Ender's Game

By Orson Scott Card

Genre: sci-fi

My rating: 3 1/2 stars

I don't know why I put off reading this book for so long.  I've had it sitting on my bookshelf for years.  I've heard rave things about it.  But what finally led me to crack the book open and settle down to read it was when I saw they were making this:

Yeah.  And I'm a big fan of reading the book before seeing the movie.

So anyway, what I thought of the book:

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Book 2 in The Lunar Chronicles

By Marissa Meyer

Genre: sci-fi, steampunk, fantasy, fairy tale retelling

My rating: 4 stars

Summary, taken from goodreads.com: "Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner."


If you haven't read Cinder, you should most def read that before reading this review.  Cinder was mind-blowingly awesome.  You can read my review of it here.

But anyway:

The Fairest Beauty

By Melanie Dickerson

Genre: YA, Christian, historical, fairy tale retelling

My rating: 4 stars

Summary: "Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie's one chance at freedom—but can she trust another person to keep her safe? 

Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl's inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible—she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else—he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what. 

When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help—but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them—they must also protect their hearts." (Summary taken from goodreads.com)

I have LOVED Melanie Dickerson's previous books, The Healer's Apprentice (a retelling of Sleeping Beauty) and The Merchant's Daughter (think Beauty and the Beast.)  So I was very excited about her newest book, a retelling of Snow White with a Christian twist.  I enjoyed it, but not as much as the first two.  I loved Sophie's character, the story was cute, the themes amazing, but it just seemed too predictable, no real twists, so that I found it hard to stay glued to the pages like I was with the first two.

What I did enjoy, however, was how Dickerson intertwined the story with Christian themes.  The evil stepmother was so much like Satan, planting lies in the heads and hearts of Sophie and Gabe that these two had to overcome the lies with God's truth and accept healing from God alone.  Beautifully done.

Overall, an enjoyable read. :)

Crewel

Crewel (Crewel World Book One)

By Gennifer Albin

Genre: YA sci-fi, dystopian

My rating: 4 1/2 stars

Summary taken from goodreads.com: "Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it."

Wow.  

Gennifer Albin has woven a story as beautiful, fascinating, and compelling as the cover.  Such a creative concept, I'm jealous I didn't come up with it myself.

The characters were well developed: Adelice is such a witty, kick-butt heroine who says it like it is.  The love interest(s) were interesting as well, though I wasn't the biggest fan of the love triangle aspect.  Reminded me too much of Hunger Games, but will I be Team Erik or Team Jost?  (Personally, I'm in favor of Jost).

I can't give it 5 stars, simply because it took me about 70 pages or so to get into the story.  Not that it started slow or anything, simply that the story seemed so unbelievable it took me a while to get into the storyworld that Gennifer created. 

What I LOVED about the story (other than the awesome concept) was the writing itself.  Gennifer Albin is a master weaver of words.  Beautiful imagery, unique similes and metaphors.  I might reread this book just so I can learn from her how to write such beautiful scenes.

I HIGHLY recommend this book and can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Bonus:

Gennifer has an awesome pinterest board about Crewel.  Check it out!

Also, follow her on Twitter.  She tweets some pretty awesome stuff. @GenniferAlbin
If you follow her, feel free to add me too! @JennSoehnlin

That Pesky To-Read Pile

This week, the Book Blogger Hop, normally hosted by Jen at Crazy-for-Books, is hosted by The Fake Steph.  So without further ado, let's get the BBH going. :)

Question:  Is there a book that has been languishing on your TBR pile even though you spent months anticipating its release?

Uh, yeah.  I have an overwhelming to-read pile, but one anticipated book in particular comes to mind.  I LOVED Divergent, by Veronica Roth so much so that in the review I gave it 5 stars WITH an exclamation point.  Those are rare, peeps.  And I was totally counting down until Insurgent came out.  I even pre-ordered the book.  The day it came out I was so excited to get reading.  But a few chapters in, I just couldn't get into it, and put it down to read other books.  I keep reading reviews about how great it is and keep meaning to get back into it, but other books seem to be clamoring for my attention.

What about you?  And how's your to-read pile looking?   

Review: What's Left of Me

Book One of the Hybrid Chronicles

By Kat Zhang

Genre: Science Fiction

My Rating: 4 stars

Summary taken from Goodreads.com: "I should not exist. But I do. 

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . . 

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything."

Once I heard the intriguing concept behind this book, (and saw that gorgeous cover!) I just had to get my hands on it.  And I'm so glad I did.  I loved how the story was told from Eva's point of view and the way the narration had to be told when two souls share one body.  Genius.

The characters are unique and well-written, though it did get a little confusing since many of the characters (those who are hybrid) have two names and personalities.

I did wish we were told a little more about why each person is born with two souls (was it always this way?  Genetic mutations?)  But, when you consider it's a novel, it's easy to immerse yourself in the story and forget about the logistics and just enjoy the story as it unfolds.  This was a great start to a new series that I highly enjoyed reading.

Let's Talk About Dystopias!

Hi Bloggy Buddies!  Today is my birthday (whoo hoo!) and to celebrate, I wanna talk dystopian books.  YA ones to be exact, 'cuz that's my fav.  So, I'm gonna throw out three discussion questions with my own answers, and I want you to pick one or two or all three of them to answer yourself.  Can't wait to hear your thoughts on one of my fav book talking topics!

1) Which YA dystopian book is your favorite and why?
For me, I'd have to say The Giver.  That was the first dystopian book I read (I was in 8th grade) and I was hooked.  I loved the idea of not being able to make choices about your life, and yet still feeling like life was perfect that way.  It really opened my eyes to a new world.

2) Which YA dystopian society would you LEAST like to be a part of and why?
The Hunger Games.  Although I devoured that book, I would not want to live in a time and place where watching teens get killed was fun entertainment.

3) What are your top five YA dystopian book recommendations?
Tough one, but I'd choose The Giver, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Matched, and Unwind.

Your turn!

The Goddess Test

By Aimee Carter

Genre: Fiction

My rating: 3 1/2 stars 

Summary: (from goodreads.com)  

"EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.
NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN. 

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess. 

IF SHE FAILS..."

What I liked: I loved the concept, as I like Greek mythology.  I thought the Greek gods and goddesses were portrayed in a very fun and unique way as the story unfolded, and I do want to read the next book in the series just to see more of these characters.

I liked how the story ended.  It was the perfect ending if this is the only book you want to read, but it also left it open for those who want to read the next book in the series to see what happens next.  Genius work, as a writer.

I really liked Henry's character.  He seemed much more different than what I always expected of Hades.  He's not evil, but rather, solemn, thoughtful, and generous.  He was definitely an interesting character.

And although I wasn't a huge fan of Kate's character, she had some unique character traits for a heroine, such as her frankness, her loyalty, her sense of morality and justice.

What I didn't like: Gotta be honest, I'm not a fan of profanity and sex in YA books.  Yes, I know, teens are surrounded by it, so it would make sense it would be in their books too.  But as a middle school teacher for several years, I had multiple students tell me they didn't like reading books with cursing since they heard it so much.  I'm not saying there's a lot of it in this book, but I didn't think it was necessary.

I had a hard time getting into the story until about 2/3 of the way through the story.  Sure, there were some intriguing incidents in the first several chapters, but not enough to keep me glued to the pages until further into the story.  I wish I was hooked earlier.

There were times I liked Kate's character, and times she drove me nuts.  She seemed to be so pensive and moody and then suddenly she would do something that seemed out of character to me.  I kept thinking "where'd that come from?".

I didn't feel like there was a lot of research about Greek mythology interwoven into this book, which is what I was expecting.  It was more like the author was inspired by the story of Hades and Persephone, and should have done her own retelling.  She could have done soooo much more with incorporating mythology into the story, like Riordan did with his Percy Jackson series.

Overall thoughts?  It was an ok read, but I was disappointed as I expected more from this.  But, like I said, I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series, because I would think there would be more mythology in it, which is what I was looking for in this book.

Anyone else read this?  What did you think?

And how do you feel about profanity in YA books?  Am I just old-fashioned about wanting my MG and YA books to be free of sex and language?

I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires

Civil War Series, Book Two

By Cathy Goelke

Genre: Christian historical fiction

My Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Summary: "The bonds linking family and the lines separating enemies have become very blurry for 17 year old Robert. With his father away fighting for the Union, Robert must decide to act alone in order to help his ailing mother, extricate his injured Confederate Uncle, and bring relief to his cousin, Emily.When he unwittingly gets entangled in a Confederate escape plot, Robert must forge his anger and shame into a new determination to save his family. And, perhaps, he must also realize that the saving might not be entirely up to him.Honor and duty to God and country aren't as clear-cut as he hoped them to be."


Although I definitely liked the first book, William Henry is a Fine Name, in the Civil War Series better, this one was still as poignant and still a page-turner. I learned a lot about the Civil War in a captivating way and was pleased to see that Cathy Goelke's stunning writing style had only improved in this book.

This book was wonderful to read after learning about a lot of the characters in the first book, but could definitely be a great stand-alone book as well.

My biggest disappointment with this book was the end--first of all, that it ended, and secondly, that it ended so perfectly. Granted, these characters went through A LOT to get to the end, but then everything tidied itself into a perfect little bow. Still, an enjoyable read and highly recommended.


Oh, and P.S. Both of these books are currently paperback Bargain Books on Amazon. William Henry is a Fine Name is currently available on Amazon for only $2.77 and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires for $5.60.

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner

By James Dashner

Genre: science fiction

My rating: 3 stars

Summary taken from back of the book: "When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
     Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
     Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. 
     Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind."

I was sadly disappointed in this book.  I ADORE dystopian novels and this is definitely one of them.  Normally, in these type of novels dystopian societies come about because the leaders/creators of the society are trying to protect the people, just not in the best way possible.  Not this one. This one is evil.  And it's obvious from the get-go.

I was so eager to read this book because several people I knew raved about the suspense of this book.  It took me two weeks to read this book, when I can normally read a YA book in a day or two.  I personally found it lacked suspense because 1) Thomas always has this totally random thought and then in the next chapter or two he's figuring out why he had that random thought.  Ridiculously overdone foreshadowing = no surprise = no suspense.  And 2) I didn't really care about any of the characters.  No investment in characters and whether they live or die or ever escape from the wicked experiment = no strong desire to keep those pages turning.

And if Dashner mentioned one more time how Thomas found it weird he could remember some things but not others I was going to stop reading altogether.  We get it Dashner.  He has some memory loss.  All the boys do.  Get on with the story.

There were some good things though.  I did like the word choice and the description Dashner used.  Normally I'm not much of a description type of gal--I tend to skip those paragraphs just of description. But Dashner interwove the description and plot beautifully.  It was heartwarming to see the characters keep strong and keep resisting the wicked experiment they were undergoing though things seemed hopeless.  I did find the connection that Thomas and Teresa shared very intriguing,  though extremely unrealistic when revealed.

Review in a Nutshell:  I'm glad I read the book, but I have no incentive whatsoever to read the next book in the series.

Locked 7 Years in a Tower?

Book of a Thousand Days

By Shannon Hale

Genre: fantasy

Rating: 4 stars

Plot Summary: "When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years for Saren’s refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.

As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. But the arrival outside the tower of Saren’s two suitors—one welcome, and the other decidedly less so—brings both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows."

Plot summary taken from amazon.com

 What would you do if you were locked in a tower for 7 years because of something the lady you served did?  If you're Dashti, you journal.  And sketch pictures of your dismal life in the tower and of your harrowing adventures after you escape from the tower.  And you sing beautiful songs that bring healing to people.

This was a beautiful retelling of the Grimm's Fairy Tale Maid Maleen, set in medieval Mongolia. Although the story started out a little slow, it quickly gathers momentum and keeps on rolling.

The characters are (I think) what are so compelling that I kept turning the pages long into the night.  Dashti is so strong, so brave, while Saren slips into depression and begins hallucinating due to their imprisonment.  The suitors are also interesting characters.  I longed for Dashti to find true happiness and wanted to to find out what is really causing Saren so much inner turmoil.  I could't help but want the very best for both of them, though sometimes, I wanted to slap Saren for being such a weepy wimp.

My only main issue with the villain.  I know this is a fantasy piece, but the climax with the villain made the story much more unrealistic.  I don't want to give anything away, so I'll leave it at that.

Hale is an excellent writer.  She uses beautiful imagery and interesting metaphors.  Her description of rotting flesh in one scene made me wrinkle my nose in disgust.  That, my blog friends, is the sign of a true writer.  She creates a unique and magical land for the characters to roam and interweaves interesting religious culture.

Dashti's mama says "You have to know someone a thousand days before you can get a glimpse of their soul."  I got to know Dashti's and Saren's in only two. :)

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

By Lisa Schroeder

Genre: fiction, verse

My Rating: 4 stars

Summary: "Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here. 

Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds."

summary taken from goodreads.com

Wow.  This was a beautifully told story that is so easy to fly through because it's told in verse.  I've read other books in verse, but this one was nice because it made you feel like you were really experiencing Ava's emotions as she dealt with the tragic death of her boyfriend.  A death she feels responsible for.

Jackson and Ava's relationship seemed to send up some red flags.  Jackson seemed way too possessive of her in real life--makes sense he would as a ghost too.  And Ava's parents were right--they spent way too much time together.  Why would they not in the afterlife too?

The story is definitely more character driven than plot driven and I don't know how intriguing this story would have been if it wasn't told in verse.  The verse is what sells it.  I think the story could have as much beauty if Jackson never was a ghost.  If it was simply Ava processing her grief and her relationship with Jackson.   But I guess the ghost thing adds intrigue.

All in all, an interesting, fast read.

Touching Spirit Bear

By Ben Mikaelsen

Genre: Fiction

My rating: 4 1/2 stars

Summary: "Within Cole Matthews lie anger, rage and hate. Cole has been stealing and fighting for years. This time he caught Alex Driscal in the parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk. Now, Alex may have permanent brain damage and Cole is in the biggest trouble of his life.

     Cole is offered Circle Justice: a system based on Native American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal offender, the victim and the, community.  Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by mysterious white bear of Native American legend. Hideously injured, as Cole waits for his death his thoughts shift from from anger to humility. To survive, he must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life. "

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Wow.  This book was awesome.  I'll admit the scene where the bear mauls Cole is a little bit graphic.   But I think the story was well done, though I did think it got a little slow towards the end.

Cole is an interesting character.  He's such an angry kid that I seriously was asking him "What's your problem?!?"  But as the story unfolds, you learn more about why he is that way.  And after the bear attack, you can't help hoping he comes out ok-physically and emotionally.

This book had some great lessons about letting go of your anger, about the beauty of nature, of forgiveness and growing up and so much more.  And I learned a lot about the Circle Justice system, Native American traditions, totem poles, the rare spirit bear, etc.  A very interesting read!

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins 

Genre: science fiction

My rating: 4 1/2 stars

Summary: "In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss' young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives."

Summary taken from Amazon.com

Oh.  My.  Goodness.

When I finally decided to read this book I was hooked.  Seriously.  Glued to the pages.  This book is intense and my heart was pounding at some parts.  I absolutely could not put the book down until it was dinner time and though I enjoyed the time with my hubby (and the food too!), my mind kept straying back to poor Katniss and Peeta and I worried about what was happening to them.  I don't think I've ever worried so much about characters before while reading a book.

The book totally keeps you on your toes with excellent pacing and the perfect amount of tension to keep you turning those pages.  It's disturbing and interesting at the same time.  And the ending makes you go running to the bookstore for the next book in the series. 

I loved the kick-butt yet loyal character of Katniss.  I mean, come on, she was willing to die to save her sister!  And Peeta is such a sweetie. You have to read the book to see why.

So then why did I not give this book 5 stars you ask?  The story does contain some violence, so is not for everyone.  And the fact that the story is in Katniss' 1st person POV kinda spoiled things for me--the narrator cannot die, unless Collins is trying something totally new.  But, the ending still had its surprises which I greatly appreciated.

All in all, a wonderful read.  Check it out if you haven't already!

Let the games begin!  Post your comment for a chance to win a dystopian book being reviewed today.  (Much better than a chance to be entered through lottery ticket into the Hunger Games, right?)