Book Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1)

by Robin LaFevers 

Genre: Historical/Fantasy

Reading Grade: Young Adult

Publication Date: April 3, 2012

Source: NetGalley (ARC)

Age Rating: 15+

| Buy from Amazon |

  

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart? 

 

My Review

This is my last ARC/RC review out of the old piled up copies I've been reading lately. Finished at last!

• Plot: Ismae is sold into a marriage with an abusive husband by her equally abusive stepfather at the age of fourteen, only to find herself suddenly whisked away to a convent on a small island off the coast of Brittany (modern day northern France). She was sired by Mortain, the god of death, one of the original nine gods of the pagan Bretons before the region became Catholic. The convent is devoted to carrying out Mortain's will, raising up his human offspring to carry out his assassinations of those who would betray Brittany. Ismae is trained for three years, then assigned to play the part of a courtier's mistress, the courtier being a young, handsome man named Duval. Someone is trying to hand Brittany and its duchess over to France and she must discover who this traitor in their midst is, and end him or her. The plot, like a murder mystery, goes around all over the place trying to discover who the traitor at court is with nearly everyone being a suspect, including Duval.
• Characters: Ismae grows and changes a lot from beginning to end. She first feels empowered when the convent abbess takes her in and trains her in all the many ways to kill men. She was treated so poorly by men all her life, so she thoroughly despises them and only ever expects to serve the convent and Mortain's will. She is shaken down to her foundation when she meets Duval and begins to fall for him, since he is the first man to treat her with actual respect. They butt heads a lot in the beginning because he knows she's an assassin and fears she'll try to kill him at some point. And, Ismae just fears men, period. Duval is a great male lead, very serious about accomplishing the task of protecting the young Duchess from being married off to the horrible old lech, Count D'Albret, even though their union would protect Brittany from being invaded by France.
• Technical Writing: I completely adore the writing style. It's written in first-person present tense, which is odd, considering it's a historical novel, but I never felt it was awkward at all. Ismae speaks simply, but in a bit of an old-fashioned English way, saying “mayhap” instead of “perhaps” or “maybe,” and things like that. It's never hard to follow for a second, though.
• Storytelling: I'm amazed at how capable the author is of weaving all these different plot threads together into a perfect tapestry. It's a complicated plot with a ton of stuff going on, but not too hard to follow, and really keeps the reader engaged at all times. I never got bored reading it, but I'm one who likes political intrigue. If you don't like plots that dive heavily into politics, this one may not be for you. But, it's a better woven story than most I usually read.
• Overall Quality: Really high. Everything about it is high quality, even down to the world-building, the fantasy aspect behind it. The fantasy aspect compels Ismae to carry out her assassinations and guides all her actions. And, when something important is about to happen, the story sets itself up properly, so when you get to that part, you believe it. Nothing happens randomly, nothing is pointless, and every loose thread gets tied in well.
• Favorite Moment/Scene: I have so many it's hard to narrow it down, but I love when Ismae saves the Duchess of Brittany, a cute little twelve-year-old girl, from being raped by Count D'Albret. He is a huge, disgusting lecherous man, and one of her suitors, but the girl hates him more than anything in the world. His attempt to rape her was meant to sully her maidenhead so she would have no choice but to marry him, after all. Ismae pulls out her weapons and scares him off before he can do anything more than just grope the little girl. Poor thing. But, I love how triumphant that scene was for the both Ismae and the Duchess.
• My Score: 4.5 stars out of 5.

*I received an advanced review copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Buy this title from | Amazon |.

It's Finally Out! (1) A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

It's Finally Out! is a new feature I've just started (hope to continue, but we'll see) in which I highlight a novel, or two, on the day it's actually released. Obviously, it's a book I don't have a review for, or I'd put the review up, instead.

This week, I have picked A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont to highlight. 

______________

A Breath of Eyre (Unbound, #1)  
by Eve Marie Mont

Released Date: March 27, 2012 (today!)

Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…

Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…

I picked this one because it sounds so perfect for me! I love Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, so this obviously excites my interest. It's kind of like how people still love reading Jane Austen's novels and writing their own fiction about them--you can't just let those swoon-worthy heroes fade away into fictional history. 

It's Rochester.... *Sigh* Anyway, my favorite version of Mr. Rochester, although he is far too pretty to have played his part, is Michael Fassbender.

Did anyone else see him in that latest movie adaptation of Jane Eyre from 2011? Lord, who doesn't fall in love with Fassy once they get a gander of him!?

Wow... I love this guy, aside from his role as Rochester, even. Guess who has been recast as Rochester for me in this book. 

Yes, he is quite Fass-inating....

Buy A Breath of Eyre from Amazon.

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Book Review: Peacemaker by Lindsay Buroker

Peacemaker (The Flash Gold Chronicles, #3)

by Lindsay Buroker 

Genre: Steampunk/Historical/Adventure

Reading Grade: Adult (novella)

Publication Date: March 5, 2012

Source: review copy from author

Age Rating: 14+

| Buy from AMAZON |

Half-breed tinkerer Kali McAlister doesn’t care that the gold rush has stormed into Dawson and prospectors are flooding the north—all she wants is to finish construction of her airship, so she can escape the Yukon and see the world.

Unfortunately, the world keeps chucking wrenches into her machinery: a mysterious gambler is pumping her for information on her bounty-hunting business partner Cedar; the notorious gangster Cudgel Conrad is after Kali’s knowledge of flash gold; and a series of gruesome murders is plaguing Dawson. Someone—or something—is ruthlessly slaying tribal women, and, if Kali and Cedar can’t find the killer, she might be the next target. 

 

My Review

• Plot: (This is #3 in a novella series.) A mysterious man is looking for Cedar and a town murderer is on the loose, killing tribal women. Cedar takes it upon himself to hunt the killer down, fearing Kali may be the next victim. Kali just wants to build her own airship so she can leave Dawson, but she never seems to get the time because people are always after her flash gold. She does get to ride on an airship, although she must go to extremes to make a special fire-rifle and rescue another tribal woman in order to experience it. What I like is that she finally got to meet Cudgel, the man Cedar has been hunting since the first novella. It lends itself to more encounters with him in future installments, I hope.
• Characters: I love Kali because she is so different from regular women of that era and even ours. She's always wearing overalls and carrying wrenches in her pockets, not caring about what she looks like. Cedar is a tall, handsome, swashbuckling hero who actually likes her, despite her being so different. At first, their romance seems to have taken a backseat, but in the end it rears its shy head. I also like this random old man on a boat who could curse his head off in old-fashioned-ese better than any character I've ever seen. “That boodle of a mother-kissing lickfinger pirates got all my cussed gold... Got me wrathier than a treed coon.” Can't get any wrathier than a treed coon!
• Technical Writing: It's always good in The Flash Gold Chronicles , never fancy or purple-prosey, but, practical and efficient. The voice is one of my favorite things because it's all Kali's. It's fun to be inside her sarcastic mind.
• Storytelling: There is a lot going on in this little story. Cedar has Lockhart after him, and Kali has to deal with Lockhart, too, and the perverted murderer, and Cudgel. All of these people have different reasons for being in the same place at the same time, wanting the same two people. It's hard to make this work in a novella, but Lindsay Buroker manages it easily. Like the other novellas, this one is high on adventure, and manages to raise Kali and Cedar's relationship up another notch. I want to see more of Cudgel now that he's been introduced. He seems like a really mysterious, intelligent villain.
• Overall Quality: Excellent. Nothing about this self-published story needs tinkering, editing, fixing up or anything like that. It's very professional.
• Favorite Moment/Scene: As much as I love all of Kali's and Cedar's romantic-like scenes, I'll say the part where she fires her makeshift flash gold rifle at the pirate on the airship is my favorite. The flames dance around in the air like nothing the eye has seen before. That was pretty darn cool, and Kali makes this rifle on-the-fly and under pressure. The girl is steampunk's answer to MacGyver.
• My Score: 5 out of 5 stars. 
  
  
  
  
  

*I received this title from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Buy this title from | AMAZON |

Read my reviews of Book 1, Flash Gold and Book 2, Hunted. 

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Book Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)

by Cassandra Clare 

Genre: Historical/Urban Fantasy/Steampunk

Reading Grade: Young Adult

Publication Date: December 6, 2011

Source: purchased hardcover

Age Rating: 13+

| Amazon |

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do? 

 

My Review

Wow... This book is amazing. I was so pulled into this installment of The Infernal Devices series, that all the characters became completely real to me. This doesn't happen that often, but it does when a story is so well-told that I forget I'm just reading a book of total fiction.

The first book (Clockwork Angel) is wonderful and I highly suggest everyone read it who hasn't already [see my review here], but this one (Clockwork Prince) is immaculate. Although, I don't think a reader would think that quite as much if they weren't already invested in the characters prior to reading it. If you haven't already fallen for Tessa, Will and Jem (even Sophie & Magnus), then you might not like this one as much, since its primary focus is on these characters' relationships with each other.

Cassandra Clare is an author who knows how to tell a story the right way. In book 1, we get a very plot-rich story wherein we spend 500 pages learning about the characters and seeing them showing off their true colors as they react to different plot stimuli. The romance is saved for late in the book, and even then, it is still very light. If Clare had decided to ram the romance down our throats from the onset of the story, it would have given us all indigestion, because we need time to get to know who these people are first before we enjoy that kind of intimacy. Who wants to watch strangers making out in public? Anyone? Not me. So, you need to learn to care about the people of that world first, then becoming a romance voyeur is not only acceptable, but highly anticipated.

In book 2, the plot is now able to take a bit of a backseat to the overall narrative (but, not completely), and we can focus on our lovable characters. We can get into all the drama of romance, broken hearts, disappointment, the mania of love and desire, etc., because we love these characters already and we want to see what happens—we want to see what they will do and say to each other. With perfect timing, Clockwork Prince definitely satisfies in that regard.

I personally adored this (that's not even the right word. It's more than that!) because it gave me everything I wanted. Any Jem fan, like me, will be able to dig their own grave and lie down in it, because they can now die happy. Go out on a high note! But, it is not without a semblance of sadness, too, because Tessa experiences her own complications with her brother (and, my heart goes out to her so much over that problem), and Will has a sort of epiphany of his wasted potential, which is tragic in its own right. Like any truly great book, there is a good mixture of happiness and sadness.

I'll just ask now, can I have Jem? He's one of those characters you want to be real so badly, you almost believe you can reach inside the book's pages and pull him out. Ah, if only... I have to add him to the list of fictional 19^th century heroes that make me squee, if only because he is the ideal gentleman. In this volume, we really get to see his true colors, see that he is a human being, flawed in his own beautiful way (different from Will's way), and prone to being overwhelmed by emotion and feeling. You get to see just how fragile his heart is, and how precious he is to his dearest friends.

If you've been harboring doubts about this series, you really shouldn't. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed by it. The world-building is thorough, the characters fully developed, their relationships with each other raw and real, and plenty of interesting things happen all the time. What more do you need? It's nearly perfect.

My score: 5 out of 5 stars. (Totally mesmerizing and amazing...)

P.S. There will be a manga graphic novel adaptation out later this year, starting with book 1, and I'm going to pee myself with joy! You can even pee yourself now if you want to read a new chapter every month over at YenPress.com/YenPlus where the story is already being serialized for $2.99 USD (monthly). Those boys are prett-ay!

Top Ten Dust-Collectors on My Shelf (TTT #5)

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a weekly book blogger meme hosted by

The Broke and the Bookish!   

 
This week's list topic is...

 

TOP TEN BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN ON MY SHELF FOR THE LONGEST, BUT I'VE NEVER READ

THE ALL-CLASSICS EDITION

1. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE  by J.K. Rowling

I know, right? How utterly WEIRD can a book blogger be to have had this book on her shelf for 5 or 6 years now, and still have yet to read it? I'm completely insane!

2. DAVID COPPERFIELD  by Charles Dickens

Been meaning to read this for forever, but I just know the book will take me forever to read it. It is around 900 pages long, after all. Still, I intend to read it. It's Dickens…

3. EMMA  by Jane Austen

I developed an aversion to this book, despite my love for Jane Austen's other books. Why? Because I do NOT like Gweneth Paltrow, and whenever I think of Emma, I think of her in the role of Emma in that 90's film adaptation. I just can't bring myself to read it. I will someday, though.

4. PERSUASION  by Jane Austen

I don't even have a good excuse for why I still haven't started reading this one. I love all the movie versions I've seen. It's going to be the very next Jane Austen book I read.

5. THE LORD OF THE RINGS  by J.R.R. Tolkien

Well, I suppose I just love watching the movies so much, I end up doing that instead, when I want to experience the story. Plus, all three of the books total over 1,000 pages. Heady stuff.

6. THE HOBBIT  by J.R.R. Tolkien

I haven't had this book for quite as long, so I don't mind that it's still unread on my shelf. Also, I know I'll be reading it real quickly before the first movie comes out late next year, so I've got time.

7. THE BLUE SWORD  by Robin McKinley

I've only had this since early this year, so I've got a good excuse for why it's still unread. I became a book blogger only this past June, so we all know how that goes!

8. IVANHOE  by Sir Walter Scott

I've had my copy of this book for a decade, but have yet to read it. I don't really know why. I just buy books and let them collect dust. Always have been that way, but I'm trying to kick that nasty habit.

9. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES  by L.M. Montgomery

I read these books when I was a girl, but my friend bought me an omnibus of the books, and that's what's still on my book shelf unread. I need to reread these books, which I remember liking a lot.

10. MOBY DICK  by Herman Melville

I think the main reason I've let this one collect dust over the years is because I completely FORGOT I even had it! I only just recently re-discovered it on my book shelf and realized I hadn't ever read it after buying it from Barnes & Noble a long time ago. That's probably the best excuse ever.

What are your TOP TEN DUST COLLECTORS?

Review: "Fallen from Grace" by M.J. Putney

"Fallen from Grace" (Dark Mirror, #0.5)

by M.J. Putney 

Genre: Fantasy/Magic/Historical

Reading Grade: Young Adult (short story)

Publishing Type: traditional

Publication Date: March 4, 2011

Source: Kindle store (freebie)

Age Rating: 12+

| Amazon | 

  

Allarde, a gorgeous, wealthy noble has hidden his true nature. Discover his diary and witness his sudden fall from grace.

My Review

In this short story prequel to the Dark Mirror novel series, we read the diary of Allarde, an English aristocrat with secret magical abilities. At first, he is attending England's finest boarding school, but he reveals his abilities in order to save a fellow student from harm. Because he is an aristocrat with magic, not just a commoner, he is considered evil and has to be ousted from all good society.

His father sends him to a reform school for aristocrats where he learns how to suppress his magic in order to regain some privileges of his former life. But, he meets some other young people there who don't want to pretend to be something they're not, and finds himself considering their philosophy. Also, he meets the protagonist of the novels, Lady Victoria Mansfield, as she arrives at the reform school toward the end of the short story. It ends with hints at his immediate romantic interest in her.

I haven't read any of these novels, yet, but I doubt it's necessary to do so prior to reading this short story. I was a bit disoriented at first, but I found my feet after a while. Allarde is a really likable character, even if we don't get to know him all that well in such a short reading time, but he's an interesting character to follow further. I purchased Dark Mirror (the first novel) prior to reading this, and I'm so glad I did. I want to learn more about this intriguing world of magic users, and why the wealthiest practitioners are ostracized.

My score: 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)

by Cassandra Clare

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Steampunk

Reading Grade: Young Adult

Publishing Type: traditional

Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Source: Amazon store (hardcover)

Age Rating: 13+

|Amazon| 

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

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

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

My Review

I purchased this book back in September 2010, right after it was released, and I only recently got around to reading it. It was worth the wait. This is a really great story with well-conceived characters. Compared to City of Bones, which I recently read before this book, Clockwork Angel is far superior in every way, especially the technical writing. Gone are the clunky, lazily placed adverbs, which were making my eyes roll every two minutes during City of Bones.

The characters really sold me on this book, in that, Tessa, the main character, is a likeable protagonist. She's not some heroine kicking butt every other minute, but I don't need my heroines like that, anyway. She's smart and uses her cleverness to get herself out of difficult situations. She does require some help from others, but she doesn't seem like a damsel-in-distress, at all.

There are pretty boys, of course, like Will and Jem, and both are interesting and charming in their own respective ways. Will is strong and dashing, very sarcastic and witty (making me laugh out loud A LOT), although he tries to make people hate him for some unknown reason. Jem is a polite, nonjudgmental silver-haired sweetheart, and honestly won me completely over. I'm a huge Jem fan now! I don't even know why Tessa fancies Will more than him. James, honey, you know where you can find me when she refuses you!

What's funny about this novel is that, while reading it, I felt like it followed a sort of set pattern I was already familiar with, so I expected the plot to unfold in a certain way. But, once I got about three-quarters of the way finished, it pulled a very unpredictable plot twist on me. I never saw it coming, and it was shocking! When I discovered who the real villain characters actually were, I was appalled by them. Horrible people, just as villains ought to be. I was immensely impressed.

Obviously, I rate this newer Cassandra Clare series higher than the original for which it is based on. City of Bones is good, but Clockwork Angel has a more clever plot and far more intriguing characters. The indelible Magnus Bane appears in this series, and he's hilarious, even if not integral to the plot. A certain clever gray cat also makes a cameo that existing Clare fans will be delighted to see.

If you didn't like City of Bones, or anything from The Mortal Instruments, I bet you'll actually enjoy this one….

My score: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

 

Review: This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

  Happy Halloween, everybody!

Today's review is of the recently published book on the teenage exploits of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a name that has become synonymous with All Hallow's Eve, itself...

This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1)

by Kenneth Oppel

Genre: Occult/Adventure/Historical

Reading Grade: Young Adult

Publishing Type: traditional

Publication Date: August 23, 2011

Source: purchased hardcover

Age Rating: 14+

| Amazon |

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only piques Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. With their friend Elizabeth, Henry and Victor immediately set out to find assistance from a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrad's life. After scaling the highest trees in the Sturmwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another. 

My Review

I love this book SO much, I can't write a deserving review. I can't quite convey all of my emotions. It is so much more than I was expecting it to be, and leads me down two distinct paths. On the one hand, it's magical, adventurous, dramatic, and romantic. And, on the other, terrifying, heart-breaking, and absolutely tragic. I feel almost gutted. It got under my skin and in my head in a way that doesn't normally happen when I read.

I haven't been moved to tears like this by a novel since I read A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. It's not quite a powerful story like that classic, but it really got to me. In many ways, I also felt the way I did when I read The Hunger Games trilogy because the characters go through such incredible trials and conflicts that I got completely sucked into the story. In This Dark Endeavor, I couldn't help but be uneasy through the most dangerous parts, as if I were right there experiencing every frightening, squeamish moment along with the characters. I cried myself to sleep the night I finished it (cat-lovers, beware).

In this prequel to the original classic tale, of which I'm already a huge fan, Victor Frankenstein is a sixteen-year-old living with his father, mother, twin brother, Konrad, and his distant cousin, Elizabeth. Just so you know, in the original, Victor had no twin brother, only younger brothers, and he had always loved Elizabeth from the time she came to live with his family.

Konrad comes down with a grave illness, and Victor decides to study forbidden magical alchemy in order to save him. In his family's Swiss chateau, he discovers a hidden Dark Library (very cool!) filled with several tomes on alchemy, which Victor develops a healthy obsession with. He secretly enlists the help of an old alchemist in town, who requires that he and his friends fetch the three ingredients to make the Elixir of Life, a potion that gives a person immortality.

He, Elizabeth, and the hilariously charming, although scardy-cat, Henry Clerval set out on some death-defying adventures in order to procure the unusual items. The adventures are exciting, like those of a Middle Grade adventure novel. Although, I wouldn't suggest this novel for younger children, as we get a lot of insight into Victor's thoughts about his growing attraction to Elizabeth—if you know what I mean.

The romantic drama is spectacular! Here is a love triangle that shouldn't annoy anyone, even those who typically hate them. Unless you hate already knowing who will likely end up with whom, and since this is a prequel, we do already know. But, this doesn't ruin a thing. Each character involved is firm about whom they love—no one waivers, and no one gives anyone the wrong idea (at least not consciously). Elizabeth is worthy of being stuck in the middle. Best of all, Victor likes to put his passion where his mouth is (pun intended), and nothing but excitement ensues.

Victor is surprisingly heroic, and he's hardly that in the original novel. He also has an inner darkness which drives him to do scandalous things. In other words, he's a 'bad boy.' This darkness is only beginning to develop inside him, and it will lead to incredible tragedy, which you can read about in Mary Shelley's novel. In his own way, he is perfectly flawed, and I love that kind of complexity. But, I'm sad, as well as ecstatic because I know what lies in Victor's future, and now that I actually sympathize with him so much, it's depressing…

This book is amazing, and even if you haven't read Frankenstein, you'll still be able to follow it. It may help to enrich your experience by reading the first few chapters of the original, but Oppel takes many liberties in changing the canon. The novel stands very well on it's own, and all the characters are wonderful. By the end, there's a hint of more to come, since Victor's hardly finished studying alchemy, and like a proper mad scientist, he remains totally obsessed. I hope I get to read more, so, so much more….

My score: 5 out of 5 stars.

 

* This goes toward my 2011 Spooktacular October Paranormal Reading Challenge!

Best of the Bunch #1: October 2011 Pick

"Best of the Bunch" is a monthly book blogger meme hosted by Lyrical Reviews. 

Once a month, participants pick the best book they read for that month and give it the "Best of the Bunch" award! 

I just found this really cool book blogger meme and thought it'd be fun to join in! Usually, it's super easy to figure out what book I liked best from month to month. 

So, here's my pick for the "Best of the Bunch" book that I read during October 2011:

______________________________________________________________

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

 

This book is fantastic! Just blew me away. But, since I haven't even reviewed it on my blog, yet, I won't say too much about it. That review is actually forthcoming on Halloween, just in time for the subject matter, which stars a 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein before he creates his monster. It is an amazing YA read, full of mysterious magical alchemy, forbidden libraries, exciting adventure, and very dramatic romance.  

UPDATE: I have since put up my review of this book! Clicky here to read it....

What's your "Best of the Bunch" pick for this past month?

Future Reads #12: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Current Halloween Giveaway!

Win an ebook of A Soul to Steal by Rob Blackwell

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Today, I blog about a book nearing its publication that I would love to read if I weren't such a pauper with no time to read the book, anyway...

Darker Still (Magic Most Foul, #1)
by Leanna Renee Hieber

Publication Date: November 8, 2011

New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...

Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.


Here's why I want to read this one: it's about a guy's soul being trapped in a painting while his body is out doing God-knows-what! That is awesome. And, it's a historical of New York City, which I've pretty much read nothing of. I love historicals, but need a change of pace from the constant London settings. It'd be nice to read more historicals in an old NYC, long before it became what it is today.

But, the main reason is because I already read some of the beginning of this novel over at the author's website, and it is spectacular! Gorgeous writing that I can't wait to sink my gaze into.... 

On My Wishlist #1 (10/15/11)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. Want to know more? Click here.

I just found this meme and it's so perfect for me! When is there ever a book I want but haven't bought yet?

MY YA WISHLIST 

(10/15/11)

This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein 

by Kenneth Oppel

It's funny I have this on my wishlist, since I've already purchased this book, but am STILL waiting for it to arrive at my house.... Yeah, it's taking its time getting here and I'm getting impatient. I can't wait to read this! I bought it when I was practically down to my last dime because I found a used copy cheaper than I could anywhere else, so I had to get it before it was too late. (Just get here already!)

Darker Still (Magic Most Foul, #1)

by Leanna Renee Hieber

I read a bit of the beginning of this, already, over on the author's blog, and it blew me away! I cannot wait to tear into this gem when it comes out next month. It is another Victorian read, although set in the U.S., I believe. Love reading Victorians...

Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1)

by Beth Revis

This isn't a fantasy novel, but sci-fi is close enough for just this one time. I've already read this book and I love it. But, I borrowed it from the library, so I want to buy it this time. I really hate the hardcover book cover, so I'm going to get the paperback when it comes out next month. This new cover is gorgeous.

What's on YOUR wishlists, people of the interwebz?