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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
Cora has commented on (55) products
Enchantress
by
James Maxwell
Cora
, March 09, 2020
The basic story: Ella and Miro, her brother, are orphans. Ella wants to be an enchanter and works hard selling flowers to raise money to go to school. Miro wants to be a great swordsman, and he’s invited to join an elite group of soldiers who use enchanted gear and weapons to fight and are nearly indestructible. War is coming, and enchanters and soldiers are needed. The story ticks off all the tropes and expectations of its genre. I like this genre, and I’m willing to put up with some predictability. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the twists and turns of the plot. I liked the enchanters’ angle to the magic system. Since I like steampunk stories, I was happy to find dirigibles and machine soldiers (automatons??) in this novel. There are brutal and gory battle scenes. I’m pointing this out as those things may bother some people. Ella and Miro are too perfect. Both are physically attractive and the most intelligent in their fields. I like that Ella is a strong woman, focused, and committed, but a little less perfection would suit the story better. On the flip side, she meets a man and is easily deceived. It’s obvious he’s manipulating her. I found her naiveté annoying. Even after being tricked once, she goes back for seconds. I might have gotten past this if she’d learned something from her first experience, but being duped twice annoyed me.
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Throne of Glass 06 Tower of Dawn
by
Sarah J Maas
Cora
, August 01, 2018
"Tower of Dawn" by Sarah J. Maas is the fifth book in The Throne of Glass Series. In book four, Aelin has been captured, Rowan leaves to rescue her, and the others scramble to keep Aelin’s capture secret. Chaol doesn't appear in the fourth book. He's off-stage, physically paralyzed, and in Antica, where Torre healers practice magic and might be able to heal him. He's also trying to forge an alliance with Antica to help Aelin fight the world again the Valg. “Tower of Dawn” is about Chaol and Nesryn’s time in Antica. They arrive in the city to discover that the khagan’ daughter has died. Her death starts a mystery and intrigue that runs throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. This novel adds to the understanding of the world Maas has created and adds a new set of characters. Maas is excellent at creating suspense and plot twists, and there are plenty in this book. If you like Chaol, you are going to love this book. If you don’t like Chaol, my guess is he’ll become either a lot more likable. Because Nesryn is from Antica, we learn more about her and her culture. In the other books, she was a secondary character and mostly in the background. In this story, she comes into her own. Maas has written another excellent story. I can’t wait for the final book, "Kingdom of Ash," which will be released in October.
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Throne of Glass 03 Heir of Fire
by
Sarah J Maas
Cora
, July 04, 2018
In “Heir of Fire,” Celaena is alone in another country, Wendlyn, trying and failing to come to terms with her new life. This story moves back and forth between what is happening with Celaena and the other characters. There’s some scary shit in this book. We got a taste of the witch culture in the last book, but in “Heir of Fire” we see the witch culture up close. They are badass. There’s a lot of praise I could heap upon this book. The new characters are fascinating and complex. As the novel unfolds, more and more of the Fae culture comes to light. The witches and their culture shake things up, making the growing danger more threatening. Lot’s of cool stuff. The evil of the King and his cohorts deepens. However, I found most of Celaena’s training repetitive and tedious. Except for a couple of scenes in her long training time, nothing new happens. The rest of the story deals with what is happening back in the Glass Castle, comes up to the standard of the first two books. Readers who love this series will probably disagree with me, but there it is. What saves the book is the movement back and forth between what is happening to Celaena and what’s happening with the other characters. Chaol Westfall is going through a sea change. Dorian grapples with the magical power he discovers in the second book and tries to master his power. There’s a new evil, Celaena and Rowan discover. The king commits a shocking evil act.
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Throne of Glass 02 Crown of Midnight
by
Sarah J Maas
Cora
, July 04, 2018
Crown of Midnight, Sarah J. Maas’ second book in the “Throne of Glass” series, begins with Celaena Sardothien dealing with the reality of being the King’s assassin. She has a two-fold problem. She doesn’t want to kill people for the king, but he must believe she is his loyal assassin. Second, he’s evil and her enemy. To work for her enemy became her pathway out of a horrible prison. I often dread the second book in a series. I was surprised that I enjoyed Crown of Midnight as much as I did the first book. The story continued at a good pace, setting out more mysteries, and more twists. The king outlawed all magic. Anyone who has managed to hang onto their power is in danger and if discovered will be killed. Some people still have their gifts and have to hide their power from the authorities. That’s the situation at the beginning of Crown of Midnight. The romantic triangle between Celaena, Dorian, and Chaol heats up. I did have several moments of wondering why in the middle of danger and intrigue Celaena continued her obsession with clothes. But, I forgive her, she’s eighteen. What eighteen-year-olds wouldn’t grab the opportunity to get all the beautiful things she loves. One thing you can count on from Sarah J. Maas is her plot twists and mysteries. This book doesn’t disappoint. There are also plenty of surprises and additional characters. We also learn more about the world and its peoples. We meet witches and fae, yay. The witches are every bit as scary as they should be. We also learn more about Celaena and who she is. If you haven’t read Throne of Glass, start there. Everything in Crown of Midnight will make a lot more sense. So far, it’s a great series, especially if you like kick-ass heroines, lots of action, mysteries, romance, and plot twists. My one disappointment was that I kept waiting for Celaena to demonstrate that she was the best and greatest assassin in the kingdom.
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Throne of Glass
by
Sarah J Maas
Cora
, July 04, 2018
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is the first book in the “Throne of Glass” series. Two things about Sarah J. Maas before I discuss the book. She delivers strong female characters, and her stories are action-packed with intriguing, complex worlds and interesting characters. Celeana Sardothien is an assassin who has been through hell when the story opens. She’s smart-mouthed, witty, and unpredictable, all things I love in a character. She’s thrown into the world of her enemies and forced to cooperate with a King she hates. The story hooked me immediately. The world is standout, and the characters interesting and diverse. Things I loved about the book are: 1. Maas delivers a fascinating, diverse, complex, fully developed fantasy world that builds as the series continues. 2. Celeana is a complex character, sometimes a little unlikable, which makes her seem more real. 3. Chaol Westfall: he’s the captain of the King’s guards and a good guy living in an evil world. To me, he’s far more interesting than Prince Dorian. Yes, there’s a love triangle. Chaol’s innocence about the king and his court and his high moral values make him vulnerable. 4. There’s some pretty weird stuff going on in the story. A little spoiler, to fully understand the dark and twisted things of this world, you have to keep reading the series. I recommend Throne of Glass and the rest of the series.
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Reawakened
by
Houck, Colleen
Cora
, August 14, 2017
I’m a fan of YA fantasy and science fiction books. What I like about them is their honesty, which might sound a little weird because YA books are almost always coming of age stories. In many ways, unless we just quit growing as a person, we all have a number of coming of age moments in our lives. In novels, these moments are called story arcs. Reawakened by Colleen Houck was a fun read. So, why is this book fun? Let me name the reasons: A quest to Egypt to save the world; Lots of Egyptian myths and tales; Houck does an excellent job of seamlessly mixing those myths into her story; A modern teenage girl questing with a multi-millennial Egyptian prince creates some amusing moments; Interesting magic that I could imagine in a mummy movie. At the heart of the story, a teenage crushes on a mummy who has come to life to save the world. Even that was fun because a reader knows that by the end of the book Lily will have to deal with the "prince of Egypt" returning to his grave. I was prepared for a Hollywood or “deus ex machina” ending, but I was pleasantly surprised that I got something more gutsy. There are more books, so I’m guessing Amon might reappear. There were hints in the text—gotta love foreshadowing. If you like YA books with a sweet romance, and if you like Egyptian myths, you’ll enjoy this book. Even a non-romantic like me enjoyed it.
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Grisha Trilogy 03 Ruin & Rising
by
Leigh Bardugo
Cora
, July 31, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing is excellent, but the story and the characters falter. The beginning is slow. Alina is hiding. She’s lost the strength of character she developed over the first two books, never to fully regain her inner strength. The Apparat is hiding them and trying to control Alina. He’s a weak antagonist. The Darkling and the world outside the caves is worse than ever, but that’s off stage. Alina is going to hunt the firebird, but that adventure doesn’t begin right away. When Nikolai returns to help her, the story begins in earnest, and he’s charming, witty, and injected action back into the story. The later half of the book works better than the first half. For me, and I realize that many readers will find Mel a heartthrob, he doesn’t live up to the potential I saw in the first book. The Darkling still has power over Alina, which ads some tension to the story. Alina’s choices seem more like the middle book of a trilogy. The romance gets settled; however, there’s a Deus ex Machina wrap up that left me unsatisfied. I felt Alina took the easy way out. In YA fantasy, romance is mandatory. I usually ignore that part of the YA genre because the outcome is always predictable with little variation. There’s a pattern to these romances, and Ruin and Rising follows the safe path, which is a shame because the ending could have been much more powerful.
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Shadow & Bone 02 Siege & Storm
by
Leigh Bardugo
Cora
, July 24, 2017
In Siege and Storm, the second book in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy, the adventure continues. There’s plenty of action and romance. There is a long section in the middle where the story and my reading slowed to a crawl. Of the three books, I had more problems with Alina and Mel in this book. For me, there is too much back and forth romance troubles that didn’t move the romance or the main plot forward, which detracted from the story. She does come under the Darkling’s power, and I had to remind myself of that as I read. She takes actions that are questionable and reckless. A few of her actions seem to be choices rather than “under the thrall of” dark magic. Mel becomes pouty, moody, and acts out more than I could buy. Knowing Mel from the first book, his actions didn’t go with what I knew of him. The beginning and end of the book are action-packed, fast-paced page-turners. Those sections carry the book. That said, we meet a pirate, who is a rake, unpredictable, and out for himself. Yay! He stole the show with personality and likableness. We also are introduced to Ravkan Prince Nikolai, and he’s a different kind of delightful. Can we trust him? Who knows? Can he be charming? Yes. He’s on my like list too. (If you’ve read the book, I’m going for few spoilers.) I would like to give this 3.5 stars, but Bardugo’s writing carries a reader through those flabby parts.
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Shadow and Bone
by
Leigh Bardugo
Cora
, July 17, 2017
If you’ve read Leigh Bardugo’s newer books, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, you’ll be predisposed to love Shadow and Bone, the first in the Grisha Trilogy. I like the complex characters, the world, and the magic system. Bardugo knows how to weave a story. I fell in love with her world and her characters. This book seems to start slow, which is an illusion because the story takes off and never slows down. The Shadow Fold, a cursed area in this war torn world, is a zillion times scarier than our worst nightmares. Alina survives the attack to discover she has a power that can fight against the curse of the Shadow Fold. When the Darkling, the leader of the Grisha, arrives to question Alina, she and the reader realize the man is well named, and this inexperienced teenager will have to stand up to what’s ahead. The adventure starts with a bang and the momentum keeps building until the end. It’s a page-turner, so be prepared. These books are darker than the Six of Crow, fascinating, and enjoyable. There is a love story, which becomes complex. If you’ve read my reviews, you’ll know that sometimes I get impatient with romantic stories. This book was no exception. My frustration comes from Alina, who is otherwise an intelligent, strong character and somehow manages to act as if she has mush for brains. However, love and lust make people act crazy, and I admit that when dark magic is involved her actions probably reflect that influence.
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Collapsing Empire Book 1
by
John Scalzi
Cora
, July 03, 2017
I’m going to try and do this as spoiler free as I can. I think everyone with a sense of humor and a sense of the absurdity of modern life should read it. The book’s humor is sometimes subtle and often blatant. The characters are diverse, ranging from crazy to almost normal. Most of the dialogue (banter) is very amusing, you may have to stifle a chuckle or two. The world is interesting, and I’m looking forward to more books about this world and the characters. There is enough unexpected to make the book more than enjoyable. When a vast empire that spans billions of miles of space depends on “Flow” for faster than light-speed travel as well as commerce and the “Flow” begins to collapse, as it’s done before, “things fall apart” might be an understatement. Every possible bad thing that could go wrong does! This world has some very interesting bits that I won’t spoil by giving them away. The crazy characters range from smart to fairly stupid, just like life. For me, they are the reason I couldn’t wait to find time to read. I don’t really want to say much about the plot because it might dilute the story for some readers. I’ll say this: the story is told from shifting points of view. I found all the point of view characters engaging and didn’t have any desire to shim though any character’s chapters. I actually, looked forward to getting back to each character’s story. So, if you like science fiction with humor, satire, and crazy characters, go get the book and read it.
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Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4)
by
Marissa Meyer
Cora
, March 03, 2017
Winter by Marissa Meyer is the last book in the Lunar Chronicles serial. It’s a retelling of Snow White with the other characters from the first three books. This book is a whopping 800 plus pages. If you’ve read the other books, the length probably won’t be a problem because if you are like me, you’ll want to find out what happens to the characters. All the books are full of action, suspense, romance, and complex plot twists. There’s never a dull moment, and you’ll often be on the edge of your seat, reading fast so you can find out what’s going to happen next. As a final book, Meyer does a good job of tying up all the various plot points and brings all the relationships to good conclusions — the plague, the evil Queen, the wolf-men (not to be confused with werewolves), and other questions that came up in the other books, even Cinder’s relationship with her stepmother and stepsister. There’s something satisfying about reading a book that doesn’t leave you hanging or wondering what happen to plot lines or characters you had questions about. I thought Winter got short changed in this book. She didn’t get as much book time as the other characters did in their books, and I didn’t find her character as engaging as the others. When Scarlet gets impatient with her, I was feeling the impatience too. She is innocent, vulnerable, and damsel-in-distress kind of weak. Also, the major plot seems a little far-fetched, and I had to keep reminding myself, “This is a young adult book.” The other books could have set up the major plot line of this book a little better. “It” (not giving the “it” away) happened too fast to be completely plausible. Overall, I recommend The Lunar Chronicles. All the books are fasted paced, there’s an element of all the fairy tales in the books that’s fun, but the setting and world that Meyer created is fantastic. The plot complexity and twists are often unexpected and always fun. All characters are varied, and I got attached to all of them, and absolutely loved a couple of them. If you want fun, adventurous, “I can wait to find out what happens next” books, you’ll enjoy The Lunar Chronicles.
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Lunar Chronicles 03 Cress
by
Marissa Meyer
Cora
, February 16, 2017
Cress, the third book in Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series, is set in the distant future. In Cress, we meet an ace hacker with a desire to escape her prison. She’s Rapunzel trapped in a Luna satellite with her computers and a desire to escape. She spends her days hacking, spying, and falling in love with earth’s culture and people. She especially studies the dashing Captain Carswell Thorne. The characters from the other books want to defeat the Queen and need Cress’ computer expertise. They plan to rescue her, and the story begins. I’ve enjoyed the characters in this series, but Cress is one of my favorites. She’s sweet, naive, and socially awkward. Plus, she has a big brain, oozing with intelligence. She doesn’t have a family, and suddenly finds that those she’s admired and cheered from afar want to help her. Of course, as I’ve come to expect in these stories, very few things go as planned. I’m not a huge fan of the girls and women in old fairy tales because they are mostly helpless: for the most part, they are acquiescent, kind, beautiful, and saved by men, or they are evil and get their just rewards for not fitting into the proper role of a female. Meyer has created characters, female and male, who are complex and relatable. No wimps! Meyer does an excellent job of building the relationships among these characters. Cress’ crush on Thorne is adorable, and their banter is some of the best parts of the book.
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Come Twilight
by
Tyler Dilts
Cora
, January 31, 2017
I bought Come Twilight when it first came out, and for some reason, didn’t get around to reading it. Then last week, I saw that the book has been nominated for an Edgar Award and decided I’d better read it. There are four books in Tyler Dilts “Long Beach Homicide Series”, and I’ve enjoyed each book, but so far, this one is my favorite. Danny Beckett and his partner Jennifer Tanaka are solving another homicide, but along the way Danny finds himself a victim, and this becomes a two mysteries book. I’ll admit that I figured things out a little earlier than I would have liked, but I’m also one of those annoying people who manages to pick up all the clues and put things together before other people. That didn’t matter because this was the kind of book I just couldn’t put down, and I finished it in one day. There are great things about this book. The character development is excellent. I would have read the book just to find out how things turned out for Danny Beckett. The plot is engaging. I’m a pretty big geek, so there were some fun moments for me. I won’t give them away because they made me chuckle, and I wouldn’t want to rob another geek of giggle moments. As always, the descriptions are outstanding, and I love the setting. It’s always fun when you know the locations, have eaten in the restaurants, and have walked in the same places as the characters. Dilts does an excellent job of bringing the setting to life and capturing the atmosphere.
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Lunar Chronicles 02 Scarlet
by
Marissa Meyer
Cora
, January 23, 2017
The second book in Marissa Meyer’s serial The Lunar Chronicles takes up where Cinder ended. Scarlet is Little Red Riding Hood meets Cinderella for a rip-roaring adventure. Although this story’s focus is primarily on Scarlet and her friend Wolf, Cinder, Prince Kai, Iko are still a big part of the story. Cinder and Scarlet’s storylines begin separately but their paths eventually intersect. There’s a prison break, flights into space, trips to France, a worldwide plague, and the invasion of genetically modified humans. We are also briefly introduced to Cress, Rapunzel, who is a prisoner on a space station. Scarlet is as exciting and action-packed as Cinder. Again, Meyer weaves an intriguing tale about two familiar characters whose lives are very different from the fairy tales we know. Along the way, a few mysteries are solved and others emerge. We are introduced to new characters: SCARLET is strong, fights for what she believes in, and stands up to people no matter who they are. She’s looking for her missing grandmother, who raised her. WOLF is a street fighter, who is part of a “pack” of Luna genetically modified humans. He is a dangerous, volatile character capable of betrayal and loyalty. CAPTAIN CARSWELL THORNE, AKA Captain is King: I love this character. His charm is on a level of Han Solo in Star Wars. Meyer has built a complex, detailed, interesting world. In this book, we get to see more of the world: the Eastern Kingdom, France, and adventures into space.
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Lunar Chronicles 01 Cinder
by
Meyer, Marissa
Cora
, January 12, 2017
Cinder is a cyborg, mechanic. Add Prince Kai, throw in a plague with no cure, a plot to take over the earth, and wicked Queen Levana of Luna, and you have a fun, a well-paced story with lots of twists and turns. Marissa Meyer weaves an excellent tale, creating a fresh and intriguing retelling of the Cinderella story. Her future science fiction world is fully developed and fast paced with political as well as social issues as key elements to the plot. Although Cinder echoes the fairy tale, most readers won’t be disappointed. The story could easily stand on it’s own. The characters are fully developed and complex. I love Iko, Cinder’s android. She has a fantastic personality, a programming glitch. The setting, New Beijing, is detailed and interesting. The story would have kept me reading, but the setting added an extra zing factor. It’s a nice mix of future, science fiction, and familiarity. It’s a fun read. However, there are a couple of things that might bother a few readers: 1) The Lunar Chronicles isn’t a series. Cinder is the start of a serial, which for me was okay. I like the cliffhanger aspect leading into the next book. 2) Although Cinder is a new story, there are predictable twists in the story, which mostly result from readers’ familiarity with Cinderella, which can be enjoyable. Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales, science fiction, and a rip-roaring story.
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Little Nothing
by
Marisa Silver
Cora
, October 05, 2016
Little Nothing by Marisa Silver is a complex, layered fairy tale. The story’s delight is that it subverts traditional and modern storytelling with unpredictable twists and turns. At its heart, this is a tale of Pavla and Danilo’s unrequited love and their personal transformative journeys. When they have their palms read and are told, “One of you will be brave and one of you will be a coward,” the ideas is key and stuck with me as I read. There’s much to love about this story. The writing is lovely and vivid. I savored the complexity of this open-ended story and found the exploration of personal transformation in extreme adversity gripping. Pavla’s shapeshifting allows her to transcend the horrors of her life and find power when she has none. The love story is not a typical Hollywood tale because Danilo and Pavla are too broken to imagine the other feels the same. Fairy tales should have an internal logic that fits the story world. Pavla’s first transformation felt strange and unbelievable. It lacked internal story consistency. In addition, most of the novel is relentlessly bleak and heartbreaking. Often, I wished for a moment of respite and hope. This book isn’t for everyone. Little Nothing is often in your face with the grisly aspects of Pavla and Danilo’s lives. If you prefer the Brothers Grimm to Disney, if you love gritty, ambiguous tales, if you jump for joy at open-ended stories, you’ll enjoy Little Nothing.
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His Majestys Dragon Temeraire 01
by
Naomi Novik
Cora
, October 02, 2016
I was enchanted with His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik. What I Liked: The writing is excellent. I love dragons, so I immediately fell in love with Temeraire, an intelligent dragon who speaks to humans. I found the relationship between Captain Laurence and Temeraire endearing. In many ways, this is a quiet book about a man’s journey into a new relationship, a new career, and a new lifestyle. Novik captures the Victorian manners and sensibilities, especially in Captain Laurence. This probably seems a little odd, but Laurence is a rather uptight, upper-class Brit, who adheres to his class’ sense of morality. Once he joins the air corps, he finds himself among people who are far more casual and challenge his sensibilities. I enjoyed his personal growth and change. He changes but retains his essence. Some have described the characters as flat. I didn't find that to be true. Laurence is a product of his time, and his personality reflects his cultural upbringing. The alternate history is exciting and great fun. What I Wasn’t Crazy About: There was a lack of strong, complex female characters. There were female characters but they were more props than fully developed characters. I found this book fun and engaging enough to continue the series. I would caution readers who are looking for high adventure and continuous war with flying dragons; this isn’t that kind of book.
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Six of Crows
by
Leigh Bardugo
Cora
, August 12, 2016
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is a winner: an action/adventure, young adult fantasy novel. Imagine James Bourne as a teenager with a gang, and you’ll understand the kind of story it is. This book is set in the same world as Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy, but you don’t need to read the trilogy before Six of Crows. The story is about a group of misfit teens who struggle to stay alive in a city that doesn’t care if they live or die. There’s graphic violence and some sexual content. What I Loved: The characters are complex and engaging. I loved Nina from the beginning and found Kaz intriguing because he is so damaged. The plot has lots of twists and turns as well as edge of your seat, nail-biting action. The writing and storytelling are fantastic, and the dialogue is excellent. What I Wasn't Crazy About: The background for each character is told through flashbacks. Sometimes extensive flashbacks slowed the story. Have you ever watched a movie and the guys who's planning something, says, "Here's what we're gonna do" and the scene fades? Sure, it's done for suspense and surprise, but feels like cheating and withholding information. I'm not a fan of the strategy. Overall, this is a great book and a fun read. I'm looking forward to meeting these characters again in the second book, which comes out next month.
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Uprooted
by
Naomi Novik
Cora
, August 05, 2016
Naomi Novik's "Uprooted": Friendship, Magic, and Adventure! “Uprooted” is rooted in Slavic folk tales, which are often dark and complex. The story is set in Polnya (Poland). The local wizard is named Dragon, and Baba Yaga, a famous character in Slavic tales, is mentioned several times in the story The writing is lovely, detailed, full of imagery, and magic. There’s a strong bond between female characters. The details of the magic and the world building are vivid, complete, and subtle. I felt as if I were caught up in a fairy tale, transported to another time and place. There is something horrific about fairy tales, and this book captures that essence. The book is action packed and keeps rolling along with enough twists and turns to fill a number of novels. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, they do. There are plenty of wrong headed characters, who do things that make me cringe, knowing the outcome is going to be terrible. Sometimes it’s Agnieszka, the protagonist, who blunders into a mess. Although I found the writing lovely, there were a few times I wanted to get on with the story and cut to the chase. In those places, I found myself skimming. Sometimes, I found myself longing for some dialogue. The book is dense with lovely prose and short on dialogue. This is a wonderful story and deserves Nebula Award it won. Everyone who loves fantasy should read it.
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Soulless Parasol Protectorate 01
by
Gail Carriger
Cora
, December 12, 2015
Gail Carriger’s book Soulless is a fun Steampunk read. Soulless is the first book in The Parasol Protectorate series. What makes this book is the protagonist Alexia Tarabotti. Her voice, snarky and witty, is delightful, and she’s strong and independent — she’s a Steampunk Elizabeth Bennett. The strength of this book is the dialogue: it’s fresh and funny. Even in the middle of danger, Alexia can turn a delightful phrase. Plus there’s some mystery, lots of diverse characters, and a London populated with creatures of the dark, who are trying to live among humans. This book is action, adventure, mystery, romance, and Victorian sex. From the beginning, I was engaged with the character and the fast paced story. I usually don’t like romance story lines. I loved this one. The plot isn’t exactly new. In some ways, it’s standard and somewhat predictable, but getting to the end is an entertaining ride. The love scenes between Alexia and Lord Maccon, an attractive werewolf, were somewhat random and seemed a little out of place in the Victorian setting: in the middle of the street, in the parlor, in the middle of a dangerous scene. There’s the danger of being caught, and indeed their passion does get interrupted a couple of times. Because the book is humorous, I did wondered if Carriger was poking fun at romance books and movies? I completely enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a light-hearted, witty, and romantic diversion, read this one.
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Write Your Novel From The Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between
by
James Scott Bell
Cora
, November 28, 2015
Although I didn’t think writing a novel from the middle sounded very promising, I decided to give James Scott Bell’s book Write Your Novel from the Middle a try. I love Bell’s books on writing, so I wasn’t surprised that this book is another winner. There’s a ton of valuable information. It’s practical, down-to-earth, and eye-opening. The important middle is what Scott calls “the mirror moment.” It’s not a scene but a moment when the lead character metaphorically looks in the mirror and confronts something in his life. The midpoint is important because everything hangs in the balance for the lead and the story can go in different directions from this point onward. If you figure out your midpoint, that knowledge helps you write the beginning and the end. I recommend this to fiction writers who want to improve their stories and storytelling.
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Half a King Shattered Sea Book 1
by
Joe Abercrombie
Cora
, August 28, 2015
After seeing and hearing Joe Abercrombie’s name all over the Internet, I decided to read one of his books. I had no plan. I chose the first book on my Kindle search, Half a Prince. I didn’t realize it was a YA book until I started reading, which was fine. I love YA books. Wow, Abercrombie knows how to tell a story. Half a King is a page turner. The beginning was a little slow, but the storytelling is so good I was pulled into the story immediately. I really like this kid. Brief Summary: This story is all about Prince Yarvi, who has a mangled stump for an arm and is basically ignored by family and kingdom. He’s studying magic and soon will test to become a minister, an adviser and wise person. His father and brother are warriors. They are strong, fierce, and beloved. Yarvi is soft, physically weak, and not admired, but he’s happy with his lot and tries to ignore the bullying. Well, he’s happy for a few page, until he finds out his father and brother are dead. He becomes king and is immediate betrayed and left for dead in the Shattered Sea. Yeah, the Shattered Sea is as nasty as it sounds. Bent on revenge, he struggles to return home and take back his throne. Imagine the worst things that could happen on his journey, and you’ll have a good idea of where the story goes. This is not a light-hearted adventure. It’s dark and grueling. It’s full of twists as our soft and kind hero becomes hardened. What I Liked: Yarvi is a reluctant hero who problems, issues, and the usual amount teenage uncertainty, which he hides beneath an acquiescent demeanor. He’s about as real as a character can be. He makes several small and major mistakes. I cringed a couple of times, trying to warning him, but alas, fictional characters never listen. He also does the right thing often enough to make up for those missteps. The other characters are delightful, often not in a good way. This is a gritty tale and with a cast of characters who make Long John Silver look like a sweetie. The fantasy world and the magic are engaging and complex. There are levels of complexity as the story unfolds. Fantasy sometimes fall into a the simple good and evil dichotomy trap. This story doesn’t. There’s a twist at the end, which I won’t give away. What I Wasn’t Crazy About: There were parts of the story I would have liked more detail. Sometimes Abercrombie summarized events and the passage of time when I would have liked more scenes. I understand why he did this. I can honestly say there weren’t any passage that I skimmed, which is good��"I hate books that slow, and I find myself skimming whole sections. Along the same lines, I would have liked more details about the magic system, but this is rather picky because there are two more books, and I’m sure those details will come. A few people have complained that the book is too dark. I didn’t think so, but you should realize that I like dark stories and complex characters with dark sides. Final Thoughts: Half a King is an excellent fantasy adventure, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
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Three Great Lies
by
Vanessa Maclellan
Cora
, August 15, 2015
Vanessa Maclellan’s debut novel Three Great Lies is a fun romp into ancient Egypt or what ancient Egypt would be if the gods and the children of gods walked the streets. Magical Thebes, here we come. If you like paranormal novels with a romantic subplot, portals into other worlds, and Egyptian myths, you’ll enjoy this book. What I liked: There are a lot of things to like about this book. Jeanette’s personal growth, which organically evolves as the story unfolds. Maclellan handles the supernatural elements of the story expertly. They are a natural part of the story and never feel tacked on or forced. The descriptions of life in ancient Egypt are realistic and woven naturally into the story. I had a vivid sense of place. The clashing of Jeanette’s contemporary mindset and sensibilities with her companions’ and their society’s ancient sensibilities and beliefs added depth and richness to the story. Jeanette’s backpack! I know it sounds weird, but throughout the story she carries her backpack full of sundry 21st century goodies, like towelettes, a first aid kit, and of course, protein bars. This and the water bottle she carries and refills amused me. I thought of the backpack as her security blanket. Okay, I probably got more of a kick out of this than most people would. What I wasn’t crazy about: These are minor issues. It took me a couple of chapters to start liking Jeanette. The setup was too short. The novel starts out with action packed fun, and I thought, “Yay!.” However, I didn’t connect with Jeanette until later. So, if you like action and don’t mind waiting to get to know the character, this won’t be a problem for you. If you want to connect with the character right away, hang in there. The connection will come. The romance was a stretch for me, but if you’re read my reviews, you know I rarely find romance compelling, unless it’s Pride and Prejudice. My daughter would say I’m not qualified to judge romances. Last Thoughts: For me, this is a fun story with a lot of punch. The punch comes from the natural unfolding of character growth, which highlights social and cultural issues. Jeanette confronts complex questions of right and wrong actions and finds there aren’t easy answers. As in life, complex issues aren’t simple, and the lines between right and wrong can be blurry. This is a lovely first novel, and I’m definitely looking forward to Maclellan’s next book.
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Kindred
by
Octavia Butler
Cora
, July 11, 2015
What Took Me So Long? All book lovers do this crazy thing. Because they love books and stories, they have a ton of books they haven’t gotten around to reading. I’ve had Kindred by Octavia E. Butler for ages, years. Not reading Kindred as soon as I bought it was a big mistake. It turns out I love this book. I mean I really love it. If you’re read time travel books and like them, very few can compete with Kindred, well The Devil’s Arithmetic is excellent. The Power of Kindred The book is gripping, emotional, and rooted in reality. Dana, an educated black woman married to a white man in 1976, is pulled back in time to 1815 Maryland. Rufus, her great great grandfather, is a slave owner and a child when she firsts meets him. When Dana learns Rufus is an ancestor, I immediately thought he would be a man who lived above the culture of his time, but as Dana is pulled back to Rufus, he’s behavior is typical of slave owners. I wanted him to change and become the man I imagined, but he didn’t. As the years pass, he becomes more and more like his father and those around him. I think the power of this story is the reality and harsh truth that culture and mores help shape us and few rise above their time. As I became more acquainted with life on the plantation, with the position of field slaves and house slaves, with the brutality of slave owners and slave overseers, I found myself experiencing life through Dana’s experiences. Her life on the plantation becomes reality, more so than 1976 because Dana spends little time in her present. The beauty of Butler’s style is that although I’m white, I could easily relate to Dana, and so when she travels back in time to 1815, her experience on the plantation becomes mine. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you close the book. For me, the power is in the story of those on the plantation and their limits. This isn’t Tara of Gone with the Wind seen through white eyes. It’s real. Not just the dangers, but the everyday life. The moments of hope mixed with the horrors that such a culture brings. Dana is limited in how she can respond, and yet, her relationship with Rufus gives her some freedoms she wouldn’t have had. Late in the book, a reader learns that her relationship with Rufus also colored and shaped the way the other slaves saw and judged her. The time travel and how it works is never explained, which worked for me. It just happened. Readers know it is Rufus who pulls her back. Each time he’s either near death or has gotten himself into deep trouble, and Dana saves him. While the people on the plantation age, Dana doesn’t. She might be home for hours or days before she is pulled back again, but time on the plantation moves forward until Rufus’ death. The Negatives Okay, I love this story so much, that I dismiss the negatives some people bring up, but here’s a list of some critiques. 1) Dana and racism: some critics point out that as a black woman, she would have experienced racism in 1976. I agree, she would have, but I was born and raised in and near Los Angeles. Even in 1976, an educated person in Los Angeles wouldn’t experience the “in-your-face” kind of racism found in this book. Mixed marriages might have been unusual in other parts of the US, but not in Southern California. From my experience growing up, I didn’t have a problem with Dana’s reactions to racism. 2) Dana didn’t do anything to change the time or the people. This critique surprises me. Would we really want someone going back in time and mucking around with history? Dana focused on Rufus and tried to influence him to become a better man. As it turns out her efforts were a lost cause. Kevin helped slaves escape to freedom. For me, these are two ordinary people who have to find a way to live in a hostile and “foreign” land. If they started spouting prophecies about the future or trying to invent future technology, who knows what would have happened to them and the future. 3) Some people complain they didn’t know Dana was black. The cover sort of gives it away without the author telling us on page one. Okay, I’m being a little snarky. I’m that way when someone criticizes Firefly too. Last Thoughts Go read the book!
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Fragmented Metropolis Los Angeles 1850 1930
by
Robert M Fogelson
Cora
, May 24, 2015
I'm currently writing a novel set in 1890 Los Angeles and reading The Fragmented Metropolis: Los Angeles, 1850-1930 was part of my research. I'd planned on read up to the 1900s, but found the book engaging and finished it. Since I was born in Los Angeles and raised in the suburbs, I'd say Robert M. Fogelson captures the urban history, and his book hits the highlights and events, which shaped Los Angeles. Some of the history as well as the corruption and business influences, I knew. I didn’t know the depth and breadth of those influences, but I wasn’t surprised. I enjoyed Fogelson's analysis, which clarified some of the early history. I’ve always wondered how the influence of the rancheros and the Mexican culture dissipated. As a young girl, I had friends from that cultural background and realized their rich history was both present and pushed to the background of popular culture. Anyone who watches the Rose Bowl Parade gets a glimpse of that heritage. My parents moved to California after WWII, and I grew up hearing their stories about the wonders of Los Angeles. I even think I have a memory of riding the trolleys; however, I was so young, I have a feeling my memory is based more on my parents’ remembrances rather than my reality. Some readers might find the book a little dry and academic, which wasn't the case for me, but I wanted to throw that out to forewarn readers. The book covers: LA's Mexican roots, which some people newer to the area don't realize or choose to forget; Southern California’s ongoing need for water sources; transportation--I've always been fascinated by stories of old timers who remember a working and extensive public transportation system, which was dismantled to "force" cars into the picture (thank you, Standard Oil, et al); public utility movement; the feud between Los Angeles and San Diego, which is interesting and rife with underhanded political and business deals; the progressive movement. When I saw pictures of the Los Angeles River in this book, I bought another book on the river. To me, the LA River has always been a trickle of water or a completely dried up concrete system, which weaves its way to the ocean. If you are interested in Los Angeles and its history, this is a great book. I strongly recommend it.
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Paper Magician
by
Charlie N Holmberg
Cora
, May 22, 2015
The premise of The Paper Magician is that magic comes from man-made materials. I found this fascinating, and I bought the book because I was curious to find out exactly how debut author Charlie N. Holmberg would make magic from paper. What I Liked: 1) Ceony Twill is a complex protagonist and mostly likeable. I got into her character almost immediately, which is always a good sign. She is brave and intelligent. 2) Ceony is a great cook and her interest in food enhances the story. 3) The paper magic is fascinating and fun. The world of The Paper Magician makes some promises of being intriguing. 4) Holmberg let’s the details of the magic unfold a little at a time, so the reader learns more about the magic as the story moves along. 5) Paper Magician Emery Thane is a little mysterious, distant, but kind to Ceony. I assumed he realized becoming a paper magician was a huge disappointment to her and was trying to make her life easier. What Didn’t Strike My Fancy: 1) I don’t mind a little inconsistency in a story; however, we learn that magic in this world comes from man-made materials not nature, and yet Thane is kidnapped by a blood magician, someone who uses blood to do magic. This is dark, forbidden magic, but the discrepancy was never explained. 2) Emery Thane’s character wasn’t developed enough for me to get into and care what happened to him. My investment in Ceony carried the story. 3) The pace of the story was a little jarring, and about a third into the book, the story is rushed, and character development and world building fell aside. 4) The story development is uneven and often unbelievable. In the first section, we are in a story about learning magic (Harry Potter-ish), and in the second section, we find ourselves in an adventure/love story with some funky magic going on. 5) I found it unlikely and uncharacteristic that Ceony would disregard authority, run off, and risk her life and her future for a man she barely knows. She is completely unqualified to run off and save Thane by herself. I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief. 6) The bond between Ceony and Thane wasn’t fully developed. I wasn’t invested in his character, nor did I feel he was engaging and likeable. He was almost the stereotypical brooding hero. 7) The teacher/student relationship was more firmly established, and at the point in the story when he’s kidnapped, Ceony didn’t seem to be unusually close to him. The student/teacher crush turned rather suddenly into something deeper and didn’t ring true to me. Last Thoughts: Although the plot has some flaws, Ceony is an interesting character and the world of magic engaging enough for me to want to learn more about it. The flaws were almost a deal breaker for me, especially the unrealistic headlong rush into danger and the inappropriate romance. I think both these problems could have been addressed with more character development and a pace that allowed the reader to see how these developments progressed. Holmberg is a new author, and I think she has a lot of potential to develop as a storyteller. My final thought is that a young adult reader might not find the uneven pacing and the romance as flawed as I do.
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Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling
by
Donald Maass
Cora
, April 13, 2015
Donald Maass’ book Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling is my favorite how-to book for writers. Maass take both a common sense and analytical approach to evaluating 21st century fiction. He points out that novels have also evolved to meet the needs and wants of readers, and successful writers understand this. “High-impact comes from a combination of two factors: great stories and beautiful writing . . . The publishing industry has a convenient term for these wonder books: literary/commercial fiction.” (2-3) Maass argues that successful 21st century novels are high-impact novels. They appeal to the masses and cross over from genre or literary fiction to the bestseller lists. What they have in common is that like genre fiction, they tell great stories, and like literary fiction, they are beautifully written and explore character. He also says, “[High-impact] panders to no one. It speaks to everyone.” Sounds like good news for writers! “Commercial and literary successes are the result of hard work, instinct, study, and the honing of craft. They are not mutually exclusive . . . strong storytelling and beautiful writing are the twin elements that make a big lasting impression on readers.” (208-09) His chapters give writers the tools for hard work, study, and honing your craft. Here’s a breakdown of the chapters: Chapters 1 & 2: Current trends and rising above a category. Chapters 3 & 4: The writer’s inner and outer journeys. Chapter 5: Standout Character; this is an excellent chapter. Chapter 6: Three levels of story; his breakdown of scene writing is impressive. Chapter 7: Beautiful Prose; this chapter highlights high-impact novels by showing the relationship between great plots and beautiful writing. Chapter 8: The writer and the process; he comes full circle and turns to earlier discussions to bring his points together. Chapter 9: Element of Awe; he inspires the reader “to make good art” as Neil Gaiman would say. Each chapter ends with “21st Century Tools,” sets of questions related to the chapter and designed to guide a writer through the creative process. As I read, I worked my way through most of the questions, which is the primary reason this book took so long to finish. If you’re the kind of person who is inclined to dismiss the questions and be satisfied with reading the chapter, I would advise against that strategy. I found the questions invaluable. As I explored the questions, I felt as if I were in a workshop. I’m in the middle of revising a novel and took the time to apply the questions to my project. The questions and suggestions were helpful as I revised scenes. Because of my background in teaching, I realize the work and refining that goes into creating questions, which are helpful and practical. Maass’ questions are not busy work. If the results I’ve had working through these questions is any indication, I’d say they are a valuable part of the book.
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Timebound Chronos Files Book 1
by
Rysa Walker
Cora
, February 19, 2015
Caveat I’m the kind of reader who accepts certain things easily. For example, I know that some scientists postulate that time travel might be possible if the traveler moves forward in time, but going back in time is impossible. In fiction, I don’t care of time travelers move all through time. It’s fiction, and we are imagining. When it comes to magical/scientific objects, I don’t need to know how or why they work. I’m okay suspending my disbelief, and I don’t have to have the details. So, if Gandalf uses magic without an explanation of how or why, I accept it. Keep in mind that when it comes to Timebound by Rysa Walker and other fantasy/science fiction books, I’m far less critical of those types of details than others might be. Brief Summary Kate Pierce-Keller is sixteen and meets her maternal grandmother, who has been estranged from the family. When her grandmother confides to Kate that she’s a time traveler, Kate responds as you or I would: the old lady is delusional. But, of course, Kate is soon convinced. There’s a murder and a plot to gain worldwide dominance. Also, time is whacky, world history is changing, and Kate and her family will cease to exist if things aren’t fixed. For the time being, a medallion protects Kate and her grandmother from fading out of existence by keeping them in time bubble. As you have probably guessed, she must travel back in time and fix things. She goes back to the Chicago World’s Fair (1893) to prevent murder and other events from happening. If she succeeds, the boy she loves will forget her and their relationship. There are other moral questions and issues the book raises. Kate must make moral and ethical decisions. Things I liked I enjoyed this book far more than I expected. To be truthful, I’m enthusiastic. Although the storyline is predictable, I got into it quickly. Usually, if I know where things are going right away, I lose interest, but from the beginning, Kate’s character pulled me into the story. Plus, the story raises a number of moral and ethical questions that intrigued me. So, here’s what I liked. 1) Kate’s character and her mixed relationships with her family. Kate is likable and spunky��"a little too impulsive sometimes, but isn’t that what we like in our protagonists? 2) The details of the time travel and the time travelers. Walker set this up nicely and did a good job of making it clear and easy to follow. Things do get complex and there are potential paradoxes, but for the most part, Walker explains and addresses problems readers might have. I was impressed with the way she handled these aspects. 3) The medallion, which is the device that allows time travel and also keeps Kate safe. It’s future technology, but really it seems like magic. I’ll let Arthur C. Clarke explain: “Any technology, no matter how primitive, is magic to those who don’t understand it.” 4) The moral dilemmas the book raises. Because the world is being reshaped and people don’t remember how it was or that it’s been reshaped, Kate faces a number of difficult moral and ethical problems. This part of the book fascinated me. 5) Going back in time and the adventures in 1893. Things I Didn’t Like So Much I’ll try to do this without giving too much away. 1) The love triangle was forced and sometimes annoying. I didn’t believe it, and it seemed like gimmick. Trey, her boyfriend, is a good guy; they have plenty of problems to face, and the extra guy more than anything seems tacked onto the story as if all YA novels must have a love triangle. 2) Some slow moments when things got bogged down in the middle. Once her time travel begins, it’s fast paced, fun, and exciting. 3) Kate has a huge secret: time travel, world changing, people dying. She freely tells her BFF everything, and there’s an annoying early chapter where the two girls discuss everything Kate is supposed to keep secret. I like my protagonists to be smart. Because this seemed so stupid and reckless, I almost stopped reading. In addition, the BFF is a minor character. I’m glad I continued reading, but I felt this tactic was nothing more than an opportunity for the author to tell us story issues, which could have been presented in a more natural way. Overall I really enjoyed this book. I’m a picky reader, so I always have a critique. However, this book was simply fun, and I would recommend it without hesitation.
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Whose Body?: Lord Peter Wimsey 1
by
Dorothy L. Sayers
Cora
, February 10, 2015
Why am I reviewing a 92 year old book? Simple, I decided to read some of the classic mysteries books and particularly books written by women. Dorothy L. Sayers name appears on almost all the lists of older mystery books. So I grabbed up her book and was off and running. Whose Body? is the first of the Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, written in 1923, and is a cozy mystery. Think Agatha Christie! Brief Summary: When a stranger’s naked body turns up in an architect’s bathtub, and of course, no one knows how it got there. Did the poor man just crawl through the window, decide to bathe, and then die? Lord Peter, amateur sleuth, pops over to see what he can make of the death. He also notes the strange circumstance surrounding the disappearance of a financier and connects the two events. The police think Lord Peter is a nuisance and slightly addled. My Response: I found this book delightful on several levels. I love British mysteries and 1923 language of the nobility, not to mention Lord Peter’s complete disregard for the police and their abilities to solve the crime. Often, I had a feeling that the language in the novel was poking fun at the nobility. This may be pure nonsense because I often have that feeling about British mysteries. Even in the most serious of mysteries and crimes there seems to be an inside joke about language bubbling just below the surface of the story, which is probably just my fancy taking flight. Lord Peter is delightfully eccentric and has a nervous condition from Shell Shock or PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), which makes him slightly contemporary, except that today no one of wealth and means would sever in the military. So it has a contemporary ring but with very old-fashioned values. This is a fun romp as Lord Peter sets out to solve the mystery without the benefit of modern forensics. I’ll admit that there are moments when credibility is stretched to its limits, but over all I enjoyed this book. The story as well as the historical light it sheds on mysteries as they unfolded ninety-plus years ago is informative, and the story holds of after all these years. I gave it three stars, but I would have like the option of giving it three and a half.
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Her Royal Spyness
by
Rhys Bowen
Cora
, February 06, 2015
I recently read Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers, and there was also a body in the bathtub. Of course, I didn’t realize this connection when I picked up the books. I wanted to read another book set in a similar time period, 1932, but written by a contemporary author (2007). The bathtub connection was a complete surprise, and I have to admit that the coincidence made me chuckle. I did wonder if Bowen had read Sayers. This is a charming cozy mystery. Brief Summary: Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, daughter to the Duke of Glen Garry and Rannoch, has an extraordinarily long name and is a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and thirty-fourth in line to the throne. She is also penniless, and her sister-in-law sends her off to London to make her way in life. Georgie is more than happy to leave and avoid her fate: she tells the reader that her destiny was to marry “some lunatic, buck-toothed, chinless, spineless, and utterly awful European royal, thus cementing ties with a future enemy.” She’s also in the unfortunate position to have been educated to do nothing, but she can curtsy properly. In London, she tries several normal occupations, the most amusing of which is starting a domestic agency, which she owns and operates alone. She hides her identity from her peers who hire her. It could, after all, be embarrassing to find that your hired maid is a peer and heir to the throne. Some delightful escapades follow, including the Queen asking Georgie to spy on her son who is dating an American divorcée��"yes, that story. When a body shows up in the bathtub and her brother, lovable and sweet but inept, is the prime suspect, Lady Georgie works to solve the crime and falls into an occupation that suits her: amateur sleuth. My Response: This book is funny, witty, charming, and well written. Rhys captures the changing morals and attitudes of the time as well as the snobbery of the aristocracy. There are plenty of eclectic characters, and Lady Georgie is delightful, naïve, and determined to break free of her aristocratic burden. I’m looking forward to more Royal Spyness Mysteries. Think Downton Abbey 1932 with a large dose of humor and plenty light-hearted adventures.
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Techniques Of The Selling Writer
by
Dwight Swain
Cora
, January 30, 2015
Techniques of a Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain has been sitting on my bookshelf for years. I hadn’t read it because I didn’t like the cover. For me, the dollar sign in place of the “S” is a turn off. The cute ploy suggests the book is about making money rather than a practical writing guide for fiction writers. Each time I thought about reading it, I put it back on the shelf. Oh foolish girl!! Techniques... is a practical writing guide as well as a guide to producing writing that sells. What I liked: I’m tempted to say, “I liked everything,” which would be true, but here’s what sets this book apart from other books: 1) It’s organized in a logical progression from the smallest writing unit to the broad strokes of storytelling. 2) It’s detailed and specific. 3) There’s lots of examples. 4) The writing is clear and easy to understand. 5) Swain’s breaks down the techniques genre fiction writers use to tell compelling stories. 6) I’ve tried his techniques and have seen a marked improvement in my writing. Warnings: I don’t want you to think this is a perfect book, or a quick and easy read. There are some potential issues. I didn’t mind these things, but I imagine they could be stumbling blocks for some. 1) The book is dense; he packs more into 300 pages than most writing books. I get frustrated with books that are thin on content. 2) It’s dated, which anyone would expect from a book published 45 years ago; be prepared for talk about typewriters and other outdated things. If you think this might annoy you, remember that this book is still in print for a reason. 3) This is the kind of book you’ll read slowly and study��"this is a plus for me, but I know some people want a quick an easy fix. 4) Some say that the writing is dry, but I didn’t notice. My academic background might make me jaded. The content is so valuable that I didn’t notice dry writing. If you are an aspiring writer or a writer who want to improve, I recommend this book. For me, it’s a must have.
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All Our Yesterdays
by
Cristin Terrill
Cora
, January 23, 2015
There’s nothing better than stumbling upon a book I can’t put down. Reading until the wee hours of the morning because I’m lost in the story is one of my guilty pleasures. I don’t often gush about a book, but I can’t talk about All Our Yesterdays, a debut novel by Christin Terrill, without raving. I bought this book about eight months ago, but only got around to reading it last week. The book starts out with a bang and never lets up. It’s a roller coaster ride through time and emotions. The story pulls one way and then another. The characters engaged me from the beginning, and throughout the story I wondered how things could be resolved. To say the ending is bittersweet is an understatement. An everyone lives happily ever after ending would have been impossible. The genre is young adult science fiction. I’ve seen the book labeled as a thriller, a time travel novel, an action adventure, and a dystopian novel. I’d say, yes to all those and add that it’s a complex, sometimes heart wrenching love story. The book is tightly plotted. On the surface the story might seem to be a political thriller/dystopia, but on a deeper level it’s about the complex relationships of family, friends, and lovers. Brief Summary I don’t want to give too much away because I’d like a reader to be as surprised and as enchanted as I was reading this story. The book begins in the not too distant future with Em and Finn, two young adults, imprisoned for unknown reasons. They have information the Doctor and the government wants, and the world has turned into the kind of nightmarish place that our contemporary, reactionary politicians warn us about. Add to this dystopian world a time machine, which the protagonists have already used to travel back and try to undo the things that have caused the current problems. They’ve failed each time. This story is about their sixteenth trip back and their last hope of changing the future. Em and Finn travel back four years to when they were sixteen and their world changed. The contrast between their sixteen year old selves and the people they have become emphasizes the enormity of the difficult decisions they make and those they can’t make. The tender and sometimes harsh loved story that plays out is one most people can identify with: will the person you fall in love with as a teenager be the same person when he or she becomes an adult? Will you be the same? An age old dilemma that many who marry their childhood sweethearts or who fantasize over unrequited love address. What I Liked I liked it from beginning to end, but here are three things I thought were especially good: The time shifts and time travel; the reader experiences the shifts and begins to piece together the story; a reader is never confused about who the story is about and where the character is in time; plus, each, shift adds more to the mystery; reading becomes very much like putting a puzzle together one piece at a time. The tight structure of the story and plot; a lesser writer could have mangled this, but not Terrill, who does an excellent job of tightly weaving the story pieces together. The action pace of the story; from page one, the story is off and running; there is no middle sag; the quiet moments in the story were perfectly pace to give the reader and the characters a much needed breather. The story never takes the easy way out and everything is worked out in a logical, satisfying way. A Couple of Things I Wasn’t Crazy About These two areas grated against my sensibilities and hovered in the back of my mind as I read. Upper-middle-class, white, spoiled, self-centered girl; genius upper-middle-class, white, boy; plus, one, smart, white, poor boy going to a good school on a scholarship and friends with the other two. Sound familiar? The ubiquitous and stereotypical nature of characters did intrude on the story. The girl in love with the wrong boy, while the right boy is in love with her felt a little too strained and predictable. One of the reasons I don’t read romance novels is because of this overused, predictable triangle story. Give me something new and different. I can imagine someone saying, “But there is complexity in these relationships.” I’d agree, which might have saved the story from falling flat. I longed for the diversity around me to show up in the books I read. It’s A Great Book There’s still time to run out and buy it for yourself or give it as a holiday gift for your favorite young adult.
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Summer Knight: Dresden Files 4
by
Jim Butcher
Cora
, January 21, 2015
I’m In Okay, Summer Knight sealed it for me. I’m in for the series. If you read my other reviews of the Dresden books, you’ll discover that after book two I wasn’t sure if I would continue the series, but because I bought them, I decided to read Grave Peril(#3) and Summer Knight(#4). Book four is the best so far. Pretty much everything gets a better in Summer Knight. Harry Dresden’s world is more developed. He gets honest and up-front with Murphy, his cop friend, which I wanted him to do much earlier. Spoilers ahead: if you don’t like spoilers, skip the Brief Summary. Brief Summary Okay, here we go. At the end of the last book, Susan, Dresden’s girlfriend, has become a vampire and left town. Summer Knight opens with Dresden depressed and as low as low can be. He’s been trying to find a cure for Susan. He’s desperate for rent money, so he agrees to meet a client, but the client turns out to be Winter’s Queen Mab. His fairy godmother sold his contract to Mab, who hires him to find out who killed the Summer Knight, the Summer Queen’s knight. Things are pretty much a mess. Dresden is now contracted to Mab. As bad as his fairy godmother is, she’s preferable to Mab, who is far more devious and dangerous. With the Summer Knight dead, there’s an impending war among the fairies, which has already started to upset the balance of nature and could lead to the destruction of the world. The Red Court of the vampires is on the war path, a conflict from Grave Peril��"they want Dresden delivered to them. Most of the White Council wants to strip Harry of his wizard title and turn him over to the Red Court. Someone’s put a hit out on his life. If things could get worse, I’m not sure how, but of course, they do get worse. As you might imagine, Harry’s in deep, deep dodo and all hell breaks lose. There are lots of fights, werewolves, fairies, an evil unicorn, vampires, and sundry creatures. The White Council of Wizards continued to be pedantic, dangerous nincompoops. Enemies might be preferable to the White Council. It’s a fun, sometimes frightening ride, and Harry comes to terms with some of his past. And, no I’m not going to tell you who killed Summer Knight. What I Liked 1) The story is fast paced and complex. 2) World building: things are getting fleshed out. We learn a lot more about the faeries, which probably isn’t exactly what people into faeries would expect or like. I liked the faeries. They are dangerous, unpredictable, and zany. Zany matters. 3) The puzzle is coming together. I could be wrong, but I think we’ve got the major puzzle pieces of the series in place: the wizards’ White Council, the vampire’s Red court, an archenemy lurking in the background, the Faerie Courts (winter and summer), the Never-never, and the werewolves. 4) Butcher does an excellent job of linking all these groups and creating complex characters. 5) As I said above, I like that Dresden is finally opening up to Murphy and the werewolves. For the most part, the White Council members are jerks, and keeping Murphy in the Dark was causing more harm than good. 6) The plot is tightly woven and fast paced. Negatives Either I’ve gotten used to his sexism or it was toned down in this one. I think it was toned down a bit, but he does have a knight in shining armor complex, poor man. Let’s hope that Harry keeps growing up into a man instead of staying a thirteen-year-old boy. Since I’ve mentioned this about each book, this is going to be my last hurrah about Harry’s sexism. I think he’s probably going to continue to be an ass, but I’m hoping for better. For the most part, I became so engrossed in the story that I didn’t get too picky, which is always good.
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Time Machine
by
H G Wells, Greg Baer, Simon James
Cora
, January 14, 2015
Traveling Back in Time: I decided to take a little trip back in time and re-read The Time Machine by H. G. Wells. I don’t remember how old I was when I first read the book, but having read the as an adult, I’m surprised that as a child, I enjoyed a book with a lot of philosophy and philosophic discussions. The nice thing about returning to a book I read decades ago is that it was fresh and often surprising. Brief Summary: Our Victorian time traveler, invents a time machine, and travels forward to the year 802701 C.E. By anyone’s standards, it’s an ambitious leap into the future. In this far distant future, the wealthy and upper class in England have evolved into the Eloi, carefree, simple-minded beings. They spend their days eating, playing, having sex and generally waltzing through life. Although the buildings are in disrepair and the Eloi are frighten of the dark, the land is beautiful and the time traveler seems to have landed in a utopian society. As soon as the time traveler lands, he has a sense that he’s being watched and that all isn’t exactly right. But his feelings are put aside as he spends the day with the Eloi. When he returns to his machine, it’s missing, and the suspense he felt when he landed returns. His top priority is to find his machine so he can return home. He makes friends with Weena, a female Eloi, and discovers that the Eloi are not the only inhabitants. The Morlocks, a race of subterranean beings who evolved from the working class, maintain the underground machines that support the Eloi. The Time Traveler quickly realizes the Morlocks are dangerous. The story question at this point is will the time traveler find his machine and return to Victorian England? And will he stay put if he does get back? General Observations: I think I appreciated this book far more reading it as an adult than I did when I read it as a child. I can see the historical issues and philosophies being played out in the story. However, the first time I read The Time Machine the story was intriguing and fun. So, I guess I can say it still works for the young and the old. In Well’s time, culture and society were changing. Rights and the treatment of the working classes were issues, which this book brings those issues to the foreground. The upper and middle-classes with too much leisure and little work have deteriorated into weak, simple minded beings who play all day. While the working classes are underground, out of sight and out of mind, but they come out at night and are excessively dangerous��"a warning of ignoring the plight and needs of the working-class. Often the narrative is flavored with discourses on the class structure and problems of Wells' time. This works because the Time Traveler is telling a group of friends what happened to him. His side commentary seems a natural part of the story. For people with a good grasp of high school sciences, much of the story’s science wouldn’t hold up today, but I don’t think this is a problem. I don’t insist that my science fiction is based on hard science, so it was easy enough to suspend my disbelief. The book was written over a hundred years ago, 1895, so it’s easy to make allowances. What I Liked: 1. The story holds up surprisingly well. It’s a simple story, much less sophisticated and complex than contemporary stories, but enjoyable. 2. The descriptions have a wow factor. Well’s is exploring the ideas of evolution and how the earth and people might evolve. The vivid descriptions were a pleasure to read and not overwhelming as some Victorian literature. 3. The philosophical discussions were engaging. Yeah, this one surprised me, but the observations did fit into the tone of the novel and seemed natural. Negatives: Okay, I like to balance the “What I Liked” section with something equal to “What I Didn’t Like”; however, I’m having some trouble coming up with list of negatives. As I said earlier, some of the science could be griped about, but I’m not inclined to do that. I have one gripe, but really, it’s more of a personal opinion than a critique of the story. I don’t agree with the way the Eloi and the Morlocks evolved. I don’t think all violence and intelligence would disappear from the Eloi race; nor do I think the Morlocks would have the intelligence to run the machines for the Eloi and have evolved to be aggressive and violent without somewhere along the line rebelling, pushing to live above ground, and creating weapons. I understand that during the industrial revolution that many wealthy people couldn’t adjust to the changes and thus were not progressive and didn’t understand the need to change or lose everything; however, I think Wells underestimated human intelligence and human aggression in both the Eloi and Morlocks. Even in Wells’ time, many adjusted and flowed along with and changed with the times, and the time period was rife with working-class demands and rebellions, which we know resulted in change. However, I won’t fault Well’s for not having a prophetic knowledge of the future. So the basic instinct for survival, human aggression, and human intelligence would survive evolution. All that aside, it’s a fun story. If you haven’t read it in a while or if you’re never read it, do. Take a stroll back in time.
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Firelight 01
by
Sophie Jordan
Cora
, December 23, 2014
I have to say upfront: I am not a fan of romance novels. I am, however, a big fan of dragons. I didn't realize when I bought this book that it was primarily a romance. I'm evaluating Firelight by Sophie Jordan on it's own merits, trying my best to be fair and balanced. Some of my favorite people, including my youngest daughter, love romances. Brief, Not Spoiler Free, Summary: Jacinda is a dragon, who can shape-shift into human form. As a matter of fact, she mostly lives in her human form because it's dangerous to take her "draki" form. In this world, there are dragon hunters, who kill "drakis" in their dragon forms. Jacinda is special, a rare fire dragon who is valued among dragons and set apart from ordinary dragons. When her mother explains the reality of being a fire dragon, she realizes she is not only in danger from dragon hunters, but also from members of her clan. She, her mother, and sister flee and hide among the humans. Her mother hopes Jacinda, who isn't supposed to take her dragon form, loses her ability to shapeshift. However, Jacinda doesn't give up shapeshifting. She feels free and happy in her dragon form. Living among humans, Jacinda meets Will, who is handsome, kind, and stirs her inner "draki" desires. So strong is the power he has on her that she is often in danger of shape-shifting when she is near him. What I liked: I loved the "draki" culture and the conflict between dragons. Although it seemed to be a tight-knit, harmonious community, the reader quickly realizes there is discord and division among the "drakis." There is a dark side to the close community. Also, the conflict and danger from the dragon hunters is real and creates a deep sense of suspense and pending trouble. The cultural conflicts are complex. The dragon culture wasn't all good, but as with any culture a mixture of positive and negatives. The dragon hunters were primarily a group that is bonded together by their hatred of another group they fear. However, even among the dragon hunters, Will is different. He finds dragon hunting barbaric, but he is trapped in a family business. Will's stance suggests that among the dragon hunters, there's a slim chance there might be others who are uncomfortable with their occupation. The overarching reality is that these two groups cannot possibly live in peace, which makes for a good story. What I Found Challenging: I would have liked the story to be more focused on the darki culture, the conflict and crisis Jacinda's dragon shaped caused, but my challenge is unfair to the story. I think if I had started reading Firelight knowing it is primarily a romance, I would have felt differently about the novel as a whole. Early on, I realized the genre and shifted my thinking. Jacinda is all over the place with her emotional response, which is typical teenage stuff; however, there were times when her emotional swings were a little too much for me. Except for Will, The dragon hunters were dark, evil, racist, misogynistic. The group shared a mass antisocial disorder, reminding of the KKK. However, I wasn't satisfied with Will being the only dissenter; I wanted to see a glimmer of human softness, perhaps in one of the brothers or even the father. Even evil villains need a speck of good. People who like or love fantasy romances will enjoy this book. It does an excellent job of telling an interesting romance story. I suspect for its genre, it's a strong story. I'd definitely recommend it to my daughter. The plot was predictable, but as I pointed out at the beginning of this review, I'm not the best judge. All-in-all, it is a good read. Keep in mind that I would have stopped reading when I realized it was a romance, but Jordan's storytelling kept me engaged and reading.
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Write Great Fiction Plot & Structure Techniques & Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish
by
James Scott Bell
Cora
, November 13, 2014
Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish by James Scott Bell may be the best book for plotting and creating structure in fiction stories that I’ve read. I have a few instructional writing books I reread; this is one of them. Plot & Structure works for writers who don’t use outlines and for those who do. Throughout Bell acknowledges and addresses how his ideas about plot and structure can be used by all writers. This isn’t a “my way or the highway” kind of book. Bell gives practical advice for all writers. What’s so great about Plot & Structure? The biggest plus is Bell’s practical and down to earth strategies and clear explanations. Here are the other greats: Bell’s approach isn’t a how-to formula; it’s more of a guide. His genre is thrillers, but he addresses the needs of other genres as well as those of literary fiction. He provides many strategies writers can use to approach plot and structure; plus, he encourages readers to find their own way of working. The exercises at the end of the chapters are practical. If you try some of them, you’ll discover that they aren’t busywork but helpful approaches to solving writing issues. Unless you’re a pro with so many publications behind you that you don’t need help, this isn’t a book to read once and put away. It’s a book you’ll come back to and get more out of with a second or third reading. If you want a formula or step-by-step program, this isn’t a book for you. He gives choices so you can find you own style and way of working. Which is one of the things like I about the book. It’s like going to a writer buffet and choose the strategies that work for you. If you are someone who writes without an outline, you are going to be surprised because Bell doesn’t leave you out of any of the equations. He has strategies for all writers.
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Grave Peril
by
Jim Butcher
Cora
, September 18, 2014
Harry’s Got Problems Grave Peril Book #3 of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher is the best one so far. I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue the series, but this one convinced me to keep going. There was a little too much religious talk, but since Dresden is a doubter, I can overlook Michael Carpenter’s constant attempts to proselytize Dresden. Our sometimes lovable wizard, has his own problems: that White Knight Complex is still going strong. Several people told me to give the series a chance until book 3 or 4. I’ll admit that things got better for me with this book. In this book, Harry collects problems like a magnet collects pieces of metal: ghosts, missing girl, possessed cops, girlfriend problems, a fairy godmother who is nothing like Cinderella’s helpful godmother, and, of course, vampires. It’s obvious from the title that there are ghosts, and they are nasty, nasty ghosts. Brief Summary Harry and Michael Carpenter (the Fist of God, who has a God-given sword to fight evil) are fighting ghosts, trying to figure out who Nightmare, a phantom who invades Harry’s dreams, is. Harry is overworked and exhausted in his efforts to try and send the spooks back to the Nevernever. When a young woman turns up asking for help, and Dresden, being a consistent “knight in shining armor” type, decides to help her. She vanishes. Ghosts continue to cause havoc, even possessing one of his friend Murphy’s fellow cops, and vampires show up. This is a fast paced, action packed roller coaster ride. On almost all levels, it’s a fun book. What I liked Basically what I liked about this book is it’s complexity and it’s character development. The plot is complex: I like subplots, twists, and turns. This book as them a plenty. Characters: There are a lot more interesting characters, and more character development. World Building: The world of Harry Dresden is more developed and expanded. Dresden: We learn more about Dresden, his dark side, and why he’s done some of the things he’s done. Things go way south for Dresden and a couple of other characters. No, not giving those things away. Some Things Never Change Some things stay the same, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in a series. Dresden’s still rescuing damsels in distress. I’m thinking this is hardwired into his DNA. He’s still a sexist, and Murphy and others still smack him down for it. So, we hear a lot about women and their bodies. He still puts himself in danger to save others. I guess all heroes do this. He just seems to lack the ability to figure a way around his crazy commitments He still makes some really bad decisions. Some Negatives I’ll admit I’m being a little picky, but hey, I can’t help it. Too much religion for me. This is just a personal taste on my part, so don’t take it too much to heart. I stopped watching Battlestar Galactica when androids turned into right wing religious nuts. I started watching again when the writers got their acts together and dropped that storyline. Too much blood and gore. Again this is me. I don’t mind blood and gore; I just don’t want it described in too much detail. This is probably another one you can ignore. When all is said, I enjoyed this book more than the first two. It was fun. In the end, Dresden has a couple of serious problems to deal with in book four, and I can’t figure out how he’s going to fix them. Right now, I guess that he probably can’t fix either, but I’m rooting for him.
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Dragon Slippers 01
by
Jessica Day George
Cora
, September 08, 2014
I completely enjoyed Dragon Slipper by Jessica Day George. It’s definitely a princess type story for girls who want spunky heroines and princesses. Creel, the protagonist, is charming, has a mind of her own, takes chances, and is fun. Girls between 9 and 14 will enjoy the book. Dragon Slippers is the first book in Jessica Day George’s Dragon trilogy. Dragon Flight and Dragon Spear finish the series. Brief Summary: Creel is an orphan, being raised by her aunt and uncle. When her aunt comes up with the idea of offering Creel to a dragon so she can then be saved by a prince and become a princess, Creel as well as her uncle and her cousins go along with her because they know that dragons died out hundreds of years ago. It’s clear that Creel’s aunt is a naive and simple person who persists in an idea until she gets her way. Everyone, except the aunt, believes Creel will return home to them safe and sound without encountering a dragon. To Creel’s surprise, there is a dragon, who turns out to be somewhat friendly and has no intention of taking Creel hostage or causing a fuss. He wants to remain safely hidden. He also doesn’t have a horde of gold and valuables. He hordes shoes. After making a deal with the dragon, Creel gains a pair of slippers and several dragon friends. In the bargain, the dragons remain safely hidden from human society. Instead of returning home, Creel heads for the city to make her fortune. What she doesn’t know is that life in the city is difficult and the slippers are much more than they appear to be. Adventure ensues. What I liked: •Creel is spunky, mostly intelligent, bold, and outgoing 15 year old country girl. •The fairy-tale aspect of the book is engaging and fun. •Dragon Slippers is a quick read with adventure, dragons, an evil princess, and several interesting characters. Negative Points: The plot is sometimes implausible and a little challenging to believe. The biggest problems were: •believing a dragon would give away a valuable and dangerous pair of slippers; •understanding why the dragons didn’t warn Creel of the power of the slippers; •accepting that the younger prince would go out of his way to befriend Creel, a poor, country girl, but it is a fairy tale so it’s easy to overlook this; •believing that Creel, an intelligent girl, wouldn’t realize sooner that there is something special about the shoes; the reader definitely knows long before she does. However, I’m reviewing the story from an adult point of view and wanted some sort of reasons for withholding information. I don’t think younger readers would have major problems with these issues, but they might be impatient that Creel is slow to figure out that the slippers are special. Once the dragons appear, there’s lots of action, adventure, and conflict, making the story interesting and engaging. I’d say most young readers would thoroughly enjoy this story.
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Hollow World
by
Michael J Sullivan
Cora
, August 13, 2014
An Intriguing World: In Michael J. Sullivan’s book Hollow World, he tells us what the world might look like in 4013. Living in modern day Detroit, Ellis Rogers builds a time machine, finds out he has cancer, and takes off to the future to find a cure and escape domestic troubles and a boring life. Ellis intends to go 200 years forward, but he’s catapulted 2000 years into the future, a slight miscalculation. After two millennia, things have changed, a slight understatement. I don’t want to give away too much because I found this world fascinating and think a reader should discover this “brave new world” for herself. The kicker is that Ellis stumbles upon someone being murdered in a society that has eliminated murder. So much for getting rid of that pesky Y chromosome! He meets Pax, who arrives with the doctors and seems to be some kind of counselor or arbitrator. When everyone else believes that Ellis has murdered this Hollow World inhabitant, Pax believes Ellis is innocent. They team up and set out to solve the murder mystery and stumble upon a conspiracy. Things I Liked: I haven’t read Sullivan’s other books, although after reading this, I’ll check them out. The pacing in the book was slow, but it felt right. The pace fits and mirrors the society and allows the reader to enjoy this new society. A high adventure, breakneck pace wouldn’t have worked as well. 1. The “old time science fiction” feel to the story. It has echoes of H. G. Wells’The Time Machine. 2. Hollow World raises a number of interesting questions, which stay with reader after the book is finished. I enjoy books that invite readers to think. Hollow World comes close to slipping into preachy a few times but nothing too drastic. 3. The world Sullivan creates is fun to experience and a delight to the five senses. Things That Went Bump There are couple of things that were pretty big issues for me because I had trouble suspending my disbelief and several times had to reinsert myself back into the story. Be warned spoilers ahead. 1. I bought into the makeshift time machine when Ellis used it, but when his friend Warren, an uneducated Neanderthal type, duplicates the machine and ends up in the same time period, I had trouble accepting this possibility. Even with the explanation that he had help building the machine, my disbelief continued to rear its head. Warren’s appearance seems like a clunky plot device to add conflict to a non-violence society. 2. From the moment Warren shows up in Hollow World, a reader knows from dialogue and actions that he’d had a mental breakdown and has shifted further right than he was before he left our world. He was turned into the worst sort of human we can imagine. Ellis, an intelligent college educated man, turns completely stupid when interacting with Warren. He questions nothing, even blatant abusive behavior. I had to go to great lengths to overlook this flaw. Being told that Ellis grew up with Warren and that in high school Warren saved Ellis from being beaten up wasn’t enough to make me believe Ellis could be so naive about his friend, especially since Ellis knows Warren betrayed him before their time travel adventures. Ellis seems to have left his brain in his time machine. Even with Flaws, It Was Engaging In spite of the two flaws, Hollow World is an engaging story. I think many readers would be more accepting of the two areas that gave me trouble. I’m more of a stickler for logic and reason in science fiction stories than in fantasy stories. If this book were fantasy instead of science fiction, Ellis could have had a spell put on him to trust his friend in spite of the flagrant clues that Warren is a whack job. I’m giving Hollow World 4 stars, but I if could I’d give it 3.5 because the two flaws were difficult for me to overcome.
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Phoenix Rising
by
Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris
Cora
, August 06, 2014
Hold On to Your Tea Cup Agent Books is an archivist, glorified librarian and cataloger of unusual artifacts, and Agent Braun is an unruly field agent who has trouble following rules. They have been naughty, and their superiors have demoted Agent Braun to the archives��"Books and Braun are stuck with each other in the dank underground storage area that houses strange and mysterious artifacts. No, it’s not your imagination. The story practically shouts Warehouse 13 in Victorian England. They work for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, protectors of the British Empire and collectors of “unusual” artifacts. Braun is not content to serve her time in the archives and decides to investigate the case her partner was working on when he went crazy. Bruan pulls Books into her investigation, and as the story progressives a reader might begin to wonder who in this duo is more crazy. Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris is a Steampunk adventure with explosives, carriage chases, daring rescues, beautiful mercenary agents, evil geniuses, automatons, lots of steam, bigoted wealthy people who wish to take over the world, and two agents who blunter into places they really shouldn’t. Add to all that, their director’s mysterious shenanigans in the archive’s secret, locked room. “What’s he up to?” is a story question left hanging for book two. Who Will Like this? People who love lighthearted Steampunk adventures will definitely like this book. It was a fun read. The book doesn’t take itself too seriously and neither should the reader. It has a little bit of everything: adventure, death, steam, sex, underworld slime, wealthy slime. James Blaylock, J. W. Jeter, and Tim Powers, the fathers of steampunk, have said that when they started writing Steampunk they weren’t trying to make a serious statement; they were having fun telling zany stories. This book is written in the same vein. Confession Time I wanted to like this story; however, I had trouble getting into it. I read two other books in between putting Phoenix Rising aside and picking it up again. It just didn’t grab me. I think most people who like Steampunk would enjoy it. For me, it was okay, predictable, and flat. In other words, nothing to shout about. Here are the issues I had: 1. There was nothing new, and some of the story seemed borrowed without much effort to move in new directions. 2. The protagonists were stereotypes, the typical buddy cops/investigators/agents. Braun was the wild crazy one and Books the mild mannered sane one. Casting Braun as a woman didn’t change the dynamics because she fit the crazy cop/agent mold to a tee. 3. The antagonists were also bad stereotypes, James Bond villains stepping back into Victorian England. I expected one of them to twist his handlebar mustache��"thankfully that didn’t happen. Character driven novels pull me into a story and keep me engaged. I want to care about the characters--that didn’t happen in this book.
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Graceling
by
Kristin Cashore
Cora
, July 30, 2014
In Kristin Cashore’s YA fantasy book Graceling, certain people (those with two different colored eyes) are blessed or cursed, as the case may be, with superpower gifts. These gifts could be anything from cooking to killing people. Because their eyes give them away, it’s a little hard to hide who is graced and who is not. Katsa’s grace is killing, which she discovers at age eight when she accidentally kills a man. Her uncle, the king, takes advantage of her gift for his own purposes. Belittling and criticizing her, the king keeps her in submission by continually unbalancing her with self-doubt. He intimidates and strips of her self-confidence. She becomes one of his thug enforcers, bullying, hurting, and sometimes killing on his command. It turns out she's good at intimidating and hurting people, but she hates her uncle and the things he makes her do. She isn't weak or submissive. Her secret rebellion is to start an underground organization that works to help those in need. People through the land are involved in this growing organization When she meets Prince Po, also a graceling, a friendship develops between them, and she finds the courage to stand up to her uncle and leave his court. She and Po take off on an adventure. Powerful Characters: Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is the characterization. Katsa is a strong female character, riddled with insecurities. Because she is feared and shunned by most people, she has few friends. She questions her place in the world and longs to be out from under her uncle's control. She also uses her power to help people in need. She’s a young adult trying to find her way in a confusing, violent world. When she meets Prince Po, she finds someone who is her equal and her opposite. While she is serious, shunned, and feared, he is beloved, easygoing, charming, and playful. Fast Paced, Engaging, and a Plot Bump: I got into this book very quickly and was immediately engaged with the fantasy world, the characters, and the plot. Until near the end when the plot derails and takes a tangent direction, I found the pacing excellent. The story begins as an adventure/quest story with a love story (subplot). However, after the climax of the quest story, instead of wrapping up, the novel begins another new storyline and becomes a romance novel with too many chapters devoted to a new plot. I found myself becoming annoyed. I felt tricked and cheated because the new storyline was interesting and complex, but the problem was solved too easily and conveniently--a too quick solution to a complex problem. The new story would have been a perfect beginning or subplot for the second book, or it could have been introduced and addressed before the climax of the main storyline. A Word About Violence: We live in an excessively violent society, and this book in many ways reflects this. Often our nation's first response to a problem is violence. This scenario plays out in books and movies as well as on the nightly news. Then we are shocked and wonder why our children use violence to solve problems. One of the things I liked about this story is that Katsa grapples with the horror and impact of her grace. The negative effects of using violence isn't sidestepped. The graphic violence raises questions about humanity and human interactions as well as the effects of violence on personal and psychological levels. As the story unfolds, a reader begins to realize that compassion, courage, gentleness, and love are far more powerful behaviors than violence. Audio Version: I listened to the Audible version of the this book and wanted to give a two thumbs up for the production. Most audio books are read by a narrator, and I enjoy those books. This one is performed. There is a central narrator as well as separate voices for various characters. The Audible’s version is an excellent production. If you listen to audio books, I recommend this one.
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Red Rising: Red Rising Saga 1
by
Brown, Pierce
Cora
, July 18, 2014
Just the other day, I was telling my daughter that I don’t like trilogies, but they seem to find me. Red Rising found me. A debut novel and the first book in a trilogy, Red Rising by Pierce Brown is a science fiction dystopian novel set on terraformed Mars. Dystopian novels abound and some people are getting tired of them, but I love them. Brown’s book has been compared to Hunger Games, The Lord of the Flies, and Ender’s Game. I agree with the comparisons. As you might have guessed, the novel isn’t wildly unique��"it borrows from everywhere, including Roman mythology. However, I did enjoy the book and put aside another book I was having trouble finishing to read it. The borrowing doesn’t bother me; after all, Shakespeare borrowed extensively. It’s also been called dazzling, which I don’t agree with. The book is violent, brutal, graphic, and needs a shot of feminist sensibility. It also reflects our world in disturbing ways while reflecting on the complexity of individuals within society. Brief Summary: Mars is divided into classes with color designations: Golds are the rich, powerful rulers, above everyone, and Reds are the lowest dregs in this cast system, lower than the Grays, Coppers, and Pinks. Darrow, the sixteen-year-old protagonist, is a red “Helldiver,” living underground. He discovers Reds have been lied to and that Mars is inhabitable and has been for generations. After his wife is killed by a Gold, he joins a group of revolutionaries and is transformed, like Pygmalion/My Fair Lady, into a Gold. He infiltrates a prestigious school for the elite. His goal is to take down the unequal society and overthrow the Golds. Review: Okay for some honesty, I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I cannot recommend it without some caveats. Before I get to the negatives and positives. Here are some general observations: •It starts slow, which I didn’t mind too much, but the story didn’t grab me right away. •Once Darrow leaves the underground, things get interesting fast and the pace never slows; it becomes a hard to put down book. •Mars’ society reflect our world so much that it’s impossible not to make comparisons. There is a complexity in the novel that makes this an interesting aspect and invites introspection. The complexity begins to breakdown the pure good vs pure evil dichotomy in Darrow’s mind and that might have dominated the novel. Things I Like: 1.Writing: The writing is excellent. I expect good things from future books by Brown. 2.Mars: The world building and the plotting were shiny��"it’s a tightly woven, gritty story with an easy to understand world system. 3.Vendetta: There’s lots of revenge. Since I feel rather powerless to right the wrongs of the world, I like stories with revenge and a hero who plunges forward to make things right. 4.Multifaceted: Once Darrow enters into the world of the Golds, things become more complicated. He likes and understands some of his fellow students, yet knows he may have to kill them. 5.Point of View: His first person narrative is honest and pulls me into his story and makes me care about him, but there are some problems with his character (see below). 6.World: Brown creates a brutal Machiavellian world that is detailed, from the variances in life, language, education, and power. By the end of the story, you know that one language slip on Darrow’s part may be his future downfall because at least one person heard. Don’t let the comparison to Hunger Games fool you. This is a fast paced, extraordinarily violent book, and makes Hunger Games seem like kindergarten violence. I liked the story and was caught up in the fast, tightly pace story, but . . . I have some concerns. Things I Didn’t Like: 1.Less Than Complex: Several reviews claim that the characterization in Red Rising is more complex and developed than the characterization in Hunger Games. I disagree. Katiness is a reluctant hero and the complexity of her character is at once subtle and nuanced. Other Hunger Games characters are well developed and multifaceted. Our hero Darrow is about revenge, with an occasional insight. He gives himself over to violence, revenge, and hatred with little subtlety and passing insights. 2.Perfect Hero: He is also maddeningly perfect. He, a Red the lowest of the low and not educated in Gold culture, has the top scores on his test and bests all the Golds; he immediately becomes a leader; he steps into his role as a Golds with few slip ups; he’s physically strong and out fights everyone; he outwits everyone; he’s the only one who protects the helpless. He’s the old fashion Dudley Do-Right turned Spartan-Rambo, a bigger than life, perfect hero, who rescues everyone. Really? 3.Supporting Roles: The other characters, with a few exceptions, are cardboard figures with little distinguishing features to set them apart. They are secondary to and play supporting roles to Darrow. Throughout the story these “future leaders” of society acquiesce to Darrow’s leadership. 4.Sexual Violence and Rape: This is the area I find most revolting. My problem is not that there is sexual violence and rape in the story, but that everyone except Darrow accepts and ignores it. I find it unbelievable that female characters and male characters would stand for this. With all the violence and fighting, other students would fight back. After all, they are Golds and see themselves as above all others and privileged. Would they allow other Golds to be raped with impunity? Even the adult proctors don’t do a damn thing and some of the students are their sons and daughters. Only our hero has the moral fiber to take action. Really? 5.Female characters: Even Mustang, who says she hates weak females who have to be rescued, willingly gives up being a leader to follow Darrow. In the beginning of the novel, his young wife sacrifices herself so he will become a hero. I found this particularly difficult to swallow��"almost a deal breaker. Although there are female proctors, none of the student leaders are female. Yet they are supposedly given an equal place among the men, yet all the females are easily overcome. 6.Violence: The violence is sometimes excessive. As an adult, I shrugged this off; however, I would recommend this book to older young adult readers. Parents should read it first to see what they are handing their teenager. Although I have some major issues with the book, I liked it. I got caught up in the story and finished rather quickly, which probably reflects that I too am susceptible to and influenced by societal attitude that violence, sexual violence, rape, and second-class treatment of women is normal. I think that the love/hate problems I have with this book reflect the deep seeded influence of my culture. I want things to be better in fiction. I harbor a hope that future societies will be more advanced. When it comes to plot, quality of the writing, world building, conflict and action, I’d give Red Rising a 4; however, when it come to character development, the portrayal of women, and sexual violence, I’d give the book a 2. So my 3 star rating reflects the love/hate relationship I have with the book.
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Fool Moon: Dresden Files 2
by
Jim Butcher
Cora
, July 07, 2014
3 of 5 Stars With a title like Fool Moon, it’s not hard to guess what the book is about. The second book of the Dresden Files fell flat for me. There was plenty of action, lots of fighting, and some plot twists, which I figured out too quickly because the clues weren’t subtle. To be fair, I’m not much of a werewolf fan, unless we’re talking about old black and white werewolf movies, so this book started out with a disadvantage, but because I enjoyed the first one I was prepared to like this one just as well. Brief Summary: Since the last book, Harry finds himself with little to do and on the outs with Murphy and the Chicago PD. So of course he’s got money problems, no surprise there. During the full moon, there were several killings, and Murphy calls him to consult. Marcone tries to hire him, but Dresden sticks by his principles and turns the mobster down. He puts together a report on werewolves, which I did find interesting. The book’s system of werewolf lore made the storyline more interesting for me. His relationship to Murphy, who has gotten into trouble from the events in the last book, continues to go from bad to worse. What I liked: It’s interesting because some of the things that I like about the book I also dislike about the book. It’s sort of a weird push and pull thing that’s going on. I do like recurring characters: so Murphy, Carmichael, and Marcone return. Marcone’s a bad dude but there is something likable about him. It real life he’d scare the hell out of me. I like Murphy. She’s someone I can identify with��"a strong woman who keeps going against all odds. When she’s knocked down she gets up again. Although I don’t care for werewolves, I did like the details of various kinds and degrees of werewolves. I really can’t go into the details without giving too much away, but we are privy to at least four kinds with a lovely, but bitter sweet, twist at the end. The action and fast paced story continued in this book. Unless you just hate the story, it’s pretty hard to get bored. There’s enough violence, action, and blowing things up to move the story right along. Where I got bogged down: Dresden’s macho attitude and complete inability to maintain a relationship get annoying. So, many times I was saying, “Really?” He breaks rules when it suits him, but he doesn’t have the brains to tell Murphy the truth and continues to alienate her. Which leads me to, his sense of the noble knight saving the maiden in distress. In today’s world, a man with a little bit chivalry is nice, but excessive amounts turn men into annoying asses. Yes, I’m a woman, and I like men to open door, be polite, and behave like gentle men, but Dresden’s excessive attitudes toward women errs on the side of slighting the women he thinks he’s protecting. Also, at times, he seems like a fourteen-year-old boy who doesn’t know when to keep his smarts remarks to himself. A little snarkiness goes a long way. I want to like him, but he makes it hard. By the end of the book, he has Murphy pissed off, again, and has slighted most of the other characters. I want to tell Susan to run far, far away, and get her stories from someone else. However, by the end, he does rethink things and seems to be reconsidering his relationship with Murphy. I’ve bought the first four books, so I’ll keep reading in hopes that Dresden steps up in the maturity department.
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Storm Front: Dresden Files 1
by
Jim Butcher
Cora
, June 18, 2014
A Fun, Fast Paced, Easy Read I read Storm Front, the first book in The Dresden Files series, a few years back, found it engaging, and moved on to other books. I liked it, but I wasn't dying to read the next one. In the interim, about a dozen people have told me I should read the series. So I thought I’d give it another chance. I reread Storm Front, and it turns out I liked it better the second time around, and I've already started the second book. If you are looking for a fun, fast paced, quick read, this novel could fill the bill. Brief Summary: This novel is written in first person. Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a private investigator wizard, who can be found in the yellow pages and sometimes works for the Chicago police as a consultant to their "especial" division (paranormal stuff that the police don't know exactly how to investigate). He’s also on the outs with the Wizard’s Council that has life and death power over him, and is a combination of wisecracking Philip Marlowe and a resourceful Merlin. There has been two bizarre murders, and Harry is called in to help. From there, everything is a roller coast ride until the murderer is found. Harry commits one faux pas after another and by the end of the book finds he’s alienated nearly everyone. I’m a fan of the old hard boiled PIs, like Philip Marlowe, and Dresden is definitely a throw-forward of that genre. He has plenty of wise crack comments, beautiful women, including a blond who hires him to look for her husband and is definitely more than she seems, a bad-ass female cop, a get-my-story-at-all-costs female reporter, and, of course, a "lovely" vampire. He's a wizard and guardian of a wisecracking, apparently trouble making, skull spirit who seems to be in as much trouble as Dresden and isn’t allowed out and about. Strengths: Okay, I freely admit that this book is full of more stereotypes than I care to count, but since Butcher doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously, I don’t either. Some of the "borrowed" material is so tongue-in-cheek that it makes me smile. After all, I love Shakespeare, and he “borrowed” almost all his story ideas and tropes. There’s lots of action, and the story never slows down. Butcher is excellent at describing this alternate Chicago, the storms that rage throughout the novel, the murders, and the little details of place and people that make a story come alive. I love the fast and easy read quality of the book. Weaknesses: I found the story throws in everything but the kitchen sink: vampires, wizards, demons from hell, a wizard council guardian who isn’t watching over Dresden but trying to catch Dresden doing evil so he can execute him, fairies, and a smart-ass, womanizing, talking skull. I think this was the reason I didn't read more of the series the first time I read the book. Now, for some mysterious reason, the hodgepodge was more entertaining. In the early chapters, Harry’s constant wisecracks were annoying, but as the story went on, Harry settled into a more moderate snarkiness, which I enjoyed and hope continues in the rest of the books. It's clear Harry Dresden is modeled after the 1930s and 40s detectives, and like those detectives, he has sexist tendencies. Yes, in that time period most men were clueless, and I can view those novels as reflecting a social norm. Which, oddly enough, brings me back to the first person narrative. Since the story is told from Harry’s point of view, this personality defect could have been a disaster. If there is something that saves the day and makes Harry likable, it's the smack downs the other characters give him for being a sexist. His other positive qualities overshadow this defect. He is after all a knight in tarnished armor. When all is said and done, I like Storm Front, and I’ll read the rest of the series. I’d better get busy because there are 15 books and several short stories.
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Good Omens
by
Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
Cora
, May 28, 2014
Are You Ready to Romp Through the Apocalypse? The Perfect Summer Read Are you looking for a fun, quirky book to read? Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witchby Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman is an oldie but goody. If it’s an oldie, why write a review? Because I keep running into people who haven’t read this gem, and most of all, because I love this book. The satire is at once silly and hysterical with some honest-to-goodness wit thrown into the mix. It’s a zany romp that only the young at heart should take. There’s enough British wit and humor to satisfy anyone who likes that sort of thing, and it’s genuinely crazy enough to amuse most people. If you’re a Douglas Adams fan, well, then you’ve probably read Good Omens. Warning: if you have no sense of humor or if you hate silly, stop reading this review. Brief Summary: Satan and God have a huge problem: the Antichrist has gone missing, and they need him for the apocalypse. It turns out that when the lad was born, some evil nuns gave him to the wrong couple, and he grew up in a sleepy English suburb. Expect for his untapped “evil” power, he’s an ordinary kid rather like Kevin McCallister, the kid in Home Alone . Because they happen to like earth and don’t want it destroyed, Aziraphale (an angel) and Crowley (a demon) team up to stop the apocalypse; they are much like a British version of the Odd Couple who are trying to save the world from inevitable doom��"Crowley, of course, lives life wildly and fully, while Aziraphale is quiet and refined. While everyone (God, Satan, angels, demons, and humans) searches for the Antichrist, the Four “Bikers” of the Apocalypse gather. And, yes, the Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch are important. Pratchett and Gaiman have created a diverse and eccentric cast of characters. The impending doom is told through multiple points of view as everyone races to save or destroy the world. As any reader would expect, they all come crashing together at the end of the book. Why do I like it? This may be one of the funniest books I’ve read. First, Pratchett and Gaiman turn the story of the apocalypse inside-out, then, they turn it sideways, and finally, they manage to make the end of the world riotous and entertaining. Along the way, they poke and prod at the ordinary, the crass, and the sacred. I’ll admit there is a great deal of silliness about the book, and some of the motifs have been used before, but Gaiman and Pratchett take those motifs and spin them with enduring flare. After all, the book was published in 1990 and is still going strong. I’m always excited when someone I know reads Good Omens for the first time. So my friend, take a break from the real world, put aside all serious thoughts, get comfortable, and read this delicious book.
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Dodger
by
Terry Pratchett
Cora
, April 23, 2014
Dodger, a YA historical fantasy, won a Printz Honor Book award in 2013. Brief summary: Dodger, the 17-year-old protagonist, is a “tosher”: someone who searches the London sewers for lost valuables. Dodger is quick to point out that he does okay in the nasty sewers; he makes as much money as a chimney sweep without polluting his lungs. Dodger saves a young woman from certain death, becomes quite smitten with her, and helps find her assailants. He is befriended by “Charlie” Dickens and Henry Mayhew and other historical people of influence in Victorian London. That’s all I’m giving out because I don’t want to ruin the fun of reading the book and discovering the details for yourself. 7 Reasons Why I Like Dodger: 1) It’s a crazy, zany story with improbable and quirky elements. 2) The humor, the word play, and Victorian slang is the kind language that I find fun to read. 3) The historical characters show up: “Charlie” Dickens, Benjamin Disraeli, Henry Mayhew, and Angela Burdett-Coutts. 4) A fictional character makes an appearance: Sweeney Todd. 5) The completely enjoyed the references to Charles Dickens’ characters and books; that Dickens did create some of this characters from people he’d met makes this book that much more interesting. “Charlie” makes some pretty amusing notes in his writer’s notebook, and early on in the novel, it’s clear that Dodger will become a character in a Dickens novel. In an interview about Dodger, Pratchett says the book has elements of Oliver Twist; I noticed a lot of Great Expectations elements. 6) This sounds a little gross, but I liked the descriptions of the London sewers. 7) The mixture of historical London with fantasy London seems playful as if Pratchett is winking at the reader. 3 Critiques: 1) The plot was predictable, but the book was so much fun to read that I didn’t care. 2) Simplicity, the girl he saves, isn’t a fully developed character; I would have liked a more complex character. 3) We never hear all of Simplicity’s story. Imagine me stomping my foot and saying, “I have some questions about her story that I wanted answered.” Recommendation: If you are a huge Discworld fan and expect more of the same, you’re not going to get it in Dodger. However, I found a lot of Discworld flavor in the language and some of the inferences. It’s an excellent YA book; it has Terry Pratchett’s humor, wit, and zaniness, and it’s a fun read. If you think some of the Discworld books are a little dark, you’ll find that Dodger is an optimistic young man and his optimism infects the book. One more thing, make sure you read Pratchett’s note at the end. He explains some of the historical people who show up in the novel.
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Variant
by
Robison Wells
Cora
, December 09, 2013
5 Wins and 5 Fails for Variant by Robison Wells I wanted to like Variant, a dystopian novel by Robison Wells. After reading the positive reviews, I was excited, but alas, sometimes books that are hyped just don't live up to expectations. Summary: The basic story idea is great: there's intrigue, conflict, and unanswered questions. The beginning of the book is spooky, a little creepy, and chilling. Benson Fisher, a boy without a family who bounces from one foster home to another, is accepted at Maxfield Academy, where he expects to get a wonderful education and gain some freedom and independence. When he arrives at the school, he discovers that the doors lock behind him; there are no supervising adults, and he is a prisoner. Like all the other students, Benson doesn’t have family or friend who will check up on him. The suspense builds. There are classes without teachers, rules, and student factions, but the kids are on their own and regimented by unseen adults or a computer system--the reader isn’t entirely sure. Some of the students claim that those who don’t conform are killed. Again the reader doesn't know if this is exaggerated or true. The school is a dangerous, and there are many unexplained questions. My Reactions: Until about halfway through the book, I was completely enjoying the story and looking forward to finding out the secrets of Maxfield Academy. However, in the book's second half, the plot begins to fall apart and doesn't recover. Once the big secret was revealed, I expected the mystery to unfold and be solved, or at least find answers to some of the pressing story questions. There was a brief moment when the “why” is hinted at, but there is never a satisfactory or logical explanation. The ending seems pointless and disjointed. The secret is intriguing and interesting. The desire to find out kept me reading; however, once the plot began to unravel, it never recovered, and I became a frustrated reader. Because the end doesn't give answers, the violence seems futile. For me, the biggest disappointment was the last scene. It feels as if Wells borrowed from The Giver, which worked because Jonas wasn’t just escaping, he was saving his community and the child who would have died. But in Variant, Benson’s only goal is to escape, which in itself is an okay, but there is no purpose, no hope, and most of all no reason for what happens. So, the ending wasn't an “Oh, wow,” moment; it was a let down. 5 Wins: It’s well written. The action scenes are fun, detailed, and exciting. It’s realistic about what might happen in today’s world if teens were trapped in a dangerous situation. The central idea behind the story is fascinating and could have been developed into a great story. At the beginning, the suspense is strong and builds, which kept me reading when I was impatient with the plot. I thought the story might redeem itself in the end. 5 Fails: Benson is one-dimensional: he doesn’t grow; his only desire is to escape; especially at the end, he doesn’t grapple with the senselessness of the situation. In the second half, the plot loses momentum and logic, creating gaping holes in what should have been a great story. The surprise ending wasn't a surprise; it felt contrived and rehashed. The big secret isn’t explained or developed. There aren’t logical or believable reasons for the events at the end of the story. I was left with the feeling that Well's wanted to leave things hanging for a second book; however, he lost me as a reader. I was frustrated and feel no desire to read a second book. Yellow Cautionary Lights Flashing There are a lot of people who like this book. You might be one of them. For those who are thinking about reading Variant, consider of my review as flashing caution lights: bumpy plot ahead.
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The Ocean at the End of the Lane
by
Neil Gaiman
Cora
, November 04, 2013
**Spoilers** The OCEAN at THE END of the LANE is the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve read the last sentence. The story spotlights a disturbing aspect of the human condition: often, broken people can't be fixed. We recognize this in the nameless protagonist and in some people around us, but we fear it might also be true in our lives. The protagonist comes back to his childhood home for a funeral. We aren’t sure who has died, but by the end of the book our best guess is that it’s his father. After the services, instead of returning to his sister’s home, he takes a drive and ends up at the farm at the end of the lane, which is where the duck pond/ocean was. Both the farm and the three women who live there are magic, filled with an ancient magic that goes back to a time before the earth was formed. The farm girl, Lettie, her mother, and grandmother befriend the protagonist when he was a lad of seven. The mother still lives on the farm and allows him to walk to the pond, where he sits and remembers what happened when he was seven-years-old. Two things are apparent almost from the beginning: the narrator/protagonist is unreliable, so we can’t trust his judgment, and he is a broken, misfit. He’s a friendless boy whose world becomes bearable through the books he reads. This is a story about how unfair, chaotic, and frightening childhood can be. It’s about a lonely boy, living through a time when money is scarce, parents are inattentive and neglectful, and fantasy become more real than anything else. It’s a story about how books and perhaps imaginary friends can help a child survive. Our hero is surrounded by strong women: the three farm women, who are strong, powerful, and protect him from the evil that has entered his world; his sister, who is an annoyance and has no clue the trouble he’s in, but takes pleasure in making his life miserable; their new governess Ursula Monkton, who is an evil entity from another realm and tries to imprison, harm, and finally wants to kill him; the mother, who is mostly absent and inattentive. Ursula gives people what they want: money to those in hard times trying to make ends meet; sexual favors to the father; attention to the sister; freedom to leave the house to the mother. These gifts bring negative consequences. Ursula only wants to take from the protagonist--he was her entrance into this world, and she will use him or kill him as it suits her. The father is the second villain of the story. What kind of father scoops up a seven-year-old boy and takes him to see a body? At first, I thought he was clueless. Later, I began to realize the father does not consider the needs of his son. Whatever the father’s reason, the protagonist was traumatized by seeing their lodger’s body after his suicide. It's the police officers, not the father, who suggest the boy go with Lettie away from the crime scene. The father’s insensitivity foreshadows greater cruelty to come: a father trying to drown his son. Water imagery abounds in this book. The pond is really an ocean, and it's magic: it can heal, carry things out of the world, and bring things into the world. The bathtub scene reeks with the kind of terror and betrayal that scars someone for life. It’s obvious that the father suspects that his son has seen something and will tell the mother about his affair with Ursula. In the end, even the father's death does not release the son from the brutality of his childhood. The story ends with the protagonist leaving the farm to return to his sister’s house and re-enter the real world. As he moved away from the pond, he already starts to forget the story, that Lettie isn’t in Australia but in the pond, that the farm is magic, that for a while he remembered. Lettie's mother knows he'll return, the reader knows, and at some deep unconscious level he knows. But for now, all his memories slide away as he returns to his adult world, the same broken man he was when he drove to the farm.
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Infernal Devices
by
K W Jeter
Cora
, October 14, 2013
J. W. Jeter wrote Infernal Devices in 1987. He also coined the term Steampunk to describe the new Victorian books he, Tim Powers, and James P. Blaylock were writing. I wanted to go back to Steampunk's beginnings, and since Jetter is one of the touchstone authors, I decided to read Infernal Devices first. The Story The narrator, George Dower, runs a clockwork shop, which he inherited from his father. His primary problems is that he knows little about clocks and makes a living accepting small jobs his assistant can handle. George's life is uneventful until an "Ethiope" comes into the shop and convinces George to try and fix one of his father's complicated clockwork mechanisms. The "leather-skinned" man gives George a strange coin, and the Victorian adventure begins. George is curious about the coin, and, putting the mechanical device aside, sets out to investigate the coin's origins and meaning. His adventures twist and turn in every imaginable way. He winds up in the seedy part of town, is in trouble with A Ladies Union for the Suppression of Carnal Vices, falls in with a criminal who speaks in 20th century American vernacular, repels numerous sexual advances, and is betrayed by nearly everyone. The story might be described as Monty Python meets the Pink Panther in Victorian England. Humor runs throughout the tale. There are lots of clockwork devices, which George cannot manage and often destroys. Most of the social problems and issues of the era are addressed in a dark brooding atmosphere. "The Complete Destruction of the Earth" chapter is funny, and for a while I thought the story might take a better turn, but alas, for me, it didn't. My Response On an intellectual level I like the story and see value in what Jeter is doing. However, to be truthful, it took me an agonizingly long time to read it. Here are the strengths of the book: •the humor, •an honest look at the dark side of Victorian life and the social issues, •the automatons and clockwork gadgets, •Scape and the sexually aggressive women, who were far more interesting characters than George. Here are the issues I had with the book: •the Victorian language--I know I'm supposed to love Dickens, but I don't; the language is tedious and puts me to sleep; •the first person narration; George is an unsympathetic character, which was my biggest issues--I really didn't care what happened to him; •the unrealistic and often contorted plot twists, which I either figured out or suspected. Since I love Monty Python, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett, it's a little odd that I found this a difficult read. I think, if you like Victorian language and are engaged with a protagonist who is thick and naive, you'll enjoy the book. It's not bad. In many ways, it's excellent, but for me it was flat.
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Steampunk The Art of Victorian Futurism
by
Jay Strongman
Cora
, October 05, 2013
Steampunk: The Art of Victorian Futurism--An Amazing Book! If you love Steampunk or want to know more about it, get this book. Have you ever bought a book and wanted to show it to everyone? Steampunk: The Art of Victorian Futurism is that kind of book. Yesterday, while doing "face time" with my daughter, I was showing her the pictures. I flipped through the pages as she leaned closer to her phone to see on the small screen. I'm sure she wasn't getting the full effect, but my excitement spurred her to squint and admire. So, why is the book so great? Four reasons: First and foremost, the pictures and illustrations. I'd estimate the book devotes two thirds of its pages to excellent, high quality photographs. I've included three in the post so you can have a little taste of what you'll get. It does a good job of exploring the literary roots of Steampunk, including a run down of authors who influenced the literary movement. I enjoyed the pictures of magazine covers from the old pulp-fiction writing of the 1800s. There's good coverage of early, middle, and contemporary Steampunk authors. I sometimes found the prose a little dull, but over all it held my interest. It addresses the sub-cultures that have emerged from the Steampunk literary movement: writers, books, magazines, fashion, art, cosplay, craftsmanship, music, conferences and exhibits. I expected The Art of Victorian Futurism to focus on the art, but the book went beyond my expectations. I have to give Jay Strongman kudos for selecting and showcasing excellent photographs and illustrations. Also, in the early chapters, he gives detailed background information on Steampunk's beginnings and the movement's progress up to 2011. He managed to be at once brief and detailed, a nice balance, which allowed him to devote much of the book to art. I recently reviewed another Steampunk book: The Steampunk Bible by Jeff Vandermeer. The strength of Vandermeer's book is that it devotes more space to the Steampunk movement in all its facets. There are some lovely pictures as well, but the emphasis on Steampunk history, development, and current trends provides a solid knowledge base for anyone interested in the movement. I think the two books complement each other and provide a nice Steampunk library. I don’t often give a book a 5 star rating. This deserves top rating.
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The Steampunk Bible
by
Jeff VanderMeer
Cora
, October 01, 2013
Three Excellent Reasons to Read The Steampunk Bible Have you noticed that Steampunk seems to be everywhere? Are you curious and want to know more? If you don’t know a lot about Steampunk, but you like the new Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law) movies, then you’ve experienced Steampunk. Jules Verne and HG Wells meet Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: new, improved, and updated. It’s about the clothes, the gadgets, and the time period. Plus, it’s lots of fun because there’s always a little bit of the fantastical thrown into the mix. If you want to know more about Steampunk, then The Steampunk Bible (Jeff Vandermeer) is one of the books I'd recommend. Here’s why I recommend it: It gives detailed background information on the literature: the Steampunk movement began with books. It explores the other areas that have morphed from the Steampunk books: fashion, cosplay (grownups playing dress up), the craftsmen who make Steampunk gadgets, the conferences, gatherings, exhibits, as well as the music, art, photography, and films. It includes aspects of the global nature of the movement and how the movement manifests in other countries and cultures. Who will enjoy The Steampunk Bible? This book is for the neophyte, who wants to learn more, and for the seasoned Steampunk veteran as well as those between these extremes. I'd bet that someone who knows a lot about Steampunk would learn something from this book. Before reading it, I didn’t realize the extensive influence and many facets of Steampunk. One of the nice features is the seven chapters focus on a different aspect of Steampunk. So, you can return to a specific section and find what you want. Photographs and Illustrations: The other big plus is the liberal use of photographs and illustrations. Do you like ray guns? Wondering about period costumes or Steampunk creations and the artisans who make them? There are pictures and illustrations to satisfy your curiosity. To be honest, I’ve sipped coffee and spent a few hours admiring the pictures. No one will complain that there aren't enough pictures. It's a Keeper: The excellent background information coupled with plenty of illustrations makes this book a keeper. It’ll stay on my bookshelf as a reference and as a fun book to take up again and again. Who wouldn't want to look at a Steampunk guitar, a steam powered elephant, or lust over a Steampunk laptop?
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Clockwork Princess
by
Clare, Cassandra
Cora
, September 04, 2013
I would say this is the best book of the Trilogy; however, if, like me you aren’t crazy about romances, there’s a little too much romantic agony and ecstasy; if you like romance and adventurous Steampunk, then this book is a win-win. The love triangle continues with Tessa being in the unfortunate position of loving both Jem and Will. The reader is in the unfortunate position of liking all three characters. Gideon Lightwood, his brother Gabriel, and Will’s sister Cecily have become part of the institute, and they add new dimensions to the story. In the book, nearly everyone is in love with someone. Yay for love, boo for silly, stubborn misunderstandings. From the beginning to the end, Mortmain, our evil villain in true Victorian style, plots and plans the destruction of the Shadowhunters. We have known from Clockwork Angel that Tessa plays an integral part of his plan. Finally, we discover his plan and her part. It really is horrifying. Clare does some fancy writing footwork to get them out of a doomsday scenario. Clockwork Princess has adventure, soul searching, intrigue, betrayal, and many plot twists. I enjoyed the surprising moments when I wasn’t sure how Clare was going to write her way out of some difficult situations, but she managed to do so creatively. Along the way, there were some deaths and moments of realization for the characters. As I said earlier, if you like romance, there was more than enough to go around. Almost all of the characters were romantically involved with varying outcomes. I really can’t discuss the end of the book without giving away far too much, I’ll just say that I found it surprisingly satisfying. I may have a romantic sentimental side. I enjoyed this trilogy and recommend it to readers who like fantasy, adventure, romance, and Steampunk. Cora Foerstner corafoerstner.com
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Infernal Devices 02 Clockwork Prince
by
Cassandra Clare
Cora
, September 02, 2013
Generally, I’m not a big fan of trilogies, especially the second book - "it’s always unfinished and has gaping holes. So, I waited until Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare came out before reading book two of her Infernal Devices Trilogy Clockwork Prince. I hate waiting for the next book to find out what happens. If you haven’t read Clockwork Angel, you should read it first. Clockwork Prince: The story begins where Clockwork Angel left off. Tessa is still at the London Institute. Jem and Will, the Shadowhunters from book one, are protecting her from Mortmain, the villain who continues to build an army of automatons to destroy the Shadowhunters. Jem is ill, and often seems to be on the verge of death. Tessa and Jem grow closer in this book, and their friendship blossoms. This book unveils Will’s secret, and the love triangle between Jem, Will, and Tessa continues with predictable misunderstandings, sigh. One longs for some blatant honesty so the characters can move forward. I generally get annoyed with romance that hinges on one or two misunderstandings that could be cleared up with one honest question and one honest answer. Will does have an excellent and believable reason to act as he does, which is a refreshing change from other romance stories I’ve read. There are two unexpected changes in this book: a big dose of betrayal, which surprised me-"that doesn't happen often, and I can’t say more without a major spoiler alert--and Will’s sister Cecily arrives at the institute; she wants to bring him home but we know that’s not going to happen. The action bits of this book are excellent and fun. Jess is still annoying. We get to see more of Magnus Bane the half human, half demon character I love. The continual conflict between Charlotte, who runs the Institute, and the leaders of the Shadowhunters deepens and becomes more complex and menacing. We suspect things will be resolved, but alas not in this book. We learn more about Will and Jem’s background. Secrets are central, and when we understand why Will behaves as he does, we have more sympathy toward him. Tessa’s anxieties over her love life verge on the annoying, but they are realistic. The book ends with an old fashion Charles Dickens-like cliffhanger: everything is up in the air and unresolved. You want the next installment now! Happily, you don’t have to wait for book three, you can pick up Clockwork Princess and continue reading. Cora Foerstner corafoerstner.com
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Infernal Devices 01 Clockwork Angel
by
Clare, Cassandra
Cora
, September 01, 2013
Last summer, I read Clockwork Angel, the first book of the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. The Trilogy, Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, Clockwork Princess, is a rollicking, hard hitting, and complex Steampunk Romance set. Recently, I decided to read the rest of the series. I needed to revisit the story, before starting Clockwork Prince. One of the best ways to reflect on a book is to write a book review. So, here goes: “Magic is dangerous ��" but love is more dangerous still.” (Back of the book) I’d switch those sentiments around. There’s love, romance, sexual tension, triangles and all the usual suspects in the book, but the more exciting parts of the book are jam-packed with action and magic, which is dangerous, exciting, and fun to read. The romance stories that play out in the novel are almost too predictable, which is why I’d switch the quotation. Basically here’s the story: “When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray arrives in England during the reign of Queen Victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and hunted, Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by ��" and torn between ��" two best friends, and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.” (Back of the book, again) What I like about this book is the dark urban fantasy: Shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings both underground and on the streets of London. Sometimes urban fantasy can make me yawn but not this book. Throw in a little Steampunk, and you’ve got Clockwork Angel. It is Victorian London, how could there not be Steampunk? Add to all that goodness a few vile, creepy characters, and some likeable, eccentric characters, and you have a book that’s hard to put down. The protagonist and her three new “friends” are appealing for various reasons, which you should discover for yourself. They are all flawed, complex. And, yes, they have secrets. One of my favorite characters is Henry, the adult in charge, who makes wild, offbeat, and eerie inventions, which don’t always work. His creations are Steampunk heaven. He’s absent-minded, absorbed in his work, and slightly incompetent. Thankfully, his wife has her act together. By the end of the book, Tessa transforms from a scared and helpless girl into a strong, independent young woman. I thoroughly enjoyed the alternate world Cassandra Clare creates. The demon fighting Shadowhunters, the magic of their rune tattoos, and the alternate culture of the book are well developed and intriguing. I bought into the concepts immediately. Clockwork Angel is well written with interesting characters. And, oh, yeah, there’s romance to set your heart atwitter. Okay, I’ll admit it. I liked the romance. Cora Foestner corafoerstner.com
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Hunger Games 01
by
Suzanne Collins
Cora
, January 01, 2011
The Hunger Games is a YA book, but adult will also enjoy it. It’s a quick read, as it is both engaging and fast paced. It is set in the future and as with all good science fiction, this story speaks of our time and culture. In this book, the future is brutal, unforgiving, and extremely dangerous. The leaders have little regard for those they rule and are more concerned about power and control than in improving the human condition, which at best is bleak for most people. Once a year, a group of young adults is plunged into horrific circumstance where they must literally fight for their lives—kill or be killed. The two main characters are engaging, sympathetic, well rounded, and deeply human with strengths, weaknesses, and flaws. The impact of this book is in the struggles the protagonist and her friend face as they are pitted against each other. We see what happens as two people, who are at their core are good and decent, face life and death as they are required to kill in order to survive. At its heart this book is about love. The Hunger Games could have been extremely violent and crass, becoming simply gratuitous commercial fiction, but the author has created a vivid world, highlighting the characters and their struggles to do the right thing in the worst of circumstances. Because of this focus, the violence, although present, becomes secondary to the internal and moral struggles of the characters. While the adult leaders in the Hunger Games try to use these teenagers as puppets to gain power and control, the teenagers fight for their lives and find nobility as they struggle to retain their humanity.
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