Book Review: Everworld series by K. A. Applegate

Everworld series (12 books), by K. A. Applegate (and Michael Grant of the Gone series)
Release Date: 1999 through 2001
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: Between 156 and 200 
Received: Bought
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Amazon Page 

Summary:

Four teenagers, along with the powerful and mysterious Senna Wales, are dragged from our world and into the parallel universe Everworld, a land populated by ancient gods and their human worshipers. Once a stable land, the balance of Everworld has changed with the arrival of the alien god Ka-Anor, who feasts on the Everworld gods, and his insect-like followers who now swarm across the land. Seeing his doom if he remains in Everworld, the Norse god Loki has brought Senna to Everworld to serve as a gateway and allow him to escape into our world. Senna, however, has no intention of helping Loki, or anyone else for that matter, and sees her arrival in Everworld as an opportunity for power and conquest.

The teenagers who have also been transported to Everworld, David, Christopher, April, and Jalil, are swept along for the ride as the gods wage war, pillage, torture, and scheme. Compounding these already life-threatening problems is the mystery of their now dual existence. When they crossed over into Everworld, they somehow split in two, with one half remaining in the real world going about their regular lives and the other half battling for survival in Everworld. When they sleep in Everworld, these two halves merge in the real world where they swap memories with themselves. This allows them to brush up on ancient mythology in the real world, but it also brings up the question that haunts them throughout the series: If they die in Everworld, do they die in the real world as well? As if this weren't enough, each character also has their own real world problems to deal with. 

Review:

Is that summary kind of convoluted? Sorry about that. The thing is, there's so much that happens in this series that it's really difficult to explain it all without giving everything away or not giving enough away. Just trust me, the books are way more awesome than my summary make them sound.

I happened upon this series at a library sale years ago. I was able to pick up 9 of the 12 books, but stuck them in a drawer and pretty much forgot about them. I reluctantly decided to give the series a try now and honestly thought I'd get through the first book and then decide to give the rest away. I mean, look at the covers? They look pretty amateurish and juvenile. All I can say is, holy wow was I wrong! This series is one of my favorite reads of 2010.

This series is absolutely fan-freaking-tastic! The action starts right away and doesn't let up at all. Everything is so intense. The action scenes are heart-pounding adrenaline rushes described at break-neck speed. I couldn't help but get caught up in the pure action and emotion as the characters engaged in battle after battle and witnessed all sorts of torture, depravity, and indulgences. The imagery was so alive and real, I was completely absorbed in what was happening. People actually die (horrifically, graphically), so you really never know what is going to happen. Call me a wimp, but I was so immersed and involved in the story, I actually had to take a short break half-way through the series just to calm down from the OHMYGODCONSTANTPERILBATTLEFIGHTINGGOGOGO!! I think that's pretty awesome.

The books were also much more than I was expecting. If they had only been total action books, they would have still been great, but they went much deeper than that. Each book is narrated by one of the four teens, and slowly their inner thoughts, morals, feelings, fears, and personal demons are explored. Their voices are distinct, and it is fun to see the events from their very different perspectives. We really get to know these kids and their experiences in Everworld have a large and logical impact on their growth and character development. They each had minor irritating characteristics (which were pointed out by the other characters), but they were also all admirable and very likable in their own ways. I really got to know these people and I miss them now that the series is over.

Maybe a very minor spoiler:

Click me to read spoilers

All except Senna, who I thoroughly despised (as you are supposed to). She gets to narrate one book, and while you learn more about her and in some ways feel sorry for her, she is still utterly detestable. I was so happy the author did this. When I realized Senna was narrating one of the books, I was actually angry. I didn't want to hear from her and I was afraid the author was going to try to pull some, "Look, bad guys are really just misunderstood!" and then all the characters would hug after they saw Senna's inner heart. Barf. So I was very happy when K. A. Applegate didn't do that at all. Instead, we see that, while Senna may have her own sad past, she's still an evil cookie who needs killing. Yay!

I also learned a lot about ancient mythology and the cultures of the various peoples. I wasn't a scholar on the subject, but I knew the glossed over basics. There were a number of times where a god or a cultural feature was described in the book in ways that were completely new to me and, sure enough, when I looked them up the descriptions were spot on. Learning about mythology is interesting, but K. A. Applegate took things to a whole new level by making these gods come alive. Never did the book feel bogged down with lessons. The horrors of Hel were absolutely, nauseatingly real. The terror the characters experienced coming face to face with Huitzilopoctli was palms sweating, stomach in knots terrifying. The cultural differences between the various peoples were clearly drawn and actually based on reality. They didn't just dress up the same people in different garb, but instead the descriptions went much deeper showing how the various cultures affected the responses and opinions of the different peoples.

I could go on and on just raving about this awesome series. If anyone is on the fence about this series, wondering if it's maybe too juvenile or hokey, or just turned off by those covers, or wary because the author also wrote the Animorphs series, FORGET ALL THAT! Just give the series a try. Adults, kids, guys, and girls, this series has wide appeal and totally delivers. Just a few warnings before starting:

• You'll fly through each book in a few hours and each book ends on a massive cliffhanger, so have the next book ready.
• The books MUST be read in order and you can't skip any books.
• The ending doesn't wrap things up very well. I was left with a lot of questions I was hoping to have been given the answers to, but it ended very open-ended. Not terribly, but it's there. People who write fan fiction must be overjoyed.
• Once the series was over, I crashed like a five year old after a three day sugar binge.

The open ending gives me hope that maybe, someday, K. A. Applegate can be persuaded to pick up the series again. Is that wishful thinking? Probably, but it should give some indication of how attached I am to this series. Did I mention I love this series? Oh, just go and read it!
 

 Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

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Event: Busting the Newbie Blues

Starting out as a new YA book blogger is a ton of fun. You meet a bunch of new people who all share in your passion for YA books, you become a part of a friendly community, and you're continually exposed to wonderful new books.

But sometimes things can be a little discouraging when you're just starting out. You look at your blog and then look at some of the awesome established bloggers out there and wonder if you'll ever make the grade.

So here's to Busting the Newbie Blues! Don't be discouraged. Instead, take action! Participate in my Busting the Newbie Blues event, which will run from December 3rd through December 31st.


This event is designed to:

•  Put new YA book bloggers on the map
• Increase blogger interaction
• Start a discussion by sharing our experiences as a new bloggers
• Learn about what it was like for all those impressive established bloggers when they were newbies

So how does this work? Simple:

• Select the questionnaire that best applies to you (there's no "wrong" choice, so just pick whichever one you feel most comfortable answering)
• Create a post on your blog with the questions and your answers
• Grab the banner above or the button below to include in your post or sidebar
• Link back to my post here
• Sign the Mr. Linky below so we can all come and visit your post!
• Spread the word!

If you don't want to make a post on your blog, but you do want to participate, then just email me your answers and I'll post them up on my blog! Be sure to include your name and blog address. Here's where you can email me:
Imagesandwords at optonline dot net

Try to visit as many blogs as you can. Take a look at their answers, but also check out a bunch of their other posts (try for 5?) and leave comments. If you like their blog, follow them! If someone follows you, then take a look at their blog and follow back if you like what you see.

This event will run from today all the way through December 31st, so bookmark this post and check back to ensure you'll be included in all the fun as new bloggers add their posts to the list. I can't wait to see all your answers and blogs! I hope everyone has fun. :)

Want to see my answers? Click here to see Small Review Bust the Newbie Blues!

Questionnaires:

New Bloggers: 

Pick this questionnaire if you if you feel you're still getting your "blogging legs" and could use some advice and awareness brought to your blog, whether you're a brand new blogger or even if you've been blogging for over a year. 

1. When did you start your blog?
2. Why did you start your blog?
3. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
4. What do you find most discouraging about being a new blogger?
5. What do you find most encouraging?
6. What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog?
7. What do you dislike about blogs you’ve read? Do you try to avoid this?
8. Any advice for other new bloggers?
9. Anything else you’d like to share about your experience?
10. Is there anything you’d like to tell us about your blog?

Established Bloggers:

Pick this questionnaire if you've been blogging for a while, have a decent sized group of followers and people commenting on your posts, and get a decent amount of traffic. Basically, you have some experience blogging and you've seen positive results for your efforts. You can define "decent."

1. When did you start your blog?
2. Why did you start your blog?
3. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far? Did you make any mistakes new bloggers can learn from?
4. What did you find most discouraging about being a new blogger? How did you deal with this?
5. What do you find most encouraging?
6. What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog?
7. What do you dislike about blogs you’ve read? Do you try to avoid this?
8. Do you have any advice for new bloggers?
9. How did you bring your blog to the attention of so many people?
10. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience?

<br><a border="0" href="http://smallreview.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/25updae.jpg" /></a><br>

Oh, and please pay no attention to the "Blog Fodder" title in the Mr. Linky or the links below it. I think you have to pay to customize that, and I only selected the free option that let me choose an established name.

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Book Blogger Hop (2)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy-for-Books where book bloggers answer the weekly question and hop around to other blogs and see what other bloggers have to say. The goal is to discover new blogs, "connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!"

This week's question is:

 "What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

That's a tough one. Most recently, it would probably be Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler. I got this book for review through Net Galley, so I was doubly excited for it, but when I read it I didn't love it. The thing that made me most uncomfortable posting my review is what makes me always feel nervous posting negative reviews: I don't want to hurt the author's feelings. They put so much effort into writing their book, and I know how that feels. It's like the thing becomes your baby, and then for me to say I didn't like it? Well, that probably stings. I hope if any authors ever read my negative reviews that they aren't hurt by them and instead take them as constructive criticism and the opinion of one person.  

In case you missed it, be sure to check out my event Busting the Newbie Blues hosted here from December 3rd through December 31st. It'll be a ton of fun and I'd love to see you there!

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Spotlight List: Sleeping Beauty Retold

Spotlight is a feature I do where I pick a topic or theme and then highlight some books that fall into that theme. Here are some previous Spotlight posts:

Classics that are Actually Fun to Read
Little Red Riding Hood Retold

I'm always a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling. I like seeing how different authors take the same basic story and make it their own. My favorite movie when I was very young was Disney's Sleeping Beauty. I would watch it over and over again every day (scanning through the parts with Maleficent's henchmen because they frightened me!), so the Sleeping Beauty story holds a special place in my heart. The following are some authors' takes on the tale. Some I've read, some I haven't.

Beauty Sleep, by Cameron Dokey
Release Date: December 2002
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages:186
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

Part of the Once Upon a Time series of fairy tale retellings, Beauty Sleep is a completely unique twist on the classic tale. The set up is familiar enough (bad fairy not invited, curses child, good fairy changes curse of death to curse of sleep), but the resolution is what makes this story different.The ending is a really original spin on how the curse plays out, an ending that I found wholly satisfying. Much of the story is spent following Princess Aurore's life in her castle and her relationship with her cousin who is a complicated and likable man. You really get to know Aurore in this version, and I found myself liking her very much. While this is a short book, there are no less than three parts that really touched me, and one that even made me cry a little. I highly recommend this one as both a touching story in its own right and an interesting retelling.

Briar Rose, by Jane Yolen
Release Date: March 15, 2002
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 224
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

I haven't read this one, but I remember loving Jane Yolen when I was younger.

From Goodreads:

Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma’s stories about Briar Rose. But a promise Rebecca makes to her dying grandmother will lead her on a remarkable journey to uncover the truth of Gemma’s astonishing claim: I am Briar Rose. A journey that will lead her to unspeakable brutality and horror. But also to redemption and hope. A Tor Teen edition of the modern classic by critically-acclaimed author Jane Yolen

A Kiss in Time, by Alex Flinn
Release Date: April 28, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 384
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

Set in modern times, this story alternates narration between the princess Talia, who has slept through the last 300 years, and the definitely-not-a-prince Jack, who had the misfortune of waking up Talia and her entire kingdom. Will Jack and Talia fall in love? Can Talia and her kingdom adapt to living in the 21st century? To complicate matters further, neither characters' parents are too keen on the situation and the witch that created the curse isn't satisfied with it's outcome.

Both characters start out as aimless and bratty teenagers but grow through the story by seeing themselves and their actions through the eyes of one another. Despite their bratty starts, both characters are likable and have distinct voices. I laughed out loud a number of times (the scene at the modeling agency was great!) and enjoyed this Flinn offering even more than her previous fairy tale retelling, Beastly. Definitely recommended.

 

When Rose Wakes, by Christopher Golden
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Publisher: MTV
Pages: 320
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

I haven't read this one either, but it sounds interesting.

Product Description:

Her terrifying dreams are nothing compared to the all-too-real nightmare that awaits. . . .Ever since sixteen-year-old Rose DuBois woke up from months in a coma with absolutely no memories, she’s had to start from scratch. She knows she loves her two aunts who take care of her, and that they all used to live in France, but everything else from her life before is a blank.Rose tries to push through the memory gaps and start her new life, attending high school and living in Boston with her aunts, who have seriously old world ideas. Especially when it comes to boys. But despite their seemingly irrational fears and odd superstitions, they insist Rose not worry about the eerie dreams she’s having, vivid nightmares that she comes to realize are strangely like the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. The evil witch, the friendly fairies, a curse that puts an entire town to sleep—Rose relives the frightening story every night. And when a mysterious raven-haired woman starts following her, Rose begins to wonder if she is the dormant princess. And now that she’s awake, she’s in terrible, terrible danger. . . .

 

The Wide-Awake Princess, by E. D. Baker
Release Date: May 11, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 272
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

Sleeping Beauty isn't the protagonist of this version. She spends most of the time sleeping. Instead, her younger sister Annie steals the show as she sets out to try to undo the curse and find a prince to kiss her sister. Annie is immune to magic, so a lot of funny scenes ensue as other fairy tale people try to cast spells on her. While Sleeping Beauty is the main focus of this story, a whole host of other fairy tales are also included. I laughed my way through this book. Annie and Liam, the castle guard who accompanies her, are both very likable characters who break the stereotypical molds of "tough girl" and her guy.

 

Thornspell, by Helen Lowe
Release Date: September 9, 2008
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

I started reading this one but didn't get very far. I don't have any complaints about the book (other than the beginning seemed kind of slow), but I think I just wasn't in the right mood at the time. I did like that this one is from the point of view of the prince.The cover is also pretty neat looking. 

 Goodreads Description: 

PRINCE SIGISMUND HAS grown up in a remote castle, dreaming of going on heroic knightly quests while staring out at the forbidden wood that looms to the west. His great-grandfather placed an interdict on the wood nearly 100 years ago, though no one seems to know exactly why. But for those still young or credulous enough to believe in magic, the rumors and stories abound—of an enchanted castle and a sleeping princess cursed by an evil faie.

Helen Lowe has spun a grand, adventurous, romantic tale about the prince destined to wake the sleeping princess. This thoughtful hero must delve into a world of mystery and magic to discover the truth of his own fate. Enemies with powers he never imagined abound, sometimes hiding behind a mask of friendship. And an elusive girl haunts his dreams—is she helping him or binding him tighter into a thorny cage? For Sigismund, the truth turns out to be more fantastical than any story he’s ever heard.

 

Spindle's End, by Robin McKinley
Release Date: 2000
Publisher: Ace
Pages: 384
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

I've never read a Robin McKinley book before (*gasp* I know!) so I haven't read this one either. 

Goodreads Description: 

All the creatures of the forest and field and riverbank knew the infant was special. She was the princess, spirited away from the evil fairy Pernicia on her name-day. But the curse was cast: Rosie was fated to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a poisoned sleep-a slumber from which no one would be able to rouse her.

 

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, by Gail Carson Levine
Release Date: September 8, 1999
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages:112
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

I haven't read this story, but I have read other books by Gail Carson Levine and I've loved them. This one sounds really cute from the description. 

Product Description:

A spiteful fairy. A beautiful princess. An outstretched finger. A spindle. A hundred year snooze. A charming prince. A kiss. All the familiar ingredients.

But wait! Where did that extra prince come from? And those fairy gifts that have never been there before? And what does a flock of balding sheep have to do with anything?

Gail Carson Levine has waved her magic wand over this old standby, and presto! It reappears, transformed—new, sparking, and funny! Hoots and guffaws are likely, chuckles and giggles are guaranteed.

In this third of her Princess Tales, Levine shows a precocious but lovable girl taking control of a destiny she never asked for, with hilarious and happily-ever-after results.

 

The Healer's Apprentice, by Melanie Dickerson
Release Date: September 14, 2010
Publisher: Zondervan
Pages: 272
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

I'm not really sure I see how this one is a retelling, but I've heard that it is a loose retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I have it on order, so I suppose I'll find out soon enough. The plot sounds interesting, and that cover is so pretty. 

Product Description: 

Two Hearts. One Hope. Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her---a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

Have you read any Sleeping Beauty retellings? What did you think of them?

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Summary: Wildwing by Emily Whitman

Have you ever read a book and then forgotten everything you read? Do you ever wish you could just read a quick summary to refresh your memory instead of having to reread the entire book? I have, especially when a book is part of a series and I just want to get the highlights of the previous books so I know what's going on when I read the latest installment. I enjoy rereading, but sometimes I just feel so guilty spending time on a book I've already read when all the books on my TBR pile glare at me for neglecting them. These posts are an attempt to help forgetful readers like myself.

The following post is a summary of the book. It does contain spoilers, so if you haven't read the book, then don't read the rest of this post!

Wildwing, by Emily Whitman
Release Date: September 21, 2010
Publisher: Greenwillow books
Pages: 359
My Review
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

So you want to find out what happens in Wildwing? Click here if you want to read my spoiler free review, or click the following link for the full summary:

Click me to read spoilers

The story opens in 1913 with fifteen year old Addy excited about being chosen to play the part of the queen in a school play. Addy is a poor girl and the daughter of a single mother. She is ridiculed by her wealthier peers for being both poor and fatherless. On the way home from school, Addy gets into a fight with one of her classmates who had been picking on her. When her mother finds out, Addy is forced to apologize (a humiliating experience), leave school, and become a maid for the eccentric Mr. Greenwood.

Mr. Greenwood is a widower whose son James went missing when James was a young child. Mr. Greenwood has remained reclusive ever since. Addy is at first scared of him, but they soon strike up a friendship over a shared love of books. Mr. Greenwood nurtures Addy and begins to think of her as the child he never had.

While cleaning the house, Addy discovers a locked room and decides to explore. She finds a strange contraption that looks like an elevator lift. Upon stepping inside, she is transported back to the 13th century where she is mistaken for a lady and treated with respect. She only wanders through town for a short while before going back to the lift and heading home. While in the medieval village, Addy accidentally fell and tore her skirts. Her mother mistakes these tears for evidence of another fight and she decides to send Addy away as a live-in maid.

Addy does not want this life and so she decides to go back to the 13th century where she can live the life of a grand lady. Unbeknownst to Addy, Mr. Greenwood is also working to ensure a life for Addy different from the one her mother plans. Addy steals the dress she would have worn in the school play and takes the lift/time machine back to the 13th century. She sets the machine to arrive again in fifteen days, just in case things don’t work out for her and she wants to return to her own time.

Upon arrival, she sees a great Peregrine falcon that leads her to the ocean. There, she discovers a shipwreck. She finds an expensive cross necklace and a ring in the wreckage and puts both of them on. She then wades into the water to see if she can find any survivors. In the process, she is happened upon by Sir Hugh’s men who mistake her for the Lady Matilda. Matilda is the King’s ward and was on the ship that wrecked, coming to marry Sir Hugh. Addy sees an opportunity to elevate her status and pretends to be Lady Matilda. Her ignorance of various matters is explained away by a head injury she “sustained” in the ship wreck.

At the castle, Beatrix is assigned to Addy as her lady’s maid. Beatrix is an older peasant woman who lives in town. She is kind to Addy and the two become friends. Beatrix doses Addy so Addy sleeps to recover from her shipwreck ordeal. When Addy wakes up, Beatrix finds her making her bed, but the incident is brushed aside quickly. Beatrix shows Addy around the castle and explains that Sir Hugh is currently away but will be returning in a few weeks. Addy also meets Eustace, a shrewd steward who does not trust Addy. Addy’s appearance is also commented on, as Lady Matilda was supposed to be rather ugly and Addy is not. None had seen the lady in person, however, so Addy’s ruse is still safe.

Addy makes a number of mistakes such as eating the bread trenchers used as dinner plates, not wiping her mouth on the shared goblet, not understanding the way food and drink are shared, and not attending church. Eustace is increasingly suspicious and writes to Sir Hugh about Addy’s errors. He alludes to the necessity of her marriage to Sir Hugh and implores Sir Hugh to hurry back.

Meanwhile, Addy is introduced to Will, an attractive boy who is the son of the castle falconer. Will had trained a small merlin for the Lady Matilda, but Addy is captivated by the peregrine falcon Pilgrim that Will has trained for Sir Hugh. She rudely demands Pilgrim, and eventually compromises with Will to assist in Pilgrim’s training instead.

When Addy meets resistance by Eustace and the castle guards (they fear her going out alone), she concocts a “vision.” Addy pretends to have seen a vision of herself, Will, and Beatrix going to the hill where the lift first arrived. There, they were to see a bird and a godly voice telling Addy to “Go.” This is interpreted to mean Addy should take up falconry. When Addy, Will, and Beatrix go to the hill for real, they see the same beautiful peregrine falcon that Addy saw when she first arrived. The sunlight strikes the bird and Beatrix believes the vision has come to pass. The local priest is awed and sets to work on a plaque.

Will and Addy are now able to go outside the castle walls to fulfill Addy’s vision. The two spend much time together training Pilgrim with only Beatrix as chaperone (Beatrix often falls asleep and so they are effectively alone). Through their conversations, Addy discovers that Will appeared as if out of nowhere when he was a young child, claiming to have arrived in a box. They also discover evidence of Sir Giles’ men skulking about the land. Sir Hugh owes Sir Giles money and the two are often fighting. Addy does not want Eustace to decide it is too dangerous for her and Will to go out, and so she does not tell anyone about Sir Giles’ men.

The body of the real Lady Matilda is discovered, but she is assumed to be Addy’s lady’s maid. Addy goes along with this, though she feels guilty that the dead Matilda has no one to pray for her soul. Eustace becomes increasingly suspicious of Addy and her relationship with Will. Eustace is shown to be a cruel man when he threatens and hits a young servant boy. Addy witnesses this, but chooses to hold her tongue for fear of inviting Eustace’s further suspicion.

The king sends an expensive cloth to be used to make Addy’s wedding dress. He also sends word that he will be attending the wedding. Appalled by the idea of marrying Sir Hugh, a much older man, especially now that she loves Will, Addy cries often. Sir Giles, a neighboring lord comes to reclaim a debt Sir Hugh owes him and threatens war if those debts are not paid. He shows the severed head of one of Sir Hugh’s men as a sign of his seriousness. Addy confronts Eustace, but Eustace assures her it is a minor disagreement and nothing for her to worry about. Eustace then writes to Sir Hugh imploring him to return immediately.

Sir Hugh does return, and while he is pleased with Addy, she is not pleased with him. He is much older than her and a very brash and bawdy man. He drinks much, is loud, and while friendly, has a brutish air about him. He is fond of war, drink, and women. Addy is repulsed, but tries to convince herself that she will be wealthy when she marries Sir Hugh, and that should make her happy. She tells Will that they can still see one another. Will agrees.

Sir Hugh, Will, and Addy go hawking together with Pilgrim and Addy decides she cannot stand him. She and Will conspire to run away together. Addy doses Beatrix and slips out with Will. While they are running away, Sir Hugh is out hawking with Will’s father and the king’s expensive falcon. Sir Hugh’s brashness gets the falcon lost and caught in a tree. Will and Addy find the falcon and are faced with a dilemma: Leave the falcon stuck in the tree and know that Will’s father will be killed as punishment for losing the king’s bird, or return with the bird and lose their opportunity for escape. They decide to return.

Upon their arrival, Addy is informed that a spy has been captured and is in the dungeon. She is taken to see the spy and discovers that he is not a spy at all, but Mr. Greenwood come to rescue her. He is ill from his ordeal in the dungeons and Addy worries for him. Sir Hugh and Addy talk over the unconscious Mr. Greenwood (whom Addy has claimed as her countryman arrived for the wedding), and Sir Hugh reveals a softer side of himself. Mr. Greenwood recovers and becomes fast friends with Sir Hugh after explaining a number of more modern ways of farming and technology. Mr. Greenwood recognizes Will as his long lost son, but implores Addy not to tell him. Will has made a life with a loving father, and Mr. Greenwood does not wish to take that from him. He is content to watch his son from afar knowing that he is alive and well.

Will and Addy still plan on running away, though Mr. Greenwood’s presence adds some trouble as Addy feels responsible for him. Addy overhears Eustace and Sir Hugh arguing over Sir Giles. She discovers that Sir Hugh owes Sir Giles a large sum of money, and they were counting on using Addy’s dowry to pay off the debt. If they are unable to pay, Sir Giles will bring war and many of Sir Hugh’s people will die. Addy now feels responsible for these people and she realizes that she must marry Sir Hugh after all.

Addy confesses the whole truth to Will: Her time traveling, Sir Hugh’s debts, and how her marriage would save lives. Will believes her, but he still wants to run away together. Eustace comes in and threatens Addy, and Will understands she must go through with the marriage. Addy also confesses to Beatrix, but Beatrix tells her that she suspected Addy was not Lady Matilda from the beginning and she is happy for Addy. While they are talking, Addy comes up with a plan to both provide money for Sir Hugh and happiness for herself and Will.

On the day of the wedding, Addy marries Sir Hugh while wearing a veil so the king does not recognize her. She explains that she had another vision where she must wear the veil until she revisits the site of her first vision on the hill. She must do this alone except for Pilgrim, Will, and Beatrix. When she gets to the hilltop, the lift is there as scheduled by Mr. Greenwood. Addy ties her veil to Pilgrim and sends the bird flying. Beatrix, on cue, cries out that there is a blinding light and it is a miracle. She claims that Addy has been taken by god. In reality, Addy has left in the time machine, promising to send it back in a few days for Will (so as not to arouse suspicion that they ran off together).

When Addy arrives back in 1913, the time machine’s dials catch on fire and are destroyed. Addy despairs that she will never see Will again and she slowly accepts her old life again. Her mother does not mention sending her away again, and Addy is able to convince her mother to allow her to return to school. A short time later, Addy is informed that the missing and now presumed dead Mr. Greenwood had left his estate to Addy. Later that day, Addy hears of a mysterious appearance of a strange box. She goes to investigate and finds a wooden version of the time machine. It is empty. She rushes to Mr. Greenwood’s house where she finds Will. He has returned to her and they live happily ever after.

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Book Review: Wildwing by Emily Whitman

Wildwing, by Emily Whitman
Release Date: September 21, 2010
Publisher: Greenwillow books
Pages: 359
Received: Library book
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Author's Page
Amazon Page
Goodreads Page

Summary:

Being the daughter of a poor single mother in 1913 is a difficult role to fill, as fifteen year old Addy can attest. Constantly ridiculed by her peers and treated like she is sub-human, Addy longs for a change in her circumstances. When her mother pulls her out of school after yet another fight with a wealthy classmate, Addy finds herself working as a maid for the mysterious Mr. Greenwood. Haunted by his own sad past, Mr. Greenwood unwittingly offers Addy a chance at a new life when she stumbles across a time machine he has hidden away in a locked room. When she is transported back to the thirteenth century and mistaken for a great lady, Addy couldn’t be happier, that is until she realizes that life as a lady can be just as difficult as the life she left. Torn between love and duty, Addy must choose between the life of privilege she thought she wanted and the pull of her heart.

Review:

Wildwing was my first exposure to Emily Whitman and it will not be my last. Whitman’s writing is well-paced and flows nicely. I found myself immersed in the world she created and I was fully engrossed in the story. There isn’t really any mystery here and all of the events and “reveals” are pretty obvious. Also, a lot of things are a little too convenient to be completely realistic, but I’m a sucker for happy resolutions and so this didn’t bother me at all. I enjoyed the book despite the obviousness, finding myself pushing off other things in order to spend more time reading. The scenes about falconry were so well-drawn that I felt like I was there with Addy. Whitman also did a really good job in capturing the “personality” of the falcon Pilgrim. Watching as Addy tried to figure out the customs and reading about her blunders from both her perspective and through the letters of the steward made for some amusing scenes.

Whitman’s characters were a nice mix of modern and historical, making them easy to like while still retaining the feel of historical fiction. I call this historical fiction “lite” in that the characters follow the surface level customs and cultural rules, but they have the mental abilities and attitudes of much more modern people. I generally prefer this because, honestly, people from the 1200s were kind of stupid in a lot of ways. And grubby.  

I enjoyed all of the characters except Addy and her mother. I understood where Addy was coming from, so I’m a little torn. She suddenly appears in the 13^th century as a lady with no idea how to behave so she tries to model the “great ladies” of her own time.* Her perspective on them comes from how they treated her as a poor fatherless child, and it’s true, they were not nice to her. Even with this understanding, I had a hard time warming up to Addy. Her haughty and cruel attitude sometimes didn’t seem like an act, and instead it seemed like she relished talking down to people and making demands.  Perhaps that’s part of her immaturity, she is only 15 after all, but it did make her more difficult for me to like. She also seemed very selfish to me, though she did improve in this area a lot by the end of the book.

*(A complaint on that? She planned on traveling back in time and she at least had the foresight to get an appropriate dress. But that's it? She couldn't have spent an hour or two reading up on the time period? Didn't cross her mind to bring something of value with her? Sure Addy doesn't have a lot, but even a little something  of worth from the 20th century could go a long way in the 13th century. Savannah from Janette Rallison's My Fair Godmother was a lot more quick thinking in this regard than Addy.)

The other characters were a different story entirely. Will (the guy Addy falls for), Beatrix (her lady’s maid), and Mr. Greenwood are all admirable people who I found very easy to like. They made me smile and reading about the way they treated Addy made me feel all warm and happy. They each also had characteristics that made them stand out beyond their kindness. Will and Mr. Greenwood each possessed impressive skills, and Beatrix had a keen insight and an approach to life I appreciated. These characters are the strength of the story, for me.

There were a few possible endings, and while Whitman didn’t ultimately pick the one I wanted, I was satisfied enough with the one she did choose. There was one event that was leading up to possible action, and I wish that action had been realized more than it was. I think Whitman would have written it well. The main character keeps me from adoring this book, but if she had been different then this would have probably been one of my favorite books. As it is, I did still enjoy the reading experience and I do recommend Wildwing to readers who enjoy medieval fantasies. Refreshingly, this is a standalone book.  

 Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

For another view on this book, be sure to check out Aylee's review on her wonderful blog Recovering Potter Addict.

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Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we all feature upcoming books we're eagerly anticipating. 

The cute WoW button comes from Bewitched Bookworms.

Kat, Incorrigible (or A Most Improper Magick), by Stephanie Burgis

Release Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Atheneum
Pages: 304

(Above publication information from Amazon)
Author's Page
Amazon Page

From the Author's Website:

"I was twelve years of age when I chopped off my hair, dressed as a boy, and set off to save my family from impending ruin. I made it almost to the end of my front garden..."

Magic may be the greatest scandal in Regency England. But that's not going to stop Kat Stephenson when there are highwaymen to foil, sinister aristocrats to defeat...and true loves to capture for her two older sisters.

Join the Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson. Book One was published on August 1, 2010 in the UK as A Most Improper Magick, and will be published on April 5, 2011 in the US and Canada (where it will be titled Kat, Incorrigible).

Ah, so some of you don't have to wait for this book? Lucky, lucky! This book sounds beyond adorable. I'm looking forward to meeting Kat and laughing my way through her adventures. I've had this one on order for months now. Look at how cute the entire jacket looks:

 

All Just Glass, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Release Date: January 11, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages:256

(Above publication information from Amazon)
Author's Page
Amazon Page

Product Description:

Sarah Vida has given up everything for love. From a legendary family of vampire-hunting witches, Sarah was raised to never trust a vampire, to never let her guard down, and to avoid all tricky attachments of the heart. But now Sarah IS a vampire—changed by the boy she thought she loved. Her family has forsaken her, and Sarah herself is disgusted by her appetite for blood.  

Aida Vida is Sarah's older sister, the good, reliable sibling who always does her family proud. But when Aida's mother insists that Sarah be found and killed, Aida is given the one assignment that she may not be able to carry out.  

Taking place over just twenty-four hours, ALL JUST GLASS tells the story of a game-changing battle that will forever change the world of the Den of Shadows. And at its center is the story of two sisters who must choose between love and duty. Dark, fully-imagined, and hard to put down, ALL JUST GLASS will thrill Amelia's fans—old and new. 

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes was one of my favorite authors when I was a teen, and the book that comes before All Just Glass is my favorite of her books. The first book, Shattered Mirror, featured two attractive vampire brothers, one who refuses to drink human blood and the other who is the bad boy with heart (sound familiar? Yeah, it's a lot like Vampire Diaries. They're even from the south). I loved the bad boy and wanted to see more of him, so when I heard a sequel was in the works I was really excited. That was a few years ago now, and since then the author's writing style has changed a lot. I didn't really enjoy her latest two books, but I hope going back to established characters will bring back some of the magic of her earlier books. I can't wait to find out!

I'm also really not feeling that cover. Not. At. All. Tweet