Book Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 352
Received: Review copy from publisher
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

Review

I don't like faeries

Faeries are one of my DO NOT WANT features, mostly because I think they're jerks and I have a hard time getting on board with their haughty superiority complexes (but also because I find it hard to swoon over a glittery guy described as "delicate").

If you're with me on faeries, then don't worry because The Faerie Ring is not your typical faerie book (fairy? faerie? Can't we get ONE spelling??). They actually don't take up much time in the book at all and when they do, they're definitely Bad News, as they should be.

Plus, they're never the romantic lead, so I didn't have to squirm over that.

I'm a cold-hearted woman

Gritty slums? Um, more like depressing slums. The first, oh, 130 pages or so mostly follow the plight of Tiki and her ragged band of street urchins as she tries to steal food and acquire medicine for them.

There is nothing wrong with this part at all. It's written well and I can see how people would find the kids adorable.

But me? I guess I'm a meanie because I was totally bored. I didn't really care that the kids were starving and one of them was really sick and they were all living in a cold abandoned building. I mean, sure, that's sad, but the kids were so "stock cute orphan" that I just couldn't muster up any feelings for them as individuals.

Plus, dirty, starving, sick kids doesn't make for exciting reading. Every time they sat there looking cold and ill and all "Please sir, may I have some more?" I wanted to snap at them and say, "NO! Now get off your butt and go kill a fairy."

I know, I sound awful.

None for you!

Name your romantic lead after this guy, and I'll pretty much love him forever

Ok, so he's not named exactly after the dashing Number One, but it's close enough for me. That he had a totally swoon-worthy personality didn't hurt matters either.

Rieker has that laid back swagger personality. He's cool, confident, enigmatic, and he has a charming protective streak. His relationship with Tiki develops slowly in the background and is based on mutual admiration earned over time. Points for that!

Outside of the elusive promise of brewing war, Rieker was my main reason for continuing on. My interest level spiked every time he entered a scene.

Bonuses

+ Side character Prince Leo who isn't a romantic interest (despite what the blurb might imply), but I still fell for him anyway. And no, not just because he's a prince (though that didn't hurt his cause). He's a "nice guy," but he's also inquisitive and a pretty sharp cookie. I would love to read more about him.

+ Dressing up for a masked ball. What can I say, I like playing dress up and hobnobbing with royalty.

+ The final third of the book. The pacing picked up and I was curious to find out who would make off with the ring in the end.

Stars off

I was totally confused about Tiki's age for a good part of the book. During the whole beginning part her voice, mannerisms, and actions felt like she was on the younger end of the YA spectrum, maybe even bordering on MG. Her street urchin family felt like her peers.

Then about halfway through she started to feel more like the mother figure to the rag-tag bunch. This made me feel better about the budding romance and Tiki's interactions with Leo, who is clearly not MG-aged.

But, eh, it was kind of a weird adjustment to make. I don't know if I was just reading things wrong in the beginning or if there really is an abrupt "aging," but this took away from my immersion and enjoyment.

I also just wasn't feeling Tiki in general. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't click with her either. This made the romance and all of Tiki's plights feel sort of flat for me because I was never fully invested (as if my Miss Hannigan routine didn't already make that perfectly clear).

The pacing was also a little uneven for me. I found the first 130 pages pretty boring and while the latter half picked up, it never delved as deeply into the impending faerie war as I was hoping it would. Instead the climax focuses on the sick little girl and, I'll admit, I was prepared and happy to sacrifice her for the good of the entire human population.

Bottom line

A nice solid book that ends as a standalone, though I'm pretty sure there are sequels planned. The historical setting was nice, but not overly immersive. I'd call this historical fiction lite.

I liked the third person narrative and while the POV does jump around a little, I thought it was pulled off well. Most of the POV focus is on Tiki, but the glimpses into Rieker and Leo's POV's (which I liked MUCH better than Tiki's) makes me curious to see what Kiki Hamilton would do with a male main character.

I liked it, I'm glad I read it, but I'm disappointed that I didn't connect with Tiki and that the war and intrigue never really developed as much as I hoped it would.

I did like Kiki Hamilton's writing style though and she definitely knows how to write attractive guys, so I'll be keeping an eye out for what she writes next. I'm not sure yet if I'll continue reading about Tiki though.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about The Faerie Ring that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Does Ruby agree with me? Disagree? Find out today at Ruby's Reads! Check out our Historical Fantasy Jubilee full schedule of events and giveaways!

Have you entered to win our prize pack giveaways?

Tweet

Book Review: The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Received: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . .

Review

When being a judgy-pants is a BAD thing

I so let my cover (and title) judgments get the better of me with this book, much to my detriment. I took one look at that cover, and for whatever reason I thought, "Meh, I'll pass" and that's exactly what I did.

Then I attempted to read Die For Me and I was totally turned off by the concept of revenants as romantic leads and my inner Ms Judgy-pants felt fully justified in turning up her nose at Sonia Gensler's take on revenants.

But holy moly did I make a mistake!

A revenant of a different color

Sonia Gensler's revenants are nothing like Amy Plum's revenants. The revenant in Sonia's book is a ghost! If I had known that, then I never would have skipped over The Revenant.

The ghost is also much more like the traditional Gothic horror ghost. That is, the main character spends a lot of time alternatively terrified of and intrigued by the malignant spirit, but never swooning over it.

Even though I do love a good ghostly romance, I adored Sonia Gensler's spooky tale and I'm glad she didn't fall back onto the topic du jour paranormal romance-angle.

So, wait, what genre is this?

I would comfortably put it into the genre of historical Gothic horror (and historical fantasy), with the Gothic parts taking center stage. The mystery of the hauntings is the central focus and I thoroughly enjoyed following Willie as she slowly unraveled the secrets of the past.

I thought the mystery was particularly well done. One minute I was convinced I totally had the Big Bad pegged, but then the next minute a piece of information was introduced that made me think maybe I should trust that person and be fearful of another character instead. But then that was called into question too! I loved how Sonia Gensler kept me constantly on my toes and never knowing who I could believe.

The historical parts are present through the setting and the conflicts surrounding the Cherokee girls, but I don't think you need to be a history buff to enjoy The Revenant. Actually, the setting was a lot more like a boarding school book than a heavy historical.

I do love historical fiction though, so I was fascinated by the details surrounding the Cherokee girls (and I learned a lot that I hadn't known).

For the romantics, there is also a touch of romance, but because Sonia Gensler is a diabolical genius when it comes to red herrings, I never knew whether I should allow myself to swoon over Willie's romantic interests (yes, possibly two--but this is NOT a love triangle) or whether I should start screaming at Willie to run for her life. I loved it!

Willie, you are a liar (but I love you)

I clicked almost immediately with Willie, despite the fact that she probably wouldn't be someone I'd love if I was looking at things objectively. She is a liar and she is attempting to fill a position she is clearly unqualified to hold. Plus, she has some issues that could make her an unreliable narrator.

But I loved her anyway. I don't know if it was because she was brave and daring, or if it was because she tried so hard to improve her life, or because I could relate to her feelings, or if it was simply just because I liked her first person narrative voice, but Willie totally gets an invite to my sleepover party.

The ending (no spoilers)

I'm still conflicted about the ending. I don't mean the resolution of the story arc, because that was great. But after the big bang finale, there's a whole 'nother section that felt to me like a very long epilogue.

I love that Sonia Gensler gave this last final peek into Willie's life because it is in this section that Willie seems to really grow the most and come to terms with her situation.

But...I don't know, as much as it felt like the perfect resolution for Willie and as much as I loved the character depth it provided, it also felt like it didn't really belong in this book. At least not to the extent it was expanded to. I think I would have preferred if it had been shortened to an epilogue.

Bottom line

This was the kind of book where, halfway through, I was already planning on adding to my TBR everything else the author has ever written (except this is a debut, so instead I added Sonia Gensler to my "Authors to Watch" list). I clicked with the writing style, pacing (moderate, but tantalizly tense), and characters and now I cannot wait to see what Sonia Gensler writes next!

The Revenant is a standalone.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about The Revenant that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Want to win a copy of The Revenant?
CLICK HERE TO ENTER! 

(Instructions and restrictions on form. US/CA only)

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews.

Want to know what Ruby is up to today? Check out our Historical Fantasy Jubilee full schedule of events and giveaways!

Have you entered to win our prize pack giveaways?

Tweet

Book Review: Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Release Date: January 4, 2011

Publisher: Berkley Trade/Penguin

Pages: 351
Series: Cleopatra's Daughter #1

Received: Library

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Heiress of one empire and prisoner of another, it is up to the daughter of Cleopatra to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers...

To Isis worshippers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene's parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, the young messianic princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends.

But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother's dreams. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win-or die?

Review

Historical fiction with a capital H

Usually I make a distinction between historical fiction lite and Historical fiction (these are my own made up terms). The former uses an historical backdrop, but it isn't the focal point of the story and oftentimes features and character perceptions are modernized.

The latter is for historical fiction buffs--readers who want to be absorbed into the past and live and breathe the historical setting. Lily of the Nile is firmly in the latter category. It is clear that Stephanie Dray spent countless hours immersing herself in the world of Cleopatra Selene (Cleopatra's daughter) and the people who populated her life.

Minute details--from the clothing worn to the food eaten to the architecture and decor--are included in such a way that I felt like I was living in Selene's world. Never did Lily of the Nile feel like a textbook, dryly relating historical details. Instead, Stephanie Dray has invented a time machine, fully transporting me into Selene's turbulent world.

That said, there are magical elements that are, obviously, fictional, though they are woven in so seamlessly that they feel entirely natural.

But, erm, sometimes historical fiction can be boring...

As much as I love historical fiction, even with a capital H, I'm still an impatient reader. I like action and characters I can love and I don't like long periods of filler. So while I love the genre, I readily admit that a whole lotta Historical fiction books are BOR-ING!

So when I I looked at that large page count (hey, I'm impatient, 351 pages is a lot for me!), I cringed a little. But I started reading and before I knew it I was halfway through and my family was giving me puppy dog eyes because I had forgotten to make dinner (yes, this book made me forget about food. That's saying something).

After finishing dinner I dove back in and when I turned that final page I thought my heart would break because the book was over and I didn't have the sequel on hand. So basically what I'm saying here is: Lily of the Nile = So NOT boring!

A treasure trove of characters

One thing that can make Historical fiction boring is an over-focus on the setting and major events and not enough focus on developing the characters. Sure, they're historical figures and I know them in a textbook approach, but when I read historical fiction I want to know them. I want them to come alive off the page and be more than just the events they are known for.

On this, Stephanie Dray delivered. Even characters like Cleopatra and Mark Antony (who are dead from the outset) felt fully alive. I've read a decent bit about Cleopatra, and Stephanie Dray's version--a woman seen only through the memory of the characters--is just as vibrant and developed as she is in the books that focus on her story.

Octavian, Livia, Octavia, Julia, Helios, and all of the other major players in Selene's life are as nuanced and developed as if they were the main character. They may not have been the main character, but they each still score highly on the WWMCD Test.

But this is Selene's story

I'm totally swapping BFF charms with Selene. She grows tremendously throughout the course of the book, evoking and grappling with the legacies of both her famous mother and father, but ultimately becoming a strong woman in her own right.

Usually when I think of fierce fighters, I think of characters who are physically fierce. Selene isn't a physical fighter. She is a shrewd strategist, fighting her battles through politics, leadership, and manipulation.

She is pitted against the emperor Octavian, presented here through Selene's perspective as a vile man prone to insecurities but brilliant at maneuvering those around him. Watching these two go head to head in a battle of wits was as tense and captivating as the most action-packed battle scenes.

The pacing isn't fast, but it is steady and deliberate. This isn't a fight to be won quickly. This is the kind of fight where both parties plan elaborate schemes that will unfold across decades.

But I'm not just swapping BFF charms because I admire Selene. Lily of the Nile is told through Selene's first person narration, and as such not only was I able to observe her prowess, but I was also privy to her insecurities, hopes, and fears. I really felt like we were best friends.

"Insecurities" is more often than not a DO NOT WANT word for me because there are few things that annoy me more than a wishy washy character who is all woe is me blah blah blah, but Selene's insecurities were not annoying. Her situation is serious--that she reflected on the consequences of her actions and the way her life and upbringing shaped her personality just made her that much more real and relatable to me.

Is there romance?

Lily of the Nile follows Selene's life from when she's 10 to 14 years old, which is young, but they also did things differently back then (and don't let her age give off the wrong idea--this is a YA/adult crossover book, NOT a MG book).

Selene explores her feelings for a man (and if you know your history, then you'll know what happens with him). My feelings for him progressed exactly the way Selene's feelings developed and changed. But I won't tell you any more about that because watching it all unfold and wondering how it will work out is half the fun.

But, as a twin from Egypt raised in the Egyptian culture, she also has a...more than sisterly bond with her twin brother. Yeah, it can be a little uncomfortable coming from a modern perspective (especially considering how freaking hot her brother is--hey, *I* can admire him all I want...except, he's, uh, young. See the mental knots this has me tied up in?!) but I kept having to remind myself that I can't judge them based on my social norms.

Still, the romantic action Selene sees is totally PG--with the exception of one horrible scene where she is raped. The sequel will probably step this up and then I can really get twisted up in my head while I root for her brother to erm, nevermind.

Bottom line

As long as Stephanie Dray writes historical fiction, I will read it. Heck, I will auto-buy it, and I almost never do that!

There is a sequel and while Lily of the Nile doesn't end on a cliffhanger, per se, it does end right in the middle of her life and at a crucial turning point.

I have read a lot about Cleopatra and my Roman history of this time is pretty decent on the broad strokes, but fuzzier on the details. This is the first book I've read that focuses on Selene. I don't think being a history buff on the time period is necessary to enjoy it, but a basic familiarity with Cleopatra's reign and Roman history at this time would probably be helpful. There is a handy character list at the front of the book and I recommend reading the author's intro and afterward.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Lily of the Nile that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews.

Are you a lover of pretty things? If so, you're going to want to check out Ruby's cover post today! Check out our Historical Fantasy Jubilee full schedule of events and giveaways!

Have you entered to win our prize pack giveaways?

Tweet

Book Review: The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 319
Received: Library
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court.  But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection.  Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks.  But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

A dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.

Review

We're on the road to nowhere

The story starts off quickly enough with Sinda having the news of her non-princess status broken to her in the very first chapter. This is good. 

What wasn't so good was the 100 page digression that happened next. As if that weren't frustrating enough, this is a digression of suck. I don't mean to say that it wasn't well written, because it was (the whole book is), but rather that this period in Sinda's life sucks. 

And you guys know me, right? I like happy sparkly things, not dreary sucky things.

Sinda takes about 100 pages to wallow in the facts that she's useless when it comes to non-royal tasks, she has no friends in the village, and even her aunt doesn't like her all that much. Oh, and she learns she's a pushover who does nothing but meekly sit back and take whatever life throws at her without making a peep. Yay.

Sure, this is an important lesson and is the impetus for the whole rest of the book. But Sinda learning this lesson is the sole point of the 100 page Detour to Sucksville and I can't help but pout over the fact that this section was so long and dreary and all for just that tiny, little lesson. 

The gigantic chapters didn't help make this section go by any faster, either.   

Oh there you are, Good Book!

If you're like me and the word "impatient" is an understatement when describing you, then please try to push through that beginning. Because after all the Blah, Blah, Blah of the first part, there's actually a really awesome story here. 

After Sinda's disastrous time with her aunt, she decides to go back to the village by the castle and see if she can get accepted into the college of wizards. This is when the story gets better. 

I loved every single character introduced from this point on, particularly Sinda's eccentric tutor (a lady wizard! We hardly ever see lady wizards!), Kiernan (love interest, we do meet him earlier), and Orianne (princess that replaces Sinda). 

They each had such sweet personalities, though I wish they were a little deeper than they were. Orianne and the lady wizard were such intriguing characters, yet I feel like I only scratched the surface of getting to know them. 

The romance was also of the type I prefer. No, there wasn't any hate turned love, but it was a slow burn. There's no insta-love, broody stranger, or love triangles in sight! It's just a sweet, slow realization between two people who have been friends all their life. Kiernan's loyalty and devotion to Sinda was the kind of sweetness that makes me want to clasp my hands to my chest, sigh, and let out a big AAAWWW.

The plot made me happy

Usually it's the characters that keep me reading, and while I did like these characters, what really kept me hooked in the story was the mystery. Most of this latter part of the book is spent with Sinda and Kiernan as they search for all of the clues to piece together a plot that is over a decade in the making. 

Eilis O'Neal wove such a fantastic story with all sorts of twists and turns. Do you like courtly intrigue? Vengeance? Prophecies? Dastardly plots? Murder? Oh boy, then are you in for a treat!

What's even better is that I didn't ever feel like I had read this story before. Everything was so fresh and original while still comfortably slipping into the beloved and familiar world of YA fantasy. 

But wait, it gets better: NO CLIFFHANGER! Not only that, but there isn't even a sequel. Just this wonderful standalone story that wraps up perfectly and left me totally satisfied. (But if there was a sequel, I would totally read it.)

What I wish happened

If the 100 page detour in the beginning was completely cut out and those pages were instead used to flesh out the characters just a little more, then I would have Special Shelf-ed this book.

Looking at what the book actually is though, the characters were just a little too undeveloped and, well, you can see how hung up I am over that slow start. I also wasn't 100% in love with Sinda. She was a little too weak and filled with low self-confidence for my tastes, even after she learned her lessons.

This is a debut though, so I have no doubt things will only improve from here for Eilis O'Neal. I will most definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she publishes next and I really hope it's another fantasy--the genre could use more authors like her. 

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about The False Princess that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews.

Tweet

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Series: 1st of at least two
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Quirk
Pages: 348
Received: ARC from publisher
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Review

Wait, what??

I thought this was a Gothic novel. I thought I was going to get some spooky old house that Jacob would spend most of the book exploring. He'd find old letters and slowly unravel the mystery and dastardly history of the house and its (potentially dangerous!) occupants.

This is so NOT what happens. I'm not sure if I'd even classify this as a Gothic book. For the first, oh, let's just call it a third, of the book I got more or less the set up to what I was expecting. The Pivotal Event happens that sets Jacob on his journey to the mysterious island and I even got to see the spooky house (though that house was SUCH a letdown. Part of the draw to vicariously exploring those Gothic houses is the mansion porn! Don't give me a dump!)

But then, oh then the story takes a very unexpected turn (if you want the genre, highlight that ---> think X-Men type kids--who are NOT bad, but stuck in the 1940s, with sort-of-time-travel). If I had known this plot point was coming I would have been totally on board. I love that kind of thing! But it was such an unexpected turn that I'm still reeling from the shift and sort of let down that I didn't get the story I was expecting. Blurb writers, why do you mislead me?! Deception like this will never score you points with me.

I need more than gimmicks, please

One of the biggest selling points of this book seems to be the inclusion of vintage photographs, and I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I didn't like them. When I first flipped through the book I thought they would be awesome. Halfway through I started making an effort to NOT look at the photos because they were adding nothing to my reading experience and even detracting from my enjoyment.

The thing is, they're creepy in that vintage photo way, but the story they are illustrating is not creepy. The characters they are supposed to represent are not scary and most of the time the photos jarred with the images the text conjured in my mind. Not only that, but they didn't seem to add anything to the story. I would have preferred it if the photos were not included, though I think I'm in the minority.

You're not quite right

This would have been a perfect book for the nascent genre of New Adult fiction (not quite YA, not quite Adult--think Saved by The Bell: The College Years). Jacob's first-person narration felt inauthentic to me as the voice of a young adult. I just wasn't buying that a teenager would speak and observe the world the way Jacob did. His narration and experiences would have been much more believable to me if he were, oh, say 19-23 years old instead of a teen in high school.

This wasn't a huge deal for me (I'm very used to "aging" YA characters in my head so I don't feel like a creeper when I talk about how hot the guys are!), but it does seem like a missed opportunity. I think adult readers who don't normally read YA would be a lot more likely to enjoy the story with a slightly older protagonist.

Jacob was also kind of a weenie, I thought. So many times he acted in cowardly or useless ways that made me want to slap some sense (or brains, or balls, if that's possible) into him. At one point he hesitates from doing what needs to be done because he's afraid of hearing the awful report of the gun! (Yeah, HE calls it "awful.") Pansy! Shoot her! Shooot her!!!

Thankfully there is a secondary character named Emma who actually does have the courage, brains, and spark that are so lacking in Jacob. I liked Emma a whole lot (though she was a little *too* caustic for my tastes in the beginning).

If this were a date...

It would have gone something like this:

He arrives at my door looking attractive and mysterious. I spend the whole appetizer part of our meal mostly entranced and wanting to find out more about him, even if he does seem a little pretentious.

Then he drops a bomb on me, and instead of being intrigued (or even turned off) I'm just totally bored. He rambles on and on about this new development and I couldn't care less. I'm at the point where I'm thinking of stabbing myself with the butter knife just to breathe a little life and excitement into this drone-fest.

He's blathering on for a while and eventually I tune back in when he starts talking about something interesting. Ok! Maybe this date does have potential! But then I realize that, while I'm kind of interested in what he's saying now, I'm not really sure I get it. His explanation is a little convoluted and I really want to ask him why he didn't just do X?

He drops me off with plans for a second date, though I'm not sure whether I'm going to cancel at the last minute because, gah, boredom and confusion, or if maybe I actually am intrigued enough to try for a round two.

Bottom line

I don't know! I want to read the sequel because everything is totally up in the air and the events that are set up sound like they'll be a lot more interesting and action-packed. There might even be a quest-type thing going on!

But, erm, I don't know. I don't really like Jacob and I wasn't exactly loving the slow parts (which were more often than not) and the less-than-clear world-building (which does have potential). I do appreciate the uniqueness to the world-building though and Emma is someone I could read more about, so, oh I'm very torn.

Explanation of rating system: Star Ratingy Key 

Do you have any questions about Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Tweet

Book Review: The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 328
Received: ARC from author
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, Special Shelf
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling—and downright silly—curse. Ridiculous though the curse may be, whoever breaks it will win a handsome reward.

Sharp-witted Reveka, an herbalist’s apprentice, has little use for princesses, with their snooty attitudes and impractical clothing. She does, however, have use for the reward money that could buy her a position as a master herbalist.

But curses don’t like to be broken, and Reveka’s efforts lead her to deeper mysteries. As she struggles to understand the curse, she meets a shadowy stranger (as charming as he is unsettling) and discovers a blighted land in desperate need of healing. Soon the irreverent apprentice is faced with a daunting choice—will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?

Review

*THAT* book

I've been lusting after The Princess Curse ever since it was nothing more than a tiny little blurb with no cover and not much information. And ever since that time, I've had two warring halves living inside me.

One side smugly crossed her arms, stuck her nose in the air, and declared that NOTHING would be as amazing as Jessica Day George's 12 Dancing Princesses retelling.

The other side was a starry-eyed mess praying to the book gods that The Princess Curse would become *THAT* book where I'd want to hug it forever and sleep with a copy under my pillow at night.

Gloriously, the latter actually came true! Ever since I finished reading I've had to fight myself not to pick it up and read it all over again (and again, and again. My review pile is glaring at me!) Now that isn't to say The Princess Curse is better than Princess of the Midnight Ball. That would be comparing apples to oranges.

Because the thing you need to know about The Princess Curse is this: You have never read a 12 Dancing Princesses retelling like this.

Oh how you astound me!

Merrie Haskell totally has an Author Brain (yes, with capital letters). Now, I kinda knew this already from all the time I had spent stalking her blog. It's sprinkled with all sorts of goodies from The Princess Curse. I knew from those little peeks that The Princess Curse was going to be a story like no other, but it wasn't until I actually read it that I realized how much was there.

In a lot of ways this is an "everything but the kitchen sink" kind of book. There's so much stuff in there. Historical bits, herbalism, adventure, magic, romance, growth, curses, shape shifters, war--you name it and it's there.

The thing is, it never feels like that. I was never bored with pages of information about the world (both the fictional Sylvania and the historical Romania around the time of Vlad the Impaler). I never felt antsy reading through dry details about herbalism.

That is because none of these things were told to me. Really, none were even shown, as authors are so frequently told to do. Merrie Haskell went beyond telling and showing, instead making me live her book. I never once felt like I was reading. I was living, breathing, hearing, feeling, and experiencing everything right alongside Reveka (I'll talk about her later!).

The best kind of fairy tale retelling

In addition to the 12 Dancing Princesses story, Merrie Haskell also wove in TWO more tales and they are almost as integral to the plot as the 12DP story (but I'm not telling you what they are!).

I never would have thought of combining these stories and if anyone had told me they were going to be combined in one book, I probably would have looked at it with some major skepticism, but that's why I DON'T have an Author Brain (like, at all). All I can say without spoiling things is that Merrie Haskell makes it work.

Obviously the original story is getting a shake up in Merrie's version, but, like all the best fairy tale retellings, The Princess Curse retains the heart and features of the original tale (or, in this case, tales).

I loved the tweaks made to the princesses, the reason there are 12, why they dance, what is under their castle, who saves them, the invisibility cloak, the king's promise, the fate of the failed princes, and the villain. All of these features remain faithful to the original while totally turning things on their head in the most original ways imaginable.

New book best friend!

Remember I said I'd mention Reveka? Oh gosh, how do I explain Reveka? She is so awesome. This is a MG book, so she's on the younger side, but that didn't stop me from relating to her. There were so many points where she would think something and I felt such a kindred spirit bond with her because *I* totally felt the same way! There's this part with spies that especially stands out for me.

Reveka is inquisitive, fiercely independent, she knows exactly what she wants and she will do whatever she needs to do to get it. She's stubborn, she's funny, she's adorably irreverent, but underneath it all she has a good heart.

Reveka would be in good company among Anne (with an E!--Reveka completely channels that spirit) from Anne of Green Gables, Vivian Vande Velde's Lylene or Alys or Mel from Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel (and that's high praise from me considering those are among my top favorite ladies from my top favorite books).

I can't say much at all about the other characters without giving things away. But, I will say that you will meet people who are of the "make my heart melt they're so kind and sweet" variety (think the old guardian types). You will also meet people who made me want to reach into the book and slap them silly. Some made me sigh with exasperation, while others left me laughing. Some shocked me with their hidden depths, and others touched me with their quiet romances.

But the best of all--the one with such depth who touched my heart, stoked my anger, made me swoon (this is MG? Yeah, but if you have an older mind...), and left me begging for more, well, I'm not saying another word about him (tease much? You betcha). 

Bottom line

Richly drawn and lovingly rendered, The Princess Curse touched my heart, made me smirk, gave me a new book best friend, and has left me begging for more! I am astounded at the amount of originality and depth in this story. The Princess Curse is that MG book that totally silences those who would scoff at MG books as "dumbed down" stories.

My one complaint is that there is no guarantee yet for a sequel, and I want a sequel! The ending is open, but less in a way that it's a cliffhanger or the story is incomplete and more in the way that you know these characters will have a full life ahead of them. But I want to read more about that life!

What will convince publishers to print a sequel? The sales of The Princess Curse. Oh, hey, on a totally unrelated note, did you happen to notice that, at the time of this posting, The Princess Curse is available for purchase? I'm just saying.

(Ok, ok, I know, I'm totally not subtle. Can I blame my lack of finesse on my all-consuming love for The Princess Curse?)

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about The Princess Curse that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Tweet

Book Review: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Release Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 480
Received: Own
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Review

It's not you, it's me

The thing about fairy tale retellings is that, well, they're retellings. So right off the bat you've already got that "been there, done that" thing going on. I also find it practically impossible not to draw comparisons to both the original story and other retellings.

And herein lies my biggest problem: Entwined just didn't stack up well enough against the two other 12 Dancing Princesses retellings I've read--and ADORED (Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George and The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell).

I didn't find the twist to the original story as inventive or compelling, the villain wasn't as intriguing, the world building wasn't as immersive, and the explanation for why the princesses were dancing and couldn't talk just didn't hack it for me. And the family thing? 100 times better in The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall.

This isn't to say Entwined was bad. It's just that I didn't head-over-heels love it like I love those other three books and I couldn't help myself from constantly drawing comparisons (I know, totally unfair to Entwined).

Maybe it is a little bit you

Remember how I've said I'm not the kind of reader who really takes note of writing style? Well, I took note here. And NOT in a good way. There were far too many repetitive phrases. If Azalea dug her nails into the palm of her hand one more time I was going to reach into the book and throttle her. She seriously does this all the time. I felt so sorry for her hands. The king also sucks in his cheeks a lot. And do we really need to hear about Bramble's freaking yellow-green eyes every single time she does anything?!

That said though, I thought the Penderwick-like titles for things like The Great Rosebush and Snowball Scandal were absolutely adorable.

But Azalea, oh Azalea.  She's the focus of the third-person narration and she rivals Agnes when it comes to main characters who do stupid things that annoy me because they're so childish and dense. I know people will love her, and truly I did like her in a lot of scenes, but the way she treated her father really bugged me. I thought she was very unfair and childish when it came to him. She pouts, throws fits, and does these totally impulsive and stupid things. Then there's this one scene where she earns herself the Dumbest Move Ever award.

It's characters like Azalea that make me feel really old and stodgy because I just want them to pull it together and be responsible already. On the flip side, I liked pretty much all of the other characters and I loved the responsible and sweet sister Clover. I would have loved this book so much more if Clover were the focus of the narration instead.

Enough "character girl" let's talk about the plot already!

The 12 Dancing Princesses tale is one of my favorites to retell because it has a few key plot points that can be taken in a bunch of interesting directions. Here they are, and here's what I liked and didn't like with Entwined's version:

The mystery of the dancing princesses: 

WHY are they dancing?! This question sets up the story right away with a mystery and, usually, authors answer this question with some sort of curse or other type of entanglement. Given that the name of this book is entwined, I was expecting something awesomely creepy that wrapped the princesses up in layers of dastardly spells. 

Ya know what I got instead? 

Mourning.

Yeah. Now before I start knocking that too much, I have to admit that this was an approach I hadn't read before and for that I appreciated it. The focus on emotions and the relationship development that followed between the sisters and their father after the death of their mother (in the first chapter) was emotional, complex, and ultimately endearing. This is really the crux of the plot, with everything else taking a backseat to the family's relationship.

That said, a creepy curse would have been so much cooler than petty princesses who don't feel like following the conventions of mourning their dead mother. It also would have fit in a lot better. As it is, the magical elements and more obvious parts of the retelling seemed almost out of place to me. It often felt like Heather Dixon had a beautiful story about a family coming to terms with grief and the growth of their relationships but then felt like it needed some sort of drama, so enter the 12 Dancing Princesses retelling bits.

Also, why are there 12 princesses? Why did the mother die? These are key features of the original tale that are usually integrated in the retellings, but they aren't explained in this version. They just ARE, and I was very disappointed with that. It felt sloppy. 

Romance!   

Ok, here's the thing, I don't like useless damsels, but, come on, isn't the idea of a dashing young man pledging himself to rescue the princesses in distress kinda hot? Well, I think so. And the guys in the book are all so sweet.

Did you catch that plural? Not one, not two, but THREE girls have romances with three very different but all totally crushable guys. Each romance is different and fitting the personalities of the different sisters, but each one is adorable in its own way. My one complaint is that I wish the guys and the actual romances were fleshed out a bit more than they were. They're all very MG-level.

I also thought the king was pretty swoon-worthy, too, but I'm older so that's ok. (He just might be my favorite character with all of his complex stoicism covering up a softie heart).

The villain: 

The idea of some creeper living in a magical kingdom under your bedroom is already pretty scary, but when he magically forces you to return to him night after night to dance until your feet bleed with no escape, well, that can be downright terrifying. And here's where I'm really disappointed with Entwined. 

The villain is creepy, no doubt about that. While the rest of the book is all very MG, the stories about the villain's past deeds and some of the things he does to the girls were totally unsettling for me and would be far too brutal for some of my MG girls who would otherwise love the book.

Even with that, I never felt that terrifying trapped feeling I usually get with this tale. The stakes never felt that high to me (though that might have been because I couldn't care less if Azalea was stuck down there forever). The fact that the princesses were always willing dancers also seriously took away from the sense of consuming peril. 

When bad things finally started to happen (in, like, the final 100 pages) I couldn't help but feel like giving them the "Talk to the hand" signal because they were only getting exactly what they had been courting for the past 300 pages. Actions have consequences, girls!

The world building

I am a total sucker for world building, and ever since I read Jessica Day George's version of the underground kingdom I've been utterly captivated by the possibilities of the 12 Dancing Princesses' underground world. Merrie Haskell created an equally vivid world that is both like and completely unlike JDG's imaginings. But Heather Dixon? 

Totally gypped me on the world building! I could hardly visualize anything in the villain's domain. The silver forest, the lake, the pavilion, nothing. I was SO disappointed, especially given that the regular world was described well. (Bramble's stupid yellow-green eyes must have used up the rest of the description quota). 

Bottom line

I know I'm complaining, a lot, and I do stand by that. I was straight up disappointed with this version. That said, I did still like enough of it to warrant a 3.5 star rating and I'll probably even reread it. This is a nice retelling and I'm glad I read it and own a copy.

It's a very quick read with a page count that's a lot longer than it seems. Even with the less action-oriented plot, Entwined never felt like a long book. I do wish the pacing had been a little brisker, but it's not that type of story.

Though I had a lot of bones to pick with Entwined, I liked it enough that I am on the lookout for whatever Heather Dixon writes next.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Jeez, are you still here? Sorry that was such a long one!
Do you have any questions about Entwined that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Totally disagree with me? Well, you're not alone!
Check out the Review Comparison.

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to Goodreads or my review.

Tweet

Book Review: Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach
Release Date: March 31, 2011
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 304
Received: Library
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school.

There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School.

And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy.

Review

As much fun as it is to hear about book long before their release date, it can also be a really bad thing. In the case of Wake Unto Me, I was so looking forward to reading about that charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night but the reality didn’t live up to my expectations.

Can I strangle her, please?

CAITLYN! Ugh, I so hated her. She’s very angsty and she looks down on almost everyone around her because she’s convinced that she’s “special” and doesn’t belong with the rest of the inferior people around her.

The peons of Caitlyn’s world include not only her classmates, but also her entire living family…who clearly love her and go out of their way to treat her well. Right off the bat I hated the main character and wished nothing but very uncharitable thoughts on her.

Now, before you get too disappointed, keep in mind that I’m not the age of the target audience. When I was that age, I probably would have eaten this angst-fest up. Caitlyn reminded me very strongly of Jessica from Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ book Demon in My View. I loved that book when I read it as a teen, and even though I kind of roll my eyes at Jessica now, I have enough nostalgic love to keep me rereading that book. So consider that when reading my thoughts on Caitlyn, for what it’s worth.

The ghostly romance that wasn't

I was expecting a ghostly romance, but that isn’t really what happens here. The guy is not a ghost. Instead, there’s time travel through Caitlyn's dreams. Ok, I could get on board with that given how much I love time travel, but I was disappointed that I was sold a ghost romance and then not given one.

The romance was also 100% INSTA love (major emphasis on the "insta"). It all happened so fast and that, combined with a lack of character development, made it so I couldn’t get into their romance at all.

Not only wasn’t he a ghost, but the guy himself was also just ok. There wasn’t anything wrong with him, but he wasn’t much more than a sketch of a generic caricature. I couldn’t help but compare him to Marcello and the guys in Lisa Bergren’s River of Time series (an EXCELLENT historical time-travel romance) and he just fell completely flat in comparison. I don’t even remember his name.

I would like it more if I actually understood it

There is so much potential here for this to be an awesome story. The plot points are fantastic and there are some truly original parts here. The problem is that none of it was developed enough for me. The delivery of information felt convoluted and unevenly paced.

I read through chapters and chapters about boring and irrelevant stuff like Caitlyn complaining about the food or her inability to find her classrooms and then there’s a dump of tons of information. The information chapters were great and I definitely enjoyed reading them, but the deluge of information that was only somewhat explained left me really confused.

It was fun reading about the historical parts and piecing them together, but I’m not sure I ultimately understand how it all works. I don’t get Caitlyn’s power and why it happened to HER of all people. I can’t ask my questions here without giving out major spoilers, but suffice it to say I have a ton of questions.

I think these questions were explained and I just didn’t understand the explanation, so it’s not like I’m supposed to have them and wait for a sequel for the answers. I don’t even remember them all now and, honestly, I don’t really care.

The historical parts were fun for me, but I think you really do have to be into history for them to be appealing. Frustratingly though, it also wasn't filled with historical factoids. So, it was pretty much too much historical fic for someone who doesn’t like that genre, but not enough for someone who does want that genre.

The evil but maybe not evil sisterhood thing also felt like a caricature with no original meat. They came into the story early on and then disappeared for most of the book. They didn’t serve much of a purpose outside of only tenuously explaining why Caitlyn is special. They had so much potential to be awesome, but their history, function, and goals were never fully explained. I don’t even know if they’re good or not.

Bottom line

I was disappointed by the mystery, but it did grab my attention well enough to keep me reading in spite of a main character I couldn’t stand. I can totally see why people would like the book because the basic story is pretty great (especially the "big reveal").

For me though, this felt way too much like a draft that needed more revisions. The original parts were wonderful, but were overshadowed by lack of development and too many cliches.

I don't know if this is supposed to be a standalone or not. It wraps up as if it is a standalone, but who can tell these days. If there is a sequel, I don't know, I guess I might give it a try through the library to see if the writing has caught up to the ideas.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Wake Unto Me that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews.

Tweet

Book Review: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Release Date: April 12, 2011

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 259

Received: Library

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Review

I can't write this review. Really, I've tried three times already and I just keep coming up with these sprawling 20 page essays of crap. So I'm breaking things down into categories.

The cover

It's sparkly. I wasn't expecting that. No, this probably isn't all that important outside of my sparkle-obsessed head.

World building

YES FINALLY THANK YOU! Ann Aguirre's world building has two things going for it: 1) It makes logical sense, and 2) I can picture it perfectly. Reading Enclave was like watching a movie unfold before my eyes. Her world is immersive, it's scary, it's oppressive, it's bleak, and it actually makes sense! 

Characters

They make sense, too! I can't say I exactly like Deuce or relate to her, but I do find her intriguing to read about. I loved seeing the world through her first person narration. Enclave's society is like a really screwed up psych experiment (a la Lord of the Flies) with a bunch of malnourished kids calling all the shots. I'm horrified, but I'm totally fascinated. 10000000 points to Ann Aguirre for making her characters and society develop in a way that is actually consistent with human psychology (something a few recent dystopian authors have failed to do).

The dystopian awakening

Deuce of course realizes her dystopian world isn't as full of win as she had originally thought. In YA dystopians this great epiphany usually comes from the insta-love guy or the quirky best friend. Not here! Yay! More points to Ann! Deuce doesn't really do a 180 in her thinking. She was always very logical, and so when she gets new information about her world, she logically adjusts her conclusions. Hey authors, see how much better that is than relying on quirky throwaway best friend?

Romance

I was loving the romance during the first half of the book. It's a slow burn based on mutual admiration with not a speck of insta-love in sight. Fade is badass, mysterious, and he so nails the "sexy but innocuous touch." But then the author totally KILLED it in the second half! The stupid love triangle rears its head and Fade becomes a complete weenie. Seriously, he becomes that dog that pisses all over itself while rolling onto its back. What's up with THAT? As if that wasn't bad enough, the other guy in the triangle is an ugly scarred up sadistic RAPIST. He's vile in every way. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? How in the world am I supposed to get on board with that?!

Violence

Heck yeah! Does the idea of post-apocalyptic badass zombie killing sound fun to you? Then you're going to LOVE it in Enclave. Deuce and Fade are both hunters and so they spend most of the book killing zombies (or, in this book, Freaks). The fight scenes were so awesome in that heart-pounding, makes-me-wish-I-could-hit-things-without-hurting-myself kind of way. THIS is what kept my eyes glued to the pages and is the reason I cannot wait for the sequel.

Plot

What? Oh, there's a plot? I'm sorry, I was so absorbed by the fight scenes that I forgot we're actually supposed to be doing something here. So, ok, the plot is actually pretty sparse and unfinished in this installment, but it does set up some interesting questions. If you're cool with that wandering type of plot like in Cormac McCarthy's The Road or Richard Matheson's I am Legend, then I think you'll be just fine with the plot of Enclave. It's even got a bit of a quest-y feel to it.

The fighting and near-constant peril make for a brisk pace that keeps the book from dragging. Short chapters help, too. I was sucked in from page one and couldn't put it down until I had finished (like, a day and a half later...ok, I had to sleep at some point). There were a few things I thought were flat out stupid and out of place (those little creatures, the "dream"), but they were minor and I kind of just ignore them.

Ending

Pretty much a cliffhanger. If I cared about a certain character who is left in peril with their fate unknown then I'd probably be ripping my hair out. As it is, I couldn't care less about that character, so I'm fine with the ending. Things leave off on a turning point, so it's a good place to stop, but this is very much only part one of a story (no story arcs are resolved). I'm totally on board for more zombie-killing action when Outpost is released in 2012.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Enclave that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Agree with me? Disagree?
I'd love to hear!
Click here to share your review in the upcoming
Review Comparison!

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to Goodreads.

Tweet