Friday sucked

I bought this on Friday afternoon, desperately trying to find something to distract myself from the decision to let my furry old friend, Titchy, go.  My mother and aunt took her home with them - and to their lovely vet.  So, after bawling for about an hour, I pulled myself back together and went back to our small local shopping centre and picked up a copy of Nevernight (which I had eyed off earlier in the day).

Unfortunately I didn't, and still don't, really feel like picking up a book.  I've been binge watching multiple seasons of The Murdoch Mysteries, and snuggling up to my remaining furry buddies.  Will try to get to it after I move into my new house next month.  In the mean time I need to avoid all the spoiler reviews!

Also, isn't the cover art beautiful!  Love how the artwork wraps around the whole book.  Reminds me of the artwork of Kerby Rosanes (that gorgeous and quirky adult colouring book, Animorphia).

Let me know in the comments what you thought of Nevernight.  Did you enjoyed it, or perhaps not.  But please, no spoilers!

Thanks, and until next time...

 

Book Review || Saying Goodbye to Discworld

 

The Shepherd's Crown
Tiffany Aching #5 (Discworld #41)
Sir Terry Pratchett

Published: September, 2015

Random House, hardcover, 352p. (b&w ill.)
ISBN: 9780857534811

“We are all floating in the winds of time.  But your candle, Mistress Weatherwax, 

will flicker for some time before it goes out - a little reward for a life well lived.”

A Shivering Of Worlds.  Deep in the Chalk, something is stirring.  The owls and the foxes can sense it, and Tiffany Aching feels it in her boots.  An old enemy is gathering strength.  This is a time of endings and beginnings, old friends and new, a blurring of edges and a shifting of power.  Now Tiffany stands between the light and the dark, the good and the bad.  As the fairy horde prepares for invasion, Tiffany must summon all the witches to stand with her.  To protect the land.  Her land.  There will be a reckoning...

Ever since I heard of the death of Sir Terry Pratchett last year, I have been torn between wanting to read the final book in the Tiffany Aching series, and not wanting to read the final ever book of the Discworld.  But all good things must come to an end, and yesterday I picked up The Shepherd's Crown to say goodbye.

I enjoyed being back in the world of the Chalk, following Tiffany around as she struggles with the responsibilities left to her after the death of Granny Weatherwax.  The death of this character was totally out of the blue, but was strangely fitting under the circumstances - and it sets in motion the rest of the story.

Before we got to that though, there were two introductions, if you will.  First we got the backstory of the Shepherd's Crown, and then an interlude with a family that was quite out of the blue.

I wasn't quite sure where we were going when the author introduced us to Lord Swivel and his family.  Swivel was such a despot.  The way he treated his 3rd son as an unwanted, and unnecessary, burden... I just wanted to reach into the pages and punch him in the nose!  However, it did set the stage for a small plot that pays off at the end of the book - the chickens (keep that in mind) and the fateful fox hunt.  This is when the neglected son finds his courage to stand up to his father, leaving home and taking his pet with him - much to his father's fury.  This introduction of Geoffrey Swivel was an unexpected twist - and that goat, Mephistopheles!  What a character.  He's like a Feegle on four legs! Geoffrey is not the usual sort of character that one finds in the Chalk, but his unique type of magic plays an integral part in the upcoming fight against a well known foe - the Elves.

After the death of you know who (trying not to spoil you!), Tiffany is run off her broom.  Trying to be everywhere, and do everything herself.  She wants to do everything right, but has to learn when to delegate.  Not something she embraces in a hurry.  Roland is there once or twice, usually putting his foot in it, and we see more of Tiffany's family.  The Nac Mac Feegles are ever present as they try to help their 'big wee hag'.  Still love the Feegles.  They are so adorable, rough, loyal, and funny.   Oh, and there are plenty of quick cameo's by well known figures from the Discworld as news gets out about 'that death', and Tiffany.

Yes, life is changing on the Chalk.

I found reading The Shepherd's Crown to be a strangely sad experience.  It was funny in places, and yet there was the sense that the book was not quite finished.  There was so much more that could have been done with the story... all these little untied threads that now hang uselessly from the Discworld tapestry. 

Until next time,

 

Tuesday was a really good reading day

Usually I read one book, perhaps re-read another, depending on what my mood is like.  However on Tuesday I had a great reading day!  I received Dead Ice in the mail, and started that before lunch.  I powered through it in about 5 hours - perhaps 5½ hours - and was pleasantly surprised as to how much I enjoyed it after recent disappointments in the Anita Blake series.

Then I pulled Uprooted by Naomi Novik from my TBR shelves.  It took a little while to get into the swing of things, but I really enjoyed this book.  Would have loved to keep reading, especially with the ending we got.  Will have a review up soon.

As if that wasn't enough (I'd just read 1011 pages!), I decide to start on another book.  The City's Son by Tom Pollock.  This book has been on my TBR bookshelf for more than 6 months.  I don't know why I chose this book, but I'm so glad I did.  I enjoyed my romp through the bowels of London.  Fighting iron wolves and seeing the amazing characters that Pollock created out of the industrial landscape. My only problem was that I don't have books 2 or 3 in the trilogy.  I hate when that happens!

By the time I closed the book and turned off my light it was about 11pm.  I think my eyes were dragging on the ground - in the sand!  But it was worth it.

So on Tuesday I read a total of 3 books or 1468 pages!  That's longer than The Lord of the Rings!  Wow, very proud of myself {patting myself on the back}.

NOTE: I woke up the next morning and my eyes were so sore that I just sat and watched Penny Dreadful all afternoon.  Couldn't read a darn thing!  Fingers crossed that I can finally jump into my TBR shelves again ;-D

Until next time,

 

Book Review - Enchanted Ivy

Enchanted Ivy
Sarah Beth Durst

Published: 2010

McElderry Books, hardcover, 310p.
ISBN: 978-1-4169-8645-4

What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather.  When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her; she has been selected to take the top secret Legacy Test.  Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeston.  Sweet!

Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key.  But what is she looking for?  Where does she start?  As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard.  That's weird.  But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her.  He tells her that there are two Princetons - the ordinary one and a magical one - and the Key opens the gate between the worlds.  But there are more secrets that surround Lily.  Worse secrets.

When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life.  Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between worlds, with her family at its center.  In a place where knights slay mosters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage - and a little magic - to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

 

 

Enchanted Ivy is a quick, and uncomplicate YA book.  Firstly, the cover is very attractive (although it doesn't scream university setting) and the muted shades of grey and purple added to overall appeal of the cover.  Even the naked cover was quite attractive, and I loved the shimmery purple text used against the mottled grey and white paper on the spine (which was paired with a plum coloured cover.)  These colours are also mirrored on the dust jacket in the title.

On to the world building.  It is okay - for the limited settings - but could have been embellished more so one really had a sense of both Princetons.  The author seemed to focus more on the characters than their surroundings.  Except for the description at the end of the struggle Lily has with the dragon.

The characters were entertaining.  I enjoyed the relationship between Lily and her mother, who is losing her memories, as well as the relationship she has with her Grandfather. Very true to a multi-generational household. Tye is very mysterious, and the attraction between him and Lily is almost comically instantaneous - but this is a short book so I didn't expect a long courtship.  Jake, and his connection to Tye, was a real surprise.  I enjoyed his reactions to the 'other' world, however his loyalty to his twisted grandfather was very frustrating, but realistic.  Speaking of the grandfather, Mr Mayfair at first seems to be a nice old man, but as Lily gets drawn further into a magical war the gentle facade gives way to the zealot underneath.  Definitely a character I love to hate.

I did love the inclusion of all manner of magical creature.  The talking gargoyle reminds me of Sam from Shanna Swendson's MSI series (go read it, it's fantastic!).

There were only a few negative points, and the main one was the huge size of the text.  Seriously, it was like reading a large type book! Secondly, it got quite repetitive in places which bogged down the fast pace.  Also I found some of the plot devices to be quite predictable.  Corrupt leaders, betrayals, secrets and lies.  However these negatives didn't dampen my overall enjoyment of the book - and a younger reader may not even notice them?

This was my first Sarah Beth Durst book, and although it wasn't the best fantasy I've read, I'd like to try some more books by her as I found her style to be interesting.

Book Review - Illusions of Fate

Illusions of Fate
Kiersten White

Published: 9th September, 2014

HarperTeen, Hardcover, 275p.
ISBN: 978-0-06-213589-6

If I had stayed on the thoroughfare that day, not taken the alley, I would never have met him.  For some reason the though of never knowing him leaves me feeling restless and aching.

I sit, defeated, and shuffle the cards for the hundredth time.  I cut the deck, close my eyes, and draw a card at random.

FATE

I always draw fate.

What can I say?  I was so disappointed In Illusions of Fate that I just had to jump back onto the trusty laptop - it's now after 10pm - and put pen to paper so to speak, to decompress and let out just how disappointed in Illusions of Fate I am.

Okay, so a few minutes ago I uploaded this review on Goodreads:

I was really looking forward to this book, so when the postman dropped off a parcel from Book Depository I couldn't wait to dive in...

and instead of an amazing story I was left feeling very disappointed. There were a few redeeming qualities to this book - and the cover art is gorgeous - but not enough to make this live up to the hype that has been surrounding it.

I found the main characters annoying, stubborn and quite thoughtless and vain. For most of the book I just wanted to give Finn a really swift kick in the rear, and it pains me to say this, but my favourite character was the Crow that Jessamin finds herself befriending. What I read was only okay, but it had the potential to be so much more. Such a short book for the $15+ that I paid for the hardcover.

Oh, and a map would have been nice too!

I even begrudge this book the 2 hours it took to read it. There was so much potential here and all we got was a quick and predictable read. Jessamin, Finn, Eleanor, Kelen, Lord Downpike, Melei, Jacabo, and even Professor Miller - Jessamin's horrible father - are just one dimensional characters. They have no depth, and there is little to no character development. The ending was rushed. Jessamin, who has been hunted the whole book by our antagonist, finally confronts him yet the identity of the person she battles comes way out of left field! What the...?!! Then, when she is left to mourn what happened, it was over within a couple of pages. The ending was very abrupt and gave the reader no chance to get back on their feet after having the rug pulled out from under them in the previous chapter!

The few redeeming qualities, for me, were the use of Sir Bird - and his relationship with Jessamin - as well as the hints of political intrigue. However, once again it wasn't exploited as much as it could have been - and isn't that a shame.

For such a beautifully presented book - and the naked cover is also very striking - the contents didn't live up to expectations. I won't be recommending this book to anyone but a true YA Fantasy fan. And even then, borrow it from the library!

Until next time,

 

All booked out

 

After yesterday's massive read-a-thon I am all booked out.  I still can't believe that I managed to read all four of these books, but I did.  I started off with the first two books in the Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray (done by lunch), and then went off on a different tangent with Kelley Armstrong's new book Sea of Shadows - mixed feelings about this one - and then finally I spent late yesterday afternoon/evening reading The Diviners by Libba Bray - hmmm, I'm sensing a theme here ;-D - and really enjoyed it.  Unfortunately there is no book 2 in the series as yet so I can't continue on with Evie's story.

Today I'm just going to watch a dvd and flake out.  My eyes are still a bit strained, but it was worth it (all 4 books were due back to the library soon).  Will try to have the reviews up asap.  Must remember not to try this again for a while ;-D

Until next time,

2 Reviews - The Red Pyramid and Lord of the Changing Winds

I've got two books that I've finished over the last two days, and instead of giving an indepth review, I've decided to bundle them up and give you a quick rundown of what's what.

First off, is a book that has just been recommended to me time and time again as I watch YouTube reviews - and read other blogs - and that is . . .

Review - EON

Eon
Dragoneye Duology, Book 1
Alison Goodman

Pub:  2008

A&R, pbk, 430p.
ISBN: 978-0-7322-9011-5

Under the harsh regime of an ambitious master, candidate Eon is training to become a Dragoneye - a powerful lord able to master wind and water to protect the land. But Eon also harbours a desperate secret - Eon is, in fact, Eona, a young woman who has endured years of disguise as a boy for the chance to practise the Dragoneye's art. In a world where women are only hidden wives or servants, Eona's dangerous deception is punishable by death. 

Still in disguise, Eona's unprecedented talent thrusts her into the centre of a lethal struggle for the Imperial throne. Summoned by the Emperor to the opulent and teacherous court, Eona must learn to trust her power and find the strength to face a vicious enemy who would seize her magic and her life. 

Inspired by the rich myths and traditions of Ancient China, this is a fast-paced, exhilarating page-turner that shimmers with energy dragons, and dazzles with deadly intrigue and breathtaking swordplay.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave..."

After reading rave review after review, I pulled Eon from my TBR pile - where it has been languishing for about 2 months! - and decided to give it a go.  I went into this book with such high expectations that by the time I'd finished it a few hours later I was having a real struggle with the mixed feelings I'd had while reading this book.  Personally, I don't get all the fuss?  It's a good book, but not the mind-blowing amazing read that I'd been expecting after all the online hype.  Was I deceived... or is Eon just not my cup of tea?  That is indeed the question.

Secrets lie at the heart of this book.  Everyone is lying to all and sundry.  If it's not a secret identity, it's a secret agenda, and there is enough political maneuvering that Alison Goodman should go into politics herself!  If it wasn't for the fantasy setting you would have a great political intrigue on your hands.

What I liked about Eon was the interesting world building.  It is clear and concise.  You can see the environment in which Eona and the others are navigating in.  I loved the use of the dragons in this story.  Not powerful creatures to fight, but a necessary partnership for the good of all.  The characters are well developed and are easy to picture, and as every great book needs an antagonist that you just love to hate, Ms. Goodman has ticked all the boxes as Lord Ido is such a hateful, selfish, arrogant and powerful foe that you just can't wait for him to get his just desserts.

But for all the good elements, there were some things that I just either couldn't overlook, or put out of my mind.  I know that the use of the Sun drug was a necessary plot device, but I wasn't impressed with it's use - or the consequences of it misuse in some of the characters.  I'm also not a fan of physical violence against young characters, and was pretty much turned off by the use of such casual abuse by a majority of the characters in this story.   Even the Lord who trained Eona wasn't above slapping her around - all in the name of learning, of course - but it really pulled me out of the story.

So, here I am.  At the end of the review and I still can't tell you whether or not I really enjoyed this book.  I can understand why so many people have raved about it.  The secret between Eona and the Dragons is very special - and unexpected! - and overall the ideas and mythology included was interesting... but would I buy more books if it was a series?  No.  

Perhaps I'm outgrowing YA books after all.  An unusual story, but worth the read.

Review: Archon

Archon
The Books of Raziel, Book 1
Sabrina Benulis

Released: 05 Jan, 2012 (AUS)

HarperVoyager, Trade, 385p.
ISBN: 978-0-06-212817-1 (international edition)

Between Heaven & Hell, a battle for 

supremecy is about to begin...

For years, Angela Mathers has been plagued by visions of a supernatural being - an angel with beguiling eyes and magnificent wings sho haunts her thoughts and seduces her dreams.  Newly freed from a mental institution where she has been locked away for two years, Angela hopes that being accepted at the Vatican's exclusive university, the Westwood Academy, will bring her peace and a semblance of normality.

But Angela isn't normal.  With her stain of dark red hair and alabaster skil, she is a blood head - a freak, a monster, and the possible fulfillmentof a terrifying prophecy.  Blessed with strange, mystical powers, blood heads hold a special place in Luz, the remote island city that is home to the Academy.  Among them, one special blood head is more powerful than all: the Archon, the human reincarnation of the dead angel Raziel.  And when the Archon arises as foretold, it will control the supernatural universe.

I came across this book by accident yesterday when I happened to pass a discount store and they were having a 3 for $10 sale.  Now, I can't resist a book for a decent price, so I scoured through the tables of junk and found three possible gems.  Archon was my last discovery, but the cover was so beautiful that I just couldn't pass it up.  So with nothing on television last night,  I cracked open Archon, and from the first page, I was hooked.  Archon follows the struggle of Angela, the newest student at Westwood, who starts off as a more reserved girl, and the resident bitch queen Stephanie Walsh - head of the Pentacle Society - who lusts for power over the everyone at the University.

Review: The Goddess Test

The Goddess Test
A Goddess Test Novel, Book 1
Aimee Carter

Published: May 2011
Harlequin TEEN, paperback, 
ISBN: 978-0-373-21026-8
eISBN: 978-1-459-20169-9

File size: 364 KB

From the back cover...

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 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. 

I'll keep this short and sweet, but what can I say.  This is one YA book that I could have done without reading.  I'm not saying that it was a terrible book, but the story of Persephone and Hades has been done oh so many times that this version just didn't grab me.  I much preferred the P.C Cast 'Goddess Summoning' series version.   What do you know, I think I've finally outgrown YA books ;-P

So, unless you're a massive YA fan, or absolutely a slave to mythology in fiction, then I'd skip this particular series.

New Titles for Book Club

It's taken me two days to get enough oomph in my WI-FI coverage just to blog without constant issues.  However, I'm excited to say that the second meeting of the Fangtastic Fiction Book Club met at my local library last Friday, and we spent a fabulous morning just chatting about books - it was great!

We then had the enormous task of trying to decide what to read in June.  It took us a while, but in the end it was decided that we shall be reading... {drum roll if you please}

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

I am looking forward to E&E - I loved the Parasol Protectorate series! - but I am not too sure about The Goddess Test.  For some reason we ended up with two books that are firmly in the YA section, but apart from the odd fabulous book, I've pretty much outgrown YA.  Who knows?  Perhaps The Goddess Test will be one of those stunning reads?   The other odd coincidence is that both books are the first in a series - a hint for later reading materials, perhaps?

Wish me luck, and happy reading!

Review: The Dark Elite, Part 1

The Dark Elite, Part 1 (Firespell)
Chloe Neill

Published: 02 August 2011

New American Library, Paperback, 458 p.
ISBN: 978-0-451023588-6

In the hallowed halls of St. Sophia's School for Girls, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most mostrous things she'll have to face.  But in the first two novels of the Dark Elite, Lily discovers just how wrong she is...

 

Firespell

When Lily is sent away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, the only thing keeping her sane is her roommate Scout.  But Scout has secrets, and she often disappears in the middle of the night.  When a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs under the school and she's attacked by something that shouldn't exist outside a nightmare, Scout come to her rescue.  And she tells Lily the truth: She and her friends are fighting a secret war to protect Chicago against demons, vampires, and the corrupted magic users known as Reapers.

 

 

This is the first book in The Dark Elite series by Chloe Neill, and though I love her Chicagoland Vampire books I was a little hesitant about reading yet another YA series.  But, I've read so many good things about this series so I thought - what the heck? - and after reading Firespell last night I'm glad I bought it.

 

As with most paranormal YA fiction these days, you have a bunch of popular beautiful girls who rule the school.  They're mean and don't care who knows it.  On the other end of the scale you have the new girl who ends up becoming friends with a smart, quirky, but outcast girl.  And while the formula holds true for The Dark Elite, Chloe Neill has made it work for her.

 

Lily is a great character.  Smart and pretty, she is as curious as a cat about the new world in which she finds herself.  Scout is a smart and quirky goth girl who slips out at night, gone for hours, and returns without telling anyone what she's up to.  I love the banter between these two roommates, and when you add the nasty classmate Veronica to the mix, it's just YA gold.

 

Now, you can't have a YA series without a budding romance or two.  Enter Jason and Michael.  They're part of the reason Scout keeps slipping out, but not for the reason you think.  And while Michael and Scout seem to keep dancing around each other, Lily and Jason just seem to click.  However, Michael (and possibly Jason) seem to have attracted the attention of Veronica and Co.  This could get messy in the future ;-D

 

So, we've covered friends and enemies, plus a budding romance or two.  Now all that's left is the magic, so when Lily finds herself lost in the catacombs under the school she accidentally stumbles upon the reason Scout keeps sneaking out at night.  Caught in the crossfire, Lily pays the price for her adventure, and has now been drawn into the war with the Reapers.  To survive, Lily will have to learn to use her powers or else.

 

In the mail this week

I can't believe it's nearly the middle of August already.  I have been eagerly awaiting the new release from Ilona Andrews, and yesterday Gunmetal Magic arrived in the mail.  I started it as soon as I got back from the Post Office - it was great!  The bonus novella Magic Gifts was awesome.  I loved the ending, very much poetic justice :-)

The other book that arrived with Gunmetal Magic was Book 2 of the Spellcrackers.com series, The Cold Kiss of Death, by Suzanne McLeod.  I haven't started it yet, but it's on my to do list today.  However I'm still waiting for Celebrity in Death to arrive... perhaps the mail fairies are reading it first?

And finally, I managed to find Seraphina by Rachel Hartman at my local Big W.  I snapped it up, and it is sitting on my bedside table looking very tempting indeed with that gorgeous cover.

So that's what I received in the mail this week.  Hope you found something good to read as well.