The Torturer’s Daughter by Zoe Cannon

May 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DAUGHTER
The Torturer’s Daughter by Zoe Cannon
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (272 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

When her best friend Heather calls in the middle of the night, Becca assumes it’s the usual drama. Wrong. Heather’s parents have been arrested as dissidents – and Becca’s mother, the dystopian regime’s most infamous torturer, has already executed them for their crimes against the state.

To stop Heather from getting herself killed trying to prove her parents’ innocence, Becca hunts for proof of their guilt. She doesn’t expect to find evidence that leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about the dissidents… and about her mother.

When she risks her life to save a dissident, she learns her mother isn’t the only one with secrets – and the plot she uncovers will threaten the lives of the people she loves most. For Becca, it’s no longer just a choice between risking execution and ignoring the regime’s crimes; she has to decide whose life to save and whose to sacrifice.

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Some truths are harder to learn than others, but finding out that her mother not only tortures and kills any who disagree with the dystopian oppressive regime but also falsifies information so that innocent people are killed as well, puts Becca in an untenable position where she has to make incredibly difficult decisions about life and death.

Zoe Cannon has written a spine-tingling story about a future society that I hope never comes to pass. Becca, an ordinary teenager, is suddenly caught up in web of lies and deceit. Cannon’s descriptions of the environment are extremely believable, and her characters are life-like and fully developed. Becca knows what is right and she knows what she must do, but she experiences very real fears. While she calls herself a coward a number of times, I really think that her readers would find her to be most intelligent and courageous.

The life of high school teens is shown realistically, with all the cliques as well as the typical follow-the-crowd mentality. Becca demonstrates real courage when she stands apart from that behavior. She tries to stand by her friends even when that is neither a popular nor safe move. In a society where everyone is watched and the slightest deviation can land someone in the torturer’s grasp, following her conscience is not an easy task. Cannon really makes life under oppression very realistic and believable.

And while the actions of Becca’s mother are in no way condoned, Cannon shows Becca’s mother to be a fully developed multi-dimensional character, and not a cardboard evil character. It would be easier for Becca to make the decisions she must make if her mother had no redeeming qualities, but Cannon doesn’t make the mistake of taking that path.

This novel is incredibly engaging, fast-paced with well-developed characters and a suspenseful plot. I read this book in one sitting because it is hard to put down. I recommend it to any fans of dystopian science fiction, and I look forward to future books by this author.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Shadows On The Lane by Virginia Rose Richter

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SHADOWS
Shadows On The Lane by Virginia Rose Richter
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary, YA
Length: Short Story (55 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A spirited, adventurous twelve-year-old, Jessie Hanson, witnesses a hit-and-run accident in which a young girl is injured. With the help of her best friend, Tina Adams, she uses her detecting skills to cut through the victim’s amnesia and track down the driver of the deadly automobile.

Jessie and Tina are almost thirteen and excited to be treated as the mature nearly ladies they are – allowed to attend the posh afternoon tea opening of a new museum in their home, Willow Lane. Mid-way through, Jessie goes out onto the balcony to get some air. She witnesses an accident involving her crush, Bryce’s little sister. It was all over in an instant – and the hit and run driver escaped. Once again Jessie is drawn into some detective work – to help find the person who hit little Sunny and left her without a care.
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This is a fun and interesting book I feel is suitable for young teenagers and mystery-inclined youthful readers. I really enjoyed the main cast of characters, all of whom I found well rounded and realistic. Jessie in particular is a vibrant and interesting heroine, strong and intelligent but still young enough to be swayed by her crush and impulsive in her actions. There’s no swearing or any behavior I felt to be inappropriate within this book. I felt it a clean, fresh mystery with a dash of teenage hormones and girlish fun. While the plot isn’t some throw-away side thought (Tina and Jessie playing detective and trying to solve the crime and discover the perpetrator) it’s written in a light-hearted, good spirited, fun manner that will appeal to pre-teens and shouldn’t appear dumbed-down or too childish.

I would have loved reading this book in my pre-teen years (I was – and still am – a massive Nancy Drew fan) and feel both boys and girls of a similar age and interests will greatly enjoy this story. While the plot is resolved – it’s clear there are many more tales from this small town. I’ll certainly be keeping my eyes open for more!

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Resolved by J. Lilley

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

RESOLVED
Resolved: Shalean Moon Book 6 by J. Lilley
Publisher: Lycaon Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (95 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

When Shaleans fight Shaleans nothing is simple. With the help of true friends can good overcome evil?

To save Shalea, so much depends on so few people, that nothing is certain. It’s not even clear just which side some of them support, and the Sept is getting weaker.

Brios and his friends must save their world, but time is running out. To make things worse, the identities of some people might just result in no resolution at all.
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Can everything become clear and good triumph over evil before the next Shalean Moon, or is Shalea as they know it over?

Rach is worried about her friends who have been missing for ten days. She is still discovering her own powers as a shape-shifter and she needs the help and support of her friends, but where are they? This is the sixth novel in the Shalean Moon series and it is filled with suspense as the history of several characters is revealed.

I enjoyed this book and I found it easier to get into it because I had read the fifth in the series, Threatened. J. Lilley writes compelling, fast moving novels which are fun to read. Her characters are very believable, and I especially enjoyed the dynamics between Rach and her father and their relationships, in turn, with Rach’s friends. Lilley handles the entire adolescent maturing process realistically. We see Brios, a teenage boy, needing the comfort of his father’s arms. We see Rach worrying about how her father will react to various revelations. There are other examples of how these families handle their difficulties in ways that show clearly the strengths that are found in ties of both family and friends.

I do wish that I had more background and more details about the nature of the Sept and shape-shifting in general. I do not know if this was covered in earlier novels in the series, but if so, then summaries at the start of new novels in the series would be helpful. I have really enjoyed the two Shalean Moon books that I have read, but they do not stand alone. The epilogue of book 5, for instance, was expanded to become the prologue of book 6. Writing a series can be a great deal more complex than writing an individual novel. On the plus side, the author already has their characters and setting in place. But on the minus side, readers don’t always read the novels in order from the beginning. Some authors solve this by having each story in the series complete and able to be read without any knowledge of the earlier books. That is not the case here. These novels seem to be so closely related as to make a single larger novel, a novel that I for one would happily read. For this reason, I would really prefer that each book gave a brief synopsis of what has gone before. I was able to sort out most of the details, but a synopsis would have made for a richer, more informed read.

Lilley has once again crafted an excellent fast-paced story with dynamic characters set in a small village in Scotland. I am eager to learn more about this world of Shalea and all the people within it. I have been drawn into this world and I was pleased to discover that I really do care what happens to it.

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Threatened by J. Lilley

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

THREATENED
Threatened by J. Lilley
Shalean Moon Book 5
Publisher: Lycaon Press
Genre: Contemporary Paranormal, YA
Length: Short Story (84 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3.0 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

As friends unite and enemies surge, can Shalea be saved?

Shalea is in danger. The friends need to unite to face the unknown forces threatening to destroy them all. As old secrets are unveiled, and new alliances formed, will it be enough to save their Sept. Or is all going to be lost under the Shalean Moon?

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This is the fifth in J. Lilly’s Shalean Moon series, and it was a bit difficult to get into because I had not read the first four books. It took awhile to find out that the Shalean were magical shape shifters and that there were Rogues who were trying to steal Rach, a half-blooded Shalean. That being said, Lilley does provide just enough information to get into the story even if the reader hasn’t read the previous books. Obviously, for those who have read the earlier novels this is not a problem.

The plot is fast moving and has a number of unexpected twists and turns. The characters are well described and engaging, and I found myself turning the pages quickly, reading the novel in one sitting. Telepathic communication, supernatural abilities, and shape-shifting are all part of the life in the Scottish village where this novel takes place. Lilley does a great job of explaining how characters act in both their animal and their human forms, and her descriptions of the actual shifting are quite believable.

I do think that it would have been helpful though to have a brief summary of what has gone before for those who haven’t read the first four books. I feel that such a summary would make the reading experience even richer. Also, this book ends with a real cliffhanger, as I expect the earlier books did also, so it appears as if these novels are really parts of a larger whole. This book was only 84 pages long, so combining the series into one or two longer works would be a definite possibility.

This novel was an enjoyable read, and I now have Resolved, Book 6 in the series, ready to go. Hopefully I will find time to go back and pick up the first four books as the series is definitely exciting.

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Curse of the Ice Dragon by Tara West

April 24, 2013 By 17 Comments

Cover_CurseoftheIceDragon

Curse of the Ice Dragon by Tara West
Publisher: Self
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rated: 4 Stars
Review by Rose

From the bestselling paranormal author of The Whispers Series comes a new fantasy saga.

Born with mark of the Mighty Hunter, Markus has the skill and strength to feed his people, but not to confront his own tyrannical father. Shamed by his cowardice, Markus releases his frustration on the forest creatures.

The village prophet warns that Markus’s reckless ways will bring down The Hunter’s Curse, and for every animal Markus kills, his loved ones will suffer the same fate. When the warnings go unheeded, the Sky Goddess unleashes her ice dragon. Now Markus must flee the dragon without killing it or his beloved brother will die.

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What a journey! From the birth of Markus — already marked with special powers– there is tension present in this book. Although his older brother tries to counteract the influence of their father, more and more Markus turns hard–killing for the pleasure of killing and no longer merely to provide food.

Eventually, his behavior leads to the fruition of a curse promised at his birth–and the death of his family. Now, he has to find a way to reverse it before his brother dies.

The author has done a great job creating this world where the families of the village depend on hunters for their survival–and shows the fine line that exists between the necessary killing for survival and killing for the sport of killing. Other issues she touches on are child abuse and the need to take care of the environment.

Her primary accomplishment, though, is the creating of characters that leap of the page and come to life. All of them, even the secondary characters, are fully drawn and three dimensional. The reader cares about the characters and what happens to them. And, since this is just the first book of the series, leaves the reader anxious to find out what will happen next.

Thanks, Ms. West, for a fun read!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Witchling by Ari Harper

April 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WITCH
Witchling by Ari Harper
Publisher: Lycaon Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (256 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Nera is a normal teenage girl living in Ireland, or so she thought until she discovers the family secret.. now her world is forever changed.

Descended from a long line of witches, she discovers she is the one who has to stop the curse that has taken the life of every girl before her.

And if that isn’t enough, she must learn to use magic from the man called Bones. He is the son of Mari, Queen of the Witches…and a god. It is Bones who has been entrusted to teach her the skills she needs to stay alive, which wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t have an uncanny knack for pushing her buttons.

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Nera has always had strange terrifying dreams, but now she is having them during the day. She is awakening to her power as a witch, without any knowledge of her family history. Turning to her Uncle Jasper for help and answers, she discovers that she is supposed to stop an eight hundred year old curse.

Ari Harper does a good job of telling a compelling and intriguing story. Nera is a strong heroine and her character is well portrayed. She has two close friends, Brie and Sully, who stand by her as she is faced with the challenges of learning strong magic, and learning it quickly.

Harper’s writing is overall strong and effective, with just a few editing flaws, or times when there is too much telling rather than showing. However, I feel that Harper could have given the reader more help with the family history. I like a book which makes the reader think, but there were missing details which even at the end, I couldn’t figure out. We are told in the beginning, for instance, that Jasper is eight hundred years old and has always lived in his current home. I couldn’t help but wonder why the villagers never noticed this. I’m sure there is an explanation, and I think Harper could deepen her story with more details about the family history.

Nevertheless, this was a very enjoyable read. I was quickly drawn into the story and Nera’s journey from typical teen to powerful witch was intriguing to watch. The interactions with her family and best friends were believable and her fights with Bones, her protector and instructor, as well as Bones’ reactions to a teenage girl, were very realistic.

This is the first novel in a series, and it ends at a good point, but with plot lines yet to be explored. I look forward to reading more in this series.

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On Par with a Fairy by Lyla Bardan

April 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

FAIRY
On Par with a Fairy by Lyla Bardan
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Short Story (47 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

When sixteen-year-old Travis meets enchanting fairy Lark, legend speaks of a fated union, but his parents disagree. Can fairy legend prove stronger than parents, prejudice and the inevitable parting that must come with summer’s end?

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He knows about not-quite fitting in, but this is an unimagined chance at a summer romance…that the reader hopes will be so much more! We start to hope that some sort of magic will intercede. We aren’t to be disappointed in the magic, but the story rambles along; Occasionally with just more detail than we need which drags the pace down, and the challenge to their romance seems to drag on a bit, as well.  Conversations are uniformly super, however, and will keep you reading.

The true highlight of this work is the subtle humor infuses that specific lines, revealing Bardan’s light and clever style…
On Par with a Fairy is a charming and original light fantasy.

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Obsession by JoAnne Keltner

April 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

OBESSSION
Obsession by JoAnne Keltner
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Paranormal, Horror
Length: Short Story (143 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Some obsessions know no boundary…not even death.

Abby had the perfect suburban life: shopping sprees at the mall, a pool in her backyard, a dream bedroom, a best friend… That is, until her family moved to the backwoods of Wisconsin.

Abby plans to prove this backwoods dump is no place for a thirteen-year-old. So when her parents hire a carpenter and his son, Greg, she hangs out with the older boy to make her parents worry. But Greg turns out to be a total creep, and although Abby tells him she doesn’t like him, he continues to make her life miserable, watching her, trying to get close to her, threatening her.

What’s creepier is the mysterious brown-haired girl that keeps appearing and disappearing without saying a word. When Abby finds the girl’s old diary in the outbuilding, she learns that they share a common enemy, Greg.

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What could be worse than moving to a half-finished house in the middle of nowhere?

Abby’s mood swings and pessimistic attitude make it difficult to sympathize with her plight. Yes, changing schools and moving to a new state can be really stressful but from the moment she sees their new home Abby is determined to hate everything about it. Her intelligent and intuitive understanding of human nature soften the edges of her character, though, and after a few chapters I found myself looking forward to her witty, insightful descriptions of her family and friends.

Greg is one of the creepiest teenagers I’ve ever met in a young adult novel. Phrases that would sound harmless coming from anyone else in this story take on a much darker meaning when he leans in and quietly whispers them to Abby when no one else is listening. I would have preferred to see a deeper exploration of his personality and life history as the chapter in his life that probably molded his socially inappropriate behavior as a young adult was mentioned so briefly some readers may miss that clue. Those that figure it out will be rewarded with a chilling glimpse of Greg’s most important influences, though, as no one is born with the desire to terrorize other people!

I had trouble figuring out an appropriate age recommendation for this book. There was some use of inappropriate language and while the protagonist is quite appealing to tweens there are a few scary scenes that I would hesitate to recommend for anyone younger than twelve.

Obsession is a great stepping stone for middle school students who love the paranormal or horror genres and are ready to transition to slightly more mature stories. It’s spooky and spine-tingling without resorting to the blood and guts found in many adult stories in this style of writing but the plot is complex enough to to easily hold the interests of this age group.

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Swim the River by Stephy Smith

April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SWIM
Swim the River by Stephy Smith
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Young Adult
Length: Short Story (108 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Since Amelia ‘Falcon Woman’ Tucker was a small child, she heard the stories of how her mother was Rescued from the River by her father. Rising Wolf held her heart captive for years before he asked for her hand in marriage. Although the river had always called to her, she never knew how much she loved the stalwart Indian until she had to Swim the River to save him.

Amelia had a real crush on Rising Wolf, but she knew it would never amount to anything. She was a half-breed and Rising Wolf was an important warrior in his tribe. He’d undoubtedly marry a full-blooded Indian tribe member.

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Amelia is amazed when Rising Wolf makes an offer for her. She lets him know she won’t live in marriage without love, and he tells her she need not worry about that. She knows he’s a big part of her life, but she doesn’t find out just how much she loves him until a bear attacks him and he almost drowns in the river. She’s deathly afraid of the river because her mother almost drowned in it long ago. There’s no hesitation on her part, though. She leaps in, fights the bear, and drags her husband out of the river. Unfortunately, he’s been injured very badly and no one knows if he will live…

Ms. Smith’s tale is factual and leads you down an ugly path in our history. She makes Amelia’s family and the Indian tribe feel alive and vital. Love is a strong power when shared. Her words flow well and make you feel like you’re living in that time era. This story is suitable for young adults as well as adults. History can be a good teacher if we listen.

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It Started With A Whisper by A.W. Hartoin

March 18, 2013 By 9 Comments

Cover_ItStartedwithaWhisper

It Started With A Whisper by A.W. Hartoin
Publisher: A.W. Hartoin
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: 399 Pages
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: Best Book
Review by: Jasmine

Wishes are powerful things, if you belong to the MacClarity clan. You can ask Ernest for anything and he’ll make it come true, even though he’s been dead for nearly a hundred years. Puppy MacClarity doesn’t take the rumors about Ernest too seriously. But when he’s had enough of his teacher’s harassment, Puppy asks Ernest to take care of Miss Pritchett for him. Ernest does and family secrets start to surface like magic. During a summer filled with both fear and fun, Puppy begins to realize that Ernest isn’t the only special thing about his family, and their oddities aren’t just skin deep. Too bad he didn’t know sooner.

Every time I hear the name of this book, it makes me want to dance around the room and sing for a minute, I loved it! I mean – with crazy ravens, weird cats, a vengeful, spitting llama, genius older cousins, a boy named Puppy, mysterious moms and a protective ancestral ghost – what’s not to love?

This family is completely dysfunctional but in the best possible way. The best part about this family, though, is that even though everyone is different, they all love and support each other no matter what, even when they don’t agree. While blood-related family is very important to all of them, they also pull others into their “pack” and consider them family. If anyone messes with someone in their pack, they will end up answering to all of them. The presence of unconditional love, acceptance and loyalty is never questioned by family or friends throughout the book and the kids all stick together like glue. Every teenager should get to experience this environment.
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Initially, I wasn’t too sure about reading a book with a main character named Puppy. Then, I started reading it and found out that not only was it a nickname from his mom but it had also carried over to school, teachers and friends and it became even weirder. But somehow it worked. It gave the character a chance to rise above what you expect with a moniker like “Puppy”. Puppy is a lovable, easy-going typical teenager most of the time, but the protective man in him rises to the surface when needed. Puppy stumbles into some adventure (and trouble), with rest of the pack right there to help him, but ultimately there is a moment when it comes down to Puppy alone. In that moment, I think we see Puppy transition from the more innocent childhood days to his real journey to the person he will eventually become.

The pack spends the summer at what they all call “camp”, which is some rural family property with a lake, a creek and woods. With the ever-present ghost of Puppy’s ancestor, shown in very interesting and fun ways, and the question of exactly what it is the moms can do, there is an element of intrigue and mysticism that carries through the entire book. The plot moves along very smoothly and is, at times, fast-paced with some moments that kept me on the edge of my seat.

With two sets of twins, plus moms that are twins, and a multitude of friends and other people that make appearances in the book, it would be easy to start confusing characters but the author does an excellent job of making them all very individual. Even the animals become unique and memorable. This book is very well written, with enough twists and turns to keep my attention from beginning to end, including one incredibly late night.

One of the things that I loved is the song list at the beginning of the book. Throughout the book various characters (usually the moms) are singing different songs – which will end up being one of the songs from the list. I love music and it’s usually a big part of the lives of most of the teenagers that I know, so I love that this is included as a focal point and not just as a background element. In contrast, one thing I was slightly confused by was the elephant. Was it a way to give honor or invoke/evoke? I was just never really sure. I don’t want to say much more than that because I don’t want to give anything away.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned with this book, but not in an in-your-face kind of way. The lessons are subtle, which is perfect for young adults. It is fun, reads at the perfect pace, with mystery, intrigue and hilarious antics of some of the more zany members of the pack. I’ve read that this might be a series (not confirmed by any reliable sources) and I’m really hoping that they are right. I would love to spend some more time with this group. They were just a lot of fun and I was always anxious to see what sort of mess they were going to get themselves into next!

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