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Book Review: The Pirate’s Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

May 13 |12:02

Sadly, The Pirate’s Wish reminded me a lot of The Elite. Not content-wise of course, but it fell into some of the same faults. Sophomore slump is in full swing.

Book Review: The Pirate’s Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

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Title & Author: The Pirate’s Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Genre: YA – Fantasy, Pirates, Magic

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Series: The Assassin’s Curse #2

Publisher: Strange Chemistry

How I Got the Book: ARC via Netgalley

Description:

“After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.”

Second Helpings Not As Good

My philosophy has always been that pirates are the trump card of any book. Inconsistent plot? Messy romance? Add a pirate and PRESTO, it’s magic. So, in The Pirate’s Wish where there are pirates AND sailing AND magic, it’s a no brainer right?

Wrong. Although I really enjoyed The Assassin’s Curse, I called it then – Ananna is kind of annoying. Well, ok, not so much annoying as super feisty and stubborn and difficult.

The problem is she is sort of in love with Naji and somehow hopes he’ll return her feelings even though she bites, kicks and verbally eviscerates him at ever turn. Yeah, good luck with that girly.

The novelty and fun of the first book was lost a bit in this second take on Naji’s curse and the journey he and Ananna take to unbind him (as she is stuck with him till he can figure it out). Although, there is a manticore (featured on the cover), who is pretty cool and down to eat some male humans.

I wished there had been some alternating POV action. There was something sort of flat about only seeing Ananna’s perspective on their journey – especially because I felt like I needed a break from her nagging and pessimistic attitude.

Kisses and Starstones and Violence, Oh My!

I believe this is the last book in The Assassin’s Curse series (but there is another set of books due to come out in the same world). To be honest, my second side of beef with The Pirate’s Wish is due to the ending of the book.

I know I go on about wanting realistic endings and not some accident/good luck that wraps things together so perfectly with a little bow. But, sometimes you get what you wish for and you realize you don’t want it anymore. I’m big enough to say that I wish this book had a more saccarine-sweet ending that was ribboned with bows to an inch of its life.

Agh, I hate complaining. Some things I did like about the book:

Cool new beasts – the manticore, among others
Cool new landscapes – boat life and new isle
Romantic tension in random moments

The main problem I think I had was that I just didn’t want to read the book. It was interested at times and I felt invested because I had read the previous book, but overall I just didn’t feel how things wrapped up and the characters’ actions and personalities.

OVERALL:

If you’ve read The Assassin’s Curse, I think finishing off this series still has value. It’s only a two-novel series, so you don’t have much to lose. Sadly, The Pirate’s Wish didn’t fulfill the promise of its predecessor, and I was left a little wanting.

Book Review: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Feb 11 |09:04

I was almost nervous to read Asunder. I had tons of expectations going into the book, especially because I seriously ADORED Incarnate. So yeah, there was a LOT of pressure.

Book Review: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

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Title & Author: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Genre: YA – Fantasy, Futuristic

Release Date: January 29, 2012

Series: Newsoul #2

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

How I Got the Book: ARC via Publisher

Description:

“DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.”

Back & In the Flesh

There’s something very serious about Incarnate and Asunder. I can’t pinpoint where it shows up the most, though. Anna’s very existence is a serious matter – she’s a Newsoul who replaced one of the million reincarnated souls in the city of Heart.

Because of that she’s rejected and scorned. That would make any book somber, but I think there’s something more too. Maybe it’s Meadows’ descriptions of people and places or the sheer weight of millions of lives reincarnated for over 5,000 years.

I had forgotten that when I first started Asunder. It really is not your typical young adult novel. But, that’s what I absolutely love about this book.

It’s different and original and unique. Incarnate set the bar so high, but Asunder did not disappoint me.

And finally in this book, Anna isn’t alone. Well, she always had Sam, but now more Newsouls are being born. After the attacks on newly pregnant mothers are set in motion, though, Anna realizes that there people are terrified of Newsouls and want to stop more souls like her form being born.

Never Gonna Give You Up

Another thing I loved about Asunder was Anna. In Incarnate she’s so timid and shy but with an edge of steel. In this sequel, you see more of Anna’s backbone and willpower. She’s so determined and strong.

And she needs that when dealing with Sam. Wow, what a roller coaster relationship. I won’t say too much…you’ll see.

The only other thing I’ll say about their relationship is that I liked that Meadows took it there. And by “there” I mean that she had Anna and Sam deal with the fact that physically they’re almost the same age, but mentally and emotionally, Sam is thousands of years older than Anna. Yeah, NBD, right?

Plus, there are surprises around every corner. If you’ve read Asunder already, were you shocked by anything or did you see it all coming?

OVERALL:

What a fantastic sequel. It had everything I could hope for and didn’t spare readers on the painful or serious bits, which only makes the writing and the story that much stronger. If you haven’t read Incarnate or Asunder, make it your priority in 2013!

Book Review: Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Jan 18 |09:00

Prophecy by Ellen Oh is an exciting new series that I’m anxious to see progress. The first book is definitely a winner!

Book Review: Prophecy by Ellen Oh

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Title & Author: Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Genre: YA – Epic Fantasy

Release Date: January 2, 2013

Series: Dragon King Chronicles #1

Publisher: HarperTeen

How I Got the Book: Bought

Description:

“The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms… is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope…

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.”

Dragon Oh!

Right out of the gate, Prophecy starts with Kira – the yellow-eyed outcast who can battle demons taking residence in human bodies. She’s fierce, loyal and has some serious self-loathing issues.

Although Prophecy sounds like a typical paranormal read, it’s not. The book is set in some future or past version of an Asian-type location. How the author uses cultural words and ideologies reminded me of a lot of Shadow and Bone.

That lore and cultural shown in the book added so much depth for me. I loved reading about the religious mysticism and the royal traditions.

Other things that made me a fan of Prophecy:

Kira’s kick-ass heroine attitude and skillz
Strong familial bonds
Epic journey to discover hidden objects (Harry Potter shoutout!)
Dreamy wounded warrior-types

Sounds pretty exciting, no?

There were only a few things that kept me from truly raving and going nuts over Prophecy.

The narrative is told in the third-person omniscient perspective. It’s really, technically Kira’s “voice” that colors the book, but it’s told more like it is actual ancient lore.

That both intrigued me and threw me off. As I’ve said before on the blog, I don’t particularly connect with that type of narrative because I always end of feeling like I’m missing insider information. It’s just a personal preference.

Also, Ellen Oh treats the passage of time differently than many other authors. I would say maybe 4 times out of 5, when Kira and her cousin Taejo are traveling, the story skips over the journey and picks up when they’ve “landed.”

I definitely didn’t mind it per say, but because they traveled so much, I found myself needing to double check where they were and why.

Considering those were super minor things, I still loved Prophecy! It’s a fresh look at demons and fighting them, about destiny and fate and definitely about self-acceptance and love.

Oh and definitely power plays and betrayal. Yikes!

OVERALL:

Mark this book on your TBRs. Even though the narrative style and how the passage of time was described weren’t my particular preference, there is so much to love about this novel. Ellen Oh’s Prophecy is a fantastic start to a new YA series.

Book Review: Rebel Heart by Moira Young

Dec 12 |09:03

How lucky was I that only a few weeks after I read Blood Red Road, Rebel Heart was published! Sounds like fate to me…

Book Review: Rebel Heart by Moira Young

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Title & Author: Rebel Heart (Dust lands) by Moira Young

Genre: YA – Dystopia

Release Date: October 30, 2012

Series: #2 in the Dustland series

Publisher: Margaret K. Eldberry

How I Got the Book: Bought

Description:

“Nothing is certain and no one is safe in the second book in the highly praised Dust Lands trilogy.

It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.

What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road, a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of danger and destiny, betrayal and passion.”

Rebel Heart, Mind & Body

This book could not be more appropriately titled. The characters who you think you know make surprising and completely unexpected decisions. AGH!!! It’s in a good way but also in a bad way.

So, yeah…I’m sure that was helpful. Seriously though, Rebel Heart had all of the same spunk, dialect and ferocity of Blood Red Road PLUS SOME! Also, there’s tons of heartbreak. Gah!

I did feel the narrative drag a bit and that I was pushing myself to finish. It’s not that there isn’t enough going on. It’s that there’s a lot of emotional drama going on.

Rebel Heart is one of the rare books that provided a glimpse into the aftermath of a “victory.” At the end of Blood Red Road, Saba and gang successfully rescue her brother Lugh after he’s captured by the Tonton (who wanted to sacrifice him to the king).

In the continuing saga, she struggles with the question: “Where do we go from here?” And, there’s no easy answer. She and Lugh are fighting to regain the relationship that used to be everything to them, and Saba is hellbent on reuniting with her beloved ruffian Jack.

Between fielding arguments with Lugh – and there are a TON – and leading her misfit team of pseudo-warriors, Saba struggles internally with her decisions and feels literally haunted by the people she’s killed.

Also, this book has so many confusing relationships going on that it’s like more than a little tense. I enjoy this type of tension in books, but I can see how it may get on some reader’s nerves.

OVERALL:

Rebel Heart brings the heat just like Blood Red Road. Despite a few slow spots, I pushed through, and I’m so glad I did. You will laugh, you will cry, you will probably curse. You will (ok…should, I can’t make you) read Rebel Heart.

Young Adult Book Review: Skylark by Meagan Spooner

Oct 25 |08:22

If you choose one book to read the rest of the year, PICK SKYLARK! It’s exhilarating and heart-pounding, and I was so so SURPRISED all the time while reading.

Book Review: Skylark by Meagan Spooner

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Title & Author: Skylark (The Skylark Trilogy) by Meagan Spooner

Genre: YA Fantasy – Futuristic, Dystopia

Release Date: August 1, 2005

Series: #1 in the Skylark Trilogy

Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab

How I Got the Book: ARC via Publisher

Description:

“Sixteen-year-old Lark Ainsley has never seen the sky.

Her world ends at the edge of the vast domed barrier of energy enclosing all that’s left of humanity. For two hundred years the city has sustained this barrier by harvesting its children’s innate magical energy when they reach adolescence. When it’s Lark’s turn to be harvested, she finds herself trapped in a nightmarish web of experiments and learns she is something out of legend itself: a Renewable, able to regenerate her own power after it’s been stripped.

Forced to flee the only home she knows to avoid life as a human battery, Lark must fight her way through the terrible wilderness beyond the edge of the world. With the city’s clockwork creations close on her heels and a strange wild boy stalking her in the countryside, she must move quickly if she is to have any hope of survival. She’s heard the stories that somewhere to the west are others like her, hidden in secret—but can she stay alive long enough to find them?”

YA Fantasy…and Steampunk and Science Fiction

I was trying to decide what YA genre Skylark fell under, and I really can’t decide. Maybe YOU can help. Ok, so there’s a world inside a dome, there’s magic, there’s magic-powered machines and there are freakish creatures in a wicked wood. It sounds like fantasy/steampunk/science fiction/.

Which is not a problem for me because I LOVE ALL OF THOSE!

So now that we’ve got that out of the way…let’s get down to business. I loved loved loved this book. It’s so startling in its intensity and harness. Skylark tells the classic tale of someone finding out the trust they put in the world they thought they knew was very, very misplaced.

After waiting years to be “harvested” – much longer than most children – Lark Ainsley goes to the Institute, where she’ll be assigned a work role and continue on with the rest of her life. It’s a huge turning point for her…but she never makes it that far.

Lark learns the cruel leaders of the Institute want to use her in ways she never could have imagined. Trusting no one, Lark escapes past the barriers of her world – knowing she can’t return but hopeful she can find her long-disappeared brother Basil.

Long Journeys

I both love and loathe “long journey” type of books. It’s when the main character is travels most of the book through forests, deserts or [insert fantasy landscape here]. I don’t mind it normally, but sometimes when the journey is SUPER long, it can be tedious to read about.

Although Skylark does feature Lark running through all manner of terrain, I didn’t mind it. She meets crazy creatures and people and things and discovers so much about herself and her purpose that it added so much to her story.

Also, Lark meets a strange boy (Oren) in the woods. She can’t decide if she can trust him or not, and where Spooner takes their journey is amazing and killer and agh!!!

I really loved how Lark transforms from someone who’s so confused most of the time and who feels so weak to someone stronger and more confident, who takes big leaps of faith because there is not other choice.

BONUS

I found this song by Imagine Dragons and thought it represented Skylark so well that I had to share it!

OVERALL:

This book is intensely delicious. What made it a true standout was the journey of discovery that Lark makes. She’s continually shocked and revolted by the world she lives it, but she perseveres, presses on and pushes herself to find the truth. Skylark is a must read!

Posts Tagged ‘young adult fantasy’

Book Review: The Pirate’s Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke