artsy musings of a bibliophile

fantasy

Review: Beastly by Alex Flinn

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Title: Beastly (Kendra Chronicles, #1)

Author: Alex Flinn
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: 1 January 2007
Pages: 300 (eBook)

Synopsis
I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright – a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever – ruined – unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and a perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly beastly.
My Rating
* * *
The Review

Beastly is truly one of a kind novel. It is funny yet sarcastic and sad. The witty, snarky dialog, the whole curse situation, the inclusion of classic literature from Shakespeare’s Sonnets to Jane Eyre to Frankenstein; it was a hell of an enjoyable read! I didn’t know what to expect from the book besides the fact that I wanted to read it before watching the movie adaptation.
I got everything out of it. Though, I’d say, it was true to its teenage target audience by being somewhat teenage-ish yet it had its moments. I loved the characters of Will, Magda and even mean Kyle. As Adrian, he gave a completely different feel to the character. Moreover, the focus was more on the beast-like features than the ugliness of it.

It didn’t take me much time to finish the book, I was well engrossed in it anyway. From one extreme of beauty to another extreme of ugliness, this tale is about finding the value of beauty and not only using it as a tool. Yeah, the theme’s similar to Beauty and the Beast, but every book has something different to offer to the reader so I am not that keen on the similarities between them.
The character of Lindy could have very well been sidetracked by the number of clichés Alex Flinn managed to divert her from. Even then, the mellowness and the childlike ‘jumping up and down’ only added to the liveliness of her character.
My only problem with the book was that the 16 year olds protagonists were a bit too young for such a book. But I liked the story a lot; it was refreshing, hilarious and taught stuff about morality. I had fun reading about the theme of the darkness in his life and the touch of reality to all of it. I never really thought I’d like this book; I did and I am glad.
Best Quote(s):

“Now that all the beauty of my old life is gone, I crave it like good. A beautiful thing like this rose: I almost want to eat it, to swallow it whole to replace the beauty I’ve lost.”

“Retribution. Poetic justice. Just deserts. Comeuppance.”

Review: Defy by Raine Thomas Blog Tour + Giveaway

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Click the banner for the tour schedule.

Title: Defy (Firstborn, #1)

Author: Raine Thomas
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Iambe Books
Release Date: 30 April 2012
Pages: 216 (eARC)

Synopsis
Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death.

Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life.

Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his.

As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate.

My Rating
* * * *
The Review
Defy is the first book I read about the Estilorians and it was a very intense experience. Tate is a very likable character because of her fierceness, determination and stubbornness. Estilorians have various markings on their bodies and the ones around the eyes signify a second ability. 
Tate’s ability is that she can detect lies. This ability played a significant part in her interactions with Zachariah which I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. Her markings make her beautiful and her blue-green eyes, the beads and feathers in her hair seemed like a very interesting addition to the Estilorians. 
Tate ‘s free-spirited nature compels her to ventures off out of the protection in order to prove that she is skilled enough to fly as all Estilorians do when they turn eighteen. However, her parents shared a dream about her death and they are more than concerned about her. She intended to go after her cousin, Sophie and Quincy but things quickly went awry when a karragen grabbed her.
Defy is a fast-paced book filled with action, an evil plot and a very interesting male protagonist, Zachariah. I have become to like him a lot and I loved how he said the words ‘blasted and damn’ and ‘bloody’ in almost all of his conversations. 
In all, I really enjoyed Defy and I definitely want to read the Daughters of Saraquel series now. Plus, the second book in the Firstborn series seem to be about Sophia and Quincy and I can’t wait to read what happens between them. Bring on the Mercesti hate and the follow-up to what they seek!
Best Quote:
“Because he was bent over her and his mouth was so close to hers, the memory of her attempted kiss flashed through her head. She had the unavoidable and mortifying thought that she wished he hadn’t stopped her. 
She watched his expression change as they continued to stand there staring at each other.

“When you want to kiss someone,” he said, making her realize she had been speaking her thoughts again, “do not talk it to damn death.”“

About the Author

Raine Thomas is the author of the exciting and original series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane. Her passion for writing prompted her to earn her bachelor’s degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing from Georgia State University, then her master’s degree in Humanities from Central Michigan University. She is also a proud member of Romance Writers of America.

Residing in Orlando, Florida, Raine is a hopeless romantic with a background in the fields of mental health and wedding planning…two areas that intersect far more than one would think. Her years working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges inspired her to create young protagonists who overcome their own conflicts. When she isn’t writing or glued to e-mail or social networking sites, Raine can usually be found vacationing with her husband and daughter on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Raine Thomas can be found at 
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Buy Defy (Firstborn, #1)
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Thanks to YABound and Raine Thomas for providing me a copy of Defy for review.

Review: Oppression by Jessica Therrien Blog Tour + Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK
Oppression by Jessica Therrien
young adult fantasy published by ZOVA on 28 February 2012 

first book in the Children of the Gods series


Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She’s been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she’s closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal.
For Elyse, these things don’t make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she’s been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability.
Or so she thinks.
Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her.
Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable–except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to centuries of traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning–and she’s not entirely willing to play by their rules.

THE RATING

THE REVIEW

Once in a while you get to read a book that completely and utterly takes your breath away. Oppression was that kind of a book for me. It is just perfect the way it is and I never expected it to be so good. I am so glad I got to read it! Elyse and William, the protagonists, go through such character development that it is astounding to see them grow to adjust in a flow.
Elyse is such a beautiful name for the heroine (although, I read in an interview of the author that at first, it was supposed to be Ruth which, in my opinion, is equally beautiful). Whereas, William is the kind of a guy who has a perfect combination of everything from emotions to the take on life. I love it when the characters offer an aura of mystery and depth to the reader. I could actually feel why Elyse did what she does and why William thought like he did. The rest of the characters gave a little to the story as well and build it up so well that it felt good to read about them all. I actually am in anticipation of how things will go for the Descendants from now.

The prophecy and the oppression that has been a part of life for the likes of her makes things dangerous for Elyse, William and the others. But is Elyse willing to play by their rules? Think again because she’s one hell of a tough girl when she wants to be. I never liked a female protagonist more than I like Elyse. William is charming and a perfect hero to read about. I liked reading about the scenes involving the persuasion.

I took Mythology a year back but reading Oppression made me fall in love with it all over again and seeing what Jessica Therrien did with it is just awe-inspiring. I never could stop reading and well, I finished the latter half in a single sitting! Each of the powers are so creatively thought up from their respective ancestors that it is very enjoyable to read about them.
Oppression is a beautiful start to an awesome series and it offers so much potential to grow in a universe of its own. The ending is just perfect and is a complete story as far as the first book goes. Jessica Therrien created a universe that I would love to read about. A new favorite of mine, and one of the bests 2012 has to offer, I highly recommend Oppression to fans of young adult fantasy.

THE QUOTES

‘The oracle can see all things that will be, but only the things that will cause profound change stay in the forefront of her mind, things that will change the course of the future. It’s a hard job, knowing what will happen. When things don’t play out the way they should, do you watch the sequence of unfavorable events unfold or do you step in and try and change the tide?’

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Therrien is the author of Oppression, book one in her YA paranormal romance/adventure series, Children of the Gods. Oppression was published by ZOVA Books in February of 2012.

Jessica is a graduate of San Diego State University. She lived in Taiwan for a year where she learned Chinese, but she lives in Chula Vista now, where everyone speaks Spanish instead. Although she spends most days in a cubicle at her day job, her alter ego is a writer, who loves the arts with a passion.

Jessica is currently writing book two in her Children of the Gods series.

Jessica Therrien can be found at
Buy Oppression (Children of the Gods, #1)
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THE GIVEAWAY
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Thanks to Jessica Therrien for providing me a copy of Oppression for review.

Review: My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent

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Title: My Soul to Lose (Soul Screamers, #0.5)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: 1 July 2009
Pages: 87 (eBook)


Synopsis
It was supposed to be a fun day, shopping at the mall with her best friend. Then the panic attack started and Kaylee Cavanaugh finds herself screaming, unable to stop. Her secret fears are exposed and it’s the worst day of her life.
Until she wakes up in the psychiatric unit.
She tries to convince everyone she’s fine–despite the shadows she sees forming around another patient and the urge to scream which comes burbling up again and again. Everyone thinks she’s crazy. Everyone except Lydia, that is. Another patient with some special abilities….
My Rating
* * * *
The Review
I thought I should read My Soul to Lose before starting the first book in the Soul Screamers series. I am glad I did. The premise certainly looks promising because Kaylee Cavanaugh, the main character is nothing short of witty. There are dark, foreboding parts to the story but her sarcasm makes it all seem less dark and more refreshing. 
What I didn’t like was the little cliché about the almost non-existent social status for Kaylee and the hunk of a high school hero in Nash Hudson. I don’t want this as something more than my thinking it is. But as it is high school, I hope it would be fun reading about the escapades Kaylee and her BFF, Emma, are bound to go on. 
Overall, My Soul To Lose is a very interesting take, aside from the usual, on the paranormal fantasy element.
Best Quote:

“And as she dialed, color suddenly drained from the world, like The Wizard of Oz in reverse. Emma went gray. The cops went gray. The shoppers went gray. And suddenly everyone stood in a swirling, twisting colorless fog.
I sat in the fog.”