Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. 

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . . 

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. 

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. 

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. 

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. 

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? 

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Release Date: September 10, 2013

I wasn’t sure if Rowell could top the brilliantly written and constructed Eleanor & Park, but when I was at BEA and St. Martin’s hosted Rainbow at their booth for signed copies of Fangirl, I couldn’t resist.  

See the pretty? 

Anyway, the novel is completely different than E & P in the sense that it is told from one point of view, it involves a large amount of geekiness (which I loved), and the main characters are all in college.

The pros to this novel having one point of view is that the reader is completely involved in Cath’s neuroses and we are forced to understand how scary it is for an introvert to move from a comfortable situation to a totally new college campus a few hours from home to live with a roommate that she doesn’t know while being seemingly abandoned by her twin sister.  Whew, that was a lot.  

The inclusion of a faux novel universe and the idea of fan fiction was definitely a new angle for young adult fiction, despite the fact that fan fiction is specifically written by fans for fans.  I really adore Rowell for writing about how important fan fiction really can be to massive fans of television shows, book series, and even movies.  I don’t know about you, but I 100% relate to the fact that Cath is a rabid Simon Snow fan.  As a huge Doctor Who fan myself, I find it wonderful that an author supports the writing and reading of fan fiction.  On the other hand, I really appreciate how Rowell depicts the struggle between writing and creating your own fictional world versus writing “within” an already constructed world.  

I also really enjoyed how organically the relationships developed between Cath and the secondary characters.  The unlikely friendship between Cath and Reagan, and the adorable and awkward relationship between Cath and Levi really helped spring Cath off the page and made her more realistic.  

In addition, I think that Cath and Wren’s relationship with their father was handled extremely well by Rowell, and I could really feel how hard it was for Cath to cope with her father’s mental illness and how it affected her behavior and her fear of getting out of her comfort zone.  

Things that didn’t work for me:  I really wanted some more closure in the mother situation and for Wren to be a bit less self centered, but I think that comes from my intense dislike of her due to what she did to Cath early on in the novel.  

Overall I really enjoyed this novel and I remain on the edge of my seat for the announcement of Rowell’s next novel and can only hope that I get an advanced copy for that one as well!

4.5 Bards

Book Review: Weather Witch by Shannon Delany

In a vastly different and darker Philadelphia of 1844, steam power has been repressed, war threatens from deep, dark waters, and one young lady of high social standing is expecting a surprise at her seventeenth birthday party–but certainly not the one she gets! 

Jordan Astraea, who has lived out all of her life in Philadelphia’s most exclusive neighborhood, is preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends, family and all the extravagance they might muster. The young man who is most often her dashing companion, Rowen Burchette, has told her a surprise awaits her and her best friend, Catrina Hollindale, wouldn’t miss this night for all the world! 

But storm clouds are gathering and threatening to do far more than dampen her party plans because someone in the Astraea household has committed the greatest of social sins by Harboring a Weather Witch.

The synopsis above is not what the back of the book said, and so I was somewhat confused as to what exactly this book was supposed to be about the first time I read the back. Come to find out it is set in the Nineteenth century and is another book in the ever popular steampunk genre. Just didn’t see that coming!

Anyway, the first thirty or so pages are very heavy on exposition.  This made the beginning a bit slow, but I promise that if you push through the information dump, the plot picks up quickly. 

Things that Worked: While the exposition slowed down the plot, it was very beneficial to the world building and the information comes in handy later.  Delaney’s writing is really descriptive and her word choice positively impeccable.  Believe me, you’ll feel as though you are riding in the uncomfortable, barred cage that carries Jordan across the countryside. 

Things that Didn’t Work: So. Many. Point of Views. While I appreciate the use of multiple POVs to tell the whole story, I really felt that the POVs switched too often and I found myself forgetting who’s POV I was supposed to be reading from.  This could just be a symptom of the Third Person Limited POV use, since it is harder to distinguish voice that way. I also found it a bit hard to believe that Bram wouldn’t have realized that his daughter was an “abomination.”  It is just so unlikely that he wouldn’t have seen the signs considering his expertise.  I can’t say more or it will give some of the plot away!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely look forward to the sequel. 

4 Bards.

Waiting on Wednesday

Every week Breaking the Spine hosts the bookish meme for book bloggers to share what books they are waiting on to be released!  This week I’m waiting on: 

Release Date: July 30, 2013

The first book in an exciting YA trilogy, this is the story of two best friends on the verge of a terrifying divide when they begin to encounter a cast of strange and mythical characters. 

Set against the lush, magical backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, two inseparable best friends who have grown up like sisters—the charismatic, mercurial, and beautiful Aurora and the devoted, soulful, watchful narrator—find their bond challenged for the first time ever when a mysterious and gifted musician named Jack comes between them. Suddenly, each girl must decide what matters most: friendship, or love. What both girls don’t know is that the stakes are even higher than either of them could have imagined. They’re not the only ones who have noticed Jack’s gift; his music has awakened an ancient evil—and a world both above and below which may not be mythical at all. The real and the mystical; the romantic and the heartbreaking all begin to swirl together, carrying the two on journey that is both enthralling and terrifying. 

And it’s up to the narrator to protect the people she loves—if she can.

Book Review: Mystic by Alyson Noel

When a mad prophet and his beautiful daughter arrive in Enchantment determined to destroy all the Richters by the end of the week, Daire knows she has to stop them.  Cade and her beloved Dace are so deeply connected that if one dies, the other will follow. 

But Dace has been missing for days, and his soul is in danger. 

Relying on the help of her friends, a Mystic with dubious motives, and powers she can’t always trust, Daire sets out to find Dace, restore his soul, and end this deadly new threat before the final countdown begins-all while keeping the Richters from claiming total world domination.  But will it prove enough to win the most important fight of her life? 

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Have you been following The Soul Seekers series?  You can always catch up by checking out my reviews of the previous two books, Fated and Echo. 

Okay, I was completely flabbergasted at the end of Echo, and I was at a loss as to how Noel could possibly top such a “complete” story with such a catastrophic ending.  

She proved me wrong in spades. Mystic opens in the upperworld, a part of the spirit world that hadn’t been described or visited in the previous two novels.  Daire doesn’t spend a whole lot of time there, and the reader is only exposed to a small portion of the world, but I think that in the case of the upperworld (a.k.a Heaven) less is more.  It leaves more to the imagination and keeps it wrapped in a shroud of mystery. Especially since the readers have been so exquisitely and intimately acquainted with the lowerworld. 

While Cade is still an evil presence in this novel, there is a more dire villain that Daire and Dace have to face upon the impending New Years celebration–and let me tell you, they creep me out much more than Cade and his band of demons. 

I really feel like Noel’s development of Daire and Dace really shines in this third installment.  Not only do readers get to see Daire grow more independent as a young woman, but we get to see her truly and officially stop fighting her destiny as a seeker.  Yes, a lot of her reasoning for abandoning any sort of rebellion was based on love, but not necessarily just her love for Dace–but the immense love that she feels for her grandmother and her family legacy. 

Dace grows as well, and we will finally see him not be the squeaky clean all “white energy” brother.  He does have a portion of darkness in him now, and it really balances out his character and makes me like him more since he is now more “real” in that he will have to fight the darkness in him like a lot of literary characters. 

The plot development is positively divine in Mystic, and I am more excited than ever for the finale in this series. Much like Echo, the plot is going, going, going like Speedy Gonzalez, and just around every plot twist is another mystery to be unraveled. 

If you haven’t started the Soul Seekers series, go pick up some copies now.  You won’t regret it, I promise!

4.5 Bards

Upcoming Release!

So excited to announce that on January 29, 2013…….Andrew Fukuda’s second book in The Hunt series, The Prey….is being released!

 

 

 

For Gene and the remaining humans—or hepers—death is just a heartbeat away. On the run and hunted by society, they must find a way to survive in The Vast… and avoid the hungry predators tracking them in the dark. But they’re not the only things following Gene. He’s haunted by the girl he left behind and his burgeoning feelings for Sissy, the human girl at his side.

When they discover a refuge of exiled humans living high in the mountains, Gene and his friends think they’re finally safe. Led by a group of intensely secretive elders, the civilisation begins to raise more questions than answers. A strict code of behaviour is the rule, harsh punishments are meted out, young men are nowhere to be found—and Gene begins to wonder if the world they’ve entered is just as evil as the one they left behind. As life at the refuge grows more perilous, he and Sissy only grow closer. In an increasingly violent world, all they have is each other… if they can only stay alive.

 

 



 

If you haven’t read the first book, The Hunt, check out the synopsis below, and if you have, be sure to pick up a copy of The Prey on Tuesday, January 29, 2013!

 

Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood. When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.

He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

Book Review: Fragile Darkness by Ellie James

How do you stop someone you can’t see?

For as long as she can remember, sixteen-year-old psychic Trinity Monsour has seen things before they happen. But now, in the wake of tragedy, her visions have gone dark. She can still feel, though, and the danger she senses swirling around a new friend sends her into the New Orleans party scene, where nothing is as it seems, surprises wait at every turn, and the last guy she wants to see is the one she needs the most: the mercurial Dylan Fourcade, part stranger, part friend, part so much more.

It’s the so much more that confuses her. How can she be drawn to someone she barely knows?

But whether she wants him there or not, he’s by her side, shadowing her every step of the way, until the darkness clears, and a shocking truth emerges—a truth that changes everything.

After the emotional rollar coaster (I can only cringe at that phrase now) of Broken Illusions, I wasn’t expecting James to be able to top such a well constructed and intricate storyline… she proved me wrong. 

 

Fragile Darkness picks up a few weeks after the tragic end of Broken Illusions and the death of a major character, with Trinity unable to cope with the death of her friend. (I’m trying to keep from saying the characters name so I won’t ruin anything for you if you haven’t read the first two novels yet.) Dylan has been MIA, Aunt Sara has pulled away, and Trinity hasn’t been able to dream. 

 

I think that this book is arguably my favorite of the series, because it involved much more information about Dylan–who he is, his past with Trinity, and we finally learn some small details about his life.  Although, every time the characters mentioned that the Navajo was strong with him, I kept thinking of Star Wars: “The force is strong with this one.”

 

I’ve been able to relate to Trinity since the first novel, but she became much more than just a character in this novel, she seemed to become my friend.  I sympathized with her pain and confusion, and wished genuinely for her happiness (Dylan. *swoon*)

 

I get the feeling that Trinity’s story isn’t over, as James left many loose ends that could lead to a fourth novel (PLEASE? I don’t want to leave Trinity and Dylan behind yet!) and explore the power of the newly introduced character, Will. 

 

Overall, the Midnight Dragonfly series has become one of my favorites and I will wait eagerly for an announcement that the series will continue past this third installment.

 

If you haven’t read this series, I recommend you pick it up and start it as soon as possible.  If you have…then get ready for a great read.

 

4.5 Bards

 

 

Book Review: Echo by Alyson Noel

Daire Santos just saved her grandmother’s life—and her soul. But at a cost. The Richters, a dark family of sorcerers, have been let loose in the Lowerworld, and Daire and her boyfriend, Dace, must once again work together to find them before they upset the balance between good and evil, and destroy not only their small town in New Mexico, but the entire world.

As Daire and Dace’s relationship deepens, Dace’s evil brother Cade grows stronger than ever, building his power and forcing Daire to confront the horrifying prophecy that has brought them all together. One that will leave Daire no choice but to claim her true destiny as Seeker, but only by making an unthinkable sacrifice for the greater good of all

Release Date: November 13, 2012

First thing I noticed about this novel was the looming synopsis.  Not going to lie, I went in assuming that this novel was going to be the rise of darkness (a la The Empire Strikes Back) and the break down of our heroes. Boy, was I right.

Picking up not too long after the events of Fated, Echo starts off with a bang considering our heroes, Daire and Dace, are still finding the underworld to be rotting away with the disappearance of Cade.

Noel included a point of view split in Echo that differed from the straight foward first person Daire POV of Fated, and the chapters tended to rotate between Daire and Dace.  While I did enjoy getting inside of Dace’s mind some, I can say that sometimes the voices of the two blended together and I had to double check at the beginning of the chapter in order to decipher which “I” was speaking.  Toward the end, Noel also includes the point of view of certain secondary characters like Paloma, and the newly introduced character Phyre (pronounced Fire)…which lends some interesting insight into the ambiguous ending and what could possibly be in store for the third installment, Mystic.

If some of you thought that Fated was a little slow on the uptake, then you will be satisfied by the speed of the plot in Echo.  It starts and seemingly never stops. Not only do we learn more about the upperworld, the lowerworld, and how it is all connected, but we get to see how Cade’s plans effect the spirit animals as well. 

The ending really leaves a lot of things open for interpretation, and left me with my mouth wide open in shock. What happens you ask? Go pick up a copy of Echo and check it out!

Then come back here and discuss with me! I need to debate possibilities with people!

Overall I am still really invested in what is happening to these characters, so I am giving Echo 4 Bards.

Book Review: Broken Illusions by Ellie James

It’s Mardi Gras, but for 16 year-old psychic Trinity Monsour this is no time for celebration. Another girl is missing. Haunted by visions she doesn’t understand—of an empty street lined by crumbling old buildings, a terrified voice warning her to be careful, and a body lying motionless in the grass—Trinity embarks upon a dark odyssey she could never have imagined. She’ll stop at nothing to better understand her abilities, convinced that doing so is the only way she can make sure the terrifying images she sees never actually happen.

But it seems everyone wants to stop her. Her aunt is worried Trinity might discover secrets best left in the past. Her best friend, Victoria, is afraid Trinity is slipping away, her boyfriend, Chase, fears she’s taking too many chances, and the lead detective will barely let her out of his sight. Only one person stands by her side, and in doing so, he slips deeper and deeper into her heart—and her dreams—blurring the lines of reality and illusion. When the dust settles, one of them will be dead.

I was lucky enough to have a copy of this novel on hand as soon as I finished Shattered Dreams, because I immediately had to know what was happening to Trinity, Chase, Dylan, and Jessica. 

Broken Illusions is a novel to be read and enjoyed in depth, not just at face value.  There are a number of references and clues to the outcome of the novel that I would not have noticed had I not re-read some passsages.  I will say that James creates a complicated web of a narrative, and if you aren’t careful you might just lose your place.  I should know, it happened to me a few times, but after flipping back a page or two, I was able to grasp what I had missed.

This novel picks up not long after the end of Shattered Dreams, and we learn that Jessica is attempting to recover, that Chase spends time with her, and that it makes Trinity a little uncomfortable. As soon as one of her mother’s former friends goes missing, Trinity begins to connect with her and the chase begins.

James did an extraordinary job of leading me off the path of the perpetraitor and I was absolutely convinced that it was someone completely different than it was.  Trinity and the rest of the gang were equally as fooled.

As with the first novel, my only complaint about the narrative is some of the references to popular culture.  Why? Well, I feel that novels should be able to withstand the test of time so generations after ours can continue to read them.  References to popular culture can only bog down the narrative and cause future readers to not be able to appreciate the hilarity or cleverness of the reference.

I really loved how James incorporated Dylan in this novel, since we barely see him in the first installment.  I can’t help but say that I adore him and hope he sticks around. 

Excellent read and amazing narrative.

4.5 Bards

Book Review: Capital Girls by Ella Monroe

CAPITAL GIRLS by Ella Monroe is the first book in a glitzy, fast-paced, fabulous new young adult series set against the backdrop of Washington, D.C. In it, we meet four young women, best friends forever, who must navigate life as the children of some of the most powerful people in the nation. With that life comes not only awesome vacations, beautiful clothes and A-list parties, but also scandal, heartache, danger and the ever-present paparazzi who seem to have a knack for catching them when they’re up to something bad!

It may have taken me a bit to get into the story of Capital Girls, because I almost couldn’t feel sympathetic or even empathetic for these characters.  However, as the story progressed I did become more involved and I actually cared what happened to these seemingly stuck up and superficial girls.

Jackie, who was the main narrator and focal point of this novel, grew on me more than I expected.  She was witty and very accessable when she was dealing with the death of her best friend and the fact that her and her boyfriend (who happens to be the President’s son, by the way) are growing apart. 

As a southern girl, and a former cotillion attendee, I found myself really loathing Laura Beth and her mother.  Unfortunately I felt that Laura was constructed of the basest stereotypes of southern belles and the worries of being a “society girl” which should be the least of her problems when she manages to be mislead and made to be the fool at almost every turn. 

Lettie, obviously, was my favorite because she was the obvious underdog who was working hard to move up in society and has the brains to prove it. She was much more street smart, but still felt a little on the naive side.  Honestly, I would read the next book, Secrets and Lies, purely to find out what happens to Lettie and hope that she succeeds.

Whitney, the last of the living girls, really just felt like she was written to be a flat villian…but I couldn’t help but sympathize with her when we kept hearing about how she felt used and abandoned by her mother. 

Overall, I would say that I enjoyed this book once I got into it…so if you pick up a copy be sure to try and make it past the first few chapters.  It will pick up.  I recommend this to fans of the Gossip Girl series or even the A-List books.

I am giving this book 3.5 Bards, because I know it is just setting up the characters for more intense drama in the books to come…and I know I will be reading them.

Book Review: Shattered Dreams by Ellie James

Sixteen-year-old Trinity Monsour wants nothing more than to live a normal life. But that isn’t as easy as it seems. Trinity is different. She is special. She sees visions, and for those she’s seen, it’s already too late.

Trinity arrives on her aunt’s doorstep in New Orleans with virtually no knowledge of her mysterious heritage. She begins settling into life at a new school and even starts making friends. But all too quickly her dreams accelerate; twisted, terrifying visions of a girl locked in a dark room. And when the head cheerleader, Jessica, goes missing, Trinity knows she has no choice but to step forward with what she’s seen.

But people believe that Trinity has information about Jessica’s disappearance not because of a dream, but because she is involved. She is kind-of dating Jessica’s ex-boyfriend, Chase, and Jessica did pull a nasty prank on Trinity. Revenge seems like the likeliest scenario.

Nothing prepares Trinity for the dark odyssey that ensues while searching for Jessica, including the surprising romance she finds with Chase, or the shocking truths she learns, not just about the girl who has gone missing, but the past that has been hidden from her. 

Wow. That is the first thought that came to my mind as I turned the final page of Shattered Dreams.  I wasn’t expecting this story to take my breath away and put me on the edge of my seat as it did.  How did I not find this book sooner?

The story takes place in a recuperating New Orleans a few years after the destruction of Katrina (and the events still haunt a few of the main characters) with Trinity who has just moved there in the wake of her grandmother’s death.  It doesn’t take long for Trinity to get the attention of the cute quarterback and his vengeful girlfriend.  Lo and behold, Jessica (the vengeful girlfriend) takes Trinity and a group of her friends to an abandoned “haunted” house.  They pull a killer prank on Trinity, and then two days later Jessica goes missing.

Trinity isn’t a normal teenager, however. She dreams of things that are yet to come.  She is in touch with the spirit of Jessica while she is missing. Such an interesting concept: the ability to see something bad and have to interpret it and be able to help prevent or solve the problem.

Along the way the readers learn more about Chase, the boy that caused Jessica’s need for revenge, and more importantly: Trinity.

I applaud James for being able to incorporate the storytelling and explanation of Trinity’s abilities through Trinity learning for the first time for herself. Brilliant. The story is addicting, the characters are extremely realistic, and the mystery and paranormal elements are breathtaking.

I hate myself for not finding James’ series sooner. Go pick up a copy now!

5 Bards.