Review: Melissa Wright – Molly

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Molly
Melissa Wright

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Molly’. This is actually the third post in a series of four reviews of this series.

Molly wants to believe she is special, but she’s part of an army of breeders…

The official blurb:

Molly dreamed her whole life of living in a world of magic… until the day she walked into one. This short story falls between The Frey Saga Book Two: Pieces of Eight and the third book, which is scheduled to release late 2012.

My review:

This little novella was hardly long enough to qualify for a review, but I promised 4 posts, so here’s number 3. I actually quite liked this little story, and it was pleasant to hear some someone other than Frey for a bit.

The gradual idea/picture that is being built here is that half-breeds are more powerful, but that they kill their parents in some way – usually by accident. Molly’s half-breed son should be more powerful than Frey, but it’s hard to tell.

This short story raised more questions than it answers in my opinion. Which is good if you’re trying to draw your readers on for more. I think it’s more polished than the first two books, and I have hopes for the third novel to be more exciting again.

Find it on:
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Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

November 5 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
November 6 – My Daily Obsession – Review
November 7 – Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
November 8 – The Cozy Dragon – Review
November 9 – Book Nerd – Review/Guest Post
November 12 – Bound By Words – Review/Interview
November 15 – My Cozie Corner – Review
November 17 – My Reading Addiction – Review
November 18 – Reviewing Shelf – Review/Guest Post

Review: Melissa Wright – Pieces of Eight

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Pieces of Eight

Melissa Wright

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Pieces of Eight’. This is actually the second post in a series of (hopefully) four reviews of this series.

Frey is still an outcast. Struggling to regain memories and being assaulted with blackouts here and there, she can’t hope to help in the fight against the council members that bound her.

The official blurb:

After revealing her own dark past, Frey is forced to join with a group of strangers whose pasts seem to intertwine with her own. She struggles to regain her memories, her full power, only to find there is more danger on the other side. And now, there is no turning back.

My review:

It felt like nothing happened in this novel for the first 40% or so. They journeyed out, it got too dangerous, and they returned to the castle. Much of this novel’s plot is in the character development, and the rediscovery of Frey’s memories. The final moments, just as in the first book in this series (see yesterday’s post for a review), are the most thrilling.

The quick plot point of Molly seems relevant because of the ‘next’ book in this series, simply titled ‘Molly. It’s one of those 2.5 instalments which I’ve never really had much to do with before. Hopefully it’s a good one.

Something I would have liked to see a bit more of would be some foreshadowing. The reader finds things out at the same pace that Frey does, and I would have liked to have a bit more over Frey. The journal is a good thing, but I feel like including that just for the reader in the beginning, then letting Frey find out slowly would have provided more suspense.

The character development of Frey and even Fannie is good. I did like Frey, even if she didn’t seem very bright at times. It was slightly frustrating that she didn’t want to train. She needed to be able to protect herself! But then again, I’m not sure I would want to train with Ruby either.

The PDF form of this novel was so much better than the one previously. The print was large enough for me to read comfortably and I didn’t squint.

I’d recommend this for teens, as I don’t think it has enough depth for adults. A decent enough fantasy I suppose. Take it or leave it either way in my opinion.

Find it on:
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Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

November 5 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
November 6 – My Daily Obsession – Review
November 7 – Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
November 8 – The Cozy Dragon – Review
November 9 – Book Nerd – Review/Guest Post
November 12 – Bound By Words – Review/Interview
November 15 – My Cozie Corner – Review
November 17 – My Reading Addiction – Review
November 18 – Reviewing Shelf – Review/Guest Post

Review: Melissa Wright – Frey

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Frey
Melissa Wright

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Frey’. This is actually the first post in a series of (hopefully) four reviews of this series.

Frey is a failure. She’s clumsy, she can’t do magic, and then when she does work out how to do it she ends up killing animals and plants with a touch. Her new group of friends seems like they will help her, but who is really protecting them?

The official blurb:

Unaware she’s been bound from using magic, Frey leads a small, miserable life in the village where she’s sent after the death of her mother. But a tiny spark starts a fury of changes and she finds hersef running from everything she’s ever known.

Hunted by council for practicing dark magic, she is certain she’s been wrongfully accused. She flees, and is forced to rely on strangers for protection. But the farther she strays from home, the more her magic and forgotten memories return and she begins to suspect all is not as it seems.

My review:

I wasn’t really sure where the tale of Frey was going, but there was a theme of ‘the journey’ nonetheless. I didn’t really feel Frey’s character until later in the novel, and then I felt she wasn’t all that bright.

The ending was a real revelation, and well worth reading the rest of the novel for. Having now had a sneak peek at the second book (Pieces of Eight – review tomorrow), I can see how it links in nicely.

There weren’t very many plot points, and the things that seemed like big things often weren’t, and there was more than you would have thought to others. I’d probably say this novel is aimed at teenagers, although there are some hints of romance.
The thing I liked most about this novel was the new world. I felt the journey  and I loved the displays of magic that were in the middle of the novel. I would have liked to know more about Frey’s hair colour change too!
The romance was a little transparent for me. But then, Frey has lost so much, she doesn’t even know where to start looking for everything. How can she be expected to know her own mind? She didn’t seem very old, yet, she must be.
I think I may have been slightly prejudiced against this novel, simply because it was in a PDF form, and the print was tiny, really really tiny, on my Kobo eReader. Yes, it was only 97 pages, but those print pages were small! I also got my review copies a little late, and I still haven’t finished reading the one for the book actually on tour *gulp*.

Find it on:
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Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

November 5 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
November 6 – My Daily Obsession – Review
November 7 – Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
November 8 – The Cozy Dragon – Review
November 9 – Book Nerd – Review/Guest Post
November 12 – Bound By Words – Review/Interview
November 15 – My Cozie Corner – Review
November 17 – My Reading Addiction – Review
November 18 – Reviewing Shelf – Review/Guest Post

Review: S.M. Boyce – Treason

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Treason
S.M. Boyce

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Treason’. See yesterday’s post for my review of ‘Lichgates’, the first book in the series.

Kara is just coming into her powers as keeper of the Grimoire. In order to save the one she loves, she has to make hard choices and compromise her beliefs – but will it be enough after-all?

The official blurb:

Ourea has always been a deadly place. The lichgates tying the hidden world to Earth keep its creatures at bay—for now.

Kara Magari ignited a war when she stumbled into Ourea and found the Grimoire: a powerful artifact filled with secrets. To protect the one person she has left, she strikes a deal that goes against everything she believes in. But things don’t go as planned.

Braeden Drakonin can no longer run from who—and what—he is. He has to face the facts. He’s a prince. He’s a murderer. He’s a wanted man. And after a betrayal that leaves him heartbroken, he’s out for blood.

To survive, both Kara and Braeden must become the evil each has grown to hate.

My review:

I had high expectations for this book, and it met all of them. All of the action and romance and awesomeness that was in the first book of this series was present here as well, and I was really gripped.

 15764039Kara matures in this novel quite a bit. Her love interest, Braeden, also have to come to terms with what he is. It seems that as their characters progress, all the other Bloods are deteriorating into madness or some other such idiocracy.

I didn’t see Kara’s family history coming at all. The bit of foreshadowing that was included in ‘Lichgates’ for this I’d almost forgotten about, but then rediscovered that nibbly bit in my mind. Poor Kara, it seems like she’ll never have peace.

The title of ‘Treason’ is very fitting. There are so many kinds of treason and betrayal going on, it’s hard to pick which is my favourite. Am I allowed to have favourite betrayals? I’m sure that a rereading of this novel wouldn’t do any hard, as I’m sure I could pick more up from it.

I would have liked to see a bit more of the muses, and I felt that part was left pretty open. I can’t say too much, or I’ll give away all the surprises, but Adele wasn’t exactly thinking rationally about that I can tell.

There are definitely some deeper themes in this novel. The original Vagabond suffered and died, and he couldn’t keep his love safe, so he wants Kara to do the same. It’s entirely unreasonable of him. Kara gets the chance to choose life again, and of course, she needs something big to come back for. But for her, it’s not uniting the yakona who she never had a blood link to, it’s about peace.

The same thing that bugged me about the first one that I forgot to mention was Kara’s relationship with Twin. I didn’t really see very much development, except the tiara episode, because Kara is away so much. Maybe I missed something? You should get your hands on a copy of this trilogy and tell me if I did!

I actually have applied to get the ARC of this trilogy, which doesn’t come out until Fall next year. I think that means October for me, since that will be our spring. It’s far too long to wait in my opinion! If you don’t have copies of these books, get your hands on them immediately and read them. Or, if you can’t stand the suspense of reading them but not having the third book, buy them anyway and keep them for then.

Adults and teenagers alike would enjoy this novel. There are no sex scenes, basically no bad language, and only positive depictions of making hard life decisions the right way. Five stars from me.

Find it on:
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About the Author

S. M. Boyce writes fantasy and paranormal fiction. Boyce is a sarcastic twit, but she still has friends because some people seem to like that. She’s currently working on the YA epic fantasy series the Grimoire Trilogy. Lichgates, the first in the series, is already available. Treason (book 2) releases October 27. Feel free to connect with her online or check out her blog.

You can find her at:

Website
Twitter: @theSMBoyce
Facebook
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Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

November 1 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
November 2 – Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
November 3 – Book an Appointment With Wisdom Books – Review/Guest Post
November 4 – Cozy Dragon – Review
November 6 – Overflowing Bookshelves – Review/Interview
November 7 –  Lizzy’s Dark Fiction – Review/Guest Post
November 9 – Hooked in a Book – Review/Interview
November 10 – Book Lovers Paradise – Review/Guest Post
November 11 – Spews of my Views – Review
November 13 – Bookishly Devoted – Review
November 14 – Book Nerd – Review/Guest Post
November 15 – Ashley’s Bookshelf – Review
November 16 – My Reading Addiction – Review
November 18 – Emily Ward – Review/Interview
November 20 – My Cozie Corner – Review
November 21 – Read a Holicz – Review
November 23 – Inside BJ’s Head – Review/Guest Post
November 24 – My Daily Obsession – Review

Review: S.M. Boyce – Lichgates

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Lichgates
S.M. Boyce

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Lichgates’. (Technically, the tour is for the second book, and the review of that will go live tomorrow).

Kara loves hiking and nature. Little does she know that she’s suddenly going to get a lot more intimate with blood (green, back and red varieties) and various trees, dirt and watersources. It’s all because she has found the Grimoire. To top things off, she’s now being used as currency between the various yakona tribes.

The official blurb:

The Grimoire turns its own pages and can answer any question asked of it…and Kara Magari is its next target. 

Kara has no idea what she’s getting herself into when she stumbles across the old book while hiking along a hidden trail. Once she opens it, she’s thrown into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying beings that all want the Grimoire’s secrets. Everyone in this new world is trying to find her, and most of them want to control the new-found power the Grimoire bestows upon her. 

Braeden Drakonin grew up in Ourea, and all he’s ever known in life is lying. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. He has one question to ask the book—-one question that can fix everything in his broken life—-and he’s not letting Kara out of his sight until he gets an answer.

Kara cannot escape her new life in Ourea. There’s no going back now.

My review:

This was awesome! I really enjoyed it. I had some qualms as I started reading it – I’ve never had two books in a series to read and review at the same time before. My fears were totally unfounded though, because Lichgates got off to a racy start and the action didn’t stop happening.

12900806There were so many things that I liked. Kara was a spunky heroine plagued by her own demons but still willing to help others. Thrust into a world she doesn’t know anything about, and where she is at a distinct disadvantage, she makes the most of what she has anyway.

Nothing too cloying in the romance part of this novel – really just fantasy through and through. It was a relief  There were only veiled hints at sex, but the bonding between the yakona was well thought out and just as intimate. The suspense here was just as good as in the other more action-paced parts.

The world building is fantastic. Journeys that would have taken hours on foot? No problems! There’s a griffin for the task! Or a dragon. Or a two-headed horse. The caves, mountains and various gardens are fully realised as well.

Something I thought could have been done better, or that I would have liked to have seen more of, were the trips back into the ‘real world’. It’s hard to believe that this magic world has been hidden all this time, and that people don’t see it. I wanted to know what would happen to people who did see it.

I was happy with the ending of Lichgates because it feel like a proper ending. Yes, some cliff-hanger stuff, but also a satisfactory conclusion of some of the plot points. I started reading the second novel ‘Treason’ right after I finished it! ‘Treason’ is the novel that is officially on tour, and my review of that will go live tomorrow.

The cover is quite attractive, and it’s relevant to the story too. It reminds me a bit of the covers of the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix in fact. I’m going to be waiting impatiently for the third book in this trilogy to come out so that I can buy it.

Find it on:
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About the Author

S. M. Boyce writes fantasy and paranormal fiction. Boyce is a sarcastic twit, but she still has friends because some people seem to like that. She’s currently working on the YA epic fantasy series the Grimoire Trilogy. Lichgates, the first in the series, is already available. Treason (book 2) releases October 27. Feel free to connect with her online or check out her blog.

You can find her at:

<a
href=”http://smboyce.com/” rel=”nofollow” style=”color: #551a8b;” target=”_blank”>Website
Twitter: @theSMBoyce
Facebook

Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos of ‘Treason’ at each of these tour stops:

November 1 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
November 2 – Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
November 3 – Book an Appointment With Wisdom Books – Review/Guest Post
November 4 – Cozy Dragon – Review
November 6 – Overflowing Bookshelves – Review/Interview
November 7 –  Lizzy’s Dark Fiction – Review/Guest Post
November 9 – Hooked in a Book – Review/Interview
November 10 – Book Lovers Paradise – Review/Guest Post
November 11 – Spews of my Views – Review
November 13 – Bookishly Devoted – Review
November 14 – Book Nerd – Review/Guest Post
November 15 – Ashley’s Bookshelf – Review
November 16 – My Reading Addiction – Review
November 18 – Emily Ward – Review/Interview
November 20 – My Cozie Corner – Review
November 21 – Read a Holicz – Review
November 23 – Inside BJ’s Head – Review/Guest Post
November 24 – My Daily Obsession – Review

Review: Melissa McPhail – Cephrael’s Hand

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Cephrael’s Hand
Melissa McPhail

Welcome to Innovative Online Book Tours’ stop for ‘Cephrael’s Hand’.

This is a fantasy epic of the adult variety – thick, meaty reading that is excellent for Summer reading – the world within the book is an extension of our summers. Lots of characters to appeal to all readers, and lots of plot points to keep you satisfied and to keep reading.

The official blurb:

“All things are composed of patterns…” And within the pattern of the realm of Alorin, three strands must cross:
In Alorin…three hundred years after the genocidal Adept Wars, the realm is dying, and the blessed Adept race dies with it. One man holds the secret to reverting this decline: Bjorn van Gelderan, a dangerous and enigmatic man whose shocking betrayal three centuries past earned him a traitor’s brand. It is the Adept Vestal Raine D’Lacourte’s mission to learn what Bjorn knows in the hope of salvaging his race. But first he’ll have to find him…
In the kingdom of Dannym…the young Prince Ean val Lorian faces a tenuous future as the last living heir to the coveted Eagle Throne. When his blood-brother is slain during a failed assassination, Ean embarks on a desperate hunt for the man responsible. Yet his advisors have their own agendas, and his quest for vengeance leads him ever deeper into a sinuous plot masterminded by a mysterious and powerful man, the one they call First Lord…
In the Nadori desert…tormented by the missing pieces of his life, a soldier named Trell heads off to uncover the truth of his shadowed past. But when disaster places him in the debt of Wildlings sworn to the First Lord, Trell begins to suspect a deadlier, darker secret motivating them.

My review:

I was upset that I was reading a ebook copy, as although I dutifully read the table at the beginning that detailed all of the characters and the various terms, I couldn’t keep them all straight in my head when I started reading. Had this been a hard copy, I could have easily flicked back and forth. Nevertheless, the novel was very enjoyable – although as an epic I struggled to keep them all straight in my head!

I gravitated towards liking various characters from the beginning. Trell hit a note with me, as did Franco, even though it seemed as if Franco wasn’t all that he has put himself up to be as. It’s so difficult to discuss the characters in detail because so much is important to the plot. I didn’t like Ean, and he seemed like a bit of an idiot. Yes, noone knws what is going on with the strands, but then again, he doesn’t have to torment the poor young truth reader so!
For character development, I would have to give five stars for Trell’s development, and not quite so many for the other characters. If you’re looking for the interest here, it’s Trell. If you’re more of a plot person, you’ll want to follow the other characters more.
The descriptions was subtle, and the world building impressive. Although it was quite confusing at first, and I didn’t really know what was going on as a larger picture, I knew that the constellation of stars was probably shared by the people in the same world, and so that provided a grounding point for me. Sounds confusing? You’ll understand it when you read the novel.
I loved the tongue in cheek humour that peaked through in parts, and also the irony that became apparent as I continued to read. There were so many cases of mistaken identity and also the things that appeared to be something else. It’s quite masterful really, and it really reflects the style and ability of the author that she can keep all of these straight. On this first reading (I’m saying I might have to do a second to really appreciate it more), I didn’t pick up any inconsistencies.
This is a very heavy reading novel, and it took me quite a few tries to finish reading it. I’m glad I persisted though. I’m not saying the novel was bad in any way, but if you were looking for something to read in a weekend, this probably isn’t it. I’d also put this firmly in the adult category  although it could also be suitable for older teens (provided they don’t mind the odd sexual innuendo and hints).

Find it on:
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About the Author

Melissa McPhail is a classically trained pianist, violinist and composer, a Vinyasa yoga instructor, and an avid Fantasy reader. A long-time student of philosophy, she is passionate about the Fantasy genre because of its inherent philosophical explorations.

Ms. McPhail lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, their twin daughters and two very large cats. Cephrael’s Hand is the multiple awar
d-winning first novel in her series A Pattern of Shadow and Light.

You can find her at:

Website http://melissamcphail.com
Blog http://melissamcphail.com/blog
Facebook http://facebook.com/cephraelshand
Twitter @melissagmcphail
Goodreads http://goodreads.com/melissagmcphail


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Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

Review: Tonya Fitzharris – 6 Seconds of Life (Review and Giveaway)

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6 Seconds of Life
Tonya Fitzharris

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘6 Seconds of Life’.

Maura’s life has fallen apart to the point at which she wants to die. In fact, she’s jumping off the bridge and having her life replayed before her eyes right as you read. This novel is told as excerpts from her life in a breathtaking and spellbinding 6 seconds of text.

The official blurb:

Maura has just jumped.
Now she has precisely six seconds until she hits the water below her—just six more seconds until she is finally freed from her mundane and aimless existence.  Freed of all of the regrets and disappointments that have haunted her throughout her nineteen years.
She just needs to be free.
But as she falls, the most pivotal points of her life start to replay like a movie in her head: her family falling apart, her first love, her first heartbreak, her first true friends, and her first betrayal.  As she remembers these moments that brought her to this point, will she feel a sense of peace?  Or will her death be her greatest regret?

My review:

I applied for this book, because mental illness is one of my favourite areas to read about. Someone jumping off a bridge immediately caught my fancy. The cover looked pretty neat too, although it turns out that the red dress is really not all that important.

15992898Only occasionally did the text and dialogue not flow for me – the rest of the time I was so suckered into the story that I didn’t care. The various plot points were good, all interwoven really well. Loved the dollhouse, and its special significance for Maura as well.

The book immediately sucked me in. I was really happy up until the point that she jumped, and then the drop into the past seemed quite major. There were a couple of time shifts in this that had me confused, namely because it looked like she skipped from 9th grade to college very quickly.

There’s a couple of bits that seemed inconsistent to me – including the size of Maura’s breasts. Sorry to be so crude and mention them and all. You’ll note that on the cover they are quite small. At various points in the novel though, they are referred to as being out of proportion with the rest of her body, and she’s very ‘hot’. Perhaps it is a reflection of her poor body image that the text sometimes says they are small?

Maura’s thought processes get quite confused as the novel progresses. It appears she has anxiety and depression, perhaps a bit of PTSD. I felt really sorry for her actually, and I felt that although she had made some bad decisions, it wasn’t really her fault – that’s what mental illness does to a person. It’s strangely appropriate to be reviewing this in October, as this is Depression Awareness Month.

This novel illuminated to me some of the things that go on in frat houses in the USA. I’m slightly relieved that we don’t really have such things in Australia, as they sound like horrific drinking parties. The special week of induction and everything else was fascinating!

I loved this book. The ending had me a little disappointed  but I guess this is young adult fiction for a reason and not everyone thinks in the same way as I do. Most people will probably be relieved by it – it offers hope in a strange way.

I sincerely hope that Fitzharris keeps writing novels in this genre, and with her fantastic style. I can see this book being unsuitable for younger teens, but I think for older teens (those who have encountered or have a healthy curiosity about sex) it is a fantastic and eyeopening read. This novel for me was really on par with some of the Julie Anne Peters novels that I love – the one that springs to mind on a similar topic is ‘By The Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead’.

Five stars from me – the minor things I’ve complained about didn’t detract from my enjoyment. The only thing that did was that my ereader ran out of battery right at a crucial part of the novel, and I had to stop and wait until I got home to finish reading it! Well worth the $5 it is on Amazon, and I’d consider buying myself copies of Fitzharris’ future books in paperback form.

Find it on:
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Barnes and Noble and Smashwords5star

About the Author

46d54052tonyafitzharrisTonya Fitzharris is a writer, reader, blogger, mediocre cook, photographer, runner, Florida native, and cat lover. She used to be a Middle School English Teacher, but now she’s trying out the whole novel writing thing. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and her Belgian cat named Waffles.

 

You can find her at:

Twitter @tonyafitzharris

Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

October 15 – My Devotional Thoughts – Guest Post/PROMO
October 16 – Oh, Chrys! – Interview/PROMO
October 17 – Book Nerd – Review/Giveaway
October 18 –Little Library Muse – Review/Interview
October 19 – Book Life – Review/Interview
October 21 – In This World of Books – Review/Guest Post
October 22 – Mom With a Kindle – Interview/PROMO
October 24 –  Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
October 25 – Work a Day Reads – Interview/PROMO
October 28 – Reading Under the Stars – Review/Guest Post
October 29 – Sweet Southern Home – Guest Post/PROMO
October 30 – The Cozy Dragon – Review
November 1 – Shawn Inmon – Review/Guest Post
November 2 –  Reviewing Shelf – Review/Guest Post
November 3 –  The Story Factory – Review/Interview
November 3 – Books and Needlepoint – Review
November 4 –For the Love of Film and Novels – Guest Post/PROMO
November 5 – Pretty in Fiction – Guest Post/PROMO
November 6 – A Reading Daydreamer – Review
November 7 – Andi’s YA Books – Review/Guest Post
November 8 – Kimmie’s Bookshelf – Review
November 8 – My Cozie Corner – Review
November 9 – Tana Rae Reads – Review/Interview
November 10 – Books Down My Pillow – Review/Guest Post
November 11 – Jen McConnel – Interview/PROMO
November 12 – Books Books and More Books – Review/Guest Post
November 13 – Disincentive Reviews – Review/Guest Post
November 13 – Above Average, Below Special – Review
November 14 – Little Books Star – Review/Interview
November 15 – Stressed Rach – Review
November 16 – Zone Out Mode – Review/Guest Post

Review: Mercedes Lackey – Redoubt

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Redoubt
Mercedes Lackey
Mags is still kirball-mad and looking for knowledge about his family history. He seems content with the life he has though, and the work he does for the King’s Own is enthralling. He never seems to keep up with his classwork though, and it seems like he never will – the closer he gets to being caught up, the more trouble he gets into.
Once again, this was not the end of the chronicles. There didn’t seem to be much meatiness to the plot – this book and the third could have easily been combined to give me a more satisfying read. I did finish this novel off in one sitting, but there was hardly anything there to read, so it was more a reflection of the short length than grippable qualities.
Large sections of the novel are of Mags nightmares – but these aren’t new, it’s basically a rehash of the second and third books. The stuff about the shop, which would normally be a highlight for me, was not included in enough detail. It wasn’t really clear why they needed to rush Mags into Whites either – if he doesn’t know enough, shouldn’t he be doing what he does best at a slower rate?
I’d love to have seen more of Amily’s recovery and that whole section that happened between the third and fourth books. Instead we get Bear’s showdown with his fatehr – which is actually pretty good, and almost worth all the other wading through of poor scenes.
Lackey seems to be taking pleasure in using Mags’ language quirks to avoid writing meaningful dialogue. The same goes for the kirball action and the handy foray into Karse. Some of that space about dreams could have been sued to write about the Karse countryside, which would have been super interesting for me – I could never get enough of this in the short stories about Karse.
The romance between Amily and Mags is also pathetic. Sure, Mags doesn’t know how to act around girls, but to go to the point he’s going to ask actors about it? Surely Amily has a bit more spine in her and could be induced to make the first moves instead of Mags. The work they do together at the wedding is nice, but not that exciting.
I didn’t feel any unhappiness or worry when Mags was kidnapped. To me it was obvious that he would escape one way or the other. It wasn’t like he was going to starve in Karse. The constant reminders that he hadn’t gotten that far in his classes at the Collegium were annoying and not really helpful. If he was really doing so badly, he wouldn’t have found so much food that was there! And the nice convenient seasons too…
I let this review sit for a bit to see if my rather strong negative feeling would abate. They didn’t – I still felt cheated, and like I would have rather this was a well-cut trilogy rather than a drawn out set of Chronicles that I don’t even know when they will end! So bad that I would consider just reading a summary of the next one if it’s not the final one and the Amazon reviews say it is still bad.
I think I found myself very disappointed in Redoubt. I was hoping for more depth, more substance, more everything. If the next book published is not the last one in the series, I think I’ll just wait until they are all out before reading it to avoid another disappointment. I felt like nothing happened! At least I only borrowed it from the library, although I will eventually buy it in paperback for the completeness of my collection.
I will probably read something else I know I love from Lackey to reassure myself that she’s still my favourite author – although at this point it looks like she might be bumped for someone who has been more consistant (although just as annoying with her way of releasing novels – Isobelle Carmody). I have ‘Home By the Sea’ waiting for me to read it as well, but I’ve seen some negative reviews of it as well and I’m afraid!

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Review: Shannon Hale – The Goose Girl

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The Goose Girl
Shannon Hale
Ani is the Crown Princess, but she has some unusual talents that mean she doesn’t fit in with what her mother wants. Sent with her lady-in-waiting to the kingdom of Bayern, she encounters problems she wouldn’t have imagined.

Ani is a really likeable character. It’s not really her fault that as a child she didn’t understand what her mother wanted of her or that she has been given special gifts. Ani gets to be far more resourceful as the novel progresses, and is less self-centered. I think her high idea for the populace would be difficult to bring about in any practical sense, but at least she tried.
This novel is based on a fairytale, so most readers will have an idea of how the story turns out. My memory was a little sketchy, and I had completely forgotten about the outcome for the poor horse. It was obvious the first time that Geric was something more than he appeared.
It often takes something special to retell a story well while still adding some twists. The ending is particularly good – even if you know things will win out in the end, you wonder how that can possibly happen.
I’d place The Goose Girl firmly in the realm of teenage fiction/fantasy. Nothing too confronting, only a chaste kiss here and there. The tortures devised for poor Ani and for Selia aren’t exactly nice, but they aren’t explicitly described as they were in the original fairytale.
I got this novel for my birthday, but it was still a bit of a guilty read. It was very easy to read though, and didn’t take up all that much time at all. Knowing the audience it was aimed at, I wasn’t too critical and could just enjoy the retelling. There are more books in this series, and I think I would like to own and read them some time soon. I’m impressed by Hale – this is probably a comforting reread for me.

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Review: Juliet Marillier – Wildwood Dancing

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Wildwood Dancing
Juliet Marillier
Jena’s father must leave behind his five daughters in a hope to become well and return. Jena is sure that she can keep things together, but with a big sister who won’t follow the rules.

This novel is really about how fate turns out, and how fate may be meddled with. How gifts may not be what they imagine, and that the time it takes to repair old ills could be forever. The power of true love, and the fragility of romance are also potent themes. Although we presume that the story must have a happy ending, at points you wonder how much damage will be done to Jena before that happens.

This is a sort of rewrite of the fairytale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but in this case, it is only five sisters. As you read, I’m sure you will pick up another fairytale vibe – I won’t tell you, it would spoil the surprise and suspense. Read it!
For me, I find the idea of marrying cousins a little repugnant, but I know that in the time this was set it would be considered quite normal. Costi and Cezar fight over Jena without even knowing it.
This novel has some of the fantastic world-building I expect of Marillier, but lacks the historical detail I would have appreciated. I didn’t really feel the space of the castle, or the thickness of the woods, instead it was more about Jena and her character progression. Nothing wrong with that at all, I’m glad she didn’t stagnate like Cezar.
Cezar is the bad guy in all of this. Quite unfair really, but of course children can’t be expected to know what they want – or is that really true? Jena doesn’t get exactly what she wants either, but she apparently accepts her other gift happily. And Costi? Well, he got the hard end of the bargain.
I love all of the girls, but really wish I could have gotten to know all of them better. There is another novel set in the same world which gives more information about Paula, the scholarly sister I believe. It was on the shelf right next to this one, but I didn’t snaffle it! The ending for Tati – I wanted to know more! More!
This was guilty reading, as I already have two novels I need to be finishing for tours very soon. Very enjoyable guilty reading though, and I don’t regret snatching the chance to read it.
I love Juliet Marillier’s work, and this would be one of my first choices for showing teens the way into fantasy. It’s a nice simple read, it only took me a couple of hours to read despite its apparent bulk. There is a hint of adult themes, with the groping that is aborted, but Jena reacts in an entirely appropriate way.

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