Cinder: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

Cinder is the best mechanic in New Beijing but even that distinction can’t buy her freedom. Cinder doesn’t have any of that–not when she is a Cyborg.

Legally tied to a stepmother who despises her, Cinder spends her days fixing machines at her stall and dreaming of escape. Those lofty plans are dashed when her stepsister falls suddenly and hopelessly ill. Cinder is the first person her guardian blames and the only one to be punished. Instead of the death sentence she expected, Cinder finds an unlikely source of knowledge about her murky past not to mention the improbable attentions of New Beijing’s handsome prince.

Soon Cinder finds herself in the middle of an intergalactic power struggle that could have dire consequences–especially for Cinder. The more she learns about her past, the less she understands. If Cinder can confront the truth, she might be able to do something. She just isn’t sure if it will already be too late in Cinder (2012) by Marissa Meyer.

Cinderis Meyer’s first novel. It is also the first book in the four-book Lunar Chronicles.

There are a lot of retellings of Cinderella in the world. Meyer brings a fresh eye to this popular fairy tale adding an utterly original spin to a familiar story. Filled with nods to the original story (most notably Cinder’s mechanical foot), Meyer also excellently evokes the hectic, crowded city of New Beijing.

With its futuristic, sci-fi slant, this story could have easily gotten carried away explaining the world or simply laying on too many nuances to be believed. Meyer avoids these pitfalls both creating a well-realized setting and presenting it without overwhelming readers.

Despite its obviously futuristic execution, Cinder is firmly grounded in fairy tale lore. As a result the predictability of the narrative might have been unavoidable. As it is, several things are very obvious within the first few chapters of the story. However, it is not until the last chapter than any early predictions are confirmed (or nullified as the case may be). While the story is clever and immensely entertaining, I would have loved to see Cinder come into her own earlier in the novel instead of having to wait to see much of that transformation in book two.

Cinder is ultimately a unique interpretation of a story that has already been told many times. Filled with twists and new details all its own, Cinder takes a familiar story and makes it refreshingly exciting and gripping. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Possible Pairings: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, Ash by Malinda Lo, Legend by Marie Lu, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles

Under the Never Sky: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

Aria has lived most of her life in the Realms, a virtual environment designed to offer every comfort and luxury with just a thought. No pain, no fear. Just fun. Why waste time in the real world when the Realms are so much better than real?

All of that changes when her mother goes missing. Soon after, Aria’s world changes forever. Exiled from her comfortable home, Aria is thrown into the wilderness with little hope of survival–the outside world is called the Death Shop for a reason.

When Peregrine, an Outsider, finds Aria wandering in the desert he knows she will be nothing but trouble and he certainly already has his share. But somehow Aria is also his only hope of atoning for the horrible mistakes he’s made.

Aria is less than thrilled to be working with a Savage. Perry has little use for a pampered Mole. But if either of them ever want to get home this unlikely pair will have to work together–an alliance that will change everything in Under the Never Sky (2012) by Veronica Rossi.

Under the Never Sky is Rossi’s first novel. It is also the first in a trilogy.

This book is an unexpected blend of science fiction and fantasy complete with a Dystopian setting.* These elements do not always blend well, particularly in the beginning when the main characters are separated. Told in chapters alternating between Aria and Perry’s points of view, the story picks up when the characters meet and the disparate elements (and storylines) have a chance to gel.

Perry and Aria similarly come into their own as the novel progresses as they move from less-interesting, naive characters to more fully developed protagonists. The romantic aspect of the story also moves along a natural progression and is quite fun to follow.

Rossi creates an interesting world with some unique elements but little explanation in the way of world building or history.** A lot of ideas or events are referenced but little to no explanation is given. Similarly characters are mentioned, repeatedly, over the course of the story only to have literally no role in the story.*** That said, what is presented in Under the Never Sky is an original premise that will appeal to readers or pure fantasy and straight science fiction alike.

*I say unexpected because the jacket copy makes no mention of the “Realms” aspect of the world making the story read more like straight fantasy when really there are a lot of science fiction elements as well.

**Being a trilogy perhaps this information will eventually come together in bits and pieces throughout the series.

***Will they turn up in book two or three? Time will tell.

Possible Pairings: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Unison Spark by Andy Marino, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Extras by Scott Westerfeld
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Under the Never Sky

Legend: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

June and Day are part of the same nation: The Republic of America. They’re in the same city: Los Angeles, California. Their lives could not be more different.

Born into an elite family, June lives in a wealthy sector with her brother Metias and every luxury the Republic has to offer. A prodigy who passed her Trial with more than flying colors, June is training to join the Republic military and take her rightful position among the country’s leaders in their continuing war against the Patriots.

Day is not elite, or wealthy, and he’s definitely not a prodigy. Born in the Lake Sector slums, Day’s family thinks he’s dead. It’s safer that way. Better he have no connections to anyone when he is the most wanted criminal in the Republic.

No one knows what Day looks like or where to find him. His odds of avoiding capture and continuing to be a thorn in the Republic’s side are quite good. Until Day takes a desperate risk for his family–one that leads to Day becoming the prime suspect in the murder of a Republic soldier.

Not just any soldier, though. With her brother dead, June is highly motivated to catch his killer both to prove herself to her military superiors and to earn Metias some much-deserved justice. She is willing to do anything to achieve her goal.

From different worlds, pitted against each other, June and Day are obvious enemies. When sinister secrets about the Republic come to light, Day and June are also their own best allies in their search for the truth in Legend (2011) by Marie Lu.

Legend is Lu’s first novel.

There are a lot of books that have been called “the next Hunger Games” or otherwise compared to Suzanne Collins’ bestselling, amazing trilogy. A lot of them are quite good. Legend was one of those books. It has also been receiving steady hype since this summer. As with many books that get a lot of buzz, I expected to enjoy Legend.

I did not expect to be completely engrossed and impressed. But I was.

Legend is the first book that I’ve thought was completely on par with The Hunger Games without any reservations.

Written in chapters that alternate between Day and June’s narrations* the story is filled with action and tension. Lu masterfully creates two unique characters with their own narrative voices that add depth to an already exciting story. In an over-saturated genre, Legend keeps readers guessing to the very end not just about what will happen to June and Day but about some of the key tenets of the world she has created.

Legend is the first book in a series that promises adventure and suspense as well as a variety of diverse, layered characters. Lu, and her debut novel, are sure to find a place in the hearts of many readers looking for a worthy follow-up to The Hunger Games.

*The book is packaged with DAY or JUNE written across the top of each chapter. Day’s chapters are printed in a bold, gold colored sans serif font while June’s are the more traditional black serif. Some people were unimpressed by the packaging, my mom couldn’t even tell some text was gold. I quite liked the touch and thought it was very clever and well done.

Possible Pairings: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, White Cat by Holly Black, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

*This book was acquired for review from the publisher at BEA 2011

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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Legend

Shatter Me: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

She has been locked up for 264 days with nothing but a small notebook, a broken pen and the numbers in her head to keep her company. It has been 6,336 hours since she touched another human being. The last time she did, it was an accident murder.

264 days and she gets a roommate cellmate. Not just any cellmate, but the boy she remembers from before everyone knew she was a monster. The boy who could be her undoing. Or maybe the boy who can change everything.

She spent her entire life trying to be better, to be safe. But now it is time to fight in Shatter Me (2011) by Tahereh Mafi.

Shatter Me is Mafi’s first novel as well as the first book in a trilogy.

Shatter Me is the interesting if somewhat scattered story of a heroine whose touch is lethal. Narrated by the heroine, the story is filled with crossed out text to show thoughts she either does not want to have or acknowledge. The strike-throughs made for an interesting, multi-layered reading of the story but there are a lot of them and it does become hard to take after a certain point.

The narrative style is also unique and used to good effect conveying the narrator’s isolation and her growing fascination with the changing world around her. At times the writing verges into long sentences and scattered thoughts more commonly found in stream-of-consciousness pieces. Unfortunately the writing becomes so extremely intricate at times that it often swallows the plot whole in favor of ornate prose.

Even without the elaborate writing, Shatter Me has a slow plot. The story starts with the heroine on her own in a cell. And although the story has a fast pace, pieces of the plot do not begin to fall into place until the middle of the story with many twists not being revealed at all until the last fifty pages.

Without revealing too much, there is also a romance that sometimes sizzles on the page. Sometimes it also just felt unconvincing. While the premise is quite clever, it was frustrating to read through an entire book only to get an unsatisfying conclusion setting up the next installment in the trilogy.

Mafi’s writing is beautiful; she makes her heroine’s isolation and her desperate desire to be touched, for any physical affection, palpable. She introduces a winning heroine and a compelling world in Shatter Me that will appeal to readers looking for an exciting sci-fi/dystopian read–as long as their willing to ride along for the next book in the trilogy too.

Possible Pairings: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, Eve by Anna Carey, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Alphas (television series), X-Men (any media format)

*This book was acquired for review from the publisher at BEA 2011

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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Shatter Me

Divergent: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

In the wake of a warring world, a new order emerged where our Chicago once stood. People did not believe politics, religion or even nationalism could cause wars. People did that.

Factions were created to fix that.

Those who blamed aggression formed Amity to live peacefully. Those who blamed ignorance sought to foster knowledge by creating the Erudite. Those blaming duplicity strove for honesty in Candor. Those who blamed cowardice formed Dauntless. Finally, those who blamed selfishness made Abnegation.

Together the factions have created a peaceful society for their people.

Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior is ready to become part that society by choosing which faction she will join. Her aptitude test is supposed to help her make the right choice. Instead, the inconclusive results mark her as a Divergent forcing her to make her own choice and hide her real results from everyone–even her own family.

Until now her life in Abnegation has been peaceful. Sometimes it’s even beautiful. But it never feels quite right. Not as right as it feels watching the Dauntless students jump off a moving train to arrive at school each morning.

Nothing about remaking herself as a Dauntless initiate called Tris is easy. Most of it is hard and dangerous. It means leaving her family behind and forgetting most of what Abnegation held dear. The initiation process will be hard, it will be grueling, and it will mean facing her worst fears head on.

Worse, people are starting to suspect that Tris might be different. As Tris learns more about the Dauntless and the other factions she begins to suspect there is more to being Divergent than inconclusive aptitude test results. If she’s right, it might rock the factions to their very foundations in Divergent (2011) by Veronica Roth.

Divergent is Roth’s first novel. It is also the first of a trilogy.

Roth has created a convincing world filled with its own social mores, rules, and history. The background is as rich and evocative as the main storyline. Divergent has the perfect balance of world building and plot development as well as excellent characters. Tris is a strong, appealing heroine who knows her faults as well as her strengths. She is also accompanied on her adventures by a promising male lead and a cast of supporting characters who are, both literally and figuratively, strong additions to the story.

Anyone who has finished The Hunger Games and needs a new heroine to cheer for need look no further than this book. Divergent is a taut, dynamic thriller that draws readers in and won’t let go until the shocking conclusion.

Possible Pairings: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, 1984 by George Orwell, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Divergent

Pod: A (rapid fire) Review

Pod by Stephen Wallenfels (2010)

This book was shortlisted for the 2010 Cybils which is why (as a round 2 judge) I read it.

Pod features dual story lines. One features Josh who is 15/16 in Washington state and one features Megs who is 12 in California. Both of them have to fave some MAJOR problems when aliens land. Or hover. Whatever.

I didn’t mind the dual story lines. I thought the contrast was interesting between the two locations and by the end I’m pretty sure there is some connection between the stories (as improbable and thin as it is).

The alien premise was interesting and not having any closure (why did they come? etc.) was annoying but ultimately realistic I guess.

My main problem with Pod is that I hated Josh. He is a complete jerk, totally self-absorbed and ultimately a bad caricature of just about every annoying teen stereotype I  can think of. I thought it was ridiculous how he second guessed his father at every turn with the water and food rationing. I was insanely annoyed by the ending of Josh’s storyline. It was, simply put, sloppy storytelling (and did I mention annoying?).

Megs’ storyline is less troubling because she wasn’t such an annoying character and it is clear she understands that survival was really important–unlike Josh. But she seemed a little flat (all of the characters did actually–it might have had to do with the sparse writing or maybe this one just really tried my patience). I also don’t think she sounds at all like a twelve year old.

Megs’ vocabulary includes a lot of expressions a twelve-year-old wouldn’t know. Similarly why does a child know about cracking open oysters? Why does she know about dehydration and how crying might not be the best thing when you’re already short on water? I get that her home life isn’t great but I don’t get how she would know those things or any number of other things.

I can see the appeal of the premise and the characters but for me Pod was ultimately really unsatisfying and deeply frustrating.
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Pod

Brain Jack: A (rapid fire) review

Brain Jack by Brian Falkner (2009)

This book was shortlisted for the 2010 Cybils which is why (as a round 2 judge) I read it.

I can see how Brain Jack would have some appeal and could be great for teens who are into computers or are reluctant readers. That said, I personally wasn’t very impressed with the book.

I thought it was too technical. I know nothing about computers but a lot of the stuff sounded downright made up in places and in other places sounded  like gibberish. It felt strange having people typing on a computer be high action and also Falkner at times made it seem like the characters were inside the computer which is jarring.

I personally was irritated when New York’s Avenue of the Americas was mentioned in the story, by a native New Yorker, when everyone who has been living here would only call it Sixth Avenue. Other elements also just felt out of place to me, like story threads that didn’t feel vital to the plot. (Examples: Vegas, Fargas, Vienna, Dodge’s dodgy tattoo ON HIS FOREHEAD.) Many of the characters also fell flat.

The prologue was poorly done and off putting. I got my copy from a friend who I’m sure also didn’t buy it. It was so strange having the prologue talk in depth about getting information from people who bought the book when I didn’t (and I’m sure a lot of people didn’t). Aside from completely disregarding libraries and borrowing books it brought me right out of the narrative since it was so not true for my experience. In tandem with the prologue I felt like the epilogue was too preachy and weirdly so. Neuro headsets don’t actually exist and the book is fiction, but then he is telling us he’ll be watching (much like Santa Claus)?

It just didn’t work for me.

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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Brain Jack

Sapphique: A Review

Finn has finally Escaped Incarceron, the living prison and the only home he remembers. He is the long lost heir to the throne of the Realm. But he still feels like a prisoner.

Outside isn’t the paradise he or his fellow prisoners dreamt of. Instead, Finn finds himself trapped in a complicated game of intrigue and lies he can’t seem to escape still unable to remember his past or help his friends Inside.

Claudia, daughter of Incarceron’s Warden, thought helping Finn escape and declaring him the long lost heir to the Realm would be the end of her problems. Instead she finds herself with new ones as her fate is tied dangerously to Finn’s and his attempts to reclaim the throne.

Meanwhile Finn’s friends Keiro and Attia are still trapped Inside. There are rumors in the prison of a magical glove–a glove that Sapphique himself used to escape.

But finding it won’t be easy.

Sapphique was the only prisoner Incarceron ever loved and it is desperate to see the wonders he spoke of Outside, desperate enough to try an Escape of its own.

Everyone is wants to Escape, but life Outside can be as perilous as life Inside in Sapphique (December 2010*) by Catherine Fisher.

Sapphique is the stunning sequel to Incarceron. Much as I enjoyed this book, it really is dependent on the first book as a foundation and should be read in order.

The story picks up shortly after Incarceron’s breathtaking conclusion. Fisher aptly captures the discomfort and confusion of going from rags to riches and the dangers even a world of luxury can hold. This book also expands upon the relationships of the first book and reveals more about the characters–their wants, their fears. Many of the secondary characters (especially Jared and Keiro) are more developed in this volume though Attia still remained very enigmatic.

Broken into five parts, Sapphique takes readers across the Realm, into the depths of Incarceron and beyond. The lore of the Realm and Incarceron is well-developed and excellently shared in the story and in epipgraphs from ephemera of the Realm/Prison found at the beginning of each chapter.

While Sapphique is a satisfying conclusion to a breakneck adventure of a series, some readers may find the ending a bit rushed. Everything about the prison and the Realm is explained. The problem with such a well-realized world is that there is a lot to explain. And that leaves little time for tying up loose ends with characters.**

Sapphique has all of the action and intrigue readers of the first book will remember and love but it also delves into new territory about Protocol and Incarceron leading to a conclusion that is in many ways just as shocking and just as well-realized as the powerhouse ending of Incarceron.

*Sapphique was originally published in 2008 in the UK.

**To be fair Fisher really does explain and resolve everything. All the same, some resolutions were more implied between the lines than this reviewer would have liked.

Possible Pairings: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, Hook (movie with Robin Williams)

Exclusive Bonus Content: I love the covers for the US versions of these books. Incarceron has a key and Sapphique has a lock. Aside from loving locks and keys, I think this is really a clever way to capture some essential truth about this duet.

Also, did Sapphique remind anyone else a lot of Eugenides from Megan Whalen Turner’s Thief books?

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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Sapphique

Mockingjay: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review (and a sendoff)

Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, the spark that started a revolution, once again finds her life in chaos. Rescued from the Quarter Quell and whisked to District 13 and the seat of the rebel cause, Katniss is expected to take up her role as the figurehead of the rebellion; as the Mockingjay so ready and willing to fight the Capitol. Peeta is captured. Probably dead–it would be best if he were dead. District 12 is gone. And Katniss finds she can no longer hide from the war she never meant to start.

Many are willing, as ever, to tell Katniss what to do, who to support and what role to play. But before she can become the Mockingjay, before she can save Panem, her loved ones, or even herself, Katniss will have to decide what cost she is willing to pay for survival and, ultimately, for freedom in Mockingjay (2010) by Suzanne Collins.

Mockingjay, the follow up to Collins’ insanely popular books The Hunger Games and Catching Fire hardly needs an introduction or help getting into the hands of eager readers. This book, like the rest of the trilogy, sells itself.

In the much anticipated conclusion to the trilogy, Collins does little to disappoint. Filled with twists, action, and memorable characters, Mockingjay will keep readers guessing (and riveted) until the very end.

And what a finish.

In a lot of ways Mockingjay was even more brutal than the other books about Katniss and Panem because Collins made it so clear that these characters are damaged beyond repair. Will they keep going? Of course. Will anyone be the same after the war is decided once and for all? Of course not.

The writing is scattered and often bleak, likely because our heroine is repeatedly injured mentally and physically. Collins is brutally honest about what it has cost Katniss and many of the other characters (especially the other Victors of the Games) to make it this far while showing irrevocably that war rarely solves anything neatly and often hurts the very people it’s trying to save. Still it’s impossible to turn away from this modern, original story of a girl, a revolution, and a war that is fought as much on camera as on the front lines.

Mockingjay remains a strong, compelling story about characters that have captured the world’s imagination. Some reviews have suggested that the core characters were inconsistently written here or that the ending was lacking. On the contrary, Collins has not only been faithful to the spirit of the first two books but also created an utterly original conclusion to a powerful trilogy.

I love all of the books as physical objects with the arresting designs by Elizabeth B. Parisi and cover art by Tim O’Brien. I love the energy from this series. I love the characters and the story. I find myself completely moved (and maybe even rattled) by this powerful, surprising, and ultimately appropriate ending to a series that has quite literally changed the face of young adult literature forever.

Possible Pairings: Green Angel by Alice Hoffman, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Mockingjay

Catching Fire: A Review

Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, has survived the Hunger Games saving not only herself but also her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark.

But there can only be one victor in the Games and her desperate move has made Katniss a target not only of the Capitol’s anger but also of the fledgling rebellion. Saving herself and Peeta set off a spark that is spreading quickly through the other districts. A spark that the girl on fire is not sure she wants to put out.

Everything is spinning out of control.

Katniss’ only hope to protect her loved ones is to convince all of Panem that she was mad with love, not rebellion. But is that true? Months after the Games, Katniss still can’t unravel her true feelings for Peeta anymore than she can admit that their relationship is an elaborate act for the cameras.

It’s hard enough traveling from district to district pretending to be madly in love without knowing if any of it is real. But the reaping is approaching and with it the time for Katniss and Peeta to return to the Capitol as mentors for the 75th Hunger Games–a special year for the Games which never means anything good for the districts.

Good or bad, the spark has been lit and there’s no turning back in Catching Fire (2009) by Suzanne Collins.

Being the second book in a trilogy, this one has an understandably slower start than The Hunger Games. Collins spends a fair bit of time recapping plot points and reintroducing characters. Even with those details, readers will be hard pressed to follow Catching Fire without its predecessor (hint: read this trilogy in order).

That said, I might actually prefer this one to the first.

Readers have already been inside the Hunger Games seeing life in the arena and understanding the spectacle in all of its authoritarian gore. Catching Fire, by contrast, takes readers behind the scenes. Collins spends a lot more time building up the politics of Panem and introducing readers to the other districts. Add to that the fledgling seeds of revolution and you have some of my favorite literary tropes.

Catching Fire also adds past victors into the mix along with more of Panem’s past. Then there’s the whole massive-twist-that-changes-everything in the middle of the story (that some people very irresponsibly add to their booktalks or reviews even though it’s totally a spoiler).

On top of that, this book spends a lot more time looking at the relationship between Katniss and Peeta. Is it love? Peeta knows what he thinks while Katniss is less certain. She knows  she doesn’t want to get married or have children and she isn’t sure if that means she also doesn’t want to love anyone even though she wants to do everything in her power to keep Peeta safe (my own thoughts: it’s love–and I will be so pissed if Collins disagrees with that).

If The Hunger Games was a loud, free-spirited book, Catching Fire is its more introverted, creative counterpart. Everything readers love from the first book is here, but at the same time more space is given to character development and world building (two things I always want to see in my dystopian adventure novels).

Possible Pairings: In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez,  Graceling by Kristin Cashore, City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, Never Smile at a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember by Steve Jenkins, The Bride’s Farewell by Meg Rosoff, Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Exclusive Bonus Content: The cover here is huge because I want to you take a minute to admire it. Take it in. Ostensibly it’s the same cover as the first book in a different color scheme. But not quite. I love the subtle twists book designer Elizabeth B. Parisi puts on these books with Tim O’Brien’s artwork. They make the series on a whole cohesive but each book is also very individualized. Plus mockingjays are totally badass.
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Catching Fire