Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Happy Release Day + Review! Trickery by Jaymin Eve and Jane Washington

Willa Knight: Dweller. Slave. Non-magical being.

In Minatsol, being a dweller means that you are literally no better than dirt. In fact, dirt might actually be more useful than Willa. Her life will be one of servitude to the sols, the magic-blessed beings who could one day be chosen to become gods.

At least her outer village is far removed from the cities of the sols, and she won’t ever be forced to present herself to them... Until one small mistake changes everything, and Willa is awarded a position to serve at Blesswood, the top sol academy in the world—a position that she definitely did not earn.

Under the sudden, watchful eye of the gods, she will be tasked to serve the Abcurse brothers, five sols built of arrogance, perfection and power. They are almost gods themselves, and under their service she is either going to end up sentenced to death, or else they are going to ruin her so badly that she will wish for it.

Either way, she is in trouble.

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So I basically begged the author Jaymin Eve for an ARC of this book because I was so excited about it and it didn't disappoint! While the style of the writing and the world building were not what I was expecting, the story was enjoyable and original from beginning to end.

Willa is a fantastic main character and narrator. She reminded me so much of Rose Hathaway from The Vampire Academy series: Sassy, hilarious, and always ready to make trouble. I loved how she rolled with the punches but approached everything with such earnestness. The world that she lives in is kind of horrible, but she continues to persevere to better her life and the lives of those she loves (which is basically just her sister from another mister, Emmy).

I thought the world of Minatsol and the magic that governs the world was great. It was what really drew me to the story in the first place, when I first saw it on Facebook. The idea of castes and social standing, while a common theme, was brightened by the many nuances concerning gods, their powers, and the role of Willa and her classmates in the machinations of those above her. There are so many details when it comes to the world and the rules that govern it and I loved that aspect of the story.

Oh, and the Abcurse brothers. What can I say? God-like humans or human-like gods, they make up a very hunky and troublemaking group. You know from the beginning that they are going to be trouble. Five brothers are a lot to work with, and I thought Jaymin and Jane did a fantastic job making each brother recognizable and have their own unique character and characteristics. Their true role at Blesswood is yet to really be revealed and while I initially found them hard to relate to (or root for) they quickly grew on me (like they do Willa).

While Willa is a great narrator and heroine, I thought that there was a little bit of disconnect between some of her dialogue and reactions to the time period and setting that Jaymin and Jane have created. There are parts of the world that we understand but that aren't particularly the same, like clocks and the telling of time, and that some of the diction and sayings are quite contemporary in comparison to the world. I also thought that the reactions of some of the characters and their development were a little stilted at times. The relationships, platonic or otherwise, developed rather quickly towards the end, and the way some of the characters reacted to this developed seemed a little unbelievable at times. Despite these moments, they don't hinder the storytelling or Willa's journey, which is at the heart of this book (and the series, I would think). 

Overall, Trickery is a great introduction to a colorful, unique world filled with sassy heroines, dangerous gods, and even more dangerous boys. It was a romping adventure filled with comedic misfortune, swoon-worthy boys with crazy powers, and unique and interesting world building. I can't wait to see what Willa does next!

*I received a copy of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review (thank you Jaymin Eve!)*
Find out more about Jaymin Eve and Jane Washington and their books here:
          Jaymin: http://jaymineve.com
          Jane: http://www.janewashington.com

Jaymin Eve:

Jaymin Eve is the USA Today Bestselling author of Young Adult and New Adult romance novels (both urban fantasy and contemporary). She loves surrounding herself with the best things in life: her two girls, a good book and chocolate.

Living on the beautiful Gold Coast in Australia, the family loves spending lots of time on the beach. And traveling as frequently as possible.

When Jaymin isn’t trying to wrangle two daughters, a puppy and her husband, you will find her hiding in a corner trying desperately to write her stories (without little fingers pressing random keys). She asks for forgiveness if you notice the occasional sskkkkssis appearing in her book, her children are proud of their contribution.

She’d love it if you contacted her, giving feedback or just to have a chat.

Author Links:

Jane Washington:

Jane Washington is a 'Literary Awards off the Internet' bestselling author and ‘self-awarded’ award-winner with a professional capacity to take herself seriously and a steely determination to seduce the entire book world… or at least to have someone walk up to her in Kmart and tell her that they loved one of her books--even if they're mistaking it for another book. She holds herself responsible for the Beatrice Harrow young adult series, and the Seraph Black slightly-older-young-adult series.

If you want to know more about her, you’d better hire a private investigator because she’s proven to be a terrible online communicator. On the other hand, if you’re one of those people that gets off on terrible online communication, you can contact her at inquiries@janewashington.com.

That sounded wrong.

Is it too late to take that back?

Author Links:

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

Monday, February 27, 2017

Undeclared by Julianna Keyes - Review

Kellan McVey is Burnham College’s most prolific athlete, partier, and ladies’ man—and that’s just how he likes it. Returning to reign for his third year, he wants nothing to change. Then Andrea Walsh shows up.

It wasn’t too long ago that Andi and Kellan were lifelong friends, mortal enemies, and, for one hot summer, more. Then Kellan left and Andi stayed behind.

Kellan thought he’d moved past that last summer’s heartbreak, but with Andi sitting next to him in class, befriending his friends, and battling for the same once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity, he’s starting to remember why he hated her…and why he loved her.

Kellan has a long list of reasons that falling for Andi again is a terrible idea, though every new moment together challenges that theory. But Andi’s all too familiar with Kellan’s love ’em and leave ’em approach—and she’s found someone else to get serious about.

Burnham’s campus king has never had to fight for a girl, but if he wants Andi to give him another chance, he’ll have to do the one thing he’s never had the nerve to do: admit it.

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The first book in this series, Undecided, was an incredible find. I fell in love with the characters and Julianna's writing and I was so excited to see the sequel on NetGalley! Undeclared, while having a different tone and pace than Undecided, did not disappoint.

I liked Kellan a lot in the first book, and for a good portion of it was actually hoping that he and Nora might kick it off instead of her and Crosby (this view-point changed, obviously. Nora and Crosby are adorable). I was so excited to follow Kellan and see how he faired in his journey to become a more mature, responsible guy. There are a lot of new adult books that play with this idea of changing your image and trying to remake yourself, but I think that Julianna did a particularly good job with Kellan in this book. I loved that he still remained himself while also trying to right his wrongs (all of the bathroom scenes are HILARIOUS). I loved that while his relationship to his childhood best friend, Andi, gave him the motivation to make these changes while not overtaking his own personal journey. I also liked the fact that the narrator being a guy didn't affect my enjoyment while reading, which sometimes happens when I'm reading a contemporary male character. All the characters in this series, down to even Jackie...ahem...Jazzy, are so unique and shine on their own while also building Kellan and Andi's characters.

This book has two main themes, for me, one being Kellan's personal goal to remake himself and the other being Kellan and Andi finally discussing the status of their relationship, romantic or otherwise. I think that the balance between Kellan figuring out what kind of person he wants to be and his romantic tension with Andi is great. Their story never seemed too unrealistic, never too romantic or too platonic. It actually felt pretty strained and awkward most of the time, which I appreciated because I don't think it would've worked any other way. The situations seemed realistic, even in the most romantic, awkward, or absurd of times. There were times where I thought the pacing lagged a little bit and Kellan and Andi's time together seemed prolonged or didn't move along the plot. However, the story as a whole was great and includes all of your favorite characters from Undecided.

Julianna's books read like the best kind of romantic comedy - funny, dramatic, and full of heart - and I found it thorougly enjoyable. If you like hilarious, character driven stories filled with plenty of swearing and sexy times, I highly recommend this series.
* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *
Find out more about Julianna and her books here: http://www.juliannakeyes.com/about-us.html

Julianna Keyes is a Canadian writer who has lived on both coasts and several places in between. She's been skydiving, bungee jumping and white water rafting, but nothing thrills - or terrifies - her as much as the blank page. She loves Chinese food, foreign languages, baseball and television, not necessarily in that order, and will go to her grave swearing that "ain't" is not a word. She has volunteered in Zambia, taught English in China, and dreams of seeing pink dolphins in the Amazon. It'll happen.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Caraval by Stephanie Garber - Review

Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . .

Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

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I had the opportunity to go to Stephanie's signing at the Barnes and Noble in Roseville right after Caraval came out. She was so nice and humble and stayed for three hours to finish signing everyone's book. She's also a fan of Alias, Forever (one of my favorite shows), and Emerald City so she's just an all round awesome human being. But I digress.

Caraval is a magical story of a young woman, Scarlett, who travels to a magical island in order to drag her sister back to their boring and mostly miserable life in a small coastal town. I connected with Scarlett immediately, mostly because I too am the rule following, motherly, boring type who likes to stay where it's safe and comfortable. The relationship between Scarlett and Tella is an interesting one, one that I feel like all siblings will understand but also one that I, as an only child, found exasperating. Of course, Tella did a wonderful job in helping to break her sister out of her shell, but if she were my sister, I wouldn't slapped her for everything that went down.

It is there relationship that is at the heart of this story, showcased by the fantasy that is Caraval. A magical and fantastical show that immerses the players completely within its stage, Stephanie did a wonderful job in blurring the lines between what is real and what is not. The reader follows Scarlett as she discovers who are the actual players in the game, if Legend, the master of Caraval, is real or just a figurehead, if Tella is in actual danger or if she's pulling the strings. The setting is believable, historical with a Victorian feel, the characters developed only enough so you believe in them but not enough to reveal any of their many secrets. There are certain aspects of the world, like the large curtain with the city underneath and the dress shop with unique prices, that evoke feelings of the Night Circus or The Prestige while also feeling completely original. 

There were times, mostly just at the beginning, when I thought the writing was a tad bumpy. And while I thought the first 50 pages or so moved a little slowly, once Scarlett reaches Isla de los Sueños (Legend's island) and begins to play the game, the story really picks up. The stakes are raised, Scarlett is truly challenged, and the readers begin to experience the magic. I read the rest of the book in one night, finishing at 3 A.M. At the signing, Stephanie said there was a sequel coming out in 2018 and I am so, so excited the story's not over (and I think it will focus on Tella)!

Overall I really enjoyed Caraval. Scarlett, Tella, and Julian make for a wonderful cast of interesting, developed characters, in a likewise interesting and developed world. While the true origins of Legend and Caraval and the magic that makes it work has yet to be really revealed, Scarlett's story does have a completed arc that is filled with wonder, mystery, danger, and desire. They say that Caraval changes the players and I loved the way that we see Scarlett grow throughout the book.

Find out more about Stephanie and her book here: http://stephaniegarberauthor.com.

My favorite place in the world is Disneyland because it’s the one place on earth where I feel as if the fantastical stories I love to write about could actually come to life.

When I’m not writing, I teach creative writing at a private college in Northern California, where I’ve been known to turn assignments into games and take students on field trips that involve book signings. I’m also a blogger on PUB(LISHING) CRAWL. But I probably spend most of my time on Twitter where I tend to overuse exclamation points and emojis.

To help pay my bills during college, grad school, and the breaks in between, I worked as a barista, a waitress, a bartender, a customer service representative for an energy consulting company, and as a sales girl at Bath and Bodyworks. I also spent years working with youth; I worked as a counselor at space themed summer camp, volunteered at a school for deaf children in Mexico, and I took multiple groups of college students overseas to spend their winter vacations serving at youth hostels in Amsterdam. But out of everything that I’ve done, writing young adult novels has been my favorite job.

My debut YA fantasy novel, Caraval will be published January 2017 (Flatiron Books/Macmillan—US and Hodder & Stoughton—UK). Caraval has sold in twenty-five foriegn territories and the movie rights were pre-empted by Twentieth Century Fox.

For all the latest updates on my books, giveaways and more, please follow my BLOG.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Heart of the Storm by Michael Buckley - Review

“There’s something out in that water. Be ready to take the people you love and leave when it comes onshore.”

For three months, Lyric Walker has been trapped in the hunting grounds, the Alpha city at the bottom of the ocean. But Lyric Walker, Brooklyn girl, is not going down without a fight. She makes an unlikely alliance with her jailor, a Rusalka named Husk. Husk reveals the truth about what actually resides in the Great Abyss. The Great Abyss is not some Alpha god but belongs to an unknown clan of monsters, ones who think in a hive mentality and believe anyone who cannot hear their voice is broken and must be destroyed. And Lyric has just woken them.

After a death-defying escape, Lyric makes her journey back to the mainland to prepare humanity for another monster invasion. Once reunited with her parents, Bex, and hot-nerd-with-potential Riley, Lyric has to break the terrible truth.

Lyric was just a girl when the Alpha arrived in her hometown. She was a soldier in the second attack that saved her world. What will she have to become now, and who will she have to leave behind?

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Heart of the Sea is the third and final installment of The Undertow Trilogy by Michael Buckley. It takes place in a alternate/semi post-apocolyptic world, mostly in New York, and is filled with the same original lore and action as the rest of the series, but deals with much higher stakes and has a darker tone. 

Heart of the Sea does a really good job of not holding back the sacrifices and losses that go along with battle. In this case, it's not only against the creatures from the sea that Lyric and her cohorts have to face but also other humans. The writing throughout the series is great and pulls readers along with good pace that reveals the magic and lore of the world without dumping information all at once or leaving readers confused. The characters, including Lyric, are well developed and have unique characters, and, most importantly in my opinion, change believably throughout the series as the situation becomes more dire. Lyric especially really develops into a completely different character, and I appreciate the choices she makes at the end of the book. 
The pacing gets a little wonky at some moments, moving a little too quickly or getting a little disorienting because it jumps back and forth from the present to past memories. Lyric is on a mission to protect everyone she loves and while it ends with a bang (and I absolutely LOVE the epilogue), the ever-present danger from the first page of the book made the ending seem a little prolonged. There are some plot points that made the story seem a little predictable, though I think that Lyric's character saved it. 

Overall, Heart of the Storm is a great ending to the trilogy. It is crucial you start with Undertow, since the series is dependent on knowing what was happening in previous books and the characters and supernatural aspects are best understood by following Lyric's journey from the beginning. Filled with action, killer supernatural sea creatures, a little bit of forbidden romance, and a great female heroine unafraid to do anything to protect those she loves, Heart of the Storm is a fantastic ending to a unique and enjoyable series. Perfect for fans of Divergent (with a little more supernatural stuff) and the Syrena Legacy (with a little more dystopian stuff). 

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
(I couldn't find a website but) You can find out more about Michael Buckley and his books here: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Buckley/e/B001JS9QJI

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

Friday, February 10, 2017

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - Review

A magical debut novel for readers of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, and Neil Gaiman’s myth-rich fantasies, The Bear and the Nightingale spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.

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I'll start off by saying that I absolutely loved The Bear and the Nightingale. It reminded me so much of some of the books I read when I was younger, of the Night Circus and Shannon Hale books and books that are original but also based on fairytales or folklore. The writing is fantastic, the storytelling lilting and magical. 

The story shifts focus between our protagonist, Vasilisa, better known as Vasya, and another character, Konstantin, the priest that comes to stay in their town. Vasya is not the kind of female heroine one really expects from a story like this - she's not outwardly brave, she's quiet, she often takes the brunt of insults or hurtful words from those around her. However, in the magical world where the cold and forest has it's own kind of magic that those people fear, it is Vasya's kindness that helps her to befriend magical creatures and in the end, help to save those she loves from the more dangerous things in the forest. 

While Konstantin is not truly a main character, he is in opposition to Vasya's character. They both attempt to help protect her family but in two very different ways. I loved how their approach differed and how despite the intentions, Vasya's open-mindedness and kindness tends to be more successful that Konstantin's devout yet often times ignorant ideology. 

The world is magical and dark and dangerous. It's also bright and romantic. It's one kind of fairytale, one with gods and spirits and the walking dead, within another kind of fairytale, one with Russian aristocracy, a wicked stepmother, and the tensions between Russian lore and religious ideology. It is filled with action, danger, family drama, and a little bit of romance. Cinderella meets Anastasia meets Anna Karena. The story has everything to be successful but I truly think the writing and storytelling is what really makes the Bear and the Nightingale unique and truly shine. You'll be shivering with the cold, be in awe of the Russian court, be scared to look out your window when it's dark. It is so reminiscent of some classic fairytale, told with such elegance, beautiful imagery, and language that immerses the reader in the time period and world. 

The language might not be for everyone, sometimes feeling a little heavy or old-fashioned, though I believe that is what really makes the world feel real. The mix of reality with the touch of folklore might not appeal to some, the lines often purposely blurred. However, overall, I think part of the magic of this book are these very things, so I suggest pushing through and giving it a try.

This book was what really helped me get out of my reading slump and reminded me why I love stories like this. It was so refreshing and beautifully told and I highly recommend it to any reader who loves Russian folklore, the tale of East of the Sun West of the Moon, fairytale retellings, or just any well-written magical story with an unlikely heroine. And if you're in a reading slump. 
If you like The Bear and the Nightingale, I suggest Katurah and Lord Death!
Find out more about Katherine and her book here: http://www.katherinearden.com

Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent a year of high school in Rennes, France. Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrollment for a year in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature. After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, working every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crêpes to guiding horse trips. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine