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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
alterlisa has commented on (22) products
Gunslinger Girl
by
Lyndsay Ely, James Patterson
alterlisa
, January 09, 2018
This was an okay read more a 3 1/2* than a 3*. It didn't blow me away but I did manage to read it pretty quickly. Serendipity is not even close to being in the same category as Katniss Everdeen, however. I think marketers really make a huge mistake when they compare a new book to the incomparable-IE Hunger Games or Harry Potter. They hold up an example that can rarely be met and readers go away disappointed with what was a good read just not the next great read. That said I did enjoy the trip just wish there had been a bit more Western feel to it given the cover, the very awesome cover! I also wish there had been a bit more backstory of the Second Civil War. I feel like this was an area that was so lacking and could have added a lot more oomph to the story. I liked that this didn't have the typical love triangle (thank you so much, Lyndsay) in so many YA books and loved the theater aspect of it. Several reviewers compared it to a carnivale type but it actually gave me a Moulin Rouge feel. This book had a good strong start to it but it dragged a bit in the middle before it's grand finale. There is definitely a possibility of another book in this series with the way it ends and the author says "We'll see" when questioned on this.
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Black Widow Elemental Assassin 12
by
Jennifer Estep
alterlisa
, November 30, 2014
There aren't many series that I read as quick as the new book comes out. I'm a binge reader so I tend to buy the new book and put it back to read when I have 3 or 4 in the series to indulge in. Gin however, refuses to lay on the shelf unread. I defy you to attempt this (if you do try, you better be prepared to defend yourself in the middle of the night ). I've yet to start one of these books without reading into the wee hours of the night to finish it. You would think that after 11 books this series would be getting predictable but I still enjoy it as much as ever. I love that the romance and mystery has been doled out in bits and pieces. With each new book you get answers to questions and problems not resolved in the earlier book with yet new problems to tackle. Estep does an excellent job with the world building and never fails to entertain. Her secondary characters are as important as Gin and definitely as entertaining. I love that she introduces new villains while still building on the history of the older ones. Estep could have so easily closed the series with this book but thankfully Gin will continue to entertain with all her wise cracking and outrageous shenanigans.
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Evernight The Darkest London Series Book 5
by
Kristen Callihan
alterlisa
, August 24, 2014
Callihan has the ability to create some of the quirkiest, loveable characters ever. Holly and Thorne are her newest opposites attracting “experiment” and boy did it work. Holly (I always kind of pictured Abby from NCIS in my mind ) had appeared briefly in several of the earlier books and I was so pleased to see that this crafty, quirky inventor finally got her chance to shine in her own storyline. I’ve read all the books in this series and they were all 5 star reads for me, this one being one of my favorites along with Firelight. I read on Goodreads that Firelight , book 1 was rejected by all but one publisher and it went on to win RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, Library Journal’s best book of the year, Publisher’s Weekly’s Spring 2012 best book and ALA RUSA’s best romance book of 2012. It would not surprise me to see more of the same for this book. While in the past, I’ve not enjoyed demons in a storyline so much (I’m more the vamp or shifter lover) Thorne’s macho, assine behavior was a perfect compliment to the nerdy (if that word can even be used in Victorian England) emotionless inventor Holly. They have a past and you really need to have read the earlier books in this series to thoroughly appreciate the meshing of these characters. In Shadowdance, Holly was forced to construct a clockwork heart for a madman and this madman has come back into her life to extract his revenge. A year after Shadowdance finds Holly housebound and afraid to venture back to her job as head inventor at SOS (Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals) and Thorne is going mad with pain as his body is consumed by Platinum. Holly uses her elemental magic to push back this metal invasion and relieve his pain and once they both realize that they must frequently touch or caress, the real fun begins. While Holly’s not technically a virgin (another wonderful little side story here), her responses to Thorne’s masculinity are often laugh out loud funny. Holly’s no shrinking violet and is capable as giving as good as she gets. I love the world building in Callihan’s books. This steampunk version of Victorian England is a vivid character all it’s own and one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed this series so much. Holly’s inventions and Victorian London are as fascinating as the mystery and secrets that add yet another layer to this fascinating series. I also love that we get glimpses and tidbits of information on former characters from earlier books- Poppy, St John, Adam, Lucien, Mary Chase and Jack. Can’t wait to see who has the starring role in book 6 and 7, Soulbound (2/24/15) and Foevermore (TBA), St John and Layla or Adam and Eliza May. Either would be more than entertaining and will be on my auto buy list as this series just gets better and better. When I first started this book, I found myself sitting up way too late to read and as it progressed trying to slow down and savor it as I knew Feburary is still a long ways off. The only complaint I had about this book and it’s minor to me as I don’t get all hung up on the covers but I wanted Thorne to have long flowing platinum hair as described in the book rather than the close cropped blondish look . As I read this ARC on my Kindle, I didn’t see the book cover till I had finished and was posting my review so it was definitely a minor point.
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Wicked as They Come
by
Delilah S Dawson
alterlisa
, October 16, 2012
The instant I read the blurb on this book, I put it on my wishlist as I knew I would love it. Steampunk, alternate world, Bludmen (vampires)--wow- right up my alley, what's not to like. I loved the world building of this alternate world but I never felt a spark of connection between the characters. They were rather blah which is sad as I felt this series had the makings of an awesome trip to a new universe. Instead it was rather flat. That said, I'll still probably read the next book in the series but will probably get it second hand rather than forking out my money for another ho-hum book.
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Tarnished The St Croix Chronicles
by
Karina Cooper
alterlisa
, October 16, 2012
While I love Steampunk, UF, and a good suspense story, this book failed to fill the need. Despite reading the book till the very end (cause of course I had to know the why),it failed to entertain and drag me completely into the story. I often found myself distracted while reading it. There were too many details in the Steampunk world building and the scientific world. The character descriptions often made me NOT care about them though I wanted to. I think this book would have benefited greatly with more romance sprinkled in. It had the potential to be a great recipe but the ingredients just did not jell for me.
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Open Minds: (Mindjack Series Book 1)
by
Susan Kaye Quinn
alterlisa
, May 22, 2012
For some reason, this year, I've read more YA books than ever before. Why? I'm not real sure but I've sure not been disappointed. One of my top reads so far this year was Open Minds. I had agreed to do an announcement post for the Closed Hearts launch and thought I'd get a copy of the first book in the trilogy as once reading the blurb this sounded like one I'd enjoy. As the print copy was a little pricey at $13 (two paperbacks for me), I thought I'd get the Kindle addition for $3. Best $3 I ever spent. This story sucked me in so fast it made my head spin and despite a weekend that was very hectic, I pretty much finished it in two days. Kira's belief that she was a "zero", a person who could not read minds, led her to have a very lonely life, both at home and at school. And unfortunately, high school life in the future still sucks for those students that are thought of as "different". At puberty, most people acquired the ability to read minds. But not only was Kira not a zero, she learned that she could mind jack (control their thoughts and actions). To her way of thinking, as she had never heard of this, this was even worse than being a "zero". She encounters a boy in school who is also a jacker and he attempts to help her control this ability and she quickly learns how to make other people believe that she can now read minds. Unfortunately, this friend isn't as much a friend as he portrays. Talk about out of the frying pan into the fire! As all Kira has ever wanted to be was normal, she's not very happy when she discovers that her friend has been lying to her the whole time and soon she is fighting for her very life. I loved the world building in this book which is second only to the wonderful characterizations by Quinn. The story is very well paced and the only thing that I hated was that it ended. Not a problem though as I immediately went to Amazon and got the next book, Open Minds, which started out with a bang. I only stopped reading it as I had to get this review done before tonight. You definitely won't be wasting your money whether you get the Kindle or the print copy of this book. Just be prepared for the ride of your life. If I hadn't been reading this on my Kindle, I'd have left nail prints in my copy as I felt like I was barreling down an icy coated road in a car with no brakes. I could barely get my hands to unclench the steering wheel (Kindle) as I read this amazing story. This is one that I would definitely recommend to teens and adults who enjoy Dystopian YA fiction, sci-fi or suspense. I can't believe this was a self published book! Boy, somebody at a major publishing house sure missed the boat on this one. I can so see this feisty character and story as a blockbuster movie. Katness better watch her behind as Kira is the new kick*** kid on the block.
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Private
by
James Patterson
alterlisa
, February 19, 2012
While admittedly I've been a little disappointed in the last few Patterson books I've read and while this wasn't one of those that I rambled on and on about how great or how crappy it was to my friends, I did enjoy it. It was a good read just not awesome. It wasn't one of those that you read from start to finish in one seating but I did enjoy the fast paced action and the multiple cases going on, though they did seem to wrap up rather effortlessly. Not much in the way of a twisted surprise ending either. I try not to get hung up on the fact that it is a JAMES PATTERSON book but admittedly I do enjoy his older Alex Cross books, that weren't co-authored much better. I've been wanting to read his Women's Murder Club series but as I loved the TV show and these are co-authored books, I thought I'd leave it till the show fades a bit more from my memory. Once reading a series I kinda have a picture in my mind of the characters and don't want to mess with the Lindsey Boxer image. Alex Cross will always be Morgan Freeman to me which probably ramps up the expectations on any of the books in this series. That said, one thing about Patterson, he sells a hella of a lot of books, so I'll continue to pick them up used on a swap site rather than buying new at over $20 a pop.
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Her Fearful Symmetry
by
Audrey Niffenegger
alterlisa
, February 19, 2012
I've got to admit, despite the rather lukewarm reviews that this book had received, (and I try not to read too many as I don't want to spoil the storyline, just get a general feel for the book), I had to get it as it was written by the author of The Time Travelers Wife, my all time favorite of any genre I've read. But the reviewers were right. It was NOT the TTTW! (sigh) That said, though I felt like I had to struggle at times to stay interested in this book, I was determined to solve the mystery despite feeling like I knew what was going to happen. Let's just say I was right but oh so wrong too! I won't rehash the whole synopsis of the book but in general two girls, twins, inherit a flat in London from their, until now, unknown aunt who is their mom's twin. They must live in the flat for a year before selling it and their parents are restricted from entering it ( I just had to know why Elspeth felt so strongly about this).The younger twins weird, almost incestuous, commitment to one another was a bit unsettling at first but very necessary for the telling of the story. At times I felt like the book was much longer than it was as it dragged on and on (and not in a good way). While the ending was and wasn't a surprise, the journey there was arduous. And the trip IS the most important thing. The characters were fascinating, at first, though at times seemed more like 13 year olds than 20 year olds, and the descriptive locale made me feel I was wandering the streets side by side with the twins. Had I not had such great expectations for it after TTTW, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Definitely a check out of the library or get used (like I did) read. And though I was disappointed in this book, I'll be back for another of Niffenegger's works but will pay more attention to the reviewers.
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Emily's House: Book 1 of the Akasha Chronicles
by
Natalie Wright
alterlisa
, February 18, 2012
If you like time travel, Celtic references, mysteries, and a kick butt red head, you're going to love this book. I just love the stance of Emily on the cover. You can see her courage and slight cockiness in those crossed arms and determined stance. Emily's had a tough life since her mom died at the age of seven and she's been raised by her evil aunt and totally oblivious dad. Travel with her on her adventures to save her friends and her world. I guarantee you won't regret it.
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Dark Swan Volume 1
by
Richelle Mead, Grant Alter, Dave Hamann
alterlisa
, January 31, 2012
‘Dark Swan’ is the new graphic novel serial from Sea Lion Books, based on the series by urban fantasy author Richelle Mead. I was lucky enough to get the chance to review Richelle Mead's DARK SWAN only days after reading the print book. I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I’ve always considered graphic novels to be only a step above a comic book ( sorry, hanging my head shamefully). I never realized that they could add so much to a story. Really,though, I want the whole story, every single paragraph, word, letter and punctuation mark. What reader doesn’t? Seriously, I never would have picked this up on my own. Well, slap me stupid! Boy was I in for a surprise. While I already had a mental picture of most of the characters (what reader doesn’t) in my head. I didn’t find a character at all in the GN that felt out of sync. The colors are bright and distinct while the characters were amazingly active for pictures. I’ve always enjoyed Mead’s vivid action scenes and thought this series would make an excellent movie. Artist Dave Hamann brought these scenes alive with brilliant colors. I’ve got to admit that I’m not real sure how much I would have enjoyed the GN if I hadn’t just read the book but the storyline was pretty much intact or will be with the addition of the next volume. While I think these graphic novels are a wonderful addition to the series, I just can’t imagine them replacing the books. It would be a bit like seeing all the Harry Potter movies without cracking a book, and yeah, I know that are some people that do just that (shaking my head in disbelief). While I’m more of a paranormal romance reader than an urban fantasy reader, this series manages to combine the romance with the kick-ass, take no prisoners makeup of the main character. I love the snarky mouth on Eugenie and the way she interacts with Kiyo, a very sexy shapeshifter, and Dorian, the Fairy King. Her three sidekicks also added greatly to the snarky humor in the book. I also greatly enjoyed the fact that I did not pick up on who the bad guy was till it was right in front of me. That alone adds an extra star to my review. Luckily, I have the rest of the series in my TBR pile so bring it on guys!
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Catastrophic History of You & Me
by
Jess Rothenberg
alterlisa
, January 31, 2012
I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of TCHoY&M and unfortunately it only last a day. Wow! Never have 400 pages gone by so fast! When I first started it I knew I was in for a treat, when Brie ends up in a Pizza parlor while waiting to move on. I had a few Beatlejuice moments when she was was handed the D&G (Dead and Gone) handbook but this book is so totally unique that they were only flashes. I was constantly grabbing a tissue to blow my nose and wipe my eyes when only moments before I was laughing out loud. It was amazing at the range of emotions that Rothenberg took me through, much like the 5 stages of grief that Brie had to go through. The main characters, Brie and Patrick, were so very real and so likeable and one of my favorite things about the book was the music titles for each chapter. They really set the mood for each chapter and kind of gave you a hint of what was upcoming. And even though I don’t listen to music while reading or writing, if I was to reread this book, I’d likely set up the playlist in the background. It's a sad romantic story that will make you think about your life, family, friends, and loves. It’s a story that as a 14 year old I’d have stayed up all night reading and swore I was too sick to go to school the next day- “see mom, my eyes are so red and swollen”- just so I could finish it. As an adult, I simply stayed up all night and napped the next day. I look forward to reading more by this awesome author. Good job!
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Witch Song
by
Amber Argyle
alterlisa
, June 29, 2011
I’ve got to admit, when I first started the book, I wasn’t overly excited about the storyline. A young girl is raised by her mother and doesn’t know a lot about her real history. (Been there, done that, several times) Very quickly though, the story takes off and I was thoroughly entrenched in Senna’s adventure to find and release her mother and the other captive witches. At this point, I read non-stop till I finished this marvelous tale. Her Guardian, Joshen helps her in her quest and adds a romantic interest that I enjoyed. I love the idea of magic being generated by song. Seeing the songs work with nature to both protect and defend the witches was totally fascinating. The strength of a small seed was overwhelming. The growth of Senna from basically an innocent untrained child of 14 to a determined young lady, was well done and very believable. It was wonderful to see her take on the responsibilities and grow knowledgeable of the witching world. This book won’t be released until September and I’m already chafing to see what happens next. Normally, I don’t get overly excited about a cover, but the author definitely got a winner on this cover. The eyes were such an awesome color and draw you in.
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Vampire Dimitri
by
Colleen Gleason
alterlisa
, June 26, 2011
At first I was a bit disappointed, because the first third of the book was essentially a retelling of The Vampire Voss, I thought. I then realized it was told from Maia’s point of view and she went from the bossy little know it all to someone who was desperately trying to hold her family together. I loved seeing Maia fight her feelings for Dimitri all the while realizing that he was indeed a vampire. There were several times that Gleason had me laughing out loud at Maia trying to come to terms with it. Gleason has done it again, built a world in Regency London that is totally captivating. I love historical paranormals and though this series isn’t quite as fascinating as Gleason’s “Gardella” books (which if you have not read is well worth your time), I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Vampire Voss
by
Colleen Gleason
alterlisa
, June 26, 2011
Having read the “Gardella Chronicles” by Gleason and loving them, I was tickled to death to see her new trilogy of historical paranormals. While the level of mystery and suspense wasn’t there as it was in the “Gardella” books, the sex level was definitely sizzling. I love the world that Gleason has created and especially the albatross that is around the neck of every vampire. The first thing they see upon waking (cat, dog, diamonds, a bird) is something that weakens them and can be used to control them. This is definitely a darker read than a lot of paranormal romance out there and I love this darker vampire world. While I didn’t care for Voss in the beginning, he did begin to grow on me and by the end I thoroughly enjoyed the bantering between him and Angelica. She is a much younger, livelier young woman than her sister, Maia, who is very straight laced. She’s funny and an excellent match for Voss. This book was a very fast read for me and I pretty much read it from start to finish in hours. Luckily I have the next two books in this series and can start them immediately.
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The Hunted of 2060
by
Ami Rebecca Blackwelder
alterlisa
, June 20, 2011
This story starts out pretty much along the same line that many of the young adult books today do, a young girl knows she’s different all her young life and now those changes have manifested with physical changes. Usually it’s a vampire or a shifter. Well, it is a shifter ---of a different kind. Blackwelder manages to take an oft used hook and weaves her own awesome story that was well worth your time. In the year 2060, aliens have previously visited and supposedly been eradicated by the government. Little does the government realize that they have been able to reproduce and now the hybrids are coming of age and coming into their powers. I loved the return trip to Ami Blackwelder’s amazing futuristic world. This time we get heart pounding action and a great love triangle as well as an ongoing saga. This book kept me flipping the pages till I got to the amazing end. While I kind of expected it, Blackwelder managed to totally blow me away with the ending.
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The Shifters of 2040
by
Ami Rebecca Blackwelder
alterlisa
, June 13, 2011
While I read several reviews that referred to this series as paranormal, it is definitely more sci-fi than PR. Luckily, I enjoy both. Paranormal to me is vampires, werewolves and other types of shifters, basically characters that I don’t believe exist. Now aliens from other planets, I’m more open to the possibility of them, so why couldn’t they be shape shifters? I do admit to being a bit overwhelmed with all the information presented at the beginning of the story. I think the glossary would have been a better fit at the back of the book rather than in the beginning. The massive list of alien characters was a bit overwhelming too but it always takes me a bit to settle into the first book of a series anyway. While the first book was not exactly an easy read, it was a fast paced exciting read and once I got about a 100 pages into it was unable to put it down. At this point, the book really took off for me. One thing that bothered me was the level of total distrust and bias against the aliens. As this takes place a mere 25+ years in the future, I didn’t quite buy the pretty much government control of individuals and their loss of rights. I expect the prequels to this book will satisfy some of those questions though. While I’m one who HAS TO read a series in chronological order as I don’t want to learn a single detail till the timing is right, I love that this series is written Circular in time and after beginning with The Shifters of 2040, you can chose to read the past or the future. Awesome concept! Blackwelder’s aliens were remarkable. They were fascinating and quickly grabbed your attention and horror to their hardships and persecution by the human population. This takes place in Alaska and the descriptions of the areas had me picturing the forests and wilderness with no problem at all. If you are in the mood for a great sci-fi read don’t hesitate to pick up this series. It will entertain you for hours and best of all there are already 3 books out with the rest to follow shortly. Nothing than I love better than to find a great series that I don’t have to wait a year between books for.
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Alpha
by
Rachel Vincent
alterlisa
, June 11, 2011
Despite the fact that I bought this book as soon as it was released, I did not read it until a short while ago. Why, you might ask would I buy it in October and allow it to lay on the corner of my desk for months gathering dust? Because, durn it, I knew as soon as I started it, it would be the end of the werecat era! I knew that I would read it in one day and then Faythe, Marc, and Jace would have to be placed on that shelf in my mind only to be brought out every time I saw Vincent’s name or someone else discovered this awesome series and reviewed one of her books. I know that every time I see a review, I’ll have to stop and comment as it was one of my most favorite series. I read few series books as soon as they come out, my preferred style is collecting them and reading them in batches as I hate to wait a year between books. I love being able to finish a book at 2 AM and immediately being able to pick up the next book in the series without that cliffhanger driving me crazy for months. This was a series that I would have loved to have seen Vincent do an off shoot of and do several books on the other females (Kaci, Abby and Melody)in this pride. I even think that the Thunderbirds deserved a book or two of their own. I seriously did not want this to end. Yes, it was a great ending, several surprises I did not see coming and a couple I had hoped for. I sincerely wish I was one of the few that had not already discovered this series just so I could read it all back to back. This series had all the things I enjoy the most, a little romance, a great back story, and enough excitement and mystery to feed my need. Thank you Rachel for sharing your wonderful storyline with me and (hint, hint) I’d be the first in line to squeal if you every decided to change your mind and return to this fabulous world.
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CRAVE
by
Laura J. Burns
alterlisa
, June 08, 2011
I actually rated this a 4 1/2 * but since Powell's only uses whole stars, I'll go five as it's not quite a 4 * book. After a slow start, this book takes off at a speed that will not allow you to put it down. The only thing that annoyed me was I went into it thinking it was a stand alone. About 3/4 of the way through it ��" way before I got to the cliff hanger of all cliff hangers- I knew it could not possibly be wrapped up in one book. Thank goodness I only have to wait till the end of September for the next book-Sacrifice. The characters in this book were so easy to get into. Sick girl Shay was totally fascinating. The authors did such a great job making you see and feel what she was going through on a daily basis, I have to wonder if one of them knew someone growing up that was terminally ill. Her best friend Olivia was there through thick and thin even when Shay wasn’t as good a friend back to her. And Gabriel, who we don’t actually get to meet until half way through the book, was a character of contradictions, that made him so believable. As a lover of paranormal romance, this was an awesome book. As a lover of YA novels, I felt it hit the nail on the head consistently. You would think by know I’d be burnt out on vampire books but the authors have taken the oldest, most used, paranormal creature- the vampire- and penned a fresh new tale that will keep me and others up all night reading just one more chapter. I can definitely recommend this for middle school and up, though I (an adult reader) was just as hooked by this great story.
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Girl in the Steel Corset Steampunk Chronicles
by
Kady Cross
alterlisa
, April 24, 2011
Absolutely, the best YA Steampunk I’ve read to date. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in the late 1890’s it contained everything I love about that London era, throw in the steampunk gadgets and it is a solid winner. It has super power action figures (well kinda of), a bit of romance, mystery, drama, and a cast of characters that were all wonderful in their own right. Finley Jayne (don’t you just love that name) has a bit of a Jekyll/Hyde type of personality and when her rich employer’s son tries to push himself on her, that personality takes over. While escaping from him she is injured in a velocycle accident and Griff’s menagerie of strays takes her in. She quickly discovers that this group of people have many other powers and secrets. Griff’s group is working with the Queen of England to flush out the Machinist, an individual they suspect of turning the machines/androids against the humans. Though the book was told from several POV’s, I was never lost and this book moved at a very fast pace. At nearly 500 pages, it ended way to quickly for me. I’m glad that this is to be a series as I can’t wait to see where their adventures and hopefully romance take them next. Though a young adult book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to readers of Cassandra Clare’s books. It was simply awesome! As I read it as an e-book, I didn’t get to drool over the cover too much (it is gorgeous), but I’ve got a copy on order as I know this is one I’ll want to reread and share with others.
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Goddess Test 01
by
Aimee Carter
alterlisa
, April 24, 2011
OMG, I started this just last night and finished by lunch today. Awesome, simply awesome fantasy romance. I so loved the mythology sprinkled throughout the story and the mystery suspense kept me flipping the pages to see what happened next. The final mystery, I did figure out before the author told me but the rest, wow, not a clue. She kept me guessing right up till the final pages. I really loved the main character Kate. In the beginning, I felt a bit sorry for her as she had basically given up her teenage years to care for her mother who was dying of cancer. Despite spending her whole life in NYC, she agrees to move to a small town, Eden, because her mom wants to die in the town she was born in. She starts her senior year at a new school amongst kids that she has nothing in common with just to make her mom happy. She is way more mature than most 18 year olds are but her unselfishness was a lot of what made me enjoy this book. I heartily get tired of the typical whiny teen depicted in a lot of the YA fiction. Kate basically agrees to sacrifice her happiness and freedom so that others may live. She must pass 7 tests to show the council that she is worthy of taking her place beside Henry and ruling the Underworld. While Kate is determined to learn as much about Henry's world, she must be vigilant as the last dozen girls before her died only months into their time in Henry's world. This is by far the best of the YA books I've read this year and I imagine that even 8 more months down the road, it will come out on top. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series, "Goddess Interrupted" and up to now have only occasionally read fantasy. The romance, mystery, and suspense has upped my enjoyment to the level that I won't hesitate to pick up the next fantasy I come upon.
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Bonded by Blood
by
Laurie London
alterlisa
, April 05, 2011
This was such an easy story to get sucked in to. When I started it, I was totally captivated. I loved the world that London built and was tickled to hear that this was a series. Dominic and Mackenzie were great characters and I can’t wait to visit with them again in “Embraced by Blood” due out in June this year, London’s next book that follows Dom’s brother, Alfonso. Mac has always known that her family was cursed. She doesn’t know why, but members of her family have been disappearing for generations. While out scouting a movie location, she encounters Dominic who has been shot and left for dead. Because she is a “Sweetblood”, her blood saves Dom but causes an unusual bonding with him. This bonding and world building by London were only two things that reminded me of the early Feehan books that started my love affair with this genre. The presence of “good” and “bad” vampires was another. I hope that this series has the longevity of Feehan’s and certainly will be there for the ride.
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Ivy
by
Lauren Kunze
alterlisa
, June 20, 2010
Why is there not a blub available on this book. Other than assuming that "The Ivy' probably pertains to an Ivy league school--what is the book about?
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