The Reading Date

May 21

Posted by Lucy

Book: Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum, HarperTeen, May 8, 2012

Book Info: YA paranormal, Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss, Available in HC 357 pages

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

More Info: Goodreads | IndieBound | Amazon

Until I Die by Amy Plum is the second book in the Revenants trilogy, and the sequel to last year’s Die For Me. In this series, Kate has recently lost her parents and moved to Paris with her sister to live with their grandparents. She meets a mysterious boy named Vincent who is actually a revenant, which in this book is a good zombie basically. But like any paranormal couple they have their problems, as well as the bad revenants called Numa who are always after them. In the sequel Kate and Vincent have a reality check about their future as a couple and we learn more about the revenants history.

I liked Until I Die just as much as the first book and was thoroughly entertained. There are character reveals and surprises that kept me guessing, and some hints about where the trilogy conclusion is heading. Until I Die is one of the better “middle” books and I didn’t feel like there were any slow parts- the only negative is where Plum left the story hanging at the end!

The book picks up where Die For Me left off. Kate and Vincent are happy together but hanging over their heads is the idea that their romance can’t last forever. Kate will eventually grow old and die and Vincent’s role is to sacrifice his life for humans again and again. They work independently to try to find a way to make it work as a couple, but their investigation is causing even more danger for themselves and their loved ones.

Even though it’s been a year since I read the first book I easily fell back into the story and immersed myself into the world of the revenants. The Paris setting is very charming, and the author uses the setting to her advantage by having the characters explore all the city has to offer. All of the characters are back in the sequel, and the revenants characters are my favorite, especially Jules and Ambrose. There are new characters as well that help explain more about the revenants back-story.

There is a whodunit mystery this time around, and even though I’m usually slow to figure these things out, in this book I called it early on. There are also some unsubtle hints about the direction of the series and the characters, and I can’t wait for the final book to find out if my suspicions are correct.

This is one of my favorite new paranormal romance series and the characters and the setting make it a delight to read. And Amy Plum lives in France so she knows her stuff and makes it feel like you are on a Paris vacation. The book is evenly paced and hard to put down, especially as you get close to the end. Like I said earlier though, Plum ends this one in a frustrating spot and it left me really anxious for the final book.  If I Should Die is expected May 2013.

Check out the book trailer:

Posted in 4 stars, ARC, Paranormal, Read 2012, Reviews, Romance, Young Adult

6 Comments

Tags: Amy Plum, Book Review, Die for me, HarperTeen, Paranormal, Paris, Revenants, Until I Die, Young-adult fiction

May 20

Posted by Lucy

Mailbox Monday is a weekly event started by Marcia, and is now on tour with a different blog hosting each month. Martha of Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf is the host for the month of May.

It was a pretty light book week for me, so that gives me a chance to catch up on my reading.

This week I received:

Won:

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa – Thank you to Sarah from Miss Page-Turner’s City of Books. I’m a big fan of Kagawa’s Iron Fey books, and this vampire dystopian looks to be quite the departure, but I can’t wait to check it out.

eGalleys from NetGalley & Edelweiss:

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry -This is a July 31 release from Harlequin Teen. Looks like an intense romance, and I like that it has a dual narrative.

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson – This is a March 2013 release from Alfred A. Knoph & there’s no cover art yet. Described as “A sweeping Gothic thriller based on the spine-chilling “Bluebeard” fairytale.” I like fairytale retellings & this one sounds intriguing.

Bought:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – Audiobook read by Kate Rudd. I’ve already read (and loved) the book but couldn’t resist the Customer Favorites sale on Audible. The audiobook has gotten some great reviews and I think it’s worth a re-read anyway.

Slammed and Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover – Kindle edition. This series was recommended to me on Goodreads and it sounds pretty good – contemporary YA with a twist.

Hope you received some great books this week. Let me know in the comments!

Posted in Mailbox Monday, Young Adult

11 Comments

Tags: John Green, Julie Kagawa, Mailbox Monday, Young-adult fiction

May 19

Posted by Lucy

Book: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, On Sale June 19, 2012

Book Info: Young Adult Contemporary, Review copy courtesy of NetGalley, Available in HC 224 pages

Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

More Info: Goodreads | IndieBound | Amazon

I’m continuing my journey into reading more contemporary with Trish Doller’s debut novel Something Like Normal. This book has received a lot of positive buzz from bloggers and I had to take notice. I recently read Miracle by Elizabeth Scott, a book that addresses PTSD, and In Honor by Jessi Kirby, another book about the aftermath of a military death, and this book seemed to fit right into my current reading mood. The book’s tagline, War is only half the battle, fits the story to a T as the main character Travis is maneuvering through a number of difficult personal challenges. The military aspect is very topical and makes for a rich subject matter to explore. Something Like Normal is another great entry into the new adult category and I couldn’t put it down.

In Something Like Normal, Travis is just returning home for a month’s stay after serving the last year in Afghanistan.  He’s haunted by his best friend Charlie’s death and having a hard time adjusting to family life. Life at home seems trivial compared to his last year in Afghanistan. It’s hard to come home again, especially when his younger brother has taken over his old life by stealing his girlfriend and his car. His mother has thrown herself into the role of military mom whole-heartedly and meanwhile her marriage is crumbling. A ray of hope arrives when Travis reconnects with Harper, a girl he has a bad history with but who is now his saving grace. Travis needs to battle his PTSD and find some inner peace before he can go back to being a Marine again.

19-year-old Travis has a refreshing voice, and he’s not perfect by any means but it’s still easy to relate to his struggles. We learn Travis’s story via flashbacks, visits from old friends, and through his complicated family life. His military experiences have brought on a new maturity that helps him see his family and friends back home in a new light. Travis’s military flashbacks seem realistic, though I’m no expert on the matter. The PTSD episodes ring true as well, and fit seamlessly into the story. Travis is a really interesting character and I was rooting for him to get better and find some happiness. Thank goodness he had his awesome mom on his side, since his dad is just the worst. Harper is a great girl for Travis, and sensible, fun and smart  – someone you want to be friends with.  Their story ends a little too soon for my taste, and I could have happily kept reading about their journey a while longer.

Consider picking up Something Like Normal if you like contemporary, new adult books, or YA with a male point of view. The PTSD and military themes in the book are handled realistically and with respect and make for an engaging read. Travis’s road to healing is touching and insightful. I’m a new fan of Trish Doller and look forward to her next book.

Posted in 5 stars, ARC, Contemporary, NetGalley, Read 2012, Realistic Fiction, Reviews, Romance, Young Adult

12 Comments

Tags: Contemporary, PTSD, Something Like Normal, Trish Doller, Young-adult fiction

May 17

Posted by Lucy

Book: Gilt (The Royal Circle #1) by Katherine Longshore, Penguin Audio, May 15, 2012

Audiobook Info:  Young Adult Historical Fiction, Audiobook provided by Penguin Audio,  Audio length: 8 hours,  46 minutes, Read by Jennifer Ikeda. Also available in Hardcover from Viking.

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

More Info: Listen to a sample @ Audible | Read an excerpt | Add to Goodreads

In Katherine Longshore’s debut Gilt, two friends experience the royal life when one of them marries King Henry VIII.  The Tudor court is full of secrets, gossip, deception, and betrayal and the two friends are not immune to the drama. King Henry’s fifth bride, Catherine Howard, is a mean girl of the highest order who rivals any modern day queen bee, and it’s only a matter of time before her web of lies is exposed. Cat’s partner in crime is the naïve Kitty Tylney, faithful to the Queen of Misrule to a fault. Even though history says their story is doomed from the start, the read still enthralls. I listened to the audiobook of Gilt and the British accented performance of Jennifer Ikeda set the perfect ambiance for the story.

King Henry VIII and his infamous wives hold a certain fascination. Though I’m no history buff, the Tudor time period is of interest to me and seemed like a great idea for a YA novel.  Longshore did her homework with this novel and includes a lot of interesting historical detail. The dialogue also has a fresh modern spin that may appeal to reluctant historical readers. While I was listening to the book I have to admit curiosity got the better of me and I peeked online to find out more about how Catherine Howard’s story played out. And it did give me an appetite to read more about the subject and check out The Tudors.

Speaking of Cat Howard, not sure if the book is designed to make the reader hate her, but wow is she despicable. She doesn’t really have any redeeming qualities, and is catty and condescending throughout. Once she gets her clutches on Henry VIII she wants it all, including men closer to her own age, and will take down anyone in her path. But she is only a teenager when she marries the fifty-year-old King Henry so that does explain some of her behavior.  I was waiting for Kitty to get a clue about her frenemy Cat.

Now Kitty on the other hand, is loyal to Cat no matter what. She gets a taste for the royal life as Cat’s lady in waiting and is a partner in her schemes. I hoped she would wise up and get out of this mess. While serving Cat, she has her own complicated love life, and is torn between the sensible, no-drama William, and the dangerous Edmund. But she doesn’t really have time for either one because her friendship with Cat is all consuming.

Jennifer Ikeda is the narrator of Gilt and her performance enhances the story. When you listen to it it’s like Gossip Girl in the royal court, and Ikeda hits all the right notes in her reading. She flows effortlessly from one character to the next and all of them are easily distinguishable. Her British accent sounds natural to me and not overdone. Another nice touch is there is a snippet of string music at the beginning of the book and to introduce each new year in the story. Though I liked the story a lot on it’s own, Ikeda’s performance complements it well and I’m glad I got to experience it in this format. Towards the end I was doing extra household chores to get more listening in.

Gilt is a good read for those who enjoy historical fiction, or for YA’s learning about the Tudor court in their textbooks. The story brings the history alive and in an appealing way for today’s YA readers. Though the story gets lost in the details at times, it’s an addictive read and I’ll pick up the next book or audio. Speaking of which, Gilt is the first book in the Royal Circle series, and each book centers on a different girl in the court of Henry VIII.

Related articles

• Review: Gilt by Katherine Longshore (yabookscentral.blogspot.com)
• Gilt by Katherine Longshore (tetheredmommy.com)
• Review: “Gilt” by Katherine Longshore (birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)

Posted in 2012 Debut Author Challenge, 4 stars, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Read 2012, Reviews, Romance, Series, Young Adult

4 Comments

Tags: Audiobook, Catherine Howard, Gilt, Historical Fiction, Jennifer Ikeda, Katherine Lon