Review: Juliet Marillier – Shadowfell

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Shadowfell
Juliet Marillier
Neryn has been fleeing Enforcers for most of her young life. After she is snapped up in a game of chance, she is given the opportunity to make her way to a safe place. Trusting no-one, she heads off on her own, but doesn’t know the way in the winter.
Neryn and Flint’s relationship is a tenuous one. Neryn doesn’t trust anyone, sensibly enough in her world. She tries to trust the un-canny folk, but in the beginning they aren’t that fond of her either.
This novel is mainly about the journey to Shadowfell (which often seems hopeless and too far away), and Neryn displaying the signs of the Caller before she can begin training. Although not particularly entrancing at the beginning, it did warm up.
This novel reminded me strongly of another set of books I enjoyed by Alison Croggon. The Books of Pellinor is also a journey and powers quartet.
In every novel of Marillier the background and landscape (as well as traditions), are strongly rooted in Celtic beginnings. If you’re fond of her other works, you’ll like this one too. If you (or your younger reader) aren’t ready for the Daughter of the Forest, this is a perfect starter into this world-type.
The magic system in this world is not particularly new. People are ‘canny’, and the fairy folk they see are ‘un-canny’. Although the tyrant king holds that these people are ‘smirtched’, and wants to kill them all off. I don’t quite understand this, as it was a prophesy that he would die at the hand of someone canny, yet he brings them closer to him if they suit his purposes. Then again, he is a tyrant.
I received this novel straight from Pan Macmillan for review. I would have bought it on my own however, as I love these sets of novels from this author.

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Review: Anna Frost – The Fox’s Mask (review and giveaway)

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The Fox’s Mask
Anna Frost
Akakiba is part of the Fox Clan of samurai. He can change into a fox – but he hasn’t told his apprentice yet. With dragons at stake and strange demon possessions going on, it’s important to be honest, and reduce the inevitable shocks. But Akakiba isn’t as contented with himself as he seems.
Nothing was dramatic with the love and affection through the novel. It was ok to love other people, and it was ok that foxes could change their gender. There wasn’t any huge fanfare about Akakiba and Yuki’s relationship, which appeared deeply, but confusingly, loving. I loved how being queer was treated normally – or so I thought. The novel highlighted an issue that’s rampant within the Queer community and is yet to receive widespread acceptance from the general public.
This is historical YA LGBT fiction, and I want to get my hands into more of it as soon as possible. In fact, the next time I have a book buying spree, I think I may need to purchase the second and third books in the trilogy. Or I might get lucky and the author will send me a review copy. Either way, I want them!
I had a couple of reservations at the beginning of the novel, as some of the text and dialogue didn’t sit right with me. I went into this novel dreading the end, because I didn’t know it was a trilogy and I couldn’t see how the action could possibly resolve. The action really was quite slow. There was quite a lot of traveling, which was fine with me, as I wanted to hear more about the countryside.
The thought of magic dying out was scary. It’s a new dread to have in a novel to me,  as most fantasy novels take magic for granted. More could have been done with it, but this novel was mainly about exposing Akakiba.
The Japanese words scattered throughout the text didn’t bother me, as I studied Japanese at school and remembered their meanings. They added a bit of interest to the text for the average reader I felt – more than just saying it’s set in Japan, the culture and language hold true as well.
I was requested by the author to read this novel, and participate in the tour. I haven’t toured a novel for a while, since my reading scedule doesn’t always allow me to finish novels in time. This one however was entracing enough that I devoured it in one gulp.
I’m lucky enough to have a giveaway associated with this novel (but don’t think that’s why I gave it a glowig review, I loved it!)

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Review: Andrew Hessel – Paw Prints in My Heart

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Paw Prints in My Heart
Andrew Hessel

Andrew has always lived with dogs. There is a special place in his heart, and other novels, for his dog Mac. When Mac died, Andrew felt the need to pen this novel, and it’s a feel-good one that animal lovers will understand.

The simple cover speaks volumes for simple, unadorned truth inside. A story of man, and his best friend. Mac is at home in Andrew’s heart, as well as the rest of the family.

I enjoyed the medical detail about what went wrong with Mac as a puppy, and the treatments to be offered. To me, Australian veterinary medicine is not nearly so advanced. If these options were offered, I’m not certain I could take them up. But Mac has a wonderful outcome, and a wonderful life.

Mac’s passing is difficult for the reader. Or at least, it had me feeling quite emotional. I’d connected to him, and his owner, and although you knew the end had to be near, you didn’t want to admit it.

I’m not certain I would purchase this as a paperback. The author did send me a copy, with some printing difficulties! Didn’t bother me though, I was more excited about the story inside. I’d recommend an ebook for this one.

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Review: Erik Therme – Mortom

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Mortom
Erik Therme
Andy Crowl has been left an inheritance. Rather than putting him ahead however, he’s stuck with his crazy cousin’s ideas of fun – a treasure hunt for an unknown treasure with higher stakes than he knows.
Andy and his puzzle solving skills were a delight to behold. The background story from him, in dribs and drabs was good. I could have seen more of that, but the story was plot driven. His sister Kate on the other hand, I just couldn’t love, and hated her against the strong male protagonist.
I’ve never lived in such a tiny town, and I wonder whether I’m missing something in the dynamics between the characters. Ah well. The secondary characters were sketched in to a point where I couldn’t understand their motivations, but I could understand Andy’s interactions with them.
The suspense of this novel worked well. At first you don’t know what you’re really playing for, then it suddenly hits you. All the little things you thought were unimportant suddenly come to the fore. The trail of clues was incredibly detailed and frustrating! I only wished I could have had more information about the outside clues so that I could feel superior if I worked out the clues first.

I really wasn’t satisfied with the ending. Andy hadn’t really done anything wrong, yet it seemed like he’d be stuck forever in Mortom for his stupid sister…

A decent read, and had me unable to put it down from around the middle. Recommended for those who like mysteries, but want something a bit outside the norm.

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Review: Sienna Wilder – The Arab Marilyn Monroe

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The Arab Marilyn Monroe
Sienna Wilder

18+ Review: Erotic Novel Review

Olivia doesn’t know that she’s a lesbian. She figured that she was just abnormal, and not interested in sex. Little does she know that the new lady friend she’s about to meet has a lot to offer her over her last partner.
Much as I wanted to love this novel, I simply couldn’t. The sex scenes were hot enough, but I wanted something more from the characters. Peter was a pushover, Fairuz was one-dimensional and Olivia had no idea what was happening to her. Or actually, she did, but she wasn’t willing to admit it.
It felt too short. The author said to me (when she requested this review), that this was being published separately from the main novel about these characters because she didn’t want to mix genres. One sexy hot sex scene, and it was over! I wanted more, if there could be more. For a week of being shacked up together, there could have been a little more on offer.
I’m not sure I can recommend this novel for audiences that are comfortable reading erotica on the internet. As a printed book of homosexual encounters, I think it is relatively unique, and a valuable addition to your bookshelf if you tend to reread this kind of thing. However, for me at least, I like variety in my diet! There are plenty of online resources that cover this kind of thing. I admire the author her audacity in bringing this out, and hope that she can expand it into a saga like Christian Grey’s (except a lot more realistic and accessible).
My current quest in this area is to find sexual fiction that doesn’t sound completely improbable or completely over-worded. Also, some crude language doesn’t do it for me at all. ‘Creamed her jeans’? Cringe. Not interested. Again, there was potential there.
I wished more had been made of the religious and political ideas behind this. It’s appropriate that this is set in Paris! And the language of the body is much more powerful than the spoken word. Both women use this to their advantage.
I think the last pure erotica novel I read and reviewed were the ‘Romantic Tales‘ episodes, of which I read three excerpts before giving up. That was 2 years ago now (amazing of itself) and I thought I was ready to give the genre another try. Shades of Grey is in the genre, although the author does have a go at giving a bit more storyline. Most erotica novels fail in that they don’t provide me with enough story – this one isn’t an exception.

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Review: M Anjelais – Breaking Butterflies

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Breaking Butterflies
M Anjelais
Sphinx has looked up to Cadence all her life, even as he alternatively praised and condemned her. Unexpectedly, he is dying. How could something so beautiful die? How could it work out like that?
Although this novel was told from the perspective of Sphinx, it wasn’t really about her. It was only what she could say about Cadence and for Cadence. This raw talent, formed because he can’t feel anything.
The insight shown by Sphinx into the disturbing life lead by this family away from home is at times surprising. Her flashes of brilliance when she looks at the paintings in the end, nothing short of astounding. Also the thing about having an art Gallery use Cadence’s work – and how it can only occur after everything has happened.

The imagery, symbolism and continuity of the eggs that Sphinx feels seems to be something that the author has taped on, in order to read forwards and backwards in time, linking across the generations. For me though, all that was needed was the strength of feeling between the two teenagers. The emotion felt by Sphinx is almost palpable, as is Cadence’s hostility.

This book was painful and raw to read. It reminded me a little of Looking for JJ, in that the topic tacked wasn’t comfortable or typical for a teen read. It made me uncomfortable for the rest of the day while I tried to process what I felt. I empathised with Cadence even as I hated him – just as Sphinx does.
I wasn’t that convinced by Sphinx’s conversations with her parents. Why were they ok with this? How could they still see him as a threat? He’s weak, dying. Surely Sphinx should have been better organized.
I’d love to see a sequel. How will Sphinx grow up? What is her purpose? How will she move past this? What will happen to Leigh? Will she move back to the US to be with her best friend? Are all the plans spoiled?
Although you felt sure that things would turn out ok, or as ok as they could be with someone dying, there was an edge that the author captured. You know something terrible could happen, might happen, will happen, but you can’t look away. Instead you keep desperately reading, hoping that something might save the day.
The statistic that 1 in 25 people is a psychopath is a disturbing one. Hell, that means that out of the people I work with, I must be the psychopath! Isn’t it the saying that if you’re looking for the drunkest person at the party, it’s you?
I received a copy from Scholastic. Slowly, they and I seem to be finding novels that I really enjoy reading and reviewing. This one was right up my alley.

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Review: Nicole Pouchet – Layla’s Gale

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Layla’s Gale
Nicole Pouchet
Layla has just landed what is almost a leading role in a paying job! But those erotic dreams she’s been having for months could be getting in the way of her responses to the director…
Layla seems like a bit of a wuss. For someone who knows how to act, she’s surprisingly see-though. She thinks she’s well put together, but her ex- seems like a real deadhead, and yet it took her a long time to get out of it. Is she just not very bright? She has to be, to remember scripts perhaps. I don’t know how to make it as an actress, but someone with more experience in the industry could perhaps reflect on the likelihood of this scenario.
This is a romance, yet at the same time, I felt like it was reaching, and not quite touching, to be something more. The myths throughout it could have been given more significance, even if the main players in the novel don’t believe in them. I wanted more substance, more linking to ‘history’.
The sex scenes in this did not ring true for me. You can only read about a ‘throbbing member’ a couple of times before it gets old. Other sex scenes have left me feeling like I’m being left out, these ones make me grateful I’m not in the novel. I usually expect more sex in a romance novel though, and I was glad there wasn’t too much.
I could have put down this book at any time in the first half, but started enjoying it more in the second half.  The forward motion that needed to be set in from the beginning only happened in the end. It was inevitable, as you could hear the story from both Layla and Sebastian’s perspectives, that they would end up both happy in their own ways.
I appreciated that the author took empaths and put them in situations where their emotive abilities would be useful and harmful at the same time. It’s strangely appropriate that they work in a theatre – where projecting emotions is normal.
The mystery with this novel held well to my scrutiny. I wasn’t able to guess with certainty who the ‘bad guys’ were, and I remained surprised at the ending.
I don’t know how I feel about reading the next novel in the series.  I don’t see how the 4 elementals coming together is essential to the world. Wouldn’t it be simpler if it just didn’t happen? The final scenes in this novel didn’t clear this up for me much either. Ah well, can’t have everything.
I received this novel from the author in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.

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Review: Cassandra Clare – City of Bones (Mortal Instruments)

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City of Bones (Mortal Instruments)
Cassandra Clare
Clary is normal, as far as she knows. She’s a typical 15 year old, albeit one who goes out to exciting bars like Pandemonium. Once there, she witnesses things that she had never seen before – and she can’t work out who are the bad guys, as her mother is taken away and her best friend is suddenly smitten with someone else.
I liked Clary. She was spunky, but still believable when she showed fear at other times. The typical teenage contrariness was there too, and she didn’t seem able to follow orders. Pretty hormonal and emotional at times too. Flawed, and so accessible. Not sure how young males are going to go with a novel like this one, but Clary’s good.
The ending was unbelievable. I couldn’t see it coming, even though I’m sure the hints were there. It’s weird about the attraction though. I hated how it left Jace exposed and uncomfortable though – I didn’t mind his sarcastic humour, and I hated to think how he had been treated.
This novel seems to set up that the Clave is a bad thing. Sure, it thinks it is promoting peace, but it seems like it’s doomed. They can’t even keep things safe, like the Mortal Cup! I guess, Hodge did make a mess of things, but at the same time…
When you’re reading, take nothing for granted. The people you think are enemies, the people you think are entirely trustworthy? They aren’t. People lie. The author has crafted something really masterful that reads well, and doesn’t allow the reader to get bored.
This seems to have become a cult novel. And possibly a film? Anyway, I didn’t have any preconceived notions going in to this anyway, never having read any reviews. I listened to this as an audio book, the only audio book I could find at the time. The reader was great, although sometimes I thought her male voices were a bit stupid. The breathy tones she used for Clary actually sat well with me. Sometimes Clary did seem a bit stupid.
Just as you think the novel must be ending (but you still have 6 CDs to listen to), another thing bounces out of the plot and demands to be read. I was lucky I had it in the car to read, or I never would have been able to put it down.

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Review: Ellen Wittlinger – Hard Love

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Hard Love
Ellen Wittlinger

John has protected himself by withdrawing, since his parents divorced. Marisol is protected behind her self-identity as a lesbian and a racial minority. They’re both pretty friendless, but John chooses to reach out, and Marisol responds in her own way.

I thought this novel had potential. I’ve loved other novels by Ellen Wittlinger, and I expected to love this one. I’m not sure I did though, and let me tell you why.
The ideas behind letting John explore his sexuality are nice. We’re pitting someone who has no idea whether he is attracted to anyone against someone who knows they are a lesbian. Combine with with some things that say that they aren’t really listening to each other, and you get trouble. Equally, even though he turns out to be hetero, he could have equally been asexual or something else on the continuum, and I would have been happy. Possibly happier. With a lesbian main character, you’re going to get less conservative people reading the novel, so why not go for it?
I hated Marisol sometimes. She seemed to me like an untouchable, distant, dictator. I particularly hated her at the end. It’s one thing to be from a small town, and not experience your sexuality, and another to have sex with the first Lesbians you meet, and head off with them into the dark!
I understood John only too well. After being injured by his parents’ divorce, he felt as if his whole world was shattering, and the only way he knew to cope was to not talk about anyway, not let anything out. His mother won’t touch him, which I find very symbolic. He tries not to feel anything about himself.
The zines that brought Marisol and John together made me feel like I was out of touch with young people. I can’t even imagine people doing that here. Where do they get the money from to print these things? It seems like an outdated blogging technique to me. I want to feel touched by the pages of zines that were interspersed throughout the rest of the text, but I just couldn’t get into it.
When I compare this novel to Eleanor and Park, it comes up lacking in terms of convincing, likeable, relatable characters. So much potential, and yet not as much as it promises.
I own the companion novel to this one. I’m not sure that I want to read it right now. Maybe in a couple of months, when the disappointment of this one has worn off.

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Review: Karelia Stetz-Waters – Forgive me if I’ve told you this before

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Forgive me if I’ve told you this before
Karelia Stetz-Waters

Triinu attends a boring old highschool, with what you would consider typical bullies and mean principals. But it’s more than that – Triinu is gay, and in an exceedingly conservative town, that means that pretty much everyone can get away with targeting her.

The beginning of this novel filled me with a little apprehension. I didn’t love the opening paragraphs, and didn’t immediately connect with the protagonist. A few pages in though, and I was hooked, not wanting to step away from my desk. I loved that Triinu developed as a character, entirely intertwined through the novel. There were no moments of uncertainty, where I wondered how the text had gotten to this point. This is marketed as a coming-of-age story, and I have to say it is.

The painful self-discovery of Triinu might seem unrealistic to other people, who realised they were gay early. But Triinu doesn’t have that option – she hardly knows what being gay means! She needs to find who she is (which she does, in a round about fashion that I recognised), and then come to terms with it.

It was interesting that the colleges she applied for were out of state. I understood why, but at the same time, it’s the total opposite of what people in Australia do. The demographics of these are interesting – and the fear of rejection that Triinu feels is going to be familiar with other readers.

I am not familiar with Oregon, USA, where this is set. I know nothing of the culture, or its history. It doesn’t matter very much though, because the personal issues Triinu undergoes happen every day around the world. Additionally, the author has set her novel and also filled the reader in on the details they need to know of the (real) world.

I made a very rare exception to my print-novel only rule for reviewing, and I’m glad I did. This little beauty is well worth reading, and is humbling, believable and touching all at the same time. If my review doesn’t convince you to go read it, go read it anyway. It won’t be a waste of your time.

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goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy5starReread Review Update 25-01-22: I reread this novel in pleasure. I now own a print version of it, and loved reading it. It felt almost like the first time again. I found myself wondering what Triinu was doing with her life now, that’s how real it felt to me.