Swift By R J Anderson (4/5)

I read this book pretty much in one sitting, lounging in a patch of early Spring sunlight. It was a very easy book to read and to get lost in. I find that about everything R J Anderson writes: it's just like a familiar cosy blanket that you can pick up and snuggle into, knowing that you'll feel happy and content for a while. (I feel I've demonstrated this in my previous review of Anderson's work, Arrow) I think it's the author's skill at world building that creates this effect. You can tell that she does her research to make the world we're reading about fit comfortably in our own. The places that she describes are so clear to the reader that parts of it feel like a travel guide. I almost want to make notes of places I want to visit, both faerie and human.

From the beginning of this story, I felt I was thrown into Ivy's everyday life. Getting to know her world was enjoyable right from the start, because she had such a unique voice learning about her world felt natural. Her family and her community, her feelings about herself and her place all provoked the reader's interest, particularly when right at the end of the prologue her mother disappears, leaving only a blood stained scarf behind.

Ivy is a very likeable character; she is brave, very loyal to her family and in spite of being told her limitations she refuses to believe them and craves more. You can't help but feel sympathy for her character when the thing she desires most, flight, has been denied her by a cruel fate that caused her to be born a Piskey without wings. Ivy is put through a lot in this book, her love for her family means she faces betraying her community more than once and throughout everything she shows strength and bravery. Even though she is aware she faces punishment from the only home she has ever known it is up to her to face multiple threats to the community that raised her, both from the outside and from within.

It's been a while since I've read Arrow, so I'm sure I missed some of the hints to this book's relation to the previous series, but I did really enjoy the ones I managed to pick up. After completing Swift, I'm left with the temptation to start reading the books from the beginning again. These are worlds that I can't wait to explore and fall into and I'm left anticipating what could happen to these characters next.

I won't divulge too many further details of the story as there are a few spoilers that are worth finding out for yourself. Overall, Swift was a thoroughly enjoyable, immersive read I would recommend to anyone who loves a reading experience based around exploring fantastic worlds and for whom the scenery and the backdrop are as important as the events and the characters therein.

The Silver Blade By Sally Gardner (4/5)

“Paris, 1793. The blade of the guillotine falls on the neck of the King himself, and the spirit of the French Revolution lies in tatters. The Reign of Terror has begun. Yann Margoza is helping desperate people to escape to England, where Sido, the girl he loves, waits to hear from him. But Yann's past haunts him. He is in grave danger, and so is Sido. For under the streets of Paris, in the catacombs, the howl of a great beast can be heard. And a boy with angelic looks and an evil heart is ready to do the bidding of a man who has made a pact with the devil. A thrilling tale of secrets, of murder, revenge and romance, written with the vividness and passion that made The Red Necklace such a fantastic success”

I stumbled across this book in a tiny bookshop in a little quiet town, whilst on a weekend away. Rather perfect for me, small town, cute bookshop I was in heaven. (Well almost! I will discuss Hay-on-Wye “Bookshop That Becomes A Cocktail Piano Bar” in another blog post *faints*) I was curiously scanning a bookshelf looking for a book that I hadn't read yet. This book jumped out at me because of my “It's shiny” Magpie personality. It had the wonderful shiny image on a black background look, that I am fond of. All it took was turning over the book to read the top line “Paris, 1793.” With that it had to be mine. I have a certain weakness for any adventure in a historical setting, add in Paris and the devil to that and the Bibliophile in me is putty in your authorly hands.

I really enjoyed this book for reasons that weren't always central to the plot. I loved the setting, I loved the darkness, the fear of the aristocracy and the gritty, dirty, realism of the newly empowered working class. I could picture the bars with their straw covered floors, could smell the spilled beer and neglected to recently wash patrons. In the scenes with the actors you could smell the greasy face paint, see their stressed, haggard expressions in a very real way. That is talented writing at its best. I think I've read so much urban fantasy recently that this was slightly out of my comfort zone, but in a wonderful swashbuckling adventure kind of way.

This book was dark. Dark in a way that a lot of other books try for and miss. Dark in a casual, almost easy way. It pulled you in and sat you next to the characters, made you hide in the shadows and clutch your loved ones in sympathy for the aristocrats. There were certain parts to the book that didn't grip me as much as other books have done, didn't make me feel for the individual main characters in some way. I didn't care for them as much as I usually do when I read fiction. But this world, the atmosphere, the background characters, the setting, they grabbed me and brought me into the world in a way that the main characters didn't quite manage to do. But for once I didn't think that this detracted from my enjoyment of the book. The fear and world was more than enough for me and I indulgently fell into it and savoured the experience.

I was greatly disappointed when I realised that this book was a sequel, meaning I would have to read them in the wrong order. This didn't reduce my enjoyment of the book though, even though it should have. This was a world that I really enjoyed to explore and would like to visit again.

City of Fallen Angels By Cassandra Clare (4/5)

I stumbled across this in my local Waterstones before I even knew it had been released (Bad me losing track of time!) I was very surprised that they weren't making a bigger deal of it, and the cashier expressed the same sentiments. I was looking forward to reading it so much that I of course cancelled the rest of my shopping trip and had to go home. *coughbibliophilecough* I discovered that I was not able to walk down the street knowing that I had this book with me and was not reading it. I'd already owned it for at least 2 minutes, what was wrong with me? Luckily over the years of my addiction to fiction I have fashioned the rather talented skill of Read Walking. It means you can see enough of major obstacles to avoid them and the minor obstacles (AKA People) tend to avoid you rather than be stepped on.

There are still certain aspects to this book that I haven't quite made my mind up about yet. There were things that I really enjoyed, and the same writing style that I had fallen in love with was still there, but something felt like it had missed the mark somehow. My favourite aspect was the sheer amount of Simon perspective. I love seeing the world through Simon's eyes, even as a Vampire he has a connection with humanity and a level of compassion that the other characters don't seem to be able to grasp. His efforts to understand his new found power and to control his blood-lust made the book a page turner. I have always found Simon to be infinitely likeable, even when he is turned into a creature that is a hunter of humanity he still finds a way to be essentially himself, with kindness and humility. I loved the fact that the addition of his new romantic appeal could have made him seem like an intimidating, unrelatable Romeo, but instead it turned him even more so into an awkward, confused teenage boy, with very amusing results. Clare has a way of being able to write a character so well that you can see what they see, feel what they feel. Her characters always grab you and take you with them on their ride. I really enjoyed Jace's extended socialising with Simon in this book, they make a very unlikely couple and I found the snark and mocking very entertaining. Going with the theme of unlikely couples I found the addition of the character of Kyle to be a breath of fresh air, he was nice and dedicated and managed to fit in well with Simon and Jace's interactions. I was also able to predict the twist in Kyle's story, but that didn't make me love it any less. *adores*

On the other hand I didn't find that Clary and Jace's relationship grabbed me as much as it had in the previous books. As much as I wish it did, it just didn't. It felt somehow that their story was so neatly tied up in the end of the last book that creating a new trauma for them to overcome was just a little bit too much. Now the eternal fan girl in me absolutely loved the angst, but plot wise it just didn't feel necessary. I know that the book wouldn't have worked if they were all “Happily Ever After” so I can't offer an opinion to how I would have preferred it, I just didn't feel that it all tied up as neatly as I was used to in the previous books. Clary seemed somehow like a non presence in this book. This didn't stop me from enjoying the exploits of the boys however. They still made the book very enjoyable, but not as enjoyable as it could have been. I still eagerly await the next book from Clare, because ever since her fan fiction days I have been in love with her snarky, sarcastic characters and epic story lines. I think I probably always will be too.

Charmed Life By Diana Wynne Jones (4/5)

Once again I have a book by Diana Wynne Jones that leaves me thoroughly impressed by the woman's imagination. (You can read my previous review of a Diana Wynne Jones book HERE) This book follows a young boy nicknamed Cat and his sister after the death of their parents. Cat's sister Gwendolen has the gift of magic and he admires her very much, after the loss of their parents he has nobody to cling to but her. This is the reason that he lets her take the lead on most things and doesn't seem to realise that she isn't really a nice person. Her magic makes her vain and selfish and she cares far more about her own success in the field than her younger brother.

When a fortune teller tells Gwendolen that she is destined for fame and power she arranges for them to be taken away from their carer by the rich and powerful Enchanter, Chrestomanci.
Unfortunately for Gwendolen when she arrives there children are forbidden from using magic without the supervision of their teacher. Gwendolen doesn't take this very well and begins to use magic anyway, resulting in punishment. This causes her to misbehave more than ever and she acts out repeatedly, causing mayhem for the entire household, trees crowd around the building, the house is in perpetual darkness, all of the food transforms. Some of the things she does even frighten her younger brother, but she would never stop for his benefit.

Eventually Gwendolen gets fed up with the tight controls of the house and runs away to another world, finding a doppelgänger from a parallel world to fill in her place. Her lookalike is friendlier than Gwendolen and yet finds herself being punished and disliked by the majority of the household, who understandably still believe her to be Gwendolen.

The conclusion of the book leads Cat to find out a secret about himself and the true nature of his sister. I won't reveal the exact details in this review as it surprised me in some ways, so I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone. It was the kind of revelation that turns a book on its head and makes you flick back through the story in order to see if you could have seen this from the beginning. For this reason I would recommend it to anyone, particularly fans of any of Diana Wynne Jones' other works.

This is the first book that I read by Diana Wynne Jones since learning of her tragic passing. The back of this version had a few interviews with her, where she discussed things like which characters she would like to meet in real life and how her travelling was usually jinxed. It was quite strange to listen to her fascinating opinions and imagination after her demise, and yet it made me realise how much she has truly left behind for the children of future generations. They have these wonderful fantasy books to dive into, different worlds they can wander into whenever they want to escape from reality, and isn't that one of the best things you can give someone? The world has truly lost one of its greatest imaginations, but at least it still has these wonderful books to experience for as long as they are needed.

Maddigan's Fantasia By Margaret Mahy (4/5)

This is the third of Margaret Mahy's books that I have read and I think I can say that it is by far my favourite. I think I enjoyed it the most because the travelling circus gave a unique atmosphere to the story. The fantasia seemed more like a character itself than a setting and it travelled through so many different locations, giving the whole book quite a sense of adventure. I loved the idea of a travelling circus full of many different personalities, all moving together to various places just hoping to find an audience to perform to. This may have been my favourite part of the book. The Fantasia was lovely to read about.

Another part of the story that shone out to me was the relationship between Garland and her mother and how they each coped after the death of Garland's father. Both were very powerful characters and they clashed a lot in the story, but beneath that was a deep familial love for one another that nothing could beat. Garland's mother Maddie was strong and dedicated and Garland rightfully felt that Maddie could lead the Fantasia on after the loss of her father. But what Garland didn't always understand is that she was not the only character grieving. Her mother and her father's friends all deeply missed him too and they were just trying to keep going, to do what he would have wanted and keep the Fantasia moving. Garland's hostility towards Yves was also great to read. She thought he was trying to take her father's place, by leading the Fantasia and comforting her mother, and it takes a long time for her to come to terms with the fact that he cared about her father as well and his actions are in the best interests of all of them.

The main character of Garland was very likeable. She was kind but not too soft. She had a great strength and determination that she clearly inherited from her parents and their lifestyle. She goes through a lot in this story and is tested in many different ways, but always fights back, stays strong and takes any adventure that is offered to her. Through this sense of adventure she meets two brothers and their baby sister who claim to be from a very unpleasant future. Their stories all intertwine and, as they travel together escaping evil henchmen time and time again, they face many different unpleasant experiences in their journey. Fake witches, mind altering food, towns ruled by irresponsible children and even communities that had been abandoned since they last visited them. Though the world they're in is very hostile and dangerous as long as they're together and able to perform to an audience then the Fantasia will survive.

The brothers, Timon and Eden are also both great characters. The older brother looking like a prince from a fairytale, but with his own dark secret and the younger who looks like he is an extension of the forest and is able to conjure flowers to fall from the air and the ground to bounce like a trampoline. The boys are determined to change the future they have come from and prevent the evil Nennog from ever taking power but their every footstep is followed by the Nennog's evil henchmen, one human, one that appears human.

Together the Fantasia must fight future evil and current hostility everywhere they go, defeating many challenges and always remaining unified and strong. It was an enjoyable escapist read and I'm glad to have found something of Mahy's that I could enjoy as much as I'm sure the author deserves.

Arrow By R J Anderson (4/5)

Once again R J Anderson has allowed us to visit the wonderful world that she created in the first of this series “Knife”. (Review of previous book in this series, Rebel.) In this book we are shown the battle for the Oakenwyld through the eyes of Rhosmari, a Faerie who has lived her entire life on the Green Isles as one of The Children of Rhys. The Faerie population of these Isles are pacifist by nature and have no desire to join a fight, but after the loss of their Stone of Naming they are unsettled and one of the Elders, Rhosmari's mother, is considering aggressive action to get the stone back. The thought of this scares Rhosmari so much that she decides to run away to the mainland and try and find Garan, the Faerie responsible for the removal of the stone from the Isles and Rhosmari's ex betrothed, and get it back.

I loved Rhosmari's attitude in this book, she was strong and yet completely naïve to the world outside of her personal experience. Even though she was very knowledgeable and a very accomplished scholar she had some preconceptions about herself and the world around her that were altered quite extremely throughout her journey. I loved her gentle, idealistic nature and found her a character that was very likeable, especially when she found solace in research. She meets many people on her journey and doesn't always know who to trust, even though she is wise it turns out she is easily manipulated because of her somewhat optimistic spirit. Her morality is tested quite a lot throughout the story as she interacts with people who handle situations differently than she would. She questions her own extreme views and has to accept that in certain situations deception and violence are unfortunately a necessary evil. The development of her character in this way was a fascinating read, I respected her because of her peaceful attitude and watching her morality shift and change because of the distressing situations she finds herself in really pulled me into the story to travel with her on her journey.

Another theme to this story that I found great was the concept of loyalty and betrayal. When you are setting out on a journey on your own how do you know who to trust? What does someone need to do to prove themselves to you? And even then can you ever really know what someone, or even what you yourself are really capable of? Rhosmari's trust is tested a lot in this story, people she thought to be friends turn out to be less than trustworthy and people who she naturally distrusts because of actions which she sees as immoral turn out to be the ones she can rely on the most.

I really enjoyed reading this book and read it very quickly over a couple of days. I had a rather over excited moment when Cardiff was visited in the story, as this is the place that I am currently moving to. : ) Like the previous books in this series I loved the world building and vast amount of characters. This book also had a plot that was like a snowball, once it started to roll it just grew and grew. There was never a slow moment, or a part that felt like it suffered for editing, it was all great reading.

At the end of the book I am treated to the news that not only is Anderson releasing another book in this story, “Swift” but also a story for older readers, “Ultraviolet” I can't wait for more on these. I have great faith in this author to give me a rich world I can fall into it, main characters that I invest so much hope into and villains that I can't bring myself to dislike no matter how deplorable their actions are. This is because whatever she writes she makes it feel real and tangible, everyone has a history and a story of their own. I can't wait for more.


Currently Reading: The Iron Witch By Karen Mahoney

Beauty By Robin McKinley (4/5)

This is the first book in a while that I have found myself falling into, I read it in less than two days, whilst moving house and interviewing for jobs in a new country. I didn't care, they could wait. It was only The Book that mattered. : ) This happens quite rarely for me these days, so when I find myself unable to put a book down I just let myself go with the flow.

Beauty and The Beast is my favourite Disney film and one of my favourite films of all time. I don't care if it's meant to be for children, I fell in love with it when I was 6 and apparently it was a love that would last a lifetime. I still have the original VHS that I used to watch as a child and just got the DVD for Christmas.(*squeal*) I watched it three times in one week and feel no shame about this. Small town heroine yearns to escape, achieve more in life and have adventures? Me like. So, with this in mind it was with great trepidation that I picked this book off of the shelf. I'd been disappointed in a Beauty & The Beast novel before, (Beastly Review) Though I'd heard good things about Robin McKinley, I've been meaning to pick up something by her for ages, so when I saw this I couldn't resist. Also I really liked the simple cover, the white background with black and red detail is very striking.

Firstly in this story, I loved the main character of Beauty and the way that the story spent nearly half of the book developing her character and her relationship with her family before sending her to The Beast's castle. Far too often in some novels I've finished them thinking that the heroine had far too little personality, this was not the case with this book at all. Beauty was strong and independent, and I liked how she responded the best out of her family to their new labouring life in the country. You could feel a real sense of achievement when she was able to find a place in the new town and discover jobs that she could do well. The trials of her family and their personal journey from a life of indulgence to hard work and semi poverty was a great story on it's own, separate from Beauty's interactions with The Beast. This part of the story was written so well that even though The Beast doesn't enter the story for the first part of the novel, I was still gripped by what would happen to this family, and these characters that I had grown to like.

The characterisation in this story was very well done. Her sisters were very different from her and yet still different from one another. It would have been easy for the author to have made them semi villain like, and yet they were loving and caring, in spite of the differences that made them superior in Beauty's eyes. Grace's loyalty and dedication to a lost love was quite touching, and I felt it made her character feel deeper, I was really hoping that she would find happiness. Hope's desire to settle with someone who many would think beneath her, gave an interesting twist to her character. The life that her and Ger made together was quaint and lovely, I liked the way that she responded to married life, and thought that as a couple they were nice to read about.

I found that Beauty's exploration of the enchanted castle was written very well. It captured the elegance and grand scale of the place very well. It was so well described that I could practically see it, the tall towers piercing the sky, and the grounds stretching out in front of the large castle doors. Throughout all of the descriptions of this marvellous place I was gripped by Beauty's views on it, her wonder and fear, her strength and yet hesitance. It was all great reading.

The Beast's characterisation is the only part of the story that I'm a little unsure of. I liked that he was stiffly formal in some ways, his complete acceptance that he would look terrifying to Beauty and that this was something that just had to be dealt with, was an interesting point of view. I loved the way that the characters spoke to one another, particularly when dining together. However, outside of Beauty's perspective it was sometimes hard to see the depth of The Beast's love for her. His formality in this matter made him seem somewhat cold, and it's hard to think of a character as being in love if they don't show a certain kind of weakness and vulnerability. This was communicated very well sometimes, one being when Beauty fainted on him and her subsequent reaction and anger, and again when she managed to get Greatheart to approach him, even though the horse was determined to bolt. I would have liked to have seen more examples of the depth of his fragility, as these were some of my favourite parts of the book.

The development of Beauty's feelings however were done wonderfully. I thought it was a great idea that she didn't even realise that she cared about him until she found herself defending him against her family's judgement. I liked the gradual dependence she began to have on him, even though she was still afraid from time to time. The solitary lifestyle she suffered made the small time she spent with him the highlight of her day. There was a certain feel of Stockholm Syndrome about the whole thing in some ways. :S Her change of opinion towards The Beast was so gradual that it's hard to pin point when it actually changed, and in my experience this means it has been written well.

The whole story had a certain poetical style about it and the writing style was beautiful and yet didn't detract from the story at all. The world building was brilliant and allowed you to fall into the story in many different ways, all of the different environments described were so three dimensional that you want to wander around them, from the small town that the family finds themselves making a life in, to the enchanted forest and the castle beyond.

The book was a pleasure to read and the whole world was one that I was unwilling to leave when the story ended. I think that a bookish heroine like Beauty would enjoy to read it very much.

Enchanted Glass By Diana Wynne Jones (4/5)

“When Andrew Hope's magician grandfather dies, he leaves his house and field-of-care to his grandson who spent much of his childhood there. Andrew has forgotten much of this, but he remembers the very strong- minded staff and the fact that his grandfather used to put the inedibly large vegetables on the roof of the shed, where they'd have vanished in the morning. He also remembers the very colourful stained-glass window in the kitchen door, which he knows it is important to protect.

Into this mix comes young Aidan Cain, who turns up from the orphanage asking for safety. Exactly who he is and why he's there is unclear, but a strong connection between the two very soon becomes apparent.

There is a mystery to be solved, and nothing is as it appears to be. But nobody can solve the mystery, until they find out exactly what it is!”

My initial response after putting down this book was that I may have just finished my favourite Diana Wynne Jones book yet and that I really wanted to read it again. I've always enjoyed her writing style and been amused by her work, but there has somehow been a barrier between me and the story, meaning that I couldn't connect with it as much as I would have liked to. This book was the closest I have come yet.

I really enjoyed the two main characters of Andrew and Aidan. I liked reading about Andrew because of the serious and practical ways he went about his business, and how this was directly contrasted by the rather old fashioned population in the town his Grandfather had lived in. Mr Stock and Mrs Stock were extremely entertaining characters, and the idea that they were loyal employees of the house, even though they never did what they were told and more often than not, directly made Andrew's life more inconvenient, was great to read. Aidan's curiosity and independent spirit made him a fun character to read the perspective of. I particularly enjoyed his exploration of the mysterious powers he had discovered and the subsequent dangers that he is exposed to. His repeated clashes with the various creatures in the community and the way he responds to each situation are great to read, one of my favourites being Rolf the Weredog. I particularly enjoyed the fact that most of the characters in the book were counterparts of Mr Brown's Folk, and that they responded to this rather comfortably and pro actively.

The only part of the book that felt slightly rushed and contrived to me was the love story between Andrew and Stashe. The two characters separately were great and their interactions were entertaining, but the change from impressed to besotted was too sudden for me. This may change upon re reading, but this was the only flaw in what I felt was a great book, with fabulous world building and realistic characters.

I also find the book itself absolutely beautiful, it's now one of my favourites. The colours and the text are just perfect. I was also lucky enough to find a signed copy of this wonderful book to add to my collection. *beams*

Currently Reading: The Princess Diaries 1 (Again!) : )

A Conspiracy of Kings By Megan Whalen Turner (4/5)

This story follows the path of Sophos, the young heir to the throne of Sounis. Though, like in the previous books, his path crosses that of other familiar characters. It was very refreshing to experience this young boy grow into a strong man. His character development was well written and subtle. He changes a lot though this story and as it is described step by step none of it seems unrealistic or sudden. The gradual shaping of him into a figure of authority that was able to lead his nation was very entertaining to read. He is a very likeable individual that has the support of the reader right from the beginning.

The relationships between all of the characters are all linked beautifully, and even though the situation of all 3 countries is completely different than it was at the start of the first book, every little plot twist was written so well that it all just felt natural. It was impressive how the author could inter link all of the previous main characters lives and not have it feel forced or incongruous.

The plot once again follows the countries through various wars and demonstrates how a specific leader defends their country against attack, both externally and internally. I liked reading how Sophos was basically forced into the position of leader and had to fight to assume the position how he wished to, rather than to be a puppet of someone who felt he could be manipulated. This character's alteration from young vulnerable heir to strong leader was brilliant. My favourite part was when he lived as a slave, and found himself in a content position amongst a group of slaves. It was a completely different situation for him to find himself in, and yet he managed to find a sense of belonging amongst them. His personality developed as a result, and he found strength whilst being treated like the lowest form of being. The increase of his strength and courage made this book a very good read. I did miss Gen's POV being the primary one, but I really did find myself taking to Sophos as a character.

The King of Attolia By Megan Whalen Turner (4/5)

Another fabulous book in this series, and my favourite so far. One of the best aspects of this story was how out of his depth Eugenides actually was. I liked seeing him like this, since he usually always has the upper hand, his attendants definitely made life for him rather difficult. Whether it was complicating matters for him in his bed chamber, his wardrobe or with his meals they made things pretty unpleasant and each time Gen's response entertained me. I enjoyed reading about his interactions in court and how even though people were trying to get the better of him, he always managed to stay one step ahead, whether we were aware of it in the story or not. He always seems to know everyone's motivations whilst feigning indifference or ignorance, and that makes him a very clever opponent.

The development of the relationship between the King and Queen in this novel was great to read, and whether it was people hating Gen's claim over the queen or the court being shocked by the little insights they were given, I happily absorbed it all. My favourite moments of these characters interactions were when they were both taken to beyond their limit, such as both characters response to Gen becoming injured; Gen whining and the Queen fainting was spectacular. I also enjoyed the subtle indications Eugenides gave about how he could influence the Queen more than people gave him credit for, such as during the events after his incident, with Teleus and Aris.

The introduction of the character of Costis was a nice new breath of life. I loved his honour and loyalty and how these sometimes led him to do stupid things, such as his actions at the start of the novel that lead to his relationship with the King. I think the development of his character is a wonderful part of the book. His opinions slowly change when he is exposed to new information and influenced subtly without being aware of it. He was a likeable, reliable character who not only made mistakes, but worked very hard to fix them as well.

My favourite part of the series is still the character of Eugenides though. Whether he is lying, cheating, stealing, complaining, whining, being snarky or being melodramatic I find him wonderful to read. He just lights up the page, his comments make me laugh and the way he deliberately baits people into response has me avidly reading for more. He is such a fabulously written character and I don't think I could ever get sick of him.

Currently Reading: A Conspiracy of Kings By Megan Whalen Turner

The Queen of Attolia By Megan Whalen Turner (4/5) *Explicit Spoilers*

I have decided that the only way I can write this review clearly is to include explicit spoilers, which I haven't actually done yet, or at least I don't think I have! *ponders*

I have found this rather fabulous summary that Sarah Rees Brennan (Of The Demon's Lexicon Series) posted earlier this year, before I had read the books it confused me, after reading them I find it hysterical. : )

“GEN: There goes the Queen of Attolia, that hateful hellbeast. Hi Attolia, I'm in your kingdom stealing your miracle stone.
ATTOLIA: I poisoned my fiance you know. Why do you think it is a good idea to cross me?
GEN: I broke into your bedroom just to leave earrings by your bed. Mocking earrings.
ATTOLIA: I have hatched a cunning plan to catch you. And now I'm going to cut off your hand.
GEN: No, you're not, I am the hero of the story, and a master thief. There's no way - ow. OW.
ATTOLIA: Told you.
GEN: I am off to plot my revenge. It will involve kidnapping you and taking you away in a boat and threatening your life.
ATTOLIA: Well, crap.
GEN: Or... we could get married.
ATTOLIA: Wut?
GEN: I love you! DID YOU LIKE MY EARRINGS. PLEASE SAY YES.
ATTOLIA: I cut off your hand.
VILLAIN: I have rescued you, Attolia. Are you not GRATEFUL?
ATTOLIA: So grateful! He is short and younger than me and missing a hand and crazy. By the way, do you like my new earrings?
VILLAIN: Very fetching!
ATTOLIA: They're a sign I'm going to doublecross you and marry Gen.
GEN: I'm so happy, my brilliantly deceitful love. As a wedding present to ourselves, shall I defeat all the troublesome nobles in your country by means of trickery, fashion, and brilliant swordplay?
ATTOLIA: Assuredly you may, my husband. Come visit me through our secret passageways and we'll do pillowplotting.
EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD: But... she cut off your hand.
GEN AND ATTOLIA: Every relationship has problems. Don't be a hater.”

Full Sarah Post Here People should read it as it's fabulous, as is everything she writes.

So, so. Urm. Eh? These were pretty much my first opinions when I put down the book. I adored it, first thing I did was text people to explain the insane wonderment I was feeling in response to the love story that is revealed near the end of the book.

Firstly, The Thief teases the queen by leaving her gifts at her bedside, to prove that there is nowhere he can't break into and nothing he can't take. Of course this plan all falls apart into a big fire ball of doom when he is caught. *insert evil laugh here* Once again our poor hero Gen finds himself incarcerated, mistreated and underfed. *pats his head* What we then find out is, this is not the worst situation our wonderful hero can find himself in. When he is dragged to what is essentially a torture chamber, we still believe in his ability to escape any danger and charm himself out of any situation. Then his hand is cut off. O_o To him this is a fate worse than death, he wishes he'd have been killed. His hands are an essential part of his craft, and his grief over losing his hand is incredibly well written and it is very interesting to read about how he learns to cope and adapts his life to suit his new limitation.

It is at this point that the queen begins to regret what she's done. Possibly my favourite metaphor ever written was mentioned here, where she thinks back to a tantrum she had as a child and broke one of her favourite belongings. This was just perfect and I felt I could understand how the Queen's feelings may begin to change. Especially since Gen is well known to be a little easy on the eyes. Plus he's sarcastic and snarky and the ladies *coughmecough* always love this in fiction. : ) The queen begins to lose sleep and dwell on what she has done, and this is written very clearly and subtly throughout the novel. I was happy with it's development. The development of Gen's feelings for the Queen however were quite an extreme shock! As far as I was aware he hated her, wanted revenge, and wanted her to suffer at his hands. My opinion on the situation is pretty much the same as the Queen's was, 'Huh? What? How? What?!' I believed as she did that it must have just been an elaborate trick to make his revenge on her all the sweeter. Apparently he is sincere though, I guess I have trouble with sincerity, especially when it seems without appropriate motivation.

So I guess it just goes to show you, if you want somebody to fall in love with you all you have to do is incarcerate them, feed them very little, beat them up when they anger you and then tie them up and chop off their dominant hand. A couple of years obsessing over getting their revenge on you will result in a marriage proposal that you literally can't refuse. Well, can't refuse without being drowned anyway. : ) Their love may be sudden, but the angst, the verbal banter and the outright death threats make it a very interesting love to read about! I can't wait to read more of them, it's probably a little cruel that I hope they argue lots. Hehe.

Other than the love story the novel pretty much functions as it's predecessor did. It follows a sequence of events, in this case a war. The war strategies were very well thought out and I liked the way they all intertwined. Good attention was given to the individual parts of the four nations mentioned and what their roles were in various attacks. The background characters were as entertaining as before, but sadly shadowed by Gen and the Attolian Queen. They were so detailed and so passionate that they practically leapt off the page and began to bicker in front of your face. I will be picking up the next book to read as soon as I finish this review! … *reads*


Currently Reading: The King of Attolia By Megan Whalen Turner

The Thief By Megan Whalen Turner (4/5)

A fabulous book containing wonderful characterisation enfolded in world building so deep you feel like you are there. Considering this first book is pretty much just a journey it is never dull and I finished it within a day. It reminded me of fairy tales I used to read as a child and I can completely understand why it was awarded with the Newbery Honor award. It is so rich in detail and yet it isn't overwhelming or so complex it detracts from the plot. It isn't really a book where you race to the finish line but one you can savour comfortably and read for hours without realising that any time has passed at all, each page can be enjoyed individually, which is unique to me. I usually only enjoy books when I am racing towards the conclusion. This book was a pleasant switch from my usual habits. I found that it read like I was watching a film, the visuals were brilliant and the pace was measured. It would make a great movie I'm sure!

The character of Gen was a brilliant one. He is snarky, sneaky and capable of causing much swooning amongst ladies, when he has bathed that is. : ) I loved reading a book from his perspective. I have a great weakness for cheeky heroes with slight attitude problems. I will seek help about this soon I am sure *lies blatantly* I never ever tired of his character, and whether he was conning people out of their belongings, picking pockets, insulting soldiers or disrespecting royalty, I greedily devoured every word. The revelation of his character towards the end of the book just made me love him more. He is so gloriously described and flushed out that I feel as though I've met him. *loves*

The other four characters that accompany/drag Gen on his travels are all written wonderfully. Their characters are described and developed with great skill. I feel like I got to know each of them in detail. They were so realistic and I almost felt as though I was riding a horse along side of them. (Though I would have fallen off often and embarrassed myself horribly more than once, Hehe)

I can't wait to fall into this world again in the next book. I can picture myself already, climbing a tree and making myself comfortable or sitting in a big arm chair with a huge mug beside me. I think I'm going to enjoy this series a lot and it's a refreshing change from the type of books I usually read. This may be the first book I've been able to fall into because of the world it provided. Rather than falling into a book which altered this world, like urban fantasy. I'm glad I have began on this journey.

Currently Reading: The Queen of Attolia By Megan Whalen Turner

Devil's Kiss By Sarwat Chadda (4/5)

The first few pages took me a while to get into, but once I did I just flew through pretty much the entire book in a couple of days. The plot hits a point and the pace increases so much it's almost impossible to put the book down comfortably. I really enjoyed reading about Billi, and I loved her strength, both emotionally and physically. I found her a really interesting character to follow. She is grumpy, wants more from life and can fight with weapons. That to me is an interesting heroine.

Billi's relationship with her dad is a very unique one and makes for some great reading. There is an interesting line between loyalty and obligation, and how familial affection can get lost in that balance. The relationship for Billi that offers support in this story is with Kay. The way she felt that he had abandoned her without a second thought was great reading for an “Angst Fan” like myself. It conveys the emotion involved in missing someone terribly and still being upset with them that they had to leave in the first place. Their roller-coaster friendship will keep you rolling until the very end. Plus the fact that he couldn't always help himself from reading her thoughts kept the scenes very fresh!

My favourite part of the story was the mythology. I am a geek, I should hope after this many reviews and fangirling recaps that much should be obvious. : ) I just ate it up, I wanted more of it. When it comes to the perspective of Satan being a fallen angel, I cannot get enough. I loved the various categories of 'Angels' in this novel. The good the bad and the very bad. I think Angels have been given a good reputation for far too long, people choose to forget that Satan himself is a fallen angel. They hear the term “God's Warriors” and still don't see the terrifying result of an angels wrath. This was the best mythology of Angels that I have come across in a while and I enjoyed it a lot.

I also enjoyed the fact that all of this happened on the dark streets of London. The fact that the mystery and history was focused around an area that so many people presume to know was very well done. I like dark, gritty writing set in an environment that I can imagine and that is exactly what this book provided.

The only negative to the book I can think of is that it seemed to lack a certain depth in some areas, it didn't actually have that many characters outside of the main circle, and those who were in the circle weren't flushed out very much. This is easily overlooked however when the characters who were discussed were described brilliantly and their relationships were written with enough complications to feel realistic and tangible.

I don't want to spoil the ending in case people come across this who haven't read the book but, Oh my goodness! Sarwat clearly has no mercy, my heart! It hurts! I cried and I read and I cried some more. The writing was so good that I was sobbing my little heart out. I know that I'm relating to a character when I can feel their pain as if it is my own. Good job. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel. I just hope it's more gentle on my heartstrings than this one was, I doubt it somehow. : )

Read about my brief meeting with Sarwat Chadda HERE

Currently Reading: The Thief By Megan Whalen Turner

Glass Houses By Rachel Caine (4/5)

Okay firstly, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I was going to, what can I say? When it comes to Vampires I've been burned *coughtwilightcough* Actually, not only burned, but staked, decapitated, garlic thrust into my mouth, left out in the sun to turn crispy, kind of betrayed. *wipes away tear*

Finally I can get back to a Vampire story that I can have some respect for. The Vampires in this book were not cuddly or heaven forbid sparkly. *shudder* They were intelligent, controlling, master business men and women of a small community. One small detail that improves this notion is the addition that everyone in the town has to pay a Blood Tax. That is a very fabulous and creative concept that really works in the world that is being built up. I like the idea of the Vampires being at the top of a hierarchy and keeping the humans alive around them that are serving a purpose. This whole aspect of the fantasy seemed a very common sense approach to the town and anchored the novel in this reality, which made it such a better read.

The book shines most with its human characters though. All four of the main personalities are so individual and different that they really are fun to read. Their interactions are casual and understandable. I thought Claire was a great character. I liked the fact that despite being intelligent and placed into College in advance she was still naïve in relation to the world around her in a lot of ways. I also loved how she found a fierce inner strength and was capable of achieving great things when she put her mind to it. She was scrappy and scared and I enjoyed reading about her a lot. Eve was a lot of fun. A snarky Goth girl who was thrown out of her house by her parents because she refused to accept the protection that was being offered her, in exchange for something she wasn't prepared to give. She was fun, loyal and I'd read the sequel just to find out more about her. The boys close friendship is a highlight, improved by their subtle differences in temperament. I like the way they all work as part of a team, and have their own roles in the house. They are a very small community and function separately from the rest of the town, with each of them playing their part. Plus it can't help that both boys are described as cute, right? ; )

I do look forward to the rest of the series and regret not picking it up earlier, simply because it was a Vampire novel! I can understand how one of the author's favourite books is Salem's Lot, I can read that vibe quite clearly in this story. The whole idea of a town being taken over with very little being done about it is very King. In my opinion, this first novel of this series is very well done, building up an interesting world and introducing great characters. Can't wait for more!

Read about my brief meeting with Rachel Caine HERE

Currently Reading: The Changeover By Margaret Mahy

Ballad By Maggie Stiefvater (4/5)

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good, well thought out, rich read. It was more of a 'Becoming absorbed in a world' kind of book than a whirlwind, but that didn't affect my enjoyment of it, it just meant that I could take my time reading it.

I really enjoyed the character of James, from his arrogance and attitude problems to his deep loyalty and emotional depth. Everything about him was great, he was such a three dimensional character, with flaws and issues. And then on top of this he is constantly entertaining with one liners that make you wish you were taking notes. One of my favourite qualities in a novel is witty dialogue. Especially if it is sharp and occasionally quite cutting. God bless sarcasm. : )

I liked the pace of his feelings for Nuala, the shift from distrust to true affection was gradual and well done. This is impressive when you take into account that the author had to juggle him being in love with his old childhood friend at the same time. In the hands of a less accomplished writer this could have been a disaster, causing many people to lose sympathy with James. Throughout this book you can feel his confusion and heartache, and it doesn't feel unrealistic or out of character. I like the extra insight you get of him via his habit of writing notes on his hands. It was a great way to communicate that the main character was suffering anxiety and yet still kept up his great show of confidence and egotism.

The character of Nuala was brilliant. The best aspect of her in my opinion was the fact that she is basically a materialisation of all of James' desires and yet through this she realises that what he desires matches how she truly feels deep down. This is the one of my favourite metaphors for a healthy, loving relationship that I have come across in a while. Real love is the type that brings out the best in you and allows you to truly be yourself. Nuala was sharp, firm, beautiful and slightly kick ass. They make quite a brilliant couple The Muse and The Piper. The descriptions of how she suffers because she needs to absorb artist's years of life is wonderfully written. The fact that she can't face taking any of James' years results in her weakening and an increase in sympathy from the reader. The way her character develops because of James' influence, even though he isn't overly soft or emotional is great to read. He isn't quite comfortable expressing his feelings and yet just being around him with his sarcasm and feigned carelessness is enough to make her a better person. That alone is enough to make this a relationship worth reading about.

I also thought that communicating Dee's feelings in this novel via unsent text messages was a very clever method indeed when the character doesn't get a point of view in the story. It allowed the reader to see some of the tale from her perspective and explain her actions, and yet didn't take up much page time or alter the feel of the book. That was an impressive addition. I actually felt quite sorry for Dee in this story, she managed to lose everything, and by not truly appreciating James when he was there, she almost lost him too. Losing James, now that would be a justified reason to be heart broken. *nods wisely*

The whole plot to this novel felt very tight and well edited. The characters progression felt natural and well explained. The revelations throughout were written well and allowed the book to unfold, moving towards an ending that you can feel approach, as you are counting along with the characters. This is book that I would enjoy to read again. Another great book by Maggie Stiefvater.

Currently Reading: Let The Right One In By John Ajvide Lindqvist

Runaway By Meg Cabot (4/5)

Like everything Meg Cabot writes this book was an easy, fun, entertaining read. I finished it in one sitting, and it was the fastest I have read a book in a while. I really liked the plot twist at the end, even though it was predictable it was still absolutely great to read, it would be the most likely use for that technology if it did exist, so it was only realistic.

I liked the fact that Em slowly came to terms with being Nikki. How she realised that she could still be her, and how her true friends still treated her in the same way, even though she looked different on the outside. I love her relationship with Christopher and what a roller coaster ride it is. Though I did prefer him much more with long hair. : ) Her little sister was also fun to read about in this book, and I liked how she grew more as a character

I liked how most of the characters in this book stopped being as selfish as they were previously and started to think more about how their actions were affecting their friends and others around them. The greatest example of this is with Brendan Stark and Nikki Howard herself. I loved Nikki's make over and how it made her think differently about how she perceived her own beauty.

All in all the book was rather simplistic and predictable with no major surprises. Yet it was incredibly entertaining from start to finish and never had a dull moment. I would encourage everybody to try out this author's books, as they are so easy and entertaining to read. I don't think anyone could manage not to enjoy them, unless they took themselves far too seriously! Meg Cabot's writing sparkles, and is always amusing, light and quite an addictive read. Great fun.

Currently Reading: Ballad By Maggie Stiefvater

The Graveyard Book By Neil Gaiman (4/5)

I really really enjoyed this book. Gaiman is an amazing author. Every character was three dimensional and realistic, which given the subject matter is quite an achievement! I loved the character of Bod and wanted to follow him through his entire life and I particularly loved Liza.

The twist near the end was less of a twist for me, because I look into things more then I should. : ) But it was still brilliant writing. I loved the darkness, I loved the characters, I didn't want it to end. Just wonderful. I am trying to get everyone I know to read this book, but it's turning out to be quite tricky. Particularly with the children I work with, I think that this book would improve their quality of life, and they think that the crazy lady is ranting again. Hehe.

Currently Reading: Beautiful Creatures By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Neverwhere By Neil Gaiman (4/5)

I really felt for the character of Richard, I liked him. He was wrote so three dimensionally that it was easy to visualize him.

I love Neil Gaiman, I love all of his books, I love the way his mind works. I thought the storyline was rather bizarre, in that it wasn't too intricate but still remained complicated. By another writer it may have been able to retain momentum, but by Gaiman it stayed a work of art.

I now need to run and read everything else by him that I haven't read yet. There is just something about Gaiman, I love falling into one of his fictional worlds, I wish I could stay there.

I loved the variety of characters, and even though they were all so unique and peculiar in their own ways they all remained gritty and realistic. I really wish I knew what happens to Richard after this!

Currently Reading: Beautiful Creatures By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

The Princess Bride By William Goldman (4/5)

I can understand Goldman discussing his desire to edit a book to just the 'good parts' as I have felt like doing it to quite a few books in my youth! I loved the story and felt that it's simplicity was beautifu, particularly when coupled with unpredictable plot twists! : ) I loved the way all of the characters thought, and found them to be painfully human. Whilst at the same time finding them completely annoying for their attitudes and actions... But most humans annoy me anyway, hehe. I loved Buttercup's bravery, but her stubborn streak and superior attitude made me want to smack her in the head.

I love the way that the 'bad guys' are not always the bad guys. And the heroes are not always heroic. All the characters are acting selfishly to serve their own ends. But in the end isn't that what most people do on a daily basis?

I do agree with Mr Goldman Sr with some of the adjustments. Some things are better with the nasty parts cut out... Both for timid children and cowardly grown ups. The cliffhanger may just be the end of me. But I can understand the claim of Morgenstern's apparent desire to add one last satirical twist! : )

I firmly believe that the scene when Buttercup finally realises her feelings for "Farm Boy", the entire thought process she goes through is hysterical, as is her rant at him. She is so melodramatic, and it is very entertaining.

Currently Reading: Beautiful Creatures By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Ink Exchange By Melissa Marr (4/5)

I really liked it. It had surprising emotional depth, especially when dealing with the different characters feelings for one another. I loved the issues of ethics, bad people doing good deeds and vice versa. Does a positive result justify a negative action. Very thought provoking. I love complicated characters or those with flawed pasts, so this book was a real treat in that area.

I loved the characters as well. Leslie's strength and yet her fragility at surviving her trauma, I loved her and wanted to help her much! Her obsession with getting a tattoo was also a little familiar and made me want to get another.

I really liked Niall, that he was a moral character that couldn't continue to ally with who he thought the 'good guys' because of manipulation. Oh I loved him he was just delicious, as was his warring with his own inner nature. Awesome.

And Irial, oh Irial. I flew between thinking he was disgusting and feeling genuine pain for him. His is perhaps the most complicated character, because he genuinely does need to destroy people for the sake of his court. Is it justified? Was Leslie justified in being unable to stand her role in it? Oh, I just loved the complications so very much. In fact I enjoyed their pain so much I think maybe I belong in the dark court after all!

The story was a bit uneventful and nothing actually happened come to think of it. But the characters were so beautiful and the way they inter linked along with the way their pain was written was wonderful. The philosophical issues of right and wrong also made this book well worth reading. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel... Or maybe another tattoo. ; )

Currently Reading: Beautiful Creatures By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl