Category: Reviews

Review: The End of Violet and Abby

Published on by Rachelle

Violet

  • Author: Scott Silver
  • Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I rarely ever read YA Paranormal books, but when I received the review request and read the synopsis, I was intrigued enough to give it a chance.  I’m glad I did!  The End of Violet and Abby isn’t your typical YA Paranormal read.  There is a romance, but neither of the two involved are the paranormal characters, and it’s also more in the background rather than being front and center in the plot.  As the title suggests, the story centers on the friendship between Violet and Abby.

What I really enjoyed about this book is that it feels like a tribute to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.  There’s lots of witty banter and geeky references, and on top of dealing with a teen-turned-demon, there’s plenty of high school drama to handle too.  There’s even a veiled reference to the show in the form of a fictional show that Violet and Abby stop everything they’re doing to watch together once a week.  While the fictional show doesn’t have anything to do with vampires, it does involve a group of teenagers trying to save the world from evil creatures, and they even have a British librarian to help them in learning how to destroy the baddies.

This was a great fun break from my usual reads.  I finished it in about half a day, and even ordered pizza so I wouldn’t have to stop reading to cook.  I recommend this to anyone who loves YA Paranormal books for other reasons than the romance, or those looking for a witty, light bit of brain candy.

Review: We Are the Birds of the Coming Storm

Published on by Rachelle

Layout 1

  • Author: Lola Lafon
  • ISBN: 9780857421890
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
  • Publisher: Seagull Books

I purchased this book, but I would like to thank the author for coming to the Central Texas Chapter AATF conference on Oct. 25th to speak with the attendees, and Dr. Moira DiMauro-Jackson for inviting me.  I wouldn’t have discovered Ms. Lafon’s book otherwise.

We Are the Birds of the Coming Storm is the English translation of the book from the original French.  I really wish my French was at a high enough level to read the original because I’m sure, as with all translations, something is always lost.  However, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book in any way.  It’s still a 5 star book, and that is also despite the fact that I prefer Fantasy over any other genre.

My reasons for loving this book are many, but I will stick to my top couple of reasons.  First of all, this being Literary Fiction, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me think.  I had to take my time with the story, with several breaks to sort out my feelings and thoughts.  Even though the story takes place in France, it deals with many social and political issues that are relevant to current events in the United States.  It is primarily a Feminist book, but in addition to dealing with issues of rape and mental illness, it also brings up issues of political upheaval, riots, racism, and immigration.  I didn’t necessarily agree with everything, particularly the violent political action, but I was still able to relate to the characters and understand their reasoning.

My second reason for loving the story is that it doesn’t provide any answers.  This isn’t a book of pat solutions to all the social issues.  It’s not preachy or condescending, and it doesn’t contain a single moment of misandry, blaming, or explaining away the issues.  The story simply presents them as they appear in the characters’ lives.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thought provoking literary fiction, or who is interested in or studying Women’s Studies or Feminism.  However, I do have to provide a trigger warning for victims of sexual assault since many of the narrator’s thoughts, memories, and emotions concerning rape often come up as flashbacks.

Classics Club: Villette

Published on by Rachelle

Villette1.52.qxd

Villette by Charlotte Brontë wasn’t the easiest book to read, and I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as Jane Eyre.  I liked it, but I frequently read several chapters while wondering where the story was going.  The first 3 chapters didn’t seem to be leading anywhere, especially since this is supposed to be the narrator’s story.  There was also a chapter towards the end in which she rambles on seemingly aimlessly about religion.  Many of the other characters annoyed me at one point or another throughout the book, and I think that’s why it took so long for me to read it.  I frequently put it aside to read other books after only a chapter because one of the characters, usually M. Paul or Ginevra Fanshawe, made me wish Lucy would let them have a piece of her mind.  I was able to relate to Lucy though, especially when she first arrives in London, and I was sincerely hoping that her story would end happily.  I wasn’t disappointed, but if anyone had asked me at anytime till well past the halfway point what I thought would bring about that happy ending, I wouldn’t have guessed correctly.

Review: Elora of Stone

Published on by Rachelle

Elora

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book.  Not only have I had a spate of not so good books lately, but this book came about from the author telling her children bedtime stories.  Because of that, I thought for sure this would be a new favorite.  What Fantasy fanatic doesn’t love a good fairytale type book that originated from a child’s beloved bedtime story?!  Unfortunately, as much as I tried, I just didn’t enjoy this book at all.  In fact, I only got about halfway through before I stopped trying to come up with excuses for it and gave up.

The problem is almost immediate.  This is meant to be a middle grade book.  However, the writing is so simplistic that it makes Disney movies seem profoundly complex.  It feels like it should be for a child just beginning to read, but there are some elements of the story that I would feel uncomfortable with a child that young reading about.  A younger child would take the events of the book, or at least most of them, at face value, but there is such a lack of explanation that I think a middle grade reader would be bored or annoyed with it.

At first, I was going to recommend this as the type of book that could be read to any younger child.  However, I think that parents should read the book first and then decide on whether or not it’s appropriate.

Review: Cold Hillside

Published on by Rachelle

Cold

  • Author: Nancy Baker
  • Publisher: ChiZine Publications
  • ISBN: 9781771483100

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Euskalans are a matriarchal society that must pay tribute to the Fey every year at a faire.  Teresine was a Deshiniva slave girl in Jayasita when she escapes by stowing away on the boat of the Euskalan’s ruler’s daughter, Sarit.  She becomes extremely close to the ruling family.  Teresine’s, and her family’s, story unfolds from there.

I can’t really say anything else about the story without giving too much away.  What I can say is that this isn’t an action story or even a quest narrative.  It’s simply the story of Teresine’s life and how her interactions with the Fey cause unforeseen consequences for her family.  The only thing that even makes this a Fantasy story is the inclusion of the Fey, though it is a different world with many vaguely Asian elements.  If anything, I found the combination interesting.  However, the story itself was a bit predictable, the main issue was too easily resolved in a very uncontroversial way despite the issue’s extreme controversy in reality, and the pacing was slow.  Also, I got the impression that the matriarchal society was “superior”.  Even though the Euskalans did seem to have a better life, especially compared to the life that Teresine lived while she was in Jayasita, the only power that the men seem to have is that they are able to choose their partners.  They don’t have any power within the government, and though the women’s choice of whether or not to have a family is an admirable aspect, I don’t agree that any form of society where the genders aren’t completely equal is superior.  The Euskalan society is just a reversal of gender roles with the added benefit of a lack of double standards in regards to sex and relationships.  It was believable, but not Feminist.

Because of this book’s emphasis on the women’s story, a female-centric part of a much larger world, and a plot that reads like a Lifetime movie, along with the fact that men don’t have much of a voice, I can only recommend it to those who prefer that type of story and/or brand of “Feminism”.

Review: Scrapplings

Published on by Rachelle

Scrapplings

  • Author: Amelia Smith
  • ISBN: 9781941334065
  • Publisher: Split Rock Books

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Darna is a servant who can see dragons and has dreams of going to Anamat.  When she finds out something that could ruin her plans, she runs away from Tiadun keep.  She befriends other “scrapplings” along the way and they discover that to survive in Anamat, they’ll have to beg, scavenge, and steal their way into enough beads to buy an apprenticeship.  Despite this rude awakening to a rough life involving street gangs and the risk of being thrown in jail, they all agree that it’s still better than where they came from.

The problem with this story is that nothing really happens.  At first it comes off as a sort of quest narrative, but after Darna and her new friends reach Anamat, the story meanders around seemingly with no point.  It eventually goes somewhere, but I began to get irritated with its lack of progress towards any kind of a climax or resolution at about the halfway mark.  It didn’t help that I absolutely despised one of the characters, Iola.  That would have been fine if she were one of the unsavory characters, but that wasn’t why I couldn’t stand her.  She wasn’t someone I loved to hate.  She was just so ridiculously naive and clueless about everything, and on top of that, her fanatical religious beliefs caused her to betray her friends.

One of the few elements that I enjoyed about this book is that the story is set in a very sexist world that also seems to treat its children as easily cast aside.  Unlike a couple other books I’ve read this year, though, the main character is a young girl who chooses to go against societal pressures to make her own way in the world and not just accept her “fate”.  The girls in this story have backgrounds and character traits and physical descriptions.  They’re not just decoration or plot points along the way.

Overall, I didn’t really like Scrapplings.  However, I didn’t hate it either.  I think it deserves a chance if you truly love Fantasy, especially Fantasy involving dragons, or if you’re tired of reading male-centric trope filled quest narratives.  This isn’t for you if you prefer fast(er) paced books, and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who is new to the Fantasy genre.

Review: The Paper Magician

Published on by Rachelle

Paper

  • Author: Charlie N. Holmberg
  • Publisher: 47 North
  • ISBN: 9781477823835
  • Genre: Fantasy

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ceony Twill wanted to be a Smelter, but she’s placed in a Paper apprenticeship with Magician Emery Thane instead.  Emery’s past comes back to literally rip his heart out, and it’s up to Ceony to save him.  Along the way she discovers more about Emery than anyone else knows, and that sometimes Paper is the strongest of the material magics.

I wasn’t sure about this one at first, but it grabbed me and didn’t let go.  The writing, pace, plot, and characters were perfect.  I don’t have a single negative thing to say about this book.  I had a difficult time putting it down to go to bed, and if it weren’t for the fact that I had an exam first thing in the morning, I would have finished it in one night instead of two. The book’s version of early 1900’s England comes alive, and I wanted to be there and become a paper magician.  This isn’t Harry Potter though, not even close.  In fact, it didn’t remind me of any other Fantasy story I’ve read.  On top of that, there are two events that occur towards the climax that made me gasp and cover my mouth in shock as well as cry.

Adding all of that up equals to The Paper Magician being one of the best Fantasy stories I’ve read this year, and quite possibly in my life.  I’m adding it to my “Through the Magic Door” list of all-time faves, and I recommend it for anyone who loves Fantasy in general, and especially for those who love Urban Fantasy.  I’m giving it all the stars!

Review: The Historian

Published on by Rachelle3 Comments

Historian

I found The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova at a used book sale.  One of the many student organizations on campus was raising money.  Usually all the books have already been picked over by the organization members (I don’t blame them.  I’d do it too!), but I guess no one thought this one was interesting because I got it for $2.  Not only did it end up being one of my new favorite vampire stories, but it’s a hardcover in near perfect condition with it’s original dust jacket.

My copy has 642 pages, and I savored every last one of them.  The story is told from the perspective of the narrator’s father, Paul, after she finds an old book in his library.  He explains how he received the book and the events that occurred involving the book, his adviser, Professor Rossi, and the narrator’s mother, Helen.  Several other characters come into play along the way, and one of the things I love about this book is that there isn’t a single unnecessary person, event, or detail.  The story requires all 642 pages.

Another major part of what makes this book so good is the setting descriptions.  I always felt like I was wherever the characters were, even though I haven’t been to the majority of the countries they travel through.  Also, this book might be the perfect one to read around this time of year because of the wonderful mouth watering food descriptions.  If you’re already planning on eating a lot of food over the holidays, you might as well save yourself a few calories later by reading the book now, because it will make you feel ravenously hungry.  It was a mistake for me to read it at night before I went to bed.  The following quote was a prediction, and should have been my warning:

“My stomach ached with pleasure and my father said ruefully that he’d have to diet again when we returned to our ordinary lives.”

For a vampire story, it’s very light on vampires.  There’s only one who occasionally shows up throughout most of the story, until the last 100 pages or so.  It’s definitely not a Horror book, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Gothic literature or a good Mystery/Thriller, even if you’re not a fan of vampires. I definitely recommend it to those who loved Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  Also, this website has pictures of many of the places throughout the book, in order by chapter, in case you’d like to supplement your armchair travels.

Review: Ennara and the Fallen Druid

Published on by Rachelle

Ennara

  • Author: Angela Myron
  • Publisher: Patchwork Press
  • ISBN: 9781927940082
  • Genre: Fantasy, Children’s

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Ennara was born with a caul and is considered to be good luck for sea voyages.  Because of this, she is at risk of being kidnapped and so hides the tattoo on her arm that marks her as a caul child.  She has also never been outside her village, Hogin, until the wizard Tork takes her on a mission to retrieve a special enchanted item so he can destroy the shadespawn, demon like creatures that hate light.

This is truly a Children’s Fantasy book.  It isn’t meant for all ages, but parents/adults will enjoy reading it to kids who haven’t learned to read yet, and while I won’t be reading the next book in the series, I’m sure most children will want to.  They’ll love the variety of characters and the fast paced excitement of Ennara’s, and her friends’, adventures.  The story reads a bit like a children’s version of a D&D game.  Ennara and her best friend Kithe stock up on supplies such as healing potions, they find armor, weapons, and other equipment along the way, and there’s even a fire elemental (My wide-eyed response: “Oh, no!  That can’t be good!”).  What keeps this from being an all-ages book are some of the events happening a little too conveniently, and the “boss fight” of the story, when they go against the Fallen Druid, is wrapped up too easily.  Also, there is a lesson of team work that reads a little too much like an 80’s after school special.

All in all, this is a 4 star book.  I greatly enjoyed most of it, and I would buy it for children ages 4-10.  It’s especially a good choice if you’re trying to encourage a child to read more, or if you’re tired of reading the same old stories every night at bedtime.

Review: Tears of a Heart

Published on by Rachelle

Tears

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kirin D’Velt, son of the Kovor (the village’s leader), goes through his coming of age tests, but as he’s returning from his final test, he finds a horrible scene of devastation and death.  The rest of the story involves his true coming of age as his experiences mold him into a man.

Aaaaand that’s pretty much it.  Oh, and there’s plenty of tropes, sexism, and the objectification of the very few women who show up along the way.  After the halfway point, the plot becomes ridiculously predictable, and Kirin (who takes on the name Aeden) turns into the generic male Fantasy character.  Sometimes the descriptions feel a bit repetitive, and lines that seem wise end up coming off as moralizing or, at the very least, trying too hard.  The story often feels like a rip off of real world history.  Most of Aeden’s time is spent at a monastery of a religion that is a copy of Medieval Christianity, and one of the monks, whose personality and statements are stereotypically Arab, is from a place that resembles South West Asia.  Towards the end of the story, they end up in this monk’s homeland, where it is obvious that the people hate the monks and their religion.  To top it all off, we don’t even find out the rest of Aeden’s story.  I don’t know if we’re not supposed to know, or if the author intends to write a sequel, but either way, the non-ending made me even more angry than I already was.  If there will be a sequel, I won’t be buying it.

I really thought this was going to be a great Fantasy story.  I wanted to like it.  I kept my eye out for anything good about it that I could write in this review so that it wouldn’t seem all bad.  Even with all the things I’ve mentioned, this isn’t the worst book I’ve read this year.  I tolerated it enough to finish it, but I definitely didn’t enjoy it.  The only people I can recommend Tears of a Heart to are those who absolutely love Fantasy and/or coming of age tales no matter how contrived or poorly written, or perhaps die-hard fans of Terry Goodkind who thought Stone of Tears was a great book.  Both titles include the word “tears”, and both are on my list of books that made me decide to not continue reading an author’s books.