Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Breaking The Spine, in which we highlight an upcoming book release we're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm waiting on The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson, the sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes. It's due for release on the 10th of May, 2011.

Maureen Johnson is one of my favorite authors, so although there isn't yet a blurb for this book, I know I'll love it.

Review of The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

I heard about The Vespertine after it's cover was revealed, due to the hype about it in the YA author community on Twitter. I have www.netgalley.com to thank for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.





The Vespertine is set in 1889 Baltimore, where our protagonist, Amelia, is sent by her brother, August, to find a suitable husband. There, she stays with the Stewards and quickly finds herself friends with Zora Steward.

There, she also develops her inexplicable power to foresee the future. Word of her skill spreads, and soon she's sought after to tell fortunes. But when one of her darkest premonitions comes to pass, people have to wonder, does Amelia see these events, or cause them?

There are also interludes in the story which detail Amelia's life back with her brother. This effectively foreshadows an event that will drive her from Baltimore, which compliments her own power of premonitions: though she never foresees her own future, the story does.

The first thing I noticed about The Vespertine was how the prose is written in the language one would have used in 1889. The setting felt extremely well researched and believable - what I love in historical fiction.

In The Vespertine, also, the paranormal aspect is subtle, and takes a backseat to the romantic aspect. The romance itself added to the believability of the setting, in that it followed the social rules of course of the time.

If there was anything about The Vespertine that I less than loved, it would have been how long it took to get to the complication. But with Saundra Mitchell's beautiful way of storytelling and world building I would be lying if I said the lead up to the complication was at all dull.

The ending, without spoiling it, really hit the spot. It left just enough loose ends to maintain its mystique and tied up just enough to not be open-ended.

I give The Vespertine 5 out of 5, and now go off to add The Springsweet, the upcoming companion, to my already long TBR list.

Teaser Tuesday

. Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The point of Teaser Tuesdays is to share teasers (not spoilers) from the book you're currently reading.

So, I'm currently reading The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell, and my teaser is:

"Stop it," Zora scolded.
"I didn't speak!"
"Your pinched little face did." Zora abandoned her punch. "You're lovely tonight, and he would be of the lowest sort to summon you without intent."

Review of You by Charles Benoit.

I found You while browsing Goodreads lists, and the cover and title immediately drew me in. I usually don't go for vague, short, one-word titles, but 'You' is intriguing and personal as a title.







This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.

You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?

There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen?

With an opening line like "You're surprised by all the blood" how could you ever put this down? The answer: you can't, and I sure didn't.

From square one, it was clear to me that You was different. It's written in the second person - something I haven't read in since Choose Your Own Adventure book in grade 3. It also begins with the books ending - the first few and last few pages identical - and then details what led to that conclusion.

You explores how the choices you make effect your future, even and especially the ones that at the time seem inconsequential at the time. Written in past tense from a narrator who knows where he's headed, You is full of foreshadowing of these ramifications.

The use of second person narration makes you feel in the character's shoes the way first person can not. Every line feels personal. You also perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being an outsider, and further makes Kyle a relatable character.

I also found the symbol of broken glass extremely powerful. I could see You as something I'd study in school - something I'd want to study in school. After finishing You I felt like finding someone else who'd read it just so I could discuss it, all the hidden meanings and themes.

An amazing young adult debut and without a doubt my new favorite book, I rate You 6 out of 5.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

The 2011 Debut Author Challenge is hosted by The Story Siren. The objective of this challenge is to read 12 YA books by debut authors. The official 2011 Challenge page can be found here.

Although it isn't a rule, I'm going to try and read a book that debuts in each month for the challenge. So, here's my list of books I'll be reading for the challenge, with links to the reviews as they go up (plus other debuts I may read):


January: Across The Universe by Beth Revis.
               - Other Words For Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
                   - Entangled by Cat Clarke
                   - Timeless by Alexandra Monir
                   - Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
                   - The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
                   - Choker by Elizabeth Woods
February: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney.
               - Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
March: Wither by Lauren DeStefano.
               - Between Shades Of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
                    - Clarity by Kim Harrington
April: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
               - Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer
               - In The Arms Of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane
May: Divergent by Veronica Roth.
               - Putting Makeup On Dead People by Jen Violi
               - Die For Me by Amy Plum
                    - Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
                    - I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler 
June: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz.
               - Forgotten by Cat Patrick
                    - Hourglass by Myra McEntire
                    - Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
July: Bad Taste In Boys by Carrie Harris.
               - Wildefire by Karsten Knight
August: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab.
               - Fury by Elizabeth Miles
                    - Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
                    - Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendrare Blake
September: The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.
               - The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
                    - Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
                    - The Girl Of Fire And Thorns by Rae Carson
                    - The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen
October: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez.
                     - Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
November: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.
               - Saving June by Hannah Harrington
                    - Legend by Marie Lu
                    - The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell
December: I can't even think of a December debut, let alone have I read one!

_______________________________________________________________

This challenge is now over, and I beat the challenge goal of 12 by reading and reviewing 41 2011 debuts!

Review of Always A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough.

Always A Witch is the sequel to Once A Witch; the sequel I wasn't aware even existed until I found it on NetGalley (who I have to thank for the opportunity to read this).

It goes without saying that this review will contain Once A Witch spoilers.





There are two main families of witches - the Greenes and the Knights. The difference between them is their morals. The Knights practiced blood magic, and the Greenes put a stop to this by created the Domani - the device which blocks the Knights from using their Talents.

And this worked - for a while. Before the Knights found the flaw in the Domani and found the way to get their power back.

So when the Greene's future-telling book reads of a time where the Greenes no longer exist, it's clear that the Knights found a way to Travel back and stop the creation of the Domani. It's clear to Tamsin then that she's the only one who can prevent the book's prophecy.

She Travels back to Victorian-era New York and disguises herself as a lady's maid within the Knight's home, wherein she'll have to find a way to save her family before it's too late.

Carolyn MacCullough writing style is suspenseful and enchanting. I read Always A Witch in one sitting. The plot twists constantly, so there's no room for your mind to wander while reading.

The characters felt realistic to me. The juxtaposition between the mannerisms of characters from the the Victorian-era setting and those who really belonged to the modern era was clear. I especially loved Tamsin, for the way she thought on her feet and was brave through all trials she faced. Her voice really showed through the writing, and her emotions left me feeling empathetic to her.

This book also, to me, really stood out from the rest of the books in its genre. The romance was refreshing - to have a love interest like Gabriel who was Tamsin's best friend growing up, and not have a love triangle. The character was also always privy to the supernatural world around her, rather than having a heroine just thrown into a new world and having to adjust.

What I also found so endearing about this book was the unpredictable and clever storyline. It reminded me of The Mortal Instruments series in the way the there were so many plot threads all tangled, if you'll excuse the bad metaphor.

Reaching the end of the book, though I enjoyed the ending that I never saw coming, I felt genuinely sad that the ride was over. Though I'm unsure whether the series is to be continued, the ending of Always A Witch makes it seem as though it's the final installment.

I rate Always A Witch 5 out of 5, and recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's due for release on the 1st of August, 2011.