2012 TBR Reading Challenge
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Review: India Dark by Kirsty Murray
Melbourne, Australia, 1909: faced with the prospect of employment in either the match factory or the jam factory, 13-year old Poesy Swift auditions for a children’s theatre company that specialises in popular music-hall songs. Before she knows it, she’s on a two-year tour through Asia. At first it’s all an adventure, but by the time they reach south India, many of them have been disciplined by the manager and their performances hide enormous turmoil backstage. At the end of their last show, all but two of the children turn on their minders and go on strike, then walk out into the hot Madras night.
Wow, I really am starting 2012 off on a good book run I am a big fan of historical fiction but it takes a really fantastically written historical book for me to really love it.
Lets just say, I loved this book.
It was charming, it was sweet but it was also an emotional adventure and a harrowing coming of age story for two different young girls. As well as this, it's fantastically well researched as it's based on a real travelling performing troupe and the writing is understandable to readers but the voices and language that was used really takes you back to the early 20th century into the minds of these two young girls.
At times I got a little confused, there were a lot of characters introduced and a lot had similar names. I was helped by the character list at the beginning of my ARC copy and I found myself flicking back to it a lot. I really did like most of the characters, the naive Poesy annoyed me at times because she was clueless, but back in that period young girls were quite innocent and naive so it was believable, I actually loved the character of Tilly despite the fact that she is quite selfish I loved how driven and ambitious she was. My favorite character had to be Charlie who was so sweet and the bad guy was a horrible, easy to hate person.
The book is narrated through two characters - Tilly and Poesy, to start with I was a little confused about who was narrating but slowly their voices began to become more recognisable as we slowly got to know more about their character.
Overall, a fantastic read, both fun and heart-wrenching i was gripped by the story. I had trouble with getting my head around all of the characters but was awed by how well Murray wrote a book in the voice of a young girl from hundred years ago.
Overall Rating: A-
Released 1st January 2012 through Templar.
Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Various
Monday, 9 January 2012
A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.Since this is an anthology, I will be giving each story a mini-review and rating before giving an overall rating of the whole book.
Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.
1. Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray
Never read anything by Claudia Gray before, simply because I've been put off vampires. This definitely has put Fateful on my wishlist. I loved the way that we get basically a mini story in this one - beginning, middle and end but I still wanted more. I already adore the twins in this and it was only a short story. Gray's writing is fantastic. (Rating: B+)
2. Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan
set in the same world as The Forest of Hands and Teeth, this one was gritty and dark, I was terrified for the characters despite having only just met them. i would actually like a spin-off following these characters and would definitely read it. The writing lacked a little something but the story made up for it. (Rating: B)
3. IV League by Margaret Stohl
I didn't really get into this one, I can't say that I was particularly interested in the characters or the stories and wouldn't read a spin off. (Rating: D)
4. Red Run by Kami Garcia
This one was amazing, I love ghost stories and this little short one was perfect. I probably would read a book based around but I think it would still work better as this short story. Garcia's writing is fittingly creepy and builds the suspense and I cared for the characters a lot. (Rating: A)
5. Things About Love by Jackson Pearce
This was a cute little love story. A little boring at some times, but I thought the characters and story were cute. I may pick up As You Wish at some point. (Rating: C+)
6. Niederwald by Rachel Vincent
Didn't read because I lost interest in the book series after book 2.
7. A Mortal Winter King by Melissa Marr
I love Donia and Keenen, and this was lot more humorous than the book series. May try to get back into this series now. Funny and sweet with a little angst, I liked it. (Rating: B-)
8. Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong
I was warned against reading this one because I haven't read the series and there are apparently spoilers, so I didn't read it.
9. Lets Get This Undead Show On The Road by Sarah Rees Brennan
Despite not liking The Demon Lexicon because the writing was dull, I found this so funny and really enjoyed it. I would definitely read more about these guys. (Rating: A-)
10. Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready
Beautifully written and so heartbreaking. I really need to read this series (I know, I can't believe I haven't yet!) This is written in free verse which is a nice change, very emotional even though i don't really know the characters. (Rating: B)
11. Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting
I couldn't get into this though I love The Body Finder series. I actually had to give up a page or two in *sadface*
12. Leaving by Allie Condie
Very ambitious, I think more world building was needed. Would work a lot better as a long novel (I'd definitely read it). Fantastic concept but difficult to get my head around. (Rating: C-)
13. At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday
Yet another story by an author that I didn't think much of from her book but wrote a totally awesome short story. Hilariously funny, definitely one of my favorites in the whole anthology. A little creepy, a lot funny! (Rating: A)
14. Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson
Another favorite short story from an author who wrote a book that I didn't think much to. I loved the idea of gargouilles, Romantic, chilling, heartbreaking and hopeful with a fantastic setting, I loved this one. I want a Gargouille book! (Rating: A+)
15. The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I really liked the concept behind this one, but once again I think it didn't completely work as a short story, the ending is a bit open ended and I would have liked a conclusion. (Rating: C)
16. Automatic by Rachel Caine
Set in the world of The Morganville Vampires, it follows Michael as he tries out canned blood. I kind of flipped through this one as I wasn't gripped by this short story, a bit funny. (Rating: C-)
Overall Rating: B
Released 1st September 2011 by HarperCollins
Book received from the publisher in exchange from an honest review.
In My Mailbox (07/01/12)
Saturday, 7 January 2012
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren,
in which you post all of the books/e-books/audio books that you have recieved/bought/won this week and link 'em all up!
Bought
Dark Parties by Sara Grant
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Swapped
The Truth About Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne
Falling For Hamlet by Michelle Ray
For Review
Supernaturally by Kiersten White
Slide by Jill Hathaway
Review: This Is Not Forgiveness by Celia Rees
Friday, 6 January 2012
Everyone says that Caro is bad ...but Jamie can't help himself. He thinks of her night and day and can't believe that she wants to be his girlfriend. Gorgeous, impulsive and unconventional, she is totally different to all the other girls he knows. His sister, Martha, hates her. Jamie doesn't know why, but there's no way he's going to take any notice of her warnings to stay away from Caro. But as Jamie falls deeper and deeper under her spell, he realises there is more to Caro - much more. There are the times when she disappears and doesn't get in touch, the small scars on her wrists, her talk about revolutions and taking action, not to mention the rumours he hears about the other men in her life. And then always in the background there is Rob, Jamie's older brother, back from Afghanistan and traumatised after having his leg smashed to bits there. Jamie wants to help him, but Rob seems to be living in a world of his own and is increasingly difficult to reach. With Caro, the summer should have been perfect ...but that isn't how things work out in real life, and Jamie is going to find out the hard way.I didn't know what to expect with this, I've read Celia Rees' historical books but this is something completely new from her and wow, I was blown away. A powerful start, an emotional ending and everything in the middle was heart-wrenching.
I will start by saying that none of the characters are particularly likeable, Rob is a total... well he's a bit of a butt-hole, Jamie is naive and depends too much on other people and Caro is broken and selfish, but the characters are meant to be this way, this is a real life book an the draw is in the message which is delivered so fantastically and realistically.
This book gives a story on how war affects people, from the injured Rob to the revolutionary Caro, I don't want to give much away but this book talks about extreme views, the type of things that we do see on the news and gives us the background of the characters and why they do the things that they do. It was difficult to read at times, and not in agood way as I'm not the type of person that likes to read such depressing books HOWEVER this one really did get to me and I have spent the whole night thinking about it, mainly because of the story bu also because of Rees' fantastic writing.
At times the pacing was a little slow and there was a lot of confusing making it difficult to get through pats of this book, but it really picked up eventually.
Overall, a heart-wrenching, gripping, thrilling, emotional read. Despite some issues with pacing, this book has affected me in ways that so few books can.
Overall Rating: A-
To be released February 2nd 2012 through Bloomsbury.
Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Supernaturally by Kiersten White
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees. But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.
I read Paranormalcy last year before I began properly blogging so I never reviewed it, but believe me when is say that I totally adored it. Maybe it was because of this that I set my standards a little too high with Supernaturally and it disappointed me a little, only a little because I still enjoyed it but I just did not absolutely adore it as I did Paranormalcy.
For me, I loved the setting in Paranormalcy as well as the development and action, I found that the pacing was slower in Supernaturally even though there were some action scenes, the big twist at the end, for me, was predictable and the school setting was too similar to other paranormal romances, so it didn't have that touch of uniqueness that the first book had.
I still loved Evie's character, she was the same Evie we first met in book one; sassy and independant, but also naive and vulnerable, all in all a well rounded and relatable character but I did miss her being kick-butt, mostly theres a lot of waiting around here. I also loved Lend again, but he wasn't in a lot of the book and would have liked a bit more Evi/Lend romance and when he did turn up he was pretty naggy rather than being funny.
The pacing was a little slow at times but I was still absorbed and finished it in a few hours. There were new adventures and some fantastically written action scenes which kept me gripped, White's writing was also awesome as always and I loved reading her descriptions, she honestly can get right into a teenage girls head, you go girl!
Overall, i'm still looking forward to Endlessly though this one suffered a little from middle-book-blues. The action and writing was great, but it didn't have the originality and development that Paranormalcy had, so I was a little disappointed.
Overall Rating: B-
released January 5th through HarperCollins.
Sequel to Paranormalcy.
Book recieved in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.
Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Sunday, 1 January 2012
NEWSOUL Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
This book has been publicised as a dystopian, but I don't think it is. the tone of this book is very light. I wouldn't call it a utopian either, the world is not perfect. It's that place in the middle where it's set in the future, but has fantasy elements. I couldn't work out if it was based in the future on Earth or completely different planet because it references humans and a past civilization much like our current one, but there are also sylphs and dragons and souls.
Anyway, onto the review. I really enjoyed this book. It was so different to anything that I have read and not what I was expecting at all. I loved the idea of souls being reborn again and again, it was original and clever but did kind of creep me out with the romance (i'll get to that later), I also liked the world that was created, the city was high tech, but also had these fantasy elements, with the religion and the dragons and the heartbeat of the city. The world building was fantastic, which I put down to Meadows' beautiful writing which was vaguely poetic but not to the point of purple prose.
I think that if I had any issues with this book it was the romance. Sam is like 5000 years old (well, his soul and memories are, this time around he's still only 17) and Ana is 17, it was a little off putting and difficult to get past. I suppose because Sam is reborn and here he is a teenager it can be put down to hormones and the romance was sweet so it wasn't totally creepy, but I still did struggle to get around that little point. This coupled with the way that he may be a guy this time around but he was a girl before made it a little weird, though this is a very subtle pr-homosexuality message that I approved of.
Then again, I loved Sam anyway so it was fine, he was sweet and caring and very supportive of Ana, I loved how he treated Ana from the first time that they meet. Ana was also absolutely adorable, I loved her naivete but also her strength of mind. Despite being a few hundred lifetimes younger than everyone else she stands up to them, but she is also very believably young and unsure. Li was a typical fairytale evil stepmother, though she is actually Ana's mother and I loved the simplicity of her character, she is purely evil.
The pacing is amazing, and the action at the end had me on the end of my seat. I loved the ending and I honestly cannot wait to read more of Ana and Sam.
Overall, a romantic futuristic fantasy. I was a little confused by the world and struggled with the romance for the while, but was completely absorbed. The characters are fantastic and I cannot wait for the next book.
Overall Rating: B-
Book to be released through HarperCollins on January 31st 2012.
Book received as an ebook though NetGalley.
Anyway, onto the review. I really enjoyed this book. It was so different to anything that I have read and not what I was expecting at all. I loved the idea of souls being reborn again and again, it was original and clever but did kind of creep me out with the romance (i'll get to that later), I also liked the world that was created, the city was high tech, but also had these fantasy elements, with the religion and the dragons and the heartbeat of the city. The world building was fantastic, which I put down to Meadows' beautiful writing which was vaguely poetic but not to the point of purple prose.
I think that if I had any issues with this book it was the romance. Sam is like 5000 years old (well, his soul and memories are, this time around he's still only 17) and Ana is 17, it was a little off putting and difficult to get past. I suppose because Sam is reborn and here he is a teenager it can be put down to hormones and the romance was sweet so it wasn't totally creepy, but I still did struggle to get around that little point. This coupled with the way that he may be a guy this time around but he was a girl before made it a little weird, though this is a very subtle pr-homosexuality message that I approved of.
Then again, I loved Sam anyway so it was fine, he was sweet and caring and very supportive of Ana, I loved how he treated Ana from the first time that they meet. Ana was also absolutely adorable, I loved her naivete but also her strength of mind. Despite being a few hundred lifetimes younger than everyone else she stands up to them, but she is also very believably young and unsure. Li was a typical fairytale evil stepmother, though she is actually Ana's mother and I loved the simplicity of her character, she is purely evil.
The pacing is amazing, and the action at the end had me on the end of my seat. I loved the ending and I honestly cannot wait to read more of Ana and Sam.
Overall, a romantic futuristic fantasy. I was a little confused by the world and struggled with the romance for the while, but was completely absorbed. The characters are fantastic and I cannot wait for the next book.
Overall Rating: B-
Book to be released through HarperCollins on January 31st 2012.
Book received as an ebook though NetGalley.
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