The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

July 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

FIFTH
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Publisher:G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (457 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Thistledown

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

What would happen if aliens did come to earth?

Some books stick with you and keep you up nights. The 5th Wave did both. In this multi-POV teen novel you experience what it is like when Cassie, the main character suffers as aliens make their presence known on earth. Other characters pop in as the black chapter breaks appear. There are several waves of disasters that plague mankind, designed to wipe us off the face of the earth.  It was relentless and in The 5th Wave, it sure doesn’t go well for the human race.

When the book begins, we meet Cassie, a teenager, who is on her own in a post-apocalyptic world. Almost everyone has been killed in the first four waves (silence, disease, flooding and more) and Cassie begins to wonder if she is the last human being left on earth. She wanders, learns how to survive and becomes a force to be reckoned with. It would be just too easy if that was all to the story. We journey with her as she retells the beginning of the end in flashbacks. What happened when the lights went out, what happened to her family as an Ebola type virus swept through the population, the military gathering of children and the murder of her father. It is a visceral journey told as only Rick Yancy can. Beautiful. Tragic. Poignant. In the present someone is hunting Cassie. It is one of the aliens that she calls a silencer. After he corners her and shoots her in the leg, she has to decide if she is going to live or die. One choice and it would all be over. She promised her brother she would come for him and one wrong move could very well end everything.
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As the book develops, you also meet Ben. He is a young man that went to Cassie’s school but has now been captured with the other kids and brought to a military base for what they believe is training against the alien forces that have infiltrated humanity. That is the catch. They look just like we do and have been here forever. Sneaking inside of our mothers as they slept, implanting themselves in the growing babies held within, their consciousness awakened as the invasion hit. Well, most of them. For some, they have been plotting against humanity from the start, waiting for the time to strike. At the compound, Ben has to decide to give in to his despair and become a force to end the suffering of humanity or succumb to his own inner demons. Who is real? Who is not? Military regiment becomes the new religion and survival is for the fittest. The fact that they are children hardly matters at all. There are some interesting questions posed by this part of the book. Who are these people in charge of the base? How did they get power back up when everything else is gone? What are the chips they are inserting into each child and what is this Wonderland mind mapping system? Red or green, who is alien and who is human? It is a question that kept me turning the pages.

Cassie’s brother Sam is also a character that appears once or twice in narratives. Renamed Nugget after being brought to the military camp where Ben is stationed, he learns quickly what his new reality has become and it is terrifying. He begins to grow up. These journeys come together as Cassie is rescued by Evan, begins to fall for him and continues her search for her brother. Ben, now renamed Zombie, grows in his strength as he helps himself and others and Nugget tries to keep up with it all.

Having a book with multiple POV’s makes the story more inclusive. In this case, you get multiple sides of the alien invasion, all of which are riveting. The descriptive elements of the book are so there I literally felt like I was falling into the story. The gut clenching moments when you try to figure you who is friend or foe, the fluttering sweetness of first love, the bitterness of betrayal and the sheer determination of the human race against insurmountable odds are all themes here. I have read the first book in Yancey’s Monstrumologist series and knew firsthand the level of writing this author has to offer and even still, this book blew me away. It is gripping, suspenseful, heart wrenching and beautiful all at the same time and I fell in love on the first page.

The next time I am looking for an alien novel, this will be the one I pick up again. To be honest, l didn’t read it at first because it was about aliens, but noticing it was Rick Yancey’s work made me rethink my decision. This is not a hokey body snatcher novel. Yes, it has some elements of that, but the way it is handled, to me, was much better than any other alien invasion scenario I have ever read. That is the scary part. He makes it seem so real. Every layer, every character quirk that makes the person pop off the page, every plot twist all points to a story that had me creeping off into corners at every opportunity to read this remarkable book. I just hope there is going to be another one.

One other thing that struck me about this book was the end note by Yancey. While he was writing the book, he lost his writing dog and companion Casey. As a reader, that struck me, because all the through the book there is loss after loss and the grim reality of what life has become in the after. Yancey was going through it himself as he was writing and that got to me.

The 5th Wave was unforgettable. It is a journey. It is the unrelenting force of love and the unstoppable essence of humanity.

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

Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky

June 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

AIR
Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (402 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Camellia

On Quinnipeague, hearts open under the summer stars and secrets float in the Sweet Salt Air…

Charlotte and Nicole were once the best of friends, spending summers together in Nicole’s coastal island house off of Maine. But many years, and many secrets, have kept the women apart. A successful travel writer, single Charlotte lives on the road, while Nicole, a food blogger, keeps house in Philadelphia with her surgeon-husband, Julian. When Nicole is commissioned to write a book about island food, she invites her old friend Charlotte back to Quinnipeague, for a final summer, to help. Outgoing and passionate, Charlotte has a gift for talking to people and making friends, and Nicole could use her expertise for interviews with locals. Missing a genuine connection, Charlotte agrees.

But what both women don’t know is that they are each holding something back that may change their lives forever. For Nicole, what comes to light could destroy her marriage, but it could also save her husband. For Charlotte, the truth could cost her Nicole’s friendship, but could also free her to love again. And her chance may lie with a reclusive local man, with a heart to soothe and troubles of his own.

To me, Sweet Salt Air is to be savored without haste. I realized immediately that I didn’t want to race along just reading for story. I wanted to soak up the ambiance of Quinnipeague Island, just off the coast of Maine. I wanted to vicariously experience the distinctive smells, the feel of the wind, the sand and rocks along the beach, all the things that excite the senses. I especially wanted to be a part of Charlotte Evans “going home again” and reconnecting with her dearest friend.

The uniqueness of the islanders enchanted me while the primary characters made me want to comfort them—assuring them that they were loved. Their emotional needs are almost palpable. Barbary Delinsky helps the reader see into the deepest recesses of these characters’ hearts.

This enhanced buy cheap viagra downtownsault.org stamina, energy and stamina please your female. The pharmaceutical products such as http://downtownsault.org/category/shopping-downtown/page/4/ levitra uk help cure impotence and related conditions or issues in a couple of hours. Some growers DO cheat, as I am able to be still and get viagra australia relax. It is helpful in treatment of male sexual problems.During this period, this medicine hasmaintainedcustomers’ positive attitude and have been on the top among ED medicine. generic cialis online bought this? It stands for erection-boosting tablets that increase male strength to produce firm erections when he is suffering from erectile dysfunction take a juice of pomegranate daily. Charlotte Evans, a successful freelance, world traveling writer, finds Quinnipeague still the island of her memory, a place she’d exiled herself from more than ten years ago as well as absenting herself from her dearest friend Nicole Carlysle. Now back on the island and with Nicole to help her complete her cookbook of Quinnie recipes and people who use them, Charlotte is beset by the old guilt, heartache, and misery that she has tried so hard to outrun these many years. Even though she is independent, self-sufficient, with an edgy attitude, she wants the closeness back that she and Nicole had for so many years. She wants redemption. Her strengths and weaknesses and the way the author reveals them is riveting.

Charlotte’s unexplainable yet undeniable attraction to Leo Cole, the island’s former bad boy and now recluse, has something of a magical aura about it. The nights, the environment pregnant with scents of herbs,, their working together with few words, and the vast difference in their life styles give the reader a feeling they are in a world all their own when they are together—disconnected from the real world. The melding of these two strong personalities is not without pain, but it also has humor, joy, and life-changing needs and emotions that are spellbinding. Leo Cole’s story is startling and compelling.

Nicole, sweet, giving and with a childlike voice, needs to reconnect with her strong dearly loved Charlotte. She not only needs her help to get the cookbook ready for publication, she also needs her for emotional strength to get through the ordeal she and her husband Julian are dealing with—a four-year-old secret that is eating her alive. Her emotional wounds are so deep; if they’d been physical, she would have bled to death. Nicole seems like such a fragile little soul, but the strength Charlotte brings out in her is magnificent as it comes into its own.

Julian, Nicole’s famous doctor husband, creates a firestorm that influences the plot time and again. The lives of those who love him most get battered unmercifully in the storm. How he and Nicole cope with the devastation in their lives squeezes the heart to the gasping point.

Nicole’s mother is a secondary character that flounders but finds her footing as she and Nicole suffer grief, harsh words, and fear. The subtle ins and outs of their relationship show the reader the unbreakable ties of mother and daughter love.

The most intriguing part of the story, to me, is the evolving of Charlotte and Leo’s relationships. One can almost believe that his mother Cecily, the mysterious herb lady who is dead, is still orchestrating events. The unique scents of Jasmine, Valerian and the power of the elusive red clover makes one wonder ‘what if’.

Barbara Delinsky takes her flawed characters, so human, and plops them down on an enduring island with its unique people who have a culture all their own. She transports the reader into that world so apart from the bustling world most people are used to. Her exquisite writing style with amazing descriptions, attention to detail, hint of magic, and love that lifts up and sets the heart singing makes Sweet Salt Air an absorbing novel—a story to enjoy to the very last word.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Once Upon a Tartan by Grace Burrowes

June 20, 2013 By 3 Comments

ONCE
Once Upon a Tartan by Grace Burrowes
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (381 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Camellia

Honor or happiness-he can’t have both.

Tiberius Flynn travels to Scot land with orders to snatch his young niece away from her Highland relations. He thinks it’s going to be an easy task, until he meets the feisty little girl and her fiercely protective step-aunt. A smart, headstrong beauty, Hester Daniels has no use for an English lord with high-handed ways, no matter how handsome or beguiling he may be…

Tye sets out to seduce Hester and win over Fiona, only to discover that he’s losing his heart to a woman who’s as untamable as Scotland itself…

Mm, mm, good, maybe even better than the first book in the MacGregor series!

Once Upon a Tartan is skillfully written with eloquent, revealing words, and subtle humor to tantalize the senses and send the reader on an emotional rollercoaster ride for an awesome vicarious experience.

Hester Daniels, her young, irrepressible niece Fiona, and the very old, worldly-wise Aunt Ariadne have cobbled together a household comfortable for them all while Fiona’s mother and stepfather are on an extended trip. When the Earl of Spathfoy, Tiberius “Tye” Flynn appears, lives are forever changed. He is Fiona’s uncle on the paternal side of her family that has ignored her existence until now. The conflicts, the subtle maneuvering, and the many types of love that come to the fore make Once Upon a Tartan a keeper. It sparkles, shimmers, and shines with characters that are multi-faceted who all seem comfortable in their own skin and not afraid to speak up for themselves. I admire and cheer on strong characters.

I fell in love with the vivacious little Fiona. She is a breath of fresh air. She climbs tress, reads to trees, and sings to them and declares them very nice. She chatters like a magpie, is a trove of information, and it never enters her mind to be daunted by her Uncle Tye. She even grins and winks at him when he’s grumpy. The fact that he is an earl means nothing in her young life. How she relates to all the adults in her life is an amazing story in itself.
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Hester hates that good manners force her to offer the Earl of Spathfoy hospitality, while Aunt Ariadne is quite happy to have him around. Hester cannot get past the fact that Tye’s deceased brother, a spoiled, selfish womanizer, had not dealt honorably with her sister. Moreover, his family had not acknowledged his “handfasted” wife or his daughter.

Hester does not hold men in the highest regard since Jasper Merriman forced his sexual attention upon her while they were engaged. She jilted him and alienated London Society and her own mother. Now, in virtual exile with most of her options gone, she considers herself a spinster. She is certain she is not marriage material for an Earl. Her self-esteem has been battered. However, with Aunt Ariadne’s encouragement and Tye’s (at first) aggravating attention, a most delightful and heart-warming story of love and friendship takes root, sprouts and grows strong.

The arrogant, but honorable Tye is plagued with guilt but feels honor bound to carry out his father’s wishes. His bluster with an undercurrent of humor often revealed in an avalanche of big words—in some cases naughty words—makes the interaction between him and Hester, Fiona, and even Ian brings chuckles and giggles at times. It keeps one’s attention focused on what is going to happen next.

Ian MacGregor, Fiona’s uncle on the maternal side of her family, and his wife Augusta were primary characters in The Bridegroom Wore Plaid , the first book in the MacGregor series. They have a strong influence in this story also. Their side story, so full of love and humor about their “Terror”, the baby that rules their life captivates and blends in to the main story beautifully. Ian’s love for Fiona and the length he’ll go to in order to protect her shows a wonderful, deep, familial love that touches the heart.

The love scenes with Hester and Tye let the reader know that there is so much more to their love than just the physical attraction. They bolster each other’s sense of self-worth and reach out to each other in sincere caring. Their awesome sexual encounters show a joy for living that takes the breath away.

Grace Burrowes weaves her magic with words to show the many facets of the characters that emerge as she immerses the reader in the environment, the inner struggles of the characters, the joy of life they have, and the machinations of Tye’s manipulative father. He is an antagonist one could hate yet feel sorry for at the same time.

The strong women, the strong yet sensitive men, and a child as untamable as her fiercely protective and loving aunt make One Upon a Tartan a memorable love story—excellent and exquisite.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

The Iron Queen by Kaitlin Bevis

June 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

QWUEEN
The Iron Queen by Kaitlin Bevis
Daughters of Zeus Book 3
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (180 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Death is a luxury she can’t afford.

Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with a right to both, Persephone’s in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus. But will she be strong enough?

Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there’s a reason gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation shouldn’t place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But Hades…Hades would break the world for her.

To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.

Not everyone will make it out of the battle against Zeus unscathed.

The Iron Queen picks up exactly where the intense cliffhanger in Daughter of the Earth and Sky ended. Readers wanting to enjoy this book must read the previous two books in the series in order to fully understand the events in this tale.

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Throughout this series, Persephone has undergone a lot of changes. She continues to grow and mature in this book as well. I really like Persephone and have come to think of her as a friend. I truly wish I could have spared her some of the physical and emotional pain. However, everything that Persephone has been through has helped shape her into a very strong woman. I know that she will be a wonderful and very powerful goddess who genuinely cares about the Earth and humanity.

Hades continues to fascinate and scare me. His love and passion for Persephone is so powerful that I have no doubt that he would “break the world” for her. The situation with Zeus seems so dire at times that I was beginning to wonder if it would really come to that.

I didn’t get to see Hades and Persephone interact as much as I would have liked in this book, but Zeus couldn’t keep them apart for long. I’ve enjoyed watching them grow as a couple throughout the series, and I was very satisfied with their happy ending.

Ms. Bevis introduces a host of gods and goddesses in this story along with a brief description of each character’s powers. Since I’m familiar with Greek mythology, I didn’t have a problem following all the new additions. However, readers unfamiliar to mythology might be a bit overwhelmed. I assume the new gods and goddesses will make appearances in future installments of the series.

Aphrodite has several chapters devoted to her in this book. In Daughter of the Earth and Sky, Aphrodite came off as very superficial and flighty. Consequently, she wasn’t exactly my favorite character. However, the chapters devoted to her in The Iron Queen provide some much needed insight into Aphrodite’s character that helped me begin warm to her. The fourth book in the series will focus on Aphrodite, and I’m curious to see what Ms. Bevis has planned.

I thought the previous book was emotional, but this one is even more so. The final solution for dealing with Zeus literally had me sobbing. I understand why a certain character chose to make a huge sacrifice, but that didn’t make it any easier to bear. This character’s selfless action definitely illustrated the fact that Ms. Bevis is not afraid to have her characters make tough choices and some of them don’t get a completely happy ending. Even though the storyline involving Persephone, Hades, and their conflict with Zeus has a very satisfying conclusion, Ms. Bevis has once again left the door open for another adventure. There are a few unanswered questions that have left me craving the fourth book.

The Iron Queen is an intense and touching tale. Ms. Bevis has created a captivating world filled with great characters that I’ve come to know and love. I can’t wait to see what happens to them next. I highly recommend The Iron Queen as well as the rest of the series to readers looking for a gripping young adult fantasy.

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

Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village by Charity & Ryan Kountz

June 12, 2013 By 11 Comments

JASON
Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village by Charity & Ryan Kountz
 Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Young Adult, Holiday, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (49 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Astilbe

After Jason and Lizzy’s family move hundreds of miles south from Chicago to Texas, leaving behind friends, school and the only home they’ve ever known, they are desperate for something familiar. Together, Jason and Lizzy make a late-night wish upon a star for snow that launches them on an incredible adventure even bigger than their recent cross-country move.

Join Jason and Lizzy as they make new friends, visit far-away lands, and learn, sometimes, home is more than where you live.

Without snow no one will be able to celebrate Christmas this year. Can Lizzie and Jason change the forecast before it’s too late?

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The chapters are short, and each one provides a natural stopping point for families who would rather stretch out the adventure over several nights. The last few pages include a series of questions parents and caregivers can use to start a conversation about certain decisions Lizzie, Jason and other characters make throughout the course of the plot. I prefer asking open-ended questions about generosity and the Christmas Spirit, but I can see how this resource could be useful in a classroom or small group setting.

It took some time to figure out the most appropriate age recommendation for this tale. Certain vocabulary words may be too difficult for kids who have just moved onto chapter books, but if an adult reads it aloud the imaginative plot will delight preschoolers and early elementary students who believe in the magic of Christmas. The plot is best suited for kids between the ages of 5 and 8, but there is nothing in it that would be inappropriate for a slightly younger audience.

One of the trickiest aspects of writing in the fantasy genre for this age group is crafting a story that stands up to endless repetition. Each chapter includes unexpected references to characters from ancient myths and legends that are sure to make adult readers and older children crack a smile. Mother Nature was particularly amusing, and I hope to meet her again soon when Jason and Lizzie go on other adventures.

Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village is an instant classic. I highly recommend introducing it to the children in your life, and I can’t wait for the next installment in this series.

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

The Case of the Wicked Wolf by Amber Kell and RJ Scott

June 6, 2013 By 5 Comments

WOLF
The Case of the Wicked Wolf by Amber Kell and RJ Scott
 Publisher: Total-e-Bound Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Short Story (101 pages)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Lisianthus

Naiads, humans, sirens and a challenge for Alpha make up the intricate story in the race to rescue the missing children.

Sam and Bob have more than just the case of one lost child to handle. Not only is Shelby Hartman missing, but other paranormal children have disappeared. The race to rescue the children is hampered by naiads, humans, sirens and a challenge for Alpha.

Hartman Hunter is desperate to find his daughter. He turns to the demon Danjal Naamah for help. The problem is that Danjal is the only person Hartman has ever loved—the man he let go for the sake of the pack…

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I liked the way this story picked up right after the first book and the way introduced some new and interesting paranormals. The way Sam and Bob’s stories evolved is handled beautifully and their relationship is definitely very steamy. I felt for Hartman and Danjal, they loved and lost each other several years before and their reunion is both beautiful and painful to watch. I rooted for them to fix what was broken between them and to fall in love again.

The continuing story arc of Sam fighting hard to be just human as it becomes increasingly obvious he’s more than purely human is something I look forward to watching develop in future books. I find myself wondering if future books will also focus on Sam and Bob and secondary characters at the same time, after all Sam and Bob have a few friends like their friend Malachi that I would love to see settled with happily ever afters of their own.

This is a gritty detective novel that is blended smoothly with a sexy M/M romance story with delicious magic adding just a touch of whimsy to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this collaboration and I hope for more from these two authors together in the future. I recommend this to paranormal romance and detective story fans equally who love when men love each other and aren’t afraid to express it.

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Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer

May 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ANGEL
Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer
An Immortal City Novel
Publisher: Penguin Group
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (353 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Peppermint

Life turned upside down for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into the scene of flashbulbs, paparazzi, and the fervent adulation that comes with being in the celebrity Angel world. She’s trying to juggle her ordinary life—high school, family, friends—with the intense demands of being in the public eye as heartthrob Angel Jackson Godspeed’s girlfriend.

And now Maddy must face the most difficult choice of her life. She’s been offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed. But more than that, it would mean leaving her mortal life behind—forever—and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans is heading for war. . .

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Maddy is typical of the girl next door, with a angel flare. She seems to just want to do what is best for herself, and what would make her deceased parents proud. Even if it is choosing a path in life that goes against everything she thought she wanted. Part of me feels bad she was robbed of her average human life once she is thrown into the angel affairs. Now she has to worry about her boyfriend’s failing ego, angel politics, and angel\human relations that seem to be failing on almost all levels. Even the few people she comes to depend and care on seem to present their own challenge. This made me really root for her on many different levels.

I was not given the privilege of reading the first installment of the Immortal City series, but I will make sure that I read any books after this one. The story was written in a way that was entertaining to all age’s which is always great for me since I like to read stories with my child. We  were  both immediately hooked on Maddy and her tale. While I did not read the first story, I appreciated that I did not feel lost or confused by the second even though it follows the same main character and storyline.

While angels are clearly a large factor in this story, there is not a lot of religious talk. Angels are almost treated like any other supernatural creatures like shifters and vampires. They are just enhanced creatures.  The angels’ position was based more about enhancing human life instead of focusing on religious beliefs.

This complex yet readable novel was truly entertaining and it captured my attention and held it for long periods of time. I can’t imagine anyone not finding as riveting as I did. I even found myself thinking about the characters long after the last page was read. That is why I would proudly recommend this story.

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

Mariposa by Nancy Springer

May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

MARIPOSA
Mariposa by Nancy Springer
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (11 pages)
Rating Best Books
Reviewed by Astilbe

Aimee believes everything in her life is great. She’s got a boyfriend who’s terrific (in bed and out), a penthouse apartment, and everything else a girl of privilege could possibly want.

Well, except for a soul. That seems to have gone missing somehow.

After a trip to a Warlock Doctor confirms that her soul has indeed vanished, she’s left with two options: buy a prosthetic one, or try to figure out what happened to the original. Feeling that she must have left her first one somewhere where she could find it, Aimee enlists the help of her mother and grandmother in a hunt for the wayward soul. But Aimee’s search for the missing part of her is about to bring forth some long-forgotten memories, and she’s going to learn what it really means to have everything in life that’s really important.

Would you notice the difference if you lost your soul?
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From the outside, Aimee’s life is perfect. She has no logical reason for feeling so sad and is quite surprised with Warlock Doctor’s diagnosis. To be honest I wasn’t particularly fond of Aimee before she discovers that her soul is missing because so much of her emotional energy is focused on what she and everyone around her is wearing and whether their outfits make a good impression. Once she began her quest to discover what happened to her soul, though, I quickly grew to like the imaginative and industrious aspects of her personality.

As someone who has vivid, frequent dreams I was fascinated by Warlock Doctor’s beliefs about their origins. Aimee hasn’t had a dream in a decade and she doesn’t seem to miss them. At first this seemed odd to me until I realized it was another symptom of her ailment.

This is a modern day fairy tale for adults. While none of the scenes are necessarily inappropriate for younger readers the message is clearly meant for an older audience. The metaphors in this tale are beautiful and achingly honest, but they are best appreciated by readers who know what its like to lose pieces of their true selves as they stumble into adulthood.

Some stories were meant to be revisited and Mariposa is one of them. I only wish I had discovered it sooner! This is the perfect choice for anyone who has ever looked back into his or her childhood and felt a twinge of regret for not quite growing up to be the person he or she had dreamed about becoming.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

May 14, 2013 By 3 Comments

Best Book 2013 copySTORYTELLER

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (462 pgs)
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Thistledown

Some stories live forever . . .

Sage Singer is a baker. She works through the night, preparing the day’s breads and pastries, trying to escape a reality of loneliness, bad memories, and the shadow of her mother’s death. When Josef Weber, an elderly man in Sage’s grief support group, begins stopping by the bakery, they strike up an unlikely friendship. Despite their differences, they see in each other the hidden scars that others can’t, and they become companions.

Everything changes on the day that Josef confesses a long-buried and shameful secret—one that nobody else in town would ever suspect—and asks Sage for an extraordinary favor. If she says yes, she faces not only moral repercussions, but potentially legal ones as well. With her own identity suddenly challenged, and the integrity of the closest friend she’s ever had clouded, Sage begins to question the assumptions and expectations she’s made about her life and her family. When does a moral choice become a moral imperative? And where does one draw the line between punishment and justice, forgiveness and mercy?

Some books stay with you long after you turn the last page. The Storyteller is one of those books.

An epic read that spans both the present and the past, The Storyteller is a myriad tapestry of forgiveness, betrayal, family, murder and the power of love. Sage, the central character is a wounded soul who works in a bakery to hide herself from the harsh eyes of the world. Her face is scarred by an automobile accident that claimed the life of her mother. She feels the weight of it every time she looks in the mirror, and uses it to make some rather questionable decisions. Through her job, she meets an elderly man Josef, who frequents the bakery, with his little dog Eva. They both attend a group for people dealing with grief and it is through their unlikely friendship that a request will be made that will change both of their lives forever.
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Josef is a man with a past, but on the outside, looks like any other older man in the twilight of his life. When conversations reveal her Jewish heritage, Josef makes a request that Sage kill him because of sins he committed in the past. Thus begins a journey of guilt, redemption, The Holocaust and the true meaning of forgiveness; or not.

It is also a story of love and baking and I can totally identify with that. Love for me has always been linked with food. In this tale, it is the tempting aroma of baking bread and all the generations of bakers in Sage and Minka’s family that bring the story to life in a very tangible way. Baking bread is an art and a science. What most people don’t know is that it can also be a love letter or a gift that can kill.

As The Storyteller moves along, we meet each of the characters involved as they each tell their stories. Sage, the young baker with scars across her face and soul, Josef the possible Nazi war criminal, Minka Sage’s grandmother and Holocaust survivor, Leo the Department of Justice investigator into war crimes and finally Ania, the character in a story that was written by Minka. All of these points of view weave together to craft an unforgettable tale that literally had me running to my work breaks and staying up late into the night, crying at the depths of emotion this book brought out in me. The events of the Holocaust were so evil and so reprehensible I felt literally sick at some points. In others, I felt the supreme love and majesty of a people so bonded in family and love that it gave me faith in humanity once again. Ms. Picoult tells a story like no other and I believe this is her finest work to date. At the conclusion of the book, she lists reference resources for those who are curious about the book and where she got her information.

Some central themes that rampage through the book are family, morality, mercy, the power of fear, people’s willingness to believe anything if it helps them and ultimately what the true power of forgiveness is about. What if someone asked you to kill them for their sins? Would you even consider it? If you did, how awful would those sins have to be? As Sage learns more about Josef and who he really was and how it all weaves together with her grandmother’s time at Auschwitz I got chills. These are people you grow to love like your own family. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does and with each affront to humanity, your heart breaks for those that lost their lives to the gas chambers and bullets in a time of unnecessary violence.

The chapters done with each different perspective really worked. I got to see all aspects of the story and wasn’t limited by, say, Sage’s point of view. It was an effective way to show all sides, even the reasoning for Josef’s actions as makes a conscious decision to become a monster. Everything can be justified, given the right circumstances. This is a ribbon of thought that runs through the book and honestly, it really made me think. What if it was you? What if you lived in this time and had to encounter either side of the coin? Holocaust victim or perpetrator? What if you had to become a monster just to survive, like the character in Minka’s tale? This book reverberated deep down and made me think about events in my own life that required forgiveness and how hate can indeed bloom out of one’s heart like a thorny branch and quickly take over if you don’t give it up to someplace higher, no matter what your religious convictions. It has been three days since I finished reading The Storyteller, but the voices of Sage, Minka, Josef, Ania and Leo still echo in my head. Now if you will excuse me, I think I need to see about a loaf of bread I just put in the oven.

Any time I want to read something that stirs the soul, I will be going back to The Storyteller. It is an epic journey of healing, destruction and the mysteries of the heart.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Daughter of the Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SKY
Daughter of the Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis
Daughters of Zeus Book 2
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (267 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Some vows can never be broken.

Persephone thought she could go back to her normal life after returning from the Underworld. She was wrong.

The goddess Aphrodite is born among the waves with more charm than she can control. Zeus is stalking Persephone and her loved ones, and Thanatos is no longer content with Persephone’s silence.

He wants her soul.

Persephone can’t tell anyone about Thanatos’ betrayal, and it drives a wedge between her and Hades. Her mother is still keeping secrets, and Melissa’s jealousy of Aphrodite threatens to tear their friendship apart.

Alone, Persephone turns to a human boy for comfort. But will their relationship put him in danger?

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But will either life be worth choosing once Zeus is through with her?

Daughter of the Earth and Sky is absolutely captivating!

I jumped at the chance to read Daughter of the Earth and Sky, the second book in Ms. Bevis’ Daughters of Zeus series. I loved the first book, Persephone, and I couldn’t wait to read more about Persephone and her adventures. Ms. Bevis completely blew me away with this latest offering. This book picks up not long after the events in the first book ended, so anyone wanting to enjoy this story should read Persephone first in order have a complete understanding of Persephone’s situation.

When Persephone found out that she was a goddess, her world was turned upside down. Now that the initial shock has worn off, Persephone is discovering that her status as a goddess changes every facet of her life, particularly her relationships. Persephone’s journey is very touching and I felt every growing pain she endured as I read. My heart ached as she and her best friend Melissa fought. I wiped away tears and she struggled to trust her mother, and I felt Persephone’s frustration as she tried to make Hades see a secret she was unfortunately bound to keep. The emotional rollercoaster was exhausting at times, but I’m so glad I was able to take that journey with Persephone. She is certainly a stronger young woman at the end of this book, and even though the dynamics of her relationships have changed, the bonds between Persephone and her friends and family are stronger than ever.

Persephone suffers a great deal physically and emotionally in this book, and yet she remains one of the toughest young adult heroines I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Even though Persephone hasn’t grown into her full powers, she is never content to sit on the sidelines. She does everything she can to fight against Thanatos and Zeus. Even though Persephone is a goddess, she is far from perfect. She makes good and bad choices, especially where Aphrodite and the human boy, Joel are concerned. Her mistakes serve to make her an even more relatable and well rounded character.

I must say that Hades makes an interesting hero. In other paranormal or fantasy books, I’ve run across heroes that are supposed to be “dark,” but more often than not these heroes are not very scary. However, Hades really does have a dark side that is truly frightening. When I stop and think about some of the things he’s done to punish people who have hurt Persephone, I am chilled to the core. As dark as Hades seems, he is not a bad person and he loves Persephone very much. I really enjoy watching them grow as a couple.

I thought I had things figured out as I approached the end of Daughter of the Earth and Sky. However, Ms. Bevis threw in a twist that completely floored me. I knew something wasn’t quite right concerning a certain character, but I was definitely not prepared for the way the story ended. The conclusion of Daughter of the Earth and Sky is a cliff hanger. As soon as I finished reading, I literally jumped up and ran to my computer so I could find out when the next book will be out. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Daughter of the Earth and Sky is one of the best books I’ve read. Long after I finished reading, I continued to think about Persephone and wonder what sorts of challenges she will face in the future. I highly recommend Daughter of the Earth and Sky to anyone looking for a young adult tale of love and friendship.

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