Title: Middle Ground
Story Arc: Awaken Series
Publication: November 20, 2012 by Harcourt
Hardcover: 336 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian
Age Group: Teen, YA
Source: Blog Tour Excerpt(s): pgs 145 + 163
Title: Throne of Glass
Story Arc: Series
Publication: August 7, 2012 by Bloomsbury
hardcover: 416 pages
Genre: High Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller, Paranormal
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Bloomsbury via Netgalley Excerpt(s): from 85% in e-reader
Content: Murder, Death, Sexual Innuendo, Kissing
After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point...
Title: Plain Kate
Story Arc: Standalone
Publication: September 1, 2010 by Scholastic
Paperback: 320 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Adventure
Age Group: Middle Grade, Teen
Source: Publicist from Scholastic Excerpt(s): from p. 185
Content: Verbal Shunning, Bloody Attacks and Violence
A long time ago, in a market town by a looping river, there lived an orphan girl called Plain Kate ...
Title: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
Story Arc: Series, Book 1
Publication: May 1, 2012 by Walden Pond Press
Hardcover: 419 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Retelling, Adventure
Age Group: Middle Grade, Teen
Content: Mentions of Kissing
Source: Bought | Quote(s): Yes
Prince Charming is afraid of old ladies. Didn't know that, did you?
Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You've never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it's up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.
Debut author Christopher Healy takes us on a journey with four imperfect princes and their four improbable princesses, all of whom are trying to become perfect heroes--a fast-paced, funny, and fresh introduction to a world where everything, even our classic fairy tales, is not at all what it seems.
Bards don’t know squat about the Princes Charming
It’s no secret that I’m in love with The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy. I’ve been declaring my love and affection on Twitter, on Youtube, for gosh sakes, and there’s a reason for it, my friends. I don’t normally DO middle grade books. I’ve always felt that there was this lack in them that I couldn’t get passed. Sometimes things get a little too predictable, a little too easy, but you know what, I’ve realized this year that I’m full of CRAP. Baskets of crap. Because what the heck do I know? This is my second attempt at middle grade, and for the second time, I’ve been put in my place, and my silly preconceptions about the age group as a whole have been popped and have dissipated into NOTHING, not even blips in my memory. To the point where I’m going to make it my business to pick up more middle grade.
I picked this up after I read this really fabulous review and character interview over at Small Review. I thought to myself, unheroic, endearing Princes Charming setting the record straight? I WANT IN. SO WANT IN. And I’ve been giving The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy these wide, creepy, happy smiles and not-so-subtle dreamy glances. Because, yes, this book is THAT good. Perfect book material, totally. It hits up my two favorite things—fantasy and retellings. It retells the fairy tales you think you know, the ones that I love, and shows you how WRONG they actually are. The Princes Charming totally set the record straight, and you’ll remember their names by the end.
You guys, this is laugh-out-loud narration, wholesome fun, charming, hilarious characterization, and so much more. The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy is about flaws turned to strengths, about a rare, unheroic bunch becoming the real thing, becoming the heroes the bards will remember this time.
Prince Charming is character girl heaven
GOSH, I love these characters. Adore them, treasure them, admire them, root for them. Each of these screw-up princes, with all their flaws, banter, and triumphs, own a mansion in my heart. I have such a soft spot for sweet-natured, curious, oddball Duncan, it’s ridiculous. Frederic is a close second place, making me LAUGH OUT LOUD in wonder and humor over his prissy, prim, and proper dialogue and his amusing prudence, his entertaining OBSESSION with cleanliness. Reading as these two discover their so-called weaknesses and oddities as strengths, as they discover their heroic qualities themselves, as well as the bond of friendship among four unlikely companions, is the purest form of joy and entertainment. I was hooked.
Then, Healy throws in quintessential storybook hero and prince with the dashing good looks and excellent strategist tendencies—Liam—and a prince with a fierce superiority complex and impulsive, reckless act-first-think-later personality—Gustav, and you couldn’t have pried me from this book if you’d offered me your last carton of cookies and cream ice cream. The illustrations just ADD to the whole disarmingly awesome reading experience.
Christopher Healy made me openly share my SNORTS of HORROR, causing shame to my relatives, I was laughing so hard, and I was too absorbed to be the least bit embarrassed. Please, I didn’t have time for that. I was too busy reading about four of the BEST male main characters to enter middle grade/young adult fiction and their quests into No Man’s Land and foreign kingdoms where they fight giants, dragons, witches, and BANDITS. Their adventures absolutely took precedence over EVERYTHING ELSE.
Prince Charming wants his princess back
From losing said princess to the promise of adventure with Rapunzel, to making another feel unwanted and underappreciated, to realizing how nasty YET ANOTHER one is, these Princes Charming certainly have their hands full.
Poor Frederic, after kissing and dancing and proposing to the lovely Ella, has driven her away with his lack of understanding and sense of adventure (his idea of a daring escapade is an outdoor picnic with a new menu to try), and he must overcome his fears of the outside world to chase after her (never mind he leaves with the little knowledge as to how to ride a horse).
Prince Gustav, shamed by his part in Rapunzel’s story and irritated at everyone’s mockery of his heroic potential, has, with his callousness and abrasiveness, sent Rapunzel packing to head in the opposite direction, off on her own in order to use her healing abilities for the good of others.
And Prince Liam? The good, noble prince actually capable of rescuing the damsel in distress, and does, has found himself in quite the pickle. After rescuing Princess Briar Rose from the evil, jealous fairy who cast a sleep spell on her entire kingdom, has witnessed firsthand, and in due shock, her plain (and unexpected) meanness and selfishness and has, with relief, refused to marry her, much to the detriment of his impeccable reputation.
All is not well for these princes, and they find themselves in the same hellhole. None of the bards have remembered their names, and so EVERYONE knows them all as only Prince Charming, and nothing more. Unwittingly stumbling across one another, Prince Frederic and Gustav are the first to unite, Gustav in hopes to finally gain a hero status in helping the helpless, clueless, frightened Frederic in saving the damsel. When that fails, and they seek the aid of the famous Charming whose reputation for defeating a witch FAIRY is widely known, the two seek him out and pick up Duncan as well for their trouble. Their distaste for each other quickly expands to trust, trust to respect and admiration, and eventually the four become protective of one another, basking in their kinship over the horrors of their reputations. They become so heartwarmingly close, and grow to be exactly the kind of people they always longed to be, while forming a brotherhood of sorts worthy of unabashed cheers and fist-pumps!
A fourth character and GIGANTIC hopes for more
Healy’s narration, so laidback and funny and surprisingly modern and natural, feels like a character all on its own. There’s constant foreshadowing and subtle trickery, in which this omniscient narrator fools us into believing the worst, one thing over another, and constantly catches us by happy surprise. His humorous perception of the characters and the goings-on in the novel make things EVEN FUNNIER, if you can believe it. And I look on this voice as a faceless character that I adore almost as much as the rest of the book!
Because The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy is to develop into an ongoing series, you’d maybe think that it ends in a dissatisfying, wide-open, even abrupt, way and that COULDN’T BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH. The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy has an ending of perfect proportions, everything tidied up yet still left room for possibilities to stretch, and closes on a happy, high-spirited note in which it’s obvious that continuous adventures are BOUND to come. I want to read the sequel, and every sequel after that, PURELY FOR SELFISH and JOYOUS reasons. I want to read every book after because I am SO IN LOVE with this story and these characters and my seedling expectations for the light romances between the Princes Charming and their princesses.
"This was meant to be. I'm coming with you."
"Oh, for crying out loud," Gustav moaned. "Another one with a cape? And an itty-bitty cape at that!"
"I think it's rather snazzy," said Frederic.
"Why, thank you," said Duncan. "I wanted something that I could swish over my shoulder for dramatic entrances--and yet not get caught in doors."
"All right, fine," said Liam. "We can always use another sword. Are you an good with a blade?"
"Ha!" laughed Duncan.
Liam furrowed his brow. "Is that 'Ha,' as in, 'How silly of you to ask; everyone knows I'm the best swordsman in the land'?" he asked hopefully.
"No, that was 'Ha,' as in, 'I've never even a held a sword,'"Duncan answered. "But I will provide all the flute music we need. Leroy!"
The other three stared at Duncan, perplexed.
"Who's Leroy?" Frederic asked.
"Oh," Duncan said. "There's a bunny over there between those trees. He looked like a Leroy to me."
Awkward silence. (119)
"That's right. We've slept in worse places," Gustav replied. "And you haven't heard me complain once, have you?"
"You complained when I wiped the gooseberries off your face," Frederic said.
"That was an invasion of my personal space," Gustav retorted.
"I'm sorry, but there was a huge glop of berries stuck to your cheek. Was I supposed to leave it there?" Frederic said. (139)
I haven’t been this utterly taken with a novel in a ridiculously long time! I feel flushed and excited and SO READY for more. An encore is as necessary as air at this point. The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy has everything from a wholesome, action-packed plot in which these Princes Charming fight off evil witches, dragons, and sly, cunning, feared bandits, and contains characters flawed, huggable, and—this has to be said—charming that it’s impossible to be bored and miserable reading their story. I was dazzled by the fun omniscient narrator, the unique concepts in the plot, the villains and the good guys, and especially the illustrations—I’d never thought pictures so vital before now. I absolutely recommend The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy for peeps of all ages, and that you not just pick it up for younger relatives and friends but for yourself as well!
Prince Duncan, Prince Liam, Prince Frederic, and Prince Gustav respectively.
Got something specific in mind? Dare I believe I might NOT have covered something you wish to know? If so, let me know down in the comments section. Don't be shy!
my thoughts in a few sentences: What do you do when your heart is squeezed so tightly it breaks for characters whom you grew to love? Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson comes with a warning label right off—Tinker Bell warns there is a love story, “but not like any you’ve ever heard.” Do you know what it’s like to read a story about two dear characters whose outcome surprises you in the most ripping ways? Do you know what kind of shredding power first love has when it finishes but never ends? Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson is as bleak as if tomorrow won’t come, and as hopeful, tearing, and true as anything in life you see. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson rips out your heart and shows you just how fragile it is before carefully shutting it back inside.
hooking first line:"She stands on the cliffs, near the old crumbling stone house."
Harper Teen • Requested • Fairy Tale Retelling • 7/3/12 • $13.49
my thoughts in a few sentences:Shadow and Bone is the book I couldn’t get out of my head once it arrived on my doorstep, the one I badly wanted to read, and all others I had tried to start suffered because of this hunger for a story that was not them. Finally, I gave up reluctance and waiting and picked it up on a late evening, and my eyes were dry, sore, and brutally red, but firmly aware, by the time I looked up from the final page only to note that dawn was coming. My internal clock didn’t feel the blows until long after because the story, even after the pages relented and Bardugo’s own siren song buried in her beautiful story, which had called me back, faded, my mind was still trapped in the memory of absorbing the events on each page. I haven’t been so thoroughly captured in a long time.
hooking first line:"The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke's house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of rooms, hiding in cupboards to eavesdrop, sneaking into the kitchen to steal the last of the summer peaches."
Henry Holt and Co. • Requested • High Fantasy • 6/5/12 • $13.49
my thoughts in a few sentences: From the moment Lauren (365 Days of Reading) read the prologue of this book, then following the excellent “Juliet Can Suck It” review written by Posh (Forever Young Adult), I KNEW When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle would a) be unlike EVERY SINGLE Romeo and Juliet retelling out there and b) it would touch me to MY VERY SOUL. Serle captured heartbreak and all its devastation, sadness, and confusion, breaking up friendships, annihilating What Could Have Been, strengthening other bonds, and whipping up a romance with the kind of guy that demands and refuses to settle for less, is dead set against waiting and waiting, letting his heart be tromped all over. He understands and infuriates, the patient love interest who won’t stand aside and proves to Rosaline what beauty and love is, helping her heal what there is of her heart.
hooking first lines:"Shakespeare got it wrong. His most famous work, and he completely missed the mark."
my thoughts in a few sentences: Oh, gosh. *tries to breathe* Jess Rothenberg reins nothing in, leaving emotion strewn about in just about every place we stumble across through Brie's wrenching journey to peace and acceptance. Right within the first couple of chapters, my face was openly drenched for all to witness my sorrow and grief, mourning the loss of a young character's life—a character, incidentally, who I barely knew at the start yet I wept for this world Rothenberg exposes to us since it was now bereft of such a bright, happy girl with a deeply loving family, which includes a little brother who will be deprived of his older sister's presence in the years of his life to come. Literal heartbreak as a story concept isn't as corny as it initially sounds; a dagger breaks into our hearts every time Rothenberg pumps anguish into her words and into the discoveries she unveils.
hooking first line:"There's always that one guy who gets a hold on you."
my thoughts in a few sentences: I've found myself with another spectacular read, you guys. In the same week! An engrossing, fascinating tale that is as imaginative and reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki's beautiful stories, including Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, The Star Shard is a wondrous fantasy read that reminded me why I adore the genre so much and granted me characters I was surprised, but thrilled, to love.
imaginative first line:"To say that the Thunder Rake was a wagon would be to call the sea a puddle, for the Rake was a fortified city, full of workshops and stables, houses, towers, gardens—even a rippling canal."
Rating: Special Shelf | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • NetGalley • Fantasy • 2/28/12 • about $14
my thoughts in a few sentences: OW. I just kicked myself for ignoring this book for as long as I did. Scarlet is such a beautiful, perfect story jam-packed with action like you wouldn't believe and a romance that... I seem to have lost my words trying to convey the depth and exquisiteness of the tricky, confusing romance found within the pages of this story, not to mention the dark and raw characterizations that overcame me and devastated my heart. When will I be going on another adventure? I demand more!
hooking first lines:"No one really knows 'bout me. I'm Rob's secret, I'm his informant, I'm his shadow in dark places."
Rating: Special Shelf | Walker/Bloomsbury • NetGalley • Historical Fantasy • 2/14/12 • about $12
All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.
John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....
"That's the worst idea I ever heard," I told Eric. Then I took another sip of beer and swallowed. "Let's do it."
I'd been telling myself forever that I was going to read this book. Of course I really liked Echols' Boys Next Door and The Ex-Games novels, and so, after hearing talk of the swoonalicious sexy John After, I couldn't resist FINALLY reading Going Too Far for very much longer once it was actually in my possession. Because that would be stupid, right? And I learned something valuable once I was done with that final, breathtaking page. Bad girls can be more like crack than the bad boys. Slow and searing is the romance. Heart-pounding and emotional is the plot. And the characters stick close to the heart even after the book is closed because the story is never really over there and continues on. But, Meg, our oh-so-lovable wild child protag beckoned me aboard first and really quickly.
Ever watch those cruise commercials on TV and imagine yourself there, vividly, and when the narrator tries to sell you on how wonderful the place is, you wonder why he's even bothering because there are no words needed! Of course, you want to go there! Endorsement isn't required by this point. You would go so far as to kick baby kitties in their jaws if it got you anywhere near a ticket. Everyone wants to go there! Meg is Going Too Far's main attraction, and there is no need for further convincing once she enters the scene. Bad girl to the bone, a little bitter, about 50% obnoxious, Meg leads a very crazy lifestyle, her cavalier attitude toward sex and her constant search for thrills showing just how jaded she is when we first 'meet' her. Her life seems to be bumping along just fine, until Officer John After arrests her for underage drinking while doing some serious trespassing. Like strolling along train tracks and tiptoeing death serious. And when, consequently, Meg is forced to play tagalong with the same stupid, annoying cop responsible for her arrest throughout the duration of what should've been an amazing spring break, she's none to pleased with this young, confusing, MEGA HOT guy weirdly chained to her ridiculously unimpressive hometown. Her endless resentment of John's desire to show her the error in her ways only fuels the animosity between them... and the sexual tension.
BUT NO. They do not go on to have hot jungle sex like crazed monkeys. There's this Opposites Attract slow burn, a peeling back of layers to reach the soft, vulnerable centers of who they are. They discover each other, misunderstand one another, and make mistakes. They unravel secrets and talk pasts and old wounds, overstep and soothe, gradually exploring, constantly testing and toying and teasing. Circling each other. Delicious intensity, Sexy Times, and gooey sweet moments, the story is wonderfully wrapped up in the romance, but it doesn't overrun the crux of it. Mostly, it's about change and healing, of letting go and beginning anew, and how loving someone and having them love us back can be perfectly unplanned and exactly right. Can make us better. And both aspects--the romance and the message--stuck with me tighter than the effects of crazyglue. I'm cuckoo in love with this book.
Going Too Far may just be the best Jennifer Echols will ever have to offer. My heart broke a little when that last sentence led to nothing more.
"...Why would I be embarrassed to be seen with you?"
He asked so earnestly that I felt like I had to explain the obvious. "My hair, and the way I dress."
"You dress like you're Japanese," he said.
"The clueless Japanese who work at the car factory and wear those weird plastic sandals? Thanks."
"No, the cute Japanese girls you see at the mall in Birmingham."
He looked down at his forms, pen poised. But he didn't write anything. That blush crept up from his neck and across his cheeks. He had just realized he'd called me cute.
"I mean, the Japanese girls," he said, still looking down. "You know how you dress. With your T-shirt and your jacket and you jeans and your shoes and your weird socks and your hairpins and your blue hair."
He was digging himself a deeper hole. Now he had told me he'd noticed every detail of what I looked like. (22%)
When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.
The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.
The day the rains finally came was like any other, with blistering air coating the canyon in a heavy stillness...
Recommendations for this book had been finding me everywhere, and, since I'm a huge fantasy buff, I thought I'd take a crack at it. It quickly became abundantly clear why Brightly Woven is so well-loved. I haven't been overly impressed by the fantasy books I've recently stumbled across, but Bracken spins a gorgeous tale that is magical, intense, and gripping, saturated with wizarding duels and epic rivalries, a terrorizing war, and an endearing love/hate romance that swallowed my attention from the beginning. An irresistible read, Bracken delicately, elegantly delivered me a priceless story of forgiveness, acceptance, and the importance of standing up for the right when things are disturbingly wrong, as well as wove characters that were swiftly imprinted into my heart.
A fascinating young woman, Sydelle Mirabil makes a squealing fangirl out of us by simply being herself. She is unlike what we expect--a fierce, solemn girl who loves her family deeply and will do what's necessary to protect those who matter. Her spirit and courage separates her from the flock of weak-willed/TStL leading ladies inserted in some of the more disappointing novels we've read lately and are mere shadows in comparison. And when Wayland North crops up in her small desert town under suspicious circumstances, Sydelle isn't blinded by him and willing to fall at his feet. After all, he does yank her away from her home to embark on a mysterious journey and is much too secretive for her liking. While unexplained and brand new feelings for North begin to surface, STILL she is cautious and unwilling to crumble under his demands. As for trust, that's far from an option, at least until North is inclined to be more forthcoming. Their developing relationship, strengthened by care and subtle romance, has us wanting to clear up any misunderstandings, then roll up our sleeves and knock the two together until they see what we do. Yet, the pacing of their evolving relationship is beautifully written. And their blazing sweet and hot interactions toward the final chapters are well worth the wait.
The enthralling fantasy element combined with awesome side characters (OWAIN!) added to the already swoonworthy main characters/couple snowballs Brightly Woven into something smashing and devastating and FUN. Traversing through neighboring cities, described vividly by this talented author, and experiencing the unrelenting 'race against time' feel of the plot makes us simultaneously tense and excited, with little to no time left to wonder what thrilling thing Bracken will toss in next.
I'm ecstatic to have found such a brilliant fantasy tale written by a very gifted author and will be reading whatever Alexandra Bracken decides to put together in the (hopefully near) future.
I felt North before I heard him. That same tingling warmth that I associated with him seeped under my skin, even if just for a moment. My back was pressed against his chest, and his tall frame completely enveloped me. I felt his heart racing.
"N...Nor...," I cried. "Please help me, please, it hurts, it hurts. I can't breathe. Please..."
"You're going to be all right," he said fiercely. "I've got you, I've got you."
[Skip.]
"That's my girl," he said. Sensation was tingling in my toes and fingers, but I still couldn't move, paralyzed by the pain the cold had left behind, by its last grip on my body.
That, and the solid, undeniable warmth that was North.
The wizard fell back against the wall in exhaustion. He held me against him gently, as if I was glass--as if I could shatter and fall away from him at any moment and leave him breathless and alone once more.
"That's my girl...," he whispered, resting his cheek against my shoulder. (148-150)
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.
There are so many ways it could have all turned out differently...
I adore contemporary romance novels almost as much as I love paranormal ones, so I've been tingling with anticipation for this novel for quite a while! Hadley Sullivan is dreading her upcoming flight to England, where she'll be forced to watch her father get remarried to the woman who caused her father to leave his family behind, a woman, incidentally, she's never even met. Although ready to brave jet lag and sitting with strangers (never mind that she's claustrophobic), Hadley misses her flight entirely by a miniscule four minutes. Simultaneously tormented and soothed, she rearranges her flight and braces for the worst forty-eight hours of her life to begin. But those mere four minutes are responsible for so much more than a missed flight and will impact Hadley's life in ways she could never have predicted.
Hadley, hurt and bitter and resentful, is a pretty, pleasantly ordinary girl riddled with turmoil, yet she throws her chin up and takes the mature route, avoiding hysterics and annoying outbursts. Her pain is tangible, her distress and suffering becomes ours as we retrieve glimpses of her sweet, shattering past with a father who left her behind to be with another woman in, not a town or state away, an entirely separate continent. It's simple to hate him and blame him for the damage done to his and Hadley's relationship. But what I loved about this book is that it proves our feelings, which propel our actions, are so very complex, and while what her father did may not have been right, his situation spawns sympathy, and, eventually, forgiveness.
Oliver, a gorgeous, charming British boy with his own secret past, is not just that helpful stranger from the waiting area - turns out assistance is vital when trying to deflect the terrible disapproval of nosy old ladies - but also Hadley's flight companion for the next several hours. The flowering romance - which is not just limited to Hadley and Oliver necessarily, mind you - in this book conjures the warm and fuzzies and makes you want to curl up in bed, hugging this book and your pillow, fantasizing about meeting your true love in the seat next to you on your long, airborne journey to anywhere. I basked in their witty, insightful conversations, a trembling sigh escaped when a puzzled, intense look was shared, as if to say, I've found something amazing here, haven't I? Healing words of kindness and understanding, melting embraces, and the helping hand of fate combine to stitch a lasting bond between two characters, who, over the course of a single flight, in a matter of hours, not only fall in love with each other but make you fall in love with them too.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is so much more than what it claims to be. It's not a story that focuses solely on romantic love, love at first sight, but one that realistically and genuinely illustrates the means of forgiveness, family issues, and the abiding love between family members. This book resonated with me especially because Hadley and I share similar pasts and old wounds, and our feelings blended together until I couldn't separate which were hers and which were mine, causing me to leak an ocean of tears, particularly toward the end.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight caters to the belief that the magic of true love/instantaneous love may not be confined to only the storybooks, that some things, like family bonds, can weather anything. A novel with the potential to soften even the biggest cynic's guarded, resistant heart, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a wise, wonderful, heart-stopping debut that decisively places Jennifer squarely as an auto-buy author.
With that being said, I've decided no one should live without this book, if I can help it, so it's
Giveaway Time!
What you can win:
A finished copy of The Statistical Probability of Love at First by Jennifer E. Smith (and no you can't have my copy! :P).
Official Giveaway Info:
you do NOT have to be a follower
there are extra entries available
all entrants must be at least 13 years old or older
From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.
First of all, I'd like to hand out a HUGE thank you to Jen from Makeshift Bookmark for convincing me with her persuasive tweets and her ABCs to read this series. Shame on me for being irrationally resistant for so long.
I read all 11 books within a matter of 5 DAYS because I was hopelessly, terminally addicted.
And here are 7 reasons why:
1. The Characters
The Geek, The Rebel, The Protector, The Goth, The Queen Bitch, The CrazyManWiththePants, etc... We've all seen these cookiecutter, flat as paper characters and we've seen the twists and variations throughout YA, but all versions you've come across pale in comparison to CLAIRE, SHANE, Michael, Eve, Monica, MYRNIN... I'm an inborn character girl and every single character I came across grew on me; there's a fascinating unpredictability shadowing all of them. A death plagued me long after I finished an installment, a new addition left me yearning to know more, and I couldn't help but miss everybody to the point of madness once I finished the whole thing.
Claire, Shane, Michael, and Eve are the awesomesauce group of four that swallow most of the pages and they will tangle your emotions; you will cry, laugh, scream, smile beatifically because of them. Sometimes they make stupid decisions, sometimes they are weak, sometimes they get you all warm and fuzzy inside, but NO. MATTER. WHAT. you will love them deeply. There's this irresistible chemistry between them, a connection that was forged long before Claire's arrival and one that has grown so much stronger every day after. The 'click' is almost audible the second Claire sets her feet over the threshold. And just like Claire, there is no going back for you once you're exposed to the dynamic, the love, between these four.
2. The Romance
The romance flourishes beautifully, sensuously slow. There's tension build-up, a slow heat that tingles over the skin and ignites in the heart, exploding in wonderful, melting flashes at the best moments.
The Sexy Times
*sigh* WOW. I had trouble reading through the steam. I'm sure a special pair of glasses were invented somewhere for just this reason.
3. The Vampires
Need I remind you that this blog is called Paranormal Indulgence?
I heart vampires something fierce. And when they're cold, ruthless, people-eaters with no remorse...well, they're my favorite kind for a reason. Caine is the undisputed Vampire Maker Mastah. It's like she took my image of vampires - atrociously sophisticated killers - and morphed it into something ten times more glorious. The vampires in Morganville are what vampires everywhere should really be like.
4. The Drama
The action is heady and perfect. There's always a mystery, always someone or something to arouse suspicion. People in this town are never what you think. There are rules, rules, rules, which always get broken somehow, crazy dilemmas like stalker vampires, serial killers, technology with mental issues, and Caine knows how to make you twist and squirm in your seat, bracing for the next delightfully horrible surprise.
Rachel Caine is awesome and hilarious. She writes things that spawn chuckles. And I'm not talking pity laughter, either. I'm talking "holy crap, I would be the coolest person in the universe and possibly President if I were that clever."
There were pages and pages laced with laughter-inducing thoughts and scenes. There were points where I'd just sit there shaking my head fondly, wiping away tears because I laughed so much and oh, did I mention I love these frigging characters?!
6. Quick but Lasting
An 11 book series can be a little bit... daunting. You'd think that reading all of it would take forever. But you couldn't be more wrong. Each one is under 300 pages and slightly over 250 pages. So you gotta RESPECT short books that are so powerful that the intensity, the plot stays with you long after you've finished.
7. They Get Better and Better
Caine's earlier books in the series aren't bad. In fact, they're fabulous. But if you take that initial fabulousness and multiply that by... oh, say, thousands of thousands, the outcome would be the more recent books.
After reading Last Breath, which effed my mind and blew it up into teeny tiny infinitesimal pieces, there's this gnawing yearning inside for Black Dawn. And now I'm DREADING the looming conclusion. With Caine's track record in mind, there's A WHOLE BUNCH OF INSANITY that can take place between now, book 12, to book 15. I'm waiting, waiting, waiting.
Eve was back with her own tray... "Not bad," she finally said. "At least you left out the oh-my-God sauce this time."
"Made myself a batch with it," Shane said. "It's got the biohazard sticker on it in the fridge, so don't bitch if you get flamed. Where'd you pick up the stray?"
"Outside. She came to see the room."
"You beat her up first, just to make sure she's tough enough?"
"Bite me, chili boy."
"Crosses? [Do they work?]"
"Definitely."
"Why?"
"Because they're evil, soulless, bloodsucking fiends?"
"So was my sixth-grade gym teacher, but he wasn't afraid of a cross."
Michael's bedroom door opened, and standing there, smiling, was Monica Morrell. Gina and Jennifer were behind her.
They were all holding knives. Eve got in between Claire and Monica and began backing her away, down the hallway. "Get in your room," Eve said. "Lock the door."
"Won't do you any good," Monica said, leaning around Eve. "Ask me why. Go on, ask me."
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.
Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...
The little girl wouldn't stop crying. I didn't blame her. She was dying after all...
Touch of Power was my first taste of Snyder's work and it was a rich and delightful one. Avry's tug-of-war between the need to help and the knowing that if she does, she'll be executed for doing so, instantly pulls us in and leaps onto us, one part of us begging her to save the little girl screaming for relief warring with the part that urges her to stay hidden for fear of the horrors that are sure to follow. An overcast of the dark and the bleak blankets the opening chapter, giving us the keen sense that Avry's world isn't a joyful one. Avry's kind, the healer kind, are proclaimed war criminals, treated like abominations to be killed or handed over for money for reasons fortified by indistinct proof, in a world ravaged by disease and plagued by war and dreadful politics. It's deeply evident that Avry is tired of running, so when the inevitable happens, along with the fear moves a swift feeling of relief at no longer having to hide in abiding anxiety.
Rapidly and suddenly Avry finds herself in the company of five men eager for her to heal their close friend, a prince of a relatively distant land who has caught the horrible plague that has swept all the Fifteen Realms. He is meant for great things and only Avry can save him, but at a price so final Avry must decide what and who is worth actually saving. And the five men who desire her help are five characters that stole into my heart and warmed it, melted it, and, at points, cut scars into it, who not only move Avry into admirable action but moved me in ways I always hope for when I pick up the next novel. I found Avry and Belen's deep and swift friendship a sweet reprieve from their rough travels, her attachment to the other men in the group warming me while reading as events unfolded in the cold of their world. And her syrupy slow romance with a certain resistant, stone-faced character ignited feelings that overlapped from wishful to happiness that could barely be contained!
A few people have asked me how closely Touch of Power resembles Maria's Poison Study series, if at all, and whether or not it's better or worse. Keep in mind that I read Touch of Power first, but I instantly went in search of this highly acclaimed series and fell just as deeply in love. The two stories are matching in similar threads found in the plot, the characters, and even the romance, yet Touch of Power is completely, freshly it's own. I think fans of Poison Study will be pleased with the tenacious, lovable heroine, charmed by the amazing brood of men who traverse with Avry, defending her to the best of their abilities, persevering alongside her, and the enthralling, magical fantasy that paints the book's pages. Touch of Power is presented with a vividness that can't be ignored, a story that has thoroughly earned a place on my hard-to-reach Special Shelf.
"Avry, why did you risk your life for me? Kerrick ordered you not to heal me. You suffered for days! You shouldn't have done it."
The room grew quiet. I spotted Kerrick near the doorway.
"Belen, I decide who I heal. Me. Not Kerrick. Not you. Not anyone. It's my life on the line each time. It's my decision. The only one I have left." I put my hand on his cheek. "You deserved to be saved. I had no doubts."
He covered my hand with his own, pressing it against his face. "Thank you."
"Anytime." And I meant it. (16%)
Violet Hill is under attack by the ruthless Hel-Blar vampires, who are determined to take their rightful place alongside the other vampire clans at the Blood Moon gathering. The royal Drakes might be powerful, but their love for a mere human - Lucy - leaves them vulnerable. The Hel-Blar's plan to exploit the weakness goes horribly wrong when they try to kidnap Lucy but take her cousin Christabel by mistake. Connor Drake immediately heads off in pursuit, willing to put his own life on the line for the girl he has grown to care so much about. Can he save Christabel, the Blood Moon, and his mother's newly forged vampire alliance?
Bleeding Hearts starts up right where Out for Blood left off, and I was instantly immersed in the next Drake brother's story. It could be Harvey's stellar writing - the descriptions are so lyrical yet not overly expressive - or her ability to craft such lovable, charming characters full of believable thoughts and feelings, but I LOVE THE DRAKE CHRONICLES. Harvey's Drake series is what I like to call crack books; they're so addictive and compelling that although they may not be flawless they still somehow manage to be your favorite. Book one for me was simply okay, but my interest quickly perked up in book two followed by book three. Up until this point, Blood Feud had been my favorite. Not so anymore after reading this dark, staggering installment in the series!
I wanted to bask in the narrative, to drag this read out so that I could stay in the world Harvey masterfully pulled me back into far longer than I could afford. My main reasoning for even liking Hearts at Stake was because of Lucy Hamilton, a best friend and treasured friend of the family. Heck, she is family as they are to her. So when I realized as I began reading that the book was split into three perspectives, following Lucy, Connor, and Lucy's cousin, Christabel, I wanted to break out in song and dance (mind you, I have a terrible voice and two left feet)! Lucy is an adorkable character - you know, cute, funny, quirky - with spunk and snark written into her personality as well. She brings the mindless laughter, the human side of things, and as a bonus, her boyfriend, Nicholas Drake, tags along wherever she goes. A little known fact: every single one of the Drake brothers will turn up the temperature and incite hungry staring wherever they happen to crop up.
Connor and Christabel, I seriously love you! Throughout the series, I've gotten a cross between sexy and steamy and sweet and soft as far as romance. But Connor and Christabel's romance is a slow, steady fire that gradually grows bigger and bigger until heated kiss after heated kiss is shared, very nearly giving me an asthma attack (another little fact: I've never had asthma in my life!). And what makes Bleeding Hearts that much more amazing is that all of the couples are tied in to this one. So, Lucy, Nicholas, Logan, Isabeau, Hunter, and Quinn all have their sugar-sweet and spicy moments that put stars in my eyes and made my heart all gooey. My love for this series has been steadily building since Blood Feud, but it exploded in giant, bloated red hearts in Bleeding Hearts.
Though these books have a contemporary setting, the detail and world-building are rich and fun to read. I think what makes these books work so well is Harvey's insight into the teenage majority. I know, because I am a teenager! Our species speak and act and interact in a certain way, always evolving as the the decades shift. Harvey really captivates the essence of this generation's batch of teens, making the dialogue and physical comedy that much more appealing. Harvey brews a combination of amazing narrative voices, adrenaline-spiking action and tension, heart-thumping, sweet and sexy romance, sprinkled with all the little things I love about this series but can't quite name in this latest bewitching, thrilling sequel! The (cruel) cliffhanger made the final moments of this book all the more exciting!
The Drake Chronicles is a delicious concoction of characters, romance, and VAMPIRES, which leaves me breathless time and again, and all I want is more. In fact, more now would be excellent.
Note for fans: There's also a riveting super special exclusive bonus Drake story inside at the back of Bleeding Hearts, so don't miss out!
Lucy: Shrink-wrapped condoms fell onto the rag rug. "Unbelievable." I marched down the hall. "Mom!" I heard them in the kitchen, boiling water for chamomile tea...
"Stop hiding condoms in my stuff. It's like some twisted Easter egg hunt in there."(37)
Christabel: Lucy shot me a conspiratorial grin. "If you tell her [my mom] I eat white sugar, I'll tell her you're antisocial and depressed at school. She'll make you hug.
"She wouldn't," I said, even though I know she would.
Nathan snorted. "When I came out, she made me hug her," he confirmed. "And she baked me a cake."
"She baked you a cake?" I echoed. "For being gay?"
"A stevia-sweetened, organic, whole-wheat cake for being brave enough to come out," Lucy said proudly. (89)
The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.
When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.
I honestly don't know if my review will do this book justice. How is it possible, that so soon after putting down the last of the Vampire Academy saga, I've been drawn into another world, another main character's POV, another love interest as deeply and irrevocably as the first time? It's almost surreal. But Mead is THAT good. She masterfully blends characters new and old in this new spin-off series, WHILE maintaining that same wonderful and thrilling feeling that came with the first one. Even managing it with a heroine who is the COMPLETE opposite of the MC I've known and loved for so long!
I never thought I'd love again after Rose, but somehow, with Sydney, Richelle Mead made it work. She pulled it off. My transition from character-to-character went much more effortlessly then most people I've read about (in reviews) so far. It literally took me, like, ten pages to fall into Sydney's telling of the story currently unfolding. I think it helped that Sydney is a bit more relatable than Rose. She has insecurities like other girls, her life is less... Action Movie-like and more of a reflection of our reality. Something I think was imperative considering that alchemists are human--that connection had to be made. I thought I would be more reluctant, put up more of a mental fight against shifting over to another MC, but I found that I enjoyed Sydney not necessarily more--I love my Rose!--but differently and just as much. Just as powerfully effected and captivated by her story. Leading an alchemist life, I'll have you know, can sometimes be nearly as eventful as being a butt-kicking dhampir guardian--which both Sydney and Mead have exceptionally proven.
Mead skillfully wove in so many different problems to throw off the characters that I couldn't help but be glued to Bloodlines's pages BECAUSE SOMETHING IS ALWAYS GOING ON. Don't get me wrong, there's downtime (which, incidentally, manages to be interesting, too!). But Bloodlines is filled with so much action and mystery. More of the ins-and-outs of the vampire world are unveiled. It was wonderful, sinking back into this world, learning so much more about it. It's that spot in Bora Bora that you want to go back to time and again, because the magic, the awesomeness is addictive. And that slight familiarity that makes it comforting, too. I didn't have to sit there through pages of info-dumps--I was fairly acquainted with the world of the Moroi/dhampir. And it was exciting revisiting it with well-known and loved faces that are somehow fresh altogether.
These starring characters having their time in the spotlight gives them a depth they've never had before, one I wanted to explore further and further as the book progressed. Two of them characters I'd never thought I'd really cared to know more about. I liked them in previous VA books, but they never struck me as minor-MC material. Oddly enough, it felt great to be proven wrong. Jill is sweet and shy, a bit naive, and very teenagerly. Probably the most of out of the group. Sydney, while sometimes stiff and proper, endearingly responsible and efficient, surprised me with what's going on beneath the surface. I'm impressed and dazzled by her and I just want to know more. Adrian, yes, yes, YES, ADRIAN, returns for his role in Bloodlines, and I will admit that I've been secretly in love with him for a long time. He was always a great side in VA, but I loooove it that he plays a major role in this book. And Eddie, I was curious as to how his life was going to pan out after everything that occurred in VA, but now I'm definitely way more into him than I was before. With the benefit of a few cameos and new guest characters, Bloodlines is this incredible, seamless blend of the new/old, fresh/familiar.
And the romance... how I wish I could find it in me to delve deeper into the romance for this review... But, I cannot. It would totally be spoilery. HOWEVER, I will say that... I've had a sneaking suspicion as to the direction of the main romance, and I'm more than a little pleased. I'm touched. I'm ECSTATIC. For both soon-to-be couples that will, undoubtedly, be put through hell in the upcoming books.
And in the way of all Great and Torturous Authors, Mead ended Bloodlines exactly as it should have, though not entirely as expected, and with one HELL OF A CLIFFHANGER--but not a common one, that's for sure. I'm freaking out people. The release for The Golden Lily is the middle of 2012!!? It's so unfair, considering I read the VA conclusion followed swiftly by the opening to the new, fantastic spin-off! What am I supposed to do nooooww??
------------------------------------------
Then I realized Keith had froze up beside me. He'd claimed he could "handle" being around Moroi, but apparently, that meant staring gape-mouthed and not saying a word. Keeping a pleasant smile on, I said, "Keith, this is Adrian Ivashkov. Adrian, this is my colleague, Keith Darnell." Adrian held out his hand, but Keith didn't shake it. Whether it was because Keith was still shell-shocked or because he simply didn't want to touch a vampire, I couldn't say. Adrian didn't seem to mind. He dropped his hand and took out a lighter, stepping past us as he did. He nodded toward the doorway. "They're waiting for you. Go on in."Adrian leaned closed to Keith's ear and spoke in an ominous voice. "If. You. Dare." He poked Keith's shoulder and gave a "Muhahaha" kind of monster laugh. Keith nearly leapt ten feet in the air. (47)
Adrian studied each of them in turn and turned to me. "This is a law firm," he said in a low voice. "It specializes in divorce, doesn't it?" "Yes," I said. He nodded and took a few moments to process the information. Then, to my horror, he leaned over me and said to the older woman, "He was a fool, clearly. You're a stunning, classy woman. Just wait. He'll be sorry." (257)
Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”
Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.
But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.
So if you happened to have read my IMM post for this week, you'd have an inkling as to how much in love I am with this series. I'm serious. Like, deeply in love. I've been sweatin' for this book for some time now. And I did not appreciate seeing all these reviews crop up, when I still hadn't read the book. But now, not only can I say that I have, but I was just recently WOWed, people. Maybe my missing these characters, this story, influenced my total and complete absorption with this book, but I could not help it. As soon as it was in my hands, and I turned onto that first page, whatever plans I'd had that evening were shot to hades. Big time.
Major credit to Lisa for just picking up where everything left off. I felt like I hadn't even stopped reading or that I'd never had to wait for this next book. And I send more love to her for including some parental action here. I have yet to read a YA book that doesn't push aside parental involvement one way or another. As a result of Lisa's genius, I got to watch Momma She-Wolf not only fly back in time with her daughters, but actually make an impact and kick some ass! I liked the fact that their mom went back with them, was there for Gabi and Lia in all of their upcoming decisions. I mean, foregoing all of our 21st century advancements and advantages to stick around in 16th century Italy sounds like something Mom should be present for! Plus, if I were in Gabi's shoes, I'd want my mom there if I found myself deeply in love. It's just one of those things. Even better, though, this family time-travel helped establish a better connection between Mom and girls, kind of like a long-awaited reunion, of the emotional sort. Instead of acting as a restraint, like I first feared, Mom brought something amazing to the table.
And more than anything I missed my girls! Gabi and Lia are like the best sibs anybody could ever read about, I swear. Their bond is so enviable, and made me adore them more for it. I love that Gabi is so head-strong and stubborn, that she is unwilling to settle back and let the boys do all of the work. No, rather she's more likely to take up a sword and start swinging, even in the face of throngs of enemy soldiers. But Lia is most definitely not chopped liver, I assure you. I have had, like, the biggest girl-crush on her! Her way with a bow and arrow... Man, not only do I wish, but I'm fascinated! She's so freaking cool. I mean it. Her precision with those weapons, her unwillingness to back down amid a fight is so... unreal, but in a totally realistic way. If that makes sense... ? Anyway, these two more than deserve to be known as the She-Wolves of Siena. They are just too cool, too kick-ass, too blindingly amazing not to be!
And boy, did the boys get hotter or what? Or maybe it was the romance. I've got it! It's a devastating combo of both! Gabi and Marcello... they will never get old! Even after I'm done with this series, I'll always remember this addictive, soul-searing love between these two. Watching them fall deeper only served to leave me breathless. Thankfully, no annoying love triangles or tragic, deadly separations in sight! Even when the gorgeous Lord Greco was introduced, there was no sudden development of attraction, for which I'm terribly grateful. Otherwise, I'd've been forced to reconsider my opinion of this book... Instead, it's just Marcello and Gabi, dealing, enduring their war-plagued setting, trying to work around the element that will potentially set them apart. And oh, Luca, I missed you so! His comedic demeanor does not just make me laugh and smile tons (or induce heavy eye-rolling). No, if anything, it just makes him eminently sexier. Let me just say, though, that I've been rooting for Lia-Luca romance since they first laid eyes on each other. Hell, since I was first introduced to Luca. I just knew these two would go great together! And for any and all Lia-Luca fans, there are some really really sweet scenes to look forward to...
The problems in this installment were even more nerve-wracking this time around! With the Black Plague drawing nearer, and actually effecting some people, I'm more than a little scared for my fave 16th century peeps! When is it going to sweep the country? How long before people just start dropping dead? And I did not appreciate that people have already begun contracting it... And WHOA goes that epic-battle scene heading toward the ending! I'd been itching for some major combat-action and oh, man did I get it! But the price of ensuing events... I really wish that some of the deaths hadn't happened. Yes, I'd trade a totally engrossing battle scene over the deaths of some of my beloved knights...
I think the only thing that got me a little POed was Gabi's shift in voice. She sounds more teenagery this time around, and I didn't like her narration as much as before. Funny, right, considering I'm a teenager meself?
Besides that, I'm just nervous. Positively, absolutely nervous. Does anyone else have a bad vibe about the result of that ending? The ramifications of the ending... I'm so nervous. Not to mention the time spent making that ending happen... How much time apart has Marcello spent away from Gabi this time? Plus, the Black Pague scare is not acting as a balm to my uncontrollable nerves. I don't know if I'm gong to make it until September, you guys. After this amazing bout of awesomeness and anxiety, I don't think I can take the wait for round three... Oh, who am I kidding? Of course, I'm ready to take on Torrent. Bring it on, Lisa! Just keep the awesomeness coming.
Recommended?
Like time-travelling? Great. Because I've got some neat suggestions for you! If you liked Waterfall and Cascade, you could try Timeless by Alexandra Monir and/or Warped by Maurissa Guibord. As to whether or not this book is for you, I can't exactly say, BUT the romance is not exactly sedate (because it's smokin'!) but more like... nonsexual and the fighting scenes aren't really bloody. The Christian references are hardly bothersome. They actually suit the time period, if anything. So, basically if you liked/loved the first book, then you shouldn't even be worrying because Cascade is just as great, if not better! And if you haven't read this series (and read this review anyway), what are you waiting for?
[Greco] glared back. "Many men loyal to Firenze have died at the end of your sword, your sister's arrow."
"Forgive me for not relinquishing my sword and allowing myself to be slaughtered as a woman ought. Forgive me for helping to free my sister from the dungeon of Lord Paratore and then attempting to make certain he could never imprison, torture, or threaten another of us again. Forgive me for not dying at the hands of your venomous doctor, sent to poison me." I glanced at Lord Foraboschi, who hovered in the background with few other nobles, looking askance at my outburst. I shook my head with a sarcastic little laugh. "You ask far too much, m'lord, from me. From any woman, any woman with a pinch of courage in her heart." I thumped my chest. "That is what my father taught me. Courage. Standing up for what is right. For who is right. And in this case, it is clearly my Sienes sisters and brothers" (254-255).
