Review ~ Strange The Dreamer

I have to be honest and say that I really didn't care for the beginning of the story. Yes, we got our back story on Lazlo Strange but back a little too far in my opinion.  However, once Lazlo was grown, I was more intrigued.  I loved his snarky attitude towards the philosophers, towards life. I loved that he is a dreamer, not ready to settle into the ordinary.  He knew more was out there and he didn't want to give up on it, no matter how much others mocked him.  I listened to the audio book version, so if I spell the names wrong, that's why. 

Thion Nero is such a spoiled aristocrat and I truly hated him from the first mention of him.  I felt bad for him in one moment and then went right back to hating him.  

Sarai and her group of God-Spawn definitely threw me off in the beginning of the book, though it could've been due to me listening to an audio book rather than reading it.  I love the convenience of audio books, however, I tend to miss some details sometimes and that does suck.  Either way, I eventually understood what was going on in the story and loved every waking second of it.  The small group of God-Spawn were a family, and every family has its black sheep.  In this case, Sarai is not the black sheep, that position fits goes to another. 

So many unexpected twists, kept me intrigued and wanting more.  The emotions that Laini Taylor makes you feel are intense and raw and real.  These characters, all of them, powerful and resilient, are legit.  Their feelings, drafted so carefully, and with no mistake, pull at every one of your heart strings.

The different plots that are in Strange the Dreamer keep you wondering and guessing what will happen next.  When you read of a character and truly feel for them, you know it's a good book.  The complexity of the relationships between each of these characters is overwhelming and surreal.  With its weirdness and authenticity, Strange is definitely my most surprising read of 2017 and I cannot wait until the sequel is released.  

Read Along: Before The Snow by Danielle Paige

A Wonderful Novella

Paving the way for Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige   

Enter a world of elemental magic, forbidden romance, and betrayal in this prequel to New York Times bestselling author Danielle Paige's upcoming Stealing Snow.

Young Nepenthe is half-princess, half-mermaid. Though she longs for the sea, her father wants her to stay on land. But only love can make a mermaid give up the water, and Nepenthe doesn't love anyone the way her mother loves her human father. She wants to live as a mermaid and become the River Witch, like her mother.

Then Nepenthe meets Prince Lazar, the son of the all-powerful Snow King of Algid, and she can't help but fall for him. After a horrible tragedy strikes, Nepenthe joins forces with a young fire witch named Ora to save Lazar and protect the kingdom. But it soon becomes clear that Ora loves Lazar just as much as Nepenthe does... And now Nepenthe must decide: inherit the power of the River Witch, or betray her friend to be with the boy she loves.

And Nepenthe's role in the prophecy is only just beginning. . . In the future, she is destined to cross paths with a girl named Snow, who will have the power to change Algid forever-for better, or for worse.

My Take:

I had no idea what to expect with this novella, because it was my first Danielle Paige novel.  I had seen post after post on Twitter about Stealing Snow and was totally getting hyped up everyday I signed on.  So when the Before The Snow novella was revealed and available on Amazon, I was all about buying and reading that!  

I am so glad I did! 

Nepenthe is the daughter of Princess Ariel and Prince Eric and though her father wants her to remain on land, she feels the calling of the sea, talking to her. Oh, the feels you guys!  And then of course, a young charming prince makes his debut and eventually, Nepenthe must choose between her calling and her heart's desires.  Oh and BIG PROBLEM, her sister Ora, loves the same prince.  With betrayal, friendship, and magic, this novella surprised me constantly! 

Danielle has a key sense on providing vivid imagery for her readers.  I felt like I was being pulled into the story, to stand side by side with Nepenthe as she goes on this trying journey.  I can only imagine what Stealing Snow has in store for us, and I will be in the highest state of anticipation waiting for this read! 

This is a must read for any fantasy+magic+romance+fairy tale lover!

          

Man Eating Horses and a Roguish Sean Kendrick

Goodreads Review:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

My Feelings:

I must say that I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into picking up a book that was about water horses.  I was a little apprehensive to say the least.  However, after reading Stiefvater's Raven Boys, I knew that I had to give this standalone a shot because I pretty much was consumed by her writing style.  

Stiefvater is not afraid to be blunt and edgy with words.  I find it very refreshing from your normal girlie fantasy read, to pick up a book written by a YA female author and for some reason I feel like I'm reading a story by a dude.  Let's be honest, men tend to be more crude and willing to talk about blood and guts in their books.  Well Stiefvater isn't hesitant to talk about blood and her water horses crave just that.  Blood.

I wasn't a huge fan of Puck Connolly.  I did like that she cared about her brothers.  Her attitude on somethings was a bit annoying, but I will admit that she was a humorous character. As I listened to this on audiobook at work, my boss can attest to that.  I found this read to be pretty comical actually and I wasn't expecting that at all.

The Character I did love, was Sean Kendrick.  The boy who has nothing and needs nothing but the love of his horse.  I wanted to throw myself into the book at him a couple of times. Sean is keep his mouth shut and do what needs to be done, kind of guy.  But when he's crossed he's learns that there is a time to stay quiet and a time to raise hell.

This funny drama left me wanting more, that's for sure.  I really hope Stiefvater considers writing a spinoff/duology to this read. 

Salt To The Sea

Ruta Sepetys

Side Note:  Seriously guys, this author is talented and determined to share some of history's most well kept secrets. 

Goodreads Review:

Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.

As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.

Yet not all promises can be kept.

Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope. 

My Feelings:

What an exhilarating read, or story in my case! I am almost tearing up just beginning this review because of how much this book has touched me.  How amazing this writer portrays WWII refugees.  With Ukranian in my blood , (grandmother was full Ukranian), I felt that this book spoke a little to me as well, though Ukranians weren’t spotlighted here, so many people of Europe were targeted.I have to mention that I didn’t actually read this, instead I listened to it on CD in my car, in thanks to my library!  My boss had told me I can rent audio books from the library, and to my amazement, she was right!  I had been hearing about this historical fiction on Twitter and seeing many pics of the book on Instagram and something kept telling me to look into this one.  

I read the back cover and was sold.  I’ve always been a sucker for history on WWII but to listen to an audio version of a historical based YA fiction version, reached out to me and did not want to let me go.  So I picked it up and couldn’t stop.  The narrators of the book are phenomenal, although there is one of the four characters that just irked my nerves from the beginning and rightfully so!  I’m pretty sure Ruta meant for him to be that way, or at least I hope she did.  

Ruta’s world building is professionally done to say the least!  She knows how to write and completely engulfed me into this time period!  She created each character flawlessly.  Their back stories really helped the reader to get to know them and why they acted and thought the way they did.  With a more sorrowful tone throughout this read (as is expected) one might think, it would be depressing or melancholy at points.  But the history that backs up her characters stories, opens your eyes into the past!  At times you feel sad because this stuff really happened to people!  

Everything from the weather, to the sausages, to the expressions of a Nazi’s face, was so expertly written that once I began listening, I was there.  I was with Joana walking and with Emelia, looking at her pink hat.  I was with Florian as he fought to hold onto his own direction and not waiver even for a second.  I was with Alfred even if I didn’t want to be!! 

One of the best books I’ve ever read/listened to in my life!  I never knew that I loved historical fiction until now and I am so beyond grateful that I took a chance on my intuition and devoured this read.  For educational reasons, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII and what the life of a refugee was like.  For a YA who wants to read something different, something worthwhile, something meaningful, this is the book for you!  

I could go on and on and on if I could give you details, but obviously I can’t be a party pooper!  As a YA reader, a strongly urge you to give this a try and I promise you won’t regret it!

Strands of Bronze and Gold

      Jane Nickerson

Goodreads Review:

The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .

When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale.

My Feelings:

I listened to this one on an audio book.  I couldn’t have been happier with my choice of reading.  After just finishing an exhilarating historical fiction novel, I was worried of falling into a reading slump. Needless to say, I’m so glad I came across this beauty by Jane Nickerson.  

I just recently discovered that I could borrow books from my library, that were audio books and I could download them right to my phone.  I now sit at work and listen to and from work different stories that help my work week to simply fly by.   

I’ve never been one to read a fairy tale novel because I’ve seen all the princess movies as a child, and Strands of Bronze and Gold is not a fairy tale as it is folk lore about Bluebeard.  I had heard the name but had no idea what the story about him was.  Also, I should mention, that I’m a little picky with my audio books.  I like the narrators voice to be a specific way.  As a I prefer to listen to a woman’s voice, I still hope for a steady tone.  No one high pitched and definitely not too low of voice either.  If I listen to a man, then I prefer an American accent and none other.  Needless to say, the narrator of Strands of Bronze and Gold, Caitlin Prennace, has a perfect voice for this story.  Very calm American for Sofia, our heroine, and a perfect french accent for Bluebeard or Monsieur Bernard,our antagonist. Prennace definitely kept my attention.  

Though I wasn’t entirely impressed with the main character Sofia’s personality, just a little to naive and that made me want to scream through the book at her, she was pretty well rounded character.  There are other times throughout the book that I felt she showed strength and bravery.  The story was different from most YA that is out now.  And though it’s a bit older of a book, Jane Nickerson has a unique way of world building that will draw you in and keep you hooked.

Mosaics: A Collection of Independent Women

Mosaics:  A Collection of Independent Women

Description:  

Mosaics: A Collection of Independent Women will inspire and shock you with its multi-faceted look at the history and culture surrounding femininity. If gender is a construct, this anthology is the house it built. Look through its many rooms, some bright and airy, some terrifying– with monsters lurking in the shadows.

Mosaics Volume One features twenty self-identified female authors writing about Intersectionality, including women of color, and members of the disability, trans, and GLB/ GSD* (Gender and Sexual Diversities) communities. We have curated amazing short fiction, flash fiction, poetry, essays, and art. It’s personal, political, and a great read.
This collection includes Hugo Award Nominees, Tiptree Shortlists, Pushcart Prize Winners, USA Today Bestsellers, indie superstars and traditionally published talents alike. The anthology combines leading and new voices all proclaiming their identity as Women, and their ability to Roar.

My Review:
I’ve never really read a book with a collection of stories quite like this.  This anthology holds very intriguing stories that all come from women of different ethnic backgrounds and different beliefs.  The simple fact that this novel holds stores by not only women, but women that hold prestigious awards, or have been nominated for them and women who have already been labeled as national best sellers, screams to a potential reader, to pick this up and don’t put it back down. 

Starting the collection of stories, Deborah Walker, an author who resides in London, writes a fascinating tale of what its like to be A Wax Anatomist’s Daughter and how a young woman who initially wants nothing to do with her mother, finds that ultimately, her mother is exactly who she wants to be with.

The Book of Lilith by P.K.Tyler is another exciting recant of so many versions of Adam and Eve, but Tyler shows the life of Lilith in such a way that most would never even begin to imagine was possible.  I loved her descriptive sense of the characters and her world building of a place that so many people have been told about throughout history. 

Elizabeth S. Wolf is an expert of poems and stories and allows her readers to experience that through her marvelous works.  In Synergy/Contradictions, Wolf’s words draw you in and force you to be in “the survivor’s” shoes.  These stories among the rest, speak to the reader and allow each and every one of us to experience a different life.  A different voice.  A light to our darkness.  A sound to our silence.  I absolutely cannot wait for Volume 2.  I highly recommend this to all readers, reviewers and the like!

 I received a free copy of Mosaics:  A Collection of Independent Women in exchange for an honest review.