Review: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Page Count:  449Hardcover
Date Published: October 24th 2014
Find it on Goodreads: Talon
Source: Purchased

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

Kind of disappointing honestly... I liked it enough, but it was definitely not what I was hoping. But I also don't really know what I was hoping it would be. All I knew was that it was about dragons and I. love. dragons. But this book ended up being more a contemporary summer read with little bits of dragon/action scenes in between. The result? 

I just found it kind of predictable and it was another case of me not really caring about what was happening or what the characters were doing. I really didn't like Ember's voice;  I found it whiny and annoying and juvenile, which made me so sad because she had so much potential. I didn't mind Garret's, but Riley's I couldn't have cared less about. There wasn't much that happened that made me really really excited about this book until the last few chapters, as the battle scene was pretty cool and well written. But then the book ended and even with the cliff-hanger, I just didn't have too much desire to find out what happened next. 

Overall, it wasn't terrible, but I did not enjoy it as much as I had hoped and I was pretty disappointed in it all. This was a story that had so much potential but it kind of felt short in my mind. I liked it enough, but it took me a while to keep going and actually finish. 

Happy reading!

~Kristy

Review: Infinite by Jodi Meadows

Author: Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Page Count:  418 Hardcover
Date Published: January 28th 2014
Find it on Goodreads: Brazen
Source: Purchased

DESTRUCTION
The Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.

FLIGHT
Ana’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.

CHOICE
The oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.

With gorgeous romance and thrilling action, the final book in the Incarnate trilogy offers a brilliant conclusion to the compelling questions of this fascinating world, where one new girl is the key to the lives of millions. 

It generally takes me a while to finish these books, but once I do, the time is always worth it. I'm so impressed with where Jodi Meadows took this series... I mean, DRAGONS. I. Love. Dragons. Stories that incorporate them are almost always incredible and I loved where Infinite took them, with the lore and mystery surrounding these majestic creatures. I won't go into too much detail as this is the final book and I'd hate to spoil anything, however I will note this: Ana's character development brought tears to my eyes, giving me hope for all those other heroines of YA fantasies. What I thought was super cool was that this series melded from what was originally a utopian society, to more of a dystopian-like fantasy epic that kept firing bullets and my heart took them all.

All throughout the series, there was this huge question as to whether or not Ana would reincarnate when she inevitably died. I absolutely loved where the ending ultimately went. It was both happy and sad and it made sense as much as it could in this context. Overall, this entire finale was simply fantastic... I will always recommend this series as one of my favourites to anyone who hasn't read it.


Plus, to convince you of the awesomeness that is this series, here is a really cool GIF of a phoenix.

 Happy reading!
~Kristy

Review: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Author: Soman Chainani

Publisher: HarperCollins
Page Count:  488 Hardcover
Date Published: May 14th 2013
Find it on Goodreads: Brazen
Source: Purchased

The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.
This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.
But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?
The School for Good & Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one. 

I haven't read a full MG novel for a while, so this was a good welcome back into the genre. Intriguing concept, clear main message with other muddled, smaller messages interweaved, and characters easy to get attached to, The School for Good and Evil was a wonderful fairytale escape, however I had some issues with it. Let's talk about the good first:

The world-building was phenomenal. The descriptions were clear, the history not too confusing, and there was always a sense of intrigue and mystery. I loved how familiar fairy tale characters were integrated but not the full focus and how it was all controlled by the Storian and the ever-mysterious School Master. Agatha and Sophie were wonderful, well fleshed out characters and Agatha's development was incredible to 'watch' as she began to see who she truly was.

However, ultimately, I feel like a lot of the themes in this were a bit heavy for MG kids, and if not heavy, at least a bit confusing. There are a few scenes in the book that sexualize Sophie and talk about her 'lean, long legs' and I mean... she's like, 12. At the most, 14.  There was also a lot of sexism thrown at us, which I really hope the author is actually bashing and will come up with a way to make all the "princesses are weak and princes must save them" messages into ones that empower girls and make them feel equal, as the way it was written felt like he was ridiculing these sexist ideals. But at the same time, ten year olds may not be able to differentiate between what the author was saying and what he was meaning. Or maybe I'm not giving the kids enough credit. Either way, I hope the second book clears out the foggy messages. Over all, this was a great story, but it was definitely one that I'm going to need to question a bit and see how my rating changes. But for now, 4!

 Happy reading!
~Kristy

Review: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publisher: Dial Books
Page Count:  563 pages, Paperback
Date Published: May 1st 2012
Find it on Goodreads: Bitterblue
Source: Purchased

Eight years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue, and her country, were saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and her land is at peace.
But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck's death, believe in a forward-thinking plan: to pardon all of those who committed terrible acts during Leck's reign; and to forget every dark event that ever happened. Monsea's past has become shrouded in mystery, and it's only when Bitterblue begins sneaking out of her castle - curious, disguised and alone - to walk the streets of her own city, that she begins to realise the truth. Her kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year long spell of a madman, and now their only chance to move forward is to revisit the past.
Whatever that past holds.
Two thieves, who have sworn only to steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, who possesses an unidentified Grace, may also hold a key to her heart . . .

Kristin Cashore is a powerhouse when it comes to writing intense, detailed fantastical stories with strong and dynamic characters that make one proud to be a woman. And that is exactly what Bitterblue did for me. Tying up Graceling, as well as Fire, Bitterblue  was the perfect conclusion to an epic series/companionship. 

 Kristin Cashore writes the types of books that I have always wanted to read. She doesn't conform to the stereotypical fantasy worlds where men rule all, women are weak, and everyone is white and heterosexual. NO. She writes about women who are strong but are still growing, women who are vulnerable and need to ask for help, women who take control of their own situations and don't allow their pasts to define them, WOMEN IN POLITICS WHO TOTALLY RULE AT IT. Cashore has POC protagonists, representation of the LGBTQ and disabled communities, people who struggle with their mental health, and she does not shy away from the subject of sex, contraception, babies (and the fact that not all women may want them). Bitterblue may not have been filled with as much action as Graceling or as much romance as Fire, but there was so much beautiful characterization, strong friendships, complicated relationships, parental issues, grief, and well... a freaking awesome librarian who is probably one of my all time favourite supporting characters. These books are ones that my bookish friends and I completely gush over anytime someone mentions anything about them and for good reason. The characters are ones that are easy to get attached to and the story is one that will keep you hooked from the moment you open the first page to the moment you close the last page. I regret not reading this series sooner and I urge everyone to read them as soon as possible.

Happy reading!

~Kristy

Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publisher: Dial Books
Page Count:  461 pages, Paperback
Date Published: October 5th 2009
Find it on Goodreads: Fire
Source: Purchased

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.
If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

I absolutely love the way Cashore writes. Her incredibly strong yet complex female characters are one of my favourite things about these books... Cashore is not one to conform to the stereotypical fantasy worlds where men are everything and women are nothing. First of all, there's the fact that she does not avoid mentions of sex and menstrual cycles and hormones, because even if it's a fantasy series, these are still women. Cashore's books contain incredible dynamic characters and I'm blown away at her story-telling skills. Fire was different from Graceling in that the title character was not the physical warrior that Katsa was, but a bewitching yet vulnerable creature who was haunted by her father and by the fact that her world saw her as just that: a creature. I loved Fire's story and her relationship with Brigan, as well as all the other characters. There's many friendships involved which is always nice to see, as well as a bit of heartbreak and sadness. Whether you're a longtime fan of fantasy or just in want of a book with female characters who have depth, I'd strongly recommend this series.

Happy reading!

~Kristy

Review: Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Page Count:  417 pages, Hardcover
Date Published: June 17th 2014
Find it on Goodreads: Ruin & Rising
Source: Purchased

The capital has fallen.
The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.
Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.
Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

Absolutely incredible. By far one of the best fantasy series out there, with a magnificent finale that had me grinning like a madman, almost in tears, and everything in between. I won't go into much detail, for all those who have yet to read the series or even just this last book, but what I will say is this: Leigh Bardugo does not disappoint. She is brilliant and writes with such a flawless execution of world building... does that even make sense? I don't know. What I do know is that these books have amazing imagery, the fantasy world is vivid, and the characters feel so real. Throughout so much of the book, I just wanted to reach into the pages of my book and give Mal a big hug, because he just made my heart hurt for him. And Alina is such a bad ass but she's also so conflicted over everything, it just... GAH. I loved all of the friendships between her and her team, as well as certain relationships that developed in this book... (GENYA!!!) 

Ruin & Rising was action packed and filled with heart-racing, blood-pumping scenes that kept me reading late into the night. Bardugo focused primarily on the action and plot in this book, instead of the characters, which probably worked for the best, because I don't think any of us could have handled say another gorgeous love interest, right? Speaking of the romance, I won't say much, in case you know my bias, but I was extremely happy with how that all ended. I mean, sure there was a certain thing that I was a bit sad about, but all in all, this was a series that I read to make me happy, to keep me smiling. And that is what it did. 

Okay, since I don't want to spoil anything from the other books, I will just stop here I guess, with me saying to things: One, thank you, Brad, for this incredible recommendation, this is definitely one of my new favourite series. Two, I strongly recommend this to anyone who hasn't read it yet. Everyone needs to read this series. Now.

Happy reading!

~Kristy

Review: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Author: Kat Zhang
Publisher: HarperCollins
Page Count:  352 pages, Hardcover
Date Published: September 18th 2012
Find it on Goodreads: What's Left of Me
Source: Purchased Second-Hand

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.

What's Left of Me is a novel with an incredibly interesting and unique concept that had me intrigued from the moment I heard about it. I was so excited that I had found it at a second hand store, in really good condition, so I started off super thrilled and ready for a great story! While that is what I got, I did find What's Left of Me to be a little bit slow. It took me a while to really get invested in the characters, but I don't know if that was because of the pacing, or because of the whole concept of two characters in one body. However, with that concept in mind, I found the relationship between Addie and Eva incredibly fascinating, their sisterly bond so unique (obviously, as they share a body) yet similar in other ways to those that I've read of before. They wanted to protect each other yet wanted space from each other and they hoped for different things and had to compromise. I really enjoyed reading about Addie and Eva and how they coped with the reality that is their universe and how they developed relationships with others around them. I'm excited to read the next book and find out what happens next! I'd definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, dystopia, or just books with really interesting concepts !

Happy reading!
~Kristy

TGIF: Catching Up on Game of Thrones (Guest Post)

 Hey guys! As many of you probably know, the hit HBO show Game of Thrones based on the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin is is starting up its fourth season on SUNDAY! I don't know about you, but I am super excited. And in that excitement, I was contacted by a fellow GoT fan, Spencer, who asked if he could recap the show for us here on the blog! So, for any of you who need a quick refresher before Sunday on what has been happening in the world of Westeros, read on and catch up!

(I feel like this shouldn't need to be said, but I'll say it anyway just in case: FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT SEEN GAME OF THRONES, THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN SEASON 3.)

Catching Up on Game of Thrones

The massively popular medieval fantasy drama Game of Thrones returns to HBO for its 4th season on April 6, and continuously gathering a fan base of male and female viewers over the first three seasons, the show may become the most watched series in cable history. The series is based on the five “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels (of which A Game of Thrones was the first) written by George R.R. Martin. The adventure, scheming and drama occur in the fictional realm of Westeros, with more than two dozen characters comprising a cast who representing various socio-economic classes ruled by noble families vying for control of the entire kingdom and the right to sit upon the infamous Iron Throne made of molten swords.

Here’s a look at what’s happened on Game of Thrones so far; beware if you haven’t caught up on past episodes, though (go stream them from HBO Go, Direct Ticket or rent the DVDs from Netflix now before its too late!) - big spoilers follow!

To the shock of millions of viewers, the third season climaxed with the horrific Red Wedding where two more members of the Stark family met their demise. However, another wedding also occurred this season, with the unexpected nuptials of Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister. The wedding takes place at the insistence of the Lannister patriarch Tywin, who also played a role in the deaths of Catelyn and Robb Stark during the Red Wedding. Though successfully spared the indignities and dangers of becoming wife to the twisted King Joffrey, Sansa must now contend with being married to the much older Tyrion and the news of the deaths of her family members.

Meanwhile young Arya Stark escaped the Lannister castle during season two, only to find herself in an uneasy alliance with the hulking (and hated) knight known as the Hound. Originally having plans to return to her home at Winterfell, she learns of the deaths of her mother and brother from the mockings of Frey soldiers and vows to exact revenge. However, for her protection, the Hound (whose real name is Sandor Clegane) renders her unconscious before fleeing the site of the Red Wedding, in order to spare the young would-be warrior from certain death.

Jon Snow, the illegitimate son of the late Ned Stark, endures capture and then befriends female warrior Ygritte and the Wildings as they make their way cross country in the ice and snow. Though initially vowing his devotion, Snow betrays Ygritte and the clan. He determines to return and rejoin the Night's Watch. The end of season 3 has him overcoming his physical challenges, arriving at Castle Black and reuniting with friends. The Wildlings are now fully in preparation for an attack on Westeros.

Following Catelyn Stark's orders, the imposing female knight Brienne of Tarth returns the despicable Jamie Lannister to his family at King's Landing. However, this does not happen before the two happen upon a group of ruthless cutthroats who pose a threat to them both, but especially to the female Brienne. In a rare act of gallantry, Jaime sacrifices himself and, most horrifying for him, loses his sword hand to protect her. Now that he is back home, season 4 will undoubtedly reveal whether or not the incestuous relationship between Jamie and his sister Cersei remains the same.

Also having eyes on the throne, fan favorite Danenerys Targaryen (an IMDB poll has her second only to Tyrion Lannister in popularity) now has an army in the form of the Yunkai warriors that she saved from a life of slavery. Equipped with ships and now the fearless soldiers, the “mother of dragons” will prove a powerful foe to the powers that be in season 4.


If you'd like to hear more from Spencer, follow his twitter!
          

Thanks so much Spencer, for that awesome recap! I'm SO excited for Sunday! 

Do any of you guys watch GoT? Read the books? What do you think of the series? Any predictions for next season? (If you haven't read the books already :P) Let me know!

Happy reading!
~Kristy

Review: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Author: George R. R. Martin

Publisher: Bantam Spectra

Page Count:  835 Pages, Paperback

Date Published: August 6th, 1996

Find it on Goodreads: A Game of Thrones

Source: Purchased

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.
The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

As a huge fan of the HBO show based on these novels, I was super excited to read them, yet nervous as well! They're huge and kind of daunting, but SO worth it.

One thing I heard about these books that turned people off from them was that there are a LOT of characters. The chapters alternate POVs between many characters throughout the world of GoT, but I guess because I know the characters from the show, I found it easier to follow along in my head. There were, of course, some points of confusion with a few of the characters, but for the most part I found it pretty easy to know who was who and where they were and what they were doing. I absolutely adore Tyrion Lannister, but I'm also biased because he's my favourite in the show, so it's hard not to love him... Then of course the Starks (and Jon!!!) and Daenerys... I just adore so many of these characters so much and cannot wait to see them grow (and most likely die -_-) in the future books. I know not to get too attached to anyone, but it's hard, reading about them instead of watching them and learning even more about these beloved characters and knowing their fate... I just...

I absolutely love the world George R.R. Martin has created.. It's filled with intriguing characters and a complex land filled with wonders and horrors that are so impressive. I love stories about kings and this is such an ultimate story of a fight for the throne. I find it fascinating, reading these epic fantasies that are so immense... The work that goes into them is insane and I appreciate every minute that any author puts into their work, so man oh man, my appreciation for this series is huge. I'm so excited to read on and meet new characters and see the lovely Sansa grow (she's one of my faves) and read more of Tyrion's amazing wit and insight. I will have tissues ready on hand for all the inevitable deaths and I'll try not to get too attached to anyone, even though it will be hard. And I will wait for the day that Joffrey dies a slow and painful death.  I mean....

One thing for sure, I haven't been able to get A Song of Ice and Fire out of my head. I cannot stop thinking about what will happen next in the book (I'm reading A Clash of Kings right now!) and I'm seriously SO EXCITED for season 4 to come out on April 6th... This story is constantly in my head and I hope everyone will take the time to even just try it out, whether it be the show or the books (I know they're huge, but they're worth it!!!). It's not for everyone, I know, but I most definitely love this story.

Happy reading!

~Kristy