The Infinite Curio - Book Reviews Archive

Retro Friday Review : Being Nikki & Runaway

Published on May 25, 2012 by Kay in 3 stars reads, 3.5 stars reads, Featured

Retro Friday is a meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time!

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Being Nikki : Runaway : by Meg Cabot
Genre : YA, Fiction with a touch of science-fiction
Series : Book 2 & 3 in the Airhead series

On Goodreads : Being Nikki and Runaway

My Thoughts :

Whenever I start reviewing a series on the blog, I feel that I need to review the following books too (if I don’t drop the series, of course!) Which is why today I decided to feature books 2 and 3 in the Airhead series for Retro Friday.

I read and reviewed Airhead, the first book in the series, in 2010 (you can find my review at the bottom of this post). I called it “fun, intriguing and entertaining”, and was captivated enough that I went on to read the following books soon after. Both were one-day-readings, and though the second one definitely suffered the sophomore book syndrome, I really enjoyed it. Meg Cabot is a favorite author of mine, (even though I still have plenty of her books to read!) which is another reason why I really wanted to do this post!

When I look at the notes I took while reading these books, oh so long ago, one of the words that comes up a lot is “twists”. There are many surprises in this story, which took turns I didn’t expect. Yes, the romance part of the story was a little predictable, but that’s usually how they go. I still really liked sweet and down-to-earth Em, although there were a few moments where she definitely would have needed someone to give her a good kick in the right direction! But I also feel it is the burden of Meg Cabot’s characters to often be unaware of what’s happening around them, so in that sense, maybe Em is just what a Cabot fan would be expecting!

If I had to use one word to describe the series it would be : fun. It’s not dark and serious and questioning the world or society, like most YA books do right now with the trend of dystopia. And you know I love dystopian universes, but sometimes, it’s also fun to sit and read something completely silly and light like the Airhead series. If you want a series where you can just turn your brain off and relax, this might be the one for you!

Series Reading Order :

Airhead
Being Nikki
Runaway

Tags: contemporary, fiction, read in 2010, science fiction, Young Adults

1 Comment

Review : Wanderlove

Published on May 18, 2012 by Kay in 4.5 stars reads, Featured

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
Pages : 338
Genre : YA, Contemporary Fiction
Stand Alone
My Rating :

What it’s about :

Bria has a lot on her mind : a difficult breakup, a family she has a hard time relate to and a passion for art she decided to bury, however heartbreaking that was. It’s the summer between high school and college, and all Bria wants is to clear her head and reinvent herself.

When her plans to visit Europe with her friends fall apart, Bria decides to join an organized travel group in South America. There she meets Rowan and Starling, and leaves the group behind to embark on a spontaneous and life-altering journey.

My Thoughts :

I had read gorgeous reviews of this contemporary YA novel and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I cracked open Wanderlove ready to be either really pleased or really disappointed, but it took me only a few pages to know that I had in my hands a book I would love.

If you have read novels or memoirs about travel, then you already know that travel books are always more than travel books. They are journeys of self-discovery, transitions from past to future, eye-openers to the world. The beautiful sights and the unusual customs, however interesting or intriguing, are often nothing more than pretexts for the hero’s personal discovery. Wanderlove is no exception, and it succeeds in developing a complex character (Bria) while also painting an intriguing portrait of the places she visits. Never have I ever wanted to visit South America as much as I did after reading this book!

"No one seem to have seen the lake. But how could they have missed it? It was the color of a gas flame, so blue it nearly stung my eyes." (p. 31)

Wanderlove felt surprisingly intimate for a fictional tale. I know Kirsten Hubbard traveled a lot, so I would expect this intimate aspect comes from her own life’s experiences. Between excerpts from Bria’s journal, her drawings (which are also the result of Kirsten Hubbard’s talented hand), her lists and her narration, I felt I had a complete picture of who Bria was. She was neither perfect nor annoying with faults, but a good balance of both. I related to her for many reasons, even as an adult reader; it’s never easy to get over a broken a relationship, even a bad one; it’s not easy to feel different and disconnected from your family; and it’s not easy to give life to your passion, whether it’s art, writing, or anything else. I’ve lived through all this and still struggle with parts of it, and I found in Bria a character I could understand from a personal point of view.

It was interesting for me to see how I reacted to the book, too. I was in love from the first few pages, but in the end it didn’t shape itself into a warm, fuzzy feeling like I did for other books (think Stephanie Perkins or Sophie Kinsella) in the past. Bria’s story is more down-to-earth, and the impression I was left with was a more long-lasting one.

If I have to point out aspects I enjoyed less, I would say that I didn’t connect much to Rowan. I liked his slightly mischievous, humorous side, but the mysterious, ex-bad-boy part left me cold. The romance between the two is cute though, just not what I felt was the focus of the story. I was much more interested in Starling, who sadly isn’t a big part of it all.

I do believe many readers will appreciate this travel novel. I highly recommend that you read it in proximity to an internet access; seeking pictures of Bria’s itinerary is a must to fully appreciate the book!

Similar reading :

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Reading Wanderlove reminded me really early of 13 Little Blue Envelopes. While this one was a little lighter and cuter than Wanderlove, it shared a similar sense of adventure and discovery. You’ll discover a fun story that will take you all around Europe, with humor and charm.

Tags: contemporary, fiction, read in 2012, travel, Young Adults

5 Comments

Review : Iron Kissed

Published on May 10, 2012 by Kay in 4 stars reads, Featured

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
Pages : 287
Genre : Urban Fantasy
Series : Mercy Thompson, Book 3
My Rating :

From the Back of the Book :

Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape – but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it’s up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.

Mercy’s loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can’t decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her…

My Thoughts :

Reading Iron Kissed almost two years after reading the first two books of the series, I will admit I had a bit of difficulty getting into it. It was a bit of work – from my memory, but also from internet research – to remember important aspects of the setting or secondary characters. Once I was past that though, I was quickly hooked to the story.

Again, I admired Mercy as a character. She is both strong and generous, ready to make sacrifices to help and save the ones close to her. I always enjoy characters who take a bit more time to think about their actions, which doesn’t mean that Mercy isn’t sometimes impulsive, or that her thought process slows the narration’s pace.

As for the plot, it got my interest really quick and I couldn’t predict where it would go. There are so many characters, and so many aspects of Briggs’ world left to discover, that the book very often surprised me with a new element. Not exactly twists, but information or details that opened new possibilities.

I had been warned about the ending by other readers. It was said to be strong and emotional and, indeed, it was. There is no “saved by the bell” for Mercy, and I’m kind of scared of what this means for the following books : how can you drag a character through such terrifying events and have her go on with her life? Not because people don’t do it in real life, but because Mercy’s universe is a romantic, fantastic universe, where the focus has been on romance and danger for 3 novels. She can’t be forced into romance mode or adventure mode too fast. It’s though to handle, but I am confidant in Briggs’ writing.

On a final note, I am really glad (and frankly, surprised that it arrived this fast!) that Mercy finally picked between Samuel and Adam. I won’t tell you who she chose, but I will say I was happy with her decision. Not only for who she picked, but for how she came to this decision.

All in all, I liked Iron Kissed and I feel like the series is growing stronger with every new book. I am looking forward to reading Bone Crossed - hopefully, not two years from now!

Series reading order :

Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne
River Marked
Frost Burned (coming February 2013)

Tags: read in 2011, shapeshifters, urban fantasy, vampires, werewolves, Young Adults

2 Comments

Review : Fools Rush In

Published on May 8, 2012 by Kay in 3 stars reads, Featured

Fools Rush In by Kristan Higgins
Pages : 379
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Stand Alone
My Rating :

What it’s about :

Millie’s life seems to be on its way to perfection : she just got a job as a local doctor in her hometown, along with a new home and mostly adorable puppy. Now, all she needs to be a hundred percent happy is to complete her makeover and seduce Joe Carpenter, her former high school crush.

My Thoughts :

Kristan Higgins has quickly become my go-to author when I need a “pick-me-up” read. Her romance novels are closer to what is commonly called “chicklit”, with main characters who have more than love on their minds – which is essential to me. Fortunately, Fools Rush In was no exception to this rule.

I liked Millie from her first words. “I’m a stalker. The good kind”, she says on page one, and her description of a young teen’s crush immediately had me laughing. So even though she turned out to be the silliest of Higgins’ main characters (at least of the novels I have read so far), most of the time, I was just having fun watching her trying to seduce Joe Carpenter. And while we’re at it, can we just take a moment to mention how ridiculous Joe Carpenter’s name is? Of course, he is a carpenter not only in name, but in profession too. It is perfect in its context! Just by the name, I imagined him like a Ken doll. I don’t know why. The power of words, what a mystery! That’s the kind of silly details I really enjoy.

So, yes, I was having fun with Millie’s story. She had just enough personality and wits, with a history that explained her insecurities. Family was again an important theme, but I enjoy that Higgins always treats it differently. Millie’s complicated relationship with her sister is something that I have seen many times in novels, but it still worked well. Higgins writes with humor and charm, so I don’t mind when parts of her stories are, maybe, a little less original.

What I did mind, and really affected how I felt about the novel, was the romance itself. If you read the book’s jacket (which might spoil the book for you, so read carefully!), you’ll immediately know what I mean and guess why I was slightly uncomfortable with it. Millie and her loved one definitely had a great chemistry and connection; there was no denying that. They were, very obviously, a perfect match. However, context really mattered in this case. I had a hard time getting over that and it definitely tainted my enjoyment of the book. In the end, the situation was a bit of a mess and I can’t imagine that, in real life, things would fix themselves so smoothly. Not with these characters, anyway, but that’s just my opinion.

This being said, I’m still a fan of Kristan Higgins, but if you want to give her books a try, I would recommend starting with Too Good to be True or Just One of the Guys.

Tags: chick lit, contemporary, fiction, read in 2011, romance

4 Comments

Review : Perception

Published on May 6, 2012 by Kay in 3.5 stars reads, Featured

Perception by Kim Harrington
Pages : 275
Genre : YA, Mystery, Paranormal
Series : Clarity, Book 2
My Rating :

What it’s about :

Clare’s life has never been normal: she’s always been the weird psychic girl the other kids wanted nothing to do with.

Things have changed after the events of the last summer though : people who used to whisper behind Clare’s back suddenly make friends with her, and two boys are now trying to win her heart.

Then, secret messages and gifts start to appear on her doorstep, in her locker. As the messages get more and more insisting, Clare feels the danger is real and starts doubting even the people close to her. Can she find her mysterious stalker before it’s too late?

My Thoughts :

Like its predecessor Clarity, Perception was a fun, quick and intriguing read. Clare was still as likable, and I love that she is quite the logical girl with just a touch of snark. She thinks things through and seem to be well aware of her own limitations. Same thing goes for her love interests : while she was having a hard time choosing one, I could relate to the emotions that had her hesitate. I’m grown tired of love triangles over the years, but this one kept things real enough that I actually enjoyed it.

The paranormal aspect of the novel was again very subtle – perhaps even more than in the first novel – leaving more place to the mystery and the characters. The fact that Clare has grown up with her power in the open, perceived as a freak, ironically makes her less of a freak show as a main character. She is such a regular girl, and her powers are almost useless in her situation. She also has a great relationship with her family, even though this, too, comes with a few difficulties.

While I enjoyed the read, I have to say I found the mystery’s solution a lot more obvious this time around. In Clarity, the suspects were numerous and I couldn’t settle on one single ending; I had a handful of suspects I imagined could be the culprit, and though one of them turned out to be guilty one, it was almost pure luck that had me guess it right. In Perception, I had a very strong hunch about one particular suspect. I still enjoyed the book, but it made the ending predictable.

I really liked that Clare had new friends – thought friends isn’t always the word you would use to describe them – and I particularly liked Mallory. She was a tad strange, but her personality felt compatible to Clare’s. She was a great addition and, if there is a third novel in the series (I am still a little unsure about this), I hope we get to see a lot more of her.

I believe fans of Clarity will be pleased with this second story with this sequel to Clarity. While the mystery part was a little disappointing to me, the characters still had a great chemistry, the romance had me guessing and the final scenes had plenty of action. I really hope we get to read more of Clare’s story in a near future!

Series reading order :

Clarity
Perception

Tags: mystery, paranormal, read in 2012, Young Adults

1 Comment

Review : Plague

Published on May 4, 2012 by Kay in 3.5 stars reads

Plague by Michael Grant
Pages : 352
Genre : YA, Speculative Fiction
Sêries : Gone, Book 4
My Rating :

From the back of the book :

They’ve survived hunger. They’ve survived lies. But the stakes keep rising, and the dystopian horror keeps building. Yet despite the simmering unrest left behind by so many battles, power struggles, and angry divides, there is a momentary calm in Perdido Beach.

But enemies in the FAYZ don’t just fade away, and in the quiet, deadly things are stirring, mutating, and finding their way free. The Darkness has found its way into the mind of its Nemesis at last and is controlling it through a haze of delirium and confusion. A highly contagious, fatal illness spreads at an alarming rate. Sinister, predatory insects terrorize Perdido Beach. And Sam, Astrid, Diana, and Caine are plagued by a growing doubt that they’ll escape – or even survive – life in the FAYZ. With so much turmoil surrounding them, what desperate choices will they make when it comes to saving themselves and those they love?

My Thoughts :

This review should have been published long ago! I read Plague (and wrote the review’s outline) almost a year ago and, like the previous books in the series, quickly went through the story. It was a stream of action, terror and twists like only Grant can do it. With monsters and plague and food crisis, there is almost nothing these kids haven’t faced. Stephen King’s blurb on the cover doesn’t surprise me, as Michael Grant has a similar style of writing and world building, with a great cast of complex characters.

However, Plague wasn’t my favorite of the series. To this day, I still have stronger memories of Lies, the third novel, than of Plague. While it was action-packed and full of fantastically gory scenes, I realized that I was getting a little tired of the characters. Sam is always whining one way or the other it seems, and it is time for Astrid to take a good look at herself. I want to root for them, and I love that they are complex, non-perfect characters, but I need to see a little more of their good sides. Even if they are in a very, very dark place with almost no hope left. This being said, they still aren’t the worst of what’s left in the FAYZ, and though human conflict exposes the worst of their humanity, their crisis also forces them in an extreme survival mode that we can only admire.

There was a lot happening and a lot of developments in this book, both for the characters and the story. I felt like a lot of these aspects were bridges between Lies and Fear - which is now sitting of my shelf, waiting to be read. It wasn’t a lack of focus, exactly, but these “bridges” were definitely tracing the way for the coming two books.

The ending was really strong though, and turning the last page, I wanted to read the next book right away. Grant really has a way to keep you on your toes, wondering what’s coming next. I plan on finding out really soon – and I’ll try to post the review a little faster this time!

Series Reading Order :