Title: The Girl at Midnight Author: Melissa Grey Published by: Delacorte Press Publication date: April 28, 2015 Pages: 370 Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance Summary from Goodreads: Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known. Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act. Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, though if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it. But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire. She had gone to the library in search of hope, but what she’d found instead was a child. It would take her many years to realize that the two were not so different. After I finish a book I sometimes have this urgent moment when I feel like I have to start a new story right away. I think about what I’m going to read, but nothing appeals, and that’s when I realize what I really want to read is more of the book I just finished. The Girl at Midnight is one of those books. I want to know what’s next for Echo and the world of the Avicen and Drakharin. I liked the characters. I liked the metamorphosis. I liked the relationships. I like how the characters transport to all sorts of interesting places around the world. I couldn’t be happier that there’s more to explore there, and that’s a sign of an entertaining book. I expect a heroine to be strong, brave, and resourceful, but I love that Echo is also intelligent, loyal, and funny. Maybe I just like her because she lives in a library…seriously, that’s my girl. Echo collects words like she collects “shiny things” being the thief she is, but mostly keeps the words to herself in a running mental commentary. And she’s cheeky, using humor to deflect tension and nerves. She loves the feathered Avicen who have become her family, so much so she risks her life chasing a possible fairy tale. That’s why her feelings are so conflicted when she meets Caius, a Drakharin (the Avicen’s mortal enemy) on a mission for peace. “I hear you have something of mine, Echo,” the Drakharin said. “I would like it back.” …
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Title: Six of Crows Author: Leigh Bardugo Published by: Henry Holt and Co. Publication date: September 29, 2015 Pages: 480 Genres: Fantasy, Adventure Summary from Goodreads: Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone... A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first. Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?" Here is an author who knows how to write multiple narratives, creating great characterization, and an exciting plot! There are six narratives, which can be so confusing, but Leigh Bardugo beautifully weaves internal dialogue (that also offers outside observations of the other characters) with memories and present conversations for each narrator. On top of characters with unique backgrounds and personalities, Bardugo writes one exciting heist adventure. Think – Oceans 11 meets down and dirty, gritty fantasy. Kaz narrowed his eyes. “I’m not some character out of a children’s story who plays harmless pranks and steals from the rich to give to the poor." Kaz, the leader of the group, was equally difficult for me to like and totally intriguing. A hardened gang leader who’s out for the long journey of revenge, Kaz’s humanity and story is slowly revealed. It’s his humanity that makes him so intriguing. He’s lethal with a limp and a major handicap disguised by monstrous rumors. And just when you think Kaz will never have a trustworthy relationship with anyone, he discovers new desires during the course of their heist. “When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.” I'm currently reading an ARC (advanced reading copy) of a book titled The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever about three teenage boys aspiring to create just that. So, I thought why not run with the theme this week as we anticipate Halloween! If you know me at all, you know that I hate horror movies, but somehow zombies have crawled/shuffled/ambled(?) into an accepted place in my life. Also, I've found it's easier for me to read scary stories than it is for me to watch them, unless we're talking about Shaun of the Dead, because, ellloooo, (if you can handle a fair amount of theatrical blood and British humor) Simon Pegg is really funny and he bashes zombies in the head with a cricket bat *WARNING: kids under 18 should ask a parent before viewing said film. On the flip side, we tried to watch The Walking Dead once, and got to like the very first scene and there's this little girl with her back turned to the camera and you can't see her face and we were like NOPE. Like I was saying, it's easier for me to read about it. A year or two ago, I read the Razorland series by Ann Aguirre. The story is post-apocalyptic—think mole people meet zombies (or Freaks). Duece (named for a playing card) doesn't expect to live past the age of 20 (no one ever does). She helps fight off the Freaks in the tunnels, underground, where she lives. She also doesn't expect to ever see the sun. But when society turns against her and her hunting partner, Fade, she's forced to brave a new world above ground. Throughout the series, Duece and Fade wonder if there is any safe place left on earth. Duece is a pretty cool chick. She's fierce, kicks zombie butt, but is not desensitized to the world she lives in. Fade is also an interesting character, just as tough, but with memories of having a normal life and real family (unlike Duece). It's been a while since I've read these books, but if you're sensitive to violence, this probably isn't the series for you. It can also be creepy. There are also male-dominant gangs above ground, who have violent practices and abuse women. Age recommendation: 15 Language - mild (from what I remember, please let me know if you discover otherwise.) Drugs & Alcohol - some abuse in the gangs Sex - Again, it's hard for me to be specific, but I think a couple has sex in the last book, and there are some kisses along the way. I don't remember this book being overly sensual. Violence - Duece and Fade fight with knives and swords; fire and guns are also used to fight the Freaks; It's safe to expect violence, if I haven't already made that clear. 4 out of 5 stars! Buy Enclave, Outpost, and Horde on Amazon.com
Title: A Darker Shade of Magic
Author: V.E. Schwab Published by: Tor Books Publication date: February 24, 2015 Pages: 400 Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Magic Summary from Goodreads: Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.
V.E. Schwab takes 1819 London and transforms it to a dark, magical place. Blood grants access to power. Kell must cut himself, and his blood acts as the catalyst to let him create a door to another universe (and to create other spells). While some have managed to live peacefully in balance with magic, others bind it tightly for ultimate control. The Antari are a rare breed of magician–one fully black eye marks them as magicians powerful enough to travel between alternate universes. Kell is one of two Antari known to the world of magic.
Kell is a conflicted protagonist. He likes to follow the rules and understands the risk of magic–the ease of loosing control. Yet, he’s compelled to risk himself for trading magical objects for trifles like music boxes and maps, even though it’s illegal. He also belongs to the royal family of Red London, and though he feels loved by his adopted brother, the prince regent, Rhys, he can’t help but feel owned. Brought to the royal family at a young age for his rare power, he has no memory of his life before the palace. Despite these doubts, and the danger that befalls him, he’s determined to set things right—and save his world even if he has to sacrifice himself. Lila is from Grey London—a London that has forgotten magic. Lila is a thief, knows how to defend herself, and is fiercely determined to have an adventure. When her path crosses Kell’s, she leaps at the opportunity to accompany him on his world-saving mission. Kell is reluctant for her companionship, but Lila proves her worth and might have some magic in her blood after all. I was intrigued by V.E. Schwab’s worlds. She created multiple compelling universes and multidimensional characters in Kell and Lila. And some characters that are so horrible you love to hate them. Magic, itself, was a terribly frightening being. Sidenote: Dear V. E. Schwab, I don’t know if you’re going to pursue a romantic relationship between Kell and Lila (I approve. I think they learn from each other and compliment one another), but please please please don’t make it a triangle with Rhys too. I couldn’t tell if that was a hint at the end or not, but if you want to generally please me, which I think you should, just don’t. This is the first book in a series. I was glad to get a conclusion to the story, and I’m excited to see what adventures Schwab will take these characters on in the next book. We do find out that there aren’t just alternate Londons, Kell’s duty only includes London; so there’s a whole world of alternates to explore! Would I let my teen read this book? A Darker Shade of Magic is a dark fantasy. The characters are adults, which makes me wonder what categorizes this as a young adult novel. There was some confusion about this even on the book’s Goodreads page. I don’t think it belongs in the YA category, even though it might be marketed that way. Content-wise, there are many dark themes, violence, some language, attempted sexual abuse, and a disturbing sexual scene. I would not recommend this book for young teens.
Update 4/16/15:
Age recommendation: 17
Language – generally mild, but two f-words Drugs and Alcohol – casual drinking in taverns Sex – A few friendly kisses; references to characters having many sexual partners (male and female); a sex scene where dark magic is transferred between two people in a brothel. Violence – Blood drawn multiple times for spells; multiple people stabbed and throats slit; Lila is groped and assaulted, then kills the man; boy gets whipped by tyrants in White London. My Goodreads rating: 4 out of 5 stars Buy: A Darker Shade of Magic on Amazon.com Title: The Young World Author: Chris Wietz Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Publication date: July, 29, 2014 Pages: 384 Genres: Science Fiction, Apocalyptic, Adventure, Romance The Young World is New York City run by teenagers. It’s been two years since the Sickness wiped the world of adults and children, and the only people left are the ones with the right hormones to make them immune. Once you turn 18, you’re dead. Jefferson (a brainy, philosophical, good-hearted hero) reluctantly takes over the Washington Square tribe after his brother dies. They do their best to defend their territory, treat each other fairly, and help everyone survive. But when Jeff gets a clue to save teen-kind, he sets out with Donna (the snarky girl he’s secretly loved since Kindergarten) and three others to find the one cure to save them all. The journey to the cure is a cruel one as they defend themselves from chauvinistic, white supremacists, a group of cannibals, tween fashionista tunnel rats, and even an escaped polar bear from Central Park Zoo. This is Chris Weitz's first book, but you might recognize his name from directing movies like The Golden Compass, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, About a Boy, and American Pie. Well versed in the juvenile arts, Weitz creates a dystopian story as cruel and relentless as the mean girls from high school. Actually, it’s totally worse. The New York teens have resorted to violence to protect the short years of life they have left. This means the tribes spend as much time scavenging for firearms and bullets as they do for food. When Jefferson, Donna, Brainbox, SeeThrough, and Peter adventure out to find the cure, they repeatedly have to defend themselves. The first threat comes in the form of a baby bottle Molotov cocktail and Dora the Suicide Bomber – a doll with an unexploded M-80 in her backpack. This is just a taste of apocalyptic New York City. I was entertained for the first half of the book, along for the ride no matter what the kids faced and appreciating the comedic relief when delivered. Peter, who joined the journey because he was SO bored, had one of my favorite lines, “Um, I would just like to say that I signed on for a good time? And so far, I barfed, I got shot at, and somebody tried to feed me human flesh.” After what they’d been through, it was a welcome laugh. In the second half, I started to feel weary of the dark world Weitz created and sad that this was supposedly the world teens today created when everyone else died. The killing, the meaningless sex, the continued loss of loved ones, the abuse of the weak – it left me feeling less excited to pick up the book and generally like Ugh. Then there’s the end. I didn’t realize this was a series. After feeling a little downtrodden by the story, I was disappointed with how it ended and felt kind of emotionally blank. According to Goodreads.com, the second installment is scheduled to publish this year. Between cannibals, fistfights, and shoot-outs, Jefferson and Donna question whether it’s worth loving anyone during such a short duration on earth. Love vs emptiness, God vs nothing, sameness vs change – these are some of the major themes of the book. Weitz also hits on now pointless cultural obsessions like Adderall, Cell phones, and “spreading words sideways” (which is Facebook and Twitter – information concerned with the present instead of the future). One thing The Young World does is offer a wealth of relevant discussion topics. In fact, if I recommended this book, it would be in a group setting, which brings me to the following question. Would I let my teen read this? Our Facebook status = It’s complicated? I liked some things about this book. It’s clever and funny, and it delivers so many subjects to talk about that I really could offer many more pages of analysis. Peter could have his own page; the African American gay Christian who poses questions about the presence of God during hell on earth and is also the comic relief. I wish more YA books had this analysis-worthy quality. The underside is the heavy language, the hard topics of abuse of women and youth (12-13 year olds), and the unrelenting violence between kids. I also think sex is misrepresented. Jefferson says at one point that “boys are born easy,” that simply because they’re male they’ll have sex with anyone willing, which is a myth. It’s also another example of a good discussion topic. The content of the book is not necessarily unrealistic to the teenager experience today. Sure, if it were a movie it’d be rated R, but as I recall, the same would be true for the hallways between classes in high school. So, I think this would be an interesting group discussed book in a senior lit class, or if you’re looking for a book to read with your teen (maybe especially your son). Age recommendation: 17 Swearing – Heavy: swears and derogatories Drugs and Alcohol – References to addicts; some alcohol drinking Sex – Many references to sex – the teens discover they can’t get pregnant. Between that and their short life span, they do it a lot; a make out scene; a sex scene (not detailed, you just know they’re going to and then they’re laying on the cold floor together); offers of prostitution, references to girls being owned for sex Violence – Hand to hand combat; Sword combat (close range stabbings, cutting off hands, through necks, in the ribs); boy strangled in public; boy stabbed to death; teens mangled by bullets; reference to cannibalism My Goodreads rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars Buy: The Young World - on Amazon.com |
Lindsey Learn
I read a lot. I'm a Mom. I'm officially in my 30s, but strangers often don't believe I'm old enough to drink. I love Young Adult fiction, and thought it was worthwhile to help teens and adults find age-appropriate options. Categories
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