Review: The Unready Queen by William Ritter

The UnreadyQueen by William Ritter

Publisher & Release Date: Algonquin Young Readers

Type: Middle Grade Fantasy, 320 pages

Series: TheOddmire Book Two

Summary: Human and goblin brothers Cole and Tinn are finding their way back to normal after their journey to the heart of the Oddmire. Normal, unfortunately, wants nothing to do with them. Fable, the daughter of the Queen of the Deep Dark, has her first true friends in the brothers. The Queen allows Fable to visit Tinn and Cole as long as she promises to stay quiet and out of sight—concealing herself and her magic from the townspeople of Endsborough.

But when the trio discovers that humans are destroying the Wild Wood and the lives of its creatures for their own dark purposes, Fable cannot stay quiet. As the unspoken truce between the people of Endsborough and the inhabitants of the Wild Wood crumbles, violence escalates, threatening war and bringing Fable’s mother closer to the fulfillment of a deadly prophecy that could leave Fable a most Unready Queen.

My Review: 

I was invited to join the Blog Tour for this second book in the Oddmire series! I was given an advanced ebook for free in exchange for an honest review, just like last year for book one!

I was thrilled to be back in the Oddmire Forest with Cole, Tinn, and Fable! I fell in love with these characters in Changeling and couldn't wait to catch up on their latest adventures! I was particularly interested in seeing how Tinn was doing after the events of the first book and I wasn't disappointed.

But while book one focused on the twins this book really focused on Fable, the someday Queen of the Forest. I absolutely loved seeing how her character grows into herself throughout the course of this novel! She is incredibly well written and I just love her to bits.

The Oddmire Forest is once again the setting of this book but we see more of the town as well. Seeing how the townspeople respond to having a forest full of magic is incredibly interesting and I think it was handled quite well. There is also a lot more conflict in this book which honestly makes the world seem even realer.

Once again this book has such a charming wit about it that just sucks me in! I would gladly read as many books as William Ritter writes about these characters in this world! I highly recommend this series for kids who like magical stories! And if you've read Jackaby you won't want to miss out on this!

~Laura!

Review: Changeling by William Ritter

Changeling by William Ritter 

Publisher & Release Date: Algonquin Young Readers, July 2019 

Type: Middle Grade, Fantasy (272 pages) 

Series: Book One of The Oddmire 

Summary: Magic is fading from the Wild Wood. To renew it, goblins must perform an ancient ritual involving the rarest of their kind—a newborn changeling. But when the fateful night arrives to trade a human baby for a goblin one, something goes terribly wrong. After laying the changeling in a human infant’s crib, the goblin Kull is briefly distracted from his task. By the time he turns back, the changeling has already perfectly mimicked the human child. Too perfectly: Kull cannot tell them apart. Not knowing which to bring back, he leaves both babies behind.

Tinn and Cole are raised as human twins, neither knowing what secrets may be buried deep inside one of them. Then when they are twelve years old, a mysterious message arrives, calling the brothers to be heroes and protectors of magic. The boys must leave behind their sleepy town of Endsborough and risk their lives in the Wild Wood, crossing the perilous Oddmire swamp and journeying through the Deep Dark to reach the goblin horde and discover who they truly are.

My Review:

Earlier this year I was asked to review the first book in William Ritter's new series, The Oddmire called Changeling and I jumped on the opportunity. I have never agreed to a blog tour so fast! I absolutely love Ritter's writing. His first book, Jackaby remains one of my all time favorites. He has a way of adding charm and wit into every aspect of his work!

Changeling is an enchanting fairy tale set in the same world as Jackaby. That was all I needed to know before I dove headfirst into the mysterious Oddmire Forest. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down! It is perfect for all ages, but I can see little kids particularly falling into the world Ritter has created in The Oddmire and never wanting to leave. This book is easily on the level of storytelling that is set up in the Spiderwick Chronicles!

The idea of the changeling is one of the oldest folk tales of Europe, a fairy child that is swapped out with a human child. Changelings have fascinated people for centuries and are prevalent even in today's pop culture, having recently been featured in shows such as Supernatural and Outlander and even an episode of the podcast Lore. I, myself, have always been interested in the idea of them.

So, with a myth so beloved by many it is hard to believe that there can be an original take on it, and yet Ritter does just that! What if the switch in interrupted? What if the babies, human and fairy alike grow up together? Changeling answers just those questions!

My favorite part of this book is the mix of beautiful, eerie setting in the Oddmire that I would love to explore and the amazingly rich and detailed, full of life and motive characters that inhabit it! Hinkypunks, Goblins, Shapeshifters, and fantastic Humans all come together to solve the mystery of the changeling!

As soon as I finished it I wanted to read it again. It was heartwarming and funny, but also just as dark as a true fairy tale should be! I enjoyed Changeling and am eagerly awaiting the next book in what is sure to become a beloved series for young readers for many years to come!

(Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for sending me the advanced egalley in exchange for this honest review!)

~Laura!!

Review: Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

Publisher & Release Date: Ink Road (Owlcrate Exclusive Edition), Feb. 2019

Type: YA Fantasy (486 pages)

Series: Book One of Crown of Feathers

Summary: I had a sister, once…

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

I promised her the throne would not come between us.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.

My Review:

Crown of Feathers is an absolutely wonderful fantasy debut that I am becoming rapidly obsessed with. I will be recommending this book for years to come! I really enjoyed it!

I'm not gonna lie it had a slow start. There was some action early on and then a lot of history and exposition. The history of the world is weaved in along with Veronyka's back story as she gets to where she needs to be. At first it seemed to bog down the action because even early on I was invested with the action that was occurring, but rest assured it is all necessary and fascinating! I promise that it does pick up and once it does you won't be putting this tome down!

One of the things I love most about Crown of Feathers is that it has multiple, third person point of view chapters from a few different characters. It was a great choice on Pau Preto's part to write the novel like this because it allows the reader to know more than any of the characters at any given time. The reader becomes so incredibly invested in Veronyka, Tristan, and Sev as we try to guess how and when they will interact if ever. Each of these characters are rich with detail and I want to know them all in real life! Especially Veronyka, who has so much to offer readers by teaching subtly about inner strength and being yourself.

And of course I can't forget about the true selling point of this novel, the phoenixes that are rode into battle! I got this book through Owlcrate. The only thing I knew about this book was these phoenixes which is why I ordered my first subscription box! If you're a long time follower of my blog you know that I love animals and work closely with wildlife. This book is close to my heart because of the idea of animages, people who can communicate with not just phoenixes, but all animals. I want this gift so badly it stings. It touches on so many important ethics surrounding animals that are completely relevant today!

If it isn't obvious, I can't get enough of this book. I cannot wait to dive into the sequel. Nicki Pau Preto is an incredible writer and I can't wait to see where she goes next!

~Laura!

Review: The Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn

The Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn

Release Date: January 2018

Publisher: Berkley

Type: Adult Mystery

Pages: 352

Series: Veronica Speedwell #3

Other Titles in the Series: The Curious Beginning (#1), The Perilous Undertaking (#2)

Summary: London, 1888. As colorful and unfettered as the butterflies she collects, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell can’t resist the allure of an exotic mystery—particularly one involving her enigmatic colleague, Stoker.

His former expedition partner has vanished from an archaeological dig with a priceless diadem unearthed from the newly discovered tomb of an Egyptian princess. This disappearance is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events that have plagued the controversial expedition, and rumors abound that the curse of the vengeful princess has been unleashed as the shadowy figure of Anubis himself stalks the streets of London.

But the perils of an ancient curse are not the only challenges Veronica must face as sordid details and malevolent enemies emerge from Stoker’s past.

Caught in a tangle of conspiracies and threats—and thrust into the public eye by an enterprising new foe—Veronica must separate facts from fantasy to unravel a web of duplicity that threatens to cost Stoker everything. . . .

My Review:

Much like the first two novels in this fabulous series, what makes me love it so fiercely is the main character Veronica Speedwell, lepidopterist adventuress and her “sidekick” Stoker, a taxidermist who would challenge me to a duel if he heard me refer to him as such (if I wasn't a woman of course, he is a gentleman after all). This installment like its predecessors is set in Victorian London, where ladies are meant to act like it. Veronica could not care less about what society thinks of her and pushes the boundaries of what is appropriate, more often than not she breaks it all together. I love her. I admire her, I wish I could be half as cool and have even a quarter of her sharp as knives wit! She is what brings me back to these mysteries over and over. The relationship between Veronica and Stoker gets stronger and stronger the longer they know each other. It is the driving force behind the books and it is so important and Raybourn gets it exactly right!

This volumes still finds the detecting pair in London and not on an expedition like they dearly wish. It takes place shortly after the end of the last volume and once again it contains a great mystery! I like these mysteries because they are never straight forward and I can never guess who the culprit is. This one surrounded a missing person and a missing Egyptian diadem, betrayals and revealed secrets! I really like that every novel is an extension of the last. This is a world that I feel so welcomed in because of how true to life it is portrayed. And again it is because of the characters! Every one is vivid and feels real with honest feelings and motives that ring true. To be honest, though, this book didn't draw me in as much as the first two because the plot felt a little bit elongated and it bored me a bit, but due to the characters coming off the page I kept turning those pages! I cannot recommend this series enough!

~Laura!

Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Release Date: February 7^th, 2017

Publisher: WW Norton Company

Type: Adult Mythology

Pages: 299

Summary: Introducing an instant classic—master storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a dazzling version of the great Norse myths.

Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, the son of giants, a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. From Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerges the gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to dupe others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.

My Review:

Like most I know my knowledge of Norse Mythology started and stopped with Marvel's limited representation. I wanted to know more, but wasn't sure where to begin. Then Neil Gaiman wrote this and TADA!

The novel is made up of short tales hat Neil Gaiman has beautifully rewritten so that they are more accessible to today's audience. They are also surprisingly funny. (I love that Thor admits that when something goes wrong he immediately blames Loki because it's faster!)

Like I said, my knowledge is solely based on Marvel comics and their cinematic universe so when upon reading I realized that a lot of what is known by most audiences is limited or changed from the original myths I can't say that I was all that surprised as that is what usually happens with popular adapations. Mostly the changes are about who is related to who and how. And of course it's 100% more in depth. This is literally the meaning of "the book is better." Neil Gaiman's tales make me want to delve deeper into the mythology and find out what else Marvel messed with. One constant is Loki (well he isn't actually known as Thor's brother) is still at the center of all the mischief.

If you are curious and like me don't know where to start you should definitely read this first just like I did. And if you have any recommendations as to which books I should read next to learn more about Norse Mythology, please let me know!

~Laura!

Review: The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley

The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley 

Release Date: August 1^st, 2017 

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA 

Type: Adult Fiction 

Pages: 336 

Summary: In 1859, ex-East India Company smuggler Merrick Tremayne is trapped at home in Cornwall after sustaining an injury that almost cost him his leg and something is wrong; a statue moves, his grandfather’s pines explode, and his brother accuses him of madness.

When the India Office recruits Merrick for an expedition to fetch quinine—essential for the treatment of malaria—from deep within Peru, he knows it’s a terrible idea. Nearly every able-bodied expeditionary who’s made the attempt has died, and he can barely walk. But Merrick is desperate to escape everything at home, so he sets off, against his better judgment, for a tiny mission colony on the edge of the Amazon where a salt line on the ground separates town from forest. Anyone who crosses is killed by something that watches from the trees, but somewhere beyond the salt are the quinine woods, and the way around is blocked.

Surrounded by local stories of lost time, cursed woods, and living rock, Merrick must separate truth from fairytale and find out what befell the last expeditions; why the villagers are forbidden to go into the forest; and what is happening to Raphael, the young priest who seems to have known Merrick’s grandfather, who visited Peru many decades before. The Bedlam Stacks is the story of a profound friendship that grows in a place that seems just this side of magical.

My Review:

While Natasha Pulley's first novel, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street will remain my favorite of her two books, The Bedlam Stacks is in a pretty close second. And just like my review of that book this review will also contain spoilers because it is hard to gush about this without them.

The Bedlam Stacks took me a little while to read because it is a slow paced book. This is not a bad thing. By taking her time with the plot Pulley makes sure that the reader is paying attention. As I went along with Merrick from his time at home in Cornwall to his time with Raphael in Peru and understood more and more of what was happening in the Bedlam Stacks the more I realized how well Pulley writes. Tiny clues, given slowly once understood make this book start reading faster and faster until I couldn’t go read quickly enough.

Like the characters of Watchmaker the characters of this novel are stand out. (SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD) And much like Mori the Watchmaker in her first novel Raphael is also a special kind of magical. (Mori, by the way, makes a small appearance in this book confirming that these books are in the same version of our world. One in which I would like to live in, honestly). This novel seamlessly blends historical fiction with the slight fantasy. Raphael is a bit of a mystery for most of the novel, but his unique magical talent makes him one of the most interesting characters I have ever read, just like Mori.

What I liked most about this novel is how Merrick interacts with the setting of Peru, the culture, and his own family's history there. Like I said earlier, this novel is a slow burn and it is as such because the novel is from Merrick's perspective and as he pieces it together so does the reader. As he learns more the more interesting the novel becomes. For me, I think another thing I liked is that Merrick is learning Spanish while in Peru. I, too, am learning the language and while the dialogue of this book is in English they are actually using Spanish some of the time. When they do Merrick points in out, whether the speaker is talking slowly or clearly enough for his skills. And when he brings it up I try to translate the sentences into Spanish, just to see if I can! (I mostly could get about half, which I felt was pretty good!)

I am not sure if this review has made much sense, but I hope it made you want to pick up Natasha Pulley's second novel (and her first actually. You can find my review for that one here)! 

 ~Laura!

Review: A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn

A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn

 Release Date:  January 10^th, 2017

 Publisher:  Berkley Books

 Type:  Adult Mystery

 Pages:  338

 Series:  Veronica Speedwell #2

 Other Titles in the Series:  A Curious Beginning (VS #1)

Summary:  London, 1887 . . Victorian adventuress and butterfly hunter Veronica Speedwell receives an invitation to visit the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women. There she meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Accused of the brutal murder of his artist mistress Artemisia, Ramsforth will face the hangman's noose in a week s time if Veronica cannot find the real killer.

But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems and unmasking her true identity is only the first of the many secrets Veronica must uncover. Together with her natural historian colleague Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer a ruthless villain who not only took Artemisia s life in cold blood but is happy to see Ramsforth hang for the crime.

From a Bohemian artists colony to a royal palace to a subterranean grotto with a decadent history, the investigation proves to be a very perilous undertaking indeed....

My Review:

This is a marvelous edition to a great series. In this book, Veronica and Stoker find themselves trapped in London instead of on an expedition. As is seemingly their new normal they find themselves involved in a mystery. This time they've been hired to clear an innocent man's name before he hangs for a crime some don't believe he committed.

Now that we know Veronica and Stoker, we are past initial first impressions and are learning more about them as they are learning about each other. Their friendship is getting stronger by the day, secrets are coming slowly out of the shadows, but they still bicker like the proverbial old married couple. We learn a little more about Stoker's past, we meet his family and see why he's the odd Templeton-Vane out, and get a glimpse as to what happened in Brazil. As for Veronica, we finally get a glimpse into how she hunts for butterflies, which I found fascinating. I hope that they get to go on an expedition soon so we can see more of their careers and passions on display. Throughout all, though Veronica remains a strong willed, steadfast, independent woman and still she is what draws me to this series.

Set in the heart of London from royal residences, art houses, and opium dens we meet a variety of new, unique characters. Lord Rosemorran and Lady Cordelia's great-aunt Wellingtonia, who is as eccentric as they come, as well as her hard of hearing friend, Cecil, a member of the Royal family, and a handful of artists who live where the victim resided. Lady Wellie was my favorite because like Veronica she speaks her mind. We also see old favorites such as those men from the Scotland Yard that keep popping up Sir Hugo and Mornaday.

The mystery was a fine one, with twists and turns, blackmail and threats. I, personally, wasn't quite sure who the murderer was. I liked how even when there is the one straight forward who-done-it mystery, Raybourn weaves in smaller ones as well. Everyone is connected, but what key factor that binds them is within itself a mystery. I cannot recommend this series enough.

~Laura!

Review: The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Release Date: March 2015

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 393

Source: Finished Copy provided by Publisher

Series: The Orphan Queen #1

Summary (goodreads.com): Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.

My Review:

I like that readers are thrown into the action of the story and have to keep reading to understand who the Ospreys are and why they want to infiltrate the palace. I enjoyed learning about the research the Ospreys did in order to take the mission on and why it is so imperative. The world of the novel was teased out through the course of the novel and made all the more interesting because of it. I just had to keep reading. The Wraith and Black Knife add elements of danger and intrigue to the story which makes The Orphan Queen incredibly compelling. I couldn’t put it down!

As odd as it sounds my favorite part of the entire book was a small part of Wil’s abilities. The art of forgery came heavily into play and it was fascinating. At one point Wil is writing a letter to one of the orphaned nobles that make up the Ospreys and she asks herself which handwriting she should use. I find it remarkable that she doesn’t have one of her own and it testifies to the fact that she’s a master forger. I liked reading about this aspect of Wil’s personality; it’s an original trait that I hope to see more of in future novels. Wil was a very strong protagonist and throughout the book she grows into the leader she hopes to one day become. I admired her courage and her passion. It also helps that she’s badass!

I’m intrigued by the Wraith that is coming for the Indigo Kingdom. The palace is fighting a war on two fronts and the Wraith isn’t stopping. At first I was confused by the concept of it but once the story goes on its purpose becomes clear as well as scary. I have become attached to these characters and I don’t want that Wraith anywhere near them! The sequel for The Orphan Queen is going to be fantastic!

~Laura!

Review: Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot 

Release Date: June 2^nd, 2015 

Publisher: William Morrow and Company 

Age Group: Adult 

Pages: 435 

Source: Bought at BookCon 2015 

Series: Princess Diaries #11 

Summary (goodreads.com): For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements: Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother's leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone— especially herself—that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

My Review:

(SPOILERS AHEAD!)

When Meg Cabot announced her first adult Princess Diaries book I was so excited. I grew up reading these books and honestly the Princess Diaries was the first YA book that I had ever read so without this series I wouldn’t be who I am today. While I think that the first ten young adult installments ended well, it was interesting to read about adult Mia especially now that I am also an adult.

I loved reading about what Mia’s friends and family had been up to since she last had a diary. It was comforting to know that Fat Louie and Rommel were still alive, as well as Grandmere who is still just as horrible. I love that Lilly is just as fierce and Tina just as lovely. I was a little weirded out as well as amused with Boris as a pop star, I never saw that one coming! I have always had a soft spot for Mia’s body guard Lars and was pleased to learn he still protects her. Most of all I love Mia and Michael. I was overjoyed to learn they are still going strong after all this time!

It was fascinating to learn that Mia hasn’t really changed all that much. She can still be very internal about her perceived problems. She makes a big deal about literally everything and after being away from her voice for so long it became very obnoxious very quickly but after a few diary entries I learned to ignore it again. But I am not saying this to discourage you from reading it or even saying that this is a point against Royal Wedding, on the contrary, it is this voice of Mia’s, this truthful, obnoxious at times, voice is real to life. I go back and read some of the things I wrote too and I am just as annoying. I think it’s a testament to Meg Cabot that her writing conveys such traits honestly.

However, here come the really big spoilers that I just can’t avoid, the plot of Royal Wedding was so crowded! So much happened in this book when compared to the other books in the series. One small thing could last an entire course of the novel, but this one has a quite a few distinct and huge plot points. It makes me think that Cabot wanted to get everything into one book to show that there won’t be anymore. From the title one would infer that the Wedding would be the biggest part of this story, but no. It starts with Mia’s dad being arrested, then finding out that he might not be Prime Minister if he loses the election. That could fuel a whole diary, but no there’s the proposal then the wedding plans being leaked by Grandmere. Then there’s the set up of Cabot’s new series From the Notebook of a Middle School Princess with the discovery of Mia’s half sister, Olivia. And as if that STILL wasn’t enough drama, Mia finds out that she’s pregnant with twins AND that her father has decided to abdicate and she’s officially queen. No, I’m sorry that is just too much for one book! This was more like five full novels mashed into one!

Despite the extremely quick pace of the book I really did enjoyed it. I loved the harebrained schemes that Mia comes up with that Lilly goes along with and adds upon. I love that Mia is using her power as Princess to try to bring some good to the world and that Michael is right by her side doing his own thing to help people. I love that Mia is slightly calmer now. She still sweats the small stuff, but seems to just accept the huge things she cannot change, which is to say basically anything that Grandmere does she just goes with it instead of fighting it, which I think is better for her mental health. Cabot brings her humor in full force and it is really like getting back in touch with an old friend. I am so glad to come back to this world that I didn’t realize I missed until I went back.

~Laura!

Review: Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

 Release Date: November 2014

 Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

 Age Group: Young Adult

 Pages: 375

 Source: Borrowed from Library, on To Buy list

 Series: The Naturals (#2)

 Other Titles in the Series: The Naturals (#1)

Summary (goodreads.com): Seventeen-year-old Cassie Hobbes has a gift for profiling people. Her talent has landed her a spot in an elite FBI program for teens with innate crime-solving abilities, and into some harrowing situations. After barely escaping a confrontation with an unbalanced killer obsessed with her mother’s murder, Cassie hopes she and the rest of the team can stick to solving cold cases from a distance.

But when victims of a brutal new serial killer start turning up, the Naturals are pulled into an active case that strikes too close to home: the killer is a perfect copycat of Dean’s incarcerated father—a man he’d do anything to forget. Forced deeper into a murderer’s psyche than ever before, will the Naturals be able to outsmart the enigmatic killer’s brutal mind games before this copycat twists them into his web for good?

My Review:

The first book introduced readers to The Naturals: Cassie and Dean the profilers, Michael who reads emotions, Lia the human lie detector who can dish them out just as well as she can spot them, and Sloane a walking encyclopedia of stats that can analyze a crime scene like no other. The world of these teenagers is expanded in this book. Killer Instinct delves deeper into the characters so that readers gain even more affection and/or dislike for them. Each character is given more of a background story, even Judd, Briggs, and the director. This makes the series as a whole more interesting and stronger.

As for plot, where the first book focused on crimes related to Cassie’s mother’s disappearance/ murder, Killer Instinct focuses on a copycat of Dean’s dad, a serial killer. I like this a lot about The Naturals series. I like that they aren’t just dealing with any case, they are dealing with an open case that hits home. It makes the stakes higher and more intense. The Naturals will break all the rules to help Dean discover who is copying his dad, but when the FBI director gets involved it could mean the end of the entire program.The suspense of the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. 

I highly recommend this series! 

~Laura!

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: August 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 416

Source: Borrowed from Library, on To Buy list

Series: Throne of Glass (#1)

Summary (goodreads.com):  After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My Review:

Throne of Glass focuses on Adarlan’s Assassin, Celaena Sardothien, after she is chosen by Adarlan’s Crown Prince Dorian to be his champion in his father’s completion to be the King’s official assassin. This is the first book in the series, but it also technically isn’t. There are five prequel novellas that were published together in a book 2 years later as The Assassin’s Blade. Personally, I didn’t find it necessary to read The Assassin’s Blade before Throne of Glass. However, I can see why one might want to. The Assassin’s Blade tells the background of Celaena’s years as Adarlan’s Assassin that are hinted at in Throne of Glass. (I have decided to read the prequel novellas after I read the other books in the series.)

Celaena is an extraordinary character. In her own way she is an inspiration, obviously I do not mean the assassin part, but she is quick-witted and intelligent, confidant and strong. I like how she isn't stereotypical. She is an assassin, which could be seen as a man's profession in this world but Celaena doesn't act more masculine because of it, nor is she plain or a tomboy. The author makes a point of repeatedly mentioning that Celaena is breathtakingly beautiful and that when people, men and women alike, realize she is Adarlan’s Assassin they are surprised. Throughout the book she uses that underestimation to her advantage! She also enjoys dresses and dancing and other "feminine" things, which for some reason surprised me and it should not have. I automatically assumed upon starting the novel that Celaena wouldn’t like those things because she is a contract killer. I love that Maas proved me wrong and has given readers a character that is badass in every way that matters. My only complaint is that these things, such as how pretty she is and her love of all things fancy, is mentioned repeatedly. Once, maybe twice would have been enough. In later books I hope Maas feels confident in her own writing of such an amazing protagonist that she doesn't feel the need to remind the audience in words. As for the other female characters I liked the addition of characters such as Princess Nehemia and Kaltain, two very different women who have very different ambitions but will do anything to achieve them. Especially, the Princess because, like Celaena, she is a very strong female character that should be admired for her strength and courage.

The banter between Celaena and Chaol is witty and amusing. I enjoyed that Celaena has the type of personality that despite being an infamous assassin it is hard to not to be drawn to her natural charm. Chaol is the Captain of the King’s guard as well as Prince Dorian’s best friend. It becomes his job to train Celaena for the competition. He tries so hard to resist Celaena’s charm for fear of her possibly betraying him and the King he serves and the Prince he has given his undying loyalty to as a best friend. And yet he bends and becomes grudgingly friends with Adarlan’s Assassin. I loved seeing Chaol's development toward Celaena. I love the conversations they have.  Then there is the relationship between the dynamic duo as I have come to calling Chaol and Dorian in my head. They are fantastic characters; they foil each other in great ways and are both equally important to Celaena and the book as a whole. I like that even though Dorian is Chaol’s superior in class and position, they don’t act like it. In fact, Chaol is usually telling Dorian what to do not the other way around. They grew up together and it is obvious in the way they react towards each other.

As for the plot of Throne of Glass is original. The competition that brought Celeana to the Glass Castle is interesting and the mystery surrounding the death of the champions is not easily guessed. The world building was quite impressive and extensive. I look forward to learning more about the magical purge that Dorian’s father brought about in his quest for domination years before. Overall, this novel was well thought out and I highly recommend it. 

(Also I chose to use the reissued cover for this review because I find the first cover ridiculous and sexist, you can see that cover here.)

~Laura!