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[Mara=^.^=]

Mary, you've inspired me! AKA I am a giant copycat and I'm not even the least bit ashamed of it. Please note that spoilers WILL be included in some of these, so peruse this topic at your own risk!

 

2016 Reviews

1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
2. Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
3. Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong
4. Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong
5. Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston
6. The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons
7. A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
8. Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
9. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
10. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
11. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
12. The Moorchild by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
13. The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
14. Friday Never Leaving by Vikki Wakefield
15. Queen's Own Fool by Jane Volen and Robert J. Harris

 

2017 Reviews

 

1. The Story of God: A Biblical Comedy about Love (and Hate) by Chris Matheson

2. The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

3. The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel

4. Merrow by Ananda Braxton-Smith

5. The Reader by Traci Chee

6. Railhead by Philip Reeve

7. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

8. The Killer in Me by Margot Harrison

9. Splinter by Sasha Dawn

10. Lucky Strikes by Louis Bayard

11. Face of Glass by Frances Hardinge

12. The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

13. Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge

 

2018 Reviews

 

1. Steeplejack by A.J. Hartley

 

2022 Reviews

 

1. Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

2. The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

 

2023 Reviews

1. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

2. Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky
3. The Overthrow Trilogy by Kenneth Oppel

4. Unraveller by Frances Hardinge

5. A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

6. The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
7. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandana

8. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
9. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
10. Starsight by Brandon Sanderson
11. Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson
12. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
13. Spellbound by F. T. Lukens
14. The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

2024 Reviews

 

1. The Crimson Fortress by Akshaya Raman
2. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
3. The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold
4. The Speaker by Traci Chee
5. The Storyteller by Traci Chee

6. A Company of Liars by Karen Maitland
7. The Planet Construction Kit by Mark Rosenfelder

8. The Narrow by Kate Alice Marshall

9. The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman

10. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
11. The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence
12. The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

13. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
14. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
15. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
16. Mad Ship by Robin Hobb

17. Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

18. Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

 

2025 Reviews

 

1. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

2. Descendent of the Crane by Joan He

3. Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
4. Jade City by Fonda Lee
5. The Fox Wife by Yansze Choo
6. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
7. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh

8. Upon A Starlit Tide by Kell Woods

9. The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
10. A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

I just finished Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (it's set in the same universe as Shadow and Bone, which Mary reviewed as part of her 2015 reading challenge).

 

 

Oh my God, I LOVED this book. It has everything I like most in a story: criminal protagonists, black and gray morality, foe yay, epic chessmaster-style manipulation, seemingly unattainable rrrromance.... The setting feels familiar (grubby, dingy, low fantasy) and the plot is a classic caper in the tradition of Ocean's Eleven...except like, with magic. Despite the simplicity of the setup, it's nail-bitingly suspenseful, and I literally could NOT put it down for more than a few minutes once I picked it up. It reminded me a little of The Lies of Locke Lamora, minus the lovable rogue protagonist and outrageously creative swearing.

 

The book sports an unusually large cast (6 total, with 5 narrating, rotating from chapter to chapter), but at the heart of the story is Kaz Brekker, a seventeen-year-old criminal prodigy with a pronounced limp and no discernible conscience. He's a genius, string-puller type...a schemer, a killer, and an immensely broken and morally bankrupt human being who still manages to be 100% likable. As the reader you come to admire his ruthlessness, to trust it, to rely on it to save the cast of characters you've come to love. He's so deeply terrifying that when he demonstrates even the barest hint of humanity, it makes him seem vulnerable and all the more engaging. He reminds me a LOT of my own original character Captain...except, you know, more evil and f*cked up It was eerie how similarly they spoke and behaved at times - I was actually able to predict some of Kaz's reactions and plans just based on what Captain would do in the same situation. It was surreal to see a character that lives in my head actualized like that. And it's weird that his name is Kaz...I kept thinking of OUR Kaz the whole time. His backstory revolves around an event that is so simple in its horror that it's going to stay with me for a long, long time, but I won't spoil that part for you. Let's just say, he wears gloves all the time, and he can't bear to have anyone touch him, and I can understand why.

 

Anyway. The rest of the cast. Also other spoilers.

 

At Kaz's side is Inej, the silent, knife-wielding spy known as the Wraith. She's arguably the only person Kaz trusts, although he'd never admit it, and the two have a really fascinating, semi-acknowledged, semi-tragic romance brewing beneath the surface. (AKA if you hurt Inej, Kaz will literally slash your face, rip out your eyeball, and then murder you. Just sayin' ). Inej is a foreigner from a family of acrobats who was captured and sold into sex slavery at the age of 15. Long story short, Kaz saw her value and saved her. She inadvertently snuck up on him one day - and he was so impressed by her ability to approach unnoticed that he immediately made arrangements to buy out her indenture contract so that she could join his street gang. Free at last (and eager to feel powerful), Inej became Kaz's master of secrets, gathering intel and blackmail material on every person in the city. And holy crap, she was SUCH a cool character. She sort of...grounded the novel somehow, and watching her gain a sense of purpose over the course of the narrative was immensely gratifying. What's especially interesting about her relationship with Kaz is that I truly have NO idea if they'll end up together. It's clear that they have feelings for each other, but I'm not sure Kaz is capable of giving her what she wants/deserves, and she won't settle for any less.

 

Next up are Nina and Matthias, and they have to be discussed as a unit, because their history together is what defines them both. Nina is a type of Grisha (basically, a specialized mage) known as a heartrender, who can stop a person's heart with a gesture...or soothe their nerves and put them to sleep. Once, she was a soldier in her country's civil war, and everything about her screams fighter. She's loud, effusive, mirthful, flirtatious, and beautiful. Matthias is a drüskelle, a type of religious zealot dedicated to hunting down Grisha like Nina. He's uptight, prudish, honest, and decent...but he's basically been brainwashed into believing that Grisha are monsters who need to be exterminated. Trouble is, Nina is a very, very attractive monster. So there they are, witch and witch-hunter, and they're completely, disgustingly smitten with each other. They saved one another's lives in the past, but a heavy betrayal hangs over them both. They love and hate each other with an intense fervor; in their very first scene together, Nina and co. break Matthias out of prison, and he responds by trying to choke her to death with his bare hands. One of the central character conflicts of the story is whether their mutual attraction will be enough to overcome the bad blood between them. Hormones FTW

 

Last but not least is Jesper, a sharpshooter with a gambling habit and a serious addiction to adrenaline. He's the least interesting character, in my opinion, but he does have his moments. He's bisexual and seems to be at least somewhat attracted to his boss, but he knows that crushing on someone as emotionally unavailable as Kaz is a waste of his time. He flirts with and teases the gang's newest member, a rich-boy-turned-bomber named Wylan (and the only one of the core protagonists who doesn't narrate). These two actually have a fun dynamic, and weirdly enough, might have the healthiest relationship among the three. Cause I mean, Kaz and Inej trust each other with their lives, but they can't even hug - and Nina and Matthias constantly wanna bang, but revile and suspect each other too much. Jesper and Wylan, by comparison, are just like "heh heh, you're kinda cute. Wanna hang out?"

 

Even though the villain(s) don't get much screentime, I still hate them with a passion. I can't wait to see Kaz take apart their lives, brick by brick. When he finally gets his revenge, it's going to be the kind of cruel, vile, twisted shit that would normally make the perpetrator a card-carrying antagonist...but when Kaz does it, it's gratifying. Like, he may be a monster, but he's our monster, y'know? Unless, of course, he's undone by the one tiny spark of humanity he has left...

 

Anyway, there's only one major problem with the book: it ends on a killer cliffhanger, and I have to wait all the way until Fall 2016 to find out what happens. UUGHHH. I can't take it

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I've heard a lot of good things about Six of Crows. Some people I follow who weren't too impressed with the Grisha trilogy liked it a lot better. I might consider picking it up at some point. Once the adrenaline from the ending of Shadow and Bone wore off, I realized I wasn't all that impressed with the book, either, and knocked my rating down a star.

 

Also yayyyy! More people reviewing books

 

I have yet to do much in my own reading so far this year. I can't decide which book to pick up next, so for now I'm just continuing with a couple of the ones I've already started but didn't have the time to finish before the 31st. One I think is going to be slow-going, at least at first, and the other is Percy Jackson so once Tim and I find time to sit down and listen together without one of us being exhausted from life, it'll go by real quick.

[Mara=^.^=]

Just finished Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson.



I was really excited to start this one, because I'm a HUGE fan of the author's previous trilogy, The Girl of Fire and Thorns. Rae Carson is an AMAZING author, but this book just left me...unsatisfied, somehow. Maybe it's because I kept comparing the cast to all my favorite characters from The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and they came up short. I wonder if I would've liked Walk on Earth a Stranger better if I'd read it first.

The novel, which is set during the great gold rush of 1849, centers around a teenage farm girl named Leah. She's solid, diligent, and not afraid to get her hands dirty with hard labor - but she has a secret. Leah was born with the ability to sense gold in the world around her. It's a dangerous power that many people would not hesitate to exploit...a fact which becomes painfully clear after her uncle murders her mother and father so that he can gain custody of her. Disguised as a boy, she runs West, heading for California, and most of the book consists of her journey from Georgia to the west coast. After she leaves home, the plot essentially turns into a game of Oregon Trail: Leah travels, there is trouble. More traveling, more trouble. Cholera strikes, and women die in childbirth. Kids go missing. People are racist and sexist. A buffalo stampede wrecks the camp. The settlers encounter Indians. The preacher pontificates. The obstacles that Leah encounters are realistic and vividly depict what it was like to journey through America at the time, but...after awhile, it just stopped being interesting. I've read too many stories like this, too many accounts of pioneers traveling across the prairies in search of a better life out west. It didn't help that Leah's magical gold-dousing gift didn't really affect the plot too much, although I assume it will become more important in the sequels.

The book did a good job of crafting that sense of fleeting connection you get when you travel - of people passing in and out of your life, many never to be seen again. A lot of the character archetypes felt familiar, a fact which worked to the book's benefit and detriment simultaneously. On the pro side, these stock chars immediately reminded me of people I've met in real life, lending the story a feeling of authenticity. On the con side, they felt rather two-dimensional. The characters, I think, were the weakest part of this novel. I wanted to like Leah, and I did like her, I guess. There was nothing to dislike about her. I just couldn't connect with her the way I did with the protagonist of Carson's other novels. She wasn't memorable or complex, and she lacked the kind of flaws that pique my interest. Her best friend, Jefferson, was all right too - reliable and supportive - but their conversations were never long enough to properly convey their past relationship and growing romance. The dialogue was pretty much devoid of humor, which is too bad, because I know Rae Carson is capable of crafting hilarious one-liners.

Anyway, I'd rate this book a B or B+. On a technical level, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it: it's well-written and well-researched. It just lacks a certain spark.


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

FINALLY finished Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong.

 

 

I've been trying to get through this book all week. The first 140 or so pages were super boring, and I had to keep forcing myself to press on. However, once I hit 150, the narrative picked up and I read the remaining 250+ pages in one go. All in all it was...a mixed bag.

 

Here's the basic setup: Moria and Ashyn are identical twin sisters living in a village called Edgewood, a small settlement which borders the Forest of the Dead, a terrible lifeless hellhole where convicted criminals are sent to wander and die. These sisters have a sacred duty: Moria is the "keeper", who protects the kingdom from malevolent forces, and Ashyn is the "seeker", who appeases the spirits of those who died in the forest. They perform...ritual stuff? during certain times of the year, and they occasionally hear the spirits whispering completely useless crap cryptic phrases and vague warnings. They also possess "bond-beasts" - basically, a large/intelligent wildcat and dog - who are their magically-selected life companions. Even though the twins are identical physically, they are complete opposites personality-wise. Moria is rash, combative, and skilled with daggers. She's fearless in battle and doesn't know when to shut the hell up. Ashyn is deferential, pacifistic, and skilled at diplomacy. She's shy and sweet, but she feels inferior to her sister, and her lack of self-confidence is sometimes a serious problem.

 

Anyway, their happy lives turn to shit after an annual ritual in the Forest of the Dead goes seriously wrong. At first the extent of the fuckery is not clear, but it becomes rapidly clear when all the adults in their village are massacred and many of the bodies are possessed by evil spirits known as shadow-stalkers. Moria is forced to slay her own possessed father, and the sisters get separated in the chaos. Each gets incorrect information about the location of the other, and they end up pursuing each other across a hellish volcanic expanse known as the Wastes. They get attacked by all manner of fearsome beasts as they make their way to the town on the other side of the desert. There, they finally reunite, but discover that the aforementioned fuckery is even crazier than it first seemed to be, and they are forced to carry a message to the Emperor himself, or forfeit the lives of the children stolen from their village.

 

Now, this sounds wicked exciting and all, but it's actually a slow read. The biggest problem with the book, in my opinion, is the world-building. I never had any idea how anything worked. What are the rules of magic in this world? How is society structured? Are the rituals the seeker and keeper perform actually NECESSARY to protect the empire, or are they just tradition? The setting was like...medieval Europe-Japan-India. I think. It was very jumbled and confusing. There were mentions of a caste system, but it was never fully explained; the Emperor and many of the warrior clans were clearly Japanese inspired...but the sisters had blonde hair and seemed to live in a very European style town. This kind of mixed background might've worked if the the world had been more clearly defined, but it was just slapped together. We DID catch glimpses of some of the social ills plaguing the empire, but they were disjointed and generic. I just couldn't wrap my head around it all, which made it difficult to connect with the characters and their struggles.

 

The romance, if you could call it that (it was very much the beginning stages), was...OK, although there were times when I felt like the sisters should have been paired with their respective love interests. Both Moria and Ashyn ended up crossing the Wastes with a different guy as their companion. Moria brought Gavril, a surly warrior from Edgewood with a HUGE secret, and Ashyn wound up with Ronan, a casteless, cunning thief who had managed to escape the Forest of the Dead. During their journey, Moria and Gavril constantly bumped heads and fought over every little thing; I'm usually a fan of love/hate pairings but this one was just tiring. Ronan and Ashyn were a little more interesting, but only because it was fun to watch Ronan try to use his sex appeal to pull one over on Ashyn. She quickly caught on to his game and forced him to admit that he was only following/protecting her so that he could collect the inevitable reward that would follow from saving the life of the empire's seeker. From then on they decided to be honest with each other about their respective machinations, and a genuine bond began to form between them (although it would've been way more interesting if the author had played up Ashyn's talent for strategy and manipulation, which was frequently mentioned but never demonstrated).

 

I liked how distinctive the sisters' personalities and talents were, but the physically dangerous nature of the adventure made Moria seem vastly more competent. At first I didn't like Ashyn, because she needed to be saved by Ronan every 5.5 seconds, but her kindness and innocence endeared her to me as the novel progressed. Her insecurities felt relatable, and I hope that the author will continue to develop her skills as a diplomat and thinker in the next book. Each sister had a VERY different perspective on romantic relationships, which was a nice touch. Ashyn was the type who longed for breathless romance and true love, while Moria was only interested in the physical aspect. At one point, the latter explicitly stated that she could not imagine sleeping with a guy she respected and liked, because lovers are only good for one thing, and that one thing certainly isn't companionship. A weird perspective, but a believable one.

 

And yet, despite how cool the twins appear on the surface, I just couldn't get into their relationship. Their intense love for each other is mentioned repeatedly, but somehow the connection never feels authentic on screen. Also (and this might be part of the world-building issue) I feel like their identity as keeper and seeker is functionally meaningless in the book. Their powers, if they even have any, are never used - only their titles matter. They could've just as easily been daughters of a famous leader or members of a magic clan or...anything really, so long as it put them in a position of ritualized authority. The specifics of their role did not matter, and I felt like that really damaged my ability to understand and thus empathize with them. My advice to the author is as follows: when you're writing a fantasy novel with made-up jobs, it's important to show what people with those jobs actually DO.

 

Either way, the last 20-30 pages of the book were great. There was a last-minute twist that I didn't see coming, and we're introduced to a bunch of new characters, including the emperor's bastard son Tyrus who just FLIES off the page the instant he appears. This new prince and the cliffhanger reveal were both interesting enough to warrant me picking up the sequel, which I will report on next.

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I admire your resolve to push through and finish a book where the first 150 pages are super boring. I wouldn't be able to do that.

[Mara=^.^=]

I admire your resolve to push through and go ish a book where the first 150 pages are super boring. I wouldn't be able to do that.

 

I could not let it defeat me!

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I just gave up on the second book in the Shiver trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater. I read the first book last fall and had mixed feelings about it, so I decided if I wasn't hooked in 50 pages with the second book, I'd call it quits. Oh well. At least I can continue her Raven Boys series sooner now. It's way more interesting.

[Mara=^.^=]

Oh, I've heard of the Raven Boys series. Is it finished yet, or ongoing?

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[SweeneyxxTodd]

The last book is coming out in April.

[Mara=^.^=]

Just wrapped up Empire of Night, the sequel to Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong.
 

 
 
Book 2 was, overall, an improvement. The writing was better, and some of the confusing aspects of the previous book were explained. I got a much better understanding of Moria's powers, although Ashyn's still seem pretty ineffective. The world-building continued to suffer from a lack of clarity and refinement, but the villain was a suitably shitty scumbag, so that's good. The plot picks up right where we left off, and proceeds in much the same way as it did in the first book. The sisters set out to get shit done. There's a massacred village destroyed by shadow-stalkers. The sisters get separated and travel around with a love interest. There's a last minute reveal about Gavril. This time around, though, the stakes are more interesting and I care more about the characters (well, Moria and Tyrus at least).
 
Although it's told from both sisters' perspectives, Empire of Night is unquestionably Moria's book. Everything in the story that actually mattered revolved around her struggles and triumphs, not Ashyn's. I was sorely disappointed with how underutilized Ashyn was. I get the feeling that the author knows how to write kickass spitfires, but no idea how to utilize more introspective characters. Moria is repeatedly allowed to demonstrate her talents and strengths, but Ashyn's "talents" are almost always mentioned rather than shown. She's said to be book smart, but doesn't get to use her knowledge to her advantage. She's said to be a skilled tactician, but she reacts emotionally and jumps into things without thinking. It's so disappointing, because I preferred Ashyn in Sea of Shadows and really wanted to see her shine
 
The romance in this book was...odd. I think the author was attempting to show that real-world love can often subvert your expectations: Moria, who only ever wanted sexytimes devoid of emotional connection, finds that she is capable of caring about someone deeply. Ashyn, who dreamed of storybook romance, discovers that love is complicated and often transient. Unfortunately, only Moria's romantic subplot is handled well. Now that Gavril is a "traitor" (maybe), Moria is paired with the bastard imperial prince, Tyrus, and I prefer their relationship in pretty much every conceivable way. Whereas Gavril teased and belittled her, Tyrus supports and encourages her. He's a skilled military leader, and he knows how to bring out the best in those who are under his command, including Moria. He's got a sense of humor and a genuine desire to help people, and he actually listens to Moria's suggestions and tells her to cool it when she flies off the handle. I may be alone in my preference for Tyrus; I know a lot of the fandom likes Gavril better and wants him to end up with Moria, but I can't see the appeal. Everyone in the narrative keeps talking about how Moria and Gavril belong together but...why? Because they both like fighting? Lots of people like fighting. They have no chemistry. Tyrus 5ever.
 
On to Ronan and Ashyn. What a disappointment At the beginning of the book Ronan randomly decides that he "can't be with her" because he's casteless, and the untouchables aren't supposed to even TALK to regular folks, let alone woo them. Not that his status stopped him from kissing her in the first book. What's worse, he's doesn't TELL her why he's suddenly withdrawn his attentions until almost the end, so she spends the majority of the narrative making all the wrong assumptions. Now, I don't know about you, but watching two people give each other the cold shoulder for hundreds of pages is NOT my idea of a good time. And like, what reason did the author have for keeping them apart? It served no purpose. It would've been much more interesting if Ronan had been honest with her about his casteless status from the beginning, so that the two of them could spend their time furthering their relationship and finding a solution rather than avoiding each other for 300+ pages. The most frustrating part of Ashyn's character is that she never seems willing to fight for what she wants, and this really shows in her interactions with Ronan. If she had TRIED to pursue him, even a little, I think they could've worked something out, especially since it's made clear that Seekers and Keepers are superspecialsnowflakes who are allowed to take any lovers they want, whether they be rogues or merchants, artisans or princes. Ugh, I just wanted to see them interact. Learn from each other. Snog in the back room. Sigh.
 
One final character to mention. Guin was new to this book, and I found her fascinating. Basically, she's a long-dead spirit who comes to inhabit the soulless body of a young woman. Because she's spent so long wandering the earth in incorporeal form, she's largely forgotten what it means to be human, and watching her try to figure it out is quite compelling. When we finally learn her backstory, it's incredibly tragic, and makes me SUPER glad I don't live in a time and place where women are treated like chattel. Unfortunately, she is killed about 2/3 of the way through the book, which makes me question why she was introduced in the first place. Maybe, since she's a spirit, she'll come back in the final installment. I hope so.
 
So...final rating. If Sea of Shadows was 3 stars, then Empire of Night is 3.5. Not great, but still exciting, and definitely an improvement. ...Not sure how the title relates to the story though.
 
~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

I re-read Six of Crows, and it was even better the second time. I also re-read one of my old favorites, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis. I'm only putting new books on the list, though, so these two won't be included.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Katia11]

Oh, I love the Voyage of the Dawn Treader! 

[Mara=^.^=]

The Chronicles of Narnia were my jam growing up. My favorites are Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and The Silver Chair. They're like comfort food for my soul.

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

For some reason, I only cared for The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, even I own the first four volumes... I started reading The Horse and His Boy once, but I never really got into it. Guess it was cuz all four kids weren't in it like in the second book...

[Mara=^.^=]

The Horse and His Boy is a dense, difficult-to-read book. My Mom had to help me get through it when I was little. It's also very, very different from the rest of the series. I highly recommend Prince Caspian...all 4 of the Pevensies are in that book! You should give it a try.

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

I just might one time, thanks!!

[Mara=^.^=]

I just finished Frozen (no, not the Disney version) by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston.

 

 

This book had a LOT of problems. I almost gave up reading towards the end, but my love for the two main characters was enough to get me through. The female lead, Nat, is blackjack dealer with an apocalyptic voice in her head; the male lead, Wes, is a handsome criminal-for-hire with an inner core of decency that gets him into trouble. They both live in New Vegas, the city that never sleeps - despite the fact that civilization as we know it has come to an end. The story is set in the semi-distant future, after wars and a series of environmental disasters have turned the planet into a frozen wasteland. Nat hires Wes to smuggle her out of the city, past the polluted expanse known as the Garbage Dump, to the poisoned Pacific Ocean, and beyond - she seeks "The Blue", a fabled land across the sea that's rumored to contain green grass and clean water. It's an impossible mission, but the voice in her head drives her, and Wes is desperate for money. The two leads have great chemistry, right from the start. They are immediately attracted to each other, but they're both hardened survivors, so they try to use the romance to their own benefit. Nat wants Wes to fall for her so that he won't sell her out if a better offer comes his way. Wes wants to gain Nat's trust so he can steal from her more easily. Against their better judgment, they end up genuinely liking each other, and overall it's a fun little romance.

 

Unfortunately, the world-building in this story is just BONKERS. The setting is a mash-up between post-apocalyptic scifi and high fantasy, and the two genres just do NOT mesh. The scifi elements are handled quite well. There's a lot of cool terminology to describe the ruined world: "The Big C" for the cancer that kills nearly everyone, Frostblight for the disease that robs people of their eyesight, and Textlish for the leetspeak variant that is both read and spoken by otherwise illiterate people. The USA is now the RSA, or "Remaining States of America", a title that was originally tongue-in-cheek before it was adopted by the militant, authoritarian government that runs things. The ocean is a poisonous slurry littered with "trashbergs", enormous piles of garbage that sink ships as effectively as icebergs. Slavers prowl, crime flourishes, and the gap between rich and poor is wider than ever. It's a convincingly bleak hellscape, and if the world-building ended there, it would be fine. But instead, the authors throw fantasy into the mix: magic has reawakened, and there are "marked" people who have brightly colored eyes and strange powers. The government is actively hunting them. The public fears them. And what's worse, they are prone to a disease known as the rot which turns them into shambling, leper-zombies called "Thrillers" (named after the Michael Jackson music vid, because apparently not even the apocalypse can erase the Thriller video from humanity's collective memory). Nat is, of course, one of these marked people, which is why she wants to escape from New Vegas and find The Blue.

 

At this point I'm still on board - it's weird, sure, but not plot-breakingly weird. It's a bit like the RPG Shadowrun - a cyberpunk magic type deal, except snowier. But things just get totally nuts as the book progresses. They meet a magical elf girl called a sylph, and it turns out Atlantis and Avalon were both real, and now their realm and ours need to intersect again, or both will be destroyed...just totally crazy shit that comes right out of nowhere. Wes and Nat are able to cast protective spells over each other, although it's never really explained how, especially since he doesn't have any powers. The rules of magic are never made clear, so everything that happens just seems like an ass pull. The craziest twist of all comes toward the end: it turns out Nat is the last of the mythical drakon riders (think dragon but like...with a k? Cause um...why not?). The voice in her head was actually her drakon the entire time, calling to her from its lonely home among the trashbergs of the Pacific. The book ends with her riding the drakon into battle against a bunch of navy ships poised to enter The Blue, which is actually the gate to Avalon? Or something? F*ck if I know.

 

The fantasy elements, especially the ones in the latter part of the novel, totally broke my suspension of disbelief. Two authors collaborated to write this thing, and it shows. It's almost like one of them wanted to write a cynical, dystopian tale, while the other wanted to write a sweeping fantasy romance with dragons and elves and magic kingdoms. The two do NOT go together. It's a shame, because the lead characters are definitely likable, and I'm pretty sure this could have been a good book if not for the fantasy stuff. Here's how I would have written it: the voice in Nat's head isn't a magic drakon, but an affliction she has to deal with as she and Wes journey across the tundra. The Blue isn't Avalon; it's a myth, a pipe dream created by people who can't bear the bleakness of the real world. Nat and Wes weather the dangers of the Pacific together, but they never find the mystical Blue. Instead, they find something else, some other port or haven or secret that makes life worth living. In the end, they discover that there are no easy solutions to the world's problems, no magical escapes...but at least they have each other. And when it comes down to it, that's enough.

 

THAT'S the kind of book I'd like to read.

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[SweeneyxxTodd]

That book sounds like a clusterfuck of confusion.

[Mara=^.^=]

That book sounds like a clusterfuck of confusion.

 
You have NO idea. It was bafflingly bad. I felt like I was reading fanfiction written by a middle schooler.
 
 
~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =