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The dark and whimsical world of a mysterious, magical, turn-of-the-century circus comes to life in Erin Morgenstern‘s debut novel, The Night Circus. It’s a story that will suck you in from the very first page, and won’t let you go even after you’ve finished.
The Night Circus tells the story of two “magicians,” entwined in an on-going battle of wit and skill �" all taking place behind the scenes of Le Cirque des Rêves. They’ve been destined to face off against each other within the confines of the Night Circus for years, in a wager set forth by each of their magical mentors. But what neither mentor expected was for their progeny to fall in love with each other. But there’s more at stake than just their duel; than just the possibility of their romance. The fate of the entire circus, and everyone in it, hangs precariously in the balance.
While the love story is a critical element to this book, the majority of the story really lives up to the title. Because more than anything else, The Night Circus is really about the circus itself. And while the story of Celia and Marco is a lovely one, it’s the circus itself that really draws you in. The circus, and the many intriguing characters who make it up. Celia and Marco are hardly the only interesting figures featured in The Night Circus, and you’ll find yourself drawn in by the many individuals who make-up the circus and its followers.
Much like some of the characters in the book, as the reader you become a fan of the Night Circus. It’s not hard to picture yourself wandering amongst the many whimsical tents and displays set forth, or sampling the many treats, or inhaling the fragrance of the popcorn and sweets.
The world of The Night Circus is one I want to revisit again and again. It’s a story that will sweep you up and refuse to let you go; it’s a literary kidnapping you’ll be happy to accept.
If you like a heavy dose of creepy with your paranormal romance, then check out After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel.
Jones and Wedel team up nicely �" writing alternating chapters, with Jones taking Aimee’s POV and Wedel taking Alan’s. The pairing works well, and each narrative voice is unique �" while the story itself flows evenly across both narrators. They’ve also created a great mood with their setting.
It’s also refreshing to see Jones and Wedel give a fresh take on the paranormal genre. After all, there are so many books in this genre hitting store shelves these days, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd �" but they definitely do so with After Obsession. It’s a nice mix of demonic possession, magical abilities, and Native American folklore.
Jones and Wedel also do a good job of creating sparks between Aimee and Alan. The chemistry feels natural, not forced, and they make their speedy teenage romance work in a way that doesn’t feel awkward or manipulated for the sake of the story. It’s also nice to see a teenage romance portrayed as loving �" yet without the “I’ll die without” melodrama so often conveyed in YA. (And while, in some cases, is still highly enjoyable �" it’s nice to see a teen romance portrayed without that element here!)
However, I do have two minor complaints.
The first is this: if you’re going to name a character Alan Parsons, you simply cannot wait until page 128 to make any sort of joke or reference to the Alan Parsons Project. Even if most teen readers might not get the reference, you can’t let it sit that long … us older readers will sit there staring at the early pages going, “Really? He’s named Alan Parsons? Really?!” Make the joke sooner, get it over with, and move on.
The second has to do with the cartoonish portrayal of TV news journalists in the book. Now, I’ll be clear here, I work in TV news, so I’m particularly sensitive to these misrepresentations. However, as a reader, I’m also a bit insulted that (a) Jones & Wedel seemingly did no research about how reporters actually behave or that (b) they simply chose to ignore reality and use this stereotyped portrayal to further a minor plot device. Couldn’t you have been a bit more clever in finding a way to make Aimee sleep over at Alan’s hosue? Does it have to be this cartoonish idea of TV reporters, lurking like vultures outside her home, waiting to pounce? Because I can assure you: TV reporters never behave this way in real life. Despite what you might have seen in movies, that’s just not the case. At all. Ever.
Like I said, my two complaints are really rather minor �" and shouldn’t detract you from checking out After Obsession for yourself. Because they didn’t stop me from enjoying the book itself, either.
Also, bonus points because the book is quite clearly a STANDALONE �" something so rare these days in YA, particularly in paranormal romance! I love being able to wrap things up in one book sometimes, and I really appreciate the effort Jones and Wedel made to do that with After Obsession.
When you hear “zombie book,” the next logical categorization isn’t usually “romance.” But that’s exactly what you’ll find within the pages of Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion �" a heartwarming zombie romance. Really.
The book follows R, a zombie with no memory of his past life and a conscious that battles with his innate need to feed on human flesh. His shuffling existence is changed irrevocably, however, when he experiences the memory of young man while feasting on his brain �" and ends up rescuing the dead guy’s human girlfriend. This decision sparks a series of events that will change not only R and the girls’ life, but maybe the whole zombie-infested world.
Warm Bodies is an unbelievably sweet story, written beautifully. At times, it is equally charming, funny and sad.
The writing itself is impeccable, and at times, I found myself simply marveling over Marion’s gift for phrasing, with passages such as:
I am dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it.
Or:
I long for exclamation marks, but I’m drowning in ellipses.
Likewise, Marion masterfully makes a character who feasts on human brains sympathetic and lovable. R is unlike any other hero I’ve encountered in fiction, and it’s delightful getting inside his head and following his determined steps towards something more. He’s not what you’d expect from a romantic lead or a hero, but that’s what makes his story all the more compelling.
Isaac Marion has shaken the foundation of what it means to write a story about love and a story about zombies. Warm Bodies is a genre all its own. Between the brilliant writing, characters with rooting for, unexpected twists and turns, and a heartwarming message, this book will have you cheering R along from start to finish.
I’m always a sucker (ha ha, pun very much intended) for campy, quirky vampire novels �" and Drink. Slay. Love. by Sarah Beth Durst more than delivers.
The book follows 16-year-old vampire Pearl, who suddenly becomes able to venture into the sunlight after she’s stabbed in the heart by a unicorn. (Yes. A unicorn.) Her vampire family agrees this is the perfect opportunity for her to immerse herself incognito into the local high school so as to lure the student body to a party for the vampire king’s upcoming feast. On the menu? The student body. The only problem is, along the way, Pearl discovers she can do more than just not burst into flames in the sunlight �" and she’s developing a nagging conscious that’s starting to tell her this whole “make the students a feast” plan is a bad idea. But what can she do? Go against her family, or betray her new human friends?
As with any vampire novel these days, a good author has to know how to (a) distinguish their vamps from others out there and (b) find a way to fit their vamps into the pop culture plethora out there. Durst does this in aces and spades, writing her own unique twist to the vampire mythology, and taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to certain pop culture vampire references. These range from the subtle to the outrageously obvious (and hilarious). It’s a self-conscious approach to writing a vampire story, and it works brilliantly here.
It’s also a challenge sometimes to write about a character who does bad things (like, you know, killing and eating people) and still make them likable, but Durst does so here. Despite her murderous tendencies at first, Pearl is definitely a character you can root for �" especially as you witness her reluctant transformation from killer teenage vamp to something else (post-unicorn encounter).
But Pearl isn’t the only interesting character. From her vampire family, to the kids from different cliques at school, to the mysterious, handsome and always-ever-so-helpful Evan. (And speaking of those cliques at school �" kudos to Durst for writing them in a fresh, believable, and not cliched way. This was a great aspect of Drink. Slay. Love.!)
And while throwing in the outrageous concept of unicorns (and, er, more �" but I won’t say for the sake of avoiding spoilers), Durst manages to make this wild ride of a novel work. She takes some ridiculous scenarios and, within the context of the book, makes them work.
Though it seems as if Drink. Slay. Love. was written as a standalone (and certainly wraps up neatly enough), it still leaves room for a potential sequel �" something I’d definitely be open to reading!
Drink. Slay. Love. is a quirky, charming twist on the vampire tale told with heart, humor and sass.
Take elements of Stephen King’s The Stand, Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and Moira Young’s Blood Red Road, mix in a unique, compelling new voice in YA literature, a new twist on the apocalyptic zombie story, a healthy dose of original characters, and combine … the results will be Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, a stunning and suspenseful new novel well worth the pre-publication hype it’s been receiving.
What grabbed me first about Ashes was the wonderful narrative; Bick has a gift for writing that is both beautiful and compelling. But it was the unfolding story that really sucked me in. It had a feel very much like King’s The Stand, and being a fan of that book, I was instantly hooked. But Bick takes you on a journey that is a far cry from anything you’ve read, giving a completely new spin to the concept of the zombie apocalypse. She draws on the finest elements of horror, without slipping into the realm of the gratuitous.
And just as you think you have an idea of where this book is going, Bick takes you in a whole other direction �" weaving in an unexpected twist about half-way through that changes the entire scope of the novel. At times, the elements added in by this twist seem like a strange addition, and can be difficult to follow, but they all start coming together by the book’s grotesque and stunning last page. Though not advertised prominently, I think you’ll find it helpful knowing that Ashes is not a standalone book �"but rather the first in a series ( a trilogy, I believe). So don’t expect everything to be tied up neatly by the end. Though engaging on its own as a novel, in many ways, Ashes is simply setting the stage for what’s to come next.
Besides the compelling narrative and creepy storyline, Ashes is successful on a whole other level with its engaging cast of characters. Alex is a fresh, new voice in YA �" with a unique outlook on life that will both frighten and compel readers to understand her better. Alex is by no means a perfect person, yet you understand where she’s coming from and you are there to root her on along the way �" especially as she encounters the likes of young Ellie and Tom, the young Army soldier with some dark secrets of his own. This rag-tag group is so lovable that it’s painful, as the reader, to see them torn apart by the events of the book.
If I said anymore, I’m afraid I’d start spoiling the book �" and that’s a large part of what makes reading Ashes so enjoyable: is not knowing where it will go next. It’s truly an edge-of-your-seat, twisted story of both horror and hope.
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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Sara Gundell, September 21, 2011
The dark and whimsical world of a mysterious, magical, turn-of-the-century circus comes to life in Erin Morgenstern‘s debut novel, The Night Circus. It’s a story that will suck you in from the very first page, and won’t let you go even after you’ve finished.The Night Circus tells the story of two “magicians,” entwined in an on-going battle of wit and skill �" all taking place behind the scenes of Le Cirque des Rêves. They’ve been destined to face off against each other within the confines of the Night Circus for years, in a wager set forth by each of their magical mentors. But what neither mentor expected was for their progeny to fall in love with each other. But there’s more at stake than just their duel; than just the possibility of their romance. The fate of the entire circus, and everyone in it, hangs precariously in the balance.
While the love story is a critical element to this book, the majority of the story really lives up to the title. Because more than anything else, The Night Circus is really about the circus itself. And while the story of Celia and Marco is a lovely one, it’s the circus itself that really draws you in. The circus, and the many intriguing characters who make it up. Celia and Marco are hardly the only interesting figures featured in The Night Circus, and you’ll find yourself drawn in by the many individuals who make-up the circus and its followers.
Much like some of the characters in the book, as the reader you become a fan of the Night Circus. It’s not hard to picture yourself wandering amongst the many whimsical tents and displays set forth, or sampling the many treats, or inhaling the fragrance of the popcorn and sweets.
The world of The Night Circus is one I want to revisit again and again. It’s a story that will sweep you up and refuse to let you go; it’s a literary kidnapping you’ll be happy to accept.
After Obsession by Carrie Jones
Sara Gundell, September 21, 2011
If you like a heavy dose of creepy with your paranormal romance, then check out After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel.Jones and Wedel team up nicely �" writing alternating chapters, with Jones taking Aimee’s POV and Wedel taking Alan’s. The pairing works well, and each narrative voice is unique �" while the story itself flows evenly across both narrators. They’ve also created a great mood with their setting.
It’s also refreshing to see Jones and Wedel give a fresh take on the paranormal genre. After all, there are so many books in this genre hitting store shelves these days, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd �" but they definitely do so with After Obsession. It’s a nice mix of demonic possession, magical abilities, and Native American folklore.
Jones and Wedel also do a good job of creating sparks between Aimee and Alan. The chemistry feels natural, not forced, and they make their speedy teenage romance work in a way that doesn’t feel awkward or manipulated for the sake of the story. It’s also nice to see a teenage romance portrayed as loving �" yet without the “I’ll die without” melodrama so often conveyed in YA. (And while, in some cases, is still highly enjoyable �" it’s nice to see a teen romance portrayed without that element here!)
However, I do have two minor complaints.
The first is this: if you’re going to name a character Alan Parsons, you simply cannot wait until page 128 to make any sort of joke or reference to the Alan Parsons Project. Even if most teen readers might not get the reference, you can’t let it sit that long … us older readers will sit there staring at the early pages going, “Really? He’s named Alan Parsons? Really?!” Make the joke sooner, get it over with, and move on.
The second has to do with the cartoonish portrayal of TV news journalists in the book. Now, I’ll be clear here, I work in TV news, so I’m particularly sensitive to these misrepresentations. However, as a reader, I’m also a bit insulted that (a) Jones & Wedel seemingly did no research about how reporters actually behave or that (b) they simply chose to ignore reality and use this stereotyped portrayal to further a minor plot device. Couldn’t you have been a bit more clever in finding a way to make Aimee sleep over at Alan’s hosue? Does it have to be this cartoonish idea of TV reporters, lurking like vultures outside her home, waiting to pounce? Because I can assure you: TV reporters never behave this way in real life. Despite what you might have seen in movies, that’s just not the case. At all. Ever.
Like I said, my two complaints are really rather minor �" and shouldn’t detract you from checking out After Obsession for yourself. Because they didn’t stop me from enjoying the book itself, either.
Also, bonus points because the book is quite clearly a STANDALONE �" something so rare these days in YA, particularly in paranormal romance! I love being able to wrap things up in one book sometimes, and I really appreciate the effort Jones and Wedel made to do that with After Obsession.
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Sara Gundell, September 21, 2011
When you hear “zombie book,” the next logical categorization isn’t usually “romance.” But that’s exactly what you’ll find within the pages of Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion �" a heartwarming zombie romance. Really.The book follows R, a zombie with no memory of his past life and a conscious that battles with his innate need to feed on human flesh. His shuffling existence is changed irrevocably, however, when he experiences the memory of young man while feasting on his brain �" and ends up rescuing the dead guy’s human girlfriend. This decision sparks a series of events that will change not only R and the girls’ life, but maybe the whole zombie-infested world.
Warm Bodies is an unbelievably sweet story, written beautifully. At times, it is equally charming, funny and sad.
The writing itself is impeccable, and at times, I found myself simply marveling over Marion’s gift for phrasing, with passages such as:
I am dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it.
Or:
I long for exclamation marks, but I’m drowning in ellipses.
Likewise, Marion masterfully makes a character who feasts on human brains sympathetic and lovable. R is unlike any other hero I’ve encountered in fiction, and it’s delightful getting inside his head and following his determined steps towards something more. He’s not what you’d expect from a romantic lead or a hero, but that’s what makes his story all the more compelling.
Isaac Marion has shaken the foundation of what it means to write a story about love and a story about zombies. Warm Bodies is a genre all its own. Between the brilliant writing, characters with rooting for, unexpected twists and turns, and a heartwarming message, this book will have you cheering R along from start to finish.
Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst
Sara Gundell, September 21, 2011
I’m always a sucker (ha ha, pun very much intended) for campy, quirky vampire novels �" and Drink. Slay. Love. by Sarah Beth Durst more than delivers.The book follows 16-year-old vampire Pearl, who suddenly becomes able to venture into the sunlight after she’s stabbed in the heart by a unicorn. (Yes. A unicorn.) Her vampire family agrees this is the perfect opportunity for her to immerse herself incognito into the local high school so as to lure the student body to a party for the vampire king’s upcoming feast. On the menu? The student body. The only problem is, along the way, Pearl discovers she can do more than just not burst into flames in the sunlight �" and she’s developing a nagging conscious that’s starting to tell her this whole “make the students a feast” plan is a bad idea. But what can she do? Go against her family, or betray her new human friends?
As with any vampire novel these days, a good author has to know how to (a) distinguish their vamps from others out there and (b) find a way to fit their vamps into the pop culture plethora out there. Durst does this in aces and spades, writing her own unique twist to the vampire mythology, and taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to certain pop culture vampire references. These range from the subtle to the outrageously obvious (and hilarious). It’s a self-conscious approach to writing a vampire story, and it works brilliantly here.
It’s also a challenge sometimes to write about a character who does bad things (like, you know, killing and eating people) and still make them likable, but Durst does so here. Despite her murderous tendencies at first, Pearl is definitely a character you can root for �" especially as you witness her reluctant transformation from killer teenage vamp to something else (post-unicorn encounter).
But Pearl isn’t the only interesting character. From her vampire family, to the kids from different cliques at school, to the mysterious, handsome and always-ever-so-helpful Evan. (And speaking of those cliques at school �" kudos to Durst for writing them in a fresh, believable, and not cliched way. This was a great aspect of Drink. Slay. Love.!)
And while throwing in the outrageous concept of unicorns (and, er, more �" but I won’t say for the sake of avoiding spoilers), Durst manages to make this wild ride of a novel work. She takes some ridiculous scenarios and, within the context of the book, makes them work.
Though it seems as if Drink. Slay. Love. was written as a standalone (and certainly wraps up neatly enough), it still leaves room for a potential sequel �" something I’d definitely be open to reading!
Drink. Slay. Love. is a quirky, charming twist on the vampire tale told with heart, humor and sass.
Ashes #01: Ashes by Ilsa J Bick
Sara Gundell, September 21, 2011
Take elements of Stephen King’s The Stand, Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and Moira Young’s Blood Red Road, mix in a unique, compelling new voice in YA literature, a new twist on the apocalyptic zombie story, a healthy dose of original characters, and combine … the results will be Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, a stunning and suspenseful new novel well worth the pre-publication hype it’s been receiving.What grabbed me first about Ashes was the wonderful narrative; Bick has a gift for writing that is both beautiful and compelling. But it was the unfolding story that really sucked me in. It had a feel very much like King’s The Stand, and being a fan of that book, I was instantly hooked. But Bick takes you on a journey that is a far cry from anything you’ve read, giving a completely new spin to the concept of the zombie apocalypse. She draws on the finest elements of horror, without slipping into the realm of the gratuitous.
And just as you think you have an idea of where this book is going, Bick takes you in a whole other direction �" weaving in an unexpected twist about half-way through that changes the entire scope of the novel. At times, the elements added in by this twist seem like a strange addition, and can be difficult to follow, but they all start coming together by the book’s grotesque and stunning last page. Though not advertised prominently, I think you’ll find it helpful knowing that Ashes is not a standalone book �"but rather the first in a series ( a trilogy, I believe). So don’t expect everything to be tied up neatly by the end. Though engaging on its own as a novel, in many ways, Ashes is simply setting the stage for what’s to come next.
Besides the compelling narrative and creepy storyline, Ashes is successful on a whole other level with its engaging cast of characters. Alex is a fresh, new voice in YA �" with a unique outlook on life that will both frighten and compel readers to understand her better. Alex is by no means a perfect person, yet you understand where she’s coming from and you are there to root her on along the way �" especially as she encounters the likes of young Ellie and Tom, the young Army soldier with some dark secrets of his own. This rag-tag group is so lovable that it’s painful, as the reader, to see them torn apart by the events of the book.
If I said anymore, I’m afraid I’d start spoiling the book �" and that’s a large part of what makes reading Ashes so enjoyable: is not knowing where it will go next. It’s truly an edge-of-your-seat, twisted story of both horror and hope.
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