Book Review: Rapunzel Untangled, by Cindy C. Bennett

Rapunzel Untangled, by Cindy C. Bennett

Rapunzel is not your average teenager. For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction. But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is. Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (February 12, 2013)



My Review:

 I have to admit, I am a huge sucker for a retelling of a fairy tale.  Some of my favorite books are new versions of old stories.  Rapunzel Untangled has joined my list of favorite teen reads for the year.  

I found Rapunzel to be a little naive and blindly obedient, but she doesn't know anything else, so it makes sense.  She was a total sweetheart, and I just loved her.  Fane was a fantastic hero.  He was a typical teenage boy while still managing to be thoughtful and courageous.  

One of the enjoyable aspects of this story was that it takes place in the present day.  Rapunzel has a computer that is hooked up to the internet.  She gets a Facebook account and "friends" Fane.  I love her reactions to modern day technology (like cars) and other things like movies, pizza, and M&Ms.  I enjoyed the relationship between Rapunzel and Fane, and I loved that while they were instantly attracted to one another, it took time for their relationship to develop into something more than friendship.  The content was perfectly clean, and I really appreciate that in a young adult novel.  

Bit of a spoiler here:  I was frustrated with the mystery behind Rapunzel.  I think it worked, but it could have been more believable than it was.  Vedmak played too small a part in the whole thing.  I spent the entire book reading about Gothel and figuring out what her motivation and plans were, just to have Vedmak swoop in during the last couple of chapters and change the game entirely.  I thought that his motivations were solid enough, but I wish that I could have learned more about him throughout the rest of the book.

In all honesty though, I enjoyed the story far too much to really complain about Vedmak.  It was a delightful modern day fairy tale full of adventure, romance, and even Facebook!

The Cover: I absolutely adore this cover.  That hair is simply gorgeous!  I like the way the braid is loose and a little messy.  The blonde color contrasts very nicely with the darker background.  I also really like the title design.  Super cute and still easy to read.


Amazon | Goodreads | Website


About the Author:

Cindy C Bennett lives in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains near Salt Lake City. She has spent several years doing volunteer work with teen girls, whom she finds to be fascinating creatures - hence, her writing stories for and about them. When not reading or writing, she loves to spend time with her family which includes a husband, two sons, two daughters, two daughters-in-law and two dogs. She thinks the best things come in pairs! She does her best creating while cruising down the highway on her Harley Davidson Fatboy. GEEK GIRL (a Sweetwater book) is her first published novel. HEART ON A CHAIN, IMMORTAL MINE, BEAUTIFUL BEAST (book 1 of Enchanted Fairytales), RED AND THE WOLF (book 2 of Enchanted Fairytales), RELUCTANCE (a Noble YA short story), IN THE BEGINNING (part of the It's a Love Thing anthology), and WATCHED (part of the Screams in the Night: Tales of Terror anthology) are her others.



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Book Review and Giveaway! The Sun Zebra, by R. Garcia

The Sun Zebra, by R. Garcia
The four Nell stories that marveled readers at Scribd.com are put together here for the first time in this collection, which also includes an all-new story, "Birdman and the Fairy Tale." 

This book is best described as a children's book for grownups. Its aim is to encourage us to discover (or rediscover) the amazing things that children and their magical carefree world can teach us, even as we try to teach them about the harsh realities of our own. The book is a collection of five stories that follow the "adventures in living" of an unusual little girl called Nell, her mother Rhonda, and Nell's father who is the narrator of the stories.


My Review:
This book was such a dramatic change of pace from everything I've read recently that I was surprised by it.  It was absolutely beautiful.

Told from the perspective of Nell's father, this collection of short stories are a perfect reminder that childhood is available to anyone brave enough to go out and take it.  I felt like I had rediscovered childhood as an adult and came to realize that it is never out of reach. The stories emanate a warm, loving atmosphere conducive to creating smiles and satisfaction.

This is not an action packed page turner, but rather a thoughtful exploration of the important things in life. It is the type of book that you will want to read slowly, digesting each word and absorbing their meanings.  It is a book that will leave you pondering and inspired to find joy in everyday miracles.

Please, treat yourself to this book. 

Amazon | Goodreads | Website

 

About the Author: 



R. Garcia is the peculiar eclectic writer. He was born in Cuba and lived in several Latin American countries before residing permanently in the United States. Along the way he obtained a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and produced several highly technical publications. However, one fine day he decided to fulfill his dream of writing something besides technical articles. This he began to do by publishing his work under the pen name "Phantomimic" on the document sharing site Scribd.com, where his stories have accumulated more than one hundred thousand reads and hundreds of comments. Based in part on this enthusiastic response to his work, he decided to take it to the next level. His first book on the Amazon Kindle is the collection of short stories entitled: "The Sun Zebra".

What are 10 things that your readers might not know about you?
1) As my bio reads, I was born in Cuba. This was one year before Fidel Castro
overthrew the Batista dictatorship, and went on to establish a dictatorship of his
own. My parents finally decided to leave the country when I returned one day from
elementary school singing the International Socialist Anthem.

2) As you can figure out from #1, my first language is Spanish. This is probably
why I write and read English slower than the average person.

3) Each of the last 3 generations of my immediate family has ended up resettling in
a different country for one reason or another.

4) I myself have lived in a total of 5 countries throughout my life: Cuba,
Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States.

5) When I was a little kid I won second place in a Lego tournament. I built a
replica of the Apollo rocket that sent the astronauts to the moon.

6) I played chess in my youth (which is what nerds did at the time) reaching a rank
of first class player.

7) Talking about nerds, I am a bit of a quirky nerd like the character Sheldon
played by the talented actor Jim Parsons in the sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”. But
unlike Sheldon I am not so socially inept!

8) I also used to be an amateur astronomer. I would go to the top of mountains with
my friends and identify the constellations and the planets. When a small telescope
was available we would also look at nearby galaxies.

9) The first time I lived surrounded by snow was here in the U.S. I arrived in New
York State during winter to pursue graduate studies. I had a cold, and that day
there was a fire alarm at 2 AM. We had to leave the student residence, and outside
it was snowing. There I was, coughing under this strange, cold, fluffy, white stuff
falling from the sky while the Americans around me were dancing and yelling,
“Party, party, party!” This was an interesting cultural experience.

10) Although my first book, the Sun Zebra, which Dena has reviewed here (thanks
Dena!) is a collection of family-friendly stories, I am an eclectic writer. My second
book of short stories will be very different. They are going to be stories that deal
with the paranormal and the psychological. I will reveal what the name of my book
will be in a few weeks on my blog. So if after reading The Sun Zebra you are in
the mood for a change of pace, stay tuned for my next book!

Giveaway!
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Review: Grave Mercy, by Robin LaFevers

From Goodreads:
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?

***

Beautiful.

Gripping.

Breathtaking.

 This is one of the most beautiful stories I have read in a long time.  The writing was delicious and lyrical.  The story was captivating and I could not put the book down.  I honestly carried it around with me and would read it anytime I had a spare minute or two.  I even kept it in the kitchen with me while I made dinner so that I could read in between stirrings.  I devoured this 549 page book in 2 days. 

Ismae is a fantastic heroine.  I loved her from beginning to end.  The beginning of the book establishes her dismal plight in life.  Her abusive father has sold her into an equally abusive marriage at the age of fourteen.  She escapes her husband and finds a new life at a convent that promises to train her as an assassin.  Essentially, this is a female, medieval Jason Bourne.

As one of Death's daughters, Ismae learns to serve as His handmaiden.  At seventeen, she is sent out on her first couple of assignments.  I found this portion of the book to be a little too crude and dark for my taste.  I had trouble sleeping after reading about her poisoning and strangling two different men.  But the assassinations slow down after this because she is given a third assignment.  She is to pose as mistress to the half brother of the duchess to gain intelligence surrounding the problems at court.

As Ismae moves through the story, she grows into herself.  She comes to understand so much more about who she is and what Death expects of her.  And it isn't necessarily the same as what the convent expects of her.  She starts out as a bloodthirsty and eager novice, ready to jump at any opportunity to prove her worth as an assassin.  By the end of the book, she has learned how to use her gifts, and learns that she is more than just a tool to be used by her misguided convent.

My favorite part of this book was near the end, when she meets Death face to face.  He approaches her, names her his daughter, and kisses her brow.  He shows her that He loves her unconditionally, and that He knows the true desires of her heart - to serve Him completely.

I just loved, loved, loved this book.  It was beautiful.

The only downside to the story was that I felt it got unnecessarily crude in places.  For example, Ismae's love interest Duval, is dying from poison, and the only way for her to save him is to "lay" with him.  There are no details, but it still bothered me. 

Duval is, of course, the perfect hero for Ismae to fall for.  I don't know how believable it is for him to fall in love with an assassin, but I still enjoyed the love story.

The cover of the book is gorgeous.  I love it.  Books don't always measure up to their covers, but this one definitely does.  I really hope someone makes this book into a movie.

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 560 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1 edition (April 3, 2012)
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Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus Book 1)

From Goodreads:

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.
 
Join new and old friends from Camp Half-Blood in this thrilling first audiobook in The Heroes of Olympus series.

****

Never, ever read a book by Rick Riordan unless you have time to finish it. Otherwise, you'll be thinking about the book and wondering what's going to happen next when you should be doing something else.

I am a huge fan of the Percy Jackson books, so that made me both excited and leery to read this latest installment. Would The Lost Hero be just as good? I was not disappointed. Once again, Riordan shows what a genius he is. There is so much history and information, but I never feel like I'm reading a textbook.


The Lost Hero is written from the point of view of Jason, Pyper and Leo. This can be challenging, but I had no problem effortlessly moving from one character to another. Their personalities are so different without being cliche. 

There are equal parts humor, wit, adventure and a tiny bit of romance splashed in. The story line is confusing at times, simply because the main character doesn't remember who he is. We have to put the pieces together the same time that he does. It adds to the experience because we have a small sense of his frustration. There were also times when I felt like this was one giant introduction, but in a way it is.

We see  some of our old favorites from the Percy Jackson books. While this book is not necessarily a sequel, it will make a lot more sense and be more enjoyable if the reader has read the Percy Jackson series.


I'm already nose deep in the next installment and loving it.

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; Reprint edition (April 3, 2012)
• Goodreads
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Review: Entwined, by Heather Dixon

From Goodreads:
Azalea and her younger sisters dance in the mysterious silver forest every night, escaping from the sadness of the palace and their father’s grief. What they don’t understand—although as time passes they begin to get an inkling of the danger they are in—is that the mysterious and dashing Keeper is tightening his snare with deadly purpose. Luckily, Azalea is brave and steadfast. Luckily, a handsome young army captain also has his eye on Azalea. . . . Lush, romantic, and compelling, this debut novel by Heather Dixon will thrill fans of Shannon Hale, Robin McKinley, and Edith Pattou.

***

Entwined is absolutely breathtaking - beautifully written and deliciously told, it has everything a good story should.  Romance, dancing, magic, a brave heroine, and a devilish villain.  Dixon wove an intricate fairytale of mystery and intrigue coupled with sisterly camaraderie and ancient secrets.

I was hooked on the very first page and quickly drawn into the story.  Azalea is the oldest daughter of her father, the King.  As such, whomever she marries will become the next King.  It made for an interesting twist to the love story.

After her mother passes away, the palace is draped in mourning.  Confined to the indoors and black clothing, Azalea and her eleven sisters seek refuge in dancing late at night in a magic pavilion beneath their bedroom.  The only catch is Keeper, the dashing gentleman that grants their access to the pavilion each night. 

Keeper was a fantastic villain.  He was handsome, mysterious, and completely terrifying.  He was so utterly creepy.  It doesn't take long for his charm facade to fall away and for his true horrific nature to appear.  But by the time it does, Azalea and her sisters are already entangled in his web.

There were underlying currents to the story that I enjoyed.  Throughout the book, Azalea and her sisters feel that their father, the King, is distant and cold.  In turn, they distance themselves from him.  As the plot progresses, the girls learn to forgive their father for his shortcomings and to love him openly.  The King also learns how to handle his grief and repair the damage that was done after the Queen died. 

A word about the love story:  I was absolutely in love with Azalea's heartthrob from his first appearance.   I hate reading books where the girl is desperate and always falls for the guy that is the meanest to her.  I was extremely pleased in the man that Dixon created for Azalea.  He was perfect for the story, and perfect for the princess.

This book was original, beautiful, and funny.  It was a fantastic escape from reality into a beautiful world of dancing princesses, handsome gentlemen, and a magic palace.  

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books; Reprint edition (March 27, 2012)
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Review: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

From Goodreads:
For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken — Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good — powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

***

If there is a contender for #1 on my favorite series list, this would be it.  Brandon Mull wove an intricate and intoxicating thrill ride that I just couldn't pull myself away from.  His imaginative writing kept me coming back time and again for more adventure.

Mull employed the classic quest  story plot for his books and used that concept repeatedly throughout the series.  It worked very well with his elaborate story.

Seth and Kendra start out as very normal siblings: bickering, pestering, and shooting off sarcastic remarks.  In the first book, I found Seth to be very typical of your average pre-teen boy.  He was annoying and careless.  He thought only of himself and what could bring the most amusement.  Kendra was nauseatingly well-behaved and followed rules to the letter.  They could not have been more opposite.  As the series progresses, so do the siblings.  They mature and grow into their personalities, each one developing their strengths and learning from their mistakes.  Seth learns how to use his bravery to his advantage, and Kendra learns to step out of her comfort zone and take a few risks.

As a mother of girls, I am always looking for books with strong female characters that my kids would enjoy.  Kendra is a wonderful example of such a girl.  I absolutely loved her.  I loved Seth as well, but since I only have daughters, I was mostly focused on Kendra.

One of the things that makes a good series in my mind is when each book builds off the previous ones.  The story continued through each book seamlessly.

If Harry Potter were to meet his match, Fablehaven is the series to do it.

Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Paperback: 2512 pages
Publisher: Aladdin (October 4, 2011)
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Review: Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare

From Goodreads:
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

***

If it is possible to love the second book in a series even more than the first, then I have found it.  This was a story full of black magic, demons, and romance.  What's not to love?

In this book we are taken deeper into the mystery of the Magister and find out more information about him.  We also discover more about Will and his history.  Jem is more developed as a character but his past still remains vague.  We do get to see a little more of Magnus Bane, a character I absolutely adore. 

The encounters with automatons were not as frequent as in Clockwork Angel, so I rarely had problems sleeping.  The romance was so thick and beautifully written.  Maybe I am a glutton for disappointment, but whenever I read a book with a love triangle, I am always rooting for the wrong guy.  (I was Team Jacob, in case you are wondering.) The action scenes were fantastic and not so frequent that I got tired of them.  There was a nice pace throughout the story that kept things moving without it getting boring or going too fast.

I don't know if I will be able to wait for another year before the final book comes out!


Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Book
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Review: Clockwork Angel (Inernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare

From Goodreads:
Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

***

 I saw this book on the Amazon bestsellers list and I had to try it.  The cover is so enticing.  This is one of those books where the story actually lives up to the cover.  The plot was so intricate and the characters so fascinating.  I loved Tessa as the heroine.  I cried with her, loved with her, and laughed with her.  Jem and Will add a very interesting dynamic to the whole love triangle charade.  They are so different and yet so close.  Will is mysterious and bitter while Jem is sweet and very ill.  I fell in love with both of them. 


I had only two complaints about this book.  The first is that it is the first in a trilogy of prequels to the series "The Mortal Instruments".  I did not know that before I started reading and I felt a little lost for the first few chapters.  The second is that the characters were always covered in blood.  I don't think it is humanly possible to lose that much blood all the time without passing out or dying.  However, the characters in this book are not entirely human, so maybe my complaint is unwarranted.  


I got so engrossed in the story that I could not read it before going to bed. If I did, I would lay awake, thinking of automatons and swearing that I could hear the whir, click of them coming to get me.  It was a definite page turner full of action and romance.  I can't wait to read the next one!

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
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Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter (Goddess Test #2)

RELEASED TODAY!!


From Goodreads:

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it. 

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

***

If you've read my review of the Goddess Test, you'll know that I adored that book. The second book in a series is always hard because it has such huge shoes to fill. The Goddess Interrupted was a fantastic sequel! The beginning felt a little uncomfortable because it was like, here is a character that we know and love, but we haven't heard from her in six months (in the book timeline). All of a sudden, we're back in Eden, about to see Henry, etc. I'm glad we jumped right into the action, but it almost made me feel like I was missing something.*


Kate was still a worthy heroine, though, true to her character, I found her over-analyzing things. A lot. There were a few times in the book I was disappointed with her because I thought she was giving up, but it turned out to be just what the story (and Henry) needed.


There were other times when I just wanted to put my arm around Kate because I felt so bad for her. Persephone? Really?! 


Henry is such a complex character. I loved it. He's not perfect, not even close. I loved that about him. Of course, there were times I wanted to shake him by the throat, but I ended up forgiving him.


The plot felt a little rushed at times, and the resolution came faster than I expected. It sort of felt like an intro to the last book, rather than a second installment.


The ending was a huge cliffhanger! I read the last page and thought, "Oh no, that can NOT be the end!" But sadly, it was.

And seriously, we won't even mention how much I adore these book covers. I know that shouldn't be a contributing factor, but let's face it. It is. 


All in all, I gladly give this book five stars. I wait with much anticipation and bated breath for the third and final book.

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Teen; Original edition (March 27, 2012)
• Source: The Publisher (via NetGalley)
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 *There are two novellas, soon to be published, that will fill in the blanks between books. Or so I hear. The Goddess Hunt (#1.5) and The Goddess Legacy (#2.5). Pin It

Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente

From Goodreads:

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

***

This book was an acquired taste for me.  When I started reading, I found it very hard to pay attention to.  The story was interesting enough, and the writing was beautiful, but it was wordy and difficult to push through.  I almost gave up on it a few chapters in, thinking that it wasn't moving quick enough for me, but the more I read, the more I grew to love it.  By the end of the book, I was wishing there was an entire series for me to read.  I absolutely fell in love with Valente's way of writing.  I devoured every description and savored every word up until the very last page.  September is a magnificent heroine who shows bravery and wit throughout the story.  I grew to love her and admire her (even if she is only 12 years old). 

The book is very clean.  There are several instances of action and peril, but nothing the intended audience can't handle.


Reading Level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 10, 2011)
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Review: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe (Fallen World #1)

From Goodreads:

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back. Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival.

As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest. Because how will she go on if there isn't? 

***

Holy cow. Holy. Cow. 

This book was completely different than other dystopian, apocalyptic, end-of-the-world, society is ravished by a disease novels. 

The Way We Fall is written as a journal of letters Kaelyn writes to her estranged best friend, Leo. The letters start off as whimsical memories and long-harbored guilt. Slowly they turn to the curious events of a strange illness that is spreading throughout their secluded island off the coast of Canada.


Then the letters turn horrific as the disease turns pandemic, and there doesn't seem to be enough room for the bodies that keep piling up.

I love books that are written as letters. I think letters are so personal and share so much about a person without the writer realizing it. About the point where Kaelyn realizes Leo might never actually see these letters is when she starts pouring out more of her self, and I loved the way that made the book feel. 

Kaelyn developed well from the shy girl who no one really likes to the one with the strength to take care of her family - what's left of it - and help save her community and home. 

The disease starts with an itch you can't get rid of. And then there's a cough that won't go away. The day after I finished this book, I had an itch on my scalp. I literally was on the verge of tears and panic, thinking I was going to get sick and die and who would take care of my kids? My kids! Would I infect my kids? Should I call my husband to come take the kids and move to Siberia...? It took me a moment to realize that The Way We Fall was a book I read, and not a newscast I'd watched. That's the mark of a good book in my opinion.

There were a few things that were a bit confusing at first. I was eventually able to figure them out, but it made it a little difficult to trudge through at first. I honestly stuck with it because, like I said, I love books written as letters or journals. I wanted to see how it played out, and I am SO glad I did!!


There is mild swearing throughout the book, but about five uses of heavy profanity.

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (January 24, 2012)
• Source: Publisher via Netgalley
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Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

From Goodreads: To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

**

While I merely enjoyed the first Firelight novel, I loved the second! I felt like the first one was mainly love story, and secondly plot. With Vanish, I felt like we got to finally look deeper within Jace. We get to know Cassian, and maybe fall in love with him a little bit. And things between Tamra and Jace finally feel like a twin-sisterhood should.

Jace does talk a lot about her feelings for Will and the conflict between her and Cassian. I think it gives her good depth. I was proud of her for getting her head together and putting something besides romance first.

There was some pretty intense action, and I was hurrying to find out what was going to happen.

So often the first book in a series is the hook, the second is just ok, and then the third is awesome. I did not feel that way with Vanish. I felt like Firelight was ok, but just enough to get me to want to keep reading. Vanish was really amazing. I liked it more than the first. 

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 6, 2011)
• Source: Publisher via Netgalley
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Review: Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

In this coming-of-age story set in a medieval kingdom, Andrea is a headstrong princess longing to be a knight: something both her parents have forbidden. In an angry rage, she chases after a legend and finds her way to modern-day California where she finally belongs. But her accidental return to her family's kingdom and a disastrous romance brings war, along with her discovery of some dark family secrets. Readers will love this mix of traditional fantasy elements with unique twists and will identify with Andrea and her difficult choices between duty and desire.

**

Wow. Was this a surprise or what? While I was reading this book, I enjoyed it. But by the time I finished the book, I was in love.

I always admire female characters who want to break through the norm. But Andrea is different. She is very strong willed, but she tries her hardest to do what her parents ask. When that doesn’t work, she decides to take things into her own hands.

She accidentally finds a door to modern-day California, and discovers a world where she finally belongs. When she, again accidentally, finds her way back to her medieval home, she finds herself causing a war. In an attempt to save her people, she makes matters worse. She has to use her knowledge of the modern world and put it to work to save her ancient home.

I absolutely loved the story. And just when I’d given up all hope of any romance in this book at all, I was blind-sided with one of the sweetest love stories you can find. 

I just learned there is going to be a sequel and I’m so excited!

The reading level is officially middle grade, but I found it to be a bit more mature than that. Not that there's mature content, I just think older readers will enjoy it as well.

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback: 323 pages
• Publisher: Tanglewood Press (April 1, 2007, re-released June 16th, 2010)
• Source: Publisher, via NetGalley
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