The Infinite Curio - Tag Archive for "read in 2011"

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 : 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 :

Gone
Hunger
Lies
Plague
Fear
Light (coming 2013)

Tags: horror, read in 2011, speculative fiction, Young Adults

2 Comments

3 Reviews : Annie on my Mind, The Lonely Hearts Club and The Vinyl Princess

Published on February 26, 2012 by kay in 3 stars reads, 3.5 stars reads, 4 stars reads

Sometimes I don’t feel like talking to a

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Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
Pages : 234
Genre : YA, Fiction, GLBT
Stand Alone
My Rating :

From Goodreads : First published in 1982, this is the story of two teenage girls whose friendship blossoms into love and who, despite pressures from family and school that threaten their relationship, promise to be true to each other and their feelings.

My Thoughts : Prior to reading it, I had often seen Annie on my Mind recommended as a must-read of young adult GLBT fiction. One of the first of its kind, this book has been featured not only on readers’ shelves but also recommended or banned by schools and various associations. I know I first saw it in high school, among other GLBT books, in the context of a school event promoting acceptance and tolerance.

So this book came with some sort of a “build up” for me. I wouldn’t say my expectations were high, but my curiosity for it definitely was. I also wondered : could this book still deliver a strong message even though its first publication occurred before I even stepped into this world?

The short answer ; yes. But, only to a certain extent. What struck me was how, if this story was written today, it would probably end up very differently for one reason : social media. Maybe the conclusion would be similar, but I believe the plot would certainly take different turns. It still was nicely written, with a good story, and I am sure many teen would recognize themselves in the characters, but it was an interesting point for me to think about.

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The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
Pages : 323
Genre : YA, Fiction
Stand Alone
My Rating :

From Goodreads : Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It’s a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there’s this certain boy she can’t help but like. . . .

My Thoughts : I felt the idea was cute, and fun, and could be something original. I imagined that, instead of a straight-forward romance, it would start as a non-romance with a promise of something more. Mostly, this is exactly what I got, and unfortunately not much more.

It was a cute story, yes, and Eulberg’s writing makes it a quick and pleasant read. But the book lacked some punch, some obstacles for the characters to fight with, some unexpected turn for them to show off their true colors. I found that the whole thing was a bit plain, and I kept confusing the club’s members. Nice ending, though. So, while it wasn’t bad or very memorable, it still was a cute read I could recommend for when you need something light for your heart.

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The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
Pages : 313
Genre : YA, Fiction
Stand Alone
My Rating :

From Goodreads : While working full-time at Berkeley’s ultra-cool Bob and Bob Records, 16-year-old Allie develops her secret identity as The Vinyl Princess, author of both a brand-new zine and blog. From the safety of her favorite place on earth, Allie is poised to have it all: love, music and blogging.

My Thoughts : I think the best word to describe my feel of this novel would be : unexpected.

I thought it would be one of those traditional YA romance with a touch of music; instead, I found a YA novel that was much more complex than expected. Allie’s passion is music, and it lives through every page of the story. Even though I don’t share her passion, I found myself extremely curious about the bands and records she mentioned (though I don’t think she would approve of most of my musical selection!)

I loved that this book had a mix of everything : family, friendships, romance, a cat and a touch of mystery. Allie felt realistic to me because I got a glimpse of every aspect of her life. She wasn’t only focused on her hopes and dreams or her romance, and I always enjoy that. I know I’ll want to read more by Prinz!

Tags: fiction, glbt, read in 2010, read in 2011, romance, Young Adults

7 Comments

Review : Wither

Published on February 21, 2012 by kay in 3 stars reads

Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Pages : 358
Genre : Ya, Post-Apocalyptic, “Dystopia”
Series : The Chemical Garden, Book 1
My Rating :

What it’s about :

Rhine grew up knowing her days were counted : in her world, males die at 25 and females at 20, and young girls are viewed as prized possessions, their only worth being their capacity for making babies.

Rhine is 16 when she gets kidnapped and married, along with two other girls, to a man she has never seen before. Despite her new home’s wealth and luxury, she has only one thought; to escape and find her twin brother. When she discovers her new father-in-law is using her sister wives as experiments, she knows it’s time to put her plan in motion.

My Thoughts :

First of all, I’m not sure dystopia is the right tag for it, hence the quote marks at the top; I use it more in the sense current YA literature uses it, as in “any post-apocalyptic society”. But, to be honest, Wither is more of a futuristic post-apocalyptic novel than one about a dystopian society. There is a distinction and while I do find it blurry at times, it’s an important one. If you’re not sure about this, I highly recommend this post at Giraffe Days.

Second of all, this is a bit of a generous 3 stars rating, mostly for “entertainment” value. Wither is not a bad novel and I can see why so many enjoyed it. It’s a terrifying world, and while many of us, I’m sure, have stories of grand-mothers or great-great-grand-mothers who had their first babies in their teen years, it doesn’t make Whither‘s world any less chilling. Plus, DeStefano’s writing was pleasant and had some great moments.

I was mostly interested and Rhine and her sisters’ story. The romance side, a little less. There is a form of love triangle in place but Rhine’s feelings are so unclear that, until close to the end, I wasn’t sure if there was a love triangle, a simple romance or just friendships. It was a bit refreshing to not have the romance being front and center for once, and I appreciated that.

I have read as many negative reviews as positive ones, many of which questioned whether Wither’s world made sense or not. These can easily be found on Goodreads and are worth the read if you like to discuss world building. I have to say that I did find it a little shaky; I would believe that if the world was in such a crucial need of babies, more young women would voluntarily offer themselves to marriages like the one Rhine is trying to escape. I’m not sure there would be such a need to kidnap young girls, and even less to kill a bunch of them… Unless I’m missing something?

I think it’s lucky that Linden (Rhine and her sister wives’ husband) was mostly a decent human being. Or not. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around this one, to be honest. My first thought was that I was glad that he wasn’t forcing himself on these young girls; it would have made a horrible situation even more horrible if violence/rape was part of the deal. But then, what choice do these girls have? Sure, Rhine resists and isn’t forced into it, but then you have Jenna, who sleeps with him even though she despises him. It was all a bit icky, really. Just because I don’t want the difficult parts of life to be glossed over, doesn’t mean I don’t find it really hard to read at times – this was one of those times.

I’ll be reading the sequel because I do want to find more answers to my questions, and I’m hoping the author might offer some in Fever. But I was so torn about this novel while reading it, that I feel like this review is not going into a specific direction, negative or positive. So I’ll just sit comfortably in the middle, thank you very much.

Series Reading Order :

Wither
Fever
(coming 2013)

Tags: futuristic, post apocalypse, read in 2011, science fiction, Young Adults

13 Comments

2 Reviews : The Musician’s Daughter and Two Moon Princess

Published on February 7, 2012 by kay in 3 stars reads, 3.5 stars reads

Two short reviews today, of two books I enjoyed

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Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
Pages : 323
Genre : YA, Fantasy
My Rating :

What it’s about :

As a princess, Andrea grew up in a castle with her sisters. Even though she has always dreamed of being a warrior, her family has more “ladylike” plans for her. When she steps through a portal and accidentally lands in modern California, her life is forever changed. Now torn between two worlds, she must face the consequences of her actions – and the war she may very well have started.

My Thoughts :

Fantasy can be really good or really bad for me; books rarely fall in between and I tend to prefer those that aren’t too inspired by the medieval times. I also really enjoy books with characters randomly landing into a different world, whether it’s time-travel, parallel universe or some other magical mechanic. I was really curious to see where this novel would fall and I am glad to say I enjoyed it.

I have read more stories of characters from “our world” traveling to magical places than the opposite, so I found it interesting to have Andrea land here from a medieval-like world. Her observation of our world was one of my favorite parts, and I liked how the author depicted both places with their strengths and weaknesses; it gave weight to Andrea’s difficult decisions and to their impact.

I only wish I could have connected to Andrea more. I read how she felt, but I can’t say I “felt” it too. However, she was a strong young woman with a lot of determination, and I admired that. She also had a sense of humor, which is always good for someone in her situation (I would think it’s a good defense mechanism when landing into a weird place like ours)! She balanced other less likable characters, mostly people of her family, and it was enough for me to carry through the novel.

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The Musician’s Daughter by Susanne Dunlap
Pages : 323
Genre : YA, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Stand Alone
My Rating :

What it’s about :

In 18th century Vienna, Theresa is facing the most difficult time of her life; her father has been found dead on Christmas Eve, and all points out to the cause being murder. With her pregnant mom in shock and a younger brother to worry for, Theresa takes on the mission of finding the truth, and it all begins with a missing violin and a mysterious gold pendant…

My Thoughts :

I liked this one. I really wish there was more YA historical fiction (maybe when the trend of dystopia calms down?) and I am always on the lookout for more. This one combined many things I like; the historical part of course, but also the mystery. Romance can be good, but a great mystery will always have my preference.

I had two problems with The Musician’s Daughter that kept me from completely loving it; the predictability of the story, and the disconnect I had with Theresa. Through her tragedy and her adventure, I didn’t really get a sense of who she was. I wanted to know her and root for her, and I did to a certain extent, but not enough to deeply care for her.

It was still a good book I would not hesitate to recommend for readers wanting to read some historical fiction. The setting was great and I could feel the author had put time into her research, something I will always appreciate!