Book Review: Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

Title: Menagerie Series: Menagerie #1 Written by: Rachel Vincent Published: September 29, 2015 by Harlequin (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent comes a richly imagined, provocative new series set in the dark mythology of the Menagerie…  When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger's Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah in her black swan burlesque costume is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she's forced to "perform" in town after town.  But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other "attractions"—mermaids, minotaurs, gryphons and kelpies—are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she'll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed.  Renowned author Rachel Vincent weaves an intoxicating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity in this intricately woven and powerful tale

*** I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

If you follow me on Twitter you may have seen me talking about how I was thinking about picking up a book I had DNF'd a few months back. That book is Menagerie. I have this policy on categorizing a book as DNF. I put it down for a few days then if I want to pick it back up I do, otherwise DNF. With Menagerie I did that but then down the line I started to regret that decision. I wanted to read it again. So I picked it back up and I'm glad I did because I ended up enjoying the second half.

Part of what made me put it down was the pacing. It is really slow in the beginning. It is the start of a new adult fantasy series so I understand that the first part of the book needs to be exposition. But it wasn't the first 100 pages here, it was the first 250. And that is honestly too much set up for. As a plot-driven reader, the lack of a story kept me from fully engaging in the book and slowed the pacing down even further for me. I felt like I was really dragging to get to the next page. But then in the second half things really picked up. I'm not entirely sure when the shift happened but as Delilah finally became involved with the Menagerie as an act, that's when the plot started to pick up. As we learned more about who she was and less about the larger world that's when things got interesting and I couldn't put it down. At that point there were twists, mystery, and plot development that made the book engaging.

Part of what made me regret putting it down however was that world the author created. What Vincent does here is what I always love with my epic fantasy and put it in more of an Urban Fantasy/Low Fantasy setting. She takes political intrigue and poor treatment of "magical" people and incorporates mythology and mythical creatures. There were so many fantastic and deep things about society and humanity that she addressed in this book. There's a backstory here too. An event in history that led to fear and persecution of cryptids or mythical creatures which are now circus acts who are treated very poorly. And while you don't agree with that treatment you can see how people would have responded in that way. Then there is the actual cryptids. Throughout the book we meet all kinds of different and interesting creatures that had influences from mythology and fantasy. It made for a really interesting world within the book.

It also made for really interesting characters. Our main character Delilah is the kind of strong female protagonist that I can get behind. She's not particularly strong physically, but she is strong mentally and emotionally. In fact she takes it further and is often stubborn and obstinate throughout the book. She doesn't beat around the bush and speaks her mind which often gets her into a lot of trouble. But she also has a really strong sense of justice and fairness. Despite that fact that you don't want her to continue to put herself in these bad situations you are also glad to see her as an advocate for herself and others. And of course there are the secondary characters who work and are imprisoned at the menagerie which are really interesting. The book includes different perspectives throughout so you can get in the head of some of the other characters and meet them on different levels. Some of my favorites were the Minotaur who doesn't speak but understands a lot more than people realize, a werewolf family just trying to stay together, two dolphin shifters who have a very cool and dangerous power, and the very sweet makeup artists. There is also a lot of characters that you love to hate. So many of the handlers were vile human beings. All the characters really added to the dark and mysterious nature of the book.

So be warned, this is a tough book to read. It's extremely dark and if you have triggers for torture and violence then I would maybe avoid it. There's a lot of really uncomfortable scenes that are brutal to read and definitely had me cringing. However that brutality made for a dark an atmospheric read which I kind of liked. Because it was more atmospheric and slower paced, I ended up listening to the audio for the second half and that was a great choice. It worked so well in that format. The narrator did a great job of making the book dark and dramatic. Her narration made the slower moments seem more purposeful and honestly the fact that I did listen to the second half is probably one of the main reasons why I ended up finishing it. So if you are looking to read this book I would suggest it in that format.

I'm glad I took the time to finish this book. And I am now more invested in the story. I may actually pick up the sequel now and continue on with the series.

I give Menagerie by Rachel Vincent 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are looking for a dark fantasy series with crazy mythical creatures and a dark violent world with themes of oppression then probably this book is for you. Like I said before if this sounds interesting to you and like audiobooks I recommend that format.

Have you read Menagerie? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins

Title: Until We Meet Again Author: Renee Collins Published: November 3, 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: They exist in two different centuries, but their love defies time  Cassandra craves drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger shows up on their private beach claiming it's his own—and that the year is 1925—she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making.  As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love—and Lawrence's life—into jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history…or risk losing Lawrence forever.

*** I received and advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion ***

When I saw this book on Netgalley I was immediately attracted to it. It sounds like an interesting time travel story with a star-crossed romance and a complex plot. Totally up my alley. And while I did really enjoy it, some parts didn't totally work for me. Okay, so now that you have read the synopsis who wants to take bets as to which part of the book I enjoyed and which part of this book didn't quite work for me? By now this should come as no surprise to you.

One thing I did love about this book was the general plot development. I went into it expecting this to be a pretty typical time travel storyline but it had that and more. The time travel stuff was actually pretty interesting. I wasn't at all sure what was going on with that part of the story, and there was even a period where I thought maybe this wasn't time travel at all but when it really started diving into the aspects and the effects of time travel, that's where it hooked me. It had a real interesting feel to it that both felt traditional and creative. As someone who loves time travel stories I enjoyed all the nods to the tropes. I also really liked the 1920's subplot. I wouldn't really call it historical fiction but it did have some great elements of the period. But the thing that I liked most about it was that there was so much mystery with this plot point that kept me reading and had me curious and questioning. And while the reveals didn't come as much of a surprise it did keep me engaged and intrigued throughout most of the book.

However the pacing didn't quite work for me. I already mentioned that I wasn't at all sure what was happening with the time travel stuff in the beginning and I think that was part of what slowed the book down for me. I'm not sure if it was trying to build exposition or suspense but it didn't completely work And while most of the middle of the book had me really engaged in the action and mystery, it took it's time before it really got to that plot development. This is not a very long book but it took me longer to read than I expected because it took me awhile to get into it. I also felt like reaching the actual conclusion took a little too long as well. I actually found myself thinking "just get to the end already." But when it was all over I was actually wishing there was more. It was such an odd feeling because by that point in the story I was so invested in it, I wanted to see how it would end but I didn't actually want it to be over. And speaking of that ending, that was the moment I realized that I actually liked this book. It was such a perfect ending. Not at all what I expected and totally bittersweet but so perfect.

As far as the characters go, I am a bit on the fence when it comes to them. Many of them were interesting and engaging but some more than others. To be entirely honest, I found the characters in the 1920's to be much more engaging than the ones in the present. I really liked Lawrence, the male lead. I mean who doesn't love a charming poet from the 1920's. I also found Fay really complex and interesting. She is kind of his love interest before he meets the main character and I loved her development throughout the book. Plus Lawrence's family and friends were really interesting as well. Cassandra however didn't totally jump off the page for me. She felt a bit one-note to me. I liked her commitment to solving the mystery but I'm not sure I can point to any specific personality traits for her that I either liked or didn't like. She just felt a little basic. Which is really a shame because we have the same name and I always want to like characters named Cassandra.

And I'm not sure if it's the fact that I didn't love the female lead or because I am in general not a huge fan of romance, but here that subplot didn't totally work for me. It started as a bit of your typical insta-love romance so I didn't have an immediate connection to it (side note probably that was one of the reasons I didn't enjoy the beginning of the book). But as things went on it did grow into a more star-crossed thing that I liked. But as someone who is hard to please when it comes to romance I will say that it had it's moments and by the end it did actually kind of grow on me. And then again when I was finished reading I actually had to question whether or not I even shipped it. It saw such a perfect and sweet ending that I may actually have enjoyed the romance. Most of the book I was so unphased by the relationship, I mean at one point on Goodreads I complained about how I wanted less kissing, but by the end I had sort of changed my tune.

On the whole, Until We Meet Again was a good read with lots of good elements. Despite some things that didn't really work for me, in the end it was an interesting and engaging read that left me wanting more.

I give Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins 8 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are looking for a good YA time travel romance ala The Time Traveler's Wife or Outlander then I would definitely recommend this book. Fans of romances will probably enjoy it more than if you are looking for something with a complex Science Fiction/Fantasy time travel thing but it does have a bit of both. It had a really interesting plot and despite not totally connecting with the characters or romance I enjoyed it.

ARC Review: Illuminae by Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae Series: Illuminae Files #1 Author: Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Published: October 20, 2015 by Knopf (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.   This afternoon, her planet was invaded.  The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.  But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.  Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

I am very rarely at a loss for words. I am full of opinions usually. Good, bad, indifferent. If you ask me what I think about something, especially books, I will tell you. But I really can't even begin to find the words to explain how brilliant Illumine was. I have read Aime Kaufman's work and I know that can write an absolutely amazing science fiction novel. I've also heard good things about Jay Kristoff and after reading this book I think I may need to read his fantasy. Together these two authors created something brilliant and creative that I loved reading.

One of the things that made this book so brilliant is the format. It is one of the most creative an interesting books I have ever read. Until recently I don't think I have really read a book written in the epistolary format but I've read two in as many months now and I have to say, I love that style. Illuminae is written from hacked records. Journal entries, emails, IMs, video footage. It all works together to create the story of a space adventure gone horribly wrong (more on that later).  From the blacked out works to the white writing on a black background, to the word art, to the commentary, to the vocabulary it was like nothing I had ever read. It took a little while to get accustomed to the style but once I did, I was absolutely hooked. I realize this style is not for everyone but I loved it. It's not that I would call it realistic but it was definitely immersive. And because it is so immersive when things go horribly wrong it gives you an extra punch to the feels. Maybe because it was almost like being part of the narrative.

And there definitely was a narrative here. Sometimes these kinds of books can get a little muddled and complex in a bad way. And yes, it did take me a little while to get used to the format and really get involved with the plot of the book. I mostly think that when you're creating exposition and context in an epistolary format it's hard to make the story interesting and not confusing. But this was still a very compelling story Fans of hard sci-fi will love this space adventure. There is a lot of computers and technology here but the most interesting plot point for me and the real story was about survival. And I mean this in more ways than one. There are so many other concepts and plot points at play here that threaten the safety of our characters like the threat of another spaceship arriving and destroying the fleet as we know it. But there are also threats from within the fleet including a really nasty virus that adds a lot of action and conflict plus one of the ship's artificial intelligence that thinks he is helping but he's really kind of making things worse. It was a complex and intricate plot but it was well-planned and executed in a way that build to a thrilling conclusion. 

But what really had me invested in this book was the characters. There was a lot of different people and "voices" throughout the book but they all felt distinct and interesting. Our main characters of course are Kady and Ezra who I both liked. Kady is this computer prodigy who uses her powers for her own personal gain until her survival is at risk but then again that could also be personal. Kady is not the easiest character to like but she is still really sympathetic and has a great character arc. Ezra on the other hand is easy to like. He's got a great sense of humor and just as interesting a backstory and development. But I also really loved them together. They had great banter and when they interacted I was waiting for the moment I could smooch their faces together. 

But the book was also full of complex and compelling secondary characters including Ezra and Kady's compatriots, military leaders, and members of the fleet. The best secondary character however was AIDAN, the ship's artificial intelligence who after suffering some damage in an attack become an antagonist for the book. And boy is he a great one. I've been loving AI villains lately because their cold nature makes them creepy in a way that is so entertaining. Plus AIDAN's logic and actions make him so sinister and yet somehow he's not a caricature because throughout the book his explanations about why he's doing this sometimes even makes sense. He's the kind of villain who is doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, a concept I always enjoy in my antagonists. With AIDAN, sometimes he's diabolical and sometimes he's downright sympathetic. That to me is the mark of a great villain. You are rooting for our heroes while also not rooting against the antagonist. And that to me is also the mark of great characterizations, something I think was abundantly clear here. 

But that's just one more example of why Illuminae is so unique and compelling. It's unlike anything I have read and it was so thrilling and compex. It may seem like an intimidating read. Seriously, this thing is a beast coming in at over 600 pages (something not often seen in YA novels) but it's also the kind of book that you will fly through both because the format makes it it quicker to read then a lot of descriptions and dialogue but also because you will not want to put it down. Then when you finally do finish it, it will probably wreck you. I mean it did me.

I give Illuminae by Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! If you are a fan of science fiction then you must read this book. Even if you aren't a fan, if you are looking for a unique book that has complex characters and tons of action then pick this up. It really is a phenomenal and beautiful peice of literature.

Have you read Illumine? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: City of Thirst by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis

Title: City of Thirst Series: The Pirate Stream #2 Author: Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis Published: October 13, 2015 (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis transport readers back to the boundless world of the Pirate Stream in this engaging and exhilarating sequel to the highly acclaimed The Map to Everywhere that is equal parts adventure, humor, and heart!  When the magical waters of the Pirate Stream begin flooding Marrill's world, the only way to stop the destruction is to return to the Stream and find the source of the mysterious Iron Tide. Reunited with her best friend Fin--who has been forgotten all over again--Marrill, her disbelieving babysitter, and the Enterprising Kraken crew must make the treacherous trek to the towering, sliding, impossible world of Monerva and uncover the secrets of its long-lost wish machine. Only there can Fin wish to finally be remembered. Only there can Marrill wish to save her world and all the people she loves. But to get everything they've ever wanted, Marrill and Fin may have to give up on the most important thing they already have: each other.

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

This is such a fun series. I read the first book, The Map to Everywhere, last fall and I fell in love with this world and the characters. I don't read a lot of Middle Grade but from time to time I like a good portal fantasy as a palate cleanse and this series is so perfect for that.

This is so very Fin if you ask me.

One of the things that I like so much about this series is the characters and it was great to catch up with them. Usually in a book my favorite characters are the secondary ones, and while The Pirate Stream has some really fun ones including wizards, pirates, and all many of crazy creatures they are not the ones that made the biggest impression on me. In this series it is all about our main characters who I found so endearing in the first book. So I was excited in City of Thirst to pick up with Marrill and Fin, two characters who are quirky in the best possible way. You can't help but want to see them to succeed and laugh along with them as hilarity and hijinx ensue. They are intelligent, resourceful, and funny. And as much as I love Marrill and her happy go lucky attitude, I like Fin a little bit more. But that's mostly because he's such a unique character being that no one can ever remember him. His so memorable in that he's so forgetful. But that's also what makes his so fun and quirky. All the characters in this series are fun and quirky.

But that is not the only thing about this book that is unique in a fun and quirky way.  The setting and world of this book is like that as well. It's such a creative world that I have loved exploring. It is a portal fantasy so the Pirate Stream is reminiscent of some other Middle Grade fantasies but while it feels familiar it is also so creative and silly in the best possible way. We get to explore more of the Pirate Stream in City of Thirst and everywhere that this book takes us within this world is so interesting. Here instead of exploring a lot of different parts of the Stream they stayed in one place but what a complex place it was. It was like peeling away many layers and finding something totally different under the surface. And while they essentially stayed in one place throughout the book it was so far from boring. This world has tons of magic and mystery and I loved being able to explore it.

Which of course brings me to my next point. The plot here was basic but so engaging. Yes, again I say it is a Middle Grade portal fantasy, and if you have read many of those like I have you know that usually those entail some kind of Hero's Journey and epic adventure. And yes, that's what happened here. It was really well plotted and paced. Little things from earlier in the book came together in the end to lead us to a conclusion that was full of surprises and fun. It built to a pretty high stakes climax that actually had me concerned and curious as to how it would all end. But it's not all sunshine and roses, there are some struggles along the way. I'm not sure if they were playing with the tropes or I'm reading too much into it but I really like that everything doesn't go perfectly. The characters make mistakes, they take risks, they do rash things that often get them into more trouble. It makes things all the more realistic and interesting. But on the whole, this book is full of tons of action that people for all ages will love.

I'm really enjoying this series and it seems to be the perfect palate cleanse for me to read during the fall when I tend to read more atmospheric and complex reads. This is just such a fun and quirky read that is full of adventure and great characters that I am becoming so invested in.

I give City of Thirst by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis 8.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you are looking for a book to get for the middle grade loving child in your life I would definitely recommend this one. But it's not just for kids. Definitely check this out if you are looking for a fun and unique Middle Grade fantasy that will make you laugh, have you on the edge of your seat, and remind you of the books you loved as a kid.

ARC Review: Beastly Bones by William Ritter

Title: Beastly Bones Series: Jackaby #2 Author: William Ritter Published: September 22, 2015 by Algonquin Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The highly anticipated follow-up to the “rich world” of the “lighthearted and assured debut,” featuring an “irresistible character” whose first thrilling and original adventure “demands sequels.”  “I’ve found very little about private detective R. F. Jackaby to be standard in the time I’ve known him. Working as his assistant tends to call for a somewhat flexible relationship with reality.”  In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer R. F. Jackaby are called upon to investigate the supernatural.  First, a vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens, and a day later, their owner is found murdered with a single mysterious puncture wound. Then in nearby Gad’s Valley, now home to the exiled New Fiddleham police detective Charlie Cane, dinosaur bones from a recent dig mysteriously go missing, and an unidentifiable beast starts attacking animals and people, leaving their mangled bodies behind. Charlie calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt for a thief, a monster, and a murderer

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

I absolutely loved Jackaby, it was one of my favorite books of 2014 after all, and for that reason I was a little nervous and a lot excited to read it's unexpected sequel Beastly Bones. But those fears were quickly put to rest with another quirky and action-packed mystery.

One of the things I love so much about this series is the characters who perfectly capture the humor and quirky nature of this book. We of course have Jackaby, who is without a doubt the quirkiest character in this book and that is kind of hard to do. He is too smart for his own good, but that makes him a brilliant supernatural detective. One of the things that makes him so fun and interesting is his approach to these supernatural elements. It's perfectly natural and scientific to him and he oftem has very deadpan explanations of it all. It makes him quite socially awkward and very fun. But the book is told from the perspective of Abigail Rook, his assistant. Abigail could not be more opposite and so she keeps Jackaby grounded. She's the audience stand-in here and she has the same skeptical and excitable attitude that I have to it all. I loved Abigail's development in this one and how take charge and resourceful she is. She even breaks a few gender norms, which I loved.

But Jackaby and Abigail aren't the only characters that are back. We get to see Jenny again who had some interesting moments, Douglas the duck, and even Marlowe makes a brief appearance. But the character I'm most excited to see again is Charlie Cane. I'm so glad he's back in Abigail's life and on the case with Jackaby. He just has such a great dynamic with them both. And then of course there are the new characters like Hank Hudson, an old friend of Jackaby's a trapper and hunter with a particular interest in the odd and unusual, two bickering paleontologists who add even more comic relief and conflict at the same time, and a very energetic reporter who is never too far from trouble. These characters, along with our main characters, are what makes the book so engaging and fun.

The humor of the characters is off-set by a world where anything is possible and supernatural and mythological creatures walk among us committing crimes. This series is the perfect example of Historical Fantasy to me. It takes a historical location and adds supernatural creatures. No one element overwhelms the other. The setting of New Fiddleham is just as interesting as the fact that there is a ghost and shape-shifting cats. Speaking of those cats, or should I say chameleomorphs. So fun and interesting, and really represents what I mean about the historical combination. There were some truly brilliant supernatural elements in this book both big and small. And Jackaby's no-nonsense scientific approach to it all makes them even more engaging and fun. It's the perfect blend of fantasy, mystery, and history that is so entertaining.

And all of this worked together to develop and intricate and thrilling plot that had me on the edge of my seat. Jackaby is a short and quick read but it's also the kind of book where you don't want to put it down. It's extremely well-paced and plotted even better. Everything really built to quite the high-stakes climax. Along the way it even contained a few surprises and big reveals that caught me off guard. What this series does so well is the red herring. You're over here paying attention to one thing and something else is the real focus. I loved in the first book how the mystery was solvable and here while the clues were all there for me I didn't quite figure it out which is kind of nice. I also loved the fact that small things from the beginning of the book came back into play in a big way for the conclusion. It was all so well plotted. It had me fiendishly turning pages needing to find out what happened next while loving it so much I didn't want it to end at the same time.

Fans of the first book will love this second take with Jackaby and the way Beastly Bones set things up for more in the series. I can't wait to see where the next book takes us and I'm so glad we get more. This book was brilliant, fun, and exceptionally well-written.

I give Beastly Bones by William Ritter 10 out of 10

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I seriously love this series so much. It's fun and creative. It's a quick and engaging read and so charming just like the characters, and with the supernatural world and plot full of mystery and surprises it really has something for everyone. I would particularly recommend it to people who are fans of supernatural mysteries, magical realism, or anyone looking for something a little different.

Have you read Jackaby? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

Title: Blood and Salt Series: Blood and Salt #1 Author: Kim Liggett Published: September 22, 2015 by Putnam Young Readers (Penguin Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.  “When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”  These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.  Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.  As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

I can't remember how or when I first learned about Blood and Salt but I knew right away I needed to read this book. So when I saw that Kim was going to be signing ARCs at BEA I knew I had to be there to meet her and I was so glad I could. Because you guys, this book was so worth it. Worth the wait, worth the read, worth everything. Blood and Salt is referred to as romantic horror and it fits the bill. It has this kind of old school gothic vibe to it which was so wonderful.

One of the things that gives this book its gothic kind of feel is the plot. There are so many elements of this story that I don't want to give away but they were so creative and enthralling. From the very beginning you know this is the kind of book where there is more than meets the eye. It effortlessly combines so many genres including mystery, fantasy, and romance to make something entirely unique but familiar. I loved the supernatural or horror elements of the book. They affected the plot in a big way and everything that we learned really added to the development of the story. But the book is also full of intrigue and mystery that had me guessing and questioning until the very end. The reveals were so perfectly timed too. Some elements of the mystery I had figured out but others caught me totally by surprise. And the surprises kept coming. Every time I thought that there couldn't possibly be another twist, there was. It really builds to a climax that will have you gasping and holding your breathe. The plot development was very well done and it was completely engaging.

Another thing that gave this book it's gothic feel was the setting. When the characters first enter Quivira you know that things are about to get strange real fast. For one thing, it's surrounded by forty-five miles of corn. Yes, you heard that right forty-five miles of corn. But this isn't your average corn. It's as much a character as anyone else, which I always love because there is always so much conflict and drama when the setting is a character. But this corn is also enchanted. Like everything else, it is tied to the more sinister and supernatural elements of the book. For five hundred years, the corn has kept people out of the town but it has also kept everyone in. So Quivira is like a town lost in time which again is always such an interesting and engaging concept. But needless to say, it has also made the residents of the town a little quirky, to put it mildly. They're a little creepy, a lot cultish, and they too add to the compelling setting and gothic nature of the book.

Kim's writing style perfectly matched the atmosphere of the book. It was pretty in a simple kind of way. I'm not usually the kind of person who like's highlighting passages but I found myself writing down quotes and finding sections I found so beautiful or relatable. But her prose made things seem magical and mysterious at the same time it captured the thrills and drama. The only drawback to me however is that in the desire to create an atmospheric read, I lost a little something with the pacing, the beginning was a little bit slower. I was expecting to be immediately drawn in and it took a little while for things to pick up. But when they did, I loved every second.

Finally, what gothic novel is complete without some romance? The romance here is just as tied to the fantastical elements of the story as anything else. It's pitched as a Romeo and Juliet kind of story and I didn't exactly get that kind of tortured love affair from the characters of Ash and Dane (although there is another romance that may fit the build a little better) but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Our characters were told they shouldn't be together and that forbidden attraction does have it's appeal. And for someone like me who is pretty romance-phobic the fact that I liked the steamier scenes says something. But I think because the romance was tied to other elements of the book it had more of a draw to me. I didn't feel like the romance was superfluous, I found it just another important part to a complex and interesting story. It gave it that extra something else and added to the gothic nature of the book.

But one thing that I will say about this book is that even though I keep talking about how mysterious and gothic it is, Blood and Salt was also really lighthearted at times. There was the perfect amount of comic relief and sweet-natured characters to balance it out. I particularly liked Rhys, skeptical and sarcastic Rys. I also really liked effervescent and kind Beth. Even Ash had her moments of fun that made her more well-rounded and complex. A lot of times these kind of off-hand jokes or light-hearted humor can seem off-kilter for a mystery or horror novel but they were really well done and made the book more well-rounded. It's not non-stop thrills, it's slow and steady adventure with some fun along the way.

Blood and Salt brilliantly combines so many different elements to craft a story that was engaging and atmospheric. The mystery, the fantasy, the horror, it all worked together in an efforltless and engaging way. When it was all over I was left desperately wanting more because it was just so good. Seriously, an amazing read. 

I give Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett 9.5 or of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! If you are looking for a creative an interesting read for the fall then get thee to a bookstore and purchase this book. I would especially suggest this to people who are fans of supernatural mysteries and supernatural romances. It's a great fall read that traverses genres so there is something for everyone.

Have you read Blood and Salt? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

Title: The Weight of Feathers Author: Anna-Marie McLemore Published: September 15, 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.  Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.  Beautifully written, and richly imaginative, The Weight of Feathers is an utterly captivating young adult novel by a talented new voice.

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

The Weight of Feathers is a subtle kind of story. It's the kind of book that works it's way into your heart and mind long before you even realize that it's there. I'm usually a very plot-driven reader. I like my books to take me on an adventure. I like a clear and succinct plot development. The Weight of Feathers doesn't have that and yet I never felt like I wan uninterested.  It slowly built until an interesting conclusion with some unexpected twists and was thoroughly entertaining. The author's gorgeous and lyrical writing was atmospheric and an immersive reading experience. The general plot of this book is the Romeo and Juliet-like story. It's about two feuding families and the young lovers caught between them. It's an all too familiar concept but McLemore writes it in a way that felt creative and interesting.

A lot of the creativity that came into the book was with the world. These families are not your average people. First of all they are traveling performers. I had just listened to a podcast (Stuff You Should Know) that talked about Circus Families so that context was fresh in my mind. I liked seeing them practice and perform their acts, both the Paloma's mermaid shows and the Corbeau's high-wire fairy shows. It wasn't a big part of the story but it added a lot of color. We also got to spend part of the book learning about the history and culture of both families, which really added to the world. They each had their own way of life, even speaking Spanish or French from time to to time which helped immerse you in their world and culture. But that was just the beginning. The Weight of Feathers also has really great and subtle fantastical elements. The Palomas had their scales and the Corbeaus their feathers. And as strange as that sounds, it was handled in such a way that it felt natural and I would forget about them until they were referenced. It was just part of the world, part of the characters, which made them and the book so interesting. 

And it's a good thing too that the characters were so interesting because with the slower plot they had to take a lot of the focus. I particularly enjoyed our two main characters, Lace and Cluck.  They both felt like old souls. The sort of people that you could tell had been through a lot and had lived not the easiest life, Cluck especially. They find a lot of solace in one another. Lace with her sense of justice and fairness comes to Cluck's aid while he gives her support and kindness when she needs it most. I wasn't entirely sure I connected to the romantic aspect of their relationship but I did find them completely adorable and I loved them together. They just seemed to understand one another on such a deep level and that made it easier for me to connect with them both. In the end I wanted them to be together because they made each other better. But the book was also full of a large cast of characters from both families. Some of them were sympathetic, others were odious at best. But every character was interesting and added to the creation of an engaging and immersive reading experience.

But when the book was all over I wasn't as satisfied with it as I expected to be, especially based on this review. It is a standalone but I didn't feel like there was a strong and clear resolution. There were just a few elements that I felt were left unresolved or unexplained. A lot of those elements kind of had to do with the mystery of the book. With mystery elements I always like there to be an "aha moment" where it all comes together. But everything about this was subtle and almost simplistic. There is definitely something to be said about that but for me I felt like I was missing something.  But that may have just been me. I was waiting for a big reveal or explanation and when a smaller one happened I figured that can't be all. Maybe that's because it comes after reading Queen of Shadows and The Dead House which are crazy intricate. But The Weight of Feathers is a short read that you'll probably finish before you even realize. In fact that may have been what didn't work for me. I wanted more. 

On the whole The Weight of Feathers was a beautiful story. To me The Weight of Feathers felt like a modern fairy tale. It was new and creative but there was something familiar and fantastical about it all. It was like I was reading a long lost story from the Grimms Brothers. It had so many elements that have stood the test of time with classic fairy tales, including an atmospheric tone and subtle magic and romance. It wasn't full of action and mystery but it was a lovely and engaging story.

I give The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. It seems weird for me to write this review and not give it a higher rating. I liked it, it just didn't blow me away. There were lots of really great elements that will appeal to all different kinds of readers. It's a subtle character-driven story with a fascinating world and great characters. Fans of fairy tales and magical realism should pick this up. 

Have you read The Weight of Feathers? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping  by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Title: The Scam Series: Fox and O'Hare #4 Author: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg Published: September 15, 2015 by Balantine (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Nicolas Fox is a charming con man and master thief on the run. Kate O’Hare is the FBI agent who is hot on his trail. At least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality, Fox and O’Hare are secretly working together to bring down super-criminals the law can’t touch. Criminals like brutal casino magnate Evan Trace.  Evan Trace is running a money-laundering operation through his casino in Macau. Some of his best customers are mobsters, dictators, and global terrorists. Nick and Kate will have to go deep undercover as high-stakes gamblers, wagering millions of dollars—and their lives—in an attempt to topple Trace’s empire.  It’s a scam that will take Fox and O’Hare from the Las Vegas strip, to the sun-soaked beaches of Oahu’s North Shore, and into the dark back alleys of Macau. Their only backup—a self-absorbed actor, a Somali pirate, and Kate’s father, and an ex-soldier who believes a rocket launcher is the best way to solve every problem. What could possibly go wrong?

*** I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This fact has not changed my opinion of the book ***

I so love my annual Fox and O'Hare read. It always comes at the perfect time. Right after I read a book full of feels that threats to  overtake me with a book hangover (cough cough Queen of Shadows cough). This series is the perfect palate cleanser. It's a lighthearted globe-trotting adventure, an interesting and engaging heist style mystery, and fun and quirky characters. The Scam once again took me for a great ride.

My favorite thing about this book is the characters. Thy are so fun and quirky and you can't help but love them. We of course have our main characters, Nick Fox who is a notorious thief on the America's Most Wanted list, and Kate O'Hare an FBI agent. Nick and Kate could not be more different. Their relationship started very adversarial but at this point they have so much respect for one another and they make a great team. And as their professional relationship grows, so does their personal. And oh what banter they have. My favorite thing about them might be that they break the gender norms. Kate is the brawn. She's kickass and tough and more than once in the book she shows that to unsuspecting characters. Meanwhile Nick is the brains of the operation. He creates these elaborate plans and is always two steps ahead of everyone. In the course of four books it had been great getting to know these characters and seeing their development.

However it is the secondary characters that really shine with this series. Many of them have very little screen time but they make a big impression. I'm a huge fan of Kate's father Jake. He reminds me a bit of Kieth Mars. He treats his daughter as more of an equal but he has so much love and compassion for her. I also loved seeing more of Boyd, who is a terrible method actor who takes his parts entirely too seriously but that makes him so fun in these cons. He gets to play a Canadian mobster in this one and his mention of Tim Horton's and poutine made me so very happy. There were also some fantastic new characters who would fall in the villain category. But when you have dubious main characters who have to also have some dubious villains.

And once again Evanovich and Golberg have given me an interesting and engaging plot. It's a cinematic globe-trotting adventure but it's also a heist style mystery. The schemes and cons that they plan are always so elaborate and interesting. But as the reader you are privileged to how they are going to achieve their goal but things never go according to plan. It's great to watch them go through all the steps and then see things get all messed up. Keeps you on your toes. I was even worried about how they were going to get out of a particular scrape. Nothing ever goes according to plan, which is totally fine because then you can watch them improvise. But because things don't go as planned the larger plot was a bit muddled. Things had to change about 2/3rds of the way in which made the pacing a little strange as well as the second plot point had to rap up a little too quickly for my taste. Plus the way the book ended was so frustrating. It wrapped up the general plot of the story and left me needing the next book right away!

The Scam is the perfect change of pace for mystery month. It's lighthearted and fun but a interesting and engaging story that I just powered through. I'm just loving this series more and more with every passing book. I love the characters and the adventure the authors take us on.

I give The Scam by Janet Evanovichand Lee Goldberg a 8.5 out of 10

Buys/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are a fan of Cozy Mysteries especially books by Janet Evanovich or Lee Goldberg then pick this one up. If you're looking for a fast and fun read with quirky characters to get you out of a book slump or just a refreshing change of pace grab this.

Have you read The Scam? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Lock and Mori by Heather W. Petty

Title: Lock and Mori Series: Lock and Mori #1 Author: Heather W. Petty Published: September 15, 2015 by Simon & Schuster (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In modern-day London, two brilliant high school students, one Sherlock Holmes and a Miss James "Mori" Moriarty, meet. A murder will bring them together. The truth very well might drive them apart. Before they were mortal enemies, they were much more. FACT: Someone has been murdered in London's Regent's Park. The police have no leads. FACT: Miss James "Mori"Moriarty and Sherlock "Lock" Holmes should be hitting the books on a school night. Instead, they are out crashing a crime scene. FACT: Lock has challenged Mori to solve the case before he does. Challenge accepted. FACT: Despite agreeing to Lock's one rule--they must share every clue with each other--Mori is keeping secrets. OBSERVATION: Sometimes you can't trust the people closest to you with matters of the heart. And after this case, Mori may never trust Lock again.

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

I was so intrigued by this book. A Sherlock Holmes Retelling with a female Moriarty. A romance between Sherlock and his arch-nemesis. I was also really excited for a complex and interesting mystery. And while I think there were some really great elements, this was only an okay read for me.

I'm not a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and frankly I find the fact that he is the world's greatest detective by sheer observation skills a little disappointing. There isn't much investigating for the audience when your protagonist can figure it out right away. But for fans of that style of mystery they will definitely be pleased that this book stayed true to the spirit of original novel. It wasn't guide so simple as that, but it was a pretty basic mystery and we found out who the culprit was pretty early into the book. I would have liked a little bit of a deeper mystery that was more of a thriller but that is just the kind of mysteries that I prefer. I did still like the way that the plot here developed. It really build to an exciting and engaging climax. When it was all over, I was surprised and entertained but it took until the last 20% of the book for the thrills to kick in. 

But that wasn't really the focus of this book. It wan't about the mystery, it was about the people and how they responded to it all. This was much more of a character-driven novel. Which was a good thing because it an investment in the characters who I may not have liked too much if they didn't take the focus. I sort of viewed it as a Moriarty origin story and because Moriarty is a bit of a villain of the original story we had that kind of time here too, which I love. Things definitely don't go well for Mori and they haven't been good for awhile now. She doesn't have the best home life and yet she's still compassionate and caring. She puts others before herself and you can't help but agree with her desire to make things better. I was invested in seeing her development throughout the novel. She was really in a very grey area and because of that there was a sense of curiosity and conflict about how things were going to go for her. It made it all the more engaging for the reader to empathize with her plight.

Lock and Mori was a good start to a series but it did suffer a little bit of a first book syndrome to me. It took a little while for the plot to kick in. For such a short book it took me a surprisingly long amount of time to finish it. It's a slower paced read and a slower plotted read. It's the kind of book that I had to take the  time to get really get invested in and I had no problem putting it down to prioritize other reads. However, it was interesting and finished really strong. But if you are looking for a edge of your seat, pulse-pounding mystery, this isn't that kind of book. It's more of a character-driven book and for someone like me who is more of a plot-driven reader it took some time to get into it. 

On the whole it was a good read with likable characters that is the good start to a series. I might say that the best thing about it is the retelling angle. It felt very Sherlockian and had this real old-school vibe that I think fans of the classic and the character will love.

I give Lock and Mori by Heather W. Petty 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. This is definitely and interesting read and for fans of Sherlock Holmes you probably enjoy watching the characters you know and love as teenagers and seeing what possibly could have let them to be the way they are in the original. If you're looking for a character-driven read with a little mystery made pick this one up.

Have you read Lock and Mori? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts? Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING

ARC Review: Tangled Webs by Lee Bross

Title: Tangled Webs Series: Tangled Webs #1 Author: Lee Bross Published: June 23, 2015 by Disney Hyperion (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: London, 1725. Everybody has a secret. Lady A will keep yours—for a price. This sumptuous, scandalous YA novel is wickedly addictive.  Lady A is the most notorious blackmailer in the city. With just a mask and a gown to disguise her, she sweeps into lavish balls and exclusive events collecting the most valuable currency in 1725 London—secrets.  But leading a double life isn't easy. By day Lady A is just a sixteen-year-old girl named Arista who lives in fear of her abusive master, Bones, and passes herself off as a boy to move safely through the squalor of London's slums. When Bones attempts to dispose of his pawn forever, Arista is rescued by the last person she expects: Jonathan Wild, the infamous Thief Taker General who moves seamlessly between the city's criminal underworld and its most elite upper circles. Arista partners with Wild on her own terms in the hopes of saving enough money to buy passage out of London.  Everything changes when she meets Graeden Sinclair, the son of a wealthy merchant. Grae has traveled the world, has seen the exotic lands Arista has longed to escape to her whole life, and he loves Arista for who she is—not for what she can do for him. Being with Grae gives something Arista something precious that she swore off long ago: hope. He has promised to help Arista escape the life of crime that has claimed her since she was a child. But can you ever truly escape the past?

**** I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

How many times do you see those Buzzfeed or other website doing these expectations vs. reality posts where you see something pretty and shiny but then you attempt it yourself and it's not as easy as it looks. I feel like reading Tangled Webs was like the book equivelant of expectations versus reality. Now before we go any further I'm not saying that it was bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting. In fact, there was a lot to really like about Tangled Webs, from the complex characters to the mystery and action, it was definitely an interesting read.

As far as the characters go, I expected a kickass female protagonist manipulating those around her to her own ends, a thief and a femme fatale. But that is not what I got at all. Nope, Arista is a broken and vulnerable girl who is just trying to survive the only way she knows how. She is trying to get out of the life she was forced into by terrible people who treat her as a pawn in their twisted game. This may not jive with a lot of people who want a tough female character who doesn't doubt her every move and has to force herself to be tough, but I loved it. You guys know I have a soft spot for these types of females, it's evident in my love of Sansa Stark. And despite the fact I was expecting something very different, I found Arista incredibly refreshing. I liked how complex she was in that what she presented to the world was very different from what she was like inside. Getting in her head made her easy to root for. However, I would have liked a little more character development. I felt a bit like she emerged from the struggle exactly how she started it. There was so much opportunity to make her become a least a little bit like that strong female character, but it didn't get there even though it tried.

I was expecting Arista to have a dubious moral character but that part was played by everyone else in the book. That was the first thing that really struck me about Tangled Webs, and what kept me reading. I honestly didn't trust anyone. I knew that Arista's vulnerabilities and the fact that everyone was using her to their advantage would blow up in her face because all the secondary characters were so complex and down right devious. Each one of them was odious at best and while Arista was concerned about taking care of the people around her, they were concerned about taking care of themselves. It really made for a lot of conflict and endeared me to Arista even more. 

For the setting of the book, I expected a lush historical setting that was full of social inequality especially for women. And despite a little bit of that and some attempt at historical context, I got a book that felt like it could taken place anywhere and any time. Now that not necessarily a bad thing, it's sometimes nice to have a book that has that kind of versatility but with Tangled Webs it left me wanting more. I think because it is supposed to be historical fiction. I am a big fan of the genre and I like when books transport you to a particular time and place, I wanted that from this book. But more that that, it just felt like there wasn't enough world building. All I know about the world is that there is a lot of shipping via boats and that there are a lot of mascarade balls. I think what didn't work for me about it is that the setting and world seemed to serve the plot  rather than standing on it's own.

Speaking of the plot development, I was expecting a book full of mystery, intrigue, and shocking twists. Not necessarily political intrigue but that kind of scheming and manipulation. In reality, I'm not really sure what I got. I mean I should know, I felt like most of this book was plot.  It's very fast-paced and a quick read that you'll want to keep reading to find out what happens. And there was a lot of plot development, almost too much plot development. There was a lot going on that's for sure. And yes, it was a lot of mystery and suspense. But there was honestly so much going on that it was hard to follow. But I'm glad I stuck with it, because while the ending didn't surprise me, it did have a big payoff. When the conclusion drew near, it all lead to a big climax that pulled elements from different parts of the story, something that I love, and that really strong ending left me with a good taste in my mouth when the book was over.

Despite the fact that Tangled Webs was not what I was expecting, and with a few bumps along the way, I enjoyed reading it. It's an engaging book with a character that you can empathize with and lots of mystery that will keep you reading until the very end.

I give Tangled Webs by Lee Bross 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. There was a lot to like about this book including the characters and the fact that it's so readable but there is just as much that didn't work for me. I would recommend this book to fans of dystopia who prefer plot driven stories and like characters on the vulnerable side. That's my kind of thing and if it's your then pick this up.

Read this if you liked:
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
The Kiss of Deception by Mary Pearson
The Young Elites by Marie Lu (Arista reminded me a bit of Adelina but she doesn't have the villainous turn, she stays pretty demure)