Diamonds and Deceit

by Leila Rasheed
4/5 stars
Hyperion, 2014
424 pages
YA Historical Drama

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Who had forgotten almost everything that happened in Cinders and Sapphires? This girl! What I remembered most vividly was Lady Ada and her affection for Indian Ravi, a love rendered impossible by their vastly different stations in life. I personally found it baffling as I never thought the reader got enough insight into their relationship to care about them but apparently something about the romance made it stick in my brain (probably my irritation at it.)

Thus I opened this book and panicked over my inability to remember the important characters, let alone their complicated relationships to each other. Luckily as I kept reading most everything came back and was further elaborated upon. As before Ada and Rose are our protagonists, navigating a difficult season with romantic complications. Ada continues to be in love with someone who would be deemed unsuitable (and who I think is dull) and Rose struggles with prejudice against her background. Meanwhile we also jump around to peek at the various other characters, both upper-class and servant, that surround these young women. Disappointingly we don't get very much about Sebastian and his romantic travails nor did I feel that women's suffrage played the role it did in Cinders and Sapphires. Furthermore I didn't really like any of the characters tending to find most of them petty; however this was balanced by the writing which completely sparked with me and found me flying through the pages.

I think the ending was my favorite part as it really got my heart pounding because (finally) England has declared war on Germany, meaning that book three is going to reveal a huge shake-up. I don't know what characters will be sent to fight, who might volunteer to nurse or what but it's going to bring big changes to daily life for the lords, ladies, and servants.

ARC Review: These Broken Stars

by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
4/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
374 pages
YA Science-Fiction Romance
Scheduled to release December 10

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up this book, not having much knowledge about its contents but having seen a lot of hype around it. Most of my blogging friends have been very impressed with the story and this left me optimistic about my experience reading it.

For the most part, that was an accurate assessment. The beginning chapter gave me such a strong Titanic vibe in the best way possible as I have quite the weak spot for rich girl/poor boy fighting against circumstances. Tarver Merendsen has made good, rising from an average background to become a major at the young age of 18. He has endured brutal trainings and postings to make it this far. Lilac LaRoux is the spoiled beloved daughter and only living relation of the richest man in the universe. The two have nothing in common but must learn to work together when they are stranded with only each other for resource.

I guess I've been in a romantic mood lately because the relationship between the two characters is what really resonated for me. Tarver and Lilac have an immediate attraction but it seems destined not to be. Lilac nurses the knowledge that her father sent her first love off to be killed and has resolved not to let anyone get close again. She purposefully pushes Tarver with her acid tongue. Meanwhile he felt something with her but soon assesses her as just a spoiled princess until their time together shows hidden depths for both and allows their love to flourish. Basically I just relaxed in the feels from this couple especially when their relationship gets intense though I can't provide more detail without spoilers.

A surprise for me was how much I enjoyed their trek. I don't think I tend to like books where they fight for survival but either I do or this is an exception. Tarver is the trained soldier so for the most part he handles their survival but Lilac is stubborn, a fast learner, and a mechanical genius so together their skills are complementary and bring out each other's best.

Something I love is that this is the first in a series of companion novels with the characters united against a common enemy. I believe that enemy is introduced in this book and given his relationship to our characters here, it gives me hope that they will pop up in future installments.

In the end, I'm not quite as enthusiastic about this book as others because it seemed to lack that extra spark for me. I thought the writing moved apace and was easy to follow. I especially appreciated the dual narration, one of my favorite techniques, with Tarver and Lilac each having a distinct voice. But there wasn't enough danger early on (beyond a giant cat attacking Lilac) and then the ending didn't feel very concrete and final. Though it's not the end of the series, it is the end of focusing on Lilac and Tarver (to my understanding) and I wanted a bigger bang.

Cover: Love it-pretty dress and fairly accurate though I imagined Lilac's dress slightly less voluminous plus the stars are so gorgeous.

Other Opinions:
Beauty and the Bookshelf
In Bed With Books
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Love is not a triangle
The Flyleaf Review
The Midnight Garden

ARC Review: The Naturals

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
4/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
308 pages
YA Thriller Contemporary
Scheduled to release November 5

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I saw quite a few mixed reviews before I picked this up, which made me nervous as this is only my second experience with Barnes' writing. Well, no worries! This was well within the kind of snappy writing I expect from Disney-Hyperion and I read it all pretty quickly until the ending where my pleasure with the novel went rapidly downhill. But let's start at the beginning.

Cassie has always been able to read people, by nature and also nurtured by her psychic mother. During her teenage years, the FBI comes a knocking seeking to add Cassie to their team of Naturals, young people with some kind of extraordinary talent (such as profiling as Cassie can do) to tackle cold cases. Cassie agrees with the thought in the back of her head of being able to solve her mother's murder, long since cold. At the group home, she meets four other special teenagers and they must battle their feelings and hormones to catch a serial killer before he strikes at Cassie.

Like I said, I really liked the writing style. There are lots of quips and sarcasm throughout and the book moves quickly. We get some insight in to how Cassie can spot and assess as much as she does but it's also somewhat cryptic because it just comes so naturally to her. She and the other teenagers in the program astound the adults, who are also very good at these skills but only because of years of intensive training and experience.

Apparently some readers don't like the trope about a group of extraordinary people gathered together. Personally I do though and this group mostly worked for me because I like reading about really smart, knowledgeable people getting to exercise their talents. No surprise to those who've read this that my fave was Sloane, who can rattle off statistics like no one else. Cassie is a close second with master liar/lie spotter Lia rounding out the top three. But who else is in the house? Why, it's two boys: Michael, who helped recruit Cassie and can parse emotions; and Dean who is a profiler like Cassie with his own dark past. Initially it seemed like Cassie might really like one but it soon becomes a love triangle as is acknowledged by the end with Cassie being urged by the one guy to think about her feelings for the both of them. Ugh, did I find this unnecessary! I think the book could have focused more on the complex feelings and tensions within the group home without needing to add this bundle of hormones.

The other thing is the resolution. We have a serial killer who seems to be going after women like Cassie and eventually to want to take out Cassie. On the one hand, there is a great twist with this that I won't share for fear of spoilers. But on the other hand, it was not as satisfying as I expected. I think this might be partly because it will end up being part of a series and there are still some loose ends to tie up. If you've read this and would like to discuss, let's!

Overall: A surprisingly fun (because who expects to have fun when tracking a serial killer?) compelling thriller with snappy dialogue and strong pacing. I sincerely hope the love triangle will be quickly resolved in the next book or it may dominate my feelings about the series as a whole in a negative way.

Other Opinions:
Alice in Readerland 
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Lectus
The Social Potato
Xpresso Reads
Young Adult Book Heaven

ARC Review: Rose Under Fire

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
360 pages
YA Historical
Scheduled to release September 10

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Code Name Verity, which became my favorite read of 2012. I encouarged others to read it and of course they loved it. Thus I was thrilled to discover that Wein had written a companion novel of sorts, again set during World War II but focusing on new characters. However I tried to temper my expectations because Code Name Verity was so amazing, how could anything else live up to that?

Well, this book didn't quite match my experience with CNV being a rather different tale though there are several superficial similarities. For example, both are set during WWII, focusing on young women pilots. There are even a few overlapping characters that led me to suggest you should definitely read CNV first. Both are told in journal/letters tracing an intense experience of confronting villainy up close. And both are based on real plausibilities even if not every event is exactly true.

But whereas CNV had a killer twist about halfway through that left me dying to reread the book, I don't think I could ever read Rose Under Fire again. It was such an intense read covering Rose's experience at Ravensbrück, a German concentration camp; the story of the "Rabbits", young Polish women who were experimented on by Nazis; and a peek into the Nuremberg trials with their intricate examination of how to assign blame and punishment in an attempt to get justice. I mean, I'm drained just thinking back on this book and I am a bit more nervous about recommending it, just trying to make sure the reader is careful when s/he embarks on the journey because it will wring you out.

I don't want to go to in depth about plot but there are some general themes I'd love to touch on briefly. Memory is one of the main themes explored.  One of the things about genocide is that we don't really know how many people were killed. How many people were taken from their everyday life and just killed as if that life meant nothing, as if they didn't have parents, siblings, lovers, friends, coworkers, etc. who wondered where they were and will never have an answer. Maybe the person did manage to survive but chose not to return to her original home and you will never know. Or, more probably, the person did die and the date and cause of death won't ever be known by loved ones but they will instead live forever hoping against hope that the person somehow did escape the horror. It's just heartbreaking to me especially thinking of today's current events-why can't we learn? So many lives just thrown away. I'm going to move on before I'm emotionally destroyed AGAIN.

A second element is friendship and bonding in the most horrific circumstances. Rose is taken in by the Rabbits basically without question and they share their meager resources with her just as she does what she can for them. It gave me such hope that people could still care about each other even when in situations designed to completely dehumanize them. They sacrifice so much for each other and dare too to get their names and their stories out there so the world will know. I'm not trying to go back to the memory part but I'm thinking about how every generation gets more and more removed from the Holocaust and WWII-will our children understand what happened? Or will it be something they see as happening just in the old days? Something abstract, kind of like my view of the Black Plague so many centuries ago?

I think my review kind of went off the rails...I really don't know what to say and am trying not to ramble. So for you I have included links for a few reviews below and I strongly urge you to consider giving this book a read, even if you don't tend to read historical fiction. Even if you don't usually read YA. Just give this a shot and then come talk it out with me.

Other Opinions:
A Reader of Fictions
Bananas for Books
Blood, Sweat and Books
Feminist Fiction 
Good Books and Good Wine
The Overflowing Library

Perfect Scoundrels

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter
4.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
328 pages
YA Contemporary Caper

Source: Library

As I read Heist Society and Uncommon Criminals, of course I wanted to finish the series (it is my understanding that this is only a trilogy but I would be happy to read another installment). I'm so glad I picked it up because I thought this book was absolutely delightful, the best in the trilogy! Every book has had a con of some kind and this one was just so so satisfying.

My one complaint about this book was the shifting of narration. Sometimes it would go to "the girl" or "the boy" meaning Kat or Hale instead of saying their names. It felt like a distancing technique and I hated being away from the wonderful characters.

Other than that, I loved everything. The book opens throwing Hale into a sad situation that drastically changes their circumstances and brings Kat from her world of cons to Hale's world of money and...well actually there are a lot of con people in the business world too as realized by Kat and which instigates their latest heist.

Have you seen The Sting? (If you haven't, you should check it out: Robert Redford and Paul Newman-enough said.) That's what this book ended up making me think of, which is a very high compliment. Of course it was only after I had read everything that I made this connection because before that I was too caught up in Carter's exquisite plotting. What they pull off in this book impressed me to no end and is the main reason for my love.

There are also all the wonderful characters we already know and love-Kat, Hale, Gabrielle, Marcus, Simon, Angus, Hamish, etc. in addition to introducing some other members of Kat's "family." Kat and Hale's romance is further tested by these new circumstances (to my dismay as I love the couple) but I am happy with the way everything is resolved here. We also get a lot more background on Hale and his upbringing, proving that money cannot buy you love and happiness as his birth family was pretty crappy at providing those two things. I felt so sorry for the guy but happy for him falling in with Kat's crew.

Overall: Another confection from Carter-I was seriously so blown away by the plotting and the light writing. That takes such great skill and is seriously under-appreciated in my opinion.

Other Opinions:
Books are Vital
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Reading Is the Thing

Nantucket Blue

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
3/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
294 pages
YA Contemporary

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had originally planned to read this before I went on my vacation but time got away from me so I was actually able to read it on the beach, which was great because the cover screams out that it is the perfect beach read. I think that is true although this book is a bit on the heavier side than my preferred beach fare.

Cricket is looking forward to a beautiful lazy summer in Nantucket with her best friend Jules, an invitation that is suddenly rescinded after the death of Jules' mother. Nonetheless Cricket makes the trek out to Nantucket just trying to be there for her, something that is complicated as Cricket embarks on a secret summer romance that could hurt Jules if discovered.

This is a difficult review for me because while I liked most of the plot lines and characters in this book, they were definitely more than the whole. My overall impression of this book is decidedly neutral-I wouldn't warn you off of reading it but I'm not going to insist that you run out and pick it up. I think the main reason for that is just the way everything is tied together, that is to say not very tightly. Cricket had a lot of cool moments (most notably to me were her job as a maid with the hilarious Liz and her internship with a writer) but they weren't quite one cohesive whole for me.

The cover seems to hint at a big summer romance, to my mind, and to some extent that is true as Cricket experiences a giddiness from being with that one boy. But it does not overwhelm the other plots nor is it instalove. I actually found it to be a pretty accurate and realistic love story although toward the ending, it sort of explodes into melodrama. Communication is important people!

There is also parental drama as Cricket's mom has completely withdrawn from the world following her divorce while her father has fully embraced his new wife and child, possibly to the exclusion of Cricket. The father plot line is not at all resolved to my extreme dissatisfaction but at least the mother's story ends on a moment of hope.

Lastly there is the friendship arc, which was so sad to me. I have lost friends over the years (sometimes reconnecting with them later) but that was because I moved-not because of the reason detailed here, which absolutely broke my heart. Jules is kind of a crappy friend and I wish we had a bit more understanding of her history with Cricket to justify why Cricket kept trying.

Overall: Yes, there are a lot of good points to this book but the whole just didn't add up to much for me.

Content: Some language, quite a bit of alcohol use, and lots of sexual content make this probably better for the older YA reader.

Other Opinions:
Alexa Loves Books
Book Haven
Book Labyrinth
Candace's Book Blog

ARC Review: The Rules for Disappearing

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
3.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
314 pages
YA Suspense Contemporary
Scheduled to release May 14

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have long had a weakness for Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movies including "Our Lips Are Sealed" where the girls are enrolled in witness protection down under (please tell me someone else knows this movie!) This released in 2000 and since then I've harbored an interest in stories involving the relocation of characters. Therefore when I saw that this book featured just such a plot, I was immediately grabbed.

The novel drops us right into the thick of things with "Megan" choosing her new name and being physically transformed to be placed in another identity, her family's sixth placement in less than two years. She's tired of being on the run, tired of not knowing whatever it was her father did that landed them there, and tired of all the changes. So she's not going to get involved, just waiting out her final years of school. However she meets the very charming Ethan who seems determined to figure out all her secrets no matter how dangerous the situation becomes.

Honestly I found the first part to be fairly average. I was just going through the motions reading about Megan and her family's resettlement, with occasional hints at something bigger occurring. I wasn't actively frustrated by anything but I wasn't engaged or particularly rooting for Megan. My biggest source of amusement was seeing Megan's relationship with her younger sister, which has been strained by all their changes plus Megan's attempts to pretend she was from Arkansas when she has never even been there.

However the second part is where things really start getting interesting. It turns out that Megan actually knows more about the reasons why the family is in Witness Protection than she thought and she decides to do something about that (along with the very persistent Ethan). These events really ratchet up the tension and kept me glued til the final shocking page. Is there going to be a part two? I don't know and I don't think there needs to be but there is room for Megan to move forward.

Other Opinions:
The Flyleaf Review
Into the Hall of Books
Paper Riot

ARC Review: The Reluctant Assassin

The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer
3.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
341 pages
Young Adult Paranormal Time Travel
Scheduled to release May 7

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I remember reading the first Artemis Fowl book and being blown away in particular by the first few chapters. I liked the rest of the story too but the beginning was the part I read over and over again. While I fell away from the series, I retained a fondness for Colfer and his writing. Thus I was pleased to see a new story coming out, one where I could jump feet first into a new world particularly as it teased time travel.

This novel brings together two unlikely compatriots. First is Riley, an orphan in Victorian London apprenticed to the cruel and evil magician/assassin Albert Garrick who ends up traveling to the future, our present, and intersecting with the second protagonist Chevron Savano, a young would-be FBI agent. The book spends time both in our present as well as returning to the past with Garrick chasing the pair throughout. He seems near indestructible and is a suitably terrifying villain.

For me, this book took ages to really get off the ground. I dragged my feet through the opening chapters with all their set-up but flew through the ending. Especially for a young person's novel, I think the story needs to delve into the meat earlier. Once it got going, there was some snappy dialogue and ingenious plotting but it took a long time to reach that point.

Riley and Chevron are perfectly nice characters. I loved his vulnerability, having being orphaned as a baby and with a cruel master while Chevron is an orphan, having become tough and daring on her quest to prove herself as a potential agent. They had a fun relationship trying to unravel the mystery of the time travel and attempting to keep one step ahead of the nefarious Garrick.

Overall: A fun plot that just takes a little too long to get going.

Cover: Really not a favorite for me with all the faces looking at me.

ARC Review: The Rules

The Rules by Stacey Kade
4/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
410 pages
YA Sci-Fi Paranormal
Scheduled to release April 23

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Above are the rules that have governed Ariane Tucker's life since she was broken out of laboratory and instructed on how to assimilate into human life. The first part of her life was spent in that lab, being trained to harness her special paranormal powers. Now she is enrolled in a high school, keeping under the radar. For the most part, she's been able to handle it but all of a sudden, rule number five is looking tricky as human Zane Bradshaw pokes at her strongest defenses. Zane, for his part, finds himself very intrigued by Ariane, her sense of justice and her commitment to keeping under the radar being some of her unique qualities.

What grabbed me about this book was actually the title of the series: Project Paper Doll. I love paper dolls and though I knew they didn't have anything to do with the story, I was still hooked. This is definitely a plot-driven book, light on science-fiction and with elements of paranormal. Though Ariane and Zane alternate narration, the plot still supersedes the character development. The result of this is that the pages fly by despite the bulk.

I really appreciated that the majority of the story is set primarily in a high school, giving this a strong contemporary vibe (my fave genre!) Popularity and attention are important themes as is appearance. As long as Ariane appears normal and doesn't gain notice from others, she should be fine. But events conspire to bring her out the shadows and, as this is a series, set her up for a long struggle against the scientific corporation that created her. I also liked that this was sci-fi but on the light side; I didn't want to read anything too dark or heavy and this book skirts that.

Overall: Fun, plot-driven novel, written in a very easy to read style.

Other Opinions:
Blkosiner's Book Blog
Can't Find a Bookmark
Good Choice Reading
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

ARC Review: Exile

Exile by Rebecca Lim
4/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
Originally published in Australia, 2011
275 pages
YA Paranormal
Scheduled to release April 23

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In 2011, I picked up a random book from Netgalley and was blown away by its enthralling story that kept me on the edge of my seat. That book of course was Mercy in its American release (originally from Australia). Naturally I eagerly awaited the release of the rest of the books in the series and we finally reach book 2 with the pending release of Exile.

Although it has been two years, I still anticipated this sequel and loving it as much. Did I think it would matter that I didn't remember that much from book one? No, because it was fairly self-contained and not much was revealed about the overarching story mythology. That is what I figured book two would divulge.

And Exile does follow through on that promise, revealing more about Mercy's past as some kind of angel although the specifics are still murky. In fact, I feel like I learned about as much from the goodreads summary as I did from the whole book. But whereas book one has Mercy caught up in a kidnapping situation, this book has her occupying the body of a young woman whose mother is battling cancer. Very sad, yes, but not as suspenseful or gripping.

I think some very interesting questions around faith, responsibility, and free will are raised in this book but I found them choppily interwoven with some chapters following Mercy's body while some chapters dove in to those questions through her dreams. They were not tied together very strongly. Add to that, the lackluster plot and I was less impressed with this second book, somewhat breaking my streak of strong second books so far this year. But I am still intrigued by the promise of this series and I do want to check out book three Muse as well as what looks like the fourth book Fury. If you are interested, I would definitely say read Mercy first before reading Exile. I can't imagine getting a hang on Exile without having had the background of Mercy.

Shadowlands

Shadowlands by Kate Brian
3.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
328 pages
YA Thriller

Source: Library

This book grabbed my attention with its stunning cover and the promise of a serial killer. I don't know why but stories with serial killers are of great interest to me so that was enough to hook me despite mixed reviews.

I ended the book myself with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I found it a very fast read where I could not stop turning the pages. I'd put the book down to go do something else only to find myself picking the book back up. I also found the chapters from the serial killer's point of view totally gripping. But on the other hand, the characters were not well-developed and I didn't find the twists and turns that interesting. I was just reading because it was easy.

Main character Rory lives in the shadows. Her older sister Darcy is a cheerleader, popular and pretty while Rory studies science intently and consistently places third in her track meets. But she is marked out when a serial killer goes after her although she manages to escape, with her family sent off to an island. There Rory is the special one to Darcy's dismay, falling in with a group of mysterious teens on an island where nothing is what it seems.

My summary emphasizes the sister-sister relationship partly because that is something I always find interesting and partly because I feel like the comparison of the girls was important to the story. Rory is blond to Darcy's brunette (I think); Rory is shy to Darcy's extroverted personality; Rory is nervous while Darcy easily flirts. However I did feel like Rory was made out to be perfect and Darcy near villainous at times especially with Rory easily attracting the attention of all the guys Darcy liked.

The main reason for reading this book though is for the plot, which ends on a big twist (do not read ahead if you are the kind of person who reads the last page first). It helps put most of the book in a different perspective but I still have some lingering questions. I'm undecided if I definitely want to read the second book or if I just want to beg for some answers from someone who reads it.

Cover: Not sure why the girl on the cover is brunette as it is very clearly established that main character Rory is blonde. There is a blonde girl on the back cover but she ought to be on the front.

Other Opinions:
Buried in Books
Good Books and Good Wine
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

Poison

Poison by Bridget Zinn
3.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
276 pages
YA Fantasy Humor

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Everything about this book seemed like something I'd love: publisher I associate with humorous books; a poisoner; a sweet pig; a kickass heroine. So I entered this novel with pretty high expectations. I fully anticipated loving this book unreservedly. While for the most part I had fun, I found myself wanting something extra to take it to the next level.

Kyra is a young but incredibly talented potion master who, on a quest to save her kingdom, attempted to assassinate the princess, who was also her best friend. Now on the run, Kyra must use her wits to unravel a tangled plot along with the aid of a sweet pig and the bumbling but oh so charming Fred.

Upon reflection, probably the biggest element for concern for me was that although this has been marketed as a YA novel (from what I can discern), it felt younger, falling in-between middle-grade and YA. The characters were a bit old and had some more adult concerns (like marriage) for MG but the danger and intensity I tend to associate with YA was most definitely lacking. I also felt like some challenges were oh-so-conveniently handled when more struggle would have given Kyra more depth.

Saying that, I did really have fun reading this especially once the SPOILER (see below) was disclosed. Everything after that part was a delight. I really liked Kyra who is very determined and smart. She's a fast thinker and although she gets in some ridiculous situations, she is able to quickly formulate a plan to get herself out of that trouble. I also must cite the pig, Rosie, just for being adorable. The romance (because of course there is) is very clean and cute.

Overall: I consider this very fairy-tale-esque in the best way and I think there will be a lot of fans of it.

Other Opinions:
In which Ems reviews books
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Supernatural Snark

SPOILER DISCUSSION

This made so much sense once it was revealed but it wasn't something I had figured out on my own: that Kyra was the cousin to Arianna and thus the daughter of the scary Duchess. This twist made me so happy and love their relationship even more. Everything that followed that revelation was great to me-it just took a while to get there.

Cinders and Sapphires

Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed
4.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
389 pages
YA Historical Fiction

Source: Received an ARC from Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

Wow-this book basically has everything! It has so many of the plotlines from "Downton Abbey" and similar stories, all jam-packed into a very easy reading style. I polished this book off very fast and felt quite accomplished as I've been a bit behind on my reading goals.

Since I mostly liked the book, I'm just going to point out a few criticisms, not to be a downer but in order to be more balanced. The book is narrated in third-person past tense and although it mostly focused on just a few people, it shifted around, sometimes quite abruptly and caused some confusion. This mostly happened at the beginning so either it was edited out or I became accustomed. My second main criticism is just that there is so much stuff, much of which felt familiar (due to the fact that I actively seek out books set in this time) but also which subsequently didn't receive much treatment. There is only so much space and we have a serious amount of plot threads set up. The upside is that now there is so much to look forward to learning about in book 2. Third and final criticism would have to be the instant love that strikes Lady Ada in the prologue; one kiss and she's a goner, this secret, forbidden love motivating her for the entire novel. Never mind that there are a ton of cute boys to kiss (or at least to flirt with since kissing was much more serious back then); I just didn't feel the love for this guy since we barely got to spend any time with him.

Now that the negative is over, what did I like? Well I really liked our two main characters Ada and Rose, young lady of the house and maid respectively who have the lion's share of the narrative. I especially liked how Ada is a bluestocking, interested in studying at Oxford and promoting women's suffrage, a cause close to my heart (think about it: just 100 years ago, I would not have been allowed to vote! That makes me kind of mad!) Rose is the sweet and shy ladies maid with a secret past (that should be fairly obvious to most readers). Other characters include Ada's new stepfamily with a conniving stepmother, whose portrait was much more cartoonish than the similarly crafty Lady Summerset, really conniving stepsister, and two stepbrothers with their own secrets, more extended family, various politicians, and a household of servants. Although there are a lot of characters, I did not feel overwhelmed by them, keeping their names easily straight for the most part.

I also loved the many themes that were touched on, especially women's education as touched on above. I feel like this book has the potential to be fun and frothy while also exploring the fascinating history. Of particular interest was the British Empire's involvement with India as well as hints at trouble on the Continent (it is only 1910 so we still have quite some time before WWI breaks out-hope the series will reach that point!)

Overall: A light, fast-moving historical novel-perfect for those craving another hit of "Downton Abbey" as well as for people who like lighter stories in general.

Cover: Love! Although the title makes me think of Cinderella, which is not really a part of the story, I don't mind the misleading. I love the swirls all around although I feel bad for the girl (I'm guessing it's supposed to be Rose) having it go through her head.

Other Opinions:
Bookshelves of Doom
Forever Young Adult
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Reading Extensively

From What I Remember

From What I Remember...by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas
3.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2012
462 pages
YA Contemporary Multiple POV

Source: Picked up from library to review.

After seeing Mimi Valentine's enthusiastic endorsement (and realizing it was told from multiple perspectives, something I adore), I resolved to give this book a try so I reserved it and then picked it up from my library. Weirdly though I got a sense of foreboding from reading the front inside cover that maybe I wouldn't like this book. I can't explain it but it was there. And by the end I knew why.

This is a fun book with a lot to like. It's breezy and moves pretty quickly. The basic plot is that Kylie and Max wake up in Mexico and have to remember how they got there and figure out how to get back for their graduation in San Diego. There is a lot of action that would translate well to the big-screen, evidence of the writers' background in screenwriting. I love the snappy quotes from movies that begin each chapter; all are relevant and it was fun figuring out how that would be. The two main narrators are Kylie and Max but I thought the side characters really stole the show. One is Jake, Kylie's younger brother with Asperger's Syndrome who is obsessed with the San Diego bus schedule. The other is Will, Kylie's only friend whose cross-dressing tries to shake up their staid private school and encourage other students to join him out of the closet.

But they were only secondary characters. Our main narrators are Kylie and Max, the good girl and the bad boy, a dynamic I'm really sick of (not that I was ever a big fan to begin with.) They both had some big hang-ups-Kylie worries about her standing at school, how her family will function when she's at college, and feeling like she's not pretty. Max is aware that he's often a jerk and is putting his passion second to what he thinks his dying dad wants. And these things were repeated...a lot, making what is already a long book feel even longer. Plus their flirtation just did not work for me, which is unfortunate because it takes up a lot of space.

Then there were the three uses of "retarded" that I caught (may have been more). I have a really hard time believing that someone whose brother has Asperger's and has possibly been called a retard before would be so casual using the word with all of its hurtful connotations. More content problems were the rampant drinking and language-this is not a clean book by any means. In fact, there is a lot of drinking, I mean a lot because that is apparently how high school kids celebrate their graduation nowadays?

Overall: These particulars brought down the book's stars for me but they may not bother you.

Cover: These people could be more disheveled and Kylie could be curvier but it's an alright cover.

Review: A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt

A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt
4.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2012
279 pages
Middle-Grade Fantastical
Book 3 in the Princess for Hire trilogy

Source: Received a copy from publisher as support for blog tour.

**Spoilers for the earlier books**

After loving Princess for Hire and The Royal Treatment, I was eagerly anticipating this conclusion to the trilogy. The previous book ended with suspense as Desi confirmed her suspicions that Reed was also a sub in the male branch of Facade.

Through her discussions with Reed and her relationship with her agent Meredith, the world of Facade is vastly expanded. We see more of the other agents and managing staff as well as more about the ultimate designs and purposes. This potentially has some negative outcomes that Desi is determined to thwart while also balancing her new responsibilities as a Level 3 sub. Desi will stop at nothing to uncover and proclaim the truth.

Meanwhile Desi's home life is getting more and more complicated. Her feelings toward Reed are in turmoil, she's fighting with her best friend, and her mother is all of a sudden awfully tired. The former was a bit tiresome but he's really only Desi's second crush and she needs some help negotiating that. It is sometimes hard to remember how old Desi really is because she takes on so much responsibility and is mature beyond her years. Meanwhile the situation with her friend was so rough to read; all Desi wants is to confide but she can't without betraying the confidentiality of Facade. The family storyline is really sweet although it fades a bit in comparison to the other plots.

Unfortunately in the end I wanted a little bit more of Desi using her empathy as a sub instead of investigating the machinations of Facade. I know how the series has been building toward that and if there hadn't been anything about it, I probably would have complained. Still I missed Desi subbing as much. I promise though that there are several satisfying episodes with Desi subbing-they were some of my favorite parts.

Overall: A satisfying conclusion to this princess trilogy-sure to please fans of the previous books. Desi is a great heroine and well worth reading about.

Cover: I love these covers so much! They provide the perfect opening to what these books are like.

Want to read this (or any of the books)? I'm hosting a giveaway of your choice of one of the books in the series. Open internationally!

Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2012
333 pages
YA Historical

Source: Received an e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so scared to pick this book up! Although it has received near unanimous praise, I've been really picky lately and have found myself disappointed with books that the blogosphere has raved about. Happily that was not the case for this book as I absolutely loved it!

Like other reviewers, I will not share too much about the plot. This initially frustrated me when I was deciding whether or not to read it but I was very glad for their closed lips. You do not want anything spoiled for you. I do few comfortable sharing a few things though.

First the book is divided into halves. Although I have not bought my own copy yet, I am planning to because the second half illuminates the first half in a most kick-ass way. Upon finishing, all I wanted to do was go back and reread the whole thing again (couldn't because I needed to get up early the next day but very much wanted to). Thus I highly recommend buying your own copy so that you can do that.

Second the book is set during World War II from the Allied side-primarily Scottish, English, and French people make up the cast. It's mostly young women who are our focus, which is very exciting. I love getting to read about women doing what was traditionally considered men's work and, as Wein shares in her author's note, the things they do, while not common, are plausible.

Lastly I found this book incredibly affecting and powerful. I was still thinking about it a day later and managed to make myself cry a second and third time (that third time is just now as I write this review-it is highly possible that I will cry again thinking about this book as the days go back).

So that's about all I feel safe sharing. Is there anything stopping you from checking this book out? Please let me know and I will do my best to convince you otherwise as this has probably been my favorite read of the year so far and will definitely be a contender for best read overall of 2012.

Spell Bound

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
4/5 stars
Hyperion, 2012
327 pages
YA Paranormal
Book #3 in the Hex Hall Trilogy

Source: Library

Some spoilers and references to the previous books-read at your own risk!

I was both excited and nervous to pick up this conclusion to the Hex Hall trilogy. On the one hand, I really enjoyed first book Hex Hell and sequel Demonglass, which ended with a killer cliffhanger. But I was unable to prevent myself from skimming some reviews and it looked like I would be unhappy with the resolution of the romance (if you look at my reviews for the first books, you will see that I am firmly anti-Archer).

Happily this book picks up shortly after the end of Demonglass with Sophie learning some pretty important (and surprising) things about her family. I am not going to spoil you-you will just have to pick up this delightful series and find everything out for yourself! What I can share is that Sophie gains some additional allies in her fight against the villains of the book, which is good as she could use the support. I really liked the new people we meet and they have some great snarkiness in the beginning although as the book progresses, we focus more on Sophie herself and her powers.

At the beginning of the book, she is unable to access them, since she was stripped in the previous novel. This leaves her feeling incomplete and increases her fear. This also leads to some interesting scenes where Sophie is possessed by a ghost who can perform magic. Those were some of my favorite scenes with many interesting consequences.

SPOILER:
However Sophie is incredibly powerful and I never felt much suspense around whether or not she would be able to defeat the threat once she reclaimed her abilities. Not just because this is a book and that is the ending a book should have. But just because she seems so much more powerful than everyone else around her. As long as she maintains control and focus (a bit of a problem in the first book), she can easily kick butt.
END SPOILER

Surprisingly I came around on the Sophie/Archer connection. I'm still NOT an Archer fangirl; I will not swoon over him and I don't think he's good enough for Sophie but I found myself enjoying some of their scenes together. They just seem to "get" each other. The resolution for Cal is not what I would have preferred but it makes sense and provided me with closure.

Overall: A good ending to a really enjoyable series-definitely recommended for the reader who likes some snark with her paranormal as well as some magic, adventure, and romance!

Cover: That cat is still present; am I missing something? I still don't remember reading about a cat in any of the books even though he has been present on the cover of all three. Though I like imagining that Sophie is lucky enough to have a nice, soft kitty cat in her life.

Double

Double by Jenny Valentine
Hyperion, 2012
Originally published 2010
244 pages
YA; Suspense
3.5/5 stars

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea what to expect when I picked this book up other than my trust in the publisher (I've read many great Hyperion books) and the fact that it was YA. The cover is pretty creepy so I thought it was maybe a horror novel. Poking around on goodreads suggested it was more suspense, which allowed me to adjust my expectations and reassured me that I probably wouldn't be too scared.

I am a little leery of going too in-depth on the plot because I think it is probably better to read this with little preparation. There are some twists and I think it would lessen your enjoyment if you knew too much. However as you can see from the title, there is something about doubles, in this case a double of a person. Young Chap is mistaken for runaway Cassiel and assumes the boy's identity including a troubled home life and the real-life guy's mysterious disappearance.

And as promised, I'm not going to spoil anything other than to say that I was drawn in to the edge of my seat looking for explosive revelations and thrilling sequences. I was also tenderly touched by some scenes in the ending when we have learned all of the secrets and filled with hope about what could come (I'm pretty optimistic :)

But while this book was enjoyable, it didn't knock my socks off.  I had a growing sense of dread of what was to come but I wasn't too worried. Mostly because I wasn't too invested in the characters. As Chap is assuming an identity, he doesn't seem to have one of his own and that made it hard for this reader to identify with him.

Overall: An okay outing but not a must-read.

The Way We Fall

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
Hyperion, 2012
309 pages
YA; Disease
4/5 stars

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I mostly picked this book because it came from Hyperion, an imprint that usually steers me toward very enjoyable books (mostly contemporary with fantastical elements in my experience) so this one looked like a change.

I was excited once I opened this book and saw that it was told in letters from main character Kaelyn to her estranged best friend Leo; I've seen around the blogosphere that it is not always a popular format but I'm a complete sucker for books told in the epistolary way.

And this book differs from the current glut of apocalyptic and dystopia YA by starting at the beginning. At the start life on an island in Canada is not great for Kaelyn, of mixed race who has spent time off the island. Worse Kaelyn's best friend Leo is in New York City and they haven't spoken in years, her big regret.

But life continues on until slowly a mysterious illness strikes. Kaelyn first notices it in a friend's father and then in that friend. Soon the hospital is overflowing and death is everywhere. The island is cut off from the rest of Canada, with the military not allowing anyone to leave and with the internet connection down. Violent gangs fight over the remaining supplies and wantonly destroy property.  People are frightened and confused, with no idea what will come next as they try to protect their loved ones from something they don't even understand.

The growing fear of the people was well conveyed and really got under my skin. Additionally I find epistolary novels highly addictive so I kept coming back for more. Even as I gasped at the depths people sunk to, I was consoled by the good that many aspired to do. However I didn't think much of the characters. None of the main ones were awful but none really stood out. I didn't feel like I got to know them and consequently am less interested in continuing to follow their adventures in what seems like a series.

Applause to Crewe for her different take on the genre (starting at the beginning adds some really dramatic tension) but I wish I had felt more for the characters.

Ditched

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom
Hyperion, 2012
273 pages
YA; Contemporary
4/5 stars

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After a string of meh books (perfectly fine books that didn't really excite me), I was looking forward to a funny, charming YA contemp. And I got that-main character Justina is a bit of a worrywart and chatterbox, in the vein of a Meg Cabot heroine; a high compliment in my opinion.

The story begins at the end with Justina ending up on the side of the road, alone with a stained and tattered dress. She totters to a 7-11 where a sympathetic cashier and customer listen to her meandering story. She does this by pointing to various stains on her dress (the e-ARC I had was in greyscale, which made the stains difficult to discern; I am not sure how this will be represented in the actual book) and explaining how they came about on what was supposed to be the best night.

You see, prom is the night where Justina is going to break her eight month no-kiss sabbatical as she has realized her feelings for her best friend Ian and wants to seal the moment with a kiss. But nothing seems to go right. First she looks like a blueberry after following the advice of her mother; then she gets curry on her dress before even leaving the house. And the incidents just pile up from there.

Justina gained a reputation due to he variety and multitude of boys she kissed. In response, she made a vow not to kiss again...until she became such good friends with Ian and saw him in a certain green shirt. Now that's all she wants from the night and it seems like the one thing she won't get due to various misunderstandings and stiff competition from another girl.

While Justina and Ian were perfectly fine characters (not that we get that much of Ian since he spends most of the night off on some mysterious errand), I totally fell for the Stoner Mikes and their girlfriends. They were nice people (I guess you could say mellow) who were so warm and protective to Justina when she needed it most.

Overall: I got what I expected: a cute, funny, sweet story; worth curling up with one afternoon.

Cover: What an atrocious dress-those sleeves look so eighties although I do like the color as I'm a sucker for blue. However it is very true to the book so yay!