Top 10 Tuesday (3): Settings I Want to See More of

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme from the Broke and the Bookish

So here are the top ten settings I want to see more of...

1. Deseret fantasy worlds or more like The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke. I have gotten really tired of all the medievalish fantasy worlds out there. It gets boring after a while, but making a fantasy world that has deserts and is basically a fantasy version of Ancient Persia is awesome.

2. Farms. There is a lot of potential for great character development by sticking people in such close quarters for unlimited amounts of time.

3. Asia. Specifically Japan, South Korea, or India. I couldn't pick just one so I combined them by going with the continent. These countries have rich histories, mythologies, and current cultures that would help make some amazing stories. Besides doesn't Europe need a break from being the center of attention?

4. Other Planets. Sci-fi stories would be a great pace for this. The world building would need to be tight because of all of the thought that must go behind the technology they would have to use to survive on the planet. Also this would make for wonderful political intrigue stories.

5. The After-Life. Everyone’s interpretation is different and it can be mind-blowing when a really creative person sets their story in their version of the after life. There are so many different possibilities and everyone’s depiction is sure to be different.

6.  Circuses. They are a bunch of fun. Also who didn't want to go to the circus when they were a kid? There are also so many interesting characters already there just by virtue of their job. Not to mention the descriptions of the circus acts themselves would be pretty cool. Also like I said with the farm great character development opportunities.

7. Pirate Ships. Must any more be said? Pirates are pure wit and badassery, also you can imagine that the main guy looks like Johnny Depp. Also pirates make some of the most interesting characters in history.

8. Ireland. I admit this one is mostly because I want to have more Fearie stories. I don’t mean the little cute ones with tiny wings; no I mean the human sized manipulative ones they are so much fun to watch. Not to mention the fact that their wit is terrifying,

9. Russia. Especially in winter in Moscow. That has to be so beautiful. I can definitely picture that being so romantic. It also has one of the more definite cultures of Europe. Exploring that would be fun to see.

10. Retellings. I know retellings aren't technically settings but I am counting them. It is a true art to create a new place and story while still staying true to the essence of the old one.

I do realize that a lot of these sort of sound like pitches, but I really want to see these places more. So authors get to writing, please. 

Manga Monday (3): Arisa Vol. 1

Tsubasa thinks that her pretty and popular twin sister, Arisa, has the perfect life. Everyone at school loves Arisa—unlike the hot-tempered Tsubasa, whose nickname is “the Demon Princess.” But when Arisa attempts suicide, Tsubasa learns that her seemingly perfect sister has been keeping some dark secrets. Now Tsubasa is going undercover at school—disguised as Arisa—in search of the truth. But will Arisa’s secrets shatter Tsubasa’s life, too?

Arisa starts off light. Tsubasa has anger control issues so no girl wants to be her friend. In the opening chapter she is going to see her twin Arisa who is her complete opposite for the first time in three years. While they are hanging out Arisa throws herself out of a window. This catapults the story into a suspense filled mystery that does not let up. Something strange, mysterious, or scary happens every chapter. All orchestrated by a mysterious King. The King person is scary. You have no idea who he* is just that he has complete control over this entire class. They are his willing slaves. People even try to commit suicide when they have displeased him. That is terrifying. Natsumi Ando perfectly captures the eerie feel this manga has in all of her drawings. They are all very clear and beautiful. This is a great mystery manga with a creepy villain and wonderful drawings.

*Because we do not know who the King is we also do not know his gender but because in English King is masculine I will refer to the King as he.

I give this manga an A

Review: The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

England, 1582

Ellie—Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime—possesses a worthless title, but her feisty spirit captivates the elite of the Queen's court—especially the dashing new Earl of Dorset.

William Lacey, Earl of Dorset, has inherited his father's title—and his financial ruin. Now Will must seek a wealthy bride and restore his family's fortune. If only he hadn't fallen for the beautiful but penniless Ellie . . .

Sparks fly whenever Ellie and Will are together, but circumstances—and the conniving interference of others—threaten to keep them apart.

There are two key components to making a good historical romance. They are capturing the time period effectively and of course the romance. Eve Edwards has done a good job on both of these fronts. You can tell she has done her research. There were plenty of historical details to give me a good sense of life back then. And the clothes were impeccably described. The other front was just as well done because the romance is perfect. It is slow and filled with witty banter and mutual respect.

Ellie and Will are a very good match. They are well suited for each other. This is not a case of opposites attract but rather like calling to like. They also stand on their own very well. They are each complete characters. As are all of the characters through whose eyes we see the story. There are many POVs here and it works because they are all distinct and most of them are able to add something to the larger story. The only one that did not is Nell’s. She is Lady Jane’s maid. Her side story did not seem to have a point, maybe she has something larger to do in the later books but right now her story feels superfluous.

I like the plot. It is interesting and it extends the romance over a few months. There is also a lot of intrigue but not one having to do with the Queen or country, just with the character’s lives. Also it did not stay in one place the characters traveled all over. My only problem with the plot is that some of the elements do not gel very well.

I give this book a B

Review: Circles in the Stream by Rachel Roberts

Three very different young teens, Emily, the shy one, Adriane, the outsider, and Kara, the power shopper, are all drawn to a secret place deep in the woods where they discover a portal to another world. Wondrous animals have emerged from the portal, desperately seeking the magic that will keep them alive. Though the animals are peaceful and good, what follows them through the portal is twisted and evil and bent on destroying them all.

The Fairimentals have chosen these three fourteen-year-olds to protect the magical animals. To save them and their world, the girls must overcome their differences and band together. They begin a perilous quest to discover Avalon, the lost, legendary home of magic, little knowing the terrible dangers they will face along the way.

First off I’d like to say how much I adore the covers for this series they are some of my favorites. The illustrations on all of them are magnificent. Also they are all unique while definitely being a part of a series. Now that that’s out of the way on to the review. This is a good, light mg book. It’s got a sweet message, lots of magic, and cute fuzzy animals. Roberts reworks the idea of familiars in an interesting way. People are bonded to animals and the relationships they have with their animals echo what has happened before with familiars in other stories, but in a new and slightly different way. The Ravenswood Preserve is a nice back drop. Also Ravenswood is a medium sized town which is nice to see after all of the big cities and small back water towns so common in mg and ya. The animals are all awesome, even the non-magical ones.

What push this book down are the length and writing. The small size doesn't allow for a lot of character growth which is disappointing. The only consolation for this is that there are 11 more books, but that also means 11 more books to get a hold of. The wording is strange in some places which brings down the writing. Also I’m not sure I would classify this as an mg. This is more a step in between children and mg fiction. It doesn't quite belong in either.

This is still a fun book with great a great world and message. Just if you are going to read this be forewarned that the reading level is that of a third to fourth grader and the character growth will not be great because it is being stretched out over 12 books.

I give this book a C

Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

New York Times bestseller Maureen Johnson takes on Jack the Ripper in this captivating paranormal thriller!

The day that Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school is also the day a series of brutal murders breaks out over the city, killings mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper spree of more than a century ago. Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him--the only one who can see him. And now Rory has become his next target. In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

The Name of the Star is an intriguing mystery. It is very exciting and has great edge of your seat moments. I love how little things in the book came together. I also love that we get little tid-bits of the history, and myth surrounding Jack the Ripper. The setting is cool, it’s London how can it not be? I love that Rory was actually excited to go there. All too often in YA books the mc whines and complains, “oh poor me I have to go to some cool place overseas whaaa.” We get none of that with Rory. I also liked the little aspects of her personality, how she is studious without being obsessive, and her southern ability to talk people to death. The friends she makes in London are all people I would gladly hang out with. They are all unique and pretty well rounded.

My only complaints are that her normal friends Jazza, and Jerome seemed to drop off the face of the earth after she meets other people with supernatural abilities. Also I did not like Jerome as her love interest. He felt more like a puppy dog than a crush/swoon worthy guy. I feel the book would have been better if that sub-plot was taken out entirely. Even with those complaints this book is still a great spooky read.

I give this book an A.

Top 10 Tuesday (2): Top Ten Debuts

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

                  This plays nicely with one of my reading goals this year, hopefully I can get to them all.


1. Ink by Amanda Sun










2. Reboot by Amy Tintera













3. Splintered by A. G. Howard











4. The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

5. Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowen









6. The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

                                   7. Pantomime by Laura Lom










8. Since You Asked by Maurene Goo

                                    9. Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

                                   10. Pivot Point by Kasie West

Manga Monday (2) Sailor V Vol. 1

Like Sailor Moon, Minako Aino is a normal 13-year-old schoolgirl until a fateful day when a white cat introduces himself to her and tells her she has the power to transform into the hero, Sailor V. Using a magic pen to transform, Sailor V fights the evil agents of the Dark Agency as she strives to protect the earth.

Codename: Sailor V, created by the author before she created the mega-popular Sailor Moon, has never before been available in the U.S. This books features:

- An incredibly accurate translation!
- Japanese-style, right-to-left reading!
- New cover art never before seen in the U.S.!
- The original Japanese character names!
- Detailed translation notes!

Sailor V is super cute. It is a fun light read. It is like Saturday morning cartoons just a bunch of fun. The chapters are very episodic and sometimes it can get a little ridiculous but that brings laughter instead of exasperation. Due to it's episodic nature there is not a lot of character of plot development in this volume. The drawings are very well done. There were only a few times when I became confused because of to many lines being on the page. This is fun and lighthearted where what you see is what you get.

I give this volume a B+

And The Winner is...

                                         
                                              The winner of my comment contest is


                                Gellie


          from a discombobulated balladry. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who commented.

Review: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent young fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem to be in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery as she tries to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you'll ever read.

Gail Carson Levine's examination of traditional female roles in fairy tales takes some satisfying twists and deviations from the original. Ella is bound by obedience against her will, and takes matters in her own hands with ambition and verve. Her relationship with the prince is balanced and based on humor and mutual respect; in fact, it is she who ultimately rescues him. Ella Enchanted has won many well-deserved awards, including a Newbery Honor.

Ella Enchanted is a charming retelling of Cinderella. It greatly expands on everything in the original fairy tale  The absent father is even present like in some of the earlier versions. The world feels complete. It is intricate because Levine included little innocuous details. I loved that she made up different languages for everyone. The only issue was that the fairy’s magic didn't seem to have any real guidelines. The only thing that was for certain was that when Ella needs it most it is never available.

I love Ella. She is spunky and quick-witted. It is entertaining to see her find ways to defy the curse while still bound to it. They way her and Char feel in love through letters is adorable. Many of the characters feel a little flat but it works for this book. The plot is also interesting. It has many unpredictable twists and turns. The only issue with it is the ending feels rushed. It should have been starched out for a couple more pages in order to feel complete.

I give this book an A-

Don't forget about the giveaway and please leave a comment.

Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Summary from Goodreads.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. It completely blew me away. It is almost beyond words how heart-wrenching and beautiful this book is. This entire book is about Sam’s growth. Her growth is masterfully done. Do not let who she is at the beginning of the book deter you from reading it. She changes from a mean-girl into a caring and compassionate adult. Even in the beginning you can see glimpses of the person she becomes. She is a wonderfully made character, because you care for her. She is not the only fully-fleshed out character. As the days go by each secondary character is revealed fully even though it is always the same day. Lauren Oliver treats all of her characters as people. This is not a stereotypical story. This is a real one. In this book you see the good, the bad, and why everyone does what they do.

This book is never boring. Sam’s choices made each day different and there were surprises on each day. Also the emotions she goes through as her world view is shattered keep you gripped. Another thing that keeps you turning the pages is what is looming over the story. Her death. This book starts with her death and that pulls you to find out if it will end with it. Be prepared for tears when you read this, but be sure you do.

I give this book an A+

Don't forget about the giveaway, so please leave a comment.

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

This book is what a dystopian should be. It looks wonderful on the outside, but the further you go the more cracks you see. I love all of the factions they are all so unique in a myriad of ways. It was fun to discover the different aspects of each one. I also loved how problems with all of the factions were revealed throughout the story.  The main ones we see in Divergent are Abnegation and Dauntless. Both factions are wonderful in different ways. Abnegation is full of giving people. Dauntless is full of daredevils. I wanted to join right in on all of the adrenaline inducing things that they did. They are not only brave through physical means but also mentally. This book has one of the best worlds I've ever read.

The world isn't the only awesome thing about this book. The characters are also amazing. I love Tris. I didn't always agree with her thoughts or actions but I knew why she did them. She was very fleshed out, and she wasn't a stagnate character. She is the person you want to be friends with because they are daring and they always have your back. Four is another great character. We slowly get to see the amazing person he is by Tris being able to peal back his emotional layers. We can also tell he has a very real off-screen life. The secondary characters are also fantastic. Most are well rounded, the only ones we don’t get to see more than one side of are her enemies during her initiation process to Dauntless.

The plot is tension riddled. Though this isn't a book that by the end you feel like you’re going to have a heart attack. It had high and low tension moments, but the low ones were kept engaging by character drama or other little things. That way you had a breather and you still felt compelled to go on. In short this book is awesome and you need to pick it up right now.

I give this book an A+ go out and get it now.

Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway.

Top 10 Tuesday (1): Top 10 Reading Goals for 2013

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where every Tuesday there is a different top 10 topic. This week's is (as you can tell from the title) top 10 reading goals for 2013. So in no particular order here they are.
1. Read 140 books.
2. Read 10 new to me authors.
3. Read the book before I go see the movie.
4. Complete 1 book challenge.
5. Read 6 classics.
6. Get my TBR pile down to 10 books at least once.
7. Read a verse book.
8. Read more outside of fantasy.
9. Re-read 5 books.
I can't think of anymore so I'm just going to go with a tried and true classic
10. Visit the library more often

That's all for today. Please, don't forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway.

Manga Monday (1): Hetalia: Axis Powers Vol. 1

During World War I, gruff Germany finds Italy hiding in a wooden box of tomatoes. Germany takes Italy as prisoner, but instead of war-like interrogation, Italy becomes more of the nuisance and unwanted guest. World War I quickly comes to an end, but World War II is right on its heels! This time, Italy tries his best to become friends with Germany. They soon befriend Japan,and the three of them form the Axis Powers. Meanwhile, America, who loves heroism and hamburgers, tries to form a treaty, as Great Britain reminisces about when America was his loving child!

Summary from Goodreads.

Hetalia is an okay manga. It is funny but you have to be in the right mood for it. All of the countries embody their stereotypes, but it is never taken beyond that. It is a very surface level manga. It is not meant to be taken seriously. It is comprised of short strips that take funny moments of history and heightens and explores them. The drawing is very good and it is easy to tell everyone apart. There are several styles employed throughout all being used for a different comic effect. All in all it is a good manga if you are in the mood to laugh.

I give this a B-

Don't forget about the giveaway. If you want this book just leave a comment.

Review: Bunheads by Sophie Flack

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.

But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?
Summary from Goodreads.

Bunheads follows Hannah, a dancer in the Manhattan Ballet corps. It is a fast paced and light read. Hannah is a good mc. She is relatable, and hardworking. She is also trying to find out what she really wants to do with her life. This is the main conflict of the story. She wavers between two opposing desires, stay in the corps which is all she has known, or try and live on the outside. This conflict is well presented.  Another well done aspect of the book is that the world of ballet is made accessible. It is very different from anything in my experience, but I felt right at home there. It is told in a straight forward manner and that helps keep the different terms from becoming mixed up. The pacing also makes it easy to digest all of the different aspects of life in the Manhattan Ballet. The only issues that Bunheads has are that the timeline is jumpy, and all of the secondary characters felt 2-D. It is a solid first effort. That is good for relaxing on a lazy summer day.

I give this book a B-  Slightly above average.

Look It's the First Post!

Hi, this is my book blog. I love books so I decided to start a blog about them. I'll be reviewing a ton of books. Not all of them will be recent or upcoming releases, because I feel that all books deserve a chance if they are good so books could come from any year. at first it will probably be ones that have been released for a while because those are easier to get access to. The books will also be mostly YA with the occasional MG (an adult might even sneak in there once in a while).

I won't do too many features, because this is about books and book reviews not how many cool features I can cram into one week. A feature I will do regularly is Manga Monday hosted by Allison Can Read Too.  I'll also try and participate in Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and the Bookish because who doesn't like top 10 lists. I might even start s feature of my own you never know.

That's all for this intro post. I just have one more thing to add. I'm going to attempt holding a giveaway to commemorate the beginning of my blog. At the end of the week I will award one lucky person their choice of  one book that I review in this first week. All you have to do to win is leave a comment with their e-mail address included. The winner will be announced next Saturday. Thanks and I hope this will be fun!