Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula by Andi Watson

In Andi Watson’s new graphic novel, Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula, readers are introduced to a young princess who has too much on her plate. Between running the Underworld and catering to her hypochondriac father, who is too weak to get out of bed, Princess Decomposia barely has time to take care of herself. Throw in warring werewolves and other demanding monsters and Princess Decomposia has complete chaos on her hands. Now she is tasked with finding a new chef to satisfy her father’s picky palette and please ornery dignitaries. When Count Spatula, a vampire who has lost his fangs due to his sweet tooth, accepts the position he dreams of creating grand meals, but he begins to realize that the one person he wants to share his creations with is too overworked and underappreciated to notice. Will Count Spatula be able to shake things up in the Underworld and show Princess Decomposia what is right in front of her?

This sweet graphic novel was refreshing and I'm glad that I added to my YA collection. I hope that Watson decides to continue with Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula's story, because it is definitely not over. 

Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani

In Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani, Shalini has only known one world: India. She lives in a massive house with 37 of her relatives and loves it. She has been engaged to Vikram, the man of her dreams, since she was three years old. Nothing could spoil her wonderful life…except when her father decides to take a new job and uproot her family to L.A. How could she possibly adjust to this completely different lifestyle? Her little sister seems to jump right in, while her mother struggles more and more with these new surroundings. As Shalini adjusts to live in California, will she be able to hold onto the world she has always known and the person she has always known herself to be?

                I instantly gravitated to Lovetorn because of my unhealthy obsession with anything related to India. This was a pretty easy and straightforward read. The author provides a glossary to help the reader understand the different foods, phrases, and words that Shalini uses. This is a great reference tool and I was really glad it was included. Daswani creates a storyline around Shalini’s mother that I thought was very well written and crucial to Shalini’s struggles to accept this new lifestyle. Some of Shalini’s actions and feelings did not seem genuine to me. I think the author could have spent more time on Shalini’s transition from being completely in love with Vikram to realizing that she might feel different. I would have liked to have seen the author develop more into the secondary characters, especially Sangita, Shalini’s little sister and Toby, an American boy who makes Shalini rethink everything she knows. Other than that, Lovetorn provides an insightful look at the lifestyles of India and the transition that many teen immigrants face.  

Review: No Place to Fall

In No Place to Fall  by Jaye Robin Brown, Amber Vaughn is a good Southern girl, who secretly longs for a life outside of her small town.  She sings solos at church, babysits her nephew after school, and spends every Friday night hanging out at her best friend Devon’s house. It’s only when Amber goes exploring in the woods near her home, singing camp songs with the hikers she meets on the Appalachian Trail, that she feels free—and when the bigger world feels just a little bit more in reach.

When Amber learns about an audition at the North Carolina School of the Arts, she decides that her dream—to sing on bigger stages—could also be her ticket to a new life. Devon’s older (and unavailable) brother, Will, helps Amber prepare for her one chance to try out for the hypercompetitive arts school. But the more time Will and Amber spend together, the more complicated their relationship becomes . . . and Amber starts to wonder if she’s such a good girl, after all.

Then, in an afternoon, the bottom drops out of her family’s world—and Amber is faced with an impossible choice between her promise as an artist and the people she loves. Amber always thought she knew what a good girl would do. But between “right” and “wrong,” there’s a whole world of possibilities.

 Amber has never left her small town and doesn’t know if she can. Between the drama with her drug dealing sister and brother-in-law, her parents' disastrous marriage, and the new attention of her best friend’s brother, Will, Amber’s life is far from simple. Will she be able to find the courage to make her dreams come true?

Sounds intriguing, which is why I checked out No Place to Fall immediately after it was processed by our Cataloging Department. Too bad the book jacket blurb didn’t paint an accurate portrait of No Place to Fall.

First off, Amber Vaughn is not a good girl. Within the first few pages, she discusses her plans to have sex with a virtual stranger, including almost going through with the deed, eating pot brownies, and actually having sex with someone…and not caring about the fact that he has a girlfriend. She preached about her sister being sucked into the drug dealing world, but Amber was hooking up with the guy that made the pot brownies. I was annoyed because it seemed that there was a big difference between the book jacket blurb and what I was actually reading. I carried on thinking that maybe Amber had to have a big fall from grace before redeeming herself…but no.

I know I’m sounding harsh and yes, I understand that teenagers do stupid shit. If she or any of the other characters actually grew during the story you might be reading a different review. This book was filled with half-ass characters. No one was likable (except Amber’s mom) and all the characters were two-dimensional. I found it impossible to connect with any of them, especially Amber. In fact, all Amber did was get on my nerves. I kept hoping that Amber would redeem herself to the reader. She made some mistakes, but there was still the possibility of a good story. I’m sorry to say that it didn’t happen though. I haven’t disliked a main character this much since Whitley in Kody Keplinger’s A Midsummer’s Nightmare.

The story and the characters were all over the place. There were too many secondary characters and too much going on. It definitely needed to be simplified. Nothing ever came together for me and I’m sorry to say that I wouldn’t recommend this book to my patrons. I think it will check out though because of the cover and the book jacket blurb. Maybe I expected too much. The story was there, but it was lacking the glue to hold it together. 

Review: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Back in September I posted a list of 7 YA titles that wereon my radar (and should be on yours). One of the titles was Amy Ewing’s debut novel The Jewel. I had been hearing a lot about The Jewel, mainly through Epic Reads, a website for anything and everything Young Adult Literature.

Here is the synopsis for The Jewel:

The Selection meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this darkly riveting debut filled with twists and turns, where all that glitters may not be gold.

The Jewel means wealth, the Jewel means beauty—but for Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Born and raised in the Marsh, Violet finds herself living in the Jewel as a servant at the estate of the Duchess of the Lake. Addressed only by her number—#197—Violet is quickly thrown into the royal way of life. But behind its opulent and glittering facade, the Jewel hides its cruel and brutal truth, filled with violence, manipulation, and death.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her life . . . all while trying to stay alive. But before she can accept her fate, Violet meets a handsome boy who is also under the Duchess’s control, and a forbidden love erupts. But their illicit affair has consequences, which will cost them both more than they bargained for. And toeing the line between being calculating and rebellious, Violet must decide what, and who, she is willing to risk for her own freedom.

Quite intriguing right?

I was able to finish The Jewel in one sitting, which is highly unusual for me with YA books. Typically, I spend two or three days thumbing through a YA novel. Ewing’s writing style was easy to follow and flowed well. The plot had merit, even though it was slow in some situations, and I found myself immersed in Violet’s story.

I would give this story 3.5 stars out of 5. There are two main reasons. I do feel that the story could have been longer. I say this mainly because I felt it was anticlimactic until the very last page or so.  I know that Violet was in several intense situations, but I did not feel the intensity leap of the pages. A few more well constructed paragraphs describing the direness of this situation and Violet’s role really would have elevated the plot.

The second reason is because of the character of Ash…or more importantly, the relationship between Ash and Violet. At first, I suspected the character of Garnet to be the romantic interest. Garnet is the 19 year old son of Violet’s owner, the Duchess of the Lake. He is unpredictable, devastatingly handsome, and an all around bad boy. Perfect romantic interest right? I was surprised by the introduction of Ash, a companion who was purchased to teach the Duchess’ niece how to flirt and land a husband. I felt that Ash and Violet’s relationship was flat. For whatever reason, I could not get the idea of Violet and Garnet out of my head. I found myself annoyed with the scenes that Ash was featured in. If the novel had been drawn out more, I might have found myself more accepting of the pairing. That being said, I hope that Ewing will either dedicate more time to expand on this relationship or revisit the Violet/Garnet pairing that my heart seems to want. The last page of the book was slightly reassuring to me though. Fingers crossed - #violetandgarnet

Though I had a few small issues with the novel, Amy Ewing did a splendid job on her debut book. I think teens will devour this book and I encourage you to check it out. 

Watch out for these November YA titles!

Last month I posted about 7 YA titles that are on my radar (and should be on yours!). The post got a lot of feedback and I even picked up a few titles that y'all recommended. I decided to share some of the November YA reads that I'm looking forward to.

What titles are you looking forward to in November?

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

A Collection of Ten Short Stories centered around Magnus Bane. Each short story is going to be published as an ebook followed by a Full Single Print Coming 2014

Ever wondered about the enigmatic, mysterious warlock Magnus Bane? The only character to appear in every Shadowhunter book, Magnus has a past even more shrouded in mystery than his present. I’ve teamed up with acclaimed YA writers Maureen Johnson and Sarah Rees Brennan to create the Bane Chronicles, the back (and front) story of Magnus told in ten linked tales.

Look for short stories like Vampires, Scones and Edmund Herondale; The Rise and Fall of the Hotel Dumort; Saving Raphael Santiago and What To Buy The Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You’re Not Officially Dating Anyway). Each story will be available as an ebook on a monthly basis starting April 16 with the tale of What Happened In Peru. 

Each story will be released monthly online for the next ten months — and then for those who don’t read e-books, the full print collection will be available in bookstores and wherever else books are sold after the Chronicles have been finished

Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little

In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart. 

Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying. 

With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself.

Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together.

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

Penny has a secret.

Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family - and the panic attacks she's suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love - and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny's cover - and her closest friendship – forever

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers (His Fair Assassin #3)

Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has..

The Name of the Blade by Zoe Marriott

Ancient Japanese gods and monsters are unleashed on modern-day London in this first book of an epic trilogy from acclaimed fantasy writer Zoë Marriott.

When Mio sneaks the family's katana -- a priceless ancestral sword -- from her parents' attic, she just wants to spice up a costume. But the katana is much more than a dusty antique. Awakening the power within the sword unleashes a terrible, ancient evil onto the streets of unsuspecting London. But it also releases Shinobu, a fearless warrior boy, from the depths of time. He helps to protect Mio -- and steals her heart. With creatures straight out of Japanese myths stalking her and her friends, Mio realizes that if she cannot keep the sword safe and learn to control its legendary powers, she will lose not only her own life . . . but the love of a lifetime.

Cover Reveal: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Last month I posted a review of The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. I loved this book...except for the cover. 

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. 

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

I had issues with the vertical text and the font. Turns out I wasn't the only one. Several of you agreed with me. I'm also glad to report that the cover for The Winner's Crime, which is set to be released in March 2015, is much better. 

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them

Gone is the vertical text (thank you!) and I'm much more impressed with the blue dress vs the pink scheme. Not only does it stand out more, I think the deeper color fits more with the character of Kestrel. I'm very excited about The Winner's Crime and if you haven't given The Winner's Curse a chance yet then you are missing out!

7 YA novels that are on my radar (and should be on yours)!

There are lots of great YA books coming out this Fall but a few have been popping up everywhere. I have listed the ones I keep hearing the most about. These are the ones I can't wait for and will devour immediately. Now I just have to wait patiently for my hold at my library to come up.

Which book are you highly anticipating this Fall?

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodges

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

 Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black

Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.

Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . 

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The Jewel by Amy Ewing

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Rites of Passage by Joy N. Hensley

Sam McKenna’s never turned down a dare. And she's not going to start with the last one her brother gave her before he died.

So Sam joins the first-ever class of girls at the prestigious Denmark Military Academy. She’s expecting push-ups and long runs, rope climbing and mud-crawling. As a military brat, she can handle an obstacle course just as well as the boys. She's even expecting the hostility she gets from some of the cadets who don’t think girls belong there. What she’s not expecting is her fiery attraction to her drill sergeant. But dating is strictly forbidden and Sam won't risk her future, or the dare, on something so petty...no matter how much she wants him.

As Sam struggles to prove herself, she discovers that some of the boys don’t just want her gone—they will stop at nothing to drive her out. When their petty threats turn to brutal hazing, bleeding into every corner of her life, she realizes they are not acting alone. A decades-old secret society is alive and active… and determined to force her out.
At any cost.

Now time's running short. Sam must decide who she can trust...and choosing the wrong person could have deadly consequences.

Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

Recap: My September YA/NA Challenge

My goal for September was to read ALL the YA/NA novels…well maybe not ALL, but a huge chunk. That's why I started my September YA/NA Challenge. 

If you read my Project Read All The Books: September Recap you’ll know that the month of September kicked my butt. I was out a town a good deal and felt mucky pretty much for the whole month. I went to the Dr. on Friday and she did some blood work. Though I don’t know the results yet, she was confident that a month long round of B12 shots, plus some other lifestyle changes would have me fit as a fiddle in no time. …which means THEN I can read ALL the books. ;)

Though I didn’t get make as much progress on my YA/NA Challenge as I would have liked, I did read some good books. I ended up factoring in some middle grade into the challenge as well.

This challenge was suppose to be only for the month of September. I started it to counter my Summer-filled months of romance. I found that I really enjoyed getting back into reading YA after 3 straight months of smut.

What are some new Middle Grade/ YA/ NA books that you have recently read?

Here is a recap of what I read in September….

Middle Grade:

                Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan – 4 Stars

                Sisters by Raina Telgemeier – 3 Stars

                Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson – 4 Stars

Young Adult:

                The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski – 5 Stars

                Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins – 4 Stars

                We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – 4.5 Stars

                Legend by Marie Lu – 4 Stars

New Adult:

                Finding It by Cora Carmack – 4 Stars

                One More Chance by Abbi Glines – 1 Star

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart Review

Cady Sinclair Easton is a Sinclair through and through. Every summer Cady and her mother embark to the Sinclair family island with her two aunts, their children, and her grandparents. Yes, to the family island. Everything seems grand until Cady’s 15^th summer on the island, when she has an accident. For two long years after she cannot remember what happened and no one will tell her. As Cady heads back to the island in hopes of uncovering what is haunting her, we are introduced to the Sinclairs…and the Liars.

I picked up We Were Liars by E. Lockhart because it is the September pick for the Forever YA Book Club, plus it coincides nicely with my September YA/NA Challenge. I was just recently introduced to E. Lockhart when I read the first two Ruby Oliver books, which I thought were great. One of my regular patrons checked out We Were Liars before I could and I was interested to hear her thoughts. I was surprised to hear that she didn’t like the story. She thought it was too dark and melancholy. I don’t think she even finished it. With her thoughts fresh in my mind plus a few Goodreads rumblings about how sad the book was I admit that I was a little reluctant to read We Were Liars.   

Within 20 pages of starting We Were Liars, I knew I was hooked! I loved the hauntingly beautiful writing style. It was almost poetic to me. Yes, this story is sad but Lockhart did an extraordinary job creating a dynastic and dysfunctional family. As Cady travels back Beechwood Island to expose what her family is hiding about her accident, we are introduced to the Liars. Cady, her cousins Mirren and Johnny, and Gat, a family friend, band together as the Liars. They don’t take part in the pettiness of the family and see the world through the eyes of idealistic youth.

I don’t think We Were Liars is for everyone. If you like happy go lucky novels, then definitely skip this one. If you are fans of mysteries, suspense-fill novels, or of dark novels in general then I think you will appreciate We Were Liars. I know I did.

Also…if you don’t like spoilers then stop reading. I just have to warn you (because I like when people warn me of this)…

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Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Before I begin on my review, let’s go over some pronunciation. It is eye-la not is-la for Isla.  Thank you Stephanie Perkins for including this within the first 2 pages. I found it extremely helpful and I hope you do as well.

If Stephanie Perkins writes it, I will read it. I picked up Anna and the French Kiss in January of 2011 and I have been recommending Perkins and her books to anyone I can. These contemporary YA romances center around a group of teens that are in Paris at a boarding school (with the exception of Lola and Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door). The final installment in this series is Isla and the Happily Ever After. I have been waiting on this book for 3 long years! The release date was constantly pushed back and I was left in a state of despair. But finally, it arrived! Just in time for my September YA/NA Challenge. 

For Lola, being in love with Josh is like breathing. It just comes naturally. Now that they are in their senior year at their boarding school in Paris, maybe they will have the opportunity to grow closer…and they do. After a chance encounter over the Summer, the two begin to admit their feelings for one another. But obstacles are always present. Factor in an annoying sister, insecurities, and political parents and it seems that the universe is pulling Lola and Josh further away from each other. Will they be able to find their way back to each other?

Though it starts out a little rough around the edges, Perkins easily finds her groove and the story comes together beautifully. Isla is definitely individual, so it does take a little bit to understand her and how she operates...which is why it took me a few characters to figure her out. All of Perkins’ characters are completely unique. No better case than Lola (love love love her!). You will not find a stereotypical character anywhere in Perkins’ novels, which is another reason why I love her writing. In Isla all the characters are their own. From Josh who wants to be a cartoonist to Kurt, who has high functioning autism. They are all distinct and I find them more loveable that way.

Another favorite aspect is Perkins’ modern take on sex. I’ve mentioned before that I believe sex should be included in YA novels as long as it is relevant to the story and the growth of the characters. In Isla the characters have been previously sexually active and there is no shame in this. Actually Isla said it best when she said, “I mean, when you grow up half French, it’s not like sex is this big taboo. And yeah, you have to be careful and you need protection and blah blah blah, but it’s not that American Puritanical be-all, end-all.” (page 95).  

If you have not read Anna and the French Kiss or Lola and the Boy Next Door, then I suggest you wait on Isla and the Happily Ever After.  Though Isla and the Happily Ever can stand alone, I highly suggest you read them in order. You will enjoy them more that way (in my opinion).  For fans of Perkins, she wraps up the series beautifully in the ending of Isla. Also, the last paragraph in the acknowledgments is a great tribute to the fans. 

Stephanie Perkins signing my books at the Romantic Times Convention in New Orleans 2014. Eeek!

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

As the daughter of the top military general in the Valorian Empire, Kestrel knows what is expected of her. She must either join the military or marry. There are both pros and cons to each option, but neither would make her truly happy. As Kestrel weighs the right choice for herself, a new figure enters into her life. A mistaken visit to the slave auction results in Kestrel purchasing Arin, a Herrani slave. Sickened at the mere thought of the auction, Kestrel is completely shocked by her purchase … and her attraction to Arin. As their friendship grows, the plot thickens.  Kestrel has no idea how one impulsive decision could alter the entire course of her country.

As part of my September  YA/NA Challenge, I went searching for some new books that have yet to come across my radar. I’m not exactly sure how I came across The Winner’s Curse, but I was definitely intrigued by the plot. I have several friends on Goodreads who gave it 5 stars, which only cemented the book more for me.

The first 100 pages or so, introduces us to Kestrel, Arin, their empire, and the history of how Kestrel’s people conquered and enslaved Arin’s country. Though it is a little slow during the initial setup, author Marie Rutkoski does a wonderful job of still keeping it interesting. All the characters have depth and are essential to the storyline. Arin and Kestrel are both brilliant and have great minds for strategy. Though they are pitted against each other, Arin and Kestrel cannot deny the connection between them. As the intrigue and betrayals deepen, The Winner’s Curse takes the reader on a whirlwind of excitement.  Filled with duels, ballrooms, and blackmail, The Winner’s Curse holds nothing back.

I don't think I can recommend The Winner's Curse enough. I know tons of patrons who are going to devour it and I can't wait to put it in their hands. The next installment in The Winner’s Trilogy, The Winner’s Crime is set to be released in March 2015. You definitely will want to get your hands on it immediately. 

Fans of The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson will love The Winner's Curse. 

Sidenote: Not that this matters, but I found that the cover was one of my least favorites for a YA book. The composition of the girl, plus the vertical text and thin font are all disastrous in my opinion. Anyone agree or disagree?

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally Review

In Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally, we are introduced to Annie, a recent High School graduate who is training for her first marathon. But she isn’t running for herself. She is running for her boyfriend…who died before he could compete in the marathon. As Annie completes her training, she not only has to deal with the repercussions of pushing her body to the limit, but the death of Kyle. Will Annie be able to successfully complete a 26 mile marathon? Will it help her say goodbye to Kyle?

I checked out Breathe, Annie, Breathe because a friend and fellow librarian gave it rave reviews via Goodreads. First off, I feel that I need to state that I’m not a runner. I’m not in to running and I never plan to enter a marathon. I would probably only run if someone was chasing me, but then I would only have to be as fast of someone else who was with me.  I didn’t know if I would be able to relate to Annie. What do I know about running? I have NO desire to run. Would I enjoy a book that was centered around marathon training? Kenneally holds nothing back about the brutality of training for a marathon. She covers the vomiting, the blisters, and even the constant trips to the bathroom. All that aside, I have such a profound respect for runners now. I’m so glad she covered the grotesqueness of the training process. It made it real and it made you root for Annie that much more.

Another subject that Kenneally doesn’t shy away from is the fact that these characters, like most normal teens, are sexually active. I am a big supporter of sex in YA novels, as long as it is real and relatable to the story. In Breathe, Annie, Breathe the characters are sexually active and there is no shame in that. Annie does have a scene where she is laced with guilt but not because she is sexually active. It deals more with her moving on from Kyle, her deceased boyfriend. Her guilt from being sexually attracted to another guy is logical and worked for where Annie was in her life.  Kenneally did a wonderful job of working this into the story. She did not use graphic details but the addition of sex and sexual innuendos was completely natural for the characters.

I found myself instantly relating to Annie. Not about the dead boyfriend part or the training for a marathon, but how she was dealing with all of this on top of trying to get ready for college. It brought back nostalgic feelings of buying dorm decorations and finally moving in. I was reliving it all with Annie. Besides having those nostalgic feelings, all the characters in Breathe, Annie, Breathe were real and played an important role in the story. My hands down favorite character is Jeremiah, the brother of Annie’s trainer. Annie knows this hot adrenaline junkie is bad news, but she can’t help herself from slowly opening up to him. It was patient and lovely.  As Annie’s story progresses, she learned more about herself than anything. Yes, there is a romance, but this story is about a young woman’s struggle to let go of the past and learn to be happy.

I highly recommend Breathe, Annie, Breathe and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Reading Breathe, Annie, Breathe was part of my YA/NA September Challenge. Though this novel is more likely to be grouped in the Young Adult section, I personally think that is has more of a New Adult feel. 

September YA/NA Challenge

If you regularly follow this blog, you are aware that every Summer I only read romance novels. My Summer of Smut. It helps me cope with the chaos that is Summer Reading.

Inspired by my Summer of Smut, I have decided to take a different approach for September. I have decided to dedicate the month of September to Young Adult/New Adult novels. I will predominantly focus on YA novels. Romance is my favorite genre, but YA is a close contender. 

Since I have 2 whole months (sometimes 3 if things are truly hectic) dedicated to my favorite genre, I figured YA needed a little attention as well. I have also included New Adult (NA) in the challenge, because they are closely associated.

As you can see below I went a little hold happy. This does not include the 15 books that are on hold for me.

I’m really excited to start this challenge and I will report at the end of the month on what books I tackled. So far I have finished one and am currently reading two.

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally – Read (amazing!)

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – currently reading for Forever YA Book Club

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski - currently reading

Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang

It has been mentioned lately that I’ve been reading nothing but romance…like this is a bad thing! 98% of my TBR bookcase is filled with romance…oh heck, it is probably 100%. I will admit that I have definitely been on a big romance kick lately. Usually I read nothing but romance in the Summer (Summer of Smut) as my way to cope with Summer Reading. It seems to have carried over into the Fall. Plus I went to the Southern Magic Romance Readers Lunch and in May I will be going to the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in New Orleans (just for the Author book signing though).

I have decided to incorporate some of my other favorite genres back into my reading. I’m a big fan of graphic novels and I realized that I have gotten behind there. Here is what I have recently read:

Smile by Raina Telgemeier (I wrote a blog post on Smile – just haven’t posted it yet)

Robot Dreams by Sara Veron

Mercy Thompson: Homecoming by Patricia Briggs

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

Boxers by Gene Luen Yang

Saints by Gene Luen Yang

A few years back, I read American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. I had seen it pop up on a few Goodreads lists and mentioned frequently in my grad school classes. I finally got around to reading it and I was very impressed with Yang’s ability to create identities in his characters that really connected with readers. When I heard about Boxers and Saints (which were published together in a boxset) I eagerly anticipated their publishing. Each novel represents a side from the Boxer Rebellion in China. I knew absolutely nothing about the Boxer Rebellion, so I was definitely intrigued.

I started with Boxers which tells the side of the Boxers, which to remove all foreign influence on China. The story is told from Little Bao, who is a peasant boy. As Bao grows, he is tried of seeing the injustice and vicious attacks on his community by the foreign “devils”. Bao starts to organize the rebels, by calling on the past warriors and Gods of China, to help run them out. As his views become more passionate, he directs his attention on the Christians missionaries who are working to convert the Chinese people to Christianity. As his regime grows more and more powerful, Little Bao loses sight of what is important.

A few days later I was able to get Saints which tells the story of Four-Girl, an unwanted and unnamed Chinese girl. Four-Girl lives a miserable life and eventually finds comfort in Christianity. With the help of Joan of Arc, yes…Joan of Arc, Four-Girl realizes her destiny to be a warrior woman for Christianity. With her new name, Vibiana leaves the family that has never wanted her and begins a new life with Christianized Chinese.

Compared to Little Bao, Vibiana’s story is not as developed in my opinion. I thought her life living with the Christians could have been fleshed out more.

I recommend reading Boxers first because you will be able to pick up on the references of minor characters in Saints. Boxers and Saints are interwoven, but each one can stand by itself. Together, Yang has created a poignant, but sorrowful story of faith.

Check out NPR’s interview with Yang. I read several reviews written on Boxers and Saints, but this article was my favorite, because you gain more of an understanding about why Yang chose the Boxer Rebellion. In many of the reviews I found, the reviewers had a problem with the amount of violence depicted and whether it was appropriate or not for teens. There is a lot of gore in Boxers and Saints and Yang does not shy away from the horrific, but this is a story that needs to be told. There is no way to politely explain the Boxer Rebellion, unless you present the destruction and turmoil that both sides caused. I'm not the kind of librarian that gives warning messages when I book talk a book. It is bloody, but you know what...so was the Boxer Rebellion. 

I hope you take the time to read Boxers and Saints and I hope that they inspire you to research more about the Boxer Rebellion.