had to look up words in a middle grade novel. Even in YA, it's rare. Adult novels, sure, and I look forward to learning new words when I’m reading an adult book. But when I’m in the mood for a middle grade book – it’s because I DON'T want to be reading a slow paced book. I especially don’t want to read something that has complicated and obscure words as filler.

*Examples of words I was annoyed at finding within a middle grade novel: [ proboscis, flotsam, calliope, soporific, cupola, calve, farrago]. I'm not opposed to kids looking up words in books, not at
all. But all of these combined (there were many more, I just highlighted a few) made it feel super pretentious.

When I think about the fact that kids ages 9-12+ will be reading this, it makes me wonder. I can’t help but think they won’t finish it. If I almost abandoned it for not having that levity and fresh air that is necessary in a great middle grade novel, I think a kid who is probably less patient than I am will not give it a chance.

- Baba Yaga DIDN'T GET INTRODUCED UNTIL 1/3 WAY IN. What a disappointment! She definitely livened up the novel, and should have at least been introduced earlier. I thought she was funny and a great character. One of the most redeeming facets of this novel was baba yaga and how she was portrayed.

So, with all these faults, why did I give it two stars? I think, I had to give it 1.5 stars because the ending and latter half of the book did pick up. Once the deception was brought to light, the plot became infinitely more manageable, interesting, and made more sense to me.  It felt more like a middle grade novel at that point. For me though, it was pretty much too little too late. I won’t be buying this novel. I don’t even think I’ll recommend it to any young adults.

I would maybe recommend this to an avid Maguire reader, only after assuring them this is perhaps his worst work (aside from Mirror Mirror). He should stick with adult literature, as that is where he excels. I think with better pacing, and less adult vocabulary this book could have been salvageable. As it is, it was boring and didn’t have the spontaneity and lightness that is necessary for a successful middle grade novel. Also, if it takes me 30 days to finish a novel..I can't really recommend it to many people.


*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

ARC Review: Balance Keepers: Fires of Calderon by Lindsay Cummings

The Fires of Calderon by Lindsay Cummings
Source: eARC via Edelweiss | Katherine Tegen Books
My rating: 2 of 5 stars :star :star
Publication Date: September 23rd, 2014.

After following a mysterious map into the woods and then under the woods, eleven-year-old Albert Flynn learns he’s a Balance Keeper—someone with special magical skills for fixing problems in three underground Realms at the Core of the earth. His new job is important; if the realms fall out of balance, the world above could be in great danger. Albert and his Balance Keeper teammates Birdie and Leroy arrive in the Core not a moment too soon. There’s an Imbalance in the Calderon Realm and it’s threatening to bury Albert’s hometown of New York City in a mountain of ash. The three must train hard completing mental and physical challenges, but above all, they must harness the power of their Tiles—unique superpowers given to each Balance Keeper. So far, Albert’s mastered the art of not mastering his Tile....With the situation in Calderon growing worse every day, can Albert, Leroy, and Birdie restore balance before New York is destroyed forever? Will Albert master his Tile before it’s too late?

I can't quite decide what to rate The Fires of Calderon. I'm hovering between a two and three star rating for this one. It was a good story, but a lot of it was predictable. The Balance Keepers are the people who keep balance in the Realms. Here's a quote that describes it pretty well:

“The Realms shift places. They could be in any place under the earth at any time. However, when a Realm becomes Imbalanced, it freezes in one place. Right now, the Calderon Realm is stopped under New York, yes, and it will stay there, wreaking havoc on the city, until Balance is restored."
(Loc 840 of eARC)

I did like the characters. I found Birdie (no, she's not an 89 year old woman) ;) to be the most interesting. The two boys, one girl routine is one that's been played an awful lot. Especially when the ring leader of the group is the one with the special-ist powers. It's just a storyline I can only read so many times, I think my expectations get a little more unrealistic each time because it takes more to impress me with these types of books.

There was enough creativity in this for me to enjoy speculating about the world and what it looks like in my head. The bully, Hoyt, got on my nerves a lot. Other than that I liked all the characters.
I think my favorite part came at the ending because it was very action-packed. I did find it a bit strange that the very last paragraph contained the introduction of a villian previously not alluded to in any way.

I would still recommend this to those adventure lovers who don't mind a somewhat familiar story. :)

-Diamond 

*A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book review: Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd
Source: eARC via Edelweiss | Balzer + Bray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars :star :star :star :star

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was eagerly awaiting the release of this novel, as well as the continuation of the series that I admired in The Madman's Daughter. This is the sequel, and it wouldn't make much sense if you hadn't read the first book. Just thought I'd mention that, in case anyone was thinking of skipping the first book I'd recommend not to. This book did have a very different feel to it, and I actually liked it a lot better than the first book!

Here's why: I liked that there were more characters. Of course it's mostly Juliet, but we get to see a lot of Lucy, and we are introduced to Elizabeth and The Professor. I loved them both, and really liked the familial element. I was delighted when we got to see Edward, and when Montgomery shows up it's a partayyyyy, lol. Another thing I really enjoyed was the sexy romance. I liked how we got some sex scenes and hotness between the characters (won't say who!) it made things feel more real.

One of my favorite things about these books is the fact that the main character, a girl, is a brilliant scientist. She's super smart, and I love that. She's not portrayed as some smart women are in literature, I can't describe it but there was an element there that made it feel genuine. She's genuinely intelligent, to the point where she teeters on madness, something I'm all too familiar with.. (Yuk yuk yuk). Forgive my cheesy mood. Anyways, Juliet is smart and doesn't apologize for it. We also get a woman who is a surgeon and Elizabeth is also a doctor. I will never get tired of reading about women who hold usually-male occupations. Not to mention this is in London way back when.

Of course I can't forget to mention how brilliant the writing is too. It felt like the author improved, things were smoother and Juliet was really discovering who she really is --madness and all. With the way things ended, I have some guesses but I love how another element has been introduced: Frankenstein. This book had more of a Dr. Jekyll (or shall I say Jaykll) and Mr. Hyde imagining, while I suspect the next book will focus more on Frankenstein. I recommend this book to lovers of gothic literature, and books with a smart and fearless young heroine. There's gore, murder, mystery and suspense; so if you want to be thrilled you should enter the terrifying world Meghan Shepherd has created. Read this book.

ARC Review: Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper
Source: eARC via Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Netgalley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars :star :star :star

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Salt & Storm is a debut that came amid the influx of young adult witch  books that are becoming so prevalent lately. I am a fan of this trend. I love witch books. Even if they're bad, I'm sick of vampires and werewolves and am welcoming this trend with open arms. The last witch book I read (ya) was House of Ivy & Sorrow, and Salt & Storm was definitely better. Unfortunately, that's not quite as good of a compliment as it sounds, lol.

So here's the thing. Salt & Storm is a meticulously researched historical fiction novel. I respected all the historical accuracies and enjoyed reading about a whaling island set in the time period of the late 1800s. Avery was an interesting main character; her mother and grandmother even more complex and interesting. My favorite character, however, was the "boy" Tane. He was hot and I really liked his character. When he emerged, my annoyances with the story took to the background because I wanted to keep reading about him. In some ways I cared more about his future than Avery's.

Avery Roe is a descendant of a long line of witches. The witches keep the whalers and the ships and the entire island safe and running, for a price. Avery was ripped from her grandmothers care, and her witchly training, as a child and now lives with her mother. Her mother cursed her so she cannot seek out her grandmother, and her magic is bubbling painfully inside of her. Avery has the power to tell dreams, and when she has a foreboding dream about her own murder, she desperately seeks to evade her mother and find a way to her grandmother's aid. This is when she meets Tane, a tattooed island homie who proposes a deal: he can attempt to break the spell Avery's mom put on her, if Avery will tell his dreams. She agrees, and thus their relationship develops.

I basically sped read a lot of this book. I just felt there were many details that were unimportant. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. Maybe they were important, but they were boring as hell. So I read super fast over the boring bits. Avery annoyed me, her grandmother disgusted me, and I pitied her mother. In the end, I thought the story was well done. BUT, I have to remember how I felt when I was reading it. I was kind of bored or just waiting for her to figure things out. When she finally did, I wondered why she didn't ask or deduce a lot of the things she found out. It felt unbelievable, in a way. Plus, all her whining didn't help. She just resigned herself to the fact that she was going to be murdered. Like, really? You're 17 years old, in love, and you're going to give up because someone you looked up to told you its useless? Psh. Whatever, Avery. Ookay.

I did get emotional a bit at the end, and that showed me I had enough of an attachment to the characters Tane. For a debut, the author did well. I don't want my review to be full of only criticism, because reading it was an interesting ride. I will definitely be watching for future works by this author.

Would I recommend this book to others? If you're a fan of historical fiction and witch-filled plots, then yes. Read it. It's not terrible, nor will it floor you with its amazingness. It's a good story.


View all my reviews

ARC Review: The League of Seven by Alan Gratz

The League of Seven by Alan Gratz
Source: eARC via Tor-Forge | Netgalley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars : :star :star :star


I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The League of Seven is a steampunk adventure for middle grade readers. It takes place in a world that is completely unique, with an alternate history. It's kind of difficult for me to explain my thoughts about this book. I started this book immediately after reading the best middle grade (also steampunk) book of the year, Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times. Sometimes when I read a book so spectacular and amazing, other books simply pale in comparison. That's kind of what happened here. It makes me think my response may not be too fair, so when I hovered between 2 and 3 stars, I decided to rate up and stick with 3.

Don't get me wrong, The League of Seven was a good read. The story was unique and I liked the characters a lot. The friendship that developed between Hachi, Fergus, and Archie was inspiring and realistic. Hachi, the girl, impressed me the most. Of the three friends, she was the only girl and also was "the warrior." She constantly saved the lives of the boys, and was fighting while they hid or stayed out of her way. It was brilliant! I can't tell you how long I've waited for a middle grade book to have a sensitive girl who is the warrior (self-taught) who keeps the boys alive! I was cheering for her from the start.

The only real criticism I can make it that it took me awhile to get into it, and I felt like the book was missing something. There was a spark that is usually present that I didn't really sense at all. Unfortunately, I can't really describe it any better than that.

The story had enough creativity, myth, and action to interest me. If you're obsessed with steampunk, you'd like this story. It may not be the best steampunk tale of the year, but it was good. The message it gives is more positive for females than is the norm, and for that alone I give it a thumbs up. 


View all my reviews

Graphic Novel (mini) Review: Afterlife with Archie by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Afterlife with Archie: Escape from Riverdale by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Source: graphic novel via my collection
My rating: 4 of 5 stars :star :star :star :star

This was awesome! It was so dark and had an excellent story. I actually got teary eyed when (view spoiler)[Archie's dog, Vegas, sacrificed himself for Archie. It was so sweet and heartbreaking. (hide spoiler)]


I recommend this for zombie fans and all Archie fans! It's completely different from any other Archie I've ever read, and in  a good way. If this is where the franchise is headed, I'm all for it. Keep it coming, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa!


Btw, if you liked this you should read his other fun rendition of Archie: Archie Meets Glee, by the same author, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.