Wednesday, June 13, 2012

The Study Series by Maria Snyder

The Study Series Bundle

by Maria V. Snyder

From condemned prisoner to food taster for the Commander of Ixia, from apprentice to a charismatic assassin to warrior with ever-evolving magical powers, Yelena is a remarkable heroine like none you've ever experienced. Follow her amazing journey through Maria V. Snyder's breathtaking fantasy series. Bundle includes Poison Study, Magic Study and Fire Study, and also includes as a special bonus, Assassin Study!

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

I love Maria Snyder's work - especially this series. The first book (Poison Study) is my favorite, but the others are also enjoyable. Maria Snyder is very good at dealing with terrible things in a way that is bearable to read - she doesn't skirt difficult happenings or concepts. Warning: her bad guys are usually pretty icky (yes, that's a technical term) so these books are not for the lily livered soul. Yelena is the perfect heroine for a fantasy series - strong and passionate and adventurous and able to overcome unbearable things. I love her and I love Valek (the 2nd and 3rd in the series are severely lacking in Valek - possibly why I don't love them as much, hmm?) I loved Yelena coming into her power and discovering who she is and what is important to her. I've read them all twice and still couldn't put them down.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence: yes - fights and sword fights and brutality from evil people. Profanity: none that I can recall. Sex: yes, as well as mention of rape.

A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander

A Crimson Warning

by Tasha Alexander

Secrets prove deadly in this new novel from Tasha Alexander featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves. Some very prominent people in London are waking up to find their doorsteps smeared with red paint, the precursor to the revelation of a dark secret – and worse – by someone who enjoys destroying lives.

Newly returned to her home in Mayfair, Lady Emily Hargreaves is looking forward to enjoying the delights of the season. The delights, that is, as defined by her own eccentricities—reading The Aeneid, waltzing with her dashing husband, and joining the Women’s Liberal Federation in the early stages of its campaign to win the vote for women.

But an audacious vandal disturbs the peace in the capital city, splashing red paint on the neat edifices of the homes of London’s elite. This mark, impossible to hide, presages the revelation of scandalous secrets, driving the hapless victims into disgrace, despair and even death.

Soon, all of London high society is living in fear of learning who will be the next target, and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, favorite agent of the crown, must uncover the identity and reveal the motives of the twisted mind behind it all before another innocent life is lost

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

This is the 6th book in the Lady Emily series of books. They have all been enjoyable mysteries with occasional light romance - in this one Lady Emily and Colin have returned to England and yet another mystery. And hooray! Our favorite anachronistic Lady Emily is back again in all her glory. And Colin isn't annoying anymore - he seems to have come to terms with the fact that he was being stupid and almost killed his wife in the last book in his efforts to protect her.

I enjoy when first person books throw in a different perspective occasionally - Tasha Alexander has been generally good at that. This time we get to see through Ivy's eyes for a bit, keeping the first person narrative from becoming too narrow. In all, this was yet another enjoyable book by this author.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is an adult book, but still follows YA strictures. Violence: yes, but mostly off stage. Profanity: none that I can recall. Sex: yes, but also mostly off stage and only between married couples.

Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander

Dangerous to Know

by Tasha Alexander

Set in the lush countryside of Normandy, France, this new novel of suspense featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves is filled with intrigue, romance, mysterious deaths, and madness.

Returning from her honeymoon with Colin Hargreaves and a near brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily convalesces at her mother-in-law's beautiful estate in Normandy. But the calm she so desperately seeks is shattered when, out riding a horse, she comes upon the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The girl's wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who has wreaked havoc across the channel in London. Emily feels a connection to the young woman and is determined to bring the killer to justice.
Pursuing a trail of clues and victims to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling chateau in the country, Emily begins to worry about her own sanity: she hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the child's wake. As Emily is forced to match wits with a brilliant and manipulative killer, only her courage, keen instincts and formidable will to win can help her escape becoming his next victim.

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

This is the 5th book in the Lady Emily series of books. They have all been enjoyable mysteries with occasional light romance - in this one Lady Emily and Colin are adjusting to married life. I always appreciate it when an author allows a character to be traumatized by past events. Because I knew Emily's strength from previous books, I was patient with her lack of spirit in this one. I wouldn't advise new readers to begin with this book, however. I think you need to understand Emily better before you are able to in this book. But still, this book was better than the last one, which so far has been my least favorite in the series.

I was also frustrated with Colin - Colin! Chill out, you idiot! He gets all protective and annoying in this book. Hopefully he learns to trust himself and Emily better later on in the series. These books are pretty anachronistic - Lady Emily enjoys interests and freedoms that most women (or all women?) of her era didn't enjoy. This book was less anachronistic than the bast books, and I honestly missed it. Please bring back the Greek reading, criminal fighting, port drinking Lady Emily we all know and love.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire

by Kristin Cashore

She is the last of her kind...

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don’t need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven’t, you’ll be dying to read it next.

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

Another great book by Kristin Cashore. This is more of a prelude than a 2nd book in a series - I enjoyed reading about yet another strong and powerful woman. At the same time, it's fascinating to see how different Katsa (Graceling) is from Fire - Fire has a vulnerability and humility that is quite different from Katsa. It was nice to see the developing relationship between Fire and her romantic counterpart - there wasn't an immediate falling in love that is always a wee bit unbelievable, but rather the more realistic build up of like minds. Fire's struggles with her beauty, her power, and her love of children and her belief that she shouldn't have children were heartrending and beautiful. She was a multidimensional character with passion and loyalty. I look forward to reading Bitterblue (the third in the series) - I would love to see both Fire and Katsa make an appearance, but from what I've read Fire doesn't appear. Alas. I would have liked to see her again.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence: yes - sword fights, real fights Profanity: none that I can recall. Sex: yes

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy

by R.L. LaFevers

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

I loved this book. I really liked its premise - I found it original, which is infrequent sometimes in young adult fiction. Ismae has a terrible life and watching her grow from battered to triumph is empowering. I liked how the mysteries and even Ismae's own powers were slowly unraveled and revealed. I thought Ismae herself was fascinating - trained to be an expert assassin, she was still almost completely an innocent - it was a fascinating oxymoron. I liked her and I liked her strength as she learned to trust herself more than those in authority over her.

As happens all to frequently in books that contain an actual plot, the romance is sometimes secondary. I would have liked to see more interaction between Ismae and Duval - more of a build up to their love - but it was still a satisfying romance.

I also love books that retain some historical truths - the people Ismae interacted with and the events surrounding her actually happened. Thank you, wikipedia, for enlightening me. This book could stand on it's own, but apparently the first in a series. Which means there will be more! Knowing now what actually happened to Brittany at this time in history, I wonder what will happen to the characters I have come to care about. I will definitely read the next installment, and will probably reread this one again beforehand.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. Violence: yes - poisoning, knife fights, sword fights, real fights - but not gratuitous. Profanity: none that I can recall. Sex: yes, but again, not gratuitous, and within YA strictures

Friday, June 8, 2012

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Graceling

by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

I read this book years ago and decided to reread it in preparation for the third in the series to come out. I still liked it! I still really liked it! I just love reading about strong women who can take care of themselves. I loved the relationship between Po and Katsa - Po is my favorite kind of young adult hero. Strong, supportive, and loves that his girl is rather kickass. This is a well crafted and highly enjoyable book.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. Violence: a lot of fighting - she is very good at killing people. Profanity: none that I remember. Sex: yes, with YA strictures.

Corsets and Clockwork by Trisha Telep

Corsets & Clockwork: 13 Steampunk Romances

by Trisha Telep (Editor)

Dark, urban fantasies come to life in the newest collection of Steampunk stories, Corsets & Clockwork. Young heroes and heroines battle evils with the help of supernatural or super-technological powers, each individual story perfectly balancing historical and fantastical elements. Throw in epic romances that transcend time, and this trendy, engrossing anthology is sure to become another hit for the fast-growing Steampunk genre! This collection features some of the hottest writers in the teen genre, including: Ann Aguirre, Jaclyn Dolamore, Tessa Gratton, Frewin Jones, Caitlin Kittredge, Adrienne Kress, Lesley Livingston, Dru Pagliassotti, Dia Reeves, Michael Scott, Maria V. Snyder, Tiffany Trent, and Kiersten White.

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

I liked the last anthology by Trisha Telep so I thought I would try this one - especially because I enjoy steampunk more than I love vampires. And this book shows how vast the genre of steampunk is! Anything with any type of clockwork or gadgetry is enough I guess, it doesn't even have to be set in Victorian England. Who knew. (I mean, really. Just because the vicious half mermaid rides in a dirigible of some sort doesn't REALLY make it steampunk, does it?) Out of 13 tales there were only two I didn't enjoy. The majority have happy endings, also unlike the vampire anthology. Most of them were sweet little romances with a little bit of steampunk thrown in. Some aren't so sweet little romances, but still fun to read. They were all pretty good short stories, meaning they didn't leave you completely hanging. The last one was my favorite, so don't give up before you get there.

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor

by Stephanie Barron

For everyone who loves Jane Austen...a marvelously entertaining new series that turns the incomparable author into an extraordinary sleuth!

On a visit to the estate of her friend, the young and beautiful Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, Jane bears witness to a tragedy. Isobel's husband—a gentleman of mature years—is felled by a mysterious and agonizing ailment. The Earl's death seems a cruel blow of fate for the newly married Isobel. Yet the bereaved widow soon finds that it's only the beginning of her misfortune...as she receives a sinister missive accusing her and the Earl's nephew of adultery—and murder. Desperately afraid that the letter will expose her to the worst sort of scandal, Isobel begs Jane for help. And Jane finds herself embroiled in a perilous investigation that will soon have her following a trail of clues that leads all the way to Newgate Prison and the House of Lords—a trail that may well place Jane's own person in the gravest jeopardy.

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

I get a kick out of these books. Yes, some Jane Austen purists may despise them and may think they are blasphemous, but I happen think they are a fun read to those mellow souls who love Jane Austen. This is Jane as I imagine her - no nonsense, capable, Jane Eyre-ish without the horrible background. I've read several of them before years ago and when I recently discovered there were a billion more I decided to slowly wend my way through them again, starting from the beginning.

The first installment in this series was a delight mystery that reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie - a great who-done-it without a terribly obvious ending. These could stand on their own as a series of mystery books - having the protagonist be Jane Austen is just a delicious side note. My only complaint is knowing the end of Jane's history - it makes any romance that happens in these books destined to fail. Alas. I was surprised to find out I hadn't ever read the first one before - this will be a fun journey!

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. Violence: very mild for a mystery - talk of slit throats and such and one fight. Profanity: none. Sex: not directly, but the results are discussed.

Underworld by Meg Cabot

Underworld

by Meg Cabot

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

(summary from goodreads.com)

__________________________________________________

I love Meg Cabot. I think she's funny and interesting and witty and spins a fabulous tale. But ... I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would - which is fine, I'm not really the target audience. I liked the first one (Abandon) and I liked this one, but I didn't love them. She is very good at writing about real girls, and Pierce is certainly one of them. She is passionate and determined and frustrated and confused and full of real teenagery angsty feelings. But I also felt the dynamic between John and Pierce was lacking - they weren't equal enough and too disparate in their control of the situation. I felt John always got his way and Pierce was forced or manipulated into going along - not qualities for a great relationship. Perhaps if I had read Abandon immediately before I read Underworld, and had the beginning of their love story fresh in my mind, I would have felt differently. If I remembered why and how much she loves him in the first place. But I didn't. I look forward to the next book - I'd like to see Pierce have a little more power over her life.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. Violence: some vicious harpy attack. Profanity: none that I noticed. Sex: yes, with YA strictures, and some discussion on pregnancy.