2014 Challenge Wrap Up

Another year down, another chance to see how well (or not!) I did on accomplishing my challenge goals. I learned some things about myself as a reader, achieved some things I was hoping to do, struggled with others, and reassessed my goals for 2015. All in all, while this was a much lighter load of challenges this year, it was a fulfilling learning experience.

You can click on the title of each challenge to see the individual books I read for each one.

The Off the Shelf Challenge
Challenged: 15
Actually Read: 15

YAY! GO ME! YAY!

I am SO incredibly happy about accomplishing this goal! I never finish this challenge. Ever. This is the first time, and I am showering huge, gigantic thank yous onto Gina for motivating me to push through and complete it. I actually had to re-write this post because I was so convinced I was going to fail this challenge and then ended up shocking myself.

The books I read were not the ones I had originally intended to read, but I'm mostly ok with that. Even better, I ended up starting and DNF-ing a whole bunch of books that have been taking up valuable shelf space for years. Now I finally know I don't want to keep them (and I can use that room for new books!) I'm going to try this challenge again in 2015, and for the first time ever I actually think I might accomplish it!

I did end up reading an additional 16 books from my shelves (acquired in 2014), so I do think it is important to note that about half of the books I did read this year did come from my shelves. I think that does fall into the spirit of the challenge, if not the exact rules. Rogue that I am, I am going to break from the tradition of this challenge in 2015 so I can highlight these wins as well.

Historic Fiction Challenge
Challenged: 13-20
Actually Read:  25 (13 historical bio)

I'm very happy with my progress on this challenge. I firmly exceeded my overall goals, but what I'm most pleased with is the number of historical bio books I read. I learned a lot of history this year, which was what I was hoping to accomplish with this challenge. I like that my books ended up a mix of adult, YA, and MG and fiction and non-fiction. I also like that there was a lot of overlap in subject matter. I will definitely be participating in this challenge again.    

TBR Pile Challenge
Challenged: 11-20
Actually Read: 20

This ended up being a much easier challenge than I was expecting. In previous years I had spent most of my reading time focusing on new releases, so in 2014 I wanted to focus more on older books. I didn't include older books that were new 2014 discoveries to me since I really wanted to address those books that had been sitting on my TBR for years. I definitely accomplished what I set out to do.

One thing I did realize this year was that my reading tastes have changed a little, so books I probably would have loved when I originally added them to my TBR were only ok for me now. That was a good though sad lesson to learn and has motivated me to read through some of the books that have been sitting on my TBR the longest. That said, I don't think I will participate in this challenge next year. Instead, I'm going to use the Off the Shelf challenge to target these TBR books.

Goodreads 2014 Reading Challenge
Challenged: 50
Actually Read: 65

I had originally set a goal of 60 books, but then trimmed that down to 50 due to a busy personal year. But, it looks like 60 was more doable than I was expecting, so I'm happy I managed to exceed my 50 book goal. I think I'm going to keep my goal at 50 again for next year. Changes in my life have made it harder to make as much time to read (not having a job where you can read for large chunks of the day will do that! Also, more stress) and the type of books I have been tackling, like the heavy historical books, do take more time. Eleven of the books I read had over 400 pages, which is also something I usually shy away from and I'm pretty proud I managed so many.

Reading Challenge Addict
Challenged: 4
Actually Completed: 4

YAY! 

How did you do with your 2014 challenges?

Feel free to add links to your own challenge recaps!

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Book Review: My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick

My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick
Release Date: October 9, 2007
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
Pages: 200
Received: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

When Tomas and his son Peter settle in Chust as woodcutters, Tomas digs a channel of fast-flowing waters around their hut, so they have their own little island kingdom. Peter doesn't understand why his father has done this, nor why his father carries a long, battered box, whose mysterious contents he is forbidden to know.

But Tomas is a man with a past: a past that is tracking him with deadly intent, and when the dead of Chust begin to rise from their graves, both father and son must face a soulless enemy and a terrifying destiny.

Review

For best results, approach like this...

Different books require different approaches for optimal enjoyment. For My Swordhand is Singing, I recommend taking the "folktale" approach. That is, pretend you are sitting around a campfire on a cold night in Romania and a grizzled old man is telling you a tale of what happened there many years ago.

When listening to this type of story, I don't expect characters of great depth or an intricate plot, but I DO expect a story to keep me entertained. If I'm lucky, such campfire stories send a shiver down my spine and make me jump at the slightest sounds, darting furtive looks over my shoulder while also blushing at my own fear.

My Swordhand is Singing delivered the perfect blend of spooky entertainment. I read it at night and alone, curled up under my bed covers, which is the perfect setting if a campfire is not at hand.

Is it scary?

I've heard others say they were disappointed and not terribly scared, but I'm a wimp so I thought My Swordhand is Singing was a delightfully creepy tale!

The menace builds slowly but steadily, creeping in like frigid winter air curling under a drafty door. Set in medieval Romania, I was constantly aware of how vulnerable these people were with their primitive methods of protection and outrageously dangerous superstitions. Marcus Sedgwick did a fantastic job transporting me into the minds of these people.

The creatures were psychologically terrifying, made all the more so by the fact that everything I knew of them was filtered through primitive medieval eyes. These are not your sparkling vampires looking for romance.

These vampires are the legends that were birthed from a time when menace lurked in the darkness and humans possessed a brutal awareness of their vulnerability. There is no doubt here, these creatures are soulless monsters focused entirely on devouring their prey.

What about the rest of the story?

I said this is like a folktale, and like most folktales, the characters and plot are not incredibly deep. Nor do they need to be.

There are two story threads in addition to the overarching vampire invasion. One dealt with the relationship between Tomas--an aging drunk--and his son Peter. The other focused on Peter and his romantic feelings for two girls.

The threads about Tomas and Peter were a little sluggish, but they did not distract me from the good parts. There is an event surrounding a goose carving that wormed its hooks into my heart and left me in tears. Tomas's struggle for redemption was also touching, if frustratingly, though realistically, imperfect.

The romantic parts were less satisfying, but they did not overwhelm the plot and love triangle phobics need not worry. Both girls also serve a greater purpose, so their presence in the story turned out to be more necessary than I originally thought. I didn't swoon at all, but that's equally because of the expected lack of character depth as it is because I was far too consumed by terror to focus on swoon.

Bottom line

Notice how I posted this review about a week before Halloween? That's not a coincidence. That's my subtle way of saying this would be a GREAT Halloween read because it's short so you can read it in one sitting and it's scary. And a little more than a week before Halloween gives you enough time to get your hands on a copy!

(I realize in saying this that I'm undermining my clever subtlety a little, but we all know I'm really not skilled when it comes to subtlety. I'm an obvious book pusher.)

Marcus Sedgwick is clearly a storyteller. Apparently this is the first book in a series, but I never would have known this without Goodreads as it can be read as a standalone without any problem.

I will definitely check out more of Marcus Sedgwick's books, particularly for those wind-whipping winter nights when I can really get my scare on.

On a totally unrelated note, I love Marcus Sedgwick's signature.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

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

How do you prefer your vampires? Dangerous, or swoony? 
Do you have any recommendations for scary "folktale-like" books?

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews and/or Goodreads.

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Book Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
# 1 in the His Fair Assassin series
Release Date: March 7, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 528
Received: ARC from author
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, Special Shelf

Summary

From Goodreads:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Review

It's *THAT* book!

I had perfectly moderate hopes for Grave Mercy after having enjoyed Robin LaFever's MG book Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos but not really having any idea what to expect from her foray into YA.

Apparently what I should have expected was the answer to all of my bookish prayers, because that's exactly what I got! It was like Robin LaFevers looked directly into my heart and then wrote out the story of my dreams.

Assassin nuns

I have a fascination with assassins, probably because they both do what I will never experience (um, killing people) and they are experts at stealth and physical prowess (I'm about as stealthy as a puppy, which is, yeah, not very).

Ismae is totally badass when it comes to her assassin skills. She is a master at poisons and pretty handy with physical combat. Need someone killed? Ismae is your girl!

But when Ismae is assigned to play the part of a mistress in order to ferret out deadly court secrets, she's a total fish out of water.

I adored her! She's one of those MCs who is imperfect--she makes mistakes, she isn't always right, she puts her foot in her mouth when talking to the guy she likes, and I love her for her imperfections (probably because I share them). Her first person narration was especially wonderful in showing her embarrassment over her social flubs.

Ismae is also torn between following her heart and following the directives of her convent, and her conflicted feelings here really resonated with me. I felt for her, and even though I've never actually been in the position of to-kill-or-not-to-kill, I could still totally understand her struggle between pleasing others or pleasing herself. I loved seeing her grow into her own woman!

Sa-Woon!

I'm super picky about romance, but Grave Mercy dished up my absolute favorite kind. The guy, Duval, isn't a weenie (auto-points for that!). To prove this, he totally held his own when he and Ismae were attacked (Hot guy with sword alert!!). And this is just one example among many other wonderfully manly actions.

Of course he's physically attractive, but I fell in love with him because he's also smart, strong, unwaveringly loyal, and the type of person who inspires that same loyalty in return.

He didn't exactly like or trust Ismae when they first met (hate turned love--more points!!), but he still treated her with respect because he's classy like that. Their romance evolved slowly across the book and never overwhelmed the plot. But did I get *that* kiss at the end?

OH YEAH, and a lot more than that! My favorite parts were actually the non-kissing parts when Duval visits Ismae's bedroom at night (no, not how you're thinking). Those scenes crackled with romantic tension.

This book is probably more like Poison Study where it is an adult/YA crossover instead of straight YA. Some of the themes and events may be a little mature for younger YA audiences.

Dasdardly plots

The political intrigue is ramped up to 11 and with all the twists and turns, I rarely knew who to trust. So many people had motives, and many of them were engaged in smaller side schemes.

As the story came together I was able to deduce the ultimate bad guy before Ismae, which might have been a little frustrating but really didn't bug me in the face of all the other awesomeness.

I also wasn't overly bothered by discovering the who because the effects of their scheming were still engaging. Poor Anne (the duchess, Duval's half sister and the woman to whom Ismae's convent has sworn their loyalty) is put in truly awful situations and as the book progresses, Anne's position becomes increasingly perilous.

I adored Anne, so I had my book clutched in a white knuckled grip wondering how in the world Ismae and Duval were going to outsmart all of Anne's enemies and worrying that something truly awful was going to happen as the machinations of the court vipers slowly closed in around them.

Historical backdrop

The setting of Grave Mercy is medieval France from the perspective of Brittany (who, at this point has been taken over by France but is still trying to maneuver for independence).

I knew NOTHING about this time period. Literally, embarrassingly, nothing. Prior to reading this book I even thought Brittany was in a completely different part of Europe. See? Embarrassing, but true.

So given that, I have absolutely no clue about the level of historical accuracy or inaccuracy in Grave Mercy. I do now know (thanks to Wikipedia) that Anne was a real person and the broad stroke events surrounding her marriage situation and the plight of Brittany at the time are true. (Although I've since learned a lot more from this slightly spoilery author's note).

But did my lack of knowledge matter? Nope, not at all. Robin LaFevers constructed her story in such a way that I didn't need to have any prior historical understanding. To me, it felt like I was reading a well-developed fantasy world with a detailed cultural backdrop and loads of political intrigue.

Bottom line

The pacing isn't super fast, but it isn't slow either. It's what I'd call "slow-burn pacing." There was always something that held my interest and the secrets behind the political intrigue were unraveled at a pace somewhere between tantalizingly slow and satisfyingly fast.

Though, honestly, these characters could sit around watching grass grow and I would still be interested in reading about them.

Grave Mercy is the first book in the His Fair Assassin trilogy, but it reads like a standalone. The next book will take place in the same setting, but will focus on a different girl and the final book on a third girl.

I can't recommend Grave Mercy highly enough! I am so, so happy there will be more books in this fantastically wonderful new series.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

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

Need more incentive? 
Check out my cover review! 
Check out Robin's interview from the Historical Fantasy Jubilee!

Add it on Goodreads! 
Buy it on Amazon!


(I made sure to post this AFTER the release so you don't have to torture yourselves. No more waiting!)

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews and/or Goodreads.

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Book Review: Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren

Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren
#3.1 in the River of Time series
Release Date: February 27, 2012
Publisher: Bergren Creative Group, Inc.
Pages: about 160
Received: Review copy from author
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, Special Shelf

This is a review for book #3.1 in the River of Time series and THERE ARE SPOILERS in this review for earlier books!

Don't want spoilers? Check out my reviews for the first three books:

Waterfall
Cascade
Torrent

Summary

From Author's Website: (highlight to read)

In this e-novella, River of Time #3.1, the dramatic tale about the Betarrinis and Forellis continues, picking up directly after where Torrent left off… The battle is done at the front, but the battle is only beginning back at Castello Forelli. Marcello fights for his life; Lord Greco fights to find his place; and Lia fights for love.

Review

Whenever I read an "extra" like a novella or short story, I always have a few nagging questions and, ok, I'll admit it, fears. The worst thing an author can do to a beloved story is stretch it beyond its limits, and oftentimes that's exactly what happens with little extras like this.

But...but it's the River of Time! Let's be honest here, I would probably gobble up anything even remotely related to this series.

But I'm also super picky and because I love these characters so much, I'm really protective over them. I can't bear to see them fall victim to series stretching. My heart would break to see them in filler stories or, worse, forced rehashes of the same old plotline.

So it was with an emotional mess of unbridled elation and gut-punch dread that I entered Bourne.

And thankfully, I had nothing to fear!

Is there a point to the story?

Yes! The fact that this is a novella and not a full-length novel plays zero part in the story's construction. This is not an "add on for fans"--the plot is original and makes sense as the logical fallout of the events in Torrent. I also finally got to learn more about the mysterious brotherhood! The best way to think of Bourne is to just forget that it is a novella and treat it like part one of the next full book in the series.

The story picks up almost immediately after the end of Torrent and it is essential that you read Waterfall, Cascade, and Torrent before reading Bourne (unless you want massive spoilers for the first three books). The same breakneck pacing mixed with tender character moments and thoughtful soul searching that characterized the first three books is present again in Bourne.

The only time I felt the limitations of the novella length was at the end. Yes, there is resolution, but the greater story arc that has been set in motion promises MUCH more to come. Seeds have been planted and threads have been left dangling, and of course I am dying to find out what happens next! I wouldn't say the end is a cliffhanger exactly, but Lisa is certainly a diabolical tease.

Do I get to see the characters I know and love?

Yes! All of my favorite characters make an appearance (except the ones who have DIED! Oh Fortino!), although for many it is a tantalizingly small appearance. Marcello, Gabi, and Greco all play a decent role but the meat of this story is Lia and Luca (yay!). Though, even there, the short nature of the book makes it so that none of the characters get as much page time as I wanted.

But that's not a criticism of Lisa. You see, this series is like a pastry shop. I love it so much that I want to scarf down everything all at once without waiting. But that really isn't possible (my mouth is, regrettably, just as small as the rest of me). The same goes for these characters. I want to absorb all of their stories, secrets, hopes, fears, desires, everything all at once. Like book osmosis. And that's not possible, so I need to learn how to be patient and savor what I do have.

And, oh my, what a treat I have in Bourne! I have always been a huge Lia and Luca fan, and I am VERY happy with the events of Bourne. It wasn't just that things finally happened (but, total YAY for things finally happening!), it was HOW they happened. Luca's personality was so perfectly displayed in the most adorable, swoony, heart-melting, giggle-inducing scenes of PURE WIN. The witty banter between Lia and Luca was everything I had been hoping for and more. I couldn't have daydreamed it better.

Does the author mess with a good thing?

Not much is different from the first three books, and that is a very good thing. There isn't any new girl causing love drama, Marcello and Gabi don't have a "misunderstanding" to carry the plot, and the characters don't suffer mysterious personality transplants.

What IS different is the inclusion of Lia's perspective! Gabi still narrates plenty (and it was such a comfort to be back in her head again), but the introduction of Lia's POV was thoroughly welcome.

I'll blushingly admit that Lia left me a little star struck in the first three books. She was just so darn cool with her arrows and calm reserve. I loved this opportunity to get into her head and see the "woman behind the mask."

Her voice is similar to Gabi's, but her caution and control seen in the previous books came through in her narrative as well. While I can't help but get swept up in Gabi's romantic view of the 14th century, Lia has always been the character my practical side can relate to. I hope more books are told from her POV in the future.

Bottom line

LOVE! More please!

Oh, and can someone magic me up a print copy please? That man on the cover would look so nice on my shelf.

Oh, and edited to add: The length is about 160 pages.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

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

Add it on Goodreads
Buy it from Amazon

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

  

Click on the covers to go to Goodreads.

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Book Review: The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley

The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley
Release Date: January 31, 2012 (already out in the UK)
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 224
Received: ARC from publisher, via NetGalley
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Michael Vyner recalls a terrible story, one that happened to him. One that would be unbelievable if it weren't true! Michael's parents are dead and he imagines that he will stay with the kindly lawyer, executor of his parents' will ...Until he is invited to spend Christmas with his guardian in a large and desolate country house.

His arrival on the first night suggests something is not quite right when he sees a woman out in the frozen mists, standing alone in the marshes. But little can prepare him for the solitude of the house itself as he is kept from his guardian and finds himself spending the Christmas holiday wandering the silent corridors of the house seeking distraction.

But lonely doesn't mean alone, as Michael soon realises that the house and its grounds harbour many secrets, dead and alive, and Michael is set the task of unravelling some of the darkest secrets of all. This is a nail-biting story of hauntings and terror by the master of the genre, Chris Priestley

Review

Looking for a good Gothic tale?

Look no further. From the spooky old house, mad residents, and ghostly occurrences, The Dead of Winter is classic Gothic horror. It's even set up in that typically Gothic "Let me tell you a tale" narration style I love so much.

The Dead of Winter is so classic Gothic, in fact, that it almost felt like Chris Priestley wrote the whole thing with a "Features of Gothic Fiction" checklist in hand.

I'm the type of reader who delights in the comfort of repetition (just look at my fairy tale obsession for proof of that--how many times can I possibly read a 12 Dancing Princesses retelling? Endlessly), so I don't mind this checklist of the familiar approach. I even think it's fun spotting all of the requisite features.

Erm, except for when the features aren't really developed beyond the level of a checklist item.

I wanted more

The book is short, and that could be fine, but too many things were crammed in and none were particularly fleshed out. Plot threads were minimally developed and some were even dropped all together with no resolution. The supernatural parts didn't have enough explanation for me either. It was a fun read for sure, but the more I think about it the more I can find to nitpick.

There was SO MUCH potential with the haunting mystery, but it didn't turn out entirely right for me. It was like having a recipe for a perfect, delectable cookie...but then the baker accidentally doubled the flour and then forgot to add half the sugar. The bland, boring parts of the story were too much in the forefront and the zesty interesting parts were only half developed.

Seriously?

The Big Bad was a big disappointment. It came out of nowhere while also being utterly predictable. There was no build up or subtle suspicion on the part of the MC, and so there was also no depth or development to the villain.

There were a few not-so-subtle nods to the reader (like an old man elbowing you saying "Get it? Get it?" when, duh, everyone in the world gets it), but dummy Michael remained totally in the dark until the big reveal. When the Ah-ha moment finally came, it was almost hokey in over the top and out of the blue evilness.

And I'll admit it, I giggled. I know that sounds bad, but in The Dead of Winter's defense, this IS a Gothic book, and "over the top to the point of giggles" is pretty much one of those checklist features of the genre. So I guess I can give it a pass on that. It was fun.

Michael honey, CARPE DIEM!

What a whiner. I mean, ok, fine, maybe his mom did just die, but, jeez, can he tear himself away from his pity party for ONE SECOND and focus on the spooky hauntings? Please??

Nothing annoys me quite like a character who squanders good opportunities for fictional fun. Michael can't seem to recognize the value of being an orphan. Hasn't he read ANY books?? Fictional orphans get to have all the fun and Michael's situation is rife with potential excitement.

But apparently Michael missed this memo because he spent most of his time feeling sorry for himself and prissily complaining about how he wanted to leave ASAP. He also pouted because people didn't believe he saw a ghost. Pouted.

If he were a good little protagonist, he would have been throwing himself in perilous situations, hellbent on tracking down the malevolent presence stalking the dilapidated mansion and driving its residents off their rockers. We could have had so much fun together!

But no, Michael is a total killjoy. Things happened TO  him while he sat there like a grumpy log. He had absolutely no engagement or curiosity. The situation was all "ooooh scary noises! Randomly shattering mirrors!" and Michael was all dispassionately "Uh, no. I'm sad my mom died. And why do I need to stay here again?"

He even complained that an old man gave him money. Money?! Something is clearly wrong with that boy.

I'm complaining too much

Ok, ok, I'm whining too much myself. I actually did enjoy reading The Dead of Winter. The story, though thin, is a fun Gothic yarn. And it was seriously scary.

I'm a wimpy reader, and there were a two scenes that pretty much terrified me. Yes, terrified. One is in the middle and one is toward the end, and both made me want to run around screaming in fear. Then there were about three or four other scenes that were more on the usual level of leave on all the lights and walk with my back to the wall kind of scary. It was wonderful!

I also loved the "big family love" provided by the servants. They were a perfect warm fuzzy balance to the heart-attack-inducing scenes.

Bottom line

If it weren't for Michael, I would have given this an easy 4 stars. Really, he was the part that bugged me the most. I still managed to have a lot of fun despite him, and I definitely recommend The Dead of Winter to readers looking for quick Gothic fun and a good scare. I am for sure checking out more of Chris Priestley's books.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about The Dead of Winter 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/Goodreads.

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Book Review: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 400
Received: ARC from publisher
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Summary

From Goodreads:

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.
The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

Review

Four things I want out of an historical fantasy, 
and where The Gathering Storm went wrong for me

1. I want to feel like I'm there

I was really looking forward to immersing myself in Tsarist Russia and living and breathing the Russian court and culture, but sadly, this didn't happen. Aside from the traditional Russian naming conventions used*, I would have assumed the setting was England and the characters were all British.

*(Talk about a mouthful! The inclusion of traditional Russian naming conventions is a great way to pad a book with an extra 50 pages!)

2. I want a main character of her time, but interesting

One of the reasons I love historical fantasy is because it allows for more interesting female roles than in straight-up historical fiction. I was totally on board with the idea of Katerina as a necromancer.

But reading about Katerina the duchess who wants to be a doctor? Eeeeh, I'm having a MUCH harder time buying that.

It's not that I'm against women doctors or the idea of a woman bucking society's expectations (Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman fangirl, right here!), but I just couldn't believe that a duchess of that time period would be willing to throw everything away to become a doctor.

And keep in mind, being a doctor wasn't a glamorous job then. Being a doctor was a perfectly acceptable career...for someone in the middle class. That Katerina was so brazenly gung-ho about it didn't ring true to me at all and made her seem spoiled and naive. 

(Plus, I straight up didn't like her)

Katerina seriously irritated me. She constantly contradicted herself by saying one thing and then doing something that completely undermined what she said.

She never really acted like she wanted to be a doctor. Sure she talked about it a lot, but when actually placed in a situation where she could whip out her doctor hat, she seemed uncomfortable and clueless. Her crowning moment was squeamishly tying on a bandage. Forgive me if I'm unimpressed. 

Katerina pulled this "talk the talk, but not walk the walk" when it came to learning about her necromancy powers, too. She said she needed to learn more (and oh boy is THAT an understatement!), but she then spurned almost every opportunity she was presented with.

She pooh-poohed advice given to her to protect herself from magical threats because she refused to believe those threats could possibly exist. You're a necromancer, honey! Why is it such a stretch to believe Bad Magical People exist too? Her actions made zero sense to me, and yet I'm somehow supposed to buy that she's a smart cookie? I'm having trouble making the connection.

Rejecting princess-ness and knocking everyone who enjoyed such things wasn't winning her any points with me either. I like balls and princesses and girly things like that. I'm also uncomfortable with people who elevate themselves by putting down others, and so I couldn't get on board with Katerina's constant scorning and belittling of her peers.

3. I want a smooth integration of magical elements

The magical elements in some historical fantasies are integrated so well that I have to remind myself that the magical parts are not actually based on fact. That wasn't the case here.

I was totally confused about the rules of The Gathering Storm's magical elements. Because the book is narrated by Katerina and she flat out refused to learn anything about the paranormal creatures, the rules surrounding them were extremely vague. The who, what, where, when, why, and how of it all seemed muddy and inconsistent. 

For example, there were vampires, witches, necromancers, and a host of other paranormal creatures, and at some points it seemed like they were all "out" in society. But then other times it seemed like they were a big secret and the vast majority of people had no clue they existed. And if they found out, there would be DIRE consequences. So, um, which is it? I'm very confused. 

4. I want it to be more exciting than my history textbook

I was bogged down by the slow pacing and the endless balls that seemed to serve no purpose to the overall plot (and I usually like balls). My inner child even piped up a few times to whine "Are we there yet??" I suspect The Gathering Storm has come down with a serious case of series stretching.

Writing style. I REALLY noticed.

The Grand Duchess and the Grand Duchess enter a room, and then the Grand Duchess leaves.

When I wasn't tripping over all of the Katerina Alexandrovnas I was thoroughly confused with the over-used vague titles.

If a story has more than one Grand Duchess or Grand Duke etc, then I don't recommend referring to all of them by their title instead of their name. That applies doubly when they're all present at the same time.

This also really didn't help establish the characters as individuals, especially given their personalities were so sparsely developed.

Editing errors

As if I wasn't already confused enough, editing inconsistencies threw me for a loop. At one point Katerina is wearing a ring on a necklace, but a few sentences later the ring has magically appeared on her finger! A character who knows nothing of the paranormal suddenly does! This sort of thing occurred a lot.

Full disclosure though, I did read an ARC, so many of those inconsistencies may have been corrected in the final version.

Will I read the sequel?

No. I am a little curious about the plot because there were some interesting bits there, but I don't think I could put up with Katerina much more. The writing and editing left too much to be desired and I'm not going to muddle through it again.

Do I recommend it?

That depends. Even if the writing improved, I still personally wouldn't like Katerina and the lack of realism. BUT, readers who enjoyed Jennifer Bradbury's Wrapped might not mind this at all. I had similar complaints about Agnes in Wrapped and I know a lot of people loved her and didn't mind the historical stretches.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about The Gathering Storm that I haven't addressed? 
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2012 YA Historical Fiction Challenge

9/15 books

How do you make a progress bar? 

Challenge Basics: 

Name: 2012 YA Historical Fiction Challenge
Hosts : YA Bliss  
Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Read YA or MG historical fiction books.  
Levels: Three; I am going to be ambitious and try for the third level: Read 15 books  
Prizes? Not that I see
Sign up page   

Why I'm Interested:  

I LOVED this challenge last year! I was hoping Sab would host the challenge again in 2012. Historical fiction is a genre I love, but I don't read it as often as I wish I did. There are also a bunch of Big Name historical fiction authors I've been meaning to read...but still haven't (like *cough* Mary Hooper). Hopefully 2012 will be the year!

Some books I'm considering: 

Books from my Goodreads shelf. Last year historical fantasy was acceptable, so hopefully the same holds true this year. If so, then I have a whole 'nother list to pull from.

Books Completed:

9. The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
8. Duchessina by Carolyn Meyer
7. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
6. The Queen's Vow by C. W. Gortner
5. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
4. The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats
3. Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan
2. Renegade Magic by Stephanie Burgis
1. Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren

Have you signed up for this challenge? What books are you planning on reading? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read?

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Book Review: Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers
Series: Book 1 in the Theodosia Throckmorton series
Release Date: April 9, 2007
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Pages: 350
Received: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Her father may be head curator, but it is Theo—and only Theo—who is able to see all the black magic and ancient curses that still cling to the artifacts in the museum.

When Theo's mother returns from her latest archaeological dig bearing the Heart of Egypt—a legendary amulet belonging to an ancient tomb—Theo learns that it comes inscribed with a curse so black and vile that it threatens to crumble the British Empire from within and start a war too terrible to imagine.

Intent on returning the malevolent artifact to its rightful place, Theo devises a daring plan to put things right. But even with the help of her younger brother, a wily street urchin, and the secret society known as the Brotherhood of the Chosen Keepers, it won't be easy.

She quickly finds herself pursued down dark alleys, across an ocean, through the bustling crowds of Cairo, and straight into the heart of an ancient mystery. Theo will have to call upon everything she's ever learned in order to prevent the rising chaos from destroying her country—and herself!

Review

Forget that you're an adult

Pretend that you're a kid again and try to recall what you used to think about adults. If you had even the slightest tinge of Miss Smartypants as a child, then you probably found yourself thinking that everything would be so much better if adults just stopped being silly and let you rule the world.

The fact that you were only 11 years old was hardly relevant.

Have you ever thought that? Well, I know I did, and that 11 year old mindset is what you need to channel to approach Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. If you look at it from an adult perspective, then I don't think you're going to be able to appreciate Theodosia or her story in the right way. Remember, this is Theodosia's story and it is told through her perspective.

MG-level sleepover party!

The guest list: Theodosia Throckmorton, Hermione Granger, Reveka and Kat Stephenson. We would bite off an adventure that would be WAY above our heads, but our combined precocious awesomeness would easily save the day.

Theodosia reminded me a lot of Hermione back when Hermione was a wild-haired know-it-all in Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. That isn't to say Theodosia is a copy of Hermione, because she's totally not. Theodosia is very clearly her own person, and that person is a respectable young lady, a little scamp, and a little girl trying to catch the eye of her busy parents.

Theodosia has many traits that could so easily go wrong and make her really annoying, but in R. L. LaFever's skilled hands Theodosia's stubbornness, defensiveness, independence, bravado, and curiosity were 100% adorable. Add in her insecurities that make her about as cute as a sad puppy picture and I'm pretty much ready to sign the adoption papers.

Her first-person narration is filled to the brim with cuteness (her little grumbled frustrations never failed to make me smile). I would try to pull out a quote as an example, but I'm having too much trouble deciding on just one.

If I were an old lady, I would SO pinch Theodosia's cheeks and give her lots and lots of hugs.

I got to live in a museum!

You know me, I'm a touch impatient, so I found the beginning a little slow. It's not that nothing happens, it's just that what does happen isn't something to get all white-knuckled about.

It's also the first book in a series, so there was a lot of "setting up Theodosia's world" going on. This didn't really bother me though because I liked Theodosia so much. So, yeah, maybe I wasn't exactly desperate to find out what was going to happen next, but I was perfectly content to keep reading about Theodosia's life in the museum.

Which, by the way, SO fed my secret wish to live in a museum (I've wanted to make the New York Museum of Natural History my second home ever since I read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler. Yeah, those kids picked a different museum, but this is MY dream).

The pace does pick up about halfway through when Theodosia finds herself in the middle of two opposing secret societies--one side attempting to harness ancient Egyptian curses for nefarious purposes, the other side determined to stop them.

Yep, you read that right. Secret societies! Automatic points for that. This part was a ton of fun.

Bottom line

I'm really happy there are three more books (and counting) in this series because I'm hooked! Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos ends nicely as a standalone though, so my motivation to keep reading is based purely on how much I like Theodosia and her adventures.

This is a MG book, but it isn't one where it feels "dumbed down" or overly simplistic (the bad guy was a surprise to me). 

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos that I haven't addressed? 
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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? 
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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 

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